Down The Road

Chapter 2

Ella wakes up to the early morning sun shining in her eyes through the blinds and a sharp pain in her leg. She blinks a few times to figure out where she is. She looks down to her left and sees Wyatt with his hand still holding tight to hers with his face smushed against the mattress with a little bit of drool spilling from the corner. She looks down at her leg and arm then around the room seeing Mia next to her in the chair and Dallas on the couch asleep realizing Wyatt is in the most uncomfortable chair in the room so he could be closer to her. He gently squeezes her hand in his sleep, and she can't stop herself from smiling and squeezing back, feeling his silver rings pinch her fingers a little bit. She looks down at her leg in the thick cast starting at mid-thigh lifted by the sling over her bed and blows out a hard breath. She picks her right arm up looking at the white cast from her wrist to her elbow and moves her fingers back and forth, she tries to wiggle her toes and gasps when she is met by another sharp pain starting at her ankle shooting up to her hip. Mia starts to stir, and Ella holds her breath trying to make sure she doesn't wake her up. When Ella knows Mia is back asleep again she settles back against her lumpy pillows and closes her eyes once more trying to focus on anything but the fact that Wyatt has moved so that he is almost cuddling with her arm. She dozes back off but is woken up just a short while later by Wyatt and Mia's voices talking to a nurse she recognizes from before she was taken into surgery. She can hear them softly shuffling around her and has to stop herself from reacting when she feels the cold air on her hand from Wyatt letting go. She must not have hidden it well because she can Wyatt's hand petting and smoothing down her hair, she can't help herself and slightly moves into his hand. He smiles down at her and sits down beside her again gently moving his hand trying not to wake her up to hold her hand again. Ella groans to herself when he moves his hand wanting nothing but for him to be playing with her hair again. He presses another soft kiss to her knuckles and her stomach explodes into butterflies. The warmth leaves again a minute later with one last soft squeeze, and then she hears the bathroom door click shut. She feels the nurse check her IV site and slowly opens her eyes trying to make it look like she is just waking up. The nurse smiles down at her and says, "Well good morning honey how are you feeling this morning?" Mia automatically springs from her chair and bangs on the bathroom door before rushing to the hospital bed. Ella smiles up at Mia and can't help but laugh a little when she hears Wyatt complaining about being interrupted through the door. The pain meds the nurse started through the IV start kicking in a little bit so the throbbing in her leg finally eases off. Ella looks back up at the nurse with a small smile and says, "My leg really itches but it doesn't hurt so bad now." The nurse chuckles and says, "Well I can't do anything about the itching just yet but that should ease up soon." Ella nods and hears the door swing open Mia takes a step to the side and Ella and Wyatt's eyes lock. His face breaks into a huge smile and he rushes over grabbing her in a gentle hug. She buries her head into the crook of his neck and wraps her arm around him as best she can with how they're positioned just enjoying the feeling of being with him. He pulls back to look at her and says, "Are you ok? Do you need me to grab you anything? What about some water do you want a drink of water?" She smiles at him shakes her head no and answers, "I'm ok I promise, I'm just glad you're here." She clears her throat and quickly adds, "You're all here I'm glad you're all here." Mia rolls her eyes and looks over at Dallas who is shaking his head. Wyatt just keeps looking over her like if he looks away for even a second she'll be gone. Ella smiles up at him again and asks, " Did you call momma?" He nods and sits down beside her bed in his chair from last night and he and Mia tell her what her mom and grandma said and what Wyatt's mom has said and anyone else who has called. The whole time Wyatt and Ella never break eye contact and Mia can't help but think how they are the most clueless people she's ever seen. Finally, after about 5-10 minutes of this, she looks at Dallas and says, "C'mon we'll go and let them have a minute alone." Wyatt finally looks up at them with his eyes wide, Mia and Dallas hurry out of the room with a wink. He clears his throat hating how awkward it feels between them when they've never been like this before. Ella breaks the silence first and says, "Wyatt..." but he cuts her off and says, " No Ella wait a second before you say anything there's something I've been dying to tell you