Fresh out the slammer, I know who my first call will be to
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High infidelity // part one here
Illicit affairs // part two here
Previous chapters here
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“Do you know what today’s date is?” “October 19th, 2023.” I replied as the nurse scribbled on her clipboard, she had a faint smile as if she was happy with my progress.
“Much better than this morning. Would you like to try getting up again?” “Yes, I need to shower, so bad.” I laughed, I could feel how heavy my hair was with the amount of grease that was in it. Earlier on the nurses had me walk around my room a couple times to get my strength up and I felt like I ran a marathon, but it felt good to get up.
“I can help you with that after I finish my rounds.” “I’ll help her.” Noah chimed in, his tone was a little dominant, almost as if he was tired of feeling helpless. The nurse just nodded as she left the room, not before telling him to ring my bell if he needed anything. I rolled my eyes at her sudden change of attitude, something I would never do if a family member offered to help out.
“I’m ready.”
Noahs focus was unmatched as he helped me onto my feet. I felt like a baby deer with how wobbly I was but Noah’s strong hands kept me balanced. His eyes met mine, reassuring me he had me. Every step got easier and by the time I got into the bathroom I was ready to walk on my own, but Noah wouldn’t let go. When I was walking with the nurses earlier, Noah went to his car and got my suitcase for me so I could have whatever I needed close by. He put all my shower items, along with my skin care products and hairbrush on the bathroom counter for me. I must’ve had a pained look on my face cause Noah stopped what he was doing and looked at me through the mirror.
“What’s wrong baby?”
“I just …” I stuttered, feeling self conscious. “I guess I feel a little embarrassed that you’re helping me like this.”
“Ellie, I’ve held your hair when you were throwing up, this doesn’t bother me at all." He replied as he held my hair in his hands, working out the knots for me. I kept my eyes closed, feeling every movement he did. Such a simple soft gesture but I was feeling like I was on cloud nine.
“Thank you.”
I watched Noah walk over to the shower and turn it on, getting it to the temperature he knew I liked. He grabbed a towel for me and a pair of my own pyjamas as I slid my hospital gown off and got into the shower. Two weeks of sweat, blood and grease from my hair began to leave my body, making me feel more human with every passing minute. The heat of the water started to get to me and my head began to spin. I felt my pulse in my temples as I grabbed onto the bar beside me.
“Ellie are you okay?” “I’m fine.” I mumbled as the spinning got worse. I wasn’t doing a good job at hiding it, but I wanted to prove I could do it myself.
“Ellie don’t be ridiculous.” I didn’t respond to him, my eyes stayed shut. I heard him deeply sigh as he discarded his own clothes and got into the shower with me.
“Thank you.” I managed to breathe out, feeling tears wanting to escape. I hated feeling this dependent on him.
“Stop thanking me.” He smirked as he lathered my hair with my shampoo, making the spinning come to a halt.
After our shower, Noah helped me get dressed into my pyjamas and even French braided my hair for me. Guess that’s the perk you get when your boyfriend used to have long hair. It felt so good to wear my own clothes instead of a stiff hospital gown and smell like my favourite products, almost giving me a sense of normalcy.
Noah set up his iPad for me so I could watch a movie while he went to get us some food. I settled on Captian America - civil war, oddly one of my favourite comfort movies. Halfway though the movie, my body began to shiver from the air conditioning so I slowly got up and went over to my suitcase to grab a sweater. I found my favourite Canucks crewneck and as I pulled it out of my suitcase, something small fell.
“Holy fuck.”
I looked down at my feet as a small velvet box laid on the floor. My heart pounded in my ears as I leaned down and picked it up. The box alone was beautiful, black velvet with a gold clasp keeping it locked. I wanted to open it so badly, but I had a gravitational pull stopping my next move.
“Ellie?”
“I didn’t look, it fell out as I grabbed my sweater.” I stuttered, feeling like a kid who got caught.
I could hear his soft chuckle as he put our food down and came to kneel beside me. His eyes lingered on me and time felt like it stopped. My body wouldn’t move, I just stayed lost in his stare. His hand brushed over mine, which was still holding the box. He slid the box into his hoodie pocket and helped me back into bed. He sat beside me, taking my hand without a word as silence surrounded us.
“Noah, what was that?”
“Ellie, I don’t want to overwhelm you…you’ve only been awake for a few hours.”
“Noah, you can tell me.”
He just shook his head as his chest fell and rose deeply, “I’m gonna tell you something, and you have every right to freak out me.” “Tell me.” “Fuck…I … I bought you an engagement ring before you came down to LA last year.” He paused, half expecting me to run away with whatever energy I had left. “It was pretty stupid and impulsive of me, but I was so crazy about you that I didn’t care. Even when we weren’t together I kept it. I just had this feeling we’d find our way back to each other. When we did, I was waiting for the right time to give it you.” His eyes found mine, glassy and distant. “I thought I lost you for good the night of your accident. So while I waited for you to wake up, I made a promise to myself that I was never going to live without you again.”
