Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
My eyes fluttered open as the beeping got louder. Where...Where am I? I wanted to sit up and look around, but I couldn't. Everything looked fuzzy. It felt fuzzy too.
"H-Hello?" I tried to say. My voice sounded raspy, and was barely louder than a whisper.
"Mon petit lion!" Someone exclaimed, I heard them rush over to me. "You are awake!" Based on the French accent and enthusiasm, that person was most likely Lafayette. Unless there was another mysterious French dude I don't know about.
"L-Laf?" I asked quietly. I blinked, and some things came into focus. I'm in a hospital. Why the hell am I in a hospital?!
"Oui, c'est moi." Laf gently took one of my hands, but I still couldn't sit up. I tried to wiggle my legs into a more comfortable position. I'm pretty sure they were asleep. But I couldn't move my legs at all.
Oh. Fuck.
I couldn't move my legs. I couldn't feel them either. I knew they were still there, I could kind of see them. But I couldn't feel them. Shit shit shit shit shit shit. Panic, panic, oh god. What the hell is going on?!
Laf must have seen my panicked look. "Alex, calmez-vous. Please. I will explain what happened, try not to freak out. D'accord?"
I nodded and turned my head to look at him. There was someone in the chair behind him too, but it looked like they were sleeping. I just saw a bit of curly hair. Their face was hidden behind a hood though.
"Alex. They said you were hit by a car when you were crossing the road. And the...the car was speeding too. It didn't do any permanent damage...they don't think. I mean, over time you could use your legs again! And you've been in a coma for a few days, but you've recovered! Mostly! They said you're lucky, actually! Really lucky!" He was trying to be positive. I know. But that wasn't what I needed. What I needed were answers. Wait...what did he say about my legs?
"W-What d-do you m-mean use m-my legs again?" I asked in a shaky voice. I don't know why I was even asking. I was terrified of the answer, and I felt like I already knew it. But...part of me needed to hear it. To be sure.
"I...I'm sorry." Laf looked away and I closed my eyes. Fuck.
"Is he awake yet?" The person mumbled from the chair. Laf looked back and sighed.
"Yeah, and because you fell asleep I had to tell him what you should have told him. Being his boyfriend and everything. I still can't believe you hid it from us, you bastard. Now comfort him, and be a good boyfriend." Laf grumbled. Then he got up and walked out of the room.
So it was John. I smiled a little as he walked closer and kneeled down besides me. Whatever the circumstances, I guess John just always made me happy.
"I'm still pissed at you Alex." John says quietly. "But now for other reasons. You said you were staying home, so why the hell were you all the way off campus?" That's it. This is my actual chance to tell him. I'm pretty sure Thomas forgot about our 'deal' anyway. But fuck Thomas. I can't move my legs, and I'm done with this. I'm done.
"C-Can you help me sit up?" I ask. John nods and wraps his arms around my waist. He then pulls me into a sitting position, but I was still leaning up against the pillows, and John didn't let go of my waist. Without him, I would have just slid back down. This is going to suck so much.
"Okay. Thank you." Everything was starting to hurt a little less now. I could think straight, and my words weren't as raspy. "I'll try to explain everything."
And...so I did. I told him about the letter I wrote, how Thomas found it and threatened to use it against us. I told him about how me and Thomas actually became "friends". And then I told him how James broke up with Thomas, and the rest of the details of that story. That fucking story John is probably going to dump me over. But...I guess I kind of deserve it. I was stupid, and I left that letter.
When I was finished talking, John was pacing besides the hospital bed, avoiding the machines and stuff I was hooked up to. He had let go of me before, so I was half laying down, half sitting.
"S-So that's why you were with Thomas. And I got mad. Even though you were trying to protect me." John says finally, sitting down in a chair. I nodded, and he sighed.
"Yeah. I'm s-sorry I didn't tell you sooner." I say. I felt tears forming in my eyes. John shakes his head and gets up, then gently hugs me.
"It's okay. I love you Alex. I'm sorry, I should have listened." He kisses my cheek right as a nurse walks in. I smile a little and mumble a quick "Love you too" right before the door opens.
"I'm sorry sir, you have to leave now. Visiting hours are over." She says. John nods and gently squeezes my hand, then lets it go and walks out.
"When can I get out of here?" I ask the nurse, right away. I know this might sound crazy, but I wanna do everything I can to get back on my feet faster. Literally. I hate hospitals.
"I'm not sure. I'll have to ask someone else, but it should be at least several weeks. Then physical therapy." She says as she checks the levels of the heart monitor.
"So will I need a wheelchair?" I ask, dreading the answer to this question too.
"For a while, yes. But you might get better, and one day only need a walking stick to help. Or even nothing at all." I just kind of nod but my mind is stuck on what she said. Might. Might get better. Without much of a warning, the nurse takes a syringe and sticks it into my arm. Well, she probably said something. I just wasn't listening.
"What was that?" I ask.
"Just something to help you sleep faster." She says as she starts to organize something. I try to keep my eyes open and focus on it, but whatever that was it was working fast. And soon I was surrounded by darkness, and drifting off to sleep.