since 7th grade." Her eyes snap up to meet his and her pulse quickens. She nods and says, "ok but help me sit up a little more first please." He nods putting one hand behind her back and helping her sit up while pushing the button on the side of the bed to go up with her. He gets her settled back into her pillows and then she nods her head for him to finish what he was saying. He takes a deep breath and after a few seconds says, "Ella..." She's almost positive he can hear her heartbeat at this point and watches his face closely as he quickly grabs the cup of water on her food tray and takes a fast drink. He shakes his head to clear it and continues, "Ok I have to just say it. Ella I have" but he gets cut off by the door swinging open and a doctor coming in to check her leg. Her heart drops, she was hoping this was gonna be it, that she'd finally hear the words she always wanted him to say but never did. The doctor finishes relatively fast and they are finally alone again. She looks back up at him standing by her bed completely zoned out, "Wyatt?" He doesn't even hear her the first time. A little louder "Wyatt?" He finally snaps back into reality and walks back over to her. He sits beside her, and she can tell he's still deep in his head. She opens her arms motioning for him to come closer and he lays back laying his head softly on her chest laying an arm over her as she gently runs her fingers through his soft curly hair and gently massages his head with her nails. He hums and closes his eyes smiling, she always knows how to slow his mind when it's going a hundred miles a minute and can't concentrate on anything. He takes a deep breath enjoying her soft scent of vanilla and strawberries and trying to not fall asleep from her playing with his hair. He reaches up after another few minutes and stills her hands sitting up to where they're lying side by side with one of his arms under her head and says, "I can't put this off any longer Ella I have to tell you now." She looks up at him and he feels like melting when her dark brown eyes meet his and he sees the gold flecks sparkling in the sunlight coming from the window. "What's wrong Wyatt? I can tell something is bothering you." He smiles cupping her cheek with his hand and she feels the cool metal of his rings against her cheek as he says, "Ella we have been best friends since 7th grade. You know me better than I honestly know myself and I have wanted to tell you this for so long, but I never had the balls to. After everything that happened, I knew I had to tell you I came too close to losing you and I don't think I could stand it if I ever did." She nods watching as his cheeks glow redder, listening closely to every word he says as he continues rambling about how long they've been in each other's lives and how mad he would always get when he saw her with anyone else. During this little rant, he sits up so he's facing her when he finally says, "Ella what I'm trying to say is that I've loved you since the first day of 7th grade and I haven't stopped. I want you to tell me you feel the same, Ella I love you." Her stomach erupts with butterflies as soon as the words leave his mouth, replaying over and over again in her mind. She sits in shock because she can't believe he has felt the same for all this time and never said anything. His eyes search hers looking for any kind of answer or any kind of sign of what she might say next praying she'd say it soon because the worry in the pit of his stomach was growing with every second she didn't. He opens his mouth again after what feels like an eternity and before he can say anything she simply holds up a single small finger and says, "It damn well took you long enough." And pulls him closer smashing her lips against his putting every feeling she has into this kiss. He can't help but smile into it wrapping the hand from her cheek around the back of her neck pulling her closer to him and she hums against his mouth when he moves his hand feeling the light pressure on either side. He groans in his head trying to not let his mind wander with what other sounds she could make and instead focusing on the way he had wanted their first kiss to happen, neither expected it to be in a hospital bed after an injury like this, he always wanted it to be up on the mountain where he first realized he loved her, he wanted to have it decorated with Christmas lights while her favorite songs played in the background as they danced in the headlights of his truck overlooking the lake god knows how many feet below. She pulls back for air with a smile as he leans his forehead against hers both breathing heavily, she presses a soft kiss to the tip of his nose and says, "Wyatt I have been yours for a long time now." And his heart skips a beat when he hears her say it, but before he can say