Welcome To The Family

Welcome To The Family - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: A Beautiful Bouquet Of Mixed Roses

**Matt's POV**

It's been a few weeks since the night of the accident and I have to return to the hospital today to get the cast off my left arm. Michelle is still there because they found some additional internal bleeding and just wanted to make sure they got it all before releasing her. I have been by to see her a few times since that night and I still feel overcome with guilt every time I see her laying in that hospital bed...in hind sight though, it's a miracle she wasn't killed. Things are still extremely awkward around Val and Brian but I really can't ask them to just forgive and forget like nothing life-altering ever happened. Brian seems closed off, even towards Val and the rest of the guys and that kind of has me concerned. Val told me she has no idea why he's pushing everyone away but that it has her worried as well. I didn't push the issue much further with her because honestly I'm shocked she even spoke to me.

I really made a huge mess of everything, all because I was afraid to tell Val that I wasn't in love with her anymore. I was so worried I would hurt her but, I think it goes without saying... that would have felt like a gentle let down compared to the the horrific sideshow that this turned out to be.

Jimmy was the first person to actually forgive me, he understood that my feelings were real but didn't condone the lying. Zacky and Johnny just recently accepted my apology for not letting them know immediately after it happened....it's wasn't that I'm ashamed of Michelle, because I'm most definitely not...I told them I was ashamed of my actions and the way I handled the situation. I think they can understand that now and in time maybe they can't fully forgive my betrayal of their friendship and trust.

I pick up a beautiful bouquet of mixed roses and head towards the hospital early so I have time to see Michelle before they release her this afternoon. She's going to be staying with her parents for a few weeks because she was living with Brian when the accident happened. I don't think I need to tell you that Val and Michelle's parents are disappointed in all of us. I attempted to try and speak to their dad once they arrived at the hospital the night of the crash but if looks kill....I would be a dead man!

I make my way towards Michelle's room and have the biggest grin on my face. She been telling me that I'm always so thoughtful, that I make her happy and that she loves me so much, and in turn, my love for her grows stronger and stronger every time those words cross her lips.

Her door is open but she's not alone, at first I think it might be her dad sitting down at her bed side and I'm not trying to die today so I hang back in the doorway out of sight.

"Michelle, I'm so fucking sorry for all the times I cheated on you and made you feel like you didn't matter to me...you do matter to me! I love you and I hope you can forgive me! Please, I need you to forgive me!" a familiar voice begs and my heart literally feels like it's shattering.

....It's Brian.

**Brian's POV**

The last few weeks have been a living Hell....I just want to drown away my sorrows in multiple bottles of Jack Daniels but the guys refuse to let me. Seriously, don't they know how guilty I feel?!? If I wouldn't have been flirting with that waitress at the party then Michelle and I would have never got into that fight, Matt wouldn't have been the one to comfort her, he would never had drove her home that night and the affairs and subsequent car accident would have never happened!

I can't talk to Val about this either. I really, really like her but I can't really trust her after she used me as payback against Matt. I am completely miserable and feel like the only person who might understand is the one person who I don't deserve to even speak to...Michelle.