Fake Tales

Chapter 30- Owning up

Chapter 30- Owning up

I lay in the hospital bed feeling completely content. Greg traced circles on my palm absentmindedly, sat in unusual silence. Somehow, this gesture was the most intimate we'd ever been, despite having slept together more times than I could count. It made me nervous how different it would feel when we could be together again: admitting our feelings had amplified every movement, every touch. I had never believed people when they said sex was different when you loved the person, but now I wasn't so certain. If the charged looks from Greg was anything to go by, he felt the difference too.

The fingers on my hand froze and I looked up suddenly at the change in confusion. I was met with a familiar face that I had not anticipated. His golden brown eyes were his identifer:Tom Winter. The one who brought me back to myself.

"Hey" I breathed, grinning widely. It struck me how much I had missed him.

"Tom" Greg greeted, less than warm for once. I knew the reason for his coldness: I had talked to him yesterday about my friendship with Tom. The muscle jumping in his jaw had been enough to put across his jealousy.

"How are you?" He asked, concern colouring his tone. He surprised me by coming towards me and give me a hug. When he pulled away, I scrutinised him closely.

"I could ask you the same. Look what they did to your face" I murmured sadly. He smiled sadly:

"It's nothing" he waved away my concern. "Sorry I didn't come sooner" he apologised quietly as he took the other seat beside my bed.

"I was sorting some stuff out. Our records are wiped clean Greg" he added and Greg sighed, forcing himself to be polite.

"Thanks Tom"

Tom looked between the two of us a few times suspiciously before opening his mouth to speak:

"I'm guessing Maddy has told you everything then" He muttered and Greg nodded stonily.

"You never told me who she was Greg. I knew there was a girl, God I would have been blind not to have noticed how you changed, there had to be a reason. It wasn't until I got to know you Mad-" he turned his warm gaze to me and I braced myself.

"That the possibility it could be you even crossed my mind, but by then it didn't seem to matter as much. When I kissed you-"

"You kissed her!" Greg growled, standing up and advancing towards Tom with such speed I was afraid the cuts on Tom's face were about to be burst open.

"Greg" I said warningly. "Please" I begged and Greg glanced at me with conflict on his face, torn between wanting to hit Tom and not wanting to hurt me anymore.

To my surprise he chose the latter. His shoulders relaxed a little and he sat down beside me, taking my hand with more force than necessary. I heaved a sigh of relief and Greg shot me a tight smile.

"See?" Tom said disbelievingly at me. "This is exactly what I mean. The Greg I knew would have knocked me to the ground, and not had a single regret" He said wistfully and Greg growled beside me:

"I still could" He grumbled and I shot him a look full of reproach.

"Not before you hear what I have to say" Tom insisted. Greg groaned, but said nothing.

"It wasn't because of Morton and I wasn't thinking about Greg. I kissed you because I wanted to, but as soon as I did I knew something was holding you back." He smiled a heartbreakingly sad smile and I blinked rapidly that I had caused him pain.

"I'm sorry, but..." I paused, unsure exactly how to word it, but then Tom ended it for me:

"You already loved someone else" he whispered.