Therapy (Jalex)

Session 17

Patient: Alexander William Gaskarth

Notes: anxious

-Dr. Bassam Barakat

-

"I'm here to see Jack Barakat!" I breathed, skidding to a halt in front of the receptionist's desk. "He was admitted earlier today."

"Are you family?" asked the middle aged woman manning the desk. She glanced up from her keyboard and eyed me warily. "Only family can visit at the moment."

"No... but we're close," I ventured, clenching my fists. "Please, I need to see him. I love him."

The receptionist sighed, probably inwardly rolling her eyes. "And what would your name be?" she asked, lifting her fingers over the keyboard, waiting for me to answer.

"Um... Alex," I replied, unsure as to why she was asking me my name. She lowered her fingers and looked me in the eye.

"Gaskarth?" she presumed. I nodded. "Oh, well, I suppose you can go visit Jack. Room B13. You'll have to wait in the floor's waiting room though."

"Thank you!" I exhaled, unclenching my sweaty hands. "But... why does it matter who I am?"

"His dad dropped by," she answered. "He asked if an Alex Gaskarth visited yet, and then he gave permission for you to see him. You'll have to wait for the nurse tending him to leave, though."

"Oh... Thanks." I nodded and spun away, dashing to the elevator. My hand slammed the button, and almost immediately, the door slid open. Once I arrived at the correct floor, I scoured the many busy halls of the hospitals, back handing tears as I went.

Please be okay, I begged silently, jogging down unfamiliar halls. I can't live without you.

I stopped at a white door with B13 etched onto a metal plate. After taking a minute to compose myself, I sat down in the chairs outside the door next to a brunette girl. I held my head in my hands and breathed best I could.

"Alex?" A familiar tinkling voice met my ears. I lifted my head, completely and utterly startled.

"Lisa?" I turned to see that I was sitting next to my ex-girlfriend. She was staring at me with those bright green eyes I'd always admired, and I widened my own.

"Wow, okay, I didn't expect to see you here," she said, chuckling nervously. "Why are you here?"

"My... friend got into an accident." I stumbled over my words, and Lisa nodded understandingly.

"Wow, I'm sorry, really," she said with empathy. That made me remember why I thought I liked her in the first place. She was genuine and caring, not to mention pretty, and she was an overall good person. It made me feel slightly sad that we had to date and end our relationship, leaving on such awkward terms. I would've much rather been friends and stay that way.

"Why're you here?"

"My brother got into a fight," she replied, rolling her eyes. "He needs brain cell implants or whatever."

"Oh... that's not good," I mustered, trying to return the empathy, yet utterly failing. Those eight days of isolation clearly weren't good for my social skills.

"He's not good," Lisa chuckled, flashing her million watt smile. I tried to laugh along, but it only came out as a strange hiccup.

The door to Jack's room opened, and a nurse left, clipboard in hand. The door shut, and my fingers went numb. It was time.

"That would be my cue," I stated blatantly, awkwardly standing up. My knees popped, and I cursed silently. Lisa nodded.

"Okay, well I hope he feels better!" she called as I touched the doorknob. I turned around.

"Same to your brother," I managed to say before turning the knob. The door shut behind me, and my heart leapt into my throat.

He was lying in the hospital bed with a cast around his elevated leg, bandages wrapped around various places on his body, including his head, and all the bandages were bloodstained. His nose was broken, his lovely nose, and his finger was in a splint. He was unconscious, and he was so pale, I didn't know if he was alive.

"Jack..." I whimpered, trying not to let word vomit and crying vomit tumble out of my mouth. My heart dropped, and all I felt was numb. He was so vulnerable, all tucked in that little bed, and it was like a nightmare. "Please be awake."

I shut the door behind me and walked to his side, my Converse squeaking against the linoleum floor. Delicately, I touched the back of his hand. It was warm, and I sighed with slight relief.

"What did I ever do wrong?" I asked quietly. "I know this wasn't bad karma. But, I don't know where I went wrong. You've gotta help me, Jack. I've dug myself into a hole I can't get out of. I need you, and you need me. Please, just... be alright."

My emotions seemed to be never ending, and they crawled right out of my throat. Seeing him so vulnerable... It made my heart break. I cared for him so much, and I needed him in my life. That only meant one thing.

"I think..." I said quietly, holding his hand, "I think... I think I might love you."

My eyes flickered to his face, and I saw his mouth twitch before curling into a smile. He was awake. I exhaled with relief.

"Dammit," he muttered, his eyes finally opening. "I couldn't hold back my smile."

"Have you been awake this entire time?" I asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Yeah, kind of," he said, smirking. "And I think I might love you too."

-

A/N:
Hellooooooo! I just wanted to tell you that you aRE SO NICE AND AWESOME AND I LOVE YOU. Is it weird that I can recognize y'all when you vote for my chapters? Like I see your name and I'm like HAAAAAY but yeah just putting that out there. I believe I shall get over my comment anxiety and read more of them and >oh God< reply to the ones I can think of not awkward replies to. #arianaproblems. SO YEAAAAS. HAVE FUN AND HAPPY NEW YEAR SQUEEE.

-Ari◕‿◕