Chapter 15:

"What happened?" I asked once I finally spotted his mom filling out paper work. She had tears in her eyes as well and I gave her a hug trying to stay strong with her.

"He was hit by a drunk driver," she said and a million thoughts ran through my mind. It was my fault. He was on his way to my house.

"Can I see him?" I asked and she nodded and lead me to a window first and I saw him. He has a bad gash above his left eyebrow with a broken arm is all that I could see from here. I looked at him and almost broke down. His mom patted my back and lead the rest of the family out of the room so that I could enter alone with him. I stood over him and his eyes looked like he was out of it.

"Hey, Jensen," he said like everything was fine and dandy. I smiled as best I could through my tears, but felt one escape. "Why are you crying, I am still here," he said and that just made me want to cry harder. I shook my head to try and stop myself.

"I know you are, but look at you. I am so sorry. I would have called and told you to come 10 minutes later or ear-" I said but he cut me off by saying 'Shh.'

"Jensen, It isn't your fault. I promise. Now come here," he said extending his non-broken arm. I went and sat on the side of the bed.

"I'm still sorry," I said looking down at his chest. I really shouldn't have looked because there were bruises from the seatbelt and he had what looked like a rug burn on his chest from the stearing wheel would be my guess. I closed my eyes and he lifted our hands to my face.

"I love you," I said and he smiled. "But I swear if you ever get hurt again I might have to kill you," I said and he laughed a little bit.

"I will try my best," he said.

"Good. When do you get out of here?" I asked looking around.

"The doctor's say I will have to stay over night," he said and I nodded.

"How long can I stay?" I asked.

"As long as you would like," he said and I smiled. His mom knocked on the door then. and we turned and looked at her and she waved me over. I carefully got off the bed and went over to her.

"David, Brody and I are going to get something to eat. Would you mind...?" she asked.

"No that is fine. I am going to stay here, if that is okay," she smiled and nodded and then left. I went back over to the bed except I grabbed a chair and sat on that instead and grabbed his hand again.

"How bad does it hurt?" I asked.

"At first, it was really bad, but then I got in a state of numbness. When they got me in here they gave me some pain meds before stitching this up," he said pointing to the gash on his eyebrow.

"Do you need anything? Can I get you food or water?" I asked and he rolled his eyes.

"No, I am all good. I told my mom not to let you come though."

"You really think I would have listened?"

"Guess not. Sorry you have to see me like this," he said and looked down.

"It is okay. I had a choice, remember?"

"Ha ha," he said and I laughed.

"Why don't you go to sleep? I am sure you will feel better," I said and he looked like he was debating something in his mind. "I will still be here when you wake up," I whispered and he smiled and dosed off into sleep. I grabbed my book that was in my purse and started reading while holding his hand still. Once a half hour past the rest of the famiy walked in again and I started to walk away until Carrie stopped me.

"Go ahead stay where you are," she said and I smiled and went back to reading. In the middle of him sleeping he started to snore and talk a little bit. I giggled along with the rest of the family and then my phone went off. It was my mom so I went to answer it. I just told her all that was going on and that I would give her updates when needed. I noticed that 3 hours have already passed since I arrived and I was hungry. I went to the vending machines and got a granola bar and coffee to keep me awake. About an hour later Hayden woke up again.

"Hey," he said and smiled.

"Hi," I told him. Visiting hours were up at 8 and it was already 7:45. "I have to go soon."

"No," he groaned and his family left because they got the memo to leave us alone.

"Sorry. I will be here in the morning though. I promise."

"You don't have to," he said and I glared at him jokingly.

"Yes, I do," I said and he laughed but he winced and stopped. I winced as well at the sight.

"Your going to leave me with my family?" he asked.

"You will be in good hands," I assured him.

"Not with you gone," he said and my smile faded.

"I am sorry. I can take Brody with me so that he leaves you alone. Unless you want him here."

"No, ask him what he wants," he said and the nurse walked in and informed me that I should start heading out. I smiled at Hayden and bent down to give him a kiss.

"Good night. I will be here the minute that I am allowed to step in I promise. I love you," I said and he smiled and said the same. I then went out to talk to Carrie and David.

"Okay, he is all yours," I said. "Umm...I am just suggesting and don't feel pressured or anything, but if you would like I can take Brody with me and he can stay the night at my house with Conner. I will bring him back here when I get here tomorrow morning."

"Oh, that would be so helpful. Thank you Jensen. We will see you then. Umm Brody has keys the the house if you wouldn't mind stopping by to pick up his clothes," Carrie said and I nodded.

Once I got in front of Hayden's yad and Brody went to go get all of his things I called my dad.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Hey Dad, it's Jensen. Umm I just wanted to let you know that I offered to take Brody home with me so he is staying the night. I hope that is okay...?" I said hoping it was.

"That was nice of you. Yes, of course it's okay. How is everyone? And Hayden?"

