(80): Tears

"Chels, just sit please"

I woke up in Nathan's room. I had forgotten for a good two seconds what had happened but then I dreadfully started remembering and I cried my eyes out again; angrily this time. I demanded for him to take me to the hospital, but that was a bit ridiculous because the time was 03:30. I didn't care. He promised that if I got more sleep then he would. I didn't put up a fight because I was honestly so exhausted.

We got up in the morning (he had slept on the floor and me on the bed... obviously) and he demanded for me to have something to eat since I had no appetite. He then went to buy some things for me to freshen up; a towel and a toothbrush, and I did. I felt so gross so the shower did somewhat make me feel better. I scraped my skin so hard, trying to get ride of all their disgusting hands on me. I got dressed in Kat's clothes which are in his room. They're a bit big on me but I don't care. We then started making our way to the hospital.

I hadn't cried the whole morning, because I'm honestly convinced that I'm all out of tears. I remember crying so much last night that I actually passed out. That's got to be a record.

"Sit and stop pacing" Nathan coaxes.

We're the only ones in the hospital so far. They told us that they had informed his mother so she should be on a her way right now. I don't know if the others know yet.

"No" My voice is still hoarse. I got a look at my reflection in the bathroom and it's not pretty. My eyes are puffy and swollen, my face is all red even after the shower. I just look so horrible and exhausted.

"You're gonna wear yourself out"

"I can't sit, Nathan, not until I know that Kyle is okay, okay?" I feel my voice break at the end and get caught in my throat.

Spoke too soon. I still have tears.

"Okay, I'm sorry" His arms are around me.

I cry on his shoulder, my heart and soul aching so painfully right now. I've never ever felt like this in my whole life.

"He's gonna be okay, right?" I sniff, wiping my face and detangling myself from him.

Nathan nods softly "Of course he is"

I finally sit, my legs shaking in suspense. When is the damn doctor going to get here? I need Kyle to be okay. Please.

It's a while later when I see the waiting room door open and I look up slowly, since my face was in my hands on my knees. I think I was actually starting to fall asleep.

"Riley?" She's the first one I notice before my eyes move "Mrs Chambers"

They're here.

I get up immediately, not being able to help myself, and throw myself at Riley. I'm more familiar with her.

"Chels" She coos holding me tightly against her. Her voice is hoarse signaling that she was crying too and I know she must have an idea.

I move so I'm looking at her as I feel more hot tears run down my face.

"Sit, sweetie" Mrs Chambers beckons. We all do that, them sitting opposite me. "Sorry I'm late. I had to go pick up Riley at the airpot. They didn't really tell me much"

I sniffle "It's okay"

"I'll give you guys some privacy" Nathan announces awkwardly, getting up.

"Thank you" I nod up at him softly.

And then he leaves.

"Chels?" Riley gets my attention again because I was momentarily distracted "Do you want to tell us what happened? I just heard that he was shot and-" She starts to cry.

Oh no. I'm gonna cry too. Again.

"Mr Chambers" I utter, my throat sore "He shot him."

"My husband?" His wife gapes, tears streaming down her face immediately. She has no make-up on today, I noticed, but she still looks beautiful. They both do.

I nod "Yes. And Zach's here too"

"Oh my god" She breaks, hiding her face in her hands.

"He got arrested" I say after a while.

I can see Riley force a smile softly "He deserves it for putting both my brothers here. Are you okay, though Chels?"

"No" I reply honestly "It all happened in front of and I-. I was so scared"

Mrs Chambers comes to my side immediately and embraces me "I'm so sorry, sweetie. You don't deserve any of this. My husband is a bad person and he deserves anything that's going to come his way"

I cry softly against her, the memories of last night coming back. That loud and excruciating 'bang' sound. Kyle collapsing to the floor in slow motion and all the blood. God. His weak face as he tried to hold on. That's the only one that keeps replaying in my head and I don't know why.

"They'll both be okay. I raised fighters. My boys will fight this" Mrs Chambers chants.

"Yeah" Riley agrees.

"I hope"

We all stay silent for a while "Uh, Chels. I don't want to bring you back there but do you think you'd be able to tell us exactly what happened last night? Like everything" Riley asks softly, wiping her and her mother's face.

"It's okay" I croak.

And so I tell the painful story, from when I dropped Nicholas off to being tied up to almost escaping- to watching Zach being beat to a pulp, all the conversations in between including how Zach told his father about Riley and him wanting to know where she was and then finally to me begging for Kyle to hold on and not leave me. It felt like I was reliving it all and it was honestly so horrible.

By the end, they're both crying. Anger, sadness, empathy written all over their faces.

