Warm Without a Care Chapter 3
Gabby's POV
The next day, Chad came banging on our door at seven, waking us all up. So I got up, only to bump into sleep mussed haired, Austin who was rubbing his eyes, "Honey, go back to sleep." I whispered, patting him on the head and pushing him gently back towards his room. He simply looked up at me, smiled faintly and walked back into his room, soundlessly.
I walked to the door, afraid of what he needed this early in the morning. When I finally reached the door and saw Chad, he was standing there, bouncing on his heels nervously, and drumming on his thighs to a beat that was only inside his head. He was wearing the shirt Taylor had given them on one of their numerous anniversaries. His jeans were sagging slightly, and his shoes matched the bright blue color of his shirt. He looked up, expectance in his eyes.
"Today's the day." He said simply, his drumming getting quicker, as I knew he was getting more nervous than he must've already been.
"To see Taylor?" I asked, knowing the answer already, and inviting him in with the sweep on my hand, and opening the door a bit more.
"Of course, why else would I be so nervous?" He asked, laughing slightly.
"I don't know, I don't even understand why you're going to see her at all." I answered, sighing as I seated myself on the couch, opposite Chad.
"Because, I've loved her since we were juniors in high school. She's got an illness, so what? It's love Gabby, and love doesn't come everyday to everyone, and if you have a chance at love, you shouldn't walk away from him." He whispered the last part, as if he were still trying to convince himself to completely do this.
"Well, why are you here? Don't you need to be at the hospital soon?" I asked, scrunching my eyebrows in confusion.
"That's why I'm here, will you come with me?" He asked, looking into my eyes, and clutching his hands together.
"Oh Chad, I don't know is that's such a good idea-"I began, wondering how in the world he could ask such a thing of me.
"I know last time you saw her, things weren't exactly ideal. But please?" He asked, interrupting me, and looking away for a moment, hurt obvious in his eyes and expression.
"IDEAL? Thing's were terrible, SHE LOCKED ME IN A FREAKING CLOSET!" I screamed, standing up, finally getting sick of sitting here and listening to him beg me to go some place I never wanted to go.
"Gabby, please, calm down. I just wanted to ask you to go because, I can't tell Troy, he doesn't even want me to go in the first place, and you were always her best friend, I figured there was a chance you'd go with me, but if not, I'll just leave." He answered quietly, and stood and began walking back to the doorway.
"Give me ten minutes." I whispered, grabbing his arm as he passed me.
"You mean it?" He whispered even quieter, disbelief clear in his eyes. I simply nodded, which made him walk back toward the couch and sit down while I went back toward my bedroom.
I slipped off my pajama's and quickly put on some cut off jeans and a white, colorful butterfly tank top, and some rainbow flip flops. Then I scribbled out a short note telling Troy where I'd be, and walked calmly to the dresser to brush my hair and think. I stared at my reflection, wondering how in the world I was going to stay calm during the whole thing.
Why did I agree to this? This is going to kill me on the inside.
I sighed, despite the negative thoughts I was thinking, I picked myself up and grabbed my cell phone and house keys, and slipping back out into the hall. I walked past Austin's room before thinking for a moment and going back and entering into it. I looked at him peacefully sleeping again, and kissed his forehead, making his eyes flutter slightly before turning onto his side. Then I walked back out the door and went to meet Chad.
"Let's go." I said briefly, before my courage ran out, and it looked like Chad's already had. He was paler than usual, and instead of saying something, he simply nodded and followed behind me until we got to the door, and I locked the door. The ride to the hospital was silent and awkward, as both of us were too nervous for words.
I lightly grabbed his hand as we left the parking lot and entered the hospital, he looked so scared. When finally we reached the six level, which was the psych ward, he stopped.
"I don't think I can do this Gabs." He said, looking down, ashamed of himself.
"It's okay If you can't, you know that right? I mean, she went crazy and locked you up, and even though you love her, and I know you do, sometimes love isn't enough." I answered, turning his chin up so that his eyes were looking into mine. They looked so scared and alone that it was heartbreaking.
"I know, I just…she's not going to be who she used to be, you know? And what if this new person doesn't love me?" He whispered, looking as if this were his biggest fear in life.
"She could never not love you; you're the greatest man on earth to her. Trust me, I listened to her blab on and on about you." I answered, smiling, before grabbing his hand again and pulling him toward the sign in desk.
"Can I help you?" The lady at the front desk asked warmly while smiling happily at both of us.
"Yes, we're here to see Taylor-"Chad started, looking down at the floor embarrassed.
"Oh, dear! You're Gabriella and Chad?" She asked, eyes bulging out.
"Uhm, yes…" I replied, looking at her confusedly.
"Oh dear, I don't think you should go back there." She answered, nervously sorting through the sheaves of paper on the desk in front of her, not wanting to look us in the eye.
"Why?" Chad asked suddenly, anger evident beneath his calm voice. He'd waited months for the doctors to clear Taylor for visitors, and though he was scared to death to see her, he didn't want his chance taken away from him.
"Well, maybe you should find out for yourself, she's in the first room to the right." The woman answered, as if she couldn't release the information, no matter how badly she wanted to.
After hearing the room directions, Chad angrily stormed down the hallway, until he came to the room that held Taylor's seemingly lifeless body. She lay beneath the blankets, not moving. She looked so little next to all the machines and wires, and even then, Chad couldn't take his eyes off of her. Chad went to stand beside her, and the moment he touched her, she began to scream.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" She screeched, sitting up in her bed and glaring at the two of us.
"Honey, its Chad, your husband." Chad answered, looking as if all his nightmares had suddenly come true, and deep in my heart, I knew they had. Her disease had erased her memories of Chad, which was breaking his heart.
"I DON'T HAVE A HUSBAND!" She yelled out, curling op beside the headboard, which was as far away from us as she could get. Her eyes were bulging out at us, and she looked scared to death at two of us being in the same room as her.
Just then the nurse showed up, and she looked sadly at the two of us, "I'm sorry miss Taylor, They'll be leaving momentarily." This seemed to calm Taylor down and she instantly laid back down.
The nurse pulled us outside by our arms, and then began to whisper to us, "I'm so sorry, it's just we aren't supposed to tell visitors about conditions, even though I really wanted to tell you all." She looked so sad about not being able to tell us about Taylor.
"So, she's forgotten all about me?" Chad asked weakly.
"I'm afraid so." The lady answered, which finally brought the downpour of tears I knew Chad had been holding back this whole time.