We Can't All Be Perfect

8

I woke in a dark hospital room with two figures on their phones in chairs next to me. After I blinked a few times my eyes adjusted and I saw Aryia and my brother Payne.

"Payne?" I asked, I wondered why he had come to California, the accident on the mountain hadn't been that serious. I got stabbed in the arm, I didn't get seriously hurt.

He looked up from his phone with a shocked look, "You're up!"

Aryias head shot up, he looked at me and smiled, "It's about time!"

"What do you mean 'Its about time'? And why are you here Payne? How did you get here so fast? What time is it?"

Aryia laughed, "Give him a chance to answer your questions before you ask more country girl."

I glared at him and looked to Payne who didn't seem to be very amused by Aryia, "Why are you even here, you've known here for what? A day?"

Aryia huffed, "I'm here because I brought her here, if it weren't for me she'd probably still be on that mountain!"

I could hear the anger in both of their voices, "Can you two shut up and answer me please!" I said loudly.

"Someone's cranky." Aryia mumbled as he looked back at his phone.

I ignored him, it wasn't worth it to argue with him. He'd be cranky too if he got stabbed in the arm.

Payne elbowed Aryias arm which made him drop his phone, "Let's see, I'm here because you got attacked and mom and dad couldn't leave the vet clinic. I didn't get here that fast, but I took a plane. And it's currently 10:08 pm on Monday."

There was no way, how had I been asleep for two days. "Why on Earth was I asleep for two days? I got stabbed in the arm."

Aryia looked up again, "You were extremely weak, you hadn't had enough food to give your body the nutrients it needed. Add that to the blood loss and you get a really bad situation. If we would've gotten to the hospital even a few minutes later than we did you probably would still be asleep, possibly dead." Sadness washed over his face as he mentioned the possibility of death.

I smiled at him, "Thank you for quite literally saving me. I'd give you a hug but I'm attached to the machines and I can't really sit up."

He stood up and gave me a loose hug, being careful not to unhook any of the machines that were attached to me, " I like to think you would have saved me too."

Payne fake gagged, "Can you guys do that when I'm not here? I don't really like you and I don't want to see you hugging my sister."

Aryia pulled away from me and smiled, "I'm going to go get a drink, I'll be back in a few minutes." He winked at me and walked out the door.

Payne gave me the look that meant, 'Tell me what's happening between you two.' It was the look he gave me whenever a boy got close to me.

I sighed and started to explain everything to him, "Before you get the words out, no he's not my boyfriend. However, we did go on a date on Saturday, in our defense it was a blind date. But I'm glad the date happened because the night before I met him at this pizza night thing and I embarrassed myself I front of him." I had started to cry but I didn't know why.

Payne looked at me with a slightly sad smile, "You don't have to cry Elle."

I closed my eyes and leaned against the bed,"You don't understand, I made him think he scared me off but he didn't. I was just starting to have a panic attack so I needed to get out of the little party. I needed air." I wiped my tears and steadied my breathing. "Then Saturday while we had our date we made a promise to forget about what happened on Friday. When we were up on the mountain I realized I think I like him Payne. I really like him."

Payne placed his hand on my forearm, "Just because I don't like him doesn't mean you can't. I support you all the way, you know that, if he hurts you I'll be there to punch his lights out. You're my sister, I want to see you happy, so wipe your tears and tell the boy you like him. He needs to hear it, he cried more than I did. I had to tell him to shut up a few times."

I laughed and wiped away the last few tears, that was the thing about Payne. He had the best advice and he could always make you laugh, no matter the situation.

"Oh and surprise! I'm moving in with you for a few weeks to take care of you and make sure you stay healthy. Aryia said he would do it but there was no way I was letting him stay at your apartment unsupervised."

Aryia walked through the door holding three waters. He handed Payne and I one before sitting back down in his chair, "Did Payne tell you? We're both moving in to take care of you. Only for a few weeks but I'm excited."

I looked at Payne with my eyes wide.

He shrugged, "I said I wouldn't let him stay at your apartment unsupervised. I didn't say he couldn't stay at all."

I was beginning to think Payne didn't hate the guy as much as he let on. Or maybe he was only doing it to make me happy. Whatever the reason I was happy it was happening.

"You guys don't have to baby me. Its only a stab wound."

"One that almost killed you." Aryia said, while Payne nodded. "I think since you're up you can leave tommorow. Plus your car is parked by your apartment building. So once we get you checked out of here we can get you some food."

Aryia was being sweet again so I figured it was a good time to talk to him. "Hey Payne, will you go get me some goldfish? I'm hungry." I said as I batted my eyelashes at him, "Please?"

He smirked and stood up, "I guess."

"Thank you!" I replied as he walked out of the room. I waited a few seconds before telling Aryia to scoot closer to the bed, "Scoot closer, I have a secret to tell you." I told him quietly in case Payne was listening outside the door.

He looked at me like I was crazy but scooted closer anyway without saying a word.

Once he had gotten closer I leaned as close as I could to him and kissed his cheek, "The secret is that I like you. Actually I like like you." I whispered. I leaned back against the bed and smiled at him.

He leaned in like I had before, "I'm going to tell you a secret, I like like you too." Instead of kissing my cheek he pressed a soft kiss to my lips. "Get some rest, I want you to have as much energy as possible tommorow so you can get out of the hospital."

I nodded and got as comfortable as I could on the hospital bed, "Goodnight Aryia. Can you please tell Payne I said goodnight?"

"Of course, sleep well country girl." He said before kissing my forehead and sitting back down in his chair.

I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face, completely content with my life even though I had a large cut on my arm. That didn't matter too me, what mattered was that Aryia felt the same way about me that I did about him.

A/N: I'm really happy with this chapter, I smiled a lot while writing it. Happy late mother's day to everyone. You're all amazing, stay beautiful!!💋💋
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