"When did he get so bad?" His wife begs desperately, clutching the tissue hard between her hands.

"He always has, mom" Riley replies.

"I'm sorry" I utter.

"Sweetheart, you have nothing to be sorry about. I'm sorry that you and my sons had to go through that" She cries.

"It's okay" I rub her back.

It's quiet, except for all the sniffing and coughing, until the door opens again. I sit up immediately when I see a doctor.

Please be good news.

"Hello, everyone" He greets. We all croak back a hello "Uh, so there are two Chambers currently in my care" He announces before looking to their mother "Are they both yours, ma'am?"

"Uh yes" She nods quickly.

"The one is still unconscious but the other one is up"

"Which one?" I ask before I can stop myself.

"Kyle Chambers" He reads off his paper and I feel relief almost immediately, my heart feeling lighter.

"Oh thank God" Riley and her mom praise in unison "Can we go see him?" Riley pleas desperately, already getting up.

"Yes but only two at a time"

They look to me I dismiss them "You two go first. I'll go when you're back" I reply.

They offer me a smile before walking away.

He's up. Thank goodness. But... what if he's like forgotten me or something? Don't bullets do that to a person? Oh no, I hope that didn't happen. But the bullet was more to the chest area than the brain. But what if?

"He didn't forget you" I hear a laugh.

I look up to see Nathan watching me amused and I blush sheepishly "Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes" He sits "So Kyle's up?"

I nod, a small smile breaking out "Yes, but Zach's still out"

"He'll be fine too"

"Was he with you the whole day yesterday?" I ask suddenly and he nods "How was he?"

"Not good. After he noticed you were missing, we both started to look for you. And then you called and it fucked him even more to hear you like that. He got help from his brother and he wanted to come too but obviously it wasn't a good idea. We then went to the police to file that whole thing against his father. It took forever and when his brother wouldn't answer the phone and you two weren't out yet, he started to panic. He tracked down your location and disclosed it to the police. They couldn't go there immediately so he demanded I drive him... and then you know the rest"

"Woah" I breathe dazedly.

Nathan nods "Yep. Busy day, huh?" He jokes and I breathe a laugh.

"I'm glad you weren't harmed too"

He smiles "Thank you, Chels. But seeing the both of you like that did. I'm sorry you had to go through that"

"I'm okay" I croak weakly.

"That whole thing kind of reminded me of my father. I was so angry" He curses under his breath, his face hard.

"I'm sorry, Nathan" I frown sadly.

"He's getting his parole hearing soon and he might actually be released. Apparently he's been behaving"

I gasp loudly, taken aback "Oh no, I-I don't even know what to say"

"It's okay" He assures "I just want him to stay far away from me and my mother. I'll even get a restraining order if I have to"

"That's good" I coax.

"I'm really glad you're okay, Chels" He smiles at me "You're like a sister to me at this point and I wouldn't be okay if anything happened to you"

I smile back widely "Thank you"

"I would say 'I love you' but Kyle will kill me, maybe Kathrine will too" He jokes and I burst out laughing "But I do, okay?" He says seriously, squeezing my hand.

Awww!

"I do too"

"When this whole thing is over, we need to lock Kyle and Kat in a room. Their whole beef thing is funny and all but it has to end"

I nod immediately "I've been saying this for such a long time, I'm glad you've hopped on. They need to sort their shit out"

"They should be more like you and I"

I laugh "Right? I would kill to see that, oh god. It would be too good"

"We were like that too. Ancient times"

I actually hated this guy now I love him so much. He's the big brother I never had and am always so grateful for. Not only does he treat me well, he treats my best friend and my boyfriend well too. He's a blessing.

"I'd even forgotten" I say honestly "But yeah, that one is a must. Then we can all have a proper double date"

He sticks his hand out and I high-five him enthusiastically "We're doing this"

He's actually lifted my spirit so much.

We're just joking around for a while longer until Riley and her mom come back. I get up immediately, dread back in my veins.

"How is he?" I ask.

Riley smiles "Better. He's not too injured. Apparently the bullet just missed his heart. He was really lucky"

"And he's demanding to see you" Mrs Chambers laughs "He basically kicked us out the room"

I can't help but laugh as happy and relieved tears leave my face "Okay then, let me go" I look at Nathan "Are you coming with? They allow two at a time"

"I'll come when you're done" He smiles.

I smile back lightly before walking away. I'm scared but also so happy. I forgot to ask which was his room so I'm having to look at the doors because they all have the names of the patient who's inside. I locate it quickly.

Kyle Chambers.

Bullet wound.

