Chapter 20: Hospital Frights

I run my left hand through my hair for the millionth time tonight, pacing the hospital waiting room floor like a maniac. Riven stared at me from his chair. He is ever so patient but I'm a nervous wreck.

"He'll be fine," he says, trying to calm me down.

I stopped in front of him. "How could you say that? He was in a three-car wreck, Riven! The last we have heard was that he was in surgery. Surgery! And that was...," I checked my watch, "two hours ago!" Helia greeted us when we rushed into the hospital with a quick summary of what happened.

Apparently, as she and Helia were following Brandon, they approached a stoplight. The light was clearly red but Brandon kept going. Why? We don't know. All we know is that as the car kept rolling, two other cars from the opposite direction had to veer off and avoid Brandon's oncoming car. Helia doesn't know if anything terrible happened to those drivers. All he could see and remember the clearest was Brandon crashing into that light pole. I could feel myself start to hyperventilate again.

What if he didn't make it out? What if I never feel him hold me again? What if I never get to tell him how much I love him? This was my fault. My entire fault. I just had to stick my nose where it didn't belong and now Brandon is facing death. He didn't deserve this. He would never deserve this.

Riven stood up and grasped my upper arms. "Stella, you have to be calm. We can't think the worst right now or we'll lose our minds. Come here and sit down with me." He led me to the seats and I sat without protest. He was right, of course. That didn't stop me from worrying, though.

"This can't be happening," I disbelievingly say yet again.

Riven plops down beside me but doesn't say a word. He instead wraps an arm around my shoulder in comfort. I lean into him and mentally thank him for being so supportive. I know this isn't easy for him either. Brandon is one of his best friends. I spot Musa walking towards us with a bag of ice in one hand and a can of soda in the other.

She hands the soda to Riven. "I know how much you like your caffeine and this was the best I could find."

"Thanks, Hotstuff," Riven responds with a wink. I think I saw Musa blush but I can't be sure.

She extends the ice to me with a half grin. "Here, this might help with the swelling, slugger."

I tried to smile back in appreciation but I'm pretty sure it came out as a grimace. I placed the ice on my right hand and felt a sting of pain followed by a bit of relief.

Riven chuckled. "Man, you've got a nasty right hook. You almost knocked Steven out."

"He deserved it," I mumbled. After Flora told me that Brandon was in a car accident, I immediately pushed Steven and demanded to know what he knew about this.

Flashback

"You knew this was going to happen! How did you know? What did you DO?"I practically shouted. I thought I couldn't be heard over the loud music blaring in the other room, but apparently I could since Riven came rushing into the kitchen. But I was too angry to pay much attention to him at that moment.

Steven looked at me with regret in his eyes. "It wasn't supposed to go down like that, Stella. I tried to stop hi-"

"So it was a plan all along? Why? Why would you do something like this?" I didn't even give him a chance to respond this time. I just pulled my arm back and swung.

Flashback ends

Riven led me out after that and the next thing I remember is being here at the hospital. He knew this was going to happen and I'm going to find out what he did as soon as I know Brandon is okay.

"I wonder where Brandon's parents are," Musa says.

"They were on some type of vacation. If Flora called them, then I know they're on their way." I just hope I don't have to have a conversation with them. Our last encounter didn't end well and I'm sure they expected Brandon to break up with me by now.

Riven pats my bouncing knee. Just then, Flora races around the corner. I shoot up and quickly make my way over to her. "What is it? How was his surgery?" I immediately question. Flora flinches in my close proximity and I remember that she practically blames me for all this too. I take a step back.

"He came out of surgery about ten minutes ago. He's pretty out of it, but he's talking."

Riven asks, "What did he have surgery for in the first place?" I didn't even hear him approach.

"There was something impaled through his leg that had to be surgically removed or it could have hit some vital blood vessels. He won't be walking anytime soon but he's okay. Oh, and his shoulder got hit pretty badly as well." I'd bet money that it was the same shoulder he was shot in all those years ago.

I blew out a long breath. "Thank God he's okay." That's all that matters to me.

Flora cleared her throat before saying, "I only came out here because he keeps calling for... you."

"Me?" I question in disbelief. I would think I'd be the last person he'd want to see. Well, besides Mitzi.

Flora nods. "I keep trying to get him to go to sleep but he wants to see you first." She then turns around and calls, "Follow me."

The walk to the hospital room was... quiet to say the least. When we approached the door, Flora turned to me.

"Like I said before, he's pretty drugged up so he might not remember much. And if anyone asks, you're his fiancée. They won't let anyone but family back here so that was the best I could come up with," she tells me, attempting a half smile.

"Flora..."

Flora waves her hand. "Not now. He wants to see you so we'll talk...later." I nod and she starts to walk back but the turns back to me. "And could you please get him to go to sleep? He's being way too stubborn." Sounds just like Brandon. I nod again as she walks away. I spin to the front of the door. Taking a deep breath, I push it open.

The first thing I see is a leg hanging in the air. Well, not literally hanging by itself but it's held up by a white cloth. I look towards the head of the bed and see Brandon's beautiful face marred with small cuts and scars. His left arm is wrapped and tucked towards his chest. His head turns in my direction and he squints at me. "Stella?"

I burst into tears.

Yes, I couldn't hold it in any longer. The whole night I was so worried and seeing him in such a weakened state broke me.

I pulled myself together a little bit and looked up to see him holding out his uninjured arm towards me. "Come're," he says, his words slurring together. They drugged him up pretty good.

Walking to his side, I had to stop myself from throwing my arms around him. I didn't want to hurt him anymore. I settled with just gently touching his cheek. "I'm so happy you're okay," I choke out, my eyes still blurred with tears.

"Why areyou cryin'?" He asks.

I bark a laugh. "Because I was going crazy! You don't know what terrible things were going through my head when I heard what happened. I'm so sorry. I should've minded my-"

"Shhh," he mutters. "Lay withme."

"Brandon, I can't. I don't want to hurt you. I can just sit here in this chair beside you. You need to get some sleep anyway."

His eyes were already drifting shut but he stubbornly kept talking. "But I want... I want you over here."

I smiled. "I'm not going anywhere, Snookums." He smirked weakly at his nickname. I sat in the chair and gripped his hand with both of mine.

"Go to sleep, Brandon. You need it." He hummed. I don't know if that was an agreeing hum or an objecting hum but he seemed to be falling asleep anyway. He squeezed my hand and five minutes later, he was out for the count.

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. He's okay. He's alive. He's okay. My legs lift me up to tenderly kiss his cheek. "I love you," I whispered into his ear.

Even though he was asleep, it felt so good to say those words aloud.

A/N: So... Hi? I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sorry it took this long to update. I'm so ashamed, but SCHOOL IS CRAZY! This is my busiest year of high school yet and it's definitely taking over right now. Sorry for the long delay, but I told you I wouldn't abandon this story!

Now, I know this chapter is terrible. Sorry! I just really wanted to update and let you guys see that all is well. Next chapter will be much better because I'll actually have a good amount of time to get it all set up. You'll have chapter 21 before this year is over, for sure!

So, how many of you believe this is Stella's fault? Should she really blame herself so much for this? Is Flora being too hard on her? How do you think Steven knew about what was going to happen? Let me know!

I do want to thank all the reviewers asking for me to update. Sorry it took so long. This one is for you! But, I can't know if you guys want more if I don't hear any feedback.

So...Review!