CHAPTER TWO
Letting Go
The ambulance and police soon arrived. They loaded Ian into the ambulance.
"Can I go with him?" Anthony asked the paramedic.
"Sorry, only family allowed," he replied.
"No, you don't understand. I'm his best friend. He needs me," Anthony pleaded.
Back in the ambulance, Ian managed to wheeze out "Ant". He never called Anthony that but he had to get him in here.
"Anyone by the nickname of "Ant"?" a paramedic called out. There now was a big crowd around them.
"Me!" Anthony ran into the ambulance. They set off to the hospital. A paramedic covered Ian's mouth with a plastic breathing mask. Anthony hung his head and cupped his hands. After a minute of utter silence except the sounds of Ian struggling to breathe, Anthony looked up. Tears strayed down his face.
"His heart is shutting down!" a woman paramedic panicked. Ian's heart rate slowed.
"No... No! Damn you, Ian! Don't give up on me now! I-" Anthony's voice cracked, "I need you!" Anthony grabbed Ian's hand. "I won't let you give up!"
"Ian's chest moved up and down quickly as he grasped for air he could not receive. Anthony sobbed loudly. Ian's vision went blurry and fuzzy. His eyes rolled back in his head.
"I... need... you... too..." Ian sputtered. Anthony grabbed his hand.
"Ian!" Anthony choked out. Ian slowly let go of his hand and gave up. His heart rate went flat. The paramedics used a defibrillator on him. Anthony started to have a panic attack.
After nine minutes of the paramedics reviving him, his heart rate slowly started up again. Ian was alive.
"Ian!" Anthony rejoiced, still crying. When they finally reached the hospital Anthony felt paralyzed. He was just so glad Ian was alive.
He finally was able to stand and get out of the ambulance.
"Ian, I need you. Now more than ever." Anthony looked up to the heavens. "Please spare him. I need my best friend." Anthony stared into the distance. He kicked a rock and thought of their humble beginnings.
The next day Anthony drove to the hospital to check on Ian. He was breathing normally now. Anthony sat down.
"I'm so sorry, Ian." Anthony swallowed. "This is my fault. I just want you to know that I still care."
"Really? But..." Ian blushed. He felt stupid.
"Dude, you mean the world to me," Anthony admitted. Ian's face grew hot.
"Same..." Ian said slowly, afraid to admit his feelings. "On a different note... the doctor said I have to be in here for three more days just to make sure I'm all right."
"What about Smosh? SmoshGames? Shut Up! Cartoons?" Anthony asked.
"I guess there won't be any videos this week."
Back at the waiting area reporters came in.
"We're here to interview Ian Hecox from Smosh," one of them stated.
"Um... now's not a good time," the receptionist said matter-of-factly.
"We're here to interview him about his Asthma attack," a reporter repeated.
A doctor walked on scene, confused.
"What's all the hub-bub?" he asked. The reporters explained and the doctor shooed them away. Anthony came out of Ian's hospital room and entered the waiting area.
"Anthony! Do you mind telling us a little about Ian?"
"Anthony, over here!"
"Anthony Padilla, what happened?" Anthony pushed through the reporters.
"I'm not sharing anything," Anthony merely said. They followed him to his car asking him questions about Ian. Anthony managed to finally drive off unharmed.
Anthony hit the steering wheel and shook his head. "God dammit, Anthony! You caused this, you selfish bastard!" Anthony yelled at himself.
Anthony drove to the Smosh house to unexpectedly find Kalel there.
"I thought you would need someone." Kalel hugged Anthony and led him out of the pouring rain into the lonesome house.
[I had to listen to the song "Say Something" almost 40 times just to get inspiration to write first part of this chapter. XD]