anything else Mia and Dallas throw the door open with three duffle bags thrown over their shoulders and Ella's cheer bag from the night before. Ella and Wyatt quickly separate with red faces and sheepish grins, Mia bursts out laughing and says, "I can't believe you fucking did it. I told you so, didn't I? How many times did I tell you either of how the other felt?" Ella smiles up at Wyatt and he squeezes her hand in response. After Mia finishes her 'I told you so' rant Dallas adds "Did you think we wouldn't notice when we walked in I mean c'mon." Wyatt looks around the room and says, "Well fuck it it's out there now everyone knows." And he pulls Ella into another kiss, Mia shakes her head plopping into her chair from before and says, "Damn we thought you all were bad before." Ella looks over at her and says, "What do you mean?" Mia rolls her eyes and explains "y'all were sickening and you weren't even together. You were constantly in his lap or propping your feet up on him and cuddling or how it always conveniently lined up, so you all had to share a bed when we'd stay anywhere." Ella just shrugs and says, "It's not like I was the one who was starting it most of the time." Wyatt kisses the top of her head and shuts his eyes tight burying his face in her hair remembering the feeling of her in his lap or the feel of her back pressed against him in his shirt and her sleep shorts when her sweet strawberry perfume would stay lingering in his bed for weeks even if he changed the sheets. He finally says, "She stays cold, so I had to keep her warm somehow." Knowing how bullshit that reason was and hoping they bought it, he couldn't let them know the real reason was because he searched for every excuse he could to be able to hold her just knowing she was there and feeling the soft heat from her made him sleep easier. Mia rolls her eyes knowing damn well that wasn't true and says, "yea ok." Ella just smiles into his chest listening to the two bicker back and forth while Dallas plays a game on his phone. Wyatt shifts his notice to the bags on the floor trying to change the subject and asks, "What are those?" Dallas speaks up from his spot on the couch and says, "We went home and got some shit." Ella sighs with relief and says, "Oh thank god. I've been dying for some real clothes." Mia smiles at her from her chair and says, "I grabbed your favorite PJs and everything, so you'd be more comfortable babe we've got you set up." Ella nods and says, "I really wanna shower but I don't know if I can yet." Mia says, "Hold on I can go ask a nurse and find out for you." Ella nods against Wyatt's chest and Mia walks into the hallway waiting for someone to walk by. Mia comes back a few minutes later and says, "Ok the good news is they said you can shower if you have help, the bad news is I have to leave in a few minutes to help Mom with dance and won't be back until about 10:30." Dallas looks up and says, "if you don't care I'll have you drop me off at the house I hate hospitals." Mia nods and Ella shrugs and says, "I'll just wait I guess." Mia says, "Just have Wyatt help you or something it wouldn't be the first time he's had to." Wyatt and Ella both blush and Ella says, "Yeah but that was different..." both thinking back to Ella's 18th birthday party just a few months ago when she had a little too much to drink and Wyatt had to help her shower off the puke when she was too far gone to do it herself. Ella smiled to herself about how the only thing she could remember that night was Wyatt doing everything he could to stare at the floor instead of at her in the tub. Wyatt slowly unwraps her from his arms and walks over to the bags on the floor but looks at her from across the room and says, "It is completely up to you if you're not comfortable with it then I won't." Ella can feel her face darken again thinking hard, Wyatt has never seen her naked in this kind of situation. Mia looks back up from her phone and adds, "Mom just messaged again and I won't be able to come back till in the morning apparently the class is having a sleepover." Ella looks back up at Wyatt and says, "Well I guess that answers that... If you don't mind helping that is." Wyatt nods and says, "I want to help in any way I can." His mind racing trying his best to push the thought of her smooth skin under his hands out of his mind. Not the time, absolutely not the time, when she was drunk it was easy to push the thoughts away because she wasn't her. He stared at the floor the entire time he was with her only making sure she didn't slip and fall or use her Nair instead of her shampoo. Ella nods and says, " If you don't care I'll have you help in a little bit I don't know if I could get up right now." He nods and smiles at her saying, "Whenever you're ready Darlin I'll be here." Her heart flutters when he says that. Mia