Ever After - Second Book of the Video Games Series

seven.

Seven.

Lia’s POV;

Someone started to shake me, trying to get me to wake up. I sat up abruptly, and looked down at Justin, just to find him still sleeping soundly. I turned around to see a nurse looking at me, with a frown on her face. “I have to go, don’t I?”

She frowned as she simply nodded her head. “I gave you an hour, but I don’t want to get into trouble.”

I sighed, “Thank you, I understand.” I got out of the bed, put on my shoes and grabbed my bag about to walk out the door.

“Excuse me, miss?”

I turned around, “Yeah?”

“He’ll be okay, I promise.”

I felt tears prick the edges of my eyes. “Yeah, I know…thanks.” I couldn’t help the tears that spilled when I turned away from her frowning figure. I just wanted to throw myself in front of a bus because of how bad I felt. When the chilled night air hit me, I couldn’t help but sober out of my sad feeling. I kept my head down as I charged to my car. It wasn’t until I bumped into someone that I realized I was walking the wrong way. “I’m sorry; I tend to bump into a lot of people.” I sniffed.

“Lia?”

I snapped my head up, “Josh…”

Josh’s POV;

I looked into her eyes and tried to read her. She’s been the same Lia I left months and months ago. I wanted to reach out and touch her but the shock on her face held me back. I was ready to have her start screaming or have her punch me or something but she just hugged me and started crying. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around her shaking body. “Shh, what’s wrong?”

“Everything’s wrong, Justin, he-he’s hurt all because of me.”

“Lia, I’m sure it’s not your fault, you always take blame for things you have no control over.”

“Josh, I’m so sorry.”

I leaned back, surprised, “For what?”

“Leaving you that day and for making you feel like you were losing me. We were best friends and I ruined everything.”

I just pulled her small frame close to me, inhaling the scent her hair was wafting off. I don’t know how long I held her, but I knew it was for a while because she pulled away and wiped her face. “Are you feeling better?”

She shook her head, “No, I just want him to be okay.”

“He will be, because you have faith in him, and that’s all that mattered.” I lied.

 I hoped that bastard died in that hospital, and with my connections I can make it happen.

Justin’s POV;

I opened my eyes slowly and saw nothing but blackness and a beeping sound coming from the right of me. I looked around and didn’t find anyone sitting in the chairs on either side of my bed. I leant back and felt sadness overwhelm me. Why wouldn’t Lia be here? Did she even bother to come? I wanted to cry and punch a wall at the same time. I don’t care if she was mad at me; she’s supposed to be here, by my fucking side. I bet she’s with Bruce right now. I bet she’s hung all over him in the corner of some party right now, probably kissing his neck, biting his lip, doing all of our cute things. I was squeezing the railing to my bed so hard it cracked beneath my hands. I bit my lip and finally released my tears.

I let out every emotion I held back.

Lia’s POV;

After saying goodbye to Josh I drove my car back to my dorm and locked myself in my room. My hall was empty because everyone was out partying. I was wearing my PINK yoga pants and a loose shirt. I walked out into the hallway towards the vending machine when arms wrapped themselves around my waist. I jumped forward and I spun around, “What the hell Bruce?”

“Sorry, I just thought you would be at Damon’s party by now.” He smiled.

“I don’t feel like going.”

“Why?”

“I just don’t feel like going okay? So, you should go before someone misses you.” I turned back to the machine, placing a dollar in and pressing B5 to get a snickers bar.

“Lia, you know moping in your dorm room won’t do a thing. C’mon, let’s just go check it out and if you don’t like it, I’ll bring you back here and we can watch The Notebook together.”

I let my shoulders slump and I looked at Bruce, “You’d really leave a party just to watch me cry and be depressed?”

“I won’t let you.” He smiled. “So, what do you say?”

I looked down, “Fine, but I’m not getting too dressed up.”

Bruce’s POV;

I watched Lia chug down her fourth beer in 10 minutes. “Whoa, slow down bad ass, are you trying to outdo me or something?”

She smiled and put down her empty can. “Not my fault you can’t move as fast as me.” She slurred.

I looked at her; incredulously “You really want to roll with the big dogs?”

She laughed and shook her head, “Anything you can do, I can do better.”

I grabbed her hand, “Let’s go then.” I pushed through the crowd and pushed the douches surrounding the keg stand out the way. “Okay Lia, do it.”

She looked at me and giggled, “You’re kidding.”

“No, I’m not. I’ll hold your legs, but you have to chug for a minute, upside down.” I yelled, everyone around me cheering. I saw Dane and Carson surround us.

“And if I don’t last the whole minute?”

“You have to take something off.” I smirked. The guys howled. I held my hand up and everything grew silent, “But, I get to take it off you.”

“But, what if I do make the whole minute?” She countered.

“I have to take something off.” All the girls cheered.

Lia smiled and shrugged, stepping up on the platform. She held each leg up to me one by one, and started chugging. Everyone started counting to 60 but by the time we got to 52 seconds, she started tipping backwards and I caught her. All the guys started cheering, and I slowly lift her shirt up and off her head. She held her head up high. “No, I’m going again.”

I laughed, “You sure about this?”

“Yep.” She held her feet out to me and I held onto her, helping her stay up. Everyone started counting again and her eyes squeezed shut. When we got to 58, I started to give up, but at 59 she leant forward and leant up against me. Everyone started screaming again, especially the guys when I unbuttoned Lia’s shorts and pushed them down to her ankles.