Stay (Disasters In Love: Book 1.5) (SLOW UPDATES)

Chapter 4

Kat
July 4, 2005

*

Next day

*

Ben's hand jerks away from mine. I look up to find his green eyes staring back at me.

His eyes.

His eyes are open!

I need to tell Cole and Nate, but where is my phone? I can't remember where I put it. Did I even have it? I reach for the call button laying near Ben's head, but stop at the sound of his voice.

"Where's Cole?" His voice is strained, I assume from the ventilator.

Wait, where is the ventilator? Did they remove it while I was sleeping? How did I miss that?

How is he speaking at all? Something is pressing on the outskirts of my mind, but I can't remember what it is.

I clear my throat, trying to rid my voice of the overwhelming emotion I'm feeling. "Cole ran home, he'll be back. Do you need something? I can get it for you."

He shakes his head, eying me suspiciously. "Where's Mom?"

"She's on her way from your island." I put my hands on top of his, trying to reassure him, but he pulls away.

My stomach drops, but I need to ask my own questions. "Do you know where you are?"

His eyes bounce around the room. "I'm guessing a hospital."

"Yes, do you know who I am?" My heart squeezes in my chest, already knowing the answer.

"Should I?" His eyes hold no recognition as they look into mine.

Oh god. He doesn't remember me.

"No, I guess not." I lean up trying again to press the call button. I can't handle this on my own.

Ben's eyes widen, as he scoots away from me. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing. I just-" Before I can explain, Ben's shouts cut me off.

"Nurse! Help!" He cups his hands over his mouth, trying to be louder. "Help! Nurse!"

"No, Ben! You can trust me." I hold my hand up in surrender. "Please calm down."

"Stop calling me Ben!" His eyes are wild like a cornered animal.

He's scared of me. This is so much worse than I imagined.

"Kat." Nate's voice bounces around my head without passing through my ears. What is happening?

I think my mind is playing tricks on me, until I hear it again. "Kat. Calm down."

Am I telepathic?

"Kat." Now I hear Cole. Am I going crazy? "Come on Kat, wake up."

I am awake. How do I tell the voices?

"Kat, are you okay?" Ben's looking at me again, but his gaze is softer this time.

Wait, how does he know my name? Does he remember me now? What changed?

He reaches out, grabbing my shoulders, as he gently shakes me. "Come on Kat."

"What?" I don't understand. What does he want?

The light blinds me as I open my eyes. Why were they closed? Ben is laying in front of me, ventilator still in place, his eyes closed.

"Hey, are you okay?" Cole's voice comes from my left. "We heard you... uh... You were... uhm..."