So it might be a little bit until the next chapter, but I know exactly how I want it to end, I've just got to put some more in-between stuff. But it's quickly drawing to a close, so thanks to those who have stuck with me. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated!
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Sunshine helped her into bed, much to her protests.
"Ronnie, I'm not hurt, I can do this myself," she whined, swatting at his hands.
"You have a concussion, you were out cold for well over an hour," he reminded her.
She continued to fuss with him, "I'm fine, I don't even know why they're making me stay, it's just silly."
"Just let me help you because I love you," he said.
Her eyes grew wide, "What did you say?"
"Let me help you," he said, easing her back into the bed and tucking her under the covers.
"No, after that," she said, slowly.
"I… I said that, I love you," he said.
"You… you love me?" she asked, looking him deep in the eyes.
"Yeah, Madison Yoast, I love you," he said, more confidently.
"I love you too," she said looking up at him, tears welling up in her eyes.
He said on the side of her bed and kissed her forehead, "Now don't you go off and cry on me."
She sniffed, "I'm sorry, it's just been a rough day, a lot to take in."
He kissed each of her eyelids gently, "I was so worried about you today. Worried that I wasn't going to get to see you again. That's when I realized it," he explained.
"I realized it today, laying in the bed when the only person I wanted to see was you, I love you Ronnie Bass," she said, leaning up slightly to kiss his lips tenderly.
"I love you too," he said before stroking her hair and kissing her on the forehead. "But now you need to get some sleep so they'll let you out of here tomorrow."
"You're right," she said, before closing her eyes.
He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips before moving a chair right next to her bed and settling down to get some sleep.
"Ronnie?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah?" he said.
"Hold my hand?" she asked.
"Of course," he said, taking her smaller hand into his, then he began to stroke the top of her hand with his thumb.
"Goodnight," she whispered.
"Goodnight," he repeated.
While Maddie was sleeping she began to remember the events of that night.
She saw herself talking to Sunshine then running over to Gerry to find him. She stopped him and talked for a minute or two before getting in the car with him. Then her dream flashed forward and she saw the headlights come towards them and realized they weren't stopping. She let out a scream "Gerry!" before hearing the metal crunch and her head was sent smashing into the window. She remembered floating in and out of conscious several times and feeling trapped.
She began thrashing around in the bed and murmuring "No, no… help me… Gerry. Help us, please."
Her movement woke Sunshine up instantly and he gently shook her.
"Maddie, Maddie, wake up… it's just a dream," his heart broke for her when he saw her tears.
"This is my fault," she whimpered.
"Oh honey," he whispered, "It's not your fault."
"If I hadn't have stopped Gerry to talk to him none of this would have happened, he would have been out of the way before that truck came," she said.
"Shhh, this is not your fault. It's nobody's fault," he said, comforting her and rubbing her arm.
"Ronnie?" she asked sniffling.
"Yes baby?" he said, waiting to hear what she wanted to ask.
"Will you sit up here with me? At least until I go to sleep," she asked with tears in her eyes.
"I don't know if I should… I mean what if someone…" he started, but she cut him off.
"Please. It will help me sleep, I know it will," she said, looking at him with pleading eyes.
"Ok, you know I can't say no to you. But just until you go to sleep, alright?" he said.
"Ok," she said, sliding over in the small bed.
As Sunshine was laying there, holding her, he was thinking to himself. I've only known her for a football season, but after this, I know that I love her. I do, I love her. Soon he felt her breathing even out and he carefully slid out of bed and returned to the chair. He was going to try to go to sleep, but his mind wouldn't let him. All he could think about was her. Finally, he got up, raked his hands through his hair, kissed her forehead, and walked to Gerry's room. He knocked softly on the door before going inside.
Sunshine looked at Gerry, "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
Gerry smiled, "I should say the same to you."
"Gerry, I… I told Maddie I loved her," Sunshine said.
Gerry smiled even wider, "I knew you did. She loves you too, you know. I've known her forever and I've never seen her as happy as she is with you."
"But there's something I want to talk to you about…" he said.
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The next morning, Maddie woke up and smiled when she saw Sunshine in the chair beside her. He felt her gaze and started to stir.
"Morning," he said, trying to stretch out of his uncomfortable position.
She raised her bed into a seated position, "I'm sorry you had to sleep in that chair."
He kissed her forehead softly, "It wasn't too bad. I didn't sleep a whole lot."
"Why? Couldn't get comfortable?" she asked.
"Something like that, and I kept checking on you to make sure you were ok," he said.
Minutes later, Cheryl burst through the door with a bouquet of flowers.
"Sissy, are you ok?" she asked.
Maddie patted the bed, telling Cheryl to sit down, "I'm fine."
She had tears in her eyes, "I thought you were… you were…"
Maddie hugged her little sister in close, "I told you I would never leave you, remember? You're stuck with me kiddo."
"I was so scared," said Cheryl.
Then her father walked into the room, "We all were scared, but everything is going to be just fine."
"Can I talk to Cheryl for a minute… alone?" Maddie asked, looking first to her father, then to Sunshine.
Her father nodded, "Sure, anything you want." Then kissed her forehead and Cheryl's before leaving the room.
Sunshine kissed her forehead and left too, shutting the door behind him.
"Cheryl, wanna know a secret?" Maddie asked her little sister.
Cheryl's eyes grew wide, "A secret! What's it about?"
"You have to promise not to tell," Maddie said, sticking up her pinkie finger for Cheryl to take.
"Oh I pinkie swear," Cheryl said.
Maddie motioned for Cheryl to come closer and whispered in her ear, "Sunshine said 'I love you' to me last night."
"Really?" Cheryl exclaimed.
"Yes, really," Madison nodded smiling.
"So you're going to get married and live happily ever after?" Cheryl got more excited.
Madison laughed, "Nobody said anything about getting married."
"But that's how it happens in the storybooks," Cheryl said, matter-of-factly.
"But this isn't a storybook," said Maddie.
"You should still get married, I like Sunshine, he'd make a good brother," Cheryl said.
While the two girls were talking, Sunshine peeked in the window, "Look at them Coach, it's the most amazing thing I've ever seen."
"What do you think they're talking about?" the older man said.
"I have no idea, but it must be interesting," Sunshine said.
"Must be," said Coach Yoast.
Sunshine cleared his throat, "Coach? There's something that I want to talk to you about…"