Down & Out

Thanks for the reviews. This chapter is based more on Alex and Ryan. Sorry it took me so long to update. This chapter's not that long, but its better than nothing! Anyways enjoy and review.

Part Ten: Hopeless Love

Alex entered the dark hospital room, easing the door shut she turned around surprised to see a hunched over figure near Marissa. Walking slowly she placed a hand on the dirty blonde haired boy's shoulder, causing him to stir. His eyes began to open, and he turned his head in her direction.

"Hey" he yawned, sitting up.
"Hey, how're you doing?" She whispered back, taking a seat next to him.
"I'm okay, tired I suppose. What're you doing here?"
"Came back."
"For her?" Ryan asked gesturing towards Marissa. Alex merely nodded, her eyes becoming soft.
"Julie said you weren't here this morning when she got here, and Summer said you never went back to her house. No one knew where you went." Ryan said, Alex looked away. "Sorry."
"Well I'm glad you came back." He offered.
"Yeah? Why's that?"
"Because… she needs you." Ryan answered after while.
"Are you scared?" He asked.
"Little bit."
"What're you scared of?"
"That she won't wake up, and that if she does she won't know me, or want me."
"Why would you think that?"
"Haven't you seen those soaps on TV? The girl in the car accident usually loses her memory."
"True, but she usually regains her memory and falls in love with the person who she sees sitting by her bedside."

Alex sat with surprise written all over her face. Ryan had completely caught her off guard by what he had said. Ryan sensing he had said too much, began to blush, but because of the darkness his cover wasn't blown.
"Well I mean, its what I hear from Seth. You know how he likes to watch those…Anyways why would you think she doesn't want you?"
"I don't know, its just what I've always been afraid of. When we broke up, when she left me for you…"
"Alex…she didn't leave you for me…she was confused. She didn't know what she wanted."
"That's what I'm afraid of."

Ryan remained silent, he didn't have anything to say to Alex that would help the situation. He knew exactly what she was going through, because Marissa had put him through the same situation. Except he knew deep down that it would work between them, when Alex left Newport Marissa hadn't been the same. That he had been sure of.

"Look Alex, whatever happens, happens."
"I know, it's how I look at life. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. It just hurts sometimes when you can't have what you want most."
"Tell me about it." Ryan muttered turning his gaze back to Marissa.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
"What're you doing here."
"I didn't want her to be alone."
"Do you still care about her?" Alex questioned, her voice skeptical.

Ryan sighed, and clasped his hands together. His head dipped lower as he returned his gaze to her. He'd never been the type to share his feelings, but since the accident he'd been doing a lot of thinking.
"I was with her the day she got in the accident, I was the one that pulled her out. Seeing her like that made me realize that I'd always been saving her, she was always a mess and I was the one that always rescued her. Do I care about her? Yes. Do I love her? It's hard not to, we've been through so much." Ryan said the last part quietly, licking his lips.

The two sat side by side, surrounded by silence, both watching the girl their hearts ached for.

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