-Natalie's POV-
I breathe heavy, running through the hospital. I slow down when I spot Jane. My heart is pounding and my breathing so heavy—uneven that I am not completely sure if I need water or if I need to cry.
"They said she's going to be okay..." Jane tells me as I approach her, her eyes read and watering from crying. I keep panting as my hands go to my hips trying to get a steady breath from the panic the whole way here.
I got a call from Jane a few hours ago saying that Diana and Charlie got into a bad accident...five hours ago well around seven or eight now, I'm not sure. I was told hours later...I already called Diana a few hours ago and got no response but I suspected she was unpacking her things but that's clearly not the case.
I drove here as quickly as I could, this hospital isn't exactly close to home which had me more anxious in the car, my mind telling me things I didn't want to hear.
"Where is she? Is she awake?" I question and Jane shakes her head, as she cries again.
I thought she was dead. The panic I got when Jane was sobbing over the phone saying Diana was in a 'huge' accident and she was in hospital. I dropped a fucking glass trying to get to my car as quickly as I could. I didn't think so now there's a chance I go home to a cat harmed because I left the glass shattered on the floor, my only thought was getting to Diana.
I look past her to Charlie's parents, his Mom is crying, more than Jane as a woman speaks to her—a nurse. There's some police here for god knows what. His Dad looks away, from it all and at a wall, he's crying but it's not...much he kind of looks...numb.
No.
"Where's Charlie?" I look back to Jane, she blocks her mouth crying more.
A cold chill runs down my spine, I feel as if I've been drained of my blood at the realisation that hits.
Oh fuck.
"Jesus Christ—Jane." I say, I walk past her to the room which is closed. A doctor rushes over as my hand goes to the handle.
"Miss, you can't go in there—"
"Why not?" I ask, my heart is thumping, fast because if Charlie's....I can only imagine what Diana is like—is she going to make it—I've had too many questions in the car that I asked myself. I shouldn't be standing around I should be with her.
"What's your relation to the patient? She is still asleep and some nurses are in there with her—"
"I'm her Wife, is she going to be alright?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, like I'm not close to a breakdown from this all. I shouldn't have let her go.
"She is stable—she will make it, Mrs Cooper. Her side of the car was not badly damaged—"
"What happened?"
"A drunk driver—"
"And are they dead?" I ask, a few people look my way, people I don't recognise but I don't care. Charlie's Mom looks over, her eyes showing nothing but....no, there's just nothing. I glance to her, holding eye contact with the woman who just lost her son... My eyes flinch, I have to look away and back to the doctor.
"Yes, he—"
"Thank fuck. Did he crash into the front of the car or the side?" I ask, I'm angry so my thoughts slip out of my mouth. I keep my hand on the door handle of the door which Diana's behind....in a state I haven't seen yet.
"He did not hit the car, he was on the wrong side of the highway. Your wife's car swerved off the highway, they hit a tree, the drivers side took most of the damage." He tells me and my head begins pounding.
"Is she badly hurt? Is she paralysed?" I ask, it comes off weirdly as he stares at me for a few seconds but I just need to know if they aren't allowing me to see her.
"She is hurt, not paralysed but she will be left with a few scars. Her arm is broken, along with her other wrist which is also broken. There is some other things...." He tells me. I really shouldn't have let her go, I should have pulled her back inside like I wanted to do and make her breakfast in bed but instead she's in a hospital bed.
"And I can't see her because of that?"
"She hasn't woke up yet—"
"Is she in a coma?"
"No....Mrs." He says, he's getting annoyed with my questions but I should be allowed inside the fucking room.
"Why can I not just—"
"Miss, sit down please." One of the policemen come up to me, I look him up and down. I could punch the son of a bitch but I don't.
I bite my tongue so I don't argue, I walk over to the chair beside Janes. Jane keeps her hand to her mouth as she cries, I sit down mumbling a few curses to myself, uncomfortable as I stare at wall impatiently.
I put my hands on my lap thinking. I think about Diana, the pain she will be in when she wakes up....It's not going to compare to what she feels when she finds out that her best friend is...I want to take the pain away from her already, she's going to be heartbroken because of it all.
