So please don't hate me. I know the last few chapters had some people see sawing between happiness and frustration. I was literally picking apart flower petals. You know that whole 'he likes me, he doesn't like me, he likes me, he doesn't like me' kind of thing. But it was more so a 'they're together, they're not together, they're together, they're not together'. I'm so sorry.
I'd like to thank everyone for reading my story. Sorry if this chapter is kind of short, but it ends happy! And it's in Eric's POV. So enjoy.
Thanks again for all the support.
ERIC
"I'm going to assume that's your girlfriend," said the nurse once Alex left.
"Yes," I said smiling. FINALLY! I thought to myself as the nurse checked a chart and looked at my head.
"She looks pretty, seems nice too. But that was not right of her to lie to the doctor," the nurse finished with seriousness laced in her voice.
"I understand and I apologize for that," I replied still smiling. I was finally going to be with Alex. It didn't come out the way I wanted it to. I really wanted us to be at the Pit, having a nice time with each other. But tonight, I couldn't hold back my feelings any longer. She made me so happy to talk about my dad. Alex always just listened to me, making me feel complete and valued. It was like I had meaning again. Tonight, when I looked into her eyes, I couldn't resist anymore.
I looked over at the time and realized that I was going to be able to leave in a few hours. I could go back to campus and see Alex again. The nurse seemed to notice.
"The doctor will be in at about 7:30. He'll just double check everything, make sure you're okay. We'll call one of your coaches to come back and get you. There was also a Mr. Jonathan Kent," she said looking down at my chart. "And a Mr. Robert Ferras." Edward's dad I thought as she said the name. "Who also wanted to know of your status," she finished looking at me.
(If you didn't know. Edward Ferras and Robert Ferras is from Sense and Sensibility, another Jane Austen novel.)
"I'll give them both a call, thank you."
"The doctor wanted to know if you wanted us to contact your mother."
I looked up at the nurse whose demeanor almost completely changed. She looked me square in the eye. Of course they would have recognized me as her son.
"That won't be necessary," I answered her. "Mr. Kent and Mr. Ferras will do. They are more like family to me anyways," I said looking away.
"Very well. Try to get some rest. Ring if you need anything else," she said as she turned off the television and walked out.
The mention of my mother just brought so much pain back into me. I felt so cold and alone now that Alex had just left me. I tried to picture Alex's eyes or her smile on her face in my head, pushing the thought of my mom the farthest away, so I could finally get some rest.
In a couple hours I was back up hearing the voices of Aidan, Edward, Four, Zeke, Uriah, and Peter talking. I opened my eyes to see all of them in the room.
"We don't need to be quiet now," said Peter. "It seems our fearless linebacker is awake."
"Dude, they actually got the hit on youtube already," cried Uriah as he tried to show it to me. "Look how much views it got!"
"I highly doubt that's something he wants to see right now," said Four pulling Uriah back.
"You need help getting up," asked Aidan.
"Nah, I got it," as I used all the strength I could muster to get up. For some reason sitting up to kiss Alex didn't feel this painful last night, or earlier this morning, or whenever it was I last saw her. ALEX! A huge smile displayed across my face as I realized what happened a few hours ago.
"I never thought someone who's in pain would smile that much," teased Zeke.
"Well, wasn't someone here with him last night," added Peter. He looked at Zeke and they both started to chuckle.
"That's right Alex was here. Where is my sister anyways?" Aidan said looking at me.
"She left a couple hours ago, after I woke up. She told me she was going back to campus."
"I think she went to Myra's room last night instead of hers and Christina," Edward said and motioned towards Will. Of course. The whole thing probably sent Christina into a panic, even though it was me.
Aidan took out his phone to call her and then walked out of the room.
"By the way, is this yours?" I looked at Zeke who had a smashed iPod in his hand.
"That actually looks like Alex's," answered Four As he grabbed it and then handed it to me.
"It is," I answered. I remembered her using it a couple times when she would go running in the morning. After I joined her on Sundays, she wouldn't use it. I smiled thinking of the memory when Alex said she liked talking to me better than listening to the iPod.
