I didn't know

13

Clay POV
The next day I woke up to people talking in my room. I opened my eyes and saw Nick and my parents having a conversation standing next to my bed.

'Clay, your awake' my father said. 'Hello mom and dad. Hey Nick' I said awkwardly. 'How are you feeling? We were worried about you when we suddenly got the call from the hospital' my mother said. 'I'm doing fine. You don't have to worry' I said and smiled at them.

I turned to Nick who seemed to be smiling at our small conversation. 'The nurse told me you were staying here. Thank you for caring about me Nick. I really appreciate it' I said and smiled. He matched my smile. 'It's nothing. You had me worried when the paramedics said they had to take you as well. But I'm happy you're good buddy' he said. 'Have you heard anything from George?' I asked him. 'The nurse said he is awake. You can visit him if you want. I didn't visit him yet' a smile made its way to my face. George was awake and well.

I looked over to my parents to see if it was okay with them or if they wanted to stay with me for a bit longer. 'Don't worry Clay you can go. But we expect to meet this George one day. He must be really special to you if you care so much about him' my mother said and smiled. 'I'm sure you will someday' I said and got up from my bed.

The moment I stepped in the hospital corridor I saw Kara and went up to her. 'Oh Clay you're awake again. I'm assuming your going to ask me how you can get to George's room am I right?' she smiled. I chuckled and nodded.
'You have to take a left down the corridor, up the stairs and into room number 1979. you'll find it' she shot me a smile, i thanked here and made my way to George.

After the short walk I stood in front of what's supposed to be George's room. I took a deep breath in and knocked. It took a few seconds until a small "yes come in" could be heard and I opened the door. I don't think George expected me to come in based on his shocked expression that changed into sadness and guilt in no time.

'Hey George. How are you feeling?'
I asked him. I noticed tears dreading to fall out of his eyes.
'I'm so sorry. I am sorry for not telling you anything. I'm sorry I really am. You must think I wasn't thankful for what you've done for me but I really am. I- I really am sorry' he said as tears streamed down his face. I took a few steps towards his bed, bent down and hugged him. 'Don't be sorry Georgie. I am sorry for assuming you were doing okay. I'm here. You're here. That's what matters. Okay?' I assured him as he continued crying into my shoulder.

~~

The next few days I spend at home together with my parents or at the hospital. I asked them if George was allowed to stay at ours again and they obviously agreed. It has been four days and George was allowed to leave the hospital now. I already told him about how my parents agreed to letting him stay at ours.

What I didn't tell him tho is that we were going to go to the mall right after I picked him up.
My parents suggested to go out and eat dinner tonight. Like the four of us. They wanted to get to know George a little and thought it would be a great opportunity. The moment I told him when he got into the car he looked at me shocked and complained about how I didn't tell him earlier so that he could mentally prepare.

The bond and friendship between me and George grew a lot over the past few days. Something about being around George felt so easy and real.
I simply am really happy he's here with me still. Over the past days we joked and messed around as if nothing ever happened between us and as if we knew each other for ages.

Well here we are on our way to the mall. 'You know Clay uhm I don't have any money to buy some fancy dinner clothes you know' George said sounding nervous. I chuckled 'don't worry silly. I didn't expect you to. I'm paying. I have to buy something for me as well. I need something more fancy. My mom told be we were going to that new Italian restaurant and that we should buy us fancy things to wear. So don't worry about money. I'm here' I said looking over at him smiling.

George POV

I felt weird about Clay paying for me but he insisted that he will not and never take any money from me and that I shouldn't worry about it because he has enough.

'I'm nervous. I've never been eating out in a fancy restaurant before you know plus I've never met your parents' I said. I truly was.
It's so scary to meet someone else's parents. And I mean Clays parents weren't some normal parents. Everyone knows they are rich and no matter how often Clay told me that they were kind people I was still very nervous about our first meeting.

'Don't worry George. My parents will love you I'm certain. There isn't something that they can hate about you anyways' he said and I blushed. I found myself blushing a lot about things that Clay said today and over the last days.
Since it happened Clay has been more nice to me. He compliments me more often and tells me how happy he is to have me in his life. Another things is, for some reason, I don't certainly know why actually, but I know that since Clay saved me, the feeling of safety I had around him beforehand, grew even more. I've never had that around anyone before.

I was caught up in my thoughts when I suddenly felt Clays warm hand finding it's place on my thigh. My breath hitched. Thousands of butterflies erupted in my stomach and I felt my checks burning. 'Calm down George. Believe me they are going to love you' he said and softly stroked my thigh with his thumb. I didn't say anything.

For the next few minutes I kept staring at Clays hand on my thigh. Something about his hands made me really flustered. And before I knew or could even hold myself back i softly ran my finger over each of his veins up his arm and back down to his hands again. He immediately got goosebumps and with a quick glance up to his face I could see a light shade of red forming on his cheeks.

Did I make him flustered? I smiled at the thought of him feeling the same than I did earlier. Well. I think I was right about the making him flustered part since he suddenly squeezed my thigh and moved his hand slightly more up my thigh. My breath hitched again and now it was my turn blushing again, While he let out a quite chuckle.

Unfortunately we arrived at the mall a few minutes later and Clay took his hand off my thigh. I've got to say that I was kind of sad because I liked the warmth his hand gave me.
I felt protected and safe.
But all the coldness that came over me the moment he put away his hands vanished when he suddenly smiled at me, took my hand in his and started walking towards the mall entrance.

Oh my god.

1308 words