Until We Meet Again

38

"What the heck!" His moms voice jerked us back into the present.

Both of his parents have a look of shock written all over their faces.

"So I'm guessing your not just his roommate," his dad speaks before his wife can.

"Dad," he looks at his son, "just stop okay."

He stares at him for a minute and then looks at me. I can't tell if he wants to choke me or just kill me.

"How long?" His mom speaks up.

I look over at Alex, not speaking because I know it's not my place.

"Could you two just not get involved for once, please, for my sake?" I'm shocked at his words, he was very brave to stand up to his parents like that but then again I guess he's used to them reacting like they did.

His mom looks like she wants to continue but chooses not to, but his dad well let's just say he doesn't choose to be quiet.

"No, we're not letting you get hurt again."

"That is not your place. I don't care if you're...." Alex starts coughing. It wasn't normal coughing this time, it was more like he was struggling to breathe.

I get up from my chair, rushing to his side.

"Alex," I speak to him even though he's unable to answer me.

He looks up at me and in that moment I knew something was wrong. I shove past his parents and go to the door, yelling for help just like I did when he had a seizure.

It doesn't take long for a group of nurses to come running. I watch in horror as they shove past me, some of them apologizing and other not bothering to say anything, not like I cared about that right now. One of the nurses grab a trash can, holding it up for Alex as he starts to puke. I can't tell if it's mainly blood or what. Another nurse pats his back as if to comfort him. I'm confused as to why they aren't doing anything else, like they did last time.

It seems like forever for Alex to stop coughing. He slumps back on the pillows that had slid down behind his back. I could tell he was physically drained from what just happened.

I stop one of the nurses as they all start to leave. She doesn't seem fazed when I grab her arm and looks at me.

"What just happened?" I ask her, knowing that she probably has no idea either but I have to give it a try.

She looks back at him, shaking her head. "I'm not entirely sure, it could be a lot of things."

I accept the fact that she doesn't know and she realizes that I'm done asking questions, leaving the room.

Alex has fallen asleep when I look back at him. I decide that I need some fresh air and leave him to his parents.

Ethan's POV

I know I shouldn't have came back, especially after the look on his parents faces when they saw me. I'm surprised to see the room empty, I would have thought that his parents or his so called roommate would be here. My eyes fall on Alex, awake in his bed with a book in his hands. He doesn't notice me when I first come in.

"What do you want?" His voice comes from behind the book.

I move closer to his bed but don't sit down because I don't know how long we're going to be alone.

"I just came by to see how you were doing." I know it's pathetic the way I keep starting our conversations.

"I'm fine," his voice sounds extremely tired.

"Alex I'm sorry." I know that I've said it a million times but there's nothing else to say. It's not like I can go back and make sure I didn't screw up again.

"Could you stop apologizing," he closes his book and I'm shocked to see how bad he looks.

His face is extremely pale and it looks like he's on the edge of death.

"No I can't. I am so sorry for what I did, I never wanted to hurt you."

"But you did, Ethan. You did hurt me, more than anyone has ever hurt me and I'm not just going to forgive you for that."

"And I don't expect you to, just let me show you how extremely sorry I am."

"Really, right now of all times you want to show me how sorry you are. Don't you think you should have done that instead of storming off and getting onto a plane back home?"

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. I know that they're true and that I did storm off instead of trying to fix things but I didn't know if he wanted me to stay after he found out.

"I'm sorry I didn't think you would want to see me after everything."

"Of course I wanted to see you. I wanted to hear how sorry you were right then and there instead of years later when I was finally over you."

"What are you doing here?" The sound of his voice interrupting us.

I turn around to see him standing in the doorway. He looks at me and then at Alex. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing, Ethan was just about to leave."

I nod my head, not wanting to argue. It was no use if Alex didn't want me here then I need to stop trying to come back into his life. I silently leave the room, making sure to not bump into him on the way out.

Before I leave for real, I look back into the room. I wish I hadn't, my heart shatters at the sight of Alex kissing him. So that's why he's not willing to give me another chance. He's moved on.