Time-Bomb-

I woke up sleepy, allowing a long yawn to escape my mouth before I could stretch my arms over my head and groan.
What time was it?
I tried to sit up but I was restricted by a band wrapped around my stomach. I then recalled that I was in a hospital bed. I frowned at my inability to do what I wanted and carefully hoisted myself up. I tried to look for my phone and found it underneath a small napkin. I used the light of my phone to read the message. A little smile inched across my face after reading what Vic left me. He was so great. I checked the time, it was 5 AM Monday morning. I couldn't remember much of yesterday and only a little bit more of Saturday. I was in the hospital all day yesterday. Mike must have done some serious damage. I looked to the small white board on my left and It read off a list of my injuries. I lightly poked at each part of my body said to be damaged. It did hurt quite a bit.
I wanted to go to school today so I could finally thank Vic for being so kind. He somehow got me help and that's all that mattered. I forgot the whole conversation we had on Saturday. I would put it behind me until it came up again.
I yawned into my pillow and looked around curiously. There was absolutely no form of entertainment in this place. I frowned at the darkness and pressed the bruise on my hand to entertain myself. I remembered Vic holding my hand and how he wanted to let go when I noticed him. I couldn't let him let go of me. I.. I liked him too much. When his hand was in mine it just felt right, as corny as that sounded. I couldn't keep letting myself fall for him though. We were keeping it just friends. We'll both be happy that way.
I unlocked my phone and called Tay in hopes that she was already awake. I couldn't let her stop liking me. Not yet.
After a few rings she picked up and in a groggy voice she asked, "hello?"
"Hey, baby," I said trying not to grit my teeth at saying baby. It didn't feel right.
"Hey," she said a lot lighter now.
"I won't be at school this whole week," I frowned.
"Can I come visit you?" She asked hopefully.
"Of course."
"After school today?"
"Hm, let's go with tomorrow I'm still in a lot of pain," I lied. I just didn't want her to be here when Vic was. At least then I could give him fair warning.
"Sounds good to me. I'll be checking up on you." She hesitated for a second, "how bad is it?"
I bit my lip contemplating just what to say.
"Well I'm pretty mangled. Just don't be surprised when you see me tomorrow."
"Alright, Kell, see you tomorrow. Get some rest," she said sweetly.
"Thanks, I will. Bye."
I hung up and set my phone down on the table next to me. The sun was finally starting to rise and I watched the room progressively get lighter. Before it reached six, a nurse came in to check up on me.
"Hey! Early riser?"
"You could say that," I chuckled.
"Well I have some painkillers for you. I know you're not feeling it now but there will be a hell of a lot of pain later if you don't take them."
She handed me two pills and a glass of water. I downed them quickly because I always had a small fear of swallowing pills.
"Good," she smiled, "now let's get you something to eat."
I grinned, "thanks, uh, Ruby," I said while looking at her name tag.
"No problem," she said while handing me a plastic wrapped pastry.
She took a seat next to me and I looked at her questioningly but she just nodded at me to continue. I took small bites and tried to avoid eye contact with her.
"So you don't know who the attacker was?" She asked as if it were a normal conversation to have.
"Uh, no," I said a little nervously.
"Any idea of what the person looked like?" She asked.
"Not a clue," I lied faster. "But I told my girlfriend it was a car accident so she wouldn't be angry. Could we maybe stick with that story when she visits?" I pleaded.
"Sure," she laughed.
I thanked her and continued to take small bites from the pastry. It was good and all, but it reminded me too much of home. I mean, not the group home, but my actual home. My mom used to bring me these from her job working at the hospital. I crinkled my nose at the food and set it down to the side.
"Don't tell me you aren't hungry," Ruby said.
"I'm not much of an eater."
"I know, that's why I'm here. I have to make sure you eat that."
"What, why?" I questioned.
"Doctor says you are too slim for your height and all, told him I'd make sure you ate some more."
I nodded and forced myself to eat the pastry so it wouldn't cause me any trouble later.
She grinned and walked out with my plate and cup.
Once again I was alone.
I looked up at the ceiling and attempted to count each tile in order to entertain myself. It got boring so I decided I should go to sleep. It took me about an hour but my eyes snaked closed for good around 8:30.

I had the same dream of Vic getting stabbed, only the dialect was different this time.
"Hey, hey, it's alright. You're going to be okay," he said in a soothing voice.
"I'll protect you," he said.
"Thanks," I smiled, "I knew I could count on you."
He brushed his thumb across my cheek and smiled.
A figure appeared behind him, getting closer and closer. I tried to warn him but when I spoke no words came out. I wanted to move him but I was immobile myself. All I could do was watch with wide eyes.
The figure was finally close enough for me to make out his face.
I gasped.
He lifted the knife in his hand so I could see it, and was ready to stick it through Vic's back. I tried to warn Vic but he still looked at me with his sweet, loving, eyes, even until the moment he dropped dead in front of me with a knife sticking out of his back.
I couldn't cry. I couldn't even blink. I was frozen with fear because I knew it should have been me.

