Stay A Little Longer: A Short Story

~Fourteen~

The Universe has strange ways of working. It works in one person's favour, and then totally craps on another person. I'm going to be selfish here and say it's my life the Universe is crapping on. This would've never happened if I weren't so emotionally attached to Andy...

And that talk with JoJo last night. I said nothing would ever happen to him. I jinxed it. I jinxed Andy's life. This is all my fault. I don't deserve him, I'm risking his life just to prove how much I love him. That's not how that works-- I should be risking my life!

After Andy was whisked away in the sea of medics, I could tell Joanna was gonna go crazy. No more wedding talk and bossing people around, she's worried about her brother.

"I worried him too much," she grumbled in her seat in the waiting room. "This is all my fault, I should've just let him relax. Oh my God, I don't even remember the last thing I said to him. What was it?"

I walk over and place a hand on her shoulder, shaking her out of her deep pit of despair. "Joanna, listen to me. You don't need to remember the last thing you said. What did I say last night?"

She stares blankly through me. I force her eyes to focus on me.

"What did I say last night?"

"I don't..." she whispers. "I don't know."

"As long as Andy has someone to love him, he's not going anywhere. I mean that. You love Andy, I love Andy, Mr. and Mrs. Lavigne love Andy. He'll be alright."

She nods curtly, her lip set in a straight line. Then, she lets out the most heartbreaking sob I've ever heard, alerting the other people in the waiting room, and drawing the attention of some nurses.

I can see that whatever the other families are going through, they feel for Joanna all the same. Some touch their hands to their hearts, others shake their heads and wipe their own eyes. Everyone here, together in this acidic smelling hospital hallway, is grieving with one another for multiple people.

And for that reason, I hate hospitals.

Why give other people a reason to cry when they have their own family to tend to? I've always been advised to confide in others with my emotions, but some things are private.

Andy is private. I don't want to share.
~~~
The wedding was supposed to happen two hours ago. Two hours ago, Andy and I were supposed to be married. Now, they're finally telling us Andy woke up, and he wants to see all of us.

My heart dropped into my feet when I heard that, because I needed to prepare some last words just in case.

But walking into Andy's room, trailed closely by his parents and JoJo, I hear him laughing. Even if only faintly and kind of hoarsely, he's laughing.

I run the rest of the way into the room, where I find my lover buried in wires and sheets and pillows, a nurse standing over him with a clipboard in hand and a smile on her red lips. She's making my Andy laugh again.

"Andrew," Mrs. Lavigne shoves through us and zips to the edge of his bed. She grabs his hand and squeezes, a tear rolling down her cheeks. Jo and Mr. Lavigne stand next to her, rubbing his hair and patting his legs.

But I stand at the far end of the room, ashamed for thinking about preparing last words. I don't think I deserve to face him.

"Greyson?" His head turns in my direction, pale and shiny with sweat. I meet his eyes, allowing a sea of tears to come forth. I land on my knees at the edge of his bed, my head buried at his side.

I don't know how long we all sit there, but when we get up, there's only a small amount of natural light coming through the windows. Something grumbles inside the room.

"Sorry," Andy squeaks. He places a hand on his stomach. "I'm kinda hungry."

"I can get you something," I offer. I know how hospital food can be, and I wouldn't want to wish that upon anyone. "Anything you want."

He thinks for a bit, then looks at Mrs. Lavigne.

"I was going to say Wendy's," he admits, "but nevermind. I'll just take a salad from Panera or something."

"Good choice," Mr. Lavigne chuckles, making everyone laugh.

I ask for the keys to the van so I can get the food faster. JoJo digs them out of Mrs. Lavigne's purse and tosses them to me.

"One salad coming up."

I look up directions to the nearest Panera as I make my way to the car. The closest one is several miles away, but I plug it in to the GPS anyways. Anything for Andy.

As I pull out of the parking garage, I notice a sign that reminds people to buckle up. A "click it or ticket" ad.

I scoff. "What idiot can't remember to put on a seatbelt?"
~~~

Hey, just a little note, these updates are going to get shorter and more frequent in order to (sadly) end the book. I've been working on this thing for ages and I just need it to end, so hate if you will but this puppy's being completed soon whether you like it or not. I'm pushing for 16 maybe 17 chapters?

Anyway, get ready to loathe me for life.
-(Charles)