Page 124 of Doesn't Count

“Ashton-” My mother starts.

“Oliver?” His name slips past my lips unrestrained.

Her eyes widen, looking over to my dad, who’s now back in the chair on the other side of my bed.

“He’s here.” She confirms.

“Is he okay? Can I see him?”

“I-I don’t know, honey. They won’t give us any information. Besides, you need to rest.” Her hand slides into mine loosely, avoiding any further damage. “I just don’t understand how this happened.”

Her voice tappers off as more tears slip down her face. I’m too numb right now to acknowledge them, but deep down, I know I feel bad that my parents are scared.

“I don’t know, mom. It just did.”

It... Just... Did...

The chances of accidentally finding Oliver after being MIA for ten years, only to work with him and fall in love with him... well, are kind of insane.

I can’t even bring myself to be upset that he kept his identity a secret. Especially, now that I know the consequences of him being publicly outed. It doesn’t change the fact that if he had just gone to the police when he had the chance, everything could have been different. But he didn’t and herewe are, brushed by death and doused in trauma. Yet, I’m still not mad because despite the games, the hiding, the lies, I love him.

I’ve always loved him.

My dad yawns, then gives me an apologetic look. That’s when I notice the dark circles beneath my mother’s red rimmed eyes and the top of her hair matted down by a thin layer of grease.

The doctor recommended I stay overnight so they can keep an eye out for a concussion, but there’s no way my parents can stay here another minute. They look uncomfortable, depleted, and burnt out.

“Go home.”

My mother starts to shake her head, but I hold up a hand to stop her.

“Seriously, get some rest. I’m fine. Nothing is going to happen to me while I’m here. I’m safe.” I don’t know if I’m trying to convince them at this point or myself. “Besides, it looks like I might have some visitors.”

I can see a wide-eyed Sam peeking through the window of my room. She waves dramatically when she sees that I’ve caught her.

Seeing that I won’t be alone, my parents finally relent. They both kiss my forehead before leaving and let an entire herd of punks through the door.

“Jesus Christ, Ash!” Sam flings herself at me causing my body to tense. “Sorry, sorry.”

She eases off but doesn’t dare put as much as an inch between us, squeezing onto the bed beside me.

Than plops down into the chair my father was sleeping in, a cautious smile on his face. Koke stays standing, leaning against the wall on the other side of my bed where my mom was fawning over me and Hypnos jumps onto the stool with wheels, spinning in a circle.

A strangled sound gurgles up my throat, somewhere between a laugh and a sob, at seeing something so normal after everything that had just happened. Sam grabs my face, wiping the tears that fall for the first time since I’ve opened my eyes in the hospital.

When I look down, her thumbs are coated pink from my tears, and I realize I am probably still covered in blood.

“On a scale of one to ten, how crazy do I look?” I ask them.

“Definitely a ten.” Hypnos chuckles.

Than kicks the back of his stool, jolting him forward.

“Dude!” He chastises. “Ash, you don’t look crazy, but you look like you could use some friends.”

“I don’t know, Than. She looks kind of nuts to me.” Koke argues, but then rips a joking smile across his face.

“Screw you guys!” I laugh, trying to wipe my face clean.

---