You & I: Summer Love

Chapter 13: My Savior

I wake up in a hospital bed. The first thing I realize are the machines. The memories from yesterday come flooding back. I quickly jerk my head to the side, trying to shake those thoughts out of my brain. That moment leads to the second thing I notice: the person asleep by my bedside. James is passed out on one of those plastic hospital chairs, head resting on his arms. He looks like he's been asleep for awhile. Slowly, however, he starts to wake up.

"Glad you're awake," I say.

When he heard my voice, he bolts upright in his chair, sleep disappearing from his beautiful face.

"(Y/n)!" he exclaims.

I could tell he really wants to hug me, but doesn't, for fear of messing up any of the wires connecting me to machines. Honestly, I didn't want to move, either, for the same reason.

Instead of a hug, he asks, "Shouldn't I be saying that to you?"

I smile at him, before asking a question that has been nagging at me. "How did you find me?"

"Search and rescue were able to track Nathan's phone using a GPS tracker of sorts. It was a good thing they found you when they did because the phone died right before we got to you."

"I still feel really guilty about taking it. If I didn't run off, I wouldn't have gotten lost in the first place."

Tears slide down my cheeks while I speak. James sees my tears and sits down on the edge of my bed.

"Hey, hey, don't cry. I'm just glad that we found you. Actually, if you didn't grab Nathan's phone, we wouldn't have found you."

"If I didn't take Nathan's phone, I wouldn't have been in that situation in the first place," the tears coming faster.

He wipes my tears away with his thumb, and starts circling his thumb over my knuckles. The feeling calms me down. It's amazing how much his presence effects my mood. Then, a nurse barges in.

"Ms. (L/n), glad to see you are awake. How are you feeling?"

"Ok, I guess."

"If you are feeling well tomorrow, and your vitals are stable, you can go home with your boyfriend tomorrow."

As she walks out the door, I turn to James with one eyebrow raised. The blush on his face is plain to see.

"They wouldn't let anyone back with you unless they were family. Or your boyfriend."

Butterflies rise in my stomach James being called my boyfriend.

"If you play along, we might be able to get the others back here," a sly smile playing across his perfect lips.

"Excuse me, nurse!" I call to one passing in the hallway.

"Yes, miss?"

"Could my brothers please come back here with me?" I ask sweetly. "They are Nathan and Gabe."

"Sure, doll." The nurse smiles and walks out, presumably to get my "brothers". Hopefully they go along with it. Shortly, both come in, lead by the nurse.

"Hey, sis," Gabe greets me when they enter.

"Thank you," I tell the nurse who accompanied them in here.

"Visitation ends at 8:00 pm sharp. That goes for you too, boyfriend."

James and I both blush hard at her words. As soon as she walks out the door, I immediately turn toward Nathan.

"I'm sorry for taking your phone," I say, tears starting again.

"It's alright (Y/n). We're all good."

James goes back to rubbing circles on my knuckles and we continue to talk.

"So, what videos are you guys going to film in the future?"

They all look at each other, before Nathan turns back to me.

"Are you not filming with us anymore?"

I'm shocked by their words. I honestly wasn't expecting this.

James seems to choose his words carefully before continuing. "We were wondering if you would like to join the Unspeakable team."

I can't believe this! They want me? ME? What's so special about me? My facial expression must not display the excitement I feel inside because all their faces drop. They all seem like they're going to leave so I grab James's wrist.

"Yes!" I yell, followed immediately by an, "Ouch!"

Concern flashes across James's face when pain rolls across my features.

"Are you ok?" he hurriedly asks while sitting back down.

"Yeah," I say, even though my arm is still in pain. "I grabbed your arm with the arm that has the IV in. I must've pulled on the needle."

He smiles at me before grabbing my hand and rubbing his thumb over my knuckles again.

"What about a last to leave video?" I ask.

"That could be cool, but what would we be leaving?" James's asks.

"...last to leave Walmart?" I ask.

"We'd have to hide in the store. And risk getting kicked out." Gabe reasons.

"Good point..." I mumble.

We continue to throw around ideas until 8:00 pm. Then, to my disappointment, a nurse tells James, Nathan, and Gabe they need to leave.

"See you tomorrow?" I ask James.

"You bet," he says before kissing the knuckles of the hand he's been rubbing all day.

The following day, I am cleared to go home. I walk out the doors to the parking lot, expecting to have to call someone to come pick me up. To my surprise, James is waiting for me, leaning against his car.

"Hey, (Y/n)."

"I didn't know you'd be waiting for me. I would've hurried."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I told you I'd see you."

I climb into his car and we drive back to my house. He drops me off and I walk up to my door.

"Thanks for everything."

"No problem."

We stand there awkwardly. Then James asks, "Hey, (Y/n),"

"Hm?"

"I don't know if this is really sudden, or too soon, but I wanted to tell you... when we were looking for you, I was so scared I'd lose you before I had a chance to ask you. Would you like to go on a date with me?"

I'm shocked, yet my face breaks into a huge grin. "Yes, I would love to!"

Instead of saying anything, he leans in and kisses my cheek, and I can't help but blush hard.

As he walks away, he looks back over his shoulder and says, "I'll pick you up tomorrow at 7:45 pm. Wear something casual."

I unlock my door and head inside. Once in, I scream really loud. I have a date with James! This is the best day ever!