Tip Toe [Sequel to Could only Imagine]

Chapter 10

Cole's POV

Gabe is driving. Emily is laid out on the back seat with Alex. I am in the front seat. I don't think that Gabe has forgiven me for all the things that I have done. For ruining the band, for leaving him and dana, and for hurting Emily. But Gabe is Gabe so when he told me to get into the car when I am about to leave, I did so with only a moment of hesitation. Alex doesn't like the idea of me coming with though. I don't blame her, I was the one who hurt Emily. God, I'm so stupid. How could I let my anger take hold of me. Why didn't I just take my medicine this morning like I should have. We wouldn't be in this situation with Emily. I maybe could have avoided Alex hating my guts. She is a nice girl, but when you hurt her friends watch out. 

"Cole?! What the hell are you doing in here get out!" Alex had exclaimed when I got into the car.

"Alex he is coming with us. It wasn't his decision it was mine," Gabe explained pulling away from the curb.

"It was your decision?! Gabe he is the one who knocked out Emily! He's the monster!" Alex retorted. 

"Gabe just pull over and let me get out. Alex is right, and I don't want to be the reason you two fight. Just let me out please," I beg, not looking at either of them.

"No. Alex, please we don't have time for this. Please trust me on my decision of letting Cole come with us. I need you too call the hospital so they know that we are coming. Tell them that she was being mugged that we found her. There is no reason for them to know the truth it won't make a difference," Gabe pleaded.

"Okay. I trust you with my life," Alex agreed, pulling out her phone and dialing the number for the hospital. 

I looked out the window thinking. Why would Gabe do this all for me? Ever since Emily left I have been a terrible person to him and Gabe. Even since she was back. All I have done is made his, Emily's, and Alex's lives harder and yet he trusts me. I wish that I could trust people that much too. The trust between Gabe and Alex is amazing and unlike any other I have ever seen. They are so perfect for eachother. That is all I wanted with Emily. But now she is never going to trust me like that. Trust me with her life? I could have taken it away on accident back there. If it weren't for Cole I would still be back there freaking out right now trying to figure out what to do. 

"Gabe, can I ask you a question?" I ask softly, my eyes not straying from the window. 

"Sure fire away," Gabe replies.

"Why did you have me come with you guys? Why do you trust me after all that I did to you, and the band, and everyone? More importantly how?" I ask, finally looking at him. "I have given you so many reasons for you to have beat me up back there, and instead you hugged me. I was ready to walk away, and yet you had me come with you. You probably could have gotten me arrested by having Alex tell the truth, but instead you had her tell a lie."

"Because somewhere deep hidden in her heart she still trusted you Cole. She still loved you. She was afraid of being hurt again. Of letting people down again," Gabe explained.

"How has she let people down?" I ask confused.

"For some reason she believed that by getting kidnapped she let everyone down because she couldn't put out any more music and she couldn't be there," Gabe grimaced. 

"How could that be her fault?!" I exclaimed in defiance. "I know for a fact that if she could have helped it she wouldn't have put herself or kept herself in that situation!"

"I know that, you know that, and Alex knows that. But for some reason she believes that it is her fault and we haven't been able to convince her otherwise," Gabe explains.

"And I just made it worse," I say broken. I just made it so much worse for her. "I am going to leave after she is in the hands of the hospital. I don't want her to be scared or for me to hurt her more."

"Cole, you can't leave her. She can't lose you again, that would break her. Please stay. You leaving would just hurt her more," Gabe reasons. There is silence as we pull up to the ER. Before getting out Gabe finally says, "But that is your choice. I understand if you want to leave. Just follow your heart."

 And then there are nurses all around us, getting Emily, my Emily out of the car, onto a stretcher, and into the hospital. I stand there as Gabe goes to find a parking spot and  Alex goes to the waiting room. I stand there on the sidewalk trying to decide. Trying to figure out what the best thing to do for Emily is. Part of me believes that she will feel more safe away from me. But I realize that the part of me that feels like leaving is my brain. My heart is saying the opposite. 

My heart is saying "Go and wait with Alex. Be there for her when she wakes up and explain everything." My heart knows what I need. "There is no way that you can do this on your own Cole Alan Pendery. You need her, even if she doesn't need you." Is what my heart has been saying. That is why I went straight to starbucks to see her. That is why I am here now. If I truly didn't care like my brain was saying, I would have left her there. Instead I called Gabe. And she could have gotten Cole and Alex to make sure that I stayed away from her this morning at starbucks. But instead she wanted to talk to me. So she must care right? 

Finally deciding, I go inside the building and wait. 

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A/N-

So how did you like it? Should Emily forgive him? What will happen? I don't even know lol. I hopped that you enjoyed it! I am trying to make my chapters more than 1000 words, NOT including the authors note. I will do it unless i am in a rush, or my head or eyes are hurting. Or I have another reason. Love you guys and thanks for the support!