XashXdawnX - Here's the newest chapter, sorry for the delay. Enjoy!
Gary walked through the halls, heading towards his locker. He felt bad for yelling at Leaf when she had only been trying to help. He felt so guilty for what he had done. He hadn't seen her today, so he figured she had skipped. He regretted what he had said, but the pain had gotten the best of him. He only wanted to be alone yesterday and he knew that she wouldn't leave if he asked. She never did. Even as the new Leaf, he had a feeling she would have stayed. So he had done the only thing he knew would make her leave, yell at her. It had worked, but he had regretted it instantly.
He shook his head and put in his locker combination. As he got his books for his first class and stuck them into his backpack, his locker was slammed shut.
"I would think you be with your girlfriend right now." Shauna said.
He glanced over and saw Serena and Shauna.
"I figured she was skipping today. I didn't see her this morning." Gary replied, going to walk off, but Serena grabbed his arm.
He glanced down at her hand on his arm.
"Leaf's in the hospital." she said. "You don't even seem concerned."
Gary looked at her. "What do you mean she's in the hospital?"
"She was found in the dance studio yesterday. The lady said she just collapsed when she went to move." Shauna replied.
"I didn't know until now..."
"Hmm...she's in room four hundred and sixty in case you want to go visit her."
"Thanks..."
The two smiled and walked off, leaving Gary.
Gary walked off towards another part of the hall and saw Ash at his locker.
"Hey, think you can cover for me?" Gary asked as he walked up to where Ash was.
"Sure. What's up?" Ash asked, as he closed his locker.
"Leaf's in the hospital. I wanted to go check on her."
"What happened?" Dawn asked, having heard Gary's last sentence.
"Serena and Shauna said she collapsed in the dance studio yesterday." Gary replied.
"Let us know how she is?" Dawn asked.
"I will...I just hope she's not mad. I was pretty mean yesterday."
"What do you mean?"
"I yelled at her and said some pretty nasty things to her to get her to leave me alone. I shouldn't have done it, but I just wanted to be alone."
"I'm sure she won't hold it against you."
"Hope so. I'll try to be back by lunch, so cover for me until then?"
"No problem," Ash said.
Gary parked in the parking lot of the hospital and got out.
He walked into the hospital and walked up to the front desk. Even though he had been told her room number, he just wanted to make sure.
"Excuse me?"
The receptionist looked up at him.
"May I help you?"
"Yes, I'm looking for Leaf Green's room."
"One moment,"
She looked at her computer and after a few minutes she looked up.
"She checked out about an hour ago."
"What?"
"Her father came and checked her out."
"Oh. Could you tell me what was wrong with her?" Gary asked.
"Are you related to her, sir? I can't give information out."
"I'm her boyfriend and I didn't know anything happened to her until this morning. Please, I just want to know that she's okay."
"She was dehydrated and over exhausted herself. She pushed her body over her body's limit and she collapsed. She's perfectly okay, just a few bruises from where she fell and hit the floor, but she's better. She was given fluids and checked to make sure she didn't give herself a concussion."
"Thank you,"
Gary walked back out to his car and sent a quick text to Ash and Dawn, letting them know he might miss the whole day.
He had a feeling that his actions from yesterday had resulted in Leaf ending up in the hospital and he needed to make things right and know that she was okay.
Gary stopped by a few places before he made it to Leaf's house. He grabbed the bag that he had and the coffee cup he had gotten for Leaf and made his way to the front door. Hopefully, she wasn't asleep.
He knocked on the front door and waited. No one answered. He knocked again. Leaf's car was here and so was another car.
The door swung opened to reveal a man that Gary had never seen before. Black hair, a scruffy looking beard covered his face, beady black eyes, and tanned skin.
"I don't want any shit you're selling!"
"Uh..."
"Get out of here!"
The man swung his arm and knocked the coffee from Gary's hand. Gary stepped back so it wouldn't land on him.
"Leave!"
Gary walked off and the door slammed shut. He then heard yelling from inside the house.
Leaf's there. She has to be. Her car's here... he thought.
He walked to the backyard of the house and saw the big tree that lead to the balcony that should be Leaf's room. Hopefully, the room that had the balcony was still Leaf's room. He hurried over to the tree and started climbing it.
As he climbed he remembered how many times he had done this when the two of them had been younger.
He made it onto the balcony and he walked over to the door. Hopefully, the door wasn't locked. He turned the knob and it opened. He walked into the room, quietly.
Laying in the bed was Leaf.
"Leaf?"
She rolled over and saw him. She looked horrible. She was really pale and she looked so tired.
"Guess Serena and Shauna told you?"
He nodded his head and carefully walked over to where she was.
"I'm sorry for yesterday, Leaf."
"It's fine. I've dealt with worse."
"I shouldn't have said those things. You were only trying to help and be there for me."
"Like I said, I've dealt with worse. Yelling at me isn't gonna hurt me."
"I got you a few things to maybe help you feel better and to say I'm sorry." Gary said, holding up the bag.
Leaf smirked as she sat up. "You always did know how to make me forgive you."
"I did have coffee, but the man downstairs knocked it out of my hands..."
"Oh..."
