Hi guys! As I promised, the next bonus chapter. Remember, I am uploading weekly now so please like and comment so I know whether you enjoy it or not.
Also, my other book has also been uploaded (it is also weekly) and is a fantasy romance. Check it out!
So without further ado, the chapter-
Aaron's POV when he found out about Lexi's illness
S. A. A
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"Shall I park near the front entrance?"
Aaron raised an eyebrow in amusement at his friend's words, leaning back into the seat.
"It's just a minor cut, not a concussion, Justin. I'll be able to walk." He said with a smirk, holding the paper towel tightly to his forehead as he looked over to the driving seat where Justin was sat, sparing him only one deadpan look with his icy gaze.
"Just tell me where to park." Were the only words he spared and Aaron let out a laugh, running his free hand through his hair.
"It doesn't have to be right at the door, I can still recite my abc's without struggle." He joked yet his smirk quickly turned into a wince when his other friend spoke, his voice much louder in comparison.
"Oh yeah? Then what's 56 divided by 6, huh?!" Danny leaned forward from the backseat, glancing eagerly at Aaron to which he merely raised an eyebrow.
"Do you even know what 56 divided by 6 is?" He challenged, making Danny's face scrunch in pain- the face they knew he made when he was thinking. It was silent for a moment before Danny opened his eyes, his gaze wide as though realisation dawned on him. He turned slowly to Justin, eyebrows drawn together in what seemed to be worry.
"I think I might have a concussion." He whispered fearfully and Aaron held his laughter back as Justin gave Danny the coldest glare. Then, without warning, he lifted his hand, slapping Danny upside the head, making him wince loudly before he turned to Aaron.
"Don't encourage him." He absconded and Aaron nodded, smirking slightly.
"Wouldn't dream of it." He responded just as quick before withdrawing the paper towel and looking at the crimson that soaked it. It made him grimace as he imagined the cut it would leave.
He couldn't help but dampen as he thought of Lexi- would she like him any less if he had a scar? It was a stupid thought, even he knew that, but he couldn't help but let his mind be drawn to her every single time. Even for the silliest of things, like what watch he'd be wearing- his thoughts always drifted to the image of the doe-eyed girl; how he'd look in those very eyes.
He shook his head as they reached the front of the hospital, reaching to open the door. Thinking too hard over her would only open a door he knew he wanted to keep closed. Besides, things were going good right now. It was a bit slower than what he was accustomed to, but perhaps that was what he needed after jumping into things without thought. Lexi was a woman who deserved thought, not just pure impulse.
"You go; I'll find a place to park and be right in." Justin spoke blankly and Aaron nodded, smirking as he tapped Justin's nose teasingly.
"Thanks, J Bear." He drawled playfully, moving out swiftly before Justin could hit him and Danny smiled eagerly as Justin glared.
"See, I knew it'd catch on! Didn't I tell you?!" He urged energetically to Justin who merely scowled, turning back to Aaron who was leaning on the open window of the car, looking in.
"Tell me you're taking him in with you." He droned dryly and Aaron's lips quirked up as he withdrew from the window, shrugging heavily.
"I don't know, Justin, you might need his help to park the car properly. You'll provide him with constant guidance, won't you, Danny boy?" Aaron gestured to Danny with a nod of his head, making him let out a squeal.
"I can help you, J Bear, let me help!" He almost but pleaded, pouting dramatically yet Justin merely continued to glare at Aaron, the tap of his long index finger against the steering wheel being the only evidence to show his annoyance.
"Familiarise yourself with the hospital. You'll have a permanent residence soon." He spoke bluntly, before he suddenly drove, Danny's neck swinging from the sudden speed and Aaron couldn't help but laugh as he rotated to enter the hospital.
He couldn't help but think how much more fun it would have been if Lexi had come. She was one of the few people who could understand Danny for how he is; one of the few who could thaw Justin's icy exterior and he smiled at the thought. Anyone that Justin approved of would always be an interesting person, indeed. And, that she was.
He remained lost in thoughts through the whole wait and even as he was patched up. Despite feeling fine, they had still done tests to check for signs of concussion and then- at long last- he was free. He made his way then to the waiting room where he knew the guys would be waiting for him.
It was as that moment that his gaze fell onto familiar brown hair and doe eyes as she walked towards him. At first, he had thought he had imagined her. I mean, he was thinking about her constantly now. Perhaps, he really did have a concussion.
