Page 70 of Fate Forever and Always

Aubrey was teaching a student when I called her, so she was on her way now with Link. Brielle was already here with me, and she hadn’t let go of my hand since she got here. I was just about to say something to Brie when Callie’s mom walked out.

“She is looking for you, dear,” her voice was calm.

I looked at Brie and let her hand go. “Okay, I will be back. Let Aubrey know I’m in there when she gets here.”

I started to step away, but Callie's mom grabbed my arm and stopped me. “Not you, Nicky, Brielle.”

I looked at her, then at Brie. “Oh, okay.” That definitely hurt a little. I just wanted to hold her. I needed to know she was alright. Brielle put her hand on my forearm and waited until I looked at her.

She always looked so sweet. It’s crazy how different she looked compared to Aubrey, but so similar at the same time. Her green eyes bore into me, making sure I was hearing her. “You will go in there next. She will be okay. She just wants to talk to me about the blackout. I know what she’s going through.”

I nodded my head in agreement without saying anything. I sat back down and waited. After another hour, Callie's mom had left to go to the house to gather some stuff for Callie. I guessed she would be here for a few days.

Aubrey and Lincoln had shown up, and just like Brielle, Aubrey fell into my arms in tears. After calming down, Aubrey sat between me and Lincoln, gripping onto one of each of our hands like she was holding on for dear life. We sat there in silence until we saw Brielle coming back down the hall. All three of us stood without letting our hands go free. I held my breath, fully expecting Aubrey to be next to go in.

“You can go in now, Nick,” she said softly.

“What about me?” asked Aubrey.

I knew visiting hours were almost over, so I was getting nervous about not being allowed to see her.

“Everyone else will have to come back tomorrow. She said thank you for coming, and she loves you. She did ask for Nick, though.”

Aubrey looked at me and kissed my cheek. “Give her a hug and kiss for me.”

I pulled her into a hug. “Call you later, okay?”

Aubrey nodded her head. Link hugged me, and then they left.

Before I made my way to the room, Brie grabbed me and looked at me with a serious face.

“Callie has a black eye and a concussion. She also tried pulling the IV out of her arm during her episode, so her arm is all scratched up. She may be a little confused and may not want you to touch her.” I nodded my head. “Nick, do not touch her unless she asks you to, even her hands. I know it was okay before, but she is really fragile right now and, like I said, confused.”

“Brielle, I got it,” I said louder and more forcefully than I had planned. I knew I’d scared her by the look in her eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“I know, Nick. It's okay. Just promise me you won't touch her unless she asks.”

“I promise.”

I walked down the hallway and stood at Callie’s door for a moment. It was cracked open, so I could see partially inside. There she was in her hospital gown with her blanket thrown haphazardly over herself. I could see the scratches on her arm that Brielle told me about, and her eye was a deep purple color and nearly swollen shut. She was somewhat sitting up and had her head leaning back on the pillow.

I thought about turning around, but the second I decided I was going to let her rest, she saw me.

“Hey,” her voice sounded raspy, like she was sick.

“Hey, Sweets.” I walked into the room and went to shut the door but thought better of it and looked back at her. “Do you want this open?”

She thought about it for a moment, looking at the door and then at me a few times.

“No, it's okay to shut it,” she said with confidence.

I shut it, then walked up to her bed and sat in the chair beside it. She moved around to face me.

“Hi,” she said with a smile.

“Hi, beautiful.” I was trying my best to keep it together and not tear up at the sight of her eye up close.

“Pfft, I am anything but beautiful right now,” she joked. She always tried to joke through the hard stuff. It was nice to hear her kind of being herself.

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