“What are you saying?” I already knew the answer, my entire body was pulsating from the anticipation of what words would leave his mouth next.
“I want to marry you, Ellie. This wasn’t how I expected to ask you but we’re both here despite everything and you’re alive.”
Oh? Oh.
“Noah, when I was in a coma I had a dream you left me.” My voice cracked at the mere thought, “I never want to be without you, again.”
“So does that mean…?”
I licked my lips, trying to hide my smile, “it means I’ll marry you.”
Noah tilted my chin, showing me his beaming smile he couldn’t hide. I had so many emotions flooding through my body and all I could do was stare at his beautiful face. Noah quickly wiped his eyes as his shaking hands pulled the box out of his hoodie. A simple rose gold band with an opal, my birthstone, sat inside the box so beautifully. Tears poured out of me as he slid the ring over my finger, it fit perfectly, as if it was meant to be mine. Our eyes found each other, half laughing and crying. I couldn’t help but feel my heart swell for him, knowing this was a moment he’s been waiting for a very, very long time.
“I love you so much, Noah.” “I love you too.” The chain on his neck brushed my skin as he kissed me, his lips lingered so we could savour this moment. I didn’t need a ring the size of my fist, we didn’t need some over the top dinner with a million flowers or champagne that cost more than our home. Noah proposed to me in my most vulnerable state, no make up and no fancy dress, proving he loved me no matter how I looked. My eyes remained locked on my ring and how it perfectly reflected my taste. I’ll forever be amazed that even after a short time, Noah knew me better than anyone else. I felt alive. Whole. Vital.
Fresh out the slammer, I know who my first call will be to
· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·
High infidelity // part one here
Illicit affairs // part two here
· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·
“Ellie?”
“Ellie, are you okay?”
“She’s not responding…”
“Ellie, can you hear me?”
“Someone call an ambulance now.”
“Ellie!”
I woke up, my eyes fluttering as I regained consciousness. Black spots blinded my vision, making it hard to figure out where I was…
Where am I?
As my vision cleared I realized I was in a hospital bed. I wore a green gown and had those god awful flannel blankets wrapped around me, making my skin itch. I heard the faint sounds of monitors in the distance, checking my vitals. The landscape outside was shielded by some curtains but I could see the sun trying to peek through. I had no idea where I was… it certainly wasn’t the hospital I was used to.
I hit my call button and moments later a nurse came in, relieved to see I was awake. I had so many questions but I couldn’t get any words out. She checked my vitals, asked me if I remembered what happened, or if I was in pain. I partially lied because I didn’t want to hear the truth from some stranger. She kindly brought me my toothbrush so I could refresh my mouth, which was drier than a desert. After checking my vitals and reflexes, she said she would call my family and tell them I was awake. I thanked her as I let my head hit the pillow. I felt as if I just woke up from a horror movie, and I was the only survivor.
“Hey…”
For the last hour I was staring at the wall, floating in and out of consciousness but his voice snapped me out of it. I panned my head over to his voice, a voice I knew all too well. His voice felt like he was pulling me out from under water and I could finally breathe. My heart raced as I stared at the 6’3 frame leaning against the door. Time stood still as we kept our eyes locked on each other, as if we were magnets finding their twin. His hair was disheveled, his face had a few days of growth on it but despite how tired he was, his sweet smile still appeared
Noah.
“H.. hi.”
My voice felt coarse, which caused a coughing fit to start. My skin flushed, almost embarrassed as Noah walked over to my bedside table and handed me my water bottle.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, I thanked him as I took a few sips. The water felt like liquid gold going down my throat, instantly hydrating me. Noah’s eyes stayed fixated on me, causing me to feel even more confused than before.
“You have no idea how happy I am that you finally woke up.”
I paused mid sip, looking over at him. “Finally?”
“El, you hit your head two weeks ago…don’t you remember?”
“N-no.”
Everything was feeling like a distant memory.
“The last night of the tour, you went into the pit with some of our friends. Towards the end of the show, you got elbowed in the temple and fell.” He paused, his voice was becoming swallowed with sadness. “As you tried to get up, someone kicked your head and knocked you out.” He paused again, running his fingers over some stitches on my cheek. I flinched from the contact. “You’ve been asleep since.”
“Holy shit.” I gasped, feeling tears sting my eyes. As my mind raced, things came back to me, hitting me like a freight train. None of it happened. He never left me. He was still here. None of it existed. That dream I had of Matt wasn’t real. It wasn’t two years into the future. I was right were I left everyone. “I’m sorry baby.” He sadly smiled, grabbing my hand. I gripped tighter onto his hand, I was scared that I might float away if I let him go.