Yet, when he rushed forward and she didn't fade away like some hallucination, he realised it was actually her and he couldn't help it as her name left his mouth.
She looked up, stopping rigidly and he couldn't help but assess her for a moment curiously. She had said she had a family plan; was any of her family in hospital?
"Lexi. What are you doing here?" He asked, gesturing towards the surroundings and his curiosity increased as she stuttered before laughing nervously. Was it that difficult for her to open up about her life?
"Well, why are you here?" She finally responded and the way that she answered his question with a question only made him more suspicious. Nevertheless, he decided to respond to her question; she couldn't avoid his words for too long.
"I had a little go-karting accident. I just hit my head really hard on the track. I didn't want to make a big deal out it by coming to the hospital, but the guys pushed me to come. Now, what about you?" He told her the honest truth about what had happened, in the hope that she'd offer him the same courtesy. He couldn't explain why, but his hands were clenched nervously by his side. Perhaps it was the say she was being so secretive that he felt the deja vu hit him like a ton of bricks. Even more so when she stuttered yet again, almost racking her head for an answer.
However, before anything else could be said, a doctor rushed out of the room, stopping in front of Lexi. He seemed to be angry and Aaron edged forward instinctively in case he needed to intervene.
"Alexis. I know it's hard, but you shouldn't run out of the room every time someone mentions the treatment. The team cares for you and really want to help you. Just... think about it, that's all I have to say." And with that he walked back to his room
Dread.
It was a feeling that filled him as he turned to Lexi, jaw clenching.
"What is he talking about, Lexi?"
The long silence that passed then was worse than any other wait he had endured. With every second that passed as she stayed silent, he felt the agitation grow in him. For, her lack of words spoke to him more than anything else would. He couldn't help it as his shoe tapped against the floor impatiently as he looked to and gestured to the doctor's office.
"Were you in there?" He tried opening up the conversation, knowing the previous question was too heavy for her to answer. He'd have to resort to doing it in small steps and his jaw clenched at the notion. It was only quiet for a moment and, then, she nodded, making his blood run cold. He had gathered that she had been in there, but having her confirm it just made the concern and confusion in him grow.
His eyebrows furrowed as he approached the topic carefully, not wanting her to shut him out.
"Can I ask why?" He said, hoping she would answer and it was quiet for another moment before she looked to the ground, her eyes sad as she spoke.
"Aaron. I don't know how to say this, but..." She stopped mid-sentence, her voice breaking off in sadness. He had to fight the strong urge to go and hold her, hushing away the darkness. It scared him how strong the urge was, but he stayed rooted, knowing it was just as important to find out the cause of the sadness.
"But, what?" He said, giving in slightly to the urge and moving closer yet Lexi took a step back at this, making him tense. Had he done something wrong? She had been fine with him at school. The hurt that he felt surprised him as he watched her carefully. She let out a sigh, rubbing her arm with a look of resolution on her face. She had come to a decision, it seemed.
"I'm ill, Aaron." Was all she said, but it was enough to trigger the urges and he couldn't help it as he moved closer, putting a cold hand to her head in worry.
"What? Is it a fever or something?" He asked, knowing how frail she was. She looked as though she could catch a cold with just a gust of wind and it scared him more than he'd care to admit.
She stared up at Aaron then and he tensed slightly as her eyes flitted across his face. Her gaze was so beautiful that it made him lose sense for a second and he shook away the urge to close the distance between their lips. Instead he raised an eyebrow at her stare.
"What is it? What's wrong, Lexi? " He asked, the concern growing again as he took hold of her hand. It was his form of comfort- to hold to something he felt was slipping from fingers yet she didn't give in to it, pulling her hand out.
"Aaron, I'm ill. Seriously ill." Her voice shook and it was then that his heart felt like it stopped beating. Everything in that moment was a blur as he looked to the tears filling those beautiful eyes. It couldn't be like this, right? Life couldn't be that unfair?
He needed to know and he took a step back, focusing on regaining his thoughts.
"What do you mean 'seriously ill'?" He spoke slowly so as to not give into the emotional turmoil within. When she nodded, however, he couldn't help but turn to the turmoil, the logic leaving him.
"Severe aplastic anaemia. I was diagnosed at 13." She spoke quietly but it was enough to bring his mind to a complete halt. He didn't know what it was but, judging from her demeanour, he knew it wasn't good.
