"Hey Woods." She said quietly, not meeting his eyes. She knew the moment she did; she couldn't say what she needed to say, even though she wasn't sure at all what that was..
"Hey." He answered her, speaking as quietly and shyly as she had. He looked up, but Jordan was still staring at the floor, so he stared down at the hospital sheets. He heard Lily move toward the door. She left. Great. He and Jordan were left alone to talk, but neither of them knew what to say, or how the other would react. Jordan sensed that Woody knew exactly how she felt, so she sat down on the chair. She could never remember such awkwardness between the two of them. Finally, she realized one of them had to say something, and even though Woody was the one who had pushed her away, she knew very well she had pushed him away many times, so she might as well talk to him. The situation between them couldn't get any worse.
"Look Woody. I know you probably won't believe me, but when I said what I said to you, I really did mean every word of it. You didn't believe me before, so I don't expect you to believe me now, but I'm telling you the truth. I'm sorry that I told you at such an awkward time, but it could have been the last time I ever got to talk to you. I have known I loved you for a long time. I just couldn't say it before. I was afraid, but I was even more afraid of not ever getting the chance to tell you, and living my whole life knowing that I should have. I'm sorry." Tears welled up in Jordan's eyes as she slouched down in the chair. What would Woody say? She couldn't bring herself to look at him. She didn't know how he would react, but she knew how she wanted him to.
"Jordan…" Woody started, and then stopped. He started thinking about what to say next. She must think I'm either still angry at her, and don't believe her, or that I'm a complete loser, he thought. What could he say in response to what she had said? Jordan had just told him exactly what he had wanted to hear, and she was telling the truth. She had told him before, and she could have been with him, helping him through this the whole time, but he had to be a jerk. He had to turn her away. What was he thinking? It wasn't as if he hadn't thought about all of this a million times, it was just that in his mind, he had never thought Jordan would come here and tell him this. He had planned on going and finding her, and he planned on starting the conversation. He never planned on being in this situation. He knew what he had to tell her. He had to tell her how he felt. He knew it would sound dumb. He could picture it now. Jordan, I love you. I've loved you for the last four years, and I always will love you. I never in a million years thought you would say that you loved me, and you did. Finally, you did. And I pushed you away. Pushed you away like you pushed me away as soon as we got too close. I hated it, when you pushed me away, which makes it even harder for me to explain why I pushed you away. And the truth is, I don't know. I haven't the slightest clue why I didn't believe you. Why I didn't say I love you too, and gave us a chance. I just don't know, and I'm sorry if that's not enough for you. But he couldn't say it. She would leave him, and find someone better. He knew it. What to say, what could he say?
"It's okay Woody." Jordan said, "I get it. I'll go."
"No Jordan, don't." Woody told her, a little louder than he had intended. "Please don't." He said again, quieter this time. Jordan, who was halfway to the door turned around and looked him right in the eye. There was no escaping it. He had to say something, and he knew it.
"Why Woody? Why should I stay? You haven't said a word. Why can't you tell me what you're thinking, and I know you're thinking about something." She asked him. Woody gave her a small smile.
"Promise you won't go if I tell you?" He asked, and Jordan nodded. "Alright then. I'll tell you everything I want to stay, but you can't get mad, and leave."
"I won't. I promise." Jordan told him, smiling. Woody nodded and then brought up his courage.
"Jordan, I love you. I've loved you for the last four years, and I always will love you. I never in a million years thought you would say that you loved me, and you did. Finally, you did. And I pushed you away. Pushed you away like you pushed me away as soon as we got too close. I hated it, when you pushed me away, which makes it even harder for me to explain why I pushed you away. And the truth is, I don't know. I haven't the slightest clue why I didn't believe you. Why I didn't say I love you too, and gave us a chance. I just don't know, and I'm sorry if that's not enough for you." Jordan opened her mouth several times while he was speaking, and shut it again, not wanting to interrupt. He was afraid she'd get mad and leave when he said this? How could she? He had just told her that he loved her, always had and always will. Wasn't that what every girl wanted to hear from the man they loved? She wasn't exactly sure why he had pushed her away without any reason, but she guessed it was just all the stress, drugs in his system and he was just overwhelmed.
"Woody, I could never walk away from you after you told me that." Jordan told him, tears in her eyes once again. "I love you too; it just took me a long while to say it." Woody smiled, very surprised at Jordan. It wasn't like her to not ask anymore questions, and to say I love you to him again. Maybe she just wanted to give them a chance like he did. Maybe they did have a chance. But if Jordan wasn't going to ask any more questions, he was only going to ask one.
"Jordan, why did you push me away all those times I wanted to be with you if you loved me?" He hoped she wouldn't change her mind after he asked that, but he had to.
"Well… it's not really all that complicated I guess." She said, "I… well I was just afraid that we'd be together for a few weeks, and then you'd leave me for someone else. I didn't want you to leave me, ever… and…" She was about to continue when Woody cut in.
"I won't ever leave you Jordan. I won't. I promise you." Jordan looked up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks. Could she trust him? The one man who had always been there for her throughout the four years she had known him. It was a hard decision to make. She had to decided, then and there. There was no more running like she always had. No more pushing away. Woody promised her, but was she ready to commit to being with him?