Come Back To Me

5

After sitting around for hours, talking about our favorite memories with Alex, the party started to slow down. Alex's grandparents had left, satisfied that he was alright and they could sleep a little easier that night. Nick had gone to pick Lexy up from work, because her car was broken down at the moment. Nick and Alex had been working on fixing it together. Sharon and Steve had gone home to call aunts and uncles, family friends, and other relatives, along with Alex's work, in order to notify them of what happened. My parents hadn't stayed very long to begin with; they just wanted to come in and see him quickly. The only ones left sitting around in the room were myself, Zoey, and Matthew.

"Hey, guys, can I talk to Alex alone for a minute? I'm gonna have to get home soon, and I want to talk to him by myself quick." Matthew asked. I complied, leaving the room, Zoey in tow. She clicked the door shut behind her.

For a moment, Zoey and I just stood there in silence. Neither of us really knew what to say. I glanced at my shoes, at the room numbers on the walls, and the nurses coming and going from each of the rooms. Some pushed carts with medicines, others delivered food, and some left empty handed. Zoey reached out and took my hand.

"Hanna, everyone's asked his parents how they're doing. Everyone's asked Nick how he's feeling. But nobody's asked you. How are you holding up, Han?" She pursed her lips, as if she knew she was in rough territory. Zoey was my best friend, so why was it so hard for me to tell her how I was doing?

"I hurt, Zo. I hurt a lot," I whispered, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist. I knew she'd do anything for me, and that's why she'd always been my best friend. We made a pact in the second grade, and we intended to keep it forever. "I'm scared. But I don't know why. I know he has a good doctor. I know he has several good doctors. He's got a good neurologist, he's got a good orthopedic surgeon, I know he's in good hands. But I'm still scared." My voice wavered, threatening to let the tears roll. However, I think my eyes were fresh out of tears, because none were coming out when they should have been.

"Shh, sweetheart, it's gonna be okay. Alex is going to be fine. You heard yourself- he's in good hands. And, if you ever do need anything, I'm here. I'm always here for you." Zoey pulled me back and looked into my eyes, as if she saw straight through me. "You're my best friend, and I love you. I've gotta go, though, I need to pick up my sister from her friend's house. Call me if you need anything. Or just show up at my house. I don't care."

"Thanks, Zo. I love you, too. And I'll talk to you later." She turned and headed toward the exit, tossing a final glance in my direction. At that moment, Matthew came out of the room, and noticing my negative body language and quivering lip, he also hugged me. It was pretty brief, but nonetheless, it was comforting to know that he was here for me, too.

"He loves you, Hanna. He always did. I saw him the morning after he met you. He couldn't stop talking about you. His mouth ran like a duck's ass about you. And then, he told me that he thought he loved you not too long after you got together. He really does love you, Han. He's going to be okay. And when he wakes up, you guys will pick up right where you left off." Matt whispered everything, as if it were some kind of secret. I closed my eyes, thinking about everything I loved about him.

"Thank you. And he's got you for a best friend. And since Alex and I started dating, you've become one of my best friends, too. Thanks for that," I smiled at him. He waved a quick goodbye and took the same path Zoey did towards the exit. I sauntered back into Alex's room.

"Well, baby, it looks like it's just the two of us again. I'll pick up the story right where I left off," I pulled a chair up to the side of his bed, and placed my hand over his, just as I'd done last time.

Alex and I spent the entire evening sitting on a bench down by the fire. Since it was only 40 degrees outside and I was freezing, he'd ended up giving me his jacket. It smelled like boy. I loved the smell of boy.

I told him stupid jokes and he laughed, then he'd tell me a stupid joke and I'd laugh. Right then I knew that I loved him. I'd fallen in love with him before we even got together. Towards the end of the evening, a bunch of drunk highschoolers had gathered around the fire, sitting on the ground, on benches, logs, or just leaning against trees. At some point, we all ended up singing The Beatles songs.

"We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, we all live in a yellow submarine!" I sang along with everyone, as we all swayed back and forth with the music. Alex and I were two of the only sober ones at the party, so we enjoyed seeing all the smart kids and preps finally let loose for an evening. It continued on. "And our friends, are all aboard! Many more of them, live next door!"

Alex laughed and sang along. I wondered how he knew the words. Later, he explained to me that his mother had always loved The Beatles. I, myself, had always listened to their music when I was stressing and needed a break from reality, or writing a paper, or whatever it was that I happened to be doing that was causing me to freak out.

"Han! I'm gonna leave soon! I need you to drive us back!" Even though Zoey was drunk, she knew enough to let me drive us home. I was planning to stay the night at her house, since my parents didn't like me coming home past 11.

"Okay, sweetheart, say bye to your boy and I'll come get you in a bit," I laughed as she scampered away, off to find her senior boy booty call.

Alex and I sat silent for a minute, observing all the people around us who were still singing. They'd moved on to The Chili Peppers by now; a band my dad loved. It had been a great evening, and I was hesitant for it to end.

"Well, I'm sorry to say, but I think I'm going to have to leave. I gotta get that girl home," I smirked and rose from the bench giving Alex a small wave.

"Okay, see ya later, then," Alex waved back and smiled to me. My heart was sad for the fact that he hadn't asked for my number or hugged me or made any kind of move on me. Damn, I really wanted that boy to like me, because I was falling hard for him. I rounded up Zoey, who was mid-makeout with her boy toy when I found her.

I placed her in the passenger seat and buckled her up. We'd taken her car to the party, and I was highly uncomfortable with driving it home, but I had to do it. I walked around to the driver's side, seeing Zoey talking to herself inside the car. She probably didn't even realize I wasn't in there. I flung the driver's side door open.

"Wait, Hanna!" A voice cried out from behind me. Someone jogged up behind me and grabbed onto my arm. I turned around, and the face I saw gave me butterflies.

It was Alex.

"I, um, I'd really like to see you again. I had a great time talking to you tonight. Really. You're, um, really cool. Seriously," He was floundering for words. Oh my lordy, this boy was freaking adorable. "So, um, can I have your number?" He held his phone out to me, the contact screen pulled up.

I smiled and took his phone from his hand. I typed in my name and number, and added the 'heart eyes' emoji next to my name. It was a pretty bold move for someone as timid as me. I closed out of the contact screen and locked his IPhone. "I had a great time with you this evening, too." I smiled up at him. Literally, up. I didn't realize before now that Alex had to be over a foot taller than me.

"Okay, um, see ya," He whispered, waving at me again. As he turned away I waved, smiling like an idiot.

I climbed into the car, and started up the engine. "Zoey, that boy is a real cutie. Maybe if I get lucky, he'll feel the same way about me as I already do about him."

I gunned the car out of the driveway and jumped on the highway, opting for the quickest route back to Zoey's. I grinned the whole way there, thinking about Alex.