"Hmmm." The doctor was looking at Ralph's charts. "It seems that he bruised his brain in the accident. It doesn't look too bad so there's a possibility of him getting his memories back, but I recommend you not trying to jump start them. Let him work on it himself." He said placing his clipboard on the circular desk. "But other then that, make sure he takes it easy and he can go home. I'll get you a prescription for his painkillers."
As he walked of I let out a sigh. Brianna placed a hand on my shoulder. "Do you want to go back in and see him?" She asked, blue eyes filled with worry. I nodded, not trusting my voice. "Alright." She turned to her husband. "Can you go in with him dear?" He nodded and motioned for me to follow him back to Ralph's room. As soon as we got out of earshot of Brianna, Joseph spoke. "Please excuse me." I looked at him confused. "I haven't been very hospitable. It's just..." I could see his jaw tense.
"I understand." I said my voice cracking. "I haven't been the most welcoming either." I could feel my hands beginning to shake. A dry laugh escaped my lips. "I was actually scared to meet both of you. I thought you wouldn't approve of me, like his mother." I admitted as I started wringing my hands. Joseph stopped me before I could reach for the door.
"You don't need to worry about that happening. Brianna and I support Ralph in all his decision, even if we don't exactly agree with them." His brown eyes were drilling into my blue ones. It wasn't in a threatening way though, more like, he was trying to make sure I understood. It made me wonder how I could feel that way in the first place. "Besides, you seem like a fair man so far."
I could feel my neck get hot from embarrassment. "Thank you, sir." He nodded and opened the door for me. "Aren't you coming in?" I asked as I walked through the door.
He shook his head. "I've got to see to the Mrs. Make sure she's not crumbling." He looked to Ralph then back to be. "Besides, I think you need a little alone time with him." Joseph said before letting the door close.
"Hello?" Ralph's voice rang from behind me.
I turned around and put a smile on my face. "Hi." I said walking over to the empty chair beside his bed. "I'm Jack." I sat down and held my hand out.
Ralph took my hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you." He said shifting his position. "Are you with the couple that was in here earlier?" He asked.
"Not really. I just met them myself." I said truthfully. "They're actually your aunt and uncle." I almost kicked myself after I said it. He just looked at my as if I was crazy.
"Okay." He said skeptically. "Then why are you here? Are you like a school mate or something?" He asked crossing his arms over his lap and cocking an eyebrow.
I bit my lip. "We use to be in high school, but we go to different universities now." I said leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "You're on an athletic scholarship, and are going for a history degree." I informed him. Ralph winced and started rubbing his temples. I decided I should stop there. "That's just what your aunt and uncle told me." I said covering my ass.
"Why would they tell you that?" He ran his finger through his hair, pulling it back out of his face. "Ugh! I need a haircut!" Ralph grew extremely frustrated. He dropped his hands back on to the bed. "When are my parents coming to get me?" He asked angrily.
I didn't know what to tell him. They told me, because I'm your boyfriend and your parents won't be showing up EVER, because they hate gays? No way would they let me tell him that! "I guess they just wanted an excuse to talk about you." I lied giving a fake laugh. "They said you've been living with them for the past few years." I said concentrating on the discoloring and scratches that were scattered across his face.
He still looked weary of me, but decided to trust me. "Okay, fine. One more question for you." Ralph said messing with his IV. "Why do you look like such a mess!?" He gestured to my appearance. "You don't even have shoes on!" He gripped like a nagging mother.
I blinked a few times from shock then looked to my feet. "About that..." I wiggled my bare toes. "I was in a rush when I heard about what happened. Guess I just forgot about them in my hurry." I said grinning up at him. His face looked unamused which didn't surprise me. Ralph was never the one to put up with unfinished chores. Something his mother had programmed into and he felt he had to live up to inhuman expectations.
"You're an odd one Jack." He whispered slouching more into his pillow. His emerald eyes looked at me as if he were examining an animal in a cage. Did I really look that bad? After a long pause he spoke again. "Do you play sports?"
"No. I was never really good at any, but I was in the choir." I said raking my fingers through the knots in my hair, trying in vain to make it decent.
"Where you any good?" Ralph asked offending me.
"I was the head choir boy and sung more of the solos in the school concert." I replied proudly. "If I stuck with it, I might have gotten in to one of the top music schools." I said grinning.
Ralph's brow furled. "Why'd you quit?"
I thought about how to word it before I responded. "A friend of mind helped me to realize that it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life. I was just doing it 'cause it made my mom proud." I explained. A smile crept on to my face as I thought about that night. Ralph and I were curled up on my parent's couch watching Army of Darkness. "Jack?" Ralph asked, head resting on my shoulder. "Why are you still in choir if you always complain about it?" His eyes never left the TV.
"My mom's proud of me for it." I said my eyes growing heavy with sleep. Ash had smashed a mirror and a bunch of mini Ash were attacking him.
"Ralph was laughing when Ash started singing London Bridges. "So?" He said calming down. "You always tell me I can't make everyone happy. Maybe you should take your own advice." He said snuggling into my neck. "What do you want to do Jack?"
I could not help but smile and snuggle back. "I want to get into theater and try out some acting." I said closing my eyes.
"Sounds good." Ralph said tiredly. "I'll make sure I'm there for your first play."
"Jack? Jack!" I was brought back from my thoughts. "Are you there?" Ralph asked waving an arm in front of my face.
"Huh? Yeah, sorry." I said focusing back on him.
"I said, that was nice of them. What did your mother say when she found out?" He asked.
"She was actually okay with it and even helped me with remembering my lines." I said readjusting myself. Before I could say more Brianna and Joseph can in the room.
"Good news, Ralph. We got all the paperwork done and they said they'll be in to unhook you, so we can go." She said, seeming a bit happier than before. "Jack, would you like to join us?" She asked.
I looked to Ralph, who just shrugged, than back to his guardians. "Actually, I have to head back to a friend's place. He'll be wondering why I left in a hurry." I got up from the chair and stretched. "Nice meeting you Brianna, Joseph. I'll see you later Ralph." I said waving.
Ralph waved back as I headed out the door. His "parents" yelled their good-byes as I walked to the elevators. As I pushed the down arrow I was thinking about how I would explain this to Roger. Maybe he'll feel bad enough that he will forget about the door incident.
A/N: Thank you again for everyone who have been reading/reviewing. :) I like to hear what you all think of it! ^.^
