It Had To Be You

Chapter 8: My Concern For You

Eric's POV

"Don't leave me babe." Juliette whined. She was very drunk. This is why I get worried whenever she gets drunk. She just can't handle so much drink.

I love her very much and I know she loves me too. But sometimes I feel like she is hiding something from me.

I got up from the couch and carried her in a bridal style to take her to my bedroom. Once there, I laid her down on the bed and pulled a blanket over her. I kissed her on the forehead and sat beside her. "I am not going anywhere, love." I said smiling, as she drifted off to sleep.

I always had a crush on her since freshman year of high school. Somehow, I found her bad girl attitude very intriguing.  She was very popular in school, but no one befriended her, thinking they would just get into trouble if they did so, with all the tattoos on her arms and with her smoking and drinking habits.

One night I found her on a city park bench, sobbing, when I was taking a walk. I went to her to ask what was bothering her, but then she just hugged me all of a sudden, her tears staining my jacket. I was just shocked, not knowing what to do, but then after a few moments I hugged her back. 

We then sat and talked for some hours. I came to know that her father passed away a couple of years back and that day was his death anniversary. Her mother didn't care about her or her father's death, as she was in a relationship with another man. After her father's death, she toughened up and built walls around her so that no one can hurt her anymore. 

I came to know that day that Juliette is so much different than what the world thinks her to be. She was just a broken girl who wanted someone to hold her. 

We eventually became friends. And the thing which surprised me at that time was, she knew who I was, as I was a complete nerd in school and didn't talk to anyone, except for Spencer.  At the end of our high school, I asked her to be my prom date. We have been dating since then. We got accepted into the same college and I was really thankful for that. 

There's nothing that makes me happy than to be always on her side. But recently she has been sometimes acting aloof. I don't know what is, but whatever it is, I just don't want her to get hurt. 

A soft knock on the door broke the chain of my thoughts. I opened it and found Spencer, standing there with a worried expression.

*****

"What do you mean by Noella is nowhere to be found?" I asked him as we descended the stairs. The party was still going on, so we went outside to talk, so there will be no disturbance. 

"I don't know, after I caught her drunk in the kitchen, we had a little bit of an argument and then she walked off. She forgot her purse on the dining table. I picked it up and have been searching her since then." he explained running his fingers through his hair. 

"Did you search the house thoroughly? She might be somewhere, mingling with people." I questioned him. "Yes, I searched the whole house, man. She's not here. Where could she be gone?" he asked, rubbing his forehead. 

"Alright, calm down. Wait here, I'll be back with my car keys. Let's go find her. She couldn't have gone much far." I said and went into the house. Where could she be gone all of a sudden? If she was about to go home, she would've informed Juliette. 

I decided that it's time to wind up the party with the situation that was in our hands. I found Aiden, my cousin, who was with a group of people. "Bro! This party is lit! Thank you for having us." Terence cheered. "Yeah bro, no worries," I said with a half smile. "Um, Aiden can I talk to you for a second?" I asked him. He nodded and followed me. As we got into the kitchen, I explained to him the situation and told him to wind up the party.

"Yeah, no problem, brother. I'll handle everything." He said by placing his hand on my shoulders, giving me an assuring smile. "Oh and also can you tell Maya to watch over Juliette? She is sleeping in my room upstairs." "Will do. Now go." He said. "Thanks, bro! I owe you." I said by giving him a one sided hug. 

I went upstairs to my bedroom and grabbed my car keys and wallet from the drawer besides the bed. Juliette was still sleeping. So I closed the door without making a sound. "Come on, let's get going." I said to Spencer hurriedly as I exited my house. He nodded and followed me to the car. 

Once inside, I started the engine and drove out of the garage. We drove for 20 minutes, searching for Noella. Spencer was constantly running his fingers through his hair, through which it could be told how much he was worried. I patted him on the back and he nodded in response. 

The road we were on was dead silent. Weird, as this is LA we are talking about and the streets are never silent. Well, guess that's what happens in a Wattpad story.

"Eric, there's someone lying on the road, pull over." Spencer suddenly yelled. I pulled over the car and we got out. As we got near the person, we came to know that it was Noella. 

Spencer crouched down and took her head on his lap. Her dress was all wrinkled and her hair was messed up. "Noella! Noella!" Spencer called out her name by gently patting her cheeks. "She is unconscious and she's bleeding through her head Eric! Hurry! Start the car. We need to get her to the hospital." He said by picking her up gently and rushed to the car. He gently placed her in the back seat and sat beside her. I started the car and drove as fast as I could. 

We reached the hospital in no time. I pulled over and Spencer got out, with Noella in his arms. We entered the hospital and informed the receptionist about the situation. She immediately called the doctor. Noella was laid on the stretcher and was taken into the operation theatre. 

We waited outside the OT for almost an hour. I took a seat on one of the chairs. But Spencer kept on pacing back and forth without uttering a word. I went to him and placed my hands on his shoulders. "Calm down, man. She is going to be fine. Just sit down for a bit." I said quietly. But he swatted my hand away aggressively. "How can you tell me calm the fuck down? She is in there," he said pointing his finger towards the operation theatre, "going through a fucking surgery and you are telling me to calm down? How can you expect me to calm down! How?" he said, sitting down on the bench, with his face buried down in his hands.

I sat beside him and squeezed his shoulders. "It was my fault, I shouldn't have let her go." He said, again running his fingers through his hairs. It was his habit whenever he was full of worry. "Don't blame yourself buddy, it-"we were interrupted as the doctor came out of the OT. Spencer was the one who first got up from the bench and hurried towards the doctor. I followed his lead.

"How is Noella, doctor? Is she alright?" he asked the doctor worriedly. "She had a concussion. She was being hit pretty hard, maybe with a metal rod, I guess. There was quite a lot of blood loss. She is fine now, but she needs a lot of rest. Are you her relatives, by any chance?" the doctor asked. "No, we are her friends." I responded. "Well, you better inform her relatives. We need a relative to sign some papers." The doctor informed us. We nodded and thanked her. 

"Where are we going to find her relative now?" Spencer asked me. 

"You said that she left her purse and you took it with you right?" I asked, after thinking for a moment. He nodded. "Do you have it with you now?" I asked him. "I left it in the car, I think. Why?" He confusedly responded. "She might have her phone in it. Maybe we can find out any of her relatives' contact in it. I'll be back." I said and went outside towards the parking lot.I unlocked the door and it was there on the passenger seat. 

As I returned, I heard Spencer talking on his phone quiet aggressively. "I'll call you back." was all he said as soon as he saw me.