GHOSTS - GRAYSON DOLAN

ten: awake

Grayson's eyes slowly open, vision blurry and light blinding. His head hurts--a lot.

"Gray?" Ethan gapes, moving in his line of sight. "Oh my god, bro, you're awake! I was so scared you wouldn't wake up."

His eyebrows furrow as Ethan pulls him in for a hug. He looks around the hospital room, noticing a relieved looking Valerie by his bedside too.

"...why are we at the hospital? What happened?" He croaks, voice scratchy from lack of use. "And who is this?"

Valerie's face falls. He doesn't remember anything.

Grayson doesn't remember a goddamn thing from being in a coma. It made sense--if people remembered that, there would be news stories about it. But if he doesn't, why does she?

They hadn't even thought to consider they might not remember each other when they woke up. They definitely hadn't considered only one of them would remember. It hurt so much for her to know Grayson didn't remember her at all.

"Grayson, I--you don't remember?" Valerie asks, seeing his deep confusion. "Oh god. What the hell do I do now?"

She was still holding onto his hand. His grip on hers was loose as he pulled back. Grayson's strength was completely depleted.

"I think I'm gonna be sick--"

Grayson leans over the edge of the bed and throws up, though all that really comes is a clear liquid. Ethan is mumbling things to him, barely even caring about Valerie now that his brother is finally awake.

"So sorry! She just woke up from a coma herself, she must be confused," one of the nurses walks in. "I'll help her back to bed and get the doctor in here. It's so good he's awake."

"Wait, please--" but they nurse doesn't listen, and Ethan and Grayson don't spare her a glance.

Valerie wants to scream, but she feels so exhausted and hurt that she doesn't fight. Grayson didn't remember her. Was there even any way to make him remember? She had no idea how to go about that.

"Valerie!" Her mother gasps, rushing into her hospital room. "Oh, my baby, I'm so glad you're awake."

"Hey, mama," she smiles weakly, returning the crushing hug. "Sorry I scared you."

Her little sister is climbing up on the bed with a smile as her older brother, Antonio enters. "How was your nap?"

"Shut up," she laughs, hugging her sister. "It was so good I think I'll take another few weeks. See you guys then?"

"Valerie Santos, do not joke like that!" He mom scolds, hitting her in the arm. She winces, holding up her cast. She fractured her arm on the rocks while falling, but the doctor said they could probably remove the cast now. It healed while she was asleep.

"Mama, you're gonna hurt my arm again."

"You deserve it," Antonio laughs. "You know how much mama cried?"

"Sorry, mama," Valerie says sheepishly. "I'll be more careful from now on, promise."

Though she was still thinking about Grayson, it's nice to be able to see her family again. They were in good spirits considering she seemed to be doing okay. Valerie doesn't feel okay though.

--

She stretches her newly freed arm as she walks around. They removed the cast not too long ago, but her arm still got a tad sore if she wasn't easy on it.

Valerie's still in the hospital. A couple of days have passed since she woke up. The doctors think she can go home tomorrow, but she's been bored out of her mind still stuck in the hospital. No Grayson to even hangout with this time around.

Her family has been visiting, but they still have their own lives, and they know she's going home soon. So it's just been her in the hospital, at least with her phone this time.

But today, she was going to see Grayson. Maybe now he would remember her.

He looks up as she enters, tired eyes on his face. "Uh... you're the girl that was in here when I woke up, right?" He mumbles, crossing his arms. "I don't think you're supposed to be in here."

Her heart broke again. "Yeah I'm... Valerie. Figured you'd be pretty bored."

"Well, fuckin--yeah, I am, but that doesn't really mean you should be in here," Grayson sighs. "But I guess you can stay for a bit... only because there's nothing else to do."

Grayson has a concussion still, and therefore can't even spend much time on his phone. He's been bored out of his mind too. Ethan came to visit multiple times, and his mom had flown in again, but they couldn't be at the hospital every second. Therefore he spent a lot of time staring at the wall.

Valerie gives a small smile at his response. It was so similar to when they first met.

"So, do you remember how you got hurt?" She asks after a minute. He raises an eyebrow at the question she chose.

"It's blurry, but Ethan and I were filming a video. I was up high for something and I fell, and I smashed my head. Hence the TBI," Grayson shrugs. "Sorry... how the hell do you know me? Ethan said you told him you weren't a fan, but I'm really lost here."

"We uh, we knew each other, once upon a time. You were a bit of an asshole, if I'm being honest," Valerie teases, smiling to herself. Grayson just watches her in confusion, his eyebrows furrowing while he tries to remember. "Guess you don't remember though, and that's fine. I just wanted to check in and make sure you were okay."

A/N

:(