"We are all doing better. Hayden looks pretty banged up, but he will get better. Sorry I wasn't home all day."

"That's okay. We are making dinner right now."

"Oh good, I am starving. I am sitting in front of Hayden's house waiting for Brody to come out. He is getting all of his clothes and what not."

"Alright well I will see you in a few."

"Okay. Bye love you."

"Love you too, Jen."

"Ready?" I asked Brody as he hoped in the front seat.

"Yep. All of the doors and windows are locked with all of the lights off."

"Okay. My parents are cooking dinner right now so it sould be done by the time we get there."

"Kay," was all he said and we were off. Brody was a lot like Conner in a way. He could either be really nice and quiet or really annoying and loud. Tonight he seemed to be a little quiet because he didn't say much.

"Hayden will get better, I promise," I said and he smiled a little bit.

"I know. Jensen?" he asked suddenly and I said, "Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Are you planning on going to college and getting a decent job and having kids some day?" he asked like a fire rocket. I laughed a little bit.

"What brought all of this on?"

"Well, I was just thinking that you need to live up to the standard's I have set for Hayden's wife. I am not going to let him marry just anyone," he said and I just laughed harder.

"Yes I plan on going to college and maybe have kids, I don't know. But who says I will be Hayden's wife? We are only 16 for goodness sakes!"

"Well you love him, right?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean we will be together forever. I do have faith, don't get me wrong, it is just that love...is complicated," I said.

"How so?" he wondered.

"Well, you can't really know that until you are in love. Like the fact that we are both graduating next year and going to college. That will be a very hard decision and we either have to let each other go, or move forward together. It just depends on how things work out."

"Oh, okay. Well I was just wondering. You and Hayden meet your freshman year, right?" he asked and I nodded.

"Okay. So is there a chance that this girl that I really like and I will be where you are with Hayden today?" he asked and I laughed again.

"Hmm...I don't know. It just depends on how strong your commitment is. Hayden and I still fight over various things, but we get through it somehow. Every relationship is different though," I said and he seemed to consider this while I turned onto my street.

"Okay," he finally said and skipped out of the car and grabbed his stuff. I rolled my eyes and laughed then cut the engine and got out of the car. I walked in and I got a hug from Mom and Dad.

"We are so sorry Jen. To you also, Brody."

"Nah, my bro will be fine. It makes us look cooler anyways," Brody said and my mom raised an eyebrow.

"Us?" she asked.

"Yeah. You see, Bella, if my brother looks all bad and cool and I go to school with him, then it makes me look cool too."

"Ah," my mom said and we all laughed.

Later that evening I was just reading a book in my bed trying to make my eyes tired so that I could fall asleep. My mom came in about 20 minutes in and I looked up and smiled.

"Hey," she said.

"Hi."

"How are you holding up?" she asked.

"Umm..good I guess. I am just feeling a lot right now. And it is not because he is just my boyfriend if that is what you are thinking."

"I am not thinking that. But then what is it?"

"Well...I don't really know how to tell you this, but I love him. I told him that on prom night and I gave myself to him. It was only a week ago and we have not done it again since. I just think maybe it is a sign. Like I am being punished or something," I said while starting to get tears in my eyes. "I mean he could have died. I don't know what I would've done with myself then!" I cried out hysterically. Tears were running freely down my face now. My mom held me and let me cry for a couple minutes until I calmed down.

"You are not being punished Jensen, I promise. Yes, he could have died, but he didn't. It was all just a big accident."

"I know it was. But just thinking about him being gone...I couldn't do that. I feel like I can't breathe if he is not with me. I don't know how he feels, but that is definitely how I feel," I said while wiping my face.

"Well all I know is that boy is crazy about you. Any body can tell. You guys make each other happy and that is all that matters right now."

"Yeah, but when we move away to college in a couple years?"

"You will work it out. Even if you don't end up with him, he will still be in your heart forever. You gave him something so special and nobody could take that away," she said and I took in a deep breath and let it out.

"Okay. Thanks Mom. I love you," I said.

"Love you too. Get some sleep. You will need it to wake up."

"I will try."

The next morning I got Brody out of bed and we headed down to the hospital grabbing donuts and coffee on the way. I went into his room with what looked like his parent's just waking up.

"Hey. Sorry to interupt. I brought coffee and donuts," I said and they smiled and looked at Hayden.

"She's a keeper, son," David said and I laughed.

"Oh trust me, I know," Hayden said and winked at me. I smiled back.

"We are gonna go stretch our legs. Maybe just go eat in the cafeteria," Carrie said and I nodded and said 'Okay' as they left.

I went over to Hayden and bent down to give him a kiss and then I gently ran my fingers through his hair.

"How was your night?" he asked.

"Long," I responded. "And the pain?"

"It's fading. I get out today I think unless they want to keep me here."

"Good, I hope you do."

"Me too."