I take a deep breath putting my hand on the handle before I push the door open. The room is mostly white and blank but quite big actually and smells like medicine. Kyle hasn't looked my way and I feel my heart pump fast. He's laying on the bed, looking out the window on the other side with a drip injected on his left arm. There's not as much machinery around him as there was when I was the one in the hospital. He actually looks okay.

Finally he does look, and he offers me the most beautiful smile I've ever seen on a human being. "Hi"

Tears fall down my face as I walk to him "Hi"

"Come here, my baby" He coos and pushes me down to give him a hug when I reach his side. He looks too okay. Should he? One would swear I'm the one actually admitted.

I guess it's not too alarming seeing as it's not like he got a beating or was in a car accident, just a bullet which missed all the important areas. He should be okay and I'm so glad he is.

"You look horrible" He laughs.

I start to cry more as I laugh happily, sitting on the chair next to the bed "I know, you made me like this"

"Are you okay?" He kisses my hands.

I shake my head, actually sobbing and not laughing this time; everything coming back at one go "No. I- I though, I thought I had lost you an-and I-I was so scared" I manage to get out breathlessly.

"Stop crying" He basically begs.

I shake my head "I can't. I'm so happy but so angry at the same time. God" I sigh, really trying to stop but I can't for the life of me.

"Baby" He wipes some tears from my face "I'm okay. He didn't shoot me right" He smirks.

"Kyle stop. This is serious" I start to laugh.

"I know, I just want you to stop crying. I don't like seeing you like that" He utters softly.

I wipe my tears trying my best to keep them at bay, for him "Well I don't like seeing you on this hospital bed. And yesterday, I didn't like seeing you on the floor, blood pooling under you as fought for your life"

I manage to say all that without crying.

He does though and I think I'm seeing things but I'm not "I was so scared" He whispers, that I barely hear him.

He's actually crying, and it breaks me.

I wipe his tears "I know" My visions starts to get blurry "I know, baby"

"He actually shot me. My own father" He manages to get out, more tears falling as I wipe them away from him, kissing his hand.

"He's gone now. No more" I croak.

He wipes his own tears this time, sniffing and oh my god, I can see why he hates seeing me cry. It's heartbreaking watching the person you love so much cry. It's actually excruciating... especially if it's Kyle Chambers. He never cries. He said so himself and now he is...

"This is so fucked up" He breathes, shaking his head against the pillow "My whole life is. Are you sure you still want in?"

I laugh "Of course I do, dufus"

He smiles, his now red eyes shining slightly "Okay because I wasn't going to let you go anyway"

"Trauma brings people together, I think we'll be stuck together forever"

"I can't seem to mind" He grins.

I stroke his cheek, my eyes soft "I love you so much, Chambers. Thank you for not leaving me. I don't know what I would've done"

"I love you too" He whispers.

I kiss him before I can do anything else, only a peck though because I don't want to hurt him, but I feel it all the way to my toes as my heart flutters.

"I missed you so much" I say against him.

He kisses me "I missed you more"

I move back smiling "Let's agree never to do this again"

"What? The kissing? Because I might as well should've died then"

What an idiot.

"Kyle stop" I laugh loudly, throwing my head back "Not the kissing, idiot. This. Almost losing each other and shit. Let's never do it ever again"

"Yes because we can control it" He teases.

"Promise" I scold sternly.

"I promise, baby. You're not losing me anytime soon. You're stuck with me" He smiles.

"Good. I wouldn't have it any other way"

He suddenly scoots to the other side of his bed "Come lay with me. This bed is big enough for two people"

"I don't think we're allowed to do that"

"Sure we are" He persists and I missed him so much that I give in, kicking my shoes off before joining him "Thank you" He wraps his arm around me as I look up at him.

"This is oddly comfortable. I'm not hurting you, am I?" I grimace cautiously.

"Not at all" He kisses my forehead. I look up to see a TV just above his bed, on the ceiling and I gape at the sight.

"This TV has Netflix? What kind of hospital is this. A hotel hospital? No fair"

I hear him laugh as he looks up too "I didn't even notice"

"Guess you'll never get bored here"

"I guess"

I lay my hand on his chest and look up at him again feeling him run a hand in my hair "How was Riley?" I ask.

He frowns "She kept saying it was her fault. Said dad shot me because I wouldn't tell him where she was. She said I should've told him then I wouldn't have almost died. I couldn't do that, Chelsea-Anne"

"I know, baby. I couldn't either" I stroke his cheek sadly "And I'm glad we didn't"

"Me too" He whispers.

"Your mom?" I ask after a while.

"Good, couldn't stop crying" He says.

I laugh "That's the female gender for you. I guess we all just love you so much and are glad that you're okay"

"I love you" He smiles.

