In all honesty, Jules still felt a little tired. It had been a day full of hospital excitement. Right after that morning's physical therapy, the doctors said Jules was ready for release and gave her a home training regiment to get used to regular tasks again, but at least she was good enough now to take care of herself with only a little bit of assistance i.e her brother.
The airbag in her car had thankfully saved Jules from most of her injuries. She had some deep bruising and a couple of broken ribs from her seatbelt. Minor lacerations from the broken glass windshield. The main thing was the head injury from the whiplash of the impact. Her head had slammed too hard on the headrest, which was the cause of her coma.
It was pretty apparent to see that Jules wasn't too much functionally different from when she was before the crash save from her memory. Her muscles and flexibility had diminished simply by being bedridden so long. The doctors didn't think it would take too long for her to recover, but she still had to check back in to physical therapy in two weeks.
The doctors called it a miracle of some sorts. On the one hand, despite being in a two and a half week coma, Jules had alarmingly retained high control of her body movements. On the other hand, she lost quite a bit more memory than what was precedented for a coma that didn't span months. Brains work funny in that way. Memories could just so easily be discombobulated.
Westley had come by the hospital again to pick her up. He was filling out the paperwork at the nurse's desk to get her properly checked out.
Much to Jules' surprise, Matthew had not come that day. She really thought he'd be there. She held the vase of flowers he left behind in her hands. The longer she had to hold it, the more she began to think of them as a nuisance. They were pretty, but she didn't believe any one person needed all of those roses.
Matthew had left a cellphone with Jules in order for her to keep in contact. She had tried, but he didn't seem to be answering his phone. Jules didn't exactly know Matthew very well, but from what she did know in the two days she'd met him, it didn't seem like he was the type to miss things.
"Okay, you ready to go, Jules," Westley asked. Apparently, the checking out process was already finished.
"Yeah, I guess." Jules handed off the vase to her brother who was also toting her bag. She gave up on waiting for Matthew.
"W-wait!" Someone shouted.
Unlike most hospital dramas, this particular hospital didn't have need for people in scrubs to shout and run down hallways. Nevertheless, one such person did that. But instead of the blue, green, or pink scrubs typically worn by medical personnel, this person's outfit was covered in colorful birds.
"Sorry, I'm late. There was a cat having a difficult birth," Matthew breathed heavily. "I had to perform an emergency C-section."
"Well, you didn't exactly miss much." Jules noticed how the eyes of the hospital turned to look at the spectacle. "I just got released, so that's good."
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Matthew still struggled to catch his breath.
"I...guess. West and I were just about to leave."
"Please, I know you don't feel the same way about me at the moment, but Jules, I love you. More than life itself."
Jules's face felt hot. If people weren't looking at them before, they definitely were then.
"And I believe you felt the same way. Please, if there's just some chance, let me convince you to fall in love with me again," Matthew pleaded.
Jules was speechless. She looked around to notice that most of the nurses acted like they were watching a Nicholas Sparks novel play out.
"What we have wasn't a fluke, and I want to prove that to you. I'll break down every moment we've had together if that's what it takes," he continued to bargain.
"I-is this really the best time to be talking about this?" Jules stuttered. She was beyond embarrassed to be talking about her forgotten love life so publicly.
"These past two weeks, I've prayed that I could tell you one more time how much I love you. But I won't force you to stay with me if you don't love me back."
It's not like the thought of them had not been on Jules mind. She really didn't know what she was going to do about the Matthew situation. She figured he'd probably die if she brought up the word divorce.
"B-but if you just give me a chance, I promise you'll fall in love with me."
They were pretty strong words. Jules took promises very seriously. She didn't really like the way he assumed all these things about her like he was from the future or something.
"Fine," she said gruffly. "It's not like I wasn't going to try to work this out anyway. No promises though."
Despite the "no promises," Matthew looked absolutely elated. "That's great! It's really good to hear."
"I mean, I don't know how you'll do it..." Jules trailed.
"Don't worry! I'll take care of it. If I did it once, I can do it again, right?" he said confidently.
"Uh huh, yeah. Well, West is about to take me to his place," she changed the subject back to the moment.
"Good, good. So, can I pick you up tomorrow?" Matthew quickly followed.
"Tomorrow?" Jules questioned. "What's tomorrow?"
"I want to take you out on a date," he said proudly.
One of the nurses audibly "aw"-ed.
Jules' brows furrowed, mostly due to the cliched lovey-dovey reaction. "I guess that's okay. It's not like I have anything else planned."
"I'll pick you up at ten!" Matthew seemed like the type who was easily excited.
"In the morning?" Night seemed a little ridiculous for that early in their renewed relationship.
"Yeah, we'll go to our favorite coffee place."
Coffee was fine. Jules liked coffee. She especially liked how casual of a location it was. Nothing too romantic. Not too much commitment.
"Sure, let's go get coffee," Jules allowed with a sigh.
"Fantastic!" Matthew was giddy from just the slightest bit of leeway. "Do you guys need any help or...?"
"Take the flowers, will you?" Westley finally said. The bouquet was a bit troublesome for him to handle with his keys and Jules bag.