"Why is it smashed," asked Zeke. I didn't know why. Was our make out that intense that it would fall and break that much? Our make out was awesome though. That feel of her back in my arms. Never mind about that now, Eric. I turned back to look at the iPod. It actually looked like someone pounded it with a hammer.
"I guess I'll ask her later," I answered handing it back to Four who put it in my duffle. "So what's going on right now?"
"Coach and ah..." Edward said looking outside. "Doctor Will, MD over there, is talking to the real doctor right now."
We started to laugh. Of course Will would be out there trying to take in every intellectual moment of my situation.
"Apparently your scan read nothing serious," added Peter. "You could probably leave in a few."
"So," Uriah said slightly punching me. "Alex was here. Almost all night," he suggested by wiggling his eyebrows.
"Aidan isn't here, so you can spill now," added Zeke.
"If anything happened you know I wouldn't say. Especially to either of you." I glared at him and Uriah until they put their arms up and took a couple steps back. "Although I will say that she finally said she's ready for a relationship."
"It's about goddamn time!" We all turned to look at Peter. "Like I said I don't like to hear about you and Alex having problems."
"Whoa! Who's having problems with Alex," Aidan said walking back in. He then looked at me, smiled, and hung up the phone. "By the way, Alex told me the news." The news, I thought. The news that we were finally going to be dating. It hit me just then. That even though she said she was ready. I didn't really make it official. That was the first thing I was going to do the second I got back to campus.
"That's pretty smooth, talking about it to her while you're in a hospital bed," said Zeke.
"Actually Alex was planning on telling him 'yes' after the football game." This time we looked at Four. "Tris," was his only response.
I shook my head remembering Lauren and Tris calling me during halftime and then Alex saying she would talk to me later. She must have told them. And knowing Lauren and Tris, they probably wanted her to say something to me then. She probably would have told me if we went to the Pit.
"On another note, we won last night" added Uriah. "If you're wondering."
"Weren't we kind of leading before I got hit?"
"Yeah, but there was still like five minutes left in the game," defended Uriah. No wonder he needed Alex's help to ask Marlene out.
"Since you're up, I think we need to call our mom. She wanted to know if you were okay," finished Zeke.
"That's right. Edward your dad was down as a contact. He asked the nurse if someone could call him."
"I'll call him, let him know you're good to go," said Edward.
"So was your dad," I said pointing to Aidan. "But I think I'm going to call him. I kind of want to ask him something." Aidan smiled knowing what it was and nodded.
Coach Amar and Will came back in and said I could go. Thank goodness. I couldn't wait to get back to campus and see Alex again.
Right as I hit the call button, I heard that song "Rude" by Magic in my head.
Saturday morning jumped out of bed
And put on my best suit
Got in my car and raced like a jet
All the way to you
Knocked on your door with heart in my hand
To ask you a question
'Cause I know that you're an old-fashioned man, yeah
I shook the thought from my head and here went nothing.
"Mr. Kent," I said over the phone once he said hello. "It's Eric. Eric Matthews. The doctors said to give you a call once the hospital released me."
"Hey, Matthews, nice to hear you son, how are you feeling? What did the doctors say?"
"I feel awesome actually. But not really all there, just yet. The doctors recommended keeping me out of the last regular season game, next week, which is okay by me. I mean we're 8-0, it's pretty much a shoe in that we're going to the playoffs, it's just a matter as to which seed. And when we do get to playoffs, I want to be 100% for that."
"That's excellent. Like I told Aidan, you all deserve this. Especially after all your folks hard work."
"Thanks, sir."
"I'm glad to hear you're alright, though. Everyone was pretty worried."
"Someone showed me a recording of the hit," I said as I shook my head. That stupid Uriah! "It did look pretty bad. Feels even worse."
"Despite that, you had a good game, Eric. A real good game. Every member is important on that team and you fulfilled your obligation perfectly. I know your father would be so proud of you." That last sentence always got me. Mr. Kent was really considerate and understanding. I just hoped he would be with my next topic of conversation.
