Chapter 2

"M-maybe I should just go home," Dylan said sadly as he got up from his chair to leave.

"Dylan," Ellie whispered tearfully. "He needs you,"

"Yeah, right. He doesn't even recognize me," he answered solemnly, walking out of the room.

Marco's parents had gone home in the early morning, claiming they had serious things to do, but promised they'd be back before evening. Dylan's departure from the room left Ellie alone with Marco. She got a bit closer, but slightly kept her distance. He twisted his fingers nervously. It seemed to be his only protection to look down at his hands.

"Don't worry," she spoke softly, "I won't hurt you,"

He nodded, but continued to look slightly nervous.

"Marco, you're my best friend. You had an accident,"

"I know,"

"You remember?" she asked curiously.

"No. They told me about the accident,"

"Oh," she said softly. "Am I allowed to tell you about your life? Am I, like, permitted by the doctor to put that information on you?"

He shrugged, "Do it anyway," he pressed, "I kind of want to know,"

"Well, you're…you, obviously. I feel sort of stupid telling you this,"

He raised his eyebrows, "YOU think you feel stupid? Look at me. Please just try—try to tell me everything. I don't even remember myself,"

"I don't understand; though…like…what happened?"

He didn't answer. She felt worse for him at that moment that she ever had for anyone. It seemed that everything bad was sort of thrown at them constantly, but Marco always helped them out, no matter what. It was sad to see that, in this situation, he, (or anyone else, for that matter) could not help at all.

She didn't really know what to begin with. She started to start…well, as far to the beginning as she could.

"Do you know you're gay?"

He put his head in his hands. "Why…does nothing sound familiar?"

She frowned, "It's okay. We'll get through this. We've got a longgggg way to go,"

. …………………………………………………………………………………… .

"Hey, Paige,"

Dylan sat on his cell phone in the lobby, trying to get a hold of his sister. Finally, she had answered.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Umm…well, how's school? Okay, whatever, here's the deal: I'm in the hospital. Well, Marco is. I'm here for him, understand?"

"What happened?!"

"He got into an accident," It didn't hurt him to say those words anymore. He'd repeated them so many times in his head already.

"Oh my god," she gasped, "Is he alright?"

"Well, his body is fine, but his head and mind…not so much. Paige, he—he doesn't remember me,"

"Oh, Dylan…" She didn't really know how to respond.

"I'm so scared," he tried to remain calm for so long in front of the confused Marco, but he couldn't take the pressure anymore. "He refuses to let me near him. I understand he's confused and all, and I'm trying to respect that, but it really hurts. And what I don't understand is, they tell him he's my boyfriend and he still backs away. They say Ellie's his friend and he'll try to cooperate with her. Why is it so hard for him to accept me?"

"I don't know. I guess you just have to try and be positive, you know? There's nothing you can do except try to make him feel comfortable. It's probably terrifying for him. I mean, imagine waking up in a place you don't remember getting to, people you don't know around you that all seem to know about your life, and you can't remember a thing!"

He nodded, "Yeah, you're right,"

"Could I maybe talk to him?"

"I'll try to ask him,"

When Dylan returned to the room, he saw that Ellie was only a step away from crying.

"You alright?" he asked, concerned.

She shook her head, "What if it never comes back? What if HE never does?"

Dylan chose to ignore her question. He honestly had thought about it himself, and he didn't want to admit that it was a possibility.

"Hey, Marco," he approached him slowly, waiting for a reaction. He felt as if he were trying to pet a deer, knowing it was going to run away the closer he came.

He shook his head; once again, fearful.

"He won't hurt you, I promise," Ellie assure him. "As I said, I'm your friend. You can trust me…" she made eye contact with Dylan, "and him,"

Marco nodded his head slowly, letting Dylan come over. He wondered why Marco was particularly afraid of him.

"My sister is on the phone. She's your friend too. She wants to speak to you. She's away at college, and she can't make it here," (A/N: Think he said she a lot there? Lol. I know he sounded like a robot. Nothing I could do!)

"Talk to her," Ellie commanded.

He did as he was told, and put the phone to his ear, "Hello," he spoke shyly.

"Marco, hon, I'm Paige,"

"Hello," he repeated, waiting for more.

"Nothing?" she asked.

"Nothing," he repeated again, probably more upset than she was.

He handed the phone back to Dylan, who hung it up without a good-bye. He knew it wasn't necessary. He then took a seat again next to Marco.

"I know you don't remember me, and I'll be patient with that if you can simply trust me. Do we have a deal?"

Marco grabbed a tighter hold to the pillow he was grasping, but after a moment, nodded his head.

"It's just r-really hard. I don't want to be…to seem mean,"

"I know. Don't worry; it's hard for all of use,"

"Okay, I'll try…Dylan, right?"

"Yes, Dylan, your boyfriend," Dylan attempted.

Marco visibly shuddered at the word 'boyfriend', but said not a word against it.

"Marco!"

Marco's parents entered the room. They smiled joyously at him as though nothing was wrong. Marco, unfortunately, knew the truth. Everything was.

