*NATHAN'S POV*

I haven't spoken to Simon for a week now. Ever since he confessed his love to me, I haven't been able to look at him since. I wasn't exactly sure how to respond to his confession. I mean, I am kinda happy that he feels this way towards me, but what do I feel towards him? That's the thing I can't figure out myself. I've never loved anyone before. I mean, I know Simon probably hasn't either, but this isn't as easy for me, though. My parents split up because they fell out of love and part of me felt like that might happen with me and Simon if we take things further. Another part of me is just afraid of hurting Simon altogether if I do confess my love for him, but I don't feel it the same way he does.

I do have some deep feelings for him, but is that love? I can't imagine my life without him, but is that love? What IS love exactly? That's the question that's been haunting my mind ever since that day and because I've been having trouble figuring out how I feel towards him, I've been avoiding him. I know that's the worst thing I could do to him since he obviously wants me to respond to him, but...I can't. I can't respond to him. Not yet at least.

It's Saturday. The weekend is finally here. I got up and mom forced me to go the store to get some groceries which I didn't mind since it gave me some time to think. After I got some basic things, I left the store and started walking back home. While I was walking down the neighborhood, I heard a female voice call my name.

"Nathan!" She shouted as she ran up to me.

"Hey, Sarah. What's up?" I asked, wondering why she was in a panic.

"Did you see Simon at all today?" She asked.

I shook my head. "No. Why?"

"He's...he's..."

My eyes were glued to her. "He's...what?" I slowly asked, hoping that nothing happened to him.

"I was talking to Emily and she told me that she heard from Josh that he heard an ambulance siren in the neighborhood last night and when he looked out his window, he saw Simon being put on the truck." She admitted.

My eyes slowly widen and I suddenly felt my heart racing.

"You...you decided to tell me this NOW!?" I said, almost shouting at her.

"Well, Emily didn't think you would want to know. I mean, the whole thing with you guys not talking and-"

I quickly shoved the grocery bag into her hands and started sprinting down the sidewalk. As I was running, it felt like the whole world was slowing down and I started seeing images of Simon popping into my head. Even though I'm not exactly sure of my feelings for him right now, I would be crushed if anything serious happens to him. He's the first person I've liked. Or should I say, the first boy I've liked. I can't imagine life without him and if he dies...I don't even want to think about that possibility.

...

Once I got to the hospital, I ran up to the counter, out of breath.

"What room is Simon Bellamy in!?" I asked the secretary.

"Let's see...Simon Bellamy..."

I bit my bottom lip, wanting her to hurry up and tell me.

"Room 203. Just take the elevator-"

I didn't care to hear the rest of what she wanted to say. All I wanted right now was to see Simon's face. After taking what felt like a long ride on the elevator, I finally reached the second floor and started running down the hallway to Simon's room. Once I reached the door, I took a deep breath and slowly made my way inside. My eyes immediately glued themselves to an unconscious Simon on the bed and it felt like the whole world suddenly stopped moving.

He looked so...so hurt. To see my beautiful boy lying in bed, hurt, lonely and wired up made me feel sad. I immediately regret not speaking to Simon at all this week. If only...if only I had talked to him. At least once. He wouldn't be lying in a hospital bed right now. What kind of a boyfriend am I?

I started to slowly walk over to his bedside so I can look at him closely when I suddenly heard a familiar voice talking right behind me.

"What are you doing here?" Simon's mom asked.

I turned around and looked at her.

"I...I heard he was in the hospital so I...I wanted to see how he was..." I said, softly.

Simon's mom shook her head and started walking over to his bedside.

"I'm sorry, but right now isn't a good time."

"But I-"

"He'll only be in the hospital for a couple days. You can see him when he gets out." She said.

I couldn't believe what she just said. I didn't want to leave Simon at all and I was ready to force her to let me be with him, but then I didn't want her to call a nurse and have a nurse kick me out so I did as she said and just left. When I made my way back downstairs, I felt defeated without even trying. I shoved my hands into my pockets and sighed when I suddenly noticed the gift shop and I went inside.