"Thanks again. That really means a lot. Especially from you. Like I told the nurse, you folks have kind of been more like family for me, especially after all that happened."
"Well, anytime you need us, we're here for you too."
"I appreciate it."
"Take care of yourself and watch out for Aidan, too. He overworks himself a lot, but let him know we're proud of him either way."
"I will. Mr. Kent, before I go I kind of wanted to ask you something."
"Shoot. What is it?"
Man, what if he didn't allow me to do it? What if he wouldn't approve of me? Almost that exact moment I thought of that song by Magic again.
Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life?
Say yes, say yes 'cause I need to know
"It's about Alex. I know it's only been like three or four months since I've known her, but I came to really like your daughter, sir. And I care about her and I just want you to know that I have only the best intentions towards her. I understand if you say no, considering my family and everything. But, it would mean a lot to me, if it would be okay with you for me to start dating Alex."
There was a pause on the other side of the phone. Maybe I said it wrong. Oh man, did I say something wrong? I tried to think back quickly through what I just said. The song came back into my head. Oh God, was he going to say no?
You say I'll never get your blessing 'til the day I die
Tough luck, my friend, but the answer is 'No'
"Does Aidan know about this?"
Really, was that the first question he was going to ask? Was this some sort of test? Well, at least he didn't say 'NO'. At least not yet.
"He knows how I feel about her. He sort of made us promise that if anyone started to like his sister, that we would let him know. I told him a couple weeks ago."
"A couple of weeks ago?" Oh no.
"Yes, I told Alex then too. But she still needed some time."
"That girl is so stubborn, sometimes," he said almost immediately with a slight chuckle. And here I was thinking that I was the only who thought that. The next statement shocked me. "I could tell she was starting to have feelings for you too. A while ago actually. I knew she would probably drag it out, though. Kind of like her mother did when I asked her back in high school." He started to chuckle again.
Come to think about Alex kind of did drag it out. She knew how she felt about me. She told me that night I tried to apologize. And even after all that, she still stayed stubborn.
"If you don't mind me asking, how could you tell that she liked me, sir?"
"For one, she always seemed to find you or be with you at the end of almost every football game." I smiled realizing some of those moments when she came to congratulate me and then her brother.
"Second, when my wife called her a couple days ago, she asked about being in a relationship. Although Alex didn't say who you were, my wife believed that it was one of Aidan's friends the way Alex described the situation. Alex never did guy-talk with her mom. She was always trying to be the little over-achiever that she is. So right away we both knew that there was definitely a guy she had in mind." This made me smile too.
"Third, last night she was pretty upset about not getting to see you." I shook my head remembering how she acted last night. It was so unlike her to be so dramatic. Did she really think she was going to lose me?
"Nothing anyone said or did seem to help her last night. All she wanted to do was see that you were okay. To see her concerned about you, that only confirmed my suspicions. My suspicions of course started the time I asked her and Aidan to invite one friend for us to take to dinner. She choose you." I smiled again. She did choose me.
"Of course Aidan choose the Turner girl from Erudite Academy, but I'll wait for him to tell me about that one." I started to chuckle this time.
"You might be waiting a while."
"Yeah, I guess both of my kids are stubborn," he finished.
"Alex and I were trying to get Aidan to admit he liked her, when Aidan actually in turn got me to admit that I like Alex." Mr. Kent started to laugh again.
"Yea, sounds like my kids. Always so competitive and headstrong." He let out a sigh. "Well, Eric, I think you're a nice young man, considering all the events of last year. You know I don't hold you responsible for that and neither does my wife. I know if you really weren't respectful or trust-worthy you wouldn't have called to get my approval or informed me of your feelings for Alex. Thank you for calling. And to let you know, I approve, that is if Alex approves."
"Thank you sir that really means a lot."
"Just promise me you'll treat her with respect. You'll be honest with her, look after her, and be patient with her. She has her moments where she can bring anyone utter and complete stress. She's very critical." Boy do I know that.