I crawl up to kiss him quickly, not being able to help myself, and he laughs against me before I pull back "Stop being cute"

"Any news on Zach?" He asks slowly.

"He's still not up" I utter sadly "It was so horrible, Kyle. Watching everyone beat him up like that."

He strokes my forehead "I know, baby"

"He's actually not that bad, you know? We spoke a lot yesterday. He said he felt bad for everything he did to me" I tell him, playing with his hand "I think we'll be good when he wakes up, maybe even friends"

"Yeah no" Kyle deadpans immediately and I giggle "I agree he's not that bad but I still don't want him around you too much"

I roll my eyes "Relax. I was kidding"

"Don't joke like that" He scowls.

"Sorry" I giggle.

He just wraps me more around him, as I enjoy him against me "You don't smell like you" He complains and I look up at him grinning.

He noticed.

"Yeah, these are Kathrine's clothes"

"I knew it" He smirks. Good lord, I love him so much. We just continue to cuddle in silence for a while longer.

I lay a gentle peck on his neck and I feel him shudder under me "Nathan wanted to see you. Must I call him now?"

"By 'call him' do you mean leave my side?" He asks.

"Uh yes" I trail "We both don't have phones so how else would I call him?"

He just ignores me before I see him press something on the side of his bed. I'm about to ask questions but I notice a female enter the room. Wait, why does she looks so young... and pretty?

"Yes?"

"Could you please call a Nathan Isaacs into the room" Kyle requests and the female nods before leaving.

"Is that your nurse" I scowl.

He looks at me confused "Yeah, well she's an intern or something"

"So she's still in college. Great"

He suddenly starts to laugh, seeing right through me "You're jealous, aren't you Chelsea-Anne?"

"Why is she your nurse?" I whine.

Kyle can't stop laughing "Oh relax. You're the only one I want, Mrs Jealous. Plus, she's not my type"

I give him a look "Pretty is not your type?"

"Babe. Maybe if you stay here with me the whole time you can make sure for yourself that nothing happens" He offers mischievously.

"I don't think I'm allowed to stay here the whole day" I deadpan.

"Sure you are. We can Netflix and chill"

I burst out laughing "Do you even know what Netflix and chill means? I'm pretty sure we can't do that an a hospital"

He looks confused. Of course he doesn't know what it means.

"Whatever. Just come everyday please"

I kiss his cheek. I keep kissing him just to make sure that he's actually here and I'm not dreaming. I can't help it "I promise, you clingy baby"

Before he can say anything else, I see Nathan enter the room.

"Are you guys allowed to do that?" He asks gesturing to me on the bed with Kyle.

I shrug "He insisted"

I see Kyle smile as he looks to his best friend before they do some fist pump thing with Kyle's free hand "Hey dude"

"You good?" His friend asks.

Kyle nods "A-okay. Thanks for being here"

Aww!

"Anytime. I mean where would I rather be than in a hospital room watching my two friends cuddle like a married couple?"

I laugh "You love us"

He smiles "I really do. I'm glad the two of you are okay"

"Do the others know yet?" Kyle asks.

I'm tired now so I look away from Nathan and lay on his Kyle's chest gently, feeling it vibrate every time he speaks. I love this. I can feel his other hands still playing with my hair.

"Yeah, they should be here soon"

"Okay" He hums "I don't know how I feel about everyone seeing me like this though. I feel weak"

"Relax dude, I think they'll just all be glad that you're okay" I hear Nathan assure.

"Thanks for everything again"

Aww!!

I hear Nathan laugh "Stop getting all sappy on me. By the way, I saw your sister. She's kind of hot"

Oh my gosh.

"She's married" Kyle deadpans.

"I know but still" I hear him laugh and soon they're both laughing, with Kyle's chest vibrating more, disturbing my slumber.

"Stop laughing. I'll tell Kat" I warn turning around so I'm looking at Nathan.

He puts his hands up in surrender "Okay"

"Dude and she's already mad at you" Kyle continues laughing amused.

"What did you do now?" I sigh.

And so Nathan tells me the story while I'm still safely in Kyle's arms. I love him so much and I'm so glad he's okay.

***

Hey... hey... how y'all doing?

I'm SO VERY sorry for literally going AWOL. But I'm doing my last year of high school (grade 12/ senior year/ year 12) so it gets pretty busy and I may be slightly depressed 😂😭

I hope you guys enjoyed that and I hope you forgive me cause I didn't make Kyle die. I COULD NOT. My baby 🥺💘

The end is near guys. I probably have less than 5 chapters left with this book. I want to cry for the rest of eternity 😭

Help!!

xoxoxo

also don't ask why I'm updating at 01:00 am.