5 Seconds to Love You

Chapter Two - Angelisa

Chapter Two

*Angelisa*

It was really hard to spend time with him from then on. We still hung out, but the things we did where limited. We would hang out, play games and watch movies at his house instead of going out to eat or having a picnic. He couldn't leave the house very often, and on the rare occasion that he did we only went to the movies. The day before my birthday was one of those days...

"Hey Angel, can we do something different today?" He asked me when we got into my dirty white 2010 Volkswagen Beetle. He was back in the hospital last week and just came home three days ago. That considered I was slightly worried about where he was going with this, but I played along.

"Of course! Where were you thinking?" 

"You remember that restaurant we used to go to all the time?"

"Braden-" I tried to interrupt.

"Angel, please listen to me. I just want to go there one last time."

"But-"

"Look at me Angel!" He yells. "I could be dead tomorrow and you'd regret not taking me there!" He was playing the death card on me, and I honestly had to give in. In a way he's right. I really do want to make his last days the best, but I don't want to hurt him either. It's so hard seeing him like this, having to think about him in this way. 

"Fine, but if you even cough or begin to show me signs of sickness I will take you right back home mister!" I manage to get a small laugh out of him, and that's enough to make me turn the key. 

I wish I wouldn't of started that car.

                        *****

"Okay we're here." I called as I jumped out of the car. I went around to help him out and offered him my arm. "Have you found yourself ready to dine on this wonderful evening your majesty?"

He raised his eyebrows slightly before taking my arm and playing along. "Of course your highness, I could think of nothing I'd rather do." We both giggled a little on our way in, and he only began talking after we were seated and had our drinks.

"Wow, doesn't this place bring back memories?" He was looking around the restaurant with wide loving eyes.

"Yeah," I sighed. 

"It's not fair." He said abruptly.

"I know it's not Braden." 

"No," he shook his head, "I mean that it's not fair to you."

"What?" I was taken aback.

"The two men in your life that cared about you more than themselves have been yanked from your arms." He shook his head again and repeated; "it's not fair."

"You aren't gone yet." I whispered only loud enough for him to hear.

"But you and I both know it's going to happen." 

"Why are we talking about this!?" I cried. "Can't we just live in the present?"

"Angel I just need to say something first. I know how much your father loved you, and I know how much I love you. And I also know that you love both of us just the same. But I want you to know that your going to have to let go eventually."

"What!?" I exclaimed as half the restaurant turned to look at us. 

"Angel!" He whispered forcefully before returning to his normal voice. "I know that you refuse to like any of your mothers boyfriends because they aren't your real dad. I don't want you to do the same thing with me. I want you to find someone who loves you as much as I do, someone who will be able to be with you forever."

"There isn't anyone else Braden. I'll never love someone as much as I love you." 

"Just try okay? Once I'm gone?" He stayed calm but I was a train wreck. I didn't understand how he could be saying this. Did really he think I could just get over him?

"I'll try." I lied, "But you better not leave me any sooner than you have to." I forced a smile that he returned and we thankfully dropped the subject. 

                        *****

We were halfway through our meal when it happened.

"Braden?" I asked slowly. I had teased him about coughing in the car, so I didn't know if it was real or not. He waved his hand at me as if to say he was fine, but I knew better. If this wasn't a joke then it was serious.

"Braden?" I asked quicker. 

He kept coughing.

"Braden?!" I yelled. A few people ran up to me and asked what was wrong. I reached around my purse but couldn't find my phone, I was in sheer panic mode. One of the women who ran over realized what I was doing and pulled out their phone and started to hand it to me. 

"Can, can you call 911?" I managed to ask while shoving through them to get closer to Braden. The woman looked confused until he started coughing up blood. 

"Hi um, there, there's a young man at the Golden Star Restaurant on 95th Avenue that, that needs..." She walked towards the entrance of the restaurant and I couldn't hear the rest of the call. I put my arm around Braden and tried to comfort him until the ambulance came. 

"It's okay Braden, you're going to be okay."

I think I was trying to convince myself more than I was trying to convince him.