Chapter Twenty Six: Esperanza, Amor, y Dolor

The smell of rubbing alcohol and coffee filled my nostrils as I opened my eyes. My head hurt from the amount of light reflecting off the white walls and into my eyes. I rubbed my temples and groaned.

"Easy, Cody." I heard my mom whisper into my ear. Her soft hand brushed my arm. I looked in her direction. Her face and form were disfigured and blurry, but soon my eyes focused and I saw her, a smile on spreading across her face.

I didn't remember anything at first, but soon those final moments in the cafeteria came to mind.

"How's Christian?" I asked, stretching my wound. I winced and groaned in pain.

"He's completely fine. Just a few bruises. He went to grab something to eat. He just got hit around and shot with a paintball gun." Zack said, suddenly entering my world in the hospital.

"Zack?" I asked, looking for him, finally catching him beside the door frame to the room. I turned my attention back to Christian. "But I saw the red blood from his chest...."

"No Cody, you saw red paintball gun stains." Zack reassured me, joining me at my bedside. "They stabbed you with a pencil though. Nothing that serious, you're gonna be okay. Just sore for a while. They cleaned the wound and stuff."

I lay there listening as Zack, now knowing that my Christian was okay, and that.. well, I had taken the bigger beating. That was good to me. That meant that he wasn't hurt, and a pencil hole in my side was worth that. I mean, sure it hurts pretty bad, but it's not permanent. I smiled.

"How's Max doin'?" I asked, Zack's facial expression suddenly changing as if he had been punched in the gut.

"Man, Cody.." Zack shook his head and forced a smile. "You know I don't like talking about that." He looked down to the floor and the smile faded.

"Oh? Since when? I didn't know." I asked seriously, reaching out for his hand. As I did a sharp pain erupted in my abdomen and I scream.

"Damn Cody!" Zack said pushing my hand back. "Stop moving before you kill yourself, dork."

I smiled.. or well I tried. I'm sure the pain was smiling for me.

"Just rest, I'm gonna go for a bit." Zack said as he grabbed a coke bottle off the night stand by my bed.

"Wait. You never answered me Zack.. How's she doing?"

Zack stopped in mid walk, his back to me. He never turned to look at me.. it was as if his head was limp as it pointed downward to the floor.

"Scared." He said. Then hurried from the room.

I lay there, wondering what must be going through his head. Completely ignoring the fact that mom was sitting across the room. But I couldn't imagine becoming a father at 16. What to do..? How to prepare? I wouldn't know. I would be absolutely scared to death. School..baby... would he have to get a job? Would....

As I thought about it, I felt my eyes getting heavy again. Probably from some pain killer I had coursing through my system. Before I knew it I was off in another land. Codyland. I was in a land of dreams.

I was surrounded in a pink fog.. I could see orange and purple frogs hoping around the ground. In the distance, several green castles were barely visible, red lights illuminating their windows. The sky was white with tan clouds in the shapes of animals. Many animals. Very different in size and shape.

As I stood there in the mysterious world, I saw a girl under a blue tree, which was filled with many yellow leaves. It was obvious that she was pregnant. The dried tears on her cheeks told me that she was very scared, worried.

I approached the girl. When I was next to her, I realized the girl was Max.

"Max?" I asked, looking into the girls wet eyes.

"Cody.. It's useless. I can't do this."

"Do what?" I asked, putting my arm around her. Her skin was as cold as ice.

Suddenly the Max in front of me turned to black dust as she was about to answer. I smelled cinnamon.. was that a TV in the background?

I felt myself rolling in the soft hospital bed.. but it seemed much crowded than before. I opened my eyes and smelled yet another familiar smell.

Beside me in the hospital bed, Christian was sleeping, his arm around the front of my chest. He looked like an angel as he slept so close to me.

His hold on me was tight and reassuring. I smiled as I left my fingers roam up and down his arm. So warm, strong.

I noticed that mom had gone. Of course. That was a good thing.

I was uncertain of the future ahead of me. I was uncertain how school would be from now on. I was uncertain of Zack and Max with parenthood in their near future. I was uncertain, that was positive.

However, as I lay there by Christian, his arm tightly around me, I realized something. No matter what we would stick together. For better and for worst. Forever with each other.

I mean what could go wrong?

I used to be Cody Martin.. Dork, geek, book worm.. whatever they called me. I used to get picked on constantly and I would receive random wedgies now and again. I was that same Cody Martin except now I had Christian. The one and only and most amazing person I could ever want. I went home smiling everyday. Call me a dork, a fag, or anything else. But the fact his that the words never break anything that one was his smiles couldn't fix.

As I lay here in this bitch pain, one thing IS certain.. I'm in love. This boy beside me has my heart.. And I never want it back.


A/N: Grr, once again.. sorry for the slowness. I'm on top of this though. lol. I think I know where I want it to go and end. So we'll see. Thanks for reading and review guys. Means alot. Continue. Please! And sorry, I felt the need for a Spanish title. :)