Matthew holding the flowers seemed a lot more natural. They matched him somehow. Even as silly as he looked walking in the parking lot clad in parakeet scrubs.
"Now, I know that you'll be staying with Westley, but if there's anything you need, I'm only a phone call away," Matthew tried to reassure her. "I'll be there as quick as I can unless there's an animal emergency," he laughed out of nervousness.
"So, do all of your scrubs have animals on them?" Jules asked. "Being a vet and everything?"
"No, not usually. Actually, you got these for me," Matthew revealed. "Do you like them?"
"Yeah, they're pretty interesting," she said. Jules was getting the impression she liked to mess with him a little bit.
"Speaking of clothes, I'll have to bring some more for you when I come by tomorrow," Matthew said.
They had already reached Westley's car. Westley popped open the trunk to put Jules' bag in the back.
"I wish I could have spent more time with you today before you left," Matthew exhaled. "But I have to go back to work."
"Okay, that's cool. I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Jules bid him goodbye.
Matthew opened the door of Westley's car for her. Once she was sitting down, he handed the flowers back to her plus a little extra. He kissed her hair just as he did the day before.
"Bye, Jules. I love you," Matthew said. He gazed her a moment before he closed the car door.
Jules dropped her head against the headrest. She didn't know how to tell him. She thought he was fine as far as people went, but all the PDA and the "I love yous" made her really uncomfortable.
Westley slipped into the car without another word. He turned the key in the ignition.
"How are you holding up?" he asked.
Jules simply responded with a groan.
"It'll get better," he promised. "Once you get used to everything again, you'll be just fine."
"Or maybe I'll just bum off of you for the rest of my life," Jules teased him with a giant grin.
"Or maybe I'll call Matthew back over here and he can take you home," Westley rebutted.
"Oh please, no. We already told the hospital I was staying with you anyway." It was a weak excuse, and Jules knew it.
Westley sighed. "He's trying."
"He's trying. I'll give him that," Jules allowed.
Westley's house was located the next suburb town over from the hospital. It was just a short skirt from the highway until they arrived at his house. It was small, but that was to be expected from a guy who was as young as Westley was.
Jules wasted no time letting herself in and plopping down the couch. The bouquet of flowers became the centerpiece on the coffee table. Westley followed in after her carrying her bag.
"You should probably text Matthew. He might be worried about you," he said.
"Really?" Jules said incredulously. She had seen him less than an hour before.
She had buried her phone deep in her bag and had to dig to get it out. Sure enough she had one text message waiting for her.
"Could you let me know when you make it to Westley's?"
Jules rolled her eyes and replied, "Made it. You don't have to worry about me."
It was a few seconds before she got a message back. "Can't help it. Love you!"
"Done," Jules said out loud. She fished her laptop out of her bag. "Sweet! My computer still remembers your wifi password."
"Jules! You're here!"
Despite being in a coma, Jules could recognize the voice anywhere. She looked up from the screen. "Feli! You're even cuter than I remember!"
Feliciano was the Italian boy who used to live on Jules and Westley's street when they were young. He was Westley's best friend even from a young age. He was practically inseparable from Westley's side, though he was quite a bit more affectionate than his counterpart. Jules figured he must live close by here as well to see Westley's car pull up in the driveway.
Feliciano sat himself so close to Jules their thighs touched. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "Mwah! I missed you so much! Westley and I were really worried, but I'm super happy you're awake!"
"Feli, can I talk to you for a second in the kitchen?" Westley interupted. His arms were crossed as if he was going to scold his best friend as per usual.
"Sure!" Feliciano got up from the couch and joined Jules' brother in the kitchen.
Jules was pretty used to Feliciano's affection. She knew there was really no deeper meaning behind it. But when Matthew kissed her, it made her hair stand on end and her whole body go alert.
Jules decided to research her blog a bit more. She still couldn't tell how it got to be so popular. She decided to make a post and hope for the best.
Feliciano and Westley came out of the kitchen a bit. Feliciano sat next to Jules again but not as close as he was before.
"So, Feli, did you snag any cute girls in the time I've forgotten?"
"Not exactly," he laughed awkwardly. "Besides, you're the cutest girl I know."
"Damn straight," Jules responded.
Jules and Feli often talked about girls, and Feli would always respond that Jules was the cutest girl he knew, despite the fact that it was a lie. He claimed he'd ask her out, but it would feel to much like he was dating his sister. It was obviously more complicated due to the fact that she was married.
"Well, um, I've got to go. I remembered there's something else I've got to do," Feliciano said, much to Jules surprise. He usually stuck around a lot longer.
"Really? But you just got here," Jules complained.
"It's family stuff. I'm happy you're awake though." Feliciano got up and went to the front door, seeming rather reluctant to leave.
"Alright. Bye, Feli! Come back soon!" Jules called.
Once Felicaino left, Westley came to stand by the couch.
"So, what's for dinner?" Jules asked.
"Bratwurst and potatoes," Westley sighed. "If you have any objections, you're obviously not my sister."
Jules grinned. A strange sense of nostalgia washed over her. "No objections here. Sounds perfect, Westie."
For the first time since Jules woke up, she felt right at home.