I woke up with a dark shadow hovering over me.
"Kells?" Vic asked.
I sighed in relief and leaned back into my pillow.
"Oh man, it was just a nightmare," I croaked after realizing I was awake in the real world now.
"I'm sorry," he pouted.
"It's fine," I said, brushing him off.
He looked me in the eyes and brushed the sweaty strands of hair from my forehead.
"How was your day?"
"I pretty much slept through it," I said. It was three now and I had just woken up.
"How long have you been here?" I asked.
"Hm, about ten minutes," he said.
"Oh," I said and bit the side of my lip to hide my discomfort. Something was awkward between us. I couldn't tell why.
"Hah, so, uh, Tay is visiting me tomorrow, just a heads up so you know if you don't want to run in to her," I said awkwardly.
"Thanks for telling me," Vic replied.
I tried not to make eye contact with him but he was looking directly at me and it was hard for me to avoid his gaze.
"H-how was school?"
"Really good. Since you told Taylor I'm cool, I've been treated pretty much normal, if not a little better than normal," he smiled softly and adjusted his beanie.
"You have a lot of power at school. It's must be really cool," Vic said.
"Yeah, I guess it is."
He just sat and watched me stare at my hands because I was too nervous to look at him. I think ever since I admitted this whole crush thing to myself it's been a little bit more awkward around him. He made me so nervous. We sat there in silence watching each other for a while. Well, Vic was watching me. I tried to avoid the confrontation of his brown eyes searching mine as if he were peering in to my thoughts.
"Hey Kellin?"
"Yeah?"
"I really meant it when I said I liked you."
"Oh."
I was holding my breath now. I wanted to hide under the covers and not let him see me blush like an idiot.
"I really, really like you," he said again.
By then I think my blush was so obvious that you could see it from space.
He chuckled a little bit.
"I love you," Vic said.
I made a really uncomfortable face before I hid it in my hand and tried to avoid screaming. I wanted to tell him I liked him too. I wanted to hug him and kiss him and call him mine but I just couldn't. I couldn't let everything I worked for just slip away like that.
But I did anyway.
I moved my hand behind his neck and pulled his face closer to my ugly, beat up face and placed a small, innocent kiss on his lips.
He looked so genuinely happy that I nearly cried. I loved to see him smiling.
I wanted to tell him I loved him too but I couldn't get myself to say it.
Instead he just looked at me again and gently kissed me again and again. I was so distracted by the moment that I didn't realize Ruby was in the room until she cleared her throat to get my attention.
"So girlfriend, huh?" She said with crossed arms.
I made a guilty face and looked away not knowing what to say.
"That's his business, not yours," Vic sassed.
She rolled her eyes in disgust at Vic and came to give me a tray of lunch.
"Eat this, all of it," she said bluntly, a huge divergence from the kind hearted person she was in the morning.
"Thank you," I said.
She just nodded and left the room without another word.
"She seems bitchy," Vic laughed.
I sighed and picked up the turkey sandwich in front of me, eyeing it with much interest before I began to devour.
"Slow down," Vic warned.
"I'm hungry," I complained with a mouth full of food.
He just laughed and placed a kiss on my forehead.
I didn't know what this made us. We weren't dating... I was with Tay. But... I technically cheated on her. I felt horrible about it. She was such a sweetheart and I didn't want to hurt her. I decided, though, tomorrow when she came to visit I would tell her the truth. I would tell her that Vic and I had feelings for each other. I knew it would make her upset but I also knew her to be a very understanding person. I just hoped she wouldn't take it too harsh and cause everyone to hate me at school. I couldn't handle another four years of torture.
"Kellin," Vic said to get my attention.
I looked at him so he would go on.
"I don't want to get in between you and Taylor," he said with puppy eyes.
How was he so damn cute?
"It's fine," I smiled. Although I was unsure, I think he was worth it.
It struck my as slightly insane how in a period of three weeks I went from hating him to liking him so much any little thing he did made me nervous.
"Well it's not fine," Vic frowned.
"Why?" I asked while perching myself up on my elbows.
"Because what are you planning on doing? Not telling her that you... Well... Cheated on her?" He looked like he immediately regretted saying that. Probably because it upset me I guess.
I mean... I know I cheated on her but it was his fault he was so damn perfect... For me.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I provoked it. I shouldn't have said anything. We can work it out together," he suggested.
I shifted uncomfortably. I wasn't one to 'work things out.' Every problem I ever faced I just ignored, which only made things worse.
"You could tell her the truth," he suggested.
"She might break up with you if you did though," he continued.
"Or," he frowned, "we could just forget this all happened, keep our distance, and let you continue to be happy."
"No."
"No what?" Vic asked.
"I want to be with you. Not with her. I'm going to tell her the truth, and break up with her, she'll understand. And if she doesn't, well, I have you. That's all I need."
Vic smiled and kissed the tip of my nose.
"Thank you, Kells," he said.
I struggled to pull myself up but I did and I pecked his lips.
Ruby made a sound of disgust as she walked in the room.
"I was just leaving," Vic said defensively.
I pouted but I let him go. He still had a life outside of mine.
"By Vic," I said shyly.
"Bye," he smiled and pulled his backpack over his shoulder and walked out.

I turned my attention towards Ruby who was taking my tray and adjusting my bed so I could sit up.
"How are you feeling?" She asked with little interest.
"I'm alright."
"Good," she said and left with my tray.

I spent the rest of the day alone trying to figure out what I would say to Tay. I couldn't just tell her I didn't like her anymore. I really did have to tell her about Vic and me. I groaned at having to be in this situation and leaned back into my pillow.

Once I thought I knew exactly what to say I fixed my bed and tried to fall asleep again. After a few hours of mindlessly waiting to fall asleep I finally did around 12 am. I rested my head on the side of my face that wasn't in so much pain and drifted off with butterflies still in my tummy from being with Vic earlier.

Notes