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Thomas
Hearing a sharp shriek from the living room, my blood goes cold, body frozen to the spot as I realize it’s James. Somehow, I manage to will myself to the living room, as I see Tyler pinning James to a wall roughly, his whines and screams of protest enough to make me realize this is up to me. Except he isn’t sexually assaulting him, he’s physically going after him, and James isn’t standing a chance.
James is strong yes, but Tyler is about a foot taller it feels like, and works out more than James. Literally he looks like he lifts everyday, while James looks like he works out moderately. I make a quiet sprint dashing to my phone, grabbing it, and running back to our room. My fingers shake as I hear the screams of protest, skin meeting skin, as James literally gets the shit beaten out of him.
My fingers shake as I call the cops, as I hear the yells and screams from the living room, the floor being hit with a sharp thud. I listen to it, silent tears streaming down my cheeks, rocking back and forth on the floor. A sense of terror and tread looming over me as I realize that James is probably gonna be seriously hurt.
As the door bursts open, I hear voices of other people.
“Get him off of him.”
“Be careful it looks like he has a broken rib.”
“He’s not breathing get an EMT.”
“Where is the guy who called this in?”
I get up, my body shaking, as I clutch one of his hoodies in my arms. My arms cling to the hoodie as if it is the last thing I have left, my eyes filling with tears. Instead of holding it, I put it on, as I slowly get the bravery to walk out into the living room timidly. Although I soon regret it, as I watch James being put on oxygen support, wheeled out on a stretcher.
“Come on, you can ride in the back, he’s been requesting it since he woke up.” An EMT guides me towards the ambulance, as I walk down blankly. It’s like I’m not even in my own body anymore, I’m somewhere else. I feel like I’m gonna faint, as I sit on the bench in the ambulance. He’s on oxygen support, his eyes closed with a mask over his mouth. The gashes running across his face, and the probably broken bones, a constant reminder of what happened.
Weakly, he moves his free arm out, his hand brushes against mine.
“I’m okay, I swear.” He attempts to soothe me, while he’s the one beaten up.
As we reach the hospital, he’s wheeled out, letting me trail behind, his eyes filled with tears as they move him slightly. As I’m frozen in fear at ambulance bay, a security guard looks at me sadly.
“Go through the front, and good luck.” He whispers to me, nodding towards a set of doors.
As I literally sprint to the doors, and get his room number, I’m remembering my days on track team. Yet in all honesty, I’m really scared right now. I’m terrified of what happened to James, and how he’s gonna heal. What do I tell Brittany? Oh my dear lord BRITTANY. Panicking, I call Elizabeth. Thankfully she is very understand and is going to keep Brittany for the night.
As I reach his hospital room, a hoard of nurses and doctors in the room, I panic. Worried about what’s going on, and what happened to him.
“You can come in Thomas.” A nurse says, who I didn’t realize was right beside me.
I walk in, as all of the medical team is leaving. James is in a half-sitting half-laying down, position. With breathing support, and a wrap around his stomach, his face covered in bandages. The main parts of his face are visible, the bruises beginning to form.
“James I’m so sorry.” I mumble, looking down at my feet.
“You did everything I needed, love.” He smiles, as I pull a chair up to sight beside his bed.
“What happened to your ribs?” I ask, gesturing to the brace around his stomach.
“Broken rib, concussion, black eye..” he trails off.
“How many pain meds are you on.” I laugh, hearing the daze in his voice.
“I don’t k- hey wait that’s my hoodie.” James laughs, cringing in pain slightly.
“How bad is Tyler?” I question hesitantly.
“I got a couple good hits to the face, he has a broken arm, fractured rib, loss of sight in one eye.”
“How did you…. wait I don’t want to know.”
“I mean than pretty fair.” He smiles pushing his hair back.
“You going to charge him?” I question, cause if he isn’t, this will be one of the few things I pressure him on.
“Obviously. Hey is Elizabeth keeping Brittany or are you going back?” James inquires, keeping his gaze set on me.
“Elizabeth is with Brittany, I’m here when do you get out?” I ask.
“Tomorrow if everything goes well.” He holds out his hand, inviting me to take it in mine.
Which of course I obviously do, as he smiles, closing his eyes briefly.
“Can I stay the night?” I ask him, hoping he’ll say yes.
He nods, his thumb drawing small circles on top of my hand.
“I love you, ya know.” I mumble awkwardly, not really knowing what to say.
Hey James I’m sorry you got the shit beaten out of you.
Yea how about no.
“Good, or this would be really awkward.” James smiles, wincing yet again.
As he starts to fall asleep, his grip loosens on my hand, but I don’t leave. I sit there, with nothing I can do, in all honesty I want to cry. I want to drink, starve, and cry.
As a nurse walks into do rounds, she looks at me sadly, while checking his vitals.
“You can sleep. It’s gonna be okay.” The nurse assures me, before walking out of the room. Leaving me alone with my thoughts.
“You know, James,” I start, I don’t know why but I do, “You always feel the need to protect me, and shield me from everything. Always acting strong when I need you, when in reality I’ve rarely seen you actually break down. Take this, for example, you haven’t even broke down, you were calming ME in that ambulance. I don’t- I don’t really know what to say, really, but I wanted to tell you, it’s okay not to be invincible, it’s okay to feel down, and hurt. James it’s okay, for you to step down from the roll you’ve filled for so long. It’s okay, it’s completely and utterly okay. I want you to know that, and I seriously hope you do, because I don’t want you to hide behind a mask and not feel like you can show emotion. I love you, and really want to see you okay, but I also know you are human.”
I watch as a single tear rolls down his cheek, his eyes opening.
“Thank you, Thomas.” He chokes out.
“I’m always gonna be here, I’m not gonna leave you.”
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