Thanks for all the favorites/follows/reviews. Enjoy the second chapter~
The waiting room is silent. Too silent. I'm alone- been sitting here ever since the ambulance arrived. Freddie was rushed in for immediate surgery- I was told it'd be around two hours, most likely less. Carly texted me and said she, Spencer, and Ms. Benson were on their way.
I lean back in the uncomfortable waiting room chair, more tears streaking my pale cheeks. I feel like such a baby for crying, but I can't help it. I love Freddie so much. He's stolen my heart, and seeing him on the pavement- motionless and bleeding- broke my heart.
The sound of footsteps invades my ears, and I look up, sighing. "Hey guys."
Ms. Benson stares at me. "How's Freddie?!"
"I don't know," I whisper. "He's in surgery. It looked pretty bad when he was brought in, though."
"This is all your fault!" Ms. Benson rounds on Carly- who is still shaking. At Freddie's mother's sharp words, she curls away, hiding her face in Spencer's shirt.
"Ms. Benson, please," Spencer mutters. He brings Carly over to the chairs next to me, and collapses in one, allowing her to bury her head in his shoulder.
I'm still in shock. I want Freddie's arms around me- he's the only person that's seen me at my worst- and I think I'm coming pretty damn close to it. He knows how to make me feel safe- but he's in there. In surgery. He might not even be awake when I can see him. I don't think I could handle that. He'd be motionless in a hospital bed- the mere thought makes me sick to my stomach.
"Fredward Benson?"
A doctor- I figure from the white coat and clipboard- steps out into the waiting room. It's been about an hour and a half, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't anxious and terrified.
Instantly, Ms. Benson rises to her feet. I stand next to her, searching the doctor's face for any kind of clue. "How is my son?" Ms. Benson asks frantically.
The doctor holds out a hand. "Josh Simmons. Freddie does have a long recovery ahead- but he got lucky. It could've been worse- car accidents are nothing short of serious. His right wrist is broken, along with his left leg. He has three broken and bruised ribs, and there was a pretty deep laceration on his forehead. Additionally- he does have a concussion- but we did a CAT scan, and there is no sign of any type of brain damage. We've casted his arm and leg- wrapped his ribs, and cleaned him up."
Ms. Benson's eyes widen. She looks speechless- but she manages to find the words to ask one question. "Can I see him?"
Doctor Simmons nods. "Room 693. Only two at a time- we don't want to overwhelm him."
Ms. Benson gives a slight nod. "Samantha? Let's go."
"W-What?" I choke out, eyes wide. "You want me to come?"
She nods again. "You're his girlfriend. And it's obvious that you're anxious to see him- you have not stopped fidgeting since we've arrived."
"Alright…" I reply, glancing at Carly. "I'll text you."
"Thanks," she mutters.
Ms. Benson leads me down a long hallway. Medical carts and nurses are all over the place- it actually bears a striking resemblance to a mad house. People are running in every direction- there doesn't seem to be that much order, which surprises me- considering it is a hospital.
"Well, here we are," Ms. Benson says, coming to a halt in front of one of the doors at the end of the hallway. She pushes open the door and steps inside, motioning for me to follow her.
My eyes widen, and instinctively- a hand flies up to my mouth. Freddie is sitting up in bed- his right arm is wrapped in blue plaster, and his left leg is wrapped in orange. There's gauze covering the cut on his forehead, and his left arm is hooked to an IV. He's wearing a thin hospital gown, and a matching 1D bracelet on his left hand. Freddie looks pretty wiped out, but he's smiling at us.
"Hey Sam, mom," He murmurs. His voice makes my heart jump- I thought I'd have to wait for a long time to hear it.
"Don't 'hey mom' me! You're all broken, Freddie! This is why I told you that Carly Shay was bad news! You are never seeing her again!" Ms. Benson exclaims, rushing over to wrap her son in a suffocating embrace.
"Ow! Mom, get off! You're hurting me!" Freddie cries, attempting to shove her away. "And it isn't Carly's fault. It was my choice to push her out of the way. She didn't know I'd do it- but I'm glad I did. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to her, or Sam." He sighs. "Why don't you go interrogate the doctor on my condition? Y'know, pain meds, how to take care of me, etc."
"Oh, of course, Freddiebear!" Ms. Benson kisses his head, before pulling away from him and rushing past.