I looked at all the trinkets and get well cards when I had an idea. I searched for the perfect get well card and bought it then I went out to the waiting room and sat in one of the chairs. I grabbed a pencil from a table and started pouring out my feelings onto the card. Even though it's hard for me to tell Simon how I feel about him to his face, I felt like doing it in a card would be appropriate too.

...

After I finished writing on the card and slipping it into a red envelope, I went back up to Simon's room and waited till his mom left before I quietly snuck into his room. I looked around for a place to put the card where Simon would notice it, but his mom wouldn't when I suddenly thought of putting it under the covers.

I slowly pulled back the covers then gently placed the envelope on his stomach before pulling the covers back over him and I quickly left out of the room, hoping that he'll wake up soon and read the card.

...

*SIMON'S POV*

I slowly opened up my eyes and the first thing I saw was the white ceiling, but it didn't look like the ceiling in my room. That's when I looked around the room and saw that I was in the hospital. I slowly tried sitting up, but it prove to be difficult since I was in so much pain and that's when I remembered what happened last night.

I sighed and moved my hand when I felt something poking me in the stomach. I quickly panicked, hoping it wasn't my rib when I looked up under the covers and saw a red envelope. I sighed in relief and grabbed it, looking it over before opening it up, wondering who gave me this. The first person I thought of wasn't Nathan since I assumed that he doesn't even know that I'm in the hospital, but my assumption was wrong once I started reading the card which had the words get well soon on it and a teddy bear was smiling right at me.

Simon,

I'm sorry that I can't visit you right now. I tried, but your mom prevented me from being with you so this is the best I could do right now. I wanted to say how sorry I am for ignoring you all week. I wasn't trying to do it on purpose. I was trying to figure out my feelings for you since I want to return the same feelings that you have for me. After hearing that you were in the hospital and actually seeing you lying in the bed, I've realized that I...I do love you.

I can't imagine my life without you and thinking that you were on the brink of death scared me so much. I hated myself so much, knowing that I had to hear from a friend that you were in the hospital. I feel like a terrible boyfriend and I can understand if you don't want to be with me anymore because of it.

But...I love you. I really am in love with you. You complete me.

Yours forever,

Nathan

After reading the note and then re-reading it a couple times, I started to feel my heart grow warm and at that moment, I wanted to hug and kiss Nathan so much, but I couldn't. I really don't like that my mom is preventing Nathan from seeing me, but at least I'll get to hopefully see him when I get out of here and then we can talk face to face.

...

A few days later, I was finally released from the hospital and on my way home. When mom drove the car into the driveway, I saw Nathan sitting on the steps of my house. I slowly got out of the car, being mindful about my ribs as I slowly made my way over to him. Nathan looked at me and quickly got up and helped me sit down on the steps next to him.

"You've got a few minutes okay?" Mom said to me before heading inside the house.

I nodded to her before looking away.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked.

I nodded as I sighed.

"Um...thanks for the card. It was really sweet."

Nathan smiled softly, still watching me.

"I...I'm touched. I really am. I thought you hated me and-"

"I could never hate you." He said, putting his arm around me.

I nodded then looked at him. "You really do love me?"

He nodded. "Of course. I...I was stupid to not realize it. You're my handsome shark. My beautiful boy."

I smirked and chuckled softly. "Thanks?"

"I really do love you, Simon. My parents split up because they fell out of love and I didn't even know what love was until I realized that I might lose you someday. I want to spend every waking moment with you. I want to have a lot of firsts with you too."

I smiled softly and nodded then I looked at him and stared into his beautiful eyes.

"I do too."

I wanted to tell him that I wanted to marry him too, but I felt like that would've been rushing things since I already scared him off when I confessed my love to him. I need to remember that our relationship needs to take one step at a time.

Then, Nathan leaned in and gave me the most passionate kiss he could ever give me. I leaned into him and kissed him back with the same passion, but then I quickly pulled away, not wanting to get carried away and start getting turned on. I would probably have to rest for awhile before we can start back sleeping together and whatnot.

"Simon, come inside. You still need to rest." My mom suddenly said when she opened up the front door.

I sighed then slowly stood up with Nathan's help.

"I can come back tomorrow and keep you company?" He suggested.

I looked at him and nodded. "Sounds great."

Then, I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before saying goodbye and heading back into the house, feeling really happy.