Another day passed and Warren was steadily drifting away from us. He was on a ventilator now and was in a lot of pain. The specialist told everybody not to give up hope for they felt that they were very close to figuring out the antidote to the poison. They couldn't hurry fast enough in my opinion. Warren's body looked ravaged and he had recently started suffering with severe seizures that shook his form like a rag doll. Time was running out fast.
The closer Warren got to death the more I felt that my own world was ending. To my horror I realized that Layla was right. I had somehow falling in love with Warren. I mean don't get me wrong… I have nothing against being gay, but that doesn't mean that Warren is gay and that doesn't mean that he is going to react well to my recent discovery. Then another thought dawned on me.
"Oh! My! God! My father is going to kill me," I thought in shock, "And if Warren survives then he is going to kill me again. Another wonderful twist in my Will-How-Much-Can-You-Screw-Up life."
"This is all your fault," I said aloud to Warren's silent form, "Why did you have to be…so…so…you? I mean…you are not what I expected Warren Peace."
Sighing softly I walked to gaze out of the window in the hospital room. It was getting late in the evening and Layla and the others would probably be dropping in any minute.
"You were supposed to be my arch nemesis. You were supposed to be evil and mean and dark," I said as I walked back over to sit beside Warren, "But you weren't evil or mean…well maybe just a little dark, but not in a bad way. You are so much more than I ever thought to credit you with at our first meeting or "glare contest". You are loyal and a fierce protector of others. You are smart and witty and can make anyone laugh with your dry humor. You are honest and blunt. You are able to make others see truths they never thought existed. You made me enjoy reading, which is a feat within itself. You have a kind and gentle heart and have just about as much empathy as Layla. You are beautiful and have a radiant soul, which you rarely let anybody see. And you have made me fall head-over-heels in love with you! Damn you! Don't you dare leave me so soon! You still have to fry my ass for falling in love with you!"
"So you've finally figured it out," a familiar voice said from behind me.
"Layla!" I said turning in surprise as I shakily wiped tears that had mysteriously appeared on my cheeks, "When did you get here?"
"When you sat down beside Warren and told him what you felt," she said not meeting my eyes.
"Layla…I never planned this to happen," I said uncomfortably.
"I know."
"Layla our time together as a couple have been great. I do love you, but…"
"But I wasn't
enough for you," Layla said as she met my eyes with her own tear
filled ones.
"No! You are one of the most wonderful people in
the world, but it couldn't work out between the two of us," I
said emphatically, "You were right about me. I have fallen for
Warren not because you lacked anything or he was better, but
because I'm gay!"
I gasped and was left shocked. Did I actually just say that out loud?
"Your gay? Are you sure?" Layla asked me timidly looking in my eyes again before gasping in surprise, "You are sure Will."
"Does this bother you?" I asked sadly, "You said that you would understand no matter what I chose."
"Oh Will," Layla sighed pulling me into a hug, "I am sad that our relationship couldn't be more, but I will never stop loving you. You were my first love and I still feel that you should be with the one you love. It will take me some getting used to, but you will always be my best friend. Love is love. There is no question to that."
"Then you will let me live with you when my parents throw me out of the house and protect me from Warren when he tries to kill me for falling in love with him?" I mumbled into her shoulder.
"Will! Your parents will understand. They are not narrow-minded people," Layla said earnestly, "They will love their son no matter his sexual preferences."
"Sexual preferences? Since when do you quote Oprah?" I joked.
"Hush you,"
Layla said giving me a small nudge, "As for Warren…he is a good
man Will. He won't kill you for telling him the truth. If he
doesn't return your feelings that is not because there is anything
wrong with you, it is just because the two of you were not meant to
be. I hope it works out between you two because I want you both to
be happy."
"I only pray that I will be able to tell Warren
the truth," I said sadly turning back to the one I love lying in
the bed, "What if he dies? What if I lose him Layla? I can't
lose him! I…I love him so much it hurts."
The sudden beeping of the machines surrounding Warren started screaming all at once. Warren's whole body was seizing violently. I rushed to him and attempted to restrain Warren from hurting himself as I screamed to Layla to get help. Doctors and nurses flooded the room immediately and I was ordered out of the room. The next thing I knew my father grabbed me and led me to the waiting room where Warren's mom, my mom, Layla, Zach, Ethan, and Magenta sat anxiously.
"What happened?" Ms. Peace asked at once nearly in tears, "Is Warren okay? Layla said he is having another seizure."
"I've never seen him have a seizure as violent as this before," I said numbly, "He needs that antidote and he needs it now!"
"We were just about to come and tell you the good news," Ethan said.
"What good news?" I asked as I strained to hear what was going on back down the hall.
"Dude, they've got the antidote!" Zach said happily, "Warren is going to be fine now."
"Hush Zach. You didn't listen to what Ms. Peace told us," Magenta said as I placed all my focus on her, "Will they have the antidote, but they are not sure if it will help Warren in time. His body is very weak."
"But they have the antidote?" I asked faintly.
"Yes honey," my mother said gently.
"Then he will be fine," I said quickly, "Warren is a fighter. He would never allow himself to go like this. I won't give up on him."
"Yes Will," Ms. Peace said, "My baby is a fighter. Warren would never give up and I would never give up on him."
"Neither will I," Layla said.
"Neither will we," Zach, Ethan, and Magenta chorused.
"We will believe in him as well," my parents said.
So we all drew comfort from one another and sat silently waiting to hear what was going on back in Warren's room.
"Stay safe Love," I prayed to myself, "The world still needs you here.
To be continued…
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