𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐚 | ✓

t w e n t y s i x

"I can't believe this happened to my beautiful boy," Anne says as her, Brad, Charlotte and Magnolia get out of the car. Brad is coming home from the hospital. They advised that he stays longer, but he insisted. His audition is in exactly one week and being in the hospital was a definite set back.

His head is killing him and he constantly feels like he is going to vomit, but those are just side effects of the concussion. He went inside as fast as he could because the sun was burning his eyes.

Magnolia holds his hand as they walk up the stairs. She has been extremely protective over him lately. It was hard for her to even let his snot nosed "friends" visit him in the hospital.

"Are you alright? Do you need water or food? I can go to that pizza place you like—"

"I'm good, babe," he grins, closing his door behind them. "You're sweet, but I'm fine. I promise."

He wasn't fine. He just didn't want her to worry.

Brad then pulls her into a warm hug. "Please never get hurt again," she frowns. "I hate seeing you in pain."

"I'll try not to," he smiles, looking down at her and moving her face to look at him, too. "I love you. Now go hang out with your bff. If I don't practice, I'll definitely not get in."

"Love you too," she stands on her tippy toes, kissing his nose. "Let me know if need anything. Let any of us know if you need anything."

Magnolia then goes downstairs to find Charlotte because she never heard her go into her room after they arrived at the house.

"Charlotte went to the pharmacy to get Brad's prescriptions," Anne says, pouring tea into a mug. "Want some?"

"Yeah, sure," Magnolia smiles, sitting down at the kitchen island.

"I'm happy you kids figured everything out."

"Hm?"

"You know, when you and Charlotte weren't speaking. I'm happy you have it all figured out now."

"Oh yeah," she grins. "I am too."

"I would've been devastated if you and Bradley had to breakup because of it. That boy has loved you his whole life."

"How do you know that?" she laughs.

"Momma's know everything, sweetheart. All of my assumptions were finally cleared up on the night of the dance. I wish you could've seen the way he was looking at you. It was like you were the only girl in the room."

"It blows my mind that I never even noticed. I feel kind of bad, actually. I wish I would've known because we could've been together for a lot longer."

"Maybe it's good that it took this long," she sips out of her mug. "You guys are a lot more mature now and I think that makes your relationship a lot stronger."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

After Charlotte got home, the time went by quite fast. It mainly consisted of Charlotte ranting about how Alex had already been talking to a new girl, but Magnolia didn't mind. She likes helping.

When Magnolia realized how late it was, she wanted to go say bye to Brad before Charlotte drove her home. Brad offered to drive her earlier, but he was the only one that thought that was a good idea.

She was in the middle of the hallway when she heard him throwing up from the bathroom inside his room. She quickly opened the door and went inside the bathroom go make sure he was okay. She just wants him to be okay.

He was sitting on the floor, across from the toilet, his back against the wall. He was extremely pale and his eyes were full of tears.

"You're not fine," she said, sitting down next to him. "You don't need to lie and say that you're fine to make me feel better. I don't expect you do he fine."

"It hurts, Magnolia," he rests his head on her shoulder. "When is it going to stop hurting?"

"I don't know, baby. The doctor said it should only be a week—"

"I don't have a week! I'm behind in school from being in the hospital and my audition is in seven days! I don't have time to be in pain."

She runs her hand through his messy hair, trying to calm him down. "I know, I know," she says softly. "I know this sucks, but you need to slow down. Maybe only practice for a few hours each day and use the rest of the time to rest?"

"You can breakup with me if you want to," he says. "I know I'm being a pain in the ass."

"Are you insane?"

"Well, I feel like I'm being so needy and I'm sorry that I'm taking up so much of your time."

"I'm your girlfriend, Brad," she says softly. "It's my job to be there for you, just like you're always there for me. You were there for me even when we weren't dating and I'm so, so grateful for that," she presses a kiss on the top of his head. "I love you and you must be high on painkillers to think you're going to get away from me that easily."

"I don't want you to go home," he pouts. "Please stay here? I don't want you to go. I need you."

"I won't go. I'll stay here. I won't go."

They then stand up and go back into Brad's room. After laying down next to each other, face to face, Magnolia says, "How's your head feeling? I can go get you an ibuprofen if it's bothering you," resting her hand in his cheek.

"I just want to sleep."

"Okay, babe," she whispers. "I love you."

"I love you too," he says quietly. "And Magnolia?"

"Mhm?"

"I want to grow old with you."

After that, he was out cold. Brad hasn't really slept in a week. He dozed off a few times in the hospital, but it was really hard for him to actually sleep.

Magnolia soon fell asleep after him. Charlotte was wondering what was taking her friend so long, so she went to investigate. When she opened the door to see the two of them sound asleep, she grinned.

She was happy her best friend finally found someone that treats her the way she truly deserves.

Even if that someone is her older brother.

unedited