𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 (1)

𝟹𝟶. 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚢𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍?

☆ • ☆ • ☆

she was just laying there. so motionless, machines surrounding her, making her look so small and fragile. a large bandage covered the left of audrey's forehead, a dark red staining the cloth.

daniel slowly stepped beside her, brushing a piece of audrey's hair away from her eyes. his lips quivered, his eyes opening and closing furiously to chase away unshed tears.

he took a deep breath, before gathering the strength the speak. dropping to one knee, he held audrey's hand in his as he whispered, "i'm sorry."

"audrey, i'm so, so, so, fucking sorry. i'm such a piece of shit, i know, but i swear to god i wasn't thinking about hurting you like this. it's all my fault. please wake up, i need to see your gorgeous eyes again, i need to hear your voice again, i need to see your smile again. i really do need you to wake up, rey, i need to tell you that you mean so much to me, and you're so perfect.  we're all waiting for you here, so whenever you're ready, just open your eyes, okay? we're always gonna be here for you. i promise. don't leave us, okay? just open your eyes, please. just open your eyes."

a tear slipped down daniel's cheek, falling onto audrey's limp hand.

"i'm really sorry," he whispered again, and stood up, still looking at her closed eyes, hoping they would open.

daniel stayed by her side for a moment longer, but then dr. buckley walked in, apologetic look on her face as she said, "it's time for someone else to see her, visiting hours are almost over."

he nodded, following the doctor back to the waiting room, where his friends (and julian) were waiting, hopeful expressions on their faces.

daniel just shrugged, sitting down on one of the chairs as christina walked with dr. buckley back to audrey's room.

"um, daniel?" julian quietly called. "christina was saying that we both should go out and get some flowers for rey."

daniel looked at julian, who seemed to be almost afraid at what daniel would say next.

he then looked at jonah, who nodded, silently telling daniel to go with julian.

he groaned, but got up and said, "fine. but i'm driving your car."

"please don't kill each other," zach said.

"i'll think about it," daniel replied, rolling his eyes. "now let's leave before i change my mind."

the two boys walked out to the parking lot in silence, walking as far away from each other as possible without it seeming too weird.

once they got in the car, julian asked, "where are we going?"

"it's bad luck to ask someone where they're going right when they're about to leave," daniel growled. "you'll see where we're going when we get there."

they drove in silence, both saying straight ahead at the road, looking at the setting sun in the sky.

"why'd christina want us to get stuff for rey?" daniel asked. "you could've gone yourself."

"she wanted us to talk and try to settle our differences," julian replied.

"stop that," daniel said.

"stop what?"

"stop acting like we're the same fucking person and that all of a sudden you changed and you're an angel now. you're still a fucking dick who cheated on his girlfriend."

"yeah, but so did you, asshole."

"we aren't even together yet, it's not like i asked her."

"you don't need to ask someone if they want to be you girlfriend! it's obvious if they are or not by how they act towards you!" julian shouted. "so you fucking cheated on your girlfriend, just like me. we're the same fucking person. like it or not, that's the truth."

daniel didn't reply, because he had reached the small flower boutique that he would always go to when it was his sister's or mom's birthday. he jumped out of the car without a word, and walked in, hoping that julian wouldn't follow him.

he did.

"aw, hey dani," skylar, the florist greeted him, "how are you? it's not anyone's birthday now, is it?"

"i'm good, sky, and no, i'm just gonna get some flowers for a, um, for a friend."

"oh, okay, must be a special friend, you never buy flowers for anyone but anna and keri. so what's the occasion?"

"um, do you have any flowers that symbolize healing?" daniel asked.

skylar nodded, "we could do something with some white hyacinths, maybe some roses too if you'd like."

daniel nodded. "that would be great."

skylar walked to the roses, grabbing some when she noticed julian. "oh, is this your boyfriend?" she asked.

daniel choked on his spit, coughing out a, "what?"

julian's cheeks were a burning red as he answered, "no, we just know each other."

"oh, sorry about that," skylar apologized, "you two would be good with each other."

daniel and julian didn't say anything, just stood there, partially in shock.

a few minutes later, skylar handed the finished bouquet to daniel. "i hope this friend feels better soon, and i hope to see you soon, dani."

daniel waved goodbye as he walked out, julian following him.

"you can drive if you want."

☆

"oh, there you are," christina greeted daniel and julian as the walked back to the waiting room, daniel holding the flowers he had gotten for audrey. "we were getting worried for a second."

"i'm not planning on killing him right now," daniel deadpanned. "it would be too obvious and everyone would know i killed him, i'm gonna wait for a little bit."

christina rolled her eyes. "you're not funny."

"are there any updates on audrey?" julian asked.

christina shrugged. "they say she should be waking up soon, but they'll be keeping her for observation for about a week to make sure her lung's fully healed. i'm so scared."

daniel squeezed christina in hug with his free arm, "it's gonna be okay," he whispered.

"can i put the flowers in her room?" julian asked. "i wanna see her."

dr. buckley, who was talking to jonah, looked at julian. "i'm sorry, sir, visiting hours are over. you all should get some sleep, come back tomorrow, she should be awake by then. you can hand me the flowers."

"please call us if she wakes up," christina said. "if we can see her as soon as she wakes up, it would be great."

dr. buckley nodded. "i'll see what i can do, but for now, you all need to get some sleep."

"thank you for everything, dr. buckley, we'll see you soon," jonah said, before everyone slowly went back home.