Sing Me To Sleep

Chapter 32

My head is throbbing. It feels like someone beat my skull in with a baseball bat... Or I drank a six pack of beer and passed out on a sidewalk.

I groan and roll over, flinching at a slight pang in my side, and clench my hand into a fist around the... Sheets? What the hell? Since when does pavement have linen?

I ignore the sharp pain reverberating through my head and force my eyes open to mere slits, taking in my surroundings. I'm in a bed, that much is clear, but the walls around me don't look familiar. The plain white walls are tainted yellow with what I assume is nicotine stains and a grey blanket covers me from my waist down. I tug the fabric closer, realizing my shirt is gone. My jeans stick uncomfortably to my skin under the blanket and I shift, causing more pain in my side. What happened to my side? How did I even get here?

My eyes scan the room before landing on the figure seated on the opposite bed. His legs are folded in front of him and he bites down on his lip, scrutinizing me, while his fingers tap anxiously against his sweat pants. His black hair is still damp from the rain, pushed back away from his face to reveal a contemplative expression. Deep in thought, he nearly glares at me.

I sigh, another involuntary groan leaving my lips. "What happened?" I wonder. My voice is hoarse and the words are practically croaked.

Gerard shifts and swallows visibly hard before replying. "You got hammered, tried to jump off of Fairemount Bridge, and then passed out on the sidewalk."

I move up on the bed and glance around the room again, this time recognizing it as Gerard's. The bed beneath me is his, as the other side of the room is desolate of any personal items. "I remember that," I moan and rub a hand across my tired eyes. "How did I get here?"

"I carried you," Gerard replies as if it's no big deal. My eyebrows shoot up in surprise and he shrugs, averting his gaze. "I wasn't going to just leave you there."

"Why not?" I ask. "I recall just earlier when you told me to get the fuck out. I was just listening."

Gerard rolls his eyes, exasperated, and looks back at me. "I was pissed," He admits. "I didn't mean you should go throw yourself off the closest bridge."

I look down at my lap, remembering just what I said to make him angry in the first place. I close my eyes and take a breath before glancing back up at him. "I'm sorry."

His fingers tap once again on his leg. His jaw clenches and he watches me, unreadable emotions playing across his delicate features. I decide I don't like him when he's angry; I'd rather see those pink lips turned up in a smile instead of warped into a snarl. It takes Gerard a long moment to compose himself, gathering his thoughts and wording his next question just right without freaking out this time. "What do you know about my brother?"

I huff out a breath of air and contemplate what I should tell him before deciding I should keep as close to the truth as possible without sounding like an escaped mental patient. "I remember him from school."

One corner of Gerard's mouth raises in a sad smile and he nods. "You two were in the same grade," He agrees. "After the incident, I fell behind. Ended up failing for the year." So that's how Gerard is eighteen and still a Junior. That's why he's in my Chemistry class.

"Gerard?" I ask hesitantly.

He doesn't move at first, not acknowledging me though I know he heard my voice, so I just wait. A second later, he looks up at me. "Hmm?"

My mouth moves to form the words I want so badly to ask, but my brain has different plans and I end up asking, "Where's my shirt?"

Gerard's gaze shifts to my bare chest before darting away and brushing some hair forward into his face. "It was soaked," He mutters. "I had to take it off before you froze to death."