Some feeble part of him still clung to some semblance of hope. It couldn't happen twice; it had to be some cruel twisted joke. The notion made the anger in him rise and he gave into the hope then, edging closer to her: his only remaining source of comfort.
"Don't joke about your life like that, Lexi, I don't like it." He almost but pleaded. Hell, he'd get on his knees and beg right now that she just had some twisted type of humour, but he knew her through and through. She wouldn't joke like this. It was one gaze into her earnest eyes that dashed that hope and he couldn't help it as he moved away. It was suddenly too much and he felt his anger rising to the surface. His temper was the only outlet of all the sadnesses that had happened in his life. Even when Lexi neared him, he couldn't help but push her away.
"You're lying." He prayed yet again for her to give in to his words; for her to play pretend with him, but when she said nothing, reaching for him again, he moved her away. With that hope gone, there was nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Yet, he was still hellbent on finding some semblance of hope and he perked up slightly as he thought of an idea.
"There's a treatment, right? " He asked, hands clenching as he waited for her answer. If it was a no then he wouldn't be able to hang on any longer. She was his last stretch of sanity. Without her, there was no purpose of his being. He could admit that now. As he looked at her stood in front of him, he could admit the honest truth- he would go insane without her.
"Yes. There is a cure, b-" They were the only words he needed to hear as he dialled up a friend of his family. It was all he needed to hear to know that he could make a change. It had been too late with his mum, but he had a chance now and he wouldn't let it pass.
"I know this guy. His name is Terry. He's the best doctor in the business. If he can't help you then no one can. He's who you need ." He spoke yet his anger rose again when he heard the voicemail. Time was too short; it had taken a few hours for his mum's health to turn for the worse. He needed to do something now.
"Aaron! Aaron, calm down!" Lexi's soothing voice broke through his heated haze of desperation and he couldn't help it as it made him spiral, taking hold of her arm tightly. With what right was she comforting him when she didn't even allow him to do the same for her? Or, was it the same as it was with his mother- did she not think of her capable of being able to?
"Why didn't you tell me before?" He voiced the dark thoughts, feeling uncomfortable as the tears filled her eyes, so he avoided her gaze. How else could he stop from cradling her when she cried like that?
She recoiled at the question, stuttering for a moment before shrugging.
"Guess, I thought, no one cared." She finally said and he couldn't control the anger again as it came forth. She was on his mind from morning to night; he kept their relationship going despite his mum leaving just so he could be in her presence. He had even kissed her- not in public, but private, purely do to his own desires.
"Have I ever done anything to show you I don't care? " He felt the agitation at her reasoning, even more so when she rolled her eyes as though he was the incredulous one.
"I don't know. How about the time when you lied about grabbing candy floss or the last few years that you ignored my presence until you found you needed me for something? Is that not good enough for you? " She responded just as quickly and his hands clenched by his side at her words. Any other day, he would have happily continued arguing; he would have told her how ridiculous her words were. It was with time, of course, that his care for her had grown. He hadn't been perfect from the start, but he hadn't hidden that from her. She knew he was a mess because he didn't care to conceal it and, yet, even when he was a mess- she had given him some sense of order. Any other day, he would have dwelled into this, but right now his mind wasn't working properly due to the heated haze.
"Now's not a good time to be using sarcasm, Lexi. Just take the money I give you and-"
She scoffed at this, glaring at him with an intensity he couldn't understand. It hurt him in ways he couldn't fathom yet.
"Money? Do I look like a charity case, Aaron? I don't need anything from you nor will I ever." She spoke as though he was throwing money on the floor in front of her; as though it wasn't a matter of life and death.
He tutted loudly, looking to her imploringly and hoping she'd see reason. She had to or he didn't know what he would do.
"Can you stop being so bitchy for one second and think about what actually matters- your life. That's what matters. " He begged this time and he didn't care to hide it.
He'd have thought this would change her mind, but she just turned away indifferently, shocking him entirely.
"I don't need the money. I'm not getting the treatment." Was all she said and Aaron couldn't help but feel the world coming out from under him. He took a step back, wanting her to fully see him; for her to realise the gravity of the situation. He was hell-bent on not letting go of her, did she not feel the same way? So, he reached out again, hoping he'd find a semblance of the girl he could predict- his Lexi.