"Who is he? I've never seen him?"
"Step father,"
Gary decided to drop the topic, hearing Leaf's tone and handed her the bag. She started taking out the multiple bags of candy.
"You must feel really bad about yesterday." she said with a small laugh.
"Was I the reason you pushed yourself over your body's limit?" he asked.
She looked up at him and shook her head.
"No. You weren't the reason, Oak. But I'd rather not talk about it."
She was being very closed off. Maybe it was because she was tired. Gary was quiet as she removed the other items and at the very bottom of the bag was a hoodie. More specifically one of Gary's hoodies. When they had been close, whenever Gary had made her mad, she would demand that she get a hoodie of his until she was ready to give it back.
Leaf unfolded the hoodie and she looked at it. She laid it across her lap.
"This is your favorite hoodie." she stated.
"I was an ass yesterday so I figured you deserved my favorite one." he replied with a shrug.
Something shattering was heard downstairs. Leaf looked towards the door.
"You have to go." she said.
She pushed the goodies under her covers. Footsteps were heard.
"Shit." Gary muttered.
He didn't want another encounter with Leaf's step father, but at the same time he wasn't finished talking with Leaf.
"Leaf, I-"
"Gary, please you have to leave. He can't know you're in here."
"Text me later?" Gary asked.
Leaf nodded her head and hopped off her bed. She stumbled and Gary caught her.
"Leaf, you need rest." he said, looking at her, concern in his features.
"I just have to help my step father and then I'll rest. I promise."
The next morning...
Gary looked at his phone. No notifications. She hadn't texted last night.
"She was probably tired."
He sent a quick text to her, saying he would pick her up for school today. She replied in agreement which shocked him, he had expected her to say no to his offer.
He pulled on a black tee and slid his feet into some gray sneakers. He grabbed his bag and his keys before walking downstairs.
"I'm heading out, Gramps!"
"Be safe, my boy."
"Always!"
Gary walked out of his house and got into his car. He figured he would pick up Leaf's favorite drink before heading to her house. She was usually grumpy in the morning and since she hadn't been feeling well yesterday, she would likely be even more so than usual.
As he pulled to the curve, he saw that Leaf was already outside waiting. But to his surprise she wasn't dolled up for school. She was wearing his hoodie that he had given her yesterday with a pair of skinny jeans and her combat boots. Her glasses were on her face and her hair wasn't styled in anyway, it was just falling across her shoulders. But she had done her makeup, but it was simple.
She opened the door and got in. He held the cup out to her once she was buckled and a small smile came across her face.
"Thank you," she said, softly and took a sip.
She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Gary asked as he started towards the school.
"Still sore and tired." she replied.
"No contacts?"
"I dropped my right one down the drain so I have to order some more. That was my last pair..."
"I see you're taking full advantage of my favorite hoodie."
"It's a crappy day and this is super comfy. You might never get this one back. I think it's my favorite hoodie that you've let me wear."
"That's fine, Leafy."
"What?" Leaf asked, looking at him weirdly.
"You can keep it if needed. I was a complete ass."
Gary pulled into the parking lot and turned his engine off.
"Thanks for the ride." Leaf said, going to get out.
"Leaf, wait."
She stopped with her hand on the door and looked at Gary.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm just sore and tired. I promise you, I'm not upset with you anymore so don't feel guilty."
Gary nodded his head, but Leaf could see that he was still troubled. Sighing, she shifted in the seat.
"Hey," she said, turning his head so he was looking at her.
"We're okay and seriously thanks for the ride." she said and kissed his cheek, before getting out.
"See you later,"
Gary blinked, shocked by her actions.
It was now lunchtime and Leaf was sitting at the table with Serena and Shauna.
"So Leaf, what's with this look?" Serena asked.
"I wasn't feeling that great today, still sore. I also dropped one of my contacts and I didn't have any extras." Leaf replied.
"Is that Gary's hoodie?" Shauna asked.
"Yes, it is."
"Speaking of Gary..." Serena said, as Gary came over and sat down beside Leaf.
Leaf gave a small smile of gratitude towards him.
"I saw that you gave Leaf a ride this morning." Serena said to Gary.
"I wanted to make sure she was okay after everything." Gary replied.
"I've also noticed something between you two."
Leaf cocked an eyebrow.
"And what's that?" Leaf asked.
"You two always kiss each other on the cheek when at school. How come?"
"I don't like kissing in public." Leaf replied.
Her two friends laughed.
"That's a lie Leaf, and you know it." Shauna said.
"No-" Leaf started.
"All your other boyfriends you would kiss in the hallways, the courtyard, everywhere. But you two haven't kissed. It's always pecks on the cheek."
"So you're saying because we haven't kissed...?" Gary asked.
"It's just odd that you're a couple and you don't kiss." Serena commented.
"Given how Leaf usually is." Shauna added.
"Hey!" Leaf cried, anger flaring in her eyes.
Gary grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She met his eyes which were questioning her.
"You two are ridiculous." she muttered with a shake of her head.
She looked at Gary who was still watching her. She glanced at his lips and then back at his eyes.
He cupped her cheek and brought his lips to hers.
Please R&R