I should have drove her up, I should have protected her from this. I want to hug her and tell her it's alright but I can't even see her and she doesn't even know, she's asleep and clueless to what has happened.
I stand up, I need water or something. I can't sit still with these thoughts.
I walk down the hall, hearing some people talking in the waiting room. I ignore them, rubbing my head as I walk around a corner.
I spot a vending machine but a familiar woman stands in front of it, Charlie's Mom. Her shoulders shake, she puts her hand to her mouth, she steps back against the wall. Her eyes shut as she takes a breath.
I bite my lip before I walk closer. I should walk away and let be, but I can't seem to. I step back against the other wall. She opens her eyes, jumping when she sees me.
"Jesus Christ, I'm sorry..." She says, her hand going to her chest. He looks like her, I've spoken to her a few times like when I met her at school at the parent teacher conference but I never realised how much he looks like her until now.
"Don't be, I'm the one who scared you, not intentionally, of course." I say, crossing my arms. She looks at the wall, the tears don't stop, they keep falling from her eyes. The same ones which were the first to see the pregnancy test she must have took—either feeling scared or happy...maybe both actually.
"She's going to be heartbroken." Cindy cries. Of course she is going to be..
"I know, I'll take care of her. You must take care of yourself, don't forget that." I tell her and her lip trembles.
"I can't believe it....My sweet boy, he's just gone." She drops her face to her hands, I lean off the wall. I step closer, rubbing her shoulder.
"But he will never be forgotten." I tell her and she lifts her head, taking in a shaky breath. She wipes her mouth looking around.
"It doesn't feel real—how can it be?" She whispers and I let out a breath, I open my arms offering a hug since Diana tells me I give good ones. She steps forward, hugging me, her face going to my shirt. It may seem weird but I think a mother who just lost her child is unsure what to do with herself but I can't speak since I've never experienced this. It's better to comfort her than let her be with her thoughts, some may disagree but when these things happen...negative thoughts can take control and lead to something more serious which I wouldn't want.
"He will always be by your side, whether you believe it or not. You're an amazing mother, Cindy. I don't know you well but I knew him, I'm beyond proud of you for the way you raised him and you will get through this...even if it feels like you can't...You will, I believe in you and I bet you have so many people who do too." I rub her back gently, she shakes, sobbing. I shut my eyes for a second at the own pain I feel myself, she lost her son, the man she raised his whole life and she done an amazing job.
"Cindy?" I hear a man's voice before her husband walks around the corner, she pulls back looking at him.
"She's woken up." He says, Cindy looks to me.
"I...was going to tell her...but would you..?" Cindy asks and I search her eyes, causing her more pain is the least she needs.
"Yes...I will. I am sorry for your loss, Charlie's amazing and you both should be proud of yourselves, he spoke very highly of you both. I wish you the best." I nod at them both and she nods back before I walk away slowly. I bite my lip taking in a breath at my pounding heart.
I walk around the corner and stop when I see Diana's Mom...and her Dad. Beck and Dianas grandparents are here too.
Fucking Jane.
"Have you lost your minds?" I ask, walking closer. Her Mom looks at me and I look up and down with a scoff.
"Natalie—"
"I have to tell her, Jane. Bringing her parents is not something she would want, both of you assholes should know that damn well." I raise my voice out of anger.
"Natalie." I hear Diana's voice quietly as they all look at me, I glance in the room which has the door opened now instead of closed. I look back to them all.
"Go home, do not cause her more stress. Overwhelm her and I will kill the lot of you." I say, quietly before I step into the room, I don't know if I'm supposed to or 'allowed' to but I do anyway. I shut the door behind.
The light is on, I look at her, she has small band aids on her face, both of her arms have casts. She's in a little hospital gown which is half visible because of the light blanket over her. My anger washes away.
"Oh, my sweet girl." My heart melts as I walk around the bed quickly. I lean down kissing her, slowly and gently. My heart warming at the sight of her, beyond happy that she is alright.
"What happened?" She asks weakly, I keep my lips against her head for a moment just...making sure.
"You were in a car accident, do you remember it?" I question pulling back and looking at the small bruise beneath her eye above a band aid.
"Some of it—"
"Do you remember everything else?" I ask her, I can't help it but touch her, not inappropriately but gently, just to make sure she's real and that I haven't gotten worse news and passed out because of it. I run my finger up her jawline gently as she leans into my touch.