"Lexi. Stop messing around. I swear, it's not a fucking joke. Just take the-"
She put a hand up then, stopping him mid-way, anger in her eyes. He didn't understand why. It was her who was choosing to leave him, not the other way around.
"I'm not joking, Aaron! I don't want to live anymore for my own personal reasons and you have no jurisdiction in changing my choice what so ever. I don't need the damn money." She shouted and he tensed at her words.
Personal reasons?
Was there truly more to her that he didn't know?
He had opened his entire being to her yet she had been like this- hidden and distant. Perhaps, it was only him that felt the growing bond between them.
It was only him and she didn't want to be with him. She didn't care to tell him all this nor did she care for his wishes right now. He couldn't help as the hurt showed on his face, not bothering to put a facade up. What was the point when she didn't even care for him?
"You want to leave me too?" He spoke before he could control it and he regretted the words as soon as they left. Why was he disclosing so much of his sadness to her when she was so indifferent?
She looked down to the ground, not even bothering to look at him as she spoke.
"Sorry, Aaron, but you wouldn't understand." Was her pathetic answer and he felt the anger grow. She hadn't told him for what reason? She wasn't getting treatment for what reason? It seemed as though she just wanted him to suffer. She kept him close enough for him to start caring yet far enough to not allow him to have a say in these decisions. Where was the justice?
One look at her frail form and he couldn't take it anymore. If he stayed here, he'd know he'd go against her wishes and force her to be treated. He knew he didn't have a right in saying anything to her but nor could he sit here and watch her become a former shell of herself. He couldn't stand it with his mum either but at least he had Lexi to lean on then. He had nothing now.
"Fine, but don't expect me to watch you die." The words came out harsher than he had intended, but he meant just that. She wasn't willing to be treated nor was she willing to walk away, so he had to. Because, he knew that- with her- he'd die also.
She called his name several times then when just moments ago she had been adamant that he had no say in her decisions. When she had told him that she was going to leave this world, no matter how much he needed her.
"Aaron! Please, understand! Come back!" She called and he gritted his teeth, trying to ignore her tears. If he gave into his heart, he would turn and hold her, but it wouldn't fix the issue. He would hold her now, but what about tomorrow? Or the day after that? He continued moving, ignoring the morbid thoughts.
"Aaron, wait! I love you."
It was those words that stopped him dead in his tracks.
For a second, he closed his eyes, taking in the words from her mouth. From Lexi's mouth. She had said to him and he let himself imagine what it would have felt like in any other situation.
He turned his head slightly to his left, so he could look at her- take in her beautiful form and the words she had just spoken to him. It was a moment he'd want to freeze in time but he knew that wasn't possible as he looked down in thought.
She had told him this right after telling him she was choosing to leave him. If she truly did love him, would she not have chosen to stay? Would she not have chosen to disclose everything to him?
She was lying yet again in a bid to get him to stay. Perhaps, she could tell how much of a hold she had on him and knew what words would work on him. The thought made the anger rise and he let out a sigh, needing to leave. He didn't know what he'd do or say if he stayed.
So, he spared her one last gaze, taking her in. It would probably be the last time and his jaw clenched as she stared at him. Her very gaze could make him turn to a puppet on her strings. But, not today. He couldn't give in or else he'd fear he'd lose himself in the process. So, instead, he turned away, shaking his head. And then he was walking away from her.
Before she could walk away from him.
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I hope you liked it guys! Let me know what you think!
Remember, I am uploading weekly now so please like and comment so I know whether you enjoy it or not.
Also, my other book has also been uploaded (it is also weekly) and is a fantasy romance. Check it out!
Coming up for next week's chapter...
Justin looked down at the ground before settling his grey eyes on Aaron.
"You think I'd do that to you? Steal your girl?" Justin's voice was quiet yet his face was unreadable, as always.
The evident sadness in his tone didn't make Aaron falter. He was a man on a mission. He scoffed at Justin's words.
"Don't act so humble. I, of all people, know how 'saint-like' you are." Aaron said, putting emphasis on 'saint-like'. He tutted upon seeing the look of shock that crossed Justin's face for a split second, but it was quickly gone.
They both knew what Aaron was talking about. Justin had confided in Aaron about this information a few years back. After telling him, Aaron hadn't said anything besides a small spoken promise of never telling anyone else. They hadn't brought it back up since that day.
Well, that was, until now.
The secret that Justin shared with Aaron.