"Marco, you're free to leave the hospital now. There's nothing more they can keep you here for. We just need to hope for the best," said his mother. "Dylan, can we talk?"

"Sure," He followed Mrs. Del Rossi out into the hallway.

"The doctor suggests he goes home with us for now. I think anywhere he goes, there will be a trust problem, so I personally don't agree. I'm going to leave the ultimate decision with you. Would you like him to stay with us for the time being or continue with you,"

"I need him, Mrs. Del Rossi," he answered without hesitation.

"Of course, I thought that would be your answer, but I just want you to be aware he will definitely have unexpected outbursts…or some things that you may not know how to take care of. It won't be easy, Dylan. I love him as much as you do, Dylan, but it is a reality that…well, some people," she paused to breathe in deeply, "don't come back,"

"He will come back," Dylan said confidently.

"Well, okay, do you want to be the one to tell him he's going to live with you?"

"Oh my gosh, he hates me!"

She patted him on the back, "He doesn't hate you. You simply scare him…I suppose that's not too much better,"

For the first time since knowing about Marco in the hospital, he laughed. "No, I suppose it's not,"

……………………………………………………………………………

"I live with him?" Marco asked, confused.

"Yes, Marco," confirmed Ellie, "You do, and you love him,"

Ellie and Dylan were trying to convince Marco to go home with Dylan. Meanwhile, Marco felt it'd be best to stay in the hospital. They told him he couldn't. He had a choice between his parents and Dylan. At first, he chose his parents, but his excuse to change his mind was, 'There's two of them. If they wanted to hurt me, they'd have a better chance', (or something along those lines).

"Look, Marco…Dylan will take care of you. We all love you. No one is going to hurt you," assured Ellie.

Marco looked unconvinced.

"I thought you said you'd try to trust me," Dylan said, hurt.

"That was before I knew I was living with you!" Marco whispered, unhappily. He rocked back and forth on the bed, his arms hugging his knees to his chest. "Please don't make me go!"

Ellie sat down next to him on the bed. She lightly touched his shoulder, (even for her, he would allow no more) "It'll be okay, Marco. Please do this for me, if not Dylan,"

He continued to rock, but nodded. Dylan smiled slightly and sat on the other side of him.

"I won't let anything happen to you, okay? I will never hurt you,"

Surprisingly, he got a bit closer to Dylan, almost whispering in his ear, "Never say never,"

………………………………………………………………………………….

After Marco was signed out of the hospital, he drove home in the backseat of Dylan's car. Dylan suggested it, knowing he wouldn't want to be too close to him. They arrived back to the apartment they shared together and Marco followed Dylan to their door.

They walked in and Marco looked around slowly. Dylan followed his eyes, and shut the door behind them. The slam awoke Marco from his trance.

Dylan went to walk by him and Marco moved so quickly, he fell. He seemed, if possible, much more nervous than even at the hospital. Dylan's first impulse was to go over and see if he was okay, but he thought the closer he was, the worse it would make things. He decided to keep that distance, but talked to him nonetheless.

"You alright?" Dylan asked. "Hungry? Thirsty?"

"OH!" he exclaimed, surprised. "No, no…thanks, I'm okay,"

He cautiously began to sit down. He looked over at Dylan to make sure it was okay. Dylan made a hand gesture that suggested, 'Go ahead,' And Marco sat down.

After getting a soda, Dylan walked across the room to sit in the chair directly across from the couch Marco was sitting on. He smiled at him.

Marco focused his eyes somewhere else. "Well, it's…really nice here," he commented positively. Dylan assumed that was a good sign. At least he didn't hate it.

"Yeah, well, you thought so,"

"You don't?" he questioned.

"No, that's not what I meant. Yeah, I love it here,"

"I really live here?"

"I really can't believe you don't recognize it at all. Like, nothing seems familiar? I mean, do you remember anything at all? Not even the slightest little thing? Because if you do, even if you think it's insignificant or not real, please tell me,"

He nodded. "I remember…well, it is sort of stupid, but I remember…having friends. I mean, see, that's stupid because I don't even remember them. I just remember having them,"

"No, Marco, it's…it's a step,"

"Okay, it's been a really long day and I think I'm going to head to bed," stated Dylan tiredly, "Oh…" he realized, "As to your sleeping arrangement, don't worry, you don't have to sleep with me. I would never do that to you,"

"I'll sleep out here on the couch?" he asked.

"No, you can sleep in the bedroom. I'll sleep on the couch,"

"But—"

"You just had an accident. It's okay,"

"No, but it's your apartment," Marco argued. "I mean, no…it's ours,"

"I'll sleep on the couch. Good-night, Marco,"

"On second thought, could I have something to eat?"

Marco tried stalling because he really didn't want to sleep in a strange place. He was afraid to sleep at all. Last time he'd done that, this was what happened.

"Sure, you can,"

"I was wondering if you could maybe make me something…"

"Absolutely,"

He followed Dylan around the kitchen, though he made sure to stay at least two feet away at all times.

A/N: How'd you like? Please review! I had bigggg inspiration, so I updated this pretty quickly, but the next thing is finished chapter four of "Here to Stay and Gone for Good," That should be up by Saturday :)