I still got your back, you stupid bad-ass

Comatose

Kenny's POV

“Kenny?” a voice said. “Can you hear me, sweetie?”

"Ugghhh…"

Slowly, my eyes opened. I struggled against the bright lights. It felt like I was inside a black hole for so long. I wasn’t used to the light anymore.

I sound like death.

“Kenny!” Leigh cried, hugging me tightly. “Oh you’re awake.”

“Wha--” I croaked. I cleared my throat and Jerry handed me a glass of water from the dispenser. “Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital. You’ve been unconscious for days.”

I drank the water when I felt a painful sting on my shoulder.

“Ooh, don’t move that arm too much, honey. It kind of…got... in the fire.”

My eyes widened. “I-Aren’t I supposed to be dead?”

“Don’t say that!” Leigh scolded. “And Chris saved you. He was so brave.”

“Chris?” I flinched. Why did he…? I turned my head to the side and saw the antique box sitting on the side table. It didn’t look burned, nor opened.

Hmph. The way he acted the other day... If he hated me so much he should've just left me there. I thought to myself.

“I think you should talk to him.” Leigh said softly. “When he wakes up, though. He’s still unconscious. He also came out with a burn on his arm. But it’s slightly bigger than yours.”

“He tried to keep you from getting burned.” a tired voice came from the doorway.

“Hannah,”

“Hey Kenny.” she smiled, coming over to hug me.

“Is he…is he okay?” I asked quietly.

Leigh, Jerry and Hannah exchanged knowing looks.

“He’s fine. Just still unconscious.”

“I want to see him.” I blurted out.

They looked at me in surprise.

“Well…okay. We can borrow a wheelchair.” Leigh said. Hannah suppressed her smile.

Hannah took me to Chris’s room. It was only five doors down from mine.

“Honestly, Kenny,” Hannah said. “What were you thinking, running inside a burning house? What was so important that you had to risk your life for it?”

I looked down at the box that was sitting on my lap.

“Memories,” I whispered. “The only ones worth keeping.”

Hannah didn’t say anything as she knocked on the door.

We both waited for a minute before going inside ourselves. I guess she was hoping he’d be awake enough to say ‘come in’.

My breath got caught in my throat as I saw Chris laying on the white bed sheets. His eyes shut, breathing labored. And a big bandage on his arm. It was like mine, only bigger.

Hannah smiled faintly. “I’ll leave you two here.”

I barely nodded as I wheeled myself closer to him.

“Chris,” my voice trembled. “Why did you do that? You couldn’t have gotten hurt if you didn’t…”

He didn’t answer. His eyes remained closed.

“Answer me…” tears spilled on the sheet, and my hands were shaking as they clutched the antique case.

My unburned arm reached over to his hand. I stroked his fingers gently and dropped my head on the bed.

“Wake up soon.” I said silently. “Please.”

***

Everyday when I woke up, I would go to Chris’s room. I would eat my breakfast there, I would tell him random stories, play soft music, or just sit quietly and wait for him to wake up.

Surprisingly, Rozlyn hasn’t even visited. Not once.

Does she even know about the fire? She couldn’t have missed it. It was all over the news.

Hannah, Charlotte, Stephen, Aaron and the other guys occasionally stopped by to visit after school. I only left Chris’s room when I had to go back to my own for bed.

I also left the box in his room, and wrote him notes every day while he was asleep. So in case he woke up and I wasn’t there, he’d find those notes and read them instead.

After the fire, I slowly started to realize that Chris was right. I worried everyone all the time by staying in my room and moping. My constant acts of running away every time I was upset. It was stressing Leigh, Jerry, and Hannah. I couldn’t keep doing this to them.

So I guess the best way to get over it is to start all over again…and be friends with Chris just like we were once. I don’t know how he’s going to take it when I tell him.

Maybe someday I’ll get over Chris completely. I mean, he was the only guy I ever really fell for. It’s tough getting over heartbreak. But I guess that’s what makes us strong.

“Kendall?” the nurse came in. “Time for bed, Hon.”

I barely turned my head. “Can you give me five minutes?”

“Sure thing.” she said. “Holler when your ready.”

I nodded.

“Well, good night Chris. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I patted his hand.

But before I could pull away, his fingers closed on my hand.

***

“Chris?” I whispered cautiously.

His eyelids fluttered. I stifled a gasp.

“N-Nurse!” I called out hoarsely. She came in, looking at me, to Chris. Then back at me.

“I think he’s waking up.”

The nurse started calling the doctor, and I wheeled out of the room and into my own. Despite the fact that I didn’t want to go. They pried Chris’s hand off mine and tucked me into my own bed.

I sulked all night.