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~Wyatt~

How could I be so self-centered to think that all the problems in the world revolved around me? I even blamed Zane for some of them when in reality he was here laying in this hospital bed the whole time. My tears were threatening to free themselves as I sat in a chair beside Zane’s bed and held his bruised and battered hand. The moment I walked in to find Zane here I could have sworn I was almost brought to my knees from the sight.

‘Who did this to him?’ Was all I could think?

Zane laid in the bed motionless as I walked in to find a sight I never would have believed could happen to such a strong person; to Zane of all people. His head was wrapped in white bandages while his skin lay palely camouflage under them. One of his eyes was black and blue and his lip busted. If he wasn’t wearing a hospital gown I’m sure it would be pretty ugly.

“Zane?” I said softly, my throat was tight as I forced the words out. “So this is where you’ve been hiding.”

Slowly I watched his eyes flutter and my breath hitched in surprise.

“Sorry angel didn’t mean to worry you” I think my how body just went into meltdown mode at the sound of his raspy, tired voice. He sounded so weak and it was affecting me in a way that I didn’t quite understand.

I scoffed shakily and tightened my grip on his hand.

“Shut up, who said I was worried about a playboy like you” oh god, I’m going to cry.

He let out a frail laugh as he closed his eyes again.

“How did you know I was here in the first place?” he asked. I tried gulping down the knot in my throat,

“I got some strange text message telling me that you were here.” His brows furrowed when he opened his eyes to look at me again. God those blue eyes were going to be the death of me.

“Who text you?” he asked and I shook my head.

“It doesn’t matter who did it, all that matters in that they did it and I’m able to know that you’re not laying dead in a ditch somewhere” I tease weakly. He chuckled again.

“Oh you’re such a sweet talker angel.” His sarcastic comment makes me blush.

“All for you babe.” I wink trying to keep our playful banter going as long as possible. But the inevitable came crashing in the room not long after.

“We’re going, get up!” a gruff voice filled the silent room and I jumped in shock knocking my chair down in the process. I turned to see heavy set man burst through the room. His hard black eyes were the first clue I had that he was no friend of Zane’s. When the man caught sight of me I flinched back,

“Who the hell are you?” from the nasty way he spoke to me I instinctually knew that he had something to do with Zane’s condition.

“I-” Zane cut me off.

“He’s none of your business.” I heard the rigid strong tone coming from Zane’s mouth and my hairs stood up in fright. All his earlier fragility he was showing minutes before were gone from him now and taken over by his usual bad boy exterior but I’d never heard him sound so malicious before.

“Oh so your f*cking in the hospital now you disgusting worm, well since you’re up to screwing around you can get up and get your lazy ass home.” the fat man growled.

I didn’t know what was happening but I had to do something I knew for sure.

“Excuse me but I don’t think it appropriate to be talking to a patient like this.” I said to the rude man. His eyes slashed back in my direction and I tried not to flinch again.

“And who might you be? One of his many fags?” he sneered and I gritted my teeth.

“I beg your pardon but I think you should leave.” I all but snapped at him. All he did was laugh when his dirty hands suddenly reached out towards me.

“Jim!” the sound of a woman’s voice entered the room and he stopped.

“Just get out!” Zane suddenly yelled and I turned to him in shock; he’s never raised his voice. He was standing now his body slightly bent over, probably in pain from what I could tell.

“Don’t talk to me like that you little shit!” the man growled again. And that’s when things got out of hand. The man rushed Zane and took his neck between his hands, a blonde woman ran in and started screaming for Jim to stop and Zane just stood there with an expressionless face as the life was being choked out of him.

“Shut up!” Jim said to the woman and kicked her towards the floor and her voice was cut off as she hit the hard title.

-Zane is in the hospital don’t let him leave with the fat man and blonde women-       

The text from earlier came rushing back and was what knocked me out of my momentary perplexed shock. They were the ones that the warning was about! I quickly jumped on the bed and pressed the nurse call button three times in a row before turn back towards Zane who was still being chocked. I rushed to his aid trying to push the man off.

“Get off him!” I exclaimed taking one of his beefy arms and tugged with all my might but didn’t budge. Zane’s face was turning a sickly purple and my heart was moments from tearing from my chest.  

“Stop!” I screamed franticly.

“What the hell is going on?” a familiar masculine voice yelled above all the screaming.

I glanced up to see Owen standing in the entrance of the door and taking in all this with wide eyes.

“Help please, Owen!” I screeched hysterically. He only had to look at me and he ran forward, locked his arm around the man’s neck.  Jim let go of Zane immediately and reached up to claw at Owen’s arm as he cut his air supply off. Meanwhile I watched Zane gracelessly sag to the floor, his back propped up against the hospital bed. He was frantically trying to get air back in his lungs as he made painful gasping noises and I dropped next to him wrapping my arm around his shoulder, holding him close as his head fell on my shoulder. I’ve never been so scared in my life and that feeling from earlier that I couldn’t understand burst forth stronger than ever and I knew what is was. The instinct to protect him kicked into high gear and I hugged him tightly as I watched Owen bring the big man down to his knees.

