How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

25- Still Want You

Anthony

The morning after the incident I wake up in the chair next to Clara's bed. Her door was open and the light came shining in. I slowly come to and look around. A nurse comes in and smiles at me as I try to piece together what was happening.

"Good morning Mr. Rizzo" the man says.

"I'm in a hospital, is it really that good of a morning" I ask.

"I guess not. But your... lady friend... should be waking up here pretty soon" he tells me.

"Well I guess it is a pretty good morning then huh" I ask.

"I guess so" he smiles.

I leave while they wake her up and do some tests on her. I go downstairs to the little convenience store and get her some flowers and a stuffed animal. I see a bear dressed up like the Cubs mascot and decide to get that one. I purchase my over priced gifts and head back to the room.

When I get up there the doctors had all left. She was sitting there drinking her drink and I stop myself from entering the room.

What if she doesn't want me? What if she hates me for letting this happen to her? What if she gets upset that Eddie is dead?

"Anthony" a soft voice says and I shake my head. "I can see you" Clara giggles and I smile. Man, I've missed that sound.

"Uh... Hey" I stutter and she smiles at me.

"Hey" she responds and I laugh.

"I um, I got these for you" I say setting the flowers and bear on the tray beside her.

"I love them, thank you" she says.

"How are you feeling" I ask as I take my seat next to her.

"I've been better" she admits.

"Are you going to be okay" I ask.

"Yeah. I should be able to go home tomorrow. I just can't do much with my arm for a while until the wound heals. But they're not worried so I won't be" she shrugs with her good arm.

"That's good" I nod.

It falls silent as she stares at me. I try to look into her eyes but I cant bring myself to do it.

"What's wrong with you" she asks ever so softly.

"Eddie. He uh, he died yesterday" I say and I hear her inhale sharply.

"What happened" she asks.

"He got in a standoff with some of the officers. They ultimately shot him dead" I explain. "Kind of ironic, the people he deceived for so long ended up being the ones bringing him to justice."

"Oh" she whispers.

"What uh... what happened to you" I ask.

"He was drunk and being extremely rude, more rude than he had even been before. He was messing around with his gun and shot one of the paintings I was working on. He knew that I loved that one more than the others and he wanted to be a ass hole. He thought it was funny, but I was having none of it. I freaked out. I started yelling at him, I told him I hated him and I wish he would leave me the hell alone. He started arguing back calling me unfaithful and a worthless piece of shit. I told him I would never be as worthless as he is and he flipped. He shot me then immediately regretted it. He knew he wasn't supposed to use his gun when he wasn't on the clock, defiantly not when he's drinking or on his so called girlfriend. But it was too late because someone called 911 after he fired the first shots at my painting. Within seconds of me being shot someone came and put me on a stretcher and took me here. They put me to sleep last night and I just woke up" she explains.

"What did you paint" I ask and she smiles.

"Euphoria" she claims and I turn my head to the side.

"What does that mean" I ask.

"It means everything" she claims. "It's a perfect world where nothing goes wrong, where no one gets hurt" she explains.

"That sounds beautiful" I admit.

"It was, until that ass hole ruined it" she mumbles.

"Is it bad I kind of wish he was alive just so I can kick his ass" I ask.

"Not really" she smirks.

"So you're not upset he's gone" I question.

"Not as much as I should be, no. I'm mostly relived. He was a demon that had been haunting me for years. Now it's gone and I'm free. I didn't want him dead, I just wanted him to leave me the hell alone. But I guess I still got what I asked for" she chuckles.

"Yeah. So why are you going to do now" I ask and she sighs.

"I really don't know. I guess the one good thing about him is that I know he would always want me" she admits.

"Well I still want you" I say then quickly regret it. "I mean... you know what I mean" I try.

"I'm not sure I do" she admits.

"I know it's been like a month since you lived at my place, but your room is still set up like you like it. I water your flowers you had in the window and the paint is a little dried up but I'm more than willing to get you some new colors" I assure her.

"You're not over me yet" she teases and I laugh.

"Never" I smile.

"Well if it's no problem, I would love to move back in with you" she says and I smile.

"There isn't a thing in this world that would make me happier" I claim.

"Nothing" she smirks.

"Don't do that" I warn and she laughs.

We chill out in her hospital room as we wait to see what the doctors had to say. There wasn't much else they could do at this point so depending on her pain levels she could come home as soon as tomorrow.

I sit there with my fingers laced through hers. I rub the back of her hand as I touch her so softly. Jon and his family and Jess and Kris all come visit her. Hudson drew a picture and said he was trying to be a artist like her which was the cutest thing ever. He wasn't sure what was all going on but he loved hanging out with Clara regardless of the circumstance. Farrah and Jess offered to help her out with whatever she needed and Jon was just happy the bastard was dead. Regardless of what happens after this moment, I know that whatever I do I'm going to do it for her.