They Don't Know (BOOK TWO)

Chapter 59

"You get released tomorrow. Are you excited?" Corey's mom says after entering the hospital room with Ariana in tow. She sits on the edge of the bed as Ariana scampers over to Corey, kisses him on the cheek then takes the seat by the window and points at the traffic below.

"Yeah, I'm sick of this horrible food and staring at these walls every day." He tells her.

"Me too," she chuckles. She has come by everyday to check on Corey and make sure he's in good hands. Corey figures she's trying to make up for how much of his life she already missed. "We still need a decision to be made before you leave out of here, you know."

Corey knows what she's referring to. He's been thinking long and hard about his decision and Sevyn even called him earlier to discuss it. It's a hard decision but he knows its the right one. He looks into his mothers waiting amber eyes and almost melts from how intensely they're staring into his own. Swallowing, he lets the words tumble out.

"I've been really gratefully for having you with me these past weeks. It feels good knowing that you still care about me and I've been thinking about what you told me. Yes I would practically do anything to avoid having to face my dad in court, I would love to just escape this whole dilemma. But the truth is, there's no running away from it. I have to face it now or later. Mom, I want you as my legal guardian."

His mother's face lights up, "Corey that's---"

"But!" He quickly interjects and her face dims as she forces a smile.

"There's always a but." She says crossing her legs and shifting her weight on the bed.

"I want to stay in Connecticut." Corey finally says. Confusion passes across his mothers face and he quickly explains. "I want to stay here and finish my last year with my friends. I want to go on the senior trip, go to prom, go to games with my friends. They're the closest thing I've ever had to a true family." He smiles a little at the thought of his friends. "I don't want to leave with you to Atlanta and adjust to a whole new school, new way of living and new lifestyle. I want to graduate with the bit of normalcy I have left. I want to stay here."

The room is silent as his mother's eyes takes over her his face. It's like he can feel them move across his skin, assessing him from every bruise on his face to the smooth caramel skin along his body. A part of her heat aches and she brushes a strand of hair from her face. "And where do you plan to live?"

"I talked to the twins earlier and they're offering me a place to stay." He tries to read his mothers face but the emotion is so hidden well. "I didnt talk to their mom yet but she's been like a second mom to me for a long time."

Something flashes behind his mothers eyes but she blinks it away and rubs her palms across her pants. "If you think that's what's best for you Corey, then I'll agree to it."

His eyebrows crinkle together in surprise. "I was prepared for an argument."

"Corey you're about to be 18 soon, I think you're old enough to make the decisions you believe is right." She says patting his leg with a small smile. Her eyes stay glued to his as she leans closer to him. "I hope you know that I love you Corey, regardless of what's happened in the past I don't want to leave here with you still thinking that I'm just a hopeless case. I love you, I've always loved you. And I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving you. That was a bad decision on my part and it haunts me everyday. I wish I could make it up to you."

At this point Corey can feel the wall he built up against his mom begin to crack. Little did she know, he forgave her as soon as she walked into the hospital room when he first woke up from the coma. He was angry towards her, pissed off that she just now decided to show her face again. But something deep inside him was relieved to see her and craved to have her arms around him, holding him like she used to. However his stubborness and pent up fustration towards her held him back. His ego kept him from caving into her, he wanted her to hurt the way he's been hurting for years. And now that she's here apologizing so they can rebuild their relationship, he can't hold a grudge against the person that brought him into this world.