“Where am I by the way?”
“We’re still in LA.” He replied, not taking his eyes off our intertwined hands.
“Does Liam know what happened?”
“I don’t know what Tyler told him. He needed to hear it from his dad and not us.” His hands squeezing me for assurance. “Do you want to see anyone? Matt’s on his way over.”
“Maybe later … I’m just happy you’re here.”
“Me too.” He softly smiled as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll just let Tyler know you’re awake.”
“You’re texting my ex husband?” The thought of Tyler and him talking just didn’t seem fathomable.
“We had a good talk after your accident. He wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“That’s really sweet, Noah.”
I bit back my smile as I watched him on his phone. My eyes wandered, studying him unhindered as his heavily tattooed fingers tapped his screen. My eyes floated around his face as strands of his chestnut hair fell in front of his somber eyes. My heart ached with how painfully beautiful he really was.
“Do you want anything?” He asked, snapping me out of my trance. “There’s a Starbucks in the lobby, I can go get you a matcha if the nurses say it’s okay?”
My stomach fluttered, “I’d love one.”
“Okay.” He kisses my forehead before walking towards the door. His lingering scent hit me like a tidal wave, a mix of lavender and cedar that I’ll never get tired of.
“Noah?” He turns around, shyly putting his hands in his pockets as he waited for me to speak, “I love you.”
That damn smirk of his appeared as he walked back over to me. I pulled the strings on his hoodie, guiding his lips to mine. It was quick, but soft and left me reeling.
“I love you too Ellie.” He looked over at the door as Matt came sauntering in. “I’ll let you two catch up.” “Hey stranger…are you okay?” I must’ve had a puzzled look on my face since his face was full of concern and confusion. “You’re looking at me like I gave you the concussion.”
“I had a really fucked up dream when I was asleep and you were in it.” “What? Did I kill you or something?” “Not exactly.” I chewed on my lip wondering if I should even tell him. “We were…getting married.”
We both looked at each other and burst into laughter. It sounded so ridiculous as it left my mouth, I’m glad he agreed.
“You must’ve hit your head pretty hard if you wanted to marry me. “
“Well it knocked me out for two weeks so you’re right.” My smile fell, wanting to tell him more. “Besides, the entire time in my dream I had a black shadow following me, screaming at me to wake up.”
“See?” He painfully smiled, something was telling me it hurt to hear but he knew it was the right thing. “I told you that you and Noah are meant to be.”
“I know I’ve made the right choice with Noah.” I replied confidently, picking off the last bit of polish on my nails. “When the nurse said she was gonna call my family, I was hopping she meant Noah.”
“Well I’m beyond relieved you’re alive and awake, you really scared me.”
“What happened actually?” I nervously asked, knowing he wasn’t about to sugarcoat it. “Noah just gave me a quick rundown.”
“All I remember was your friend Danielle shoving her way to me, she was screaming at me to stop the show. Some guy from the pit picked you up and had you in his arms, but you were out cold. When I saw you bleeding from your head, I felt like I was gonna be sick.” He swallowed. “I yelled into Noah’s in-ear that you were hurt and we stopped the show. He threw his mic and hopped the barricade to come get you. We were all scared that you were gone.” Tears were forming in both of our eyes as he relived the nightmare. “Fuck I’m sorry. I never felt so helpless in my life but we were all there for you. We got you here as quick as we could … and you know the rest.”
“What is it with this fucking city?” I chuckled, trying to lighten the tension. “First time I’m here Noah and I break up and the second time I almost die.”
“Yeah this place is definitely cursed for you.” Matt replied as he squeezed my foot.
“I’m so thankful for you guys, and I’m really sorry I put you through that.”
“Don’t be sorry but dear god no more going in the pit okay? You stay with me or on the side stage.” I nodded, I could tell he had more to say. “When you’re better, we’ll all come visit you and Noah in Vancouver.”
“Deal.” I tilted my head, looking into his warm eyes. “So, what are you gonna do now?”
“Now that you’re awake, I’ll fly home.” He said as Noah appeared back into the room. My stomach did somersaults as he got closer to me. He placed my matcha on my table and kissed the top of my head. “But if you guys need me, I’m only a call away.”
“Thank you Matt.” Noah replied sincerely. “For everything.”
“Ellie is part of the family, you know we’d do anything for her.”
We said our goodbyes, not sure when we’d see each other again. I’ll probably have everyone up for American thanksgiving next month so we’ll all be together for something that doesn’t involve a tour. Noah and I laid on my bed, he caught me up on everything I missed, which included my birthday. What a way to enter my thirties. Either way, my heart felt so full…I had all I needed.
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