"Sam," Freddie says gently. "Come here."
I walk over to his bed and stand there awkwardly, not knowing exactly what to say to him. Truthfully, I want to hug him and never let go. I want to cling to him- to know that he'll be safe, because god, did he give me the biggest scare of my life.
"No, baby, come here," he murmurs, opening his arms.
"I'll hurt you," I mutter dejectedly. His mom hurt him by hugging him, and I don't want to cause him any form of pain- even if it means not touching him.
"No, you won't," Freddie replies. "I want to hold you, c'mon up here."
"Your mom hurt you when she hugged you."
"I lied," Freddie says simply. "So she'd get out. You won't hurt me." I give him a small smile, climbing onto the bed and into his arms, burying my head in his shoulder. "There you go. It's alright, Sam. I'm okay. Please don't cry- you know I hate it when you cry."
"How can I not?" I whisper. "You got hit by a car, Freddie!"
"And?" He wraps his arms around me, and I can feel the hard material of his cast poking into my back- which only makes me cry harder. "Carly is unscathed. And so are you. I'll heal, Sam. This is only temporary."
"You scared me," I mutter weakly. "Made me cry."
"I'm so sorry, baby," Freddie replies. "I love you." He kisses my head gently, and I know that it's all going to work out. He may be injured, but everything will go back to normal eventually. I lift my head and press my lips to his, longing for those sparks. I feel them instantly- Freddie always manages to do that to me.
When we pull away- it's only for air, and just in time for the door to swing open. Both of us turn- catching sight of Carly, standing nervously in the doorway.
"Come on in, Carls," Freddie says. I lean up to kiss his cheek, smiling at her as I lean against my boyfriend's chest. Freddie winces, squeezing his eyes shut. "Sam, can you help me? Support my ribcage with one of those pillows. Kinda hurts."
Fear bubbling in my stomach, I nod- I help him to lean forward, before placing a pillow behind him and easing his battered body onto it. He relaxes, and I sigh in relief. "Thanks," he murmurs.
"What just…are you okay…?" Carly asks worriedly.
"Just my ribs. I'm fine, Carly," Freddie replies. "Broken/bruised ribs tend to be pretty painful. I'll live."
"I'm so sorry, Freddie," she whispers, a tear rolling down her cheek. "This is all my fault."
Freddie glances at me, and I take the hint, sliding off the bed- I assume he wants to give her a hug, because our best friend looks horrid right now.
"It's not your fault, Carls," he murmurs gently. "Come here."
She hesitates. "You won't hurt me," Freddie says, as if he's read her mind. Carly still looks uncertain as she steps closer to Freddie's beside. He leans down and she climbs onto the bed- straight into his arms.
"Thank you. Thank you so much," Carly sobs into his shoulder.
"It was no problem, Carly. You know I love you. You're my sister- I would gladly do it again." Freddie rubs her back gently, glancing at me. I give him a small smile- catching his questioning glance. He's so faithful- making sure to check with me, even if he's hugging another girl.
Carly finally pulls back, smiling at him. She slides off the bed, and walks over to me. "Thanks, Sam." She embraces me, and I wrap my arms around her as well.
"What did I do?" I ask softly when we've pulled back.
"Thank you for being here," She amends. "I'm gonna go- let Spencer come in. I'll call Gibby and let him know what's up, too."
Freddie nods. "Tell him to text me."
She signal's that she's heard, before walking out of the room. This leaves Freddie and I alone once more, and in an instant- I'm back in his arms, curling into his chest.
"Freddo! How're you feeling?"
It's only been five minutes, but both Freddie and I look over to Spencer. "Pretty sore, but I could be worse."
"Aren't they pumping meds into you?"
Freddie sighs. "Yeah, but bruised and broken ribs are painful. Every time I move, pain shoots up my torso and ribcage."
"Oh…that can't feel too good."
Freddie groans. "You're telling me."
I sigh, leaning up to kiss his forehead gently. Hoping the gesture brings some kind of comfort to him- as I hide my face in his neck. I sound girly and weak and soft, but you gotta understand that I've given myself to Freddie. Not my virginity- I mean, my heart, my soul, and my life. He's the one I trust most- and I know that's completely out of character for Sam Puckett, the girl who beats people up on a regular basis, but I guess I've changed.
Thanks for reading- please do leave me your thoughts.
-Neha