"Not just of others, but also of herself. I guess that's partially my fault. I always wanted her and her brother to work hard in life."
"I understand that, sir. You only want the best for the two of them. My father was the same."
"I can see your father raised you well and you have become a lot like him. I want you to take care of Alex, like your father would take care of you." That brought a wrench in my heart. My dad would stop at nothing to show how proud he was of me and to protect me. I would do the same for Alex now, because slowly she started to fill the void for me, too.
"I assure you, sir I will. Thank you so much."
"Very well then. You take care Matthews. I'll see you all next week."
"Of course. Thank you again, Mr. Kent."
With that he hung up. That went better than I thought. Now all I had to do was call Alex.
I put on a nice pair of black slacks and a nice buttoned, black collared shirt. I was debating on throwing on a tie, but eventually I ended up using one. I showed up at Alex's door when I told her I would. She came out with a nice royal blue dress, my favorite color. Her hair fell down in loose curls. I moved one of the strands out of her face so I could see her gorgeous brown eyes and her stunning smile.
"You look very beautiful," I said as I pulled her into a hug.
"You don't look so bad yourself. How are you feeling today?"
"I'm better now," I answered kissing her forehead.
"Seriously Eric, you should be resting."
"I know. But I just had to show you this." She took my hand and followed me down to the football field.
"Why are we out here again," Alex asked. "And dressed up nicely, too?"
The lights were off and with there being no moon out tonight, it was kind of dark. Right when I knew we were at the touchdown line, I motioned for the lights to come on. I used the same purple and white Christmas lights that the girls pulled out for Alex's birthday. The lights were arranged in a circle around us. She looked at me excited. There were white and purple rose petals on the ground. I knew Alex loved purple.
I looked up at the announcer's booth and nodded. Just then the Jason Mraz song "I Won't Give Up" came on.
"This is for the missed homecoming dance we didn't make it to last night," I whispered.
"Well, Eric, this was really sweet of you," Alex replied.
"Can I have this dance?"
"Sure," Alex answered as I took her hand and we started to sway slowly back and forth to the music.
When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there's so much they hold
There was so much that Alex's eyes held. I enjoyed looking into them. I ran my hand down her cheek as her eyes lit up at me.
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?
Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
I could not give up, even when everyone else wanted us to. I had to keep looking up. I leaned down and gave Alex a soft kiss. She smiled against my lips. She was listening to the words too. I knew I chose the right song.
And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find
Just then Alex leaned her head on my chest and whispered "Thanks for waiting for me."
"Thanks for not giving up on me and giving me a chance," I whispered back and leaned my head down on hers.
'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up
I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Nothing was going to make me walk away from Alex now.
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
Thank God we didn't break, I thought. I would have died inside if I lost Alex.
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not, and who I am
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up, still looking up.
I spun Alex around as she started to giggle. Then brought her back into my arms.
Well, I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
I brought Alex's head up to look into my eyes.
"I wanted to give you at least one perfect moment in all this mess. I stand before you now, not as the asshole who made everyone's life a living hell last year, not as the heartless player those girls tried to turn me in to, not as some stupid jock that my mother thought was defected. I am Eric Matthews. Someone smart, someone strong, someone caring. And all of that is because of you, Alex. Alexandria Kent, will you be my girlfriend?"
Alex smiled and it looked like her eyes were starting to water. "Yes," she answered. "I will like to be your girlfriend, Eric Matthews." A tear ran down her cheek.
I gently wiped it away, pressed our lips together and held her tighter in my arms.
"Thanks Eric," she mumbled against my lips. "This really was perfect."
"I guess it's official, now," I said.
"Yes, it is," she replied as I pressed our lips together again.
Try read the ending of this chapter again and listen to that song, "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz. If you do, you might just need a tissue to wipe away the tear that comes out from your eyes, too. I decided to do that after I finished this chapter and I needed a tissue. I know that might sound kind of corny, but there you go.