Waves, Sunsets, & Coffee

Chapter 11.1

    "Hey, how is she?" I entered Sophia's hospital room as I asked Ares and his parents who were currently resting on the other bed provided for them.
     "She woke up earlier and doc said she's looking better. They just have to watch for her for another night then she'll be discharged tomorrow." Ares answered and greeted me with a kiss on the forehead.
     "This is for you guys." I handed him a brown paper bag of foods and drinks for them because I know how hospital food tastes.
     "Oh, thank you dearie." Sally says and I give her a smile.
     "May I talk to you for a while outside dear? I just want to say a few words in... private." Sally whispers at me as the father and son busied themselves with the food I got them and agreed to talk with Sally.
     "Don't be nervous dear! I could feel your heart beating from a mile away." Sally says and I chuckle since I never really did like confrontations and whenever people ask me if they need a talk with me, I always think that I did something wrong.
      "I'm sorry miss S, I really do get nervous in situations like this." I sheepishly say.
      "I know how that feels. But that's not what I am here for dear. I never got the real chance to thank you properly." She started.
      "You have nothing to thank Miss S. It's my job, especially as a future medical worker so to help Sophia—" I was cut off by her chuckling.
     "It's not that sweetie. Well of course I'm still glad that you were there dear, but the real reason I asked for a talk with you is to thank you for being there with my son." I was confused as to why and she noticed.
     "Let me explain. For sure he told you about what happened to Sarah yes?" Miss S asked and I nodded.
     "As her parents, we were devastated upon hearing the news. No parent would want to see their child like that you know, but for Ares? It was different dear. We saw how it greatly affected him. Maybe even more than us.
     He had a connection with Sarah that we couldn't understand. He always had a thing with kids, and when he found out he was going to have a sister, he was ecstatic. He became the big brother that Sarah needed, and when she died, it seemed like Ares died with her you know?
     He wasn't able to accept that she was really gone and he destroyed himself. He'd always come home late either drunk or high and he wouldn't try to converse with us. We didn't know how to help him dear.
     Ever since, the house was never the same. Sarah may be the one who was buried, but Johnny and I felt like we lost two of our children.
     Then came Sophia. We all knew she could never replace Sarah, but the connection we saw with Ares and Sarah, we saw again with Ares and Sophia dear. It wasn't exactly the same, but it's like he pledged his life to Sophia, promising to protect her.
     He slightly got out of his reckless habits and spent more time with Sophia. Although we know that what happened with Sarah, Sophia can never fill that hole in Ares's heart. You get what I mean?
     Anyways dearie, my point is that we never see him smile a genuine smile ever since Sarah died. And that was until you came.
     He went home, just a couple weeks ago all smiles and we felt the same energy coming off my son whenever he'd go home from school and play with Sarah.
     So thank you my dear, for bringing back the Ares we know. I don't know how ever we could repay you."
     I didn't realize Ares has a heavy past.
     "Miss S, I... it couldn't be me." I tried to say.
     "Listen to me dear. He's my son, and I know how you made him smile. Don't you see? Everytime you walk in the room where he is, his mouth automatically tugs into a smile.
     I see it in his eyes dear, how it sparkles when his eyes land on you."

     "Hey, you want to go on a walk?" I asked Ares who spent the whole yesterday inside the hospital and he needed a break.
     "I'll... I'll stay with Sophia." He said.
     "Go on Son. We got it from here. We'll call you once something changes." Johnny pushed Ares out of the room and luckily he complied and I led him out. He's been staying in the room ever since we got here and he needed to relax for a while
     "You've been taking me places, now let me take you somewhere." I told him.
     "Well, that is if you let me... drive?" Ares gives me his car keys and I've gotten used to seeing his Chevy Camaro around.
     "Hey Alex..." He starts.
     "Yeah?"
     "Thank you. For saving Sophia. I didn't know what I would've done if you weren't there." He took my hand and clenched on it.
     "Don't worry about it Ares. It's all good."
     "No, really. Thank you again." I gave him a smile and placed my eyes back on the road as I took him to the cliff he took me a couple days ago because he said this is the place where he finds comfort, and he really needed to be himself again.
     "The cliff?" He asked as I parked the car.
     "Hey! I don't know this place like you do. I just wanted us to be alone for a while, plus you needed the fresh air and there's no much people here." I defended him and he shrugs.
     "So... your mom told me about what happened after... after Sarah..." I told him and he sighs.
     "Figured."
     "She also told me that I'm the reason you're smiling now huh." I nudged him with my elbows, teasing him.
     "My mother's right." He held my hand as we sat in the sand, laying my head on his shoulders.
     "Look at me Alex. My life before was dark. I felt alone even though I knew my parents were there. I was alone when Sarah died. I did stupid things that I never knew I was capable of doing.
     My mother's right when she said you lit up my world. As cliche as it can get, you helped me out of my hole." Ares caresses my face as he says this, making me feel a wave of emotions that I didn't think I could.
     "I couldn't sleep properly at nights, having these shitty nightmares everytime I try to close my eyes. I didn't get enough sleep, but it all changed when I met you."
     I'd stare at his perfect green eyes and butterflies would invade my insides, my heart would beat so loud it wants to go out, and I just... I want him so bad.
     "God Ares... the way... the way you make me feel, I don't have the words. I don't know how to explain these emotions I'm feeling when I'm with you." He simply stared at me so intense and I couldn't help myself anymore, I crashed my lips to his and felt that burst of emotions. Like fireworks.
     I moan out as his hands travel up and down my back, as if teasing me that I found it in myself to remove the shirt I was wearing and sat on top of him.
     He groans at the contact of my core to his, circling his arms around me and bringing me closer to him.
     "Ares..." I say his name as he trails his lips on my neck, just stopping on the sweet spot and sucking on it while his hands were resting on my stomach.
      I took off his shirt and laid him down on the ground with the blanket we've placed earlier and just felt his body.
     He pulls me back to him, kissing as I grind on him, making him growl at the action.
     He suddenly pulled from the kiss and stopped me.
      "Are you sure you want to do this? Even with a fractured arm?" He asked and I nod. I wanted him, and I needed him, even though the cast was on the way.
     He switched our positions with me now on the bottom as he removed my pants.
     I melt at every contact of his warm hands on my skin.
     "God, you're beautiful." I sit right up and wrap my hands around his neck, playing with his hair.
     He then removes his shorts and throws it somewhere and lays me back down slowly, never breaking from the kiss.
     Before we were about to have sex, I said something that widened his eyes.
"I love you Ares..." I said and he paused, my heart started to beat faster...
"I love you Alex." He said and I didn't want anything else in the world.
     I have a good life, my friends, and most specially, I have him.