looks at Dallas and sticks her tongue out acting disgusted by the pet name but smiles at Ella flashing a quick wink and saying, "Well I have to go if I'm gonna make it on time, Are you ready Dallas?" Dallas nods getting up and both walk out of the room after saying goodbye. Wyatt smiles watching Ella push herself up on her elbows to scoot up in bed a little more trying to make sure she doesn't jar her leg. He comes to help her when he sees her struggling a little because of the way her leg is propped up and the stiffness from her ribs. She gets settled and looks up at him reaching for him to come and lay with her again for a few minutes before she showers. He sits back down beside her, and she pulls his head so that he's resting on her chest and she's softly massaging his head and running her fingers through his hair. He smiles at her and nuzzles his head further into her hands, they lay and just enjoy each other's company for another 5 minutes in silence before he reaches up to stop her hands and moves so that he's beside her again. He presses a soft kiss to her lips and her eyes look up into his and she closes the distance between them one more time. This time both move a little faster, he feels her fingers move to the side of his face and slowly move down his neck and chest softly digging into his t-shirt. He can feel his dick twitch at the feeling and moves his hand gingerly to her hip gripping it and holding tight like she could slip away at any moment. She pulls back after a few moments because of the awkward position that is causing her back to cramp a little bit. She looks up into Wyatt's eyes that are two shades darker than normal and says, "Help me up please..." He nods and rubs a hand over his face after he stands trying to push the sound of her away so he can focus on the task at hand. He moves to the other side of the bed helping her to move her legs over the side of the bed and letting her put all the weight she needs on him to be able to stand up in front of him his hands planted firmly on her waist half holding her up. After she steadies herself she wraps both hands around the back of his neck interlocking her fingers and pulls him down into a deep kiss. He can't stop himself from moaning a little against her lips at how warm her skin feels through the thin hospital gown. He pulls her flush against his chest his strong arms tan and toned from working outside and wraps one hand into the back of her hair pulling her head back softly placing soft kisses along her jawline and down her neck as her quiet pants and light moans have him fighting to keep control over himself. Over the years of their friendship, they came so close to fucking more than once but both always said they were scared it would ruin the friendship if they did but he could never fully push the thoughts from his head and could never stop comparing whichever girl he chose instead to her and he knew it made him sound like an asshole, but she was always all he could think about. He would see her in her sweats with a baggy shirt (almost always his) and she would still be more beautiful than any girl he'd ever been with. He stopped dating because he never felt like it was fair to the other girl because he knew he'd never be able to not pick them over her. Her face, her personality, and her body would always catch his attention without him fully realizing what was happening, her smile was nothing like he'd ever seen. The way her body was proportioned was unreal, the way she fit into him when he'd put his arm around her or when they would sleep in the same bed, and he would pull her into his chest just felt like home. His hand slid from her hair down her back resting lower on her hip, feeling where the rise of her ass starts and he stops himself pulling back softly, Their chests heaving at the same time, he leans his forehead against hers with a kiss to the nose and says, "Not here princess, not with you hurt like this. I want this to be perfect, not in a hospital room." She nods and he smiles down at her leaning close to her ear to whisper, "But don't you think for one second it's not because I don't want you Ella, I want to make this perfect so you can see what you've been missing all these years... so we can both make up for every chance we didn't take with each other." Her breath catches in her throat as her eyes widen, she knew Wyatt wasn't anything close to an angel, but she had never seen this side of him. She had heard stories from a few of the other girls, but she just never thought of him doing it with her, she never thought he'd want to. She fists his shirt with a smile and says, "there's a lot of chances we have to make up you know." He gives her a wicked grin and says, "believe me princess all the almosts are going to be a distant memory when I get done with you."