I Won't Give Up •The Substitute Teacher Sequel•

Chapter 36

Joey's P.O.V.

   "Hi Joey this is the hospital. We are calling to inform you that Daniel Preda has been ammited into our care. We have contacted you because when we found him, his message app was open to your name. Is there any chance you can come down here?" Some lady says on the other line of the phone as if it is no big deal.
   "Of course i'll be there as fast as I can. What happened?" I say beginning to feel my body shake from heas to toe, my legs beginning to feel weak.
   "We cannot discuss that over the phone you will need to come in for us to discuss it," she says again in a very calm voice.
   "Don't let me lose him," I say into the phone before I end the call and run downstairs and grab my keys. Preston jumps infront of the door as I am about to grab it.

   "Where are you going?" Preston says as I try to push him out of the way.
   "I need to go to the hospital right now. Something happened with Daniel," I say as I suddenly feel a tear fall down my cheak, but i'm not crying.
   "You're not going to see him. He's not your problem anymore," he says trying to pull me into a hug but I push away. I run out the door and he is quick to follow behind me.
   "What are you doing?" I say when I see the passenger door open and Preston sits down.
   "I'm going with you dumbass," he says and his words sting through my heart light someone just shot me.

I didn't say a word to him the whole car ride. Every possible thing went through my head. I slammed my hand on the wheel when I realized I should have known something was up when he didn't send the message. I wonder what he was typing.

After what felt like an eight year car ride, Preston and I arrive at the hospital. I park and I sit in my seat for a second trying to calm down but I know it's not going to work. I take a deep breath and bolt out of the car, running towards the hospital entrance to get to Daniel, my Daniel.

I run to the front desk and say Daniel but I am quickly informed news that makes my heart sink through my chest.
   "You can't go back there yet. Surgery is underway and you can't see him," she says with a grin.
   "So what the fuck am I supposed to do if he dies and I can't say bye?" I say crying. I didn't mean for it to come out so harsh but i'm sure she's used to it.
   "Sir can you please sit down in the waiting room. If you go back there you have a higher chance of losing him," she says trying to convince me to sit down.
   "We will. Thank you ma'am," Preston says shooting her a million dollar smile and pulling me towards a chair. No one else is in the waiting room. It's just me and Preston.

   "Preston," I say to him. He say next to me in a completely different chair when he knows that now more than ever I need someone to hold me.
  "Joey be quiet. He will be fine. You just got to quit whining," Preston says closing his eyes. I stare at him with the most bottomless look on my face that you'll ever see.

I look past his beautiful face and eyes and I see exactally what Daniel was talking about. I see under him. I see a boy who is just going around trying to hurt other boys. I see it.

  "Preston do you love me and don't you dare fucking lie to me," I say beginning to breath harder and harder as the tears sting my eyes and threaten to spill.
  "Joey of course I love you. I wouldn't be here with you if I didn't," he says shaking his head like i'm being foolish.
   "Tell me the truth," I whisper to him as he fights his way from looking in my eyes.
  "I love you," he says staring straight into my eyes.

But as I stare back I can't help but get the feeling that everytime i've been an ass to Daniel about Preston actually loving me, Daniel was right. Daniel knew all along that he didn't love me. And now the actual love of my life is sitting on an operating table for god knows what reason almost dying. And I was too stubborn in the first place to tell him I loved him when I clearly did. I was just trying to build up a wall to protect myself. But unfortunatley, everything built up eventually comes crashing down.

   "What we have," I say wiping my eyes as I try to pull together the words to finish my heartbreaking sentence, "is it real?" He looks away from me and then back again trying to find the right words to tell me.
   "Of cour-" he says but is cut off by a nurse's voice when she opens the door that seperates the waiting room from the main part of the hospital.

"Visitors for Daniel Preda?"