Empty Handed

Nice to Meet You (Chapter Five)

Song of The Chapter: Issues by Julia Michaels (Original Version and Acoustic Version)

SCOTT
It's a beautiful morning, the sky is perfectly painted clear blue. The sun is shimmering down into the hospital room I have spent a couple of hours in, but I don't feel it. I feel numb. The next few weeks or months are going to be the worst days of my life. I am supposed to be training; if not for anything but, to show that my win wasn't just because Chen tore his ACL at the National Championships but because I am good enough!

The realization of the sadness which is my life kills me. I throw a couple of things to the ground, bang my hands against my bed because that's all I can really do. I've been taking physical therapy. My parents are afraid of me getting surgery done. I remember my dad actually telling me to quit gymnastics one time. My time is wasting away.

I scream in a choked, frustrated cry. I let the tears flow until I have a dull pounding in my head.

My vision is blurred with tears. That's when I hear a soft knock. I quickly clean my eyes and watch the person come in.

"Who are you?" I put on a stoic appearance. Of course I remember who he is. I want him more than anything. But not now, not like this.

"Nice to meet you Matt, I'm Scott." I frown a little and his eyes widen, then he facepalms when he realises what he just said. He sure is a real doofus.

I say nothing and the silence stretches. He chooses to blurt out the first thing --- rubbish that comes to his mind. I would know because of his uncomfortable expression.

"How did you even find me? Why did you come all the way here?" I say, being as stiff as I could.

"I thought you liked me. I actually thought we had some kind of connection when we first met." He says with a little uncertainty. God, he's so beautiful.

MATT
Getting into Scott's room wasn't so hard. It was leaving the motel undetected by Evan that was crazy. Thankfully, he's a bit of a heavy sleeper, and snorer.

I get to Resby Hospital. I gotta say, its a pretty big establishment. Surprisingly, there weren't any paparazzi. At the reception, I see a woman with a nametag Susan. She doesn't look too pleasant.

"Hi, I'm Matt. Here to see Scott Foley. He's my cousin." Cousin! Where did that come from? She starts typing on her computer, scrolls down and up on her mouse.

"No can do son. You're not on the list so you can't be allowed." She eyes me.

"This is so embarrassing." I mutter. I start walking away after looking at his room number which was still on her screen. Room 109. She's so dumb and unalert.

I type a quick text to Evan, telling him not to worry and that I went to see the guy on the news and hit send.

"I can wait though right?" I ask her.

"Be my guest." She rolls her eyes.

When she was buried in her work, I stealthily made my way to the elevator. That worked out fine.

☆☆☆

"You're delusional if you have such ideas. Can you please leave?" Scott says but, his eyes hold so much pain and bitterness as he speaks that the words don't even hurt me.

"Alright, I'll leave. I'll be out of here tonight and out of your hair. My flight's for 7:45pm." Is it wrong that I'm hoping it turns out like one of those movies where the guy runs to the airport and through the terminal, finds the girl, kisses her and convinces her not to go? Well, he's not running anywhere any time soon. That's for sure.

"Could you please just go already?" He yawns then rubs his eyes with the back of his hands in such an adorable way that I want to hug him. I get a pen and paper from a table closeby and write out my number. I see some broken things on the floor and know instantly how it happened.

"That's my number. Please text me. I've got the idea you won't gimme yours if I asked. So, I'm leaving the decision to you." I see a little smile starting to form on his face but it goes away almost immediately.

"It was nice to meet you Scott." Without waiting for a reply, I get up and walk out. I walk really fast to the elevator. When I get to the reception, I spot Miss Grumpy. I smile and say "bye".

At the parking lot, I see two sports news buses park. So it begins.

I take a cab to the motel. I knock on the door and almost immediately, it's opened.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that but I needed to. I'm sorry." I say with my eyes shut.

"You should know I won't condone such behaviour Matt. It is wrong on all levels." He looks a little angry.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." I say putting my hands together.

"It better not, young man."

We spend most of the afternoon doing nothing. Watching tv doesn't interest me. Evan seems to love it though. I need a kick in my life. I don't want to live a boring one.

At 5:33pm, I get a text.

"Hey."

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