That was when the nurse decided to grace us with her presence.

“What is happening in here?!” my blood was simmering to a boil every second that ticked by and I exploded.

“What’s happening is that you’re slow!” I yelled moving my hand up to bush the back of Zane’s soft hair in a protective manner. She was taken aback by the venom in my voice but I could give two shits about her feelings.

“I beg your p-”

“Never mind that, just get that bastard out of here, he’s caused enough trouble the psycho.” I snapped at her. Quickly her eyes roamed assessing the situation before nodding and hurrying from the room.

Slowly I hear Zane’s breathing return to normal but he made no effort to move his head from my shoulder, I didn’t mind. Not long after the nurse left a couple security guards came in behind her. Owen was still holding the struggling man in a head lock.

“I’ll get you for this you piece of shit!” his words were directed at Zane as he sneered furiously at him. I tightened my hold and glared daggers at him. “You’ve been nothing but trouble from the moment you came into my house, wait till you get home I-” his words were cut off as Owen tightened his arm around his neck in warning as he jerked him to his feet.

“I don’t think you’ll be doing anything because he’s not going back to you.” Owen’s voice was strong and stern as he pushed Jim towards the two guards dressing in grey. I glanced up at him in surprise, he was defending Zane? Well I guess you can’t just turn the other cheek when someone was being bullied in front of you like that.

Jim was quickly dragged from the room still running his mouth and I watched the blonde woman he pushed down earlier hurry after them.

“I’m sorry about that.” was whispered in my ear. I never got to say anything because the nurse rushed over and gently took Zane from me and laid him in the bed.

“I’ll go get the doctor.” The nurse said.

I remained on the floor stuck in a daze from what happened. Was that what Zane lived with all this time? That man was a monster.

“Wyatt?” the sound of Owen’s voice made me turns to him; his hand was outstretched towards me. Slowly he helped me to my feet but kept his hands firmly wrapped around mine when I tried to let go. Frowning I glanced up at him but the look he had on his face made me stop. There was a sadness about it that dug its way into my heart. He wanted to talk to me badly earlier and I brushing him off because of my pride. But he came to help when I asked him to without hesitation.

I was so selfish to ignore him for such a petty reason. I had to talk with him and apologize for the way I acted later. He probably had a really good reason for missing for a week and not calling, I mean it’s not like we were together, he had no obligations to me but I was just too stuck in my past to think clearly.

“Thank you” I told him softly. He shook his head and tightened his hand on mine,

“Are you ok?” his brown eyes held so much concern I practically melted right there. God this man was way too good for me.

“I’m fine” I reassured him and his face softened in relief.

“Good” he sighed.

“You guys can go if you want, I don’t want to put a damper on your relationship so go on.” Zane suddenly said as he broke out in terrible coughing fits. I rushed over to him without hesitation grabbing the pink plastic cup of water beside the bed.

“Oh shut up, you’re not getting rid of me that easy.” I teased wrapping an arm around his shoulder lifting him up a little and tilting the cup to his lips. He began sipping on the water I offered. Here I was stuck in the middle between the two guys I’ve come to care for in such a small amount of time. Man this is such a messed up situation. But what made it even worse was the unexpected memory of what Owen and I did last week and a blush darkened my cheeks, I suddenly became very aware of the presence behind me and Zane who was staring at me with a frown.

“What’s wrong?” he asked and I shook my head placing the cup back down. I had to get out of here; the room was stifling and tense. I glanced up at the window realizing that night had fallen.

“I’m- I’m gunna get some coffee” I burst out and rushed from the room. I sprinted over to the elevator and quickly hitting the next floor up. The doors closed and I was finally alone with my thoughts.

This was all too much to take in, in one day. First the text message, my concern for Zane, Owen’s sudden reappearance and now that man who I suspect was Zane’s dad coming in and physically harming him in front of me.

The doors to the elevator opened, instantly revealing the entrance to cafeteria and I sighed in relief. I was starving since I skipped lunch today. I made my way straight for the coffee machine then maneuvered over to the line grabbing a sub. Once I paid, I set my things down and took a seat lifting my sandwich from its plastic box but right when I was about to take a bite a crucial thought shot though my head and everything in me froze..

Oh crap, I just left the two of them in the same room together!

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I’m sorry for the mega long wait. I am determined to finish this story but you know us writers need breaks to get the creative juices flowing again, in my case extra long lol so I want to thank all those who are still hanging in there with me. Let’s hope I update sooner rather than later. =^.^=.