PAIN.

There's so much pain it feels like a blanket covering my whole body.

My eyes feel like they're glued together.

My voice is lost somewhere inside me.

What's going on?

I try to relax so I can understand what's happening to me, but the pain is just too much. Only when I take a couple of deep breaths, I'm able to open my eyes a little.

"Alexia?" I hear his voice, but mine is locked inside. "God! Oh my God! I'm calling the doctors! You're fine! You- You are going to be fine!"

I try to focus on him, but it's too hard.

Closing my eyes again, I try to make sense of what's happening once again, but dark engulfs me.

*****

I have no idea where I am or what happened to me, but when I'm finally finally able to open my eyes, he is the first thing I see.

"Lucas?" I say, but my throat hurts so bad, I'm suddenly coughing hard, my whole body trembles with pain.

"It's okay. Here." He gets me a glass of water, using a straw to help me drink it.

"We..." It all comes rushing to me. We were at Sophie's place.. the laughter, the car... the accident. It's all too much and I feel like my heart is trying to come out of my chest.

"Shush. Let me get the doctor first, okay?" He touches my cheek before leaving the room.

A moment later, a young doctor enters the room, but things are still a little foggy.

"Hi, Alexia. Good to see you're awake. I'm doctor Paul Green. How are you feeling?"

"Everything hurts." My voice sounds weird, and I wonder how long I've been here.

"I'm so sorry to hear that, but you were in a car accident. You were in an induced coma for some days, but everything is looking good right now. I'm here to help you feel as much comfortable as possible," he says and my eyes go to Lucas. He's looking down, but I didn't miss the way he flinched.

"Your parents are on the way. They're staying in a hotel near here. I just texted them you're awake," Lucas says, still not really looking at me. His voice is pained and I just want to get closer to him.

"We need to do a regular checkup with you, Alexia," Dr. Paul says, and it's then I realized there's a nurse by his side.

"Okay," I whisper.

*****

After what it seems like forever, the doctor and nurse leave, and it's just me and Lucas again. They gave me some painkillers, but I'm still feeling pretty sore.

"I know what you're thinking..." I whisper, a tear rolling down my face.

He comes close to my bed and holds my hand, pulling a chair for him to sit as close to me as possible. For a long time, he just holds my hand while looking down.

I'm about to say something when he looks at me. "I'm so sorry... I should've waited for the rain to stop... The roads were slippery. I... I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he says, not able to contain his own tears.

He lowers his face to the bed and I pull my hand from his hold so I can run my fingers through his hair. I wish I could go back in time and never get into that car. Not because I think it's his fault. We were in an accident, for heaven's sake and I remember exactly what happened. But because I know it broke him more than me, even if I'm the one physically hurt. I know he will never forgive himself. I just know it.

"Look at me, Lucas," I say after he has somehow calmed himself. He rubs his hands on his face and when he looks at me, I see he's got some stitches under his left eyebrow and I feel horrible. "Are you okay?"

"You're asking me if I'm okay?" He shakes his head, a humorless laugh leaving his mouth.

"It was not your fault!" I say, trying to get my emotions under control. I know he doesn't believe me, but I have to make him understand.

"Try to get some rest. Your parents will be here anytime now. Do you need me to get or do something for you?" He stands up and I see some bruises on his neck and arm.

"You're walking funny... Are you hurt?" I say.

"I'll be fine. Do you need anything?"

"Yes. I need you to look at me and say you believe me when I say it was not your fault!" I shout and start coughing. I bruised two ribs in the accident and it hurts like hell, and to top it off my throat is a little sore from being asleep for so long.

"Please, don't upset yourself. You need to rest," he says while getting me some water.

My parents choose this moment to enter the room, and my heart breaks when I see him taking a step back.

"Oh, thank God! You're awake! Jesus, my baby..." My mom comes rushing to me and it looks like she grew ten years older.

"I'll be fine, mom," I whisper.

"Sweetheart." My father comes to the other side of the bed and kisses my cheek. "Thank you, Lord," he whispers, pressing his forehead to mine.

"The doctor came in just a few minutes ago." Lucas clears his throat, and my parents turn their attention to him.

"They said she will recover just fine, but she should be here until the end of the week. They'll be coming back to check on her later."

"Thanks for everything, Lucas," my father says, offering him his hand. "You are a great friend. Alexia is lucky to have you as her neighbor."

I can feel my eyes watering as I look at Lucas, and I don't miss the way he swallows hard as he shakes my father's hand.

"It was the least I could do."

"How is Nate?" My mom asks him and I turn my face to her so fast I have to close my eyes to relieve some pain in my head.

"Did you get to meet him?" I ask her.

"Yeah, Lucas thought it would be better if he didn't see you, but he overheard his grandparents talking to Lucas about you... The poor boy was so worried he couldn't even sleep at night. And well, since Lucas was sleeping here every night... Nate was very upset, worried you would- Anyway, we met him at the coffee shop down the street and told him you were fine," she explains, her eyes watering.

And I thought my body hurt...

Nothing could compare to the pain in my heart right now. Listening to Nate's pain over me is just too much.

"He made you a card," my mom says, picking up a teddy bear and a card from a table near the door.

"Here." She hands me the toy. "It's his. How sweet is that? He thought you needed it more than him." She chuckles, but I know she is trying not to cry.

"Yeah..." Lucas clears his throat, blinking fast. "I better get going. You need to rest and I told my parents I'd be picking up Nate later."

"Oh," I say, not able to hide my disappointment.

"I'll talk to you soon." He rubs his neck and looks at me.

"Okay. Tell Nate I can't wait to see him." I force a smile, but my heart is breaking over how guilty Lucas feels.

"Sure," he says, looking at my parents. "Just let me know if you need anything. I'm just a phone call away."

My father is studying him and when he turns his attention to me I know he knows we are more than friends. "I'll walk you out," he says, clapping him on the back.

"Okay." He looks at me as if unsure of what to do.

My mom probably senses something is off too and adds, "Thanks again for everything, Lucas! Don't forget about our talk earlier. It was not your fault." She hugs him and turns to dad. "Let's get some coffee, Richard."

My father looks at me and after I nod, he leaves without saying anything.

When they are gone, I stare at Lucas, hating the way his eyes never meet mine. "Will you come back tomorrow?" I ask.

"Alexia, you should-" he stars, and I know what he is going to say, so I cut him.

"I know I have to rest and I will. Those painkillers the nurse gave me earlier are starting to work. I... I just need you to tell me that everything is okay between us. That you're coming back tomorrow, that... I don't know... Just look, really look at me."

Finally looking at me in the eyes, he gets closer. He tenderly presses his lips to mine, but it's way too brief. "Please try to get some rest, okay? I need to go get Nate." He touches his hand to my cheek and brushes his nose to mine.

"Okay." I nod helplessly as I watch him leave, not sure where we'll get from here.

_____

A/N: *sighs* my heart is breaking too...

Thanks for reading! Please don't forget to vote & follow me here: CelesteABrook for news and updates! 

XOXO

-Celeste