"Hmm....You're my teacher right?" She smiles slowly, she winces a little and I smile back.
"At least you haven't forgotten who I am." I say.
"I think that would be impossible and I'm glad that it is." She keeps looking at me, I keep running my finger up and down her jawline as I hold her eye contact. Her eyes bright, her smile wide.
I smile back slightly but my eyes...they just begin to sting—I look away, dropping my hand because of the happiness in her eyes which I have to ruin. I have to tell her.
"Baby, what's wrong? I'm okay. Why isn't Charlie in here actually—he's going to be so mad at me for that." She laughs a little and I block my mouth. I pull away from the bed facing away from her. I don't cry around people it makes me embarrassed and now my emotions are just too much—I was so fucking scared during the drive here, I thought I had lost her or that I would but I won't be the one grieving, it will be her.
I face the window and away from her as hot tears rub down my cheeks, a weird feeling I haven't felt in long. I roll my eyes back trying to stop the tears because of how happy she seems.
"Please tell me Charlie didn't wake up before me and post something stupid on his instagram about it—"
"Diana, stop, please." I say but my voice breaks, I block my mouth again staring outside through the window at the rain hitting the concrete creating small puddles.
"I'm fine, Natalie. Don't be upset, come here, I have many many kisses in me for you to prove it." She says—I can hear the smile in her voice. I put my hands on my hips trying to steady my breath like earlier.
"I'm sorry, my love." I sniffle before turning around to her, she sits with her legs out of the bed. There's a big bandage around her thigh.
"This isn't your fault—a car came towards us—it's nobody's fault—that's why they call these things accidents." She stands but winces falling back down with a huff.
I walk towards her to stop her getting up again and causing more harm to herself. She searches my eyes quickly as she looks up at me, I cup her face lightly, my hands basically hovering.
"Hey—don't cry, Silly—See—I'm smiling, Nat—it's okay." She tells me, her eyes looking into mine. I scrunch my nose like she does when she's upset.
"How am I supposed to tell you? I...I can't." I laugh a little, choking on my sobs embarrassing myself more.
"Tell me what? You're being silly, if I'm dead just tell me because if you're here with me I'm fine." She smiles putting her bandaged arms at my waist with a little flinch. She moves them back quickly from the pain.
"Oh, god." I say pulling away, just a step back out of her reach—I can't bring myself to.
"I've never seen you cry, Natalie, I think when I tell Charlie about this moment he might scream." She says, I wipe my hand over my mouth as my other stays at my hip, she looks at me smiling. I Shake my head at her and her eyes soften.
"Why isn't Charlie in this room with me though—seriously? If it's because of our genders.." She trails off looking down at her arms, her smile slowly fades. She stares at the casts before her legs.
She quickly looks up at me, the silent one, I shake my head again as the tears fall more. Her mouth falls open slightly and her eyes suddenly fill with tears—quicker than they ever have.
"No...." She lets out, my shoulders shake as she holds eye contact with me.
"We hit a tree—his side the worst of it—and if I'm like this—Natalie, no—Natalie—let me see him—"
"I'm so sorry." I say and she shakes her head quickly as I step forward, she tries to stand up but limps crying out of pain.
"Sit down—"
"Don't touch me—Natalie, tell me you're joking—please." She stumbles back onto the bed, looking at me as she sounds out of breath. I pull my hands back to myself.
"No, it's alright—"
"No—no—what the fuck—He's okay, he's okay—he's just..." She trails off looking at the ground as tears fall from her eyes. She's hyperventilating...I step forward and she doesn't move she just stares at the floor for a second.
"Diana—"
"This is all my fault." She cries.
"No it is not, it was an accident like you said—"
"I asked him to drive! It should have been me, Natalie." She says and I flinch at the words.
"Don't say that—"
"It should have been—I wish it was." She cries and my heart aches for her.
"No you don't, you're not thinking—breathe—"
"I wish I was the one fucking dead, I deserve it more than—"
"Don't fucking say that, Diana! Do not wish that when you know how much you mean to me.." I yell at her, she looks at me shocked at my raised voice, I block my mouth pulling away more—If only she knew how much those words could affect me.