Chapter 35: Chapter 35

• • •

Loving someone is something.... Having someone who loves you is another thing... but loving the person who loves you back is EVERYTHING.

• • •

Javier's POV

I was trying really hard to see Faye as normal, dad says she's alright and even her behavior seems normal and calm. Different from the girl I saw 7 years ago, from the girl I saw during prom.

"Javier, please stop looking at me that way”she said, using her fork to move her salad without actually eating it.

"What way?”I asked, was I looking at her? Yes I was but I didn't think she'd notice.

"Like am some kind of egg that would break at any point, like am a mental child you have to be careful around”she said her eyes glistening with tears as she looked up.

"Hey, I wasn't looking at you that way”I lied surprised that she was going to cry.

"You were, stop lying Javier, I know when you are lying remember?"

Oh right, I almost forgot, I'm a terrible liar, "am sorry, am-- am just trying to get used to everything, I can't--"

"I've changed. I spent 5years in that asylum, give them some credit. Training, rehab, everything, they released me by themselves because am now ok, sane. I even spent two years living a normal life, getting used to the outside world, I just--”she paused as the tears fell.

My heart broke, I wasn't being fair, everybody deserves a second chance and am depriving Faye from hers, It’s not her fault she went crazy and now that she finally out, I and the rest of the world should support her, my dad was already doing it, I should too. "Hey---”I said as I held unto her hand and gave her my handkerchief to wipe her tears.

"I just want to live a normal life now, make it up to you for all the wrongs I did before, am not obsessed about you anymore, I even dated two guys after my release”she said wiping the tears and trying to steer the conversation, to a different lane.

"Really”I asked removing my hand from hers.

"Yep, Marshall and Greg”she boosted smiling.

"Oh come on Greg?”I asked joking, I hated that name and she knew it, it belonged to my asshole bully.

She laughed obviously remembering the story, "yep Greg but he was asshole too, we didn't last a month".

So we started discussing normal things, I was getting comfortable with her and decided to forget the past, Faye was once my very good friend, we could revive that friendship again.

"Do you have plans for the company's anniversary?”I asked her as the waiter collected our empty plates. I looked at Megan for the 10th time during this lunch, she seemed to be engrossed in whatever she and her friends were discussing. What does it take to make a simple eye contact?. After I winked at her, she's been trying to avoid looking at me. What the winking thing too cheesy?

"I don't, I don't think we should do anything, our hands are filled with things to do, no time for meaningless celebrations, we can celebrate next year”Faye said as we got up.

"Right. Let's finish up our work first. Business before pleasure”I agreed as we left the cafeteria, after looking at Megan one last time. I missed her.

Work multiplied after lunch, so many conference calls and meeting and papers due for submission. I barely had the time to talk with Megan, but I didn't fail to notice her worried face, she tried to mask it but I still saw through her fake smile. What was bothering her? Her mum? Susan?

"Hey. I've got many other things to do, you have to go ahead of me”I said holding her shoulders to stop her from moving. Now it was really obvious something was on her mind, am guessing Susan.

"Uh, why?”She asked confusion written all over her face, we always left work together, I kinda made that compulsory.

"I can tell your mind has been occupied lately, Susan right?”I asked her.

She nodded admitting it, "am worried. I wanted to go see her".

"Well you can go now".

“Javier, you need me here".

Yes I do, I need to see your pretty face always, but I'll survive.

"I have Regina, I'll be fine"

"Javier---”she whined wanting to be stubborn, but turning out so cute.

"Babe go already”I told her smiling at how cute she was. Babe? Nice.

She smiled and kissed my cheek, sending a warm feeling all through my body, "thanks Javier"

"Go already before I change my mind and we do something else”something that doesn't involve clothes.

"Bye Javier”she said as she hurried off, taking my threat serious.

I watched her go, wow I can't wait for that cold shower when I get home. I went through the rest of the day like a zombie. After it all, I went back home, took a nice bath and decided to check on Megan. I stopped at McDonald's and grabbed 5 burgers.

~*~

At my second knock the door was opened by the little girl, Darlene I think. I already tried Megan's home but nobody was answering so I decided to check this one. She stared at me, then she shut the door.

"Guys Javier is here!”She shouted from inside before opening up again, "Good Evening Handsome, come right in"

I smiled stepping in, "Evening Darlene how have you been?"

"Splendid. Ha, you remember my name”she asked placing her hand on her chest. Then I started hearing the running of footsteps from upstairs.

"Of course how can I forget such a lovely girl”I said beaming at her.

"Good evening Javier”the red hair, Rita greeted.

"Evening to you too, Rita”Darlene gasped again.

"Nice to see you again Mr Altamira”the other twin, Dylan said arriving, then we bumped fist.

"Javier, did you come with Meg?”Rita asked as Dylan kept studying my McDonald bag.

"It’s burger for all”I announced to him with a smile, while I wondered how to reply Rita, obviously Megan hasn't returned home, she must still be in the hospital.

"Cool!. A suitor that always comes with food, I like you already”Dylan said dashing into the kitchen.

I laughed to stop my cheeks from turning red, I don't blush. Am not going to blush. "Oh Megan? She's still in the hotel, I was passing by and decided to check on you guys"

Darlene gave me an odd look, oh she probably knew I was lying, am horrible at this, "are you still embarrassed about what Dylan said? Don't be, we all know you like Meg"

Oh shoot, so much for not blushing.

"Darlene, stop”Rita said kicking her lightly.

"And I support, as far as you don't hurt her or make her cry”Dylan replied mouth full.

Darlene squeezed her face in disgust, "eww. It's not always about you, piggy"

"Am the man of the house, It’s always about me”Dylan replied.

"Forget them they are always like this”Rita said as the twins continued their bickering, I nodded enjoying the show, my sister and I also fought all the time, "Meg is alright, right?"

I looked at her, oh she caught me lying, "yes, yes she's alright. I have to go now"

"So soon”Darlene asked as they escorted me out, I took the remaining two Burger, one for Megan, one for me.

"Yea. Goodnight guys"

"Goodnight Javier”they said at once, then proceeded to laugh.

~*~

I took a taxi to the hospital and asked for Susan Anderson, after seeing my I.D card they told me where to find her.

"So what now?”I heard Megan's voice ask. Finally I found her.

"I spread leaflets, put up banners and posters, called everyone I know but nothing successful has come up”I heard a masculine voice say. She wasn't alone, was this a private moment? Am I supposed to interrupt?. I decided to check who it was first. It turned out to be Sam, Samuel Anderson.

"What about Kristen?”Megan asked about my cheating fiancée, I don't hate her though.

I didn't hear Samuel's reply then I saw him rest his head on Megan's shoulder but nothing about that didn't steered up my jealousy.

Megan's eyes was shut close, she looked exhausted, so did Sam. Were they crying? Did something happen to Susan?

"Meg am tired, I haven't slept well for over two weeks now, am afraid_ am afraid if I close my eyes she wouldn't be here when I open them.”Oh no something is definitely up with Susan.

“We got a donor last week, but he was calling an incredibly high amount, I lost my temper on him and_ and he left, I've been trying to find him since, to no avail. I feel like shit right now, like if anything happens to her, It’s gonna be all my fault".

I know how that feels, my temper gets in the way all the time, Sam must feel horrible now, Javier stop eavesdropping, this is a private moment between friends. I was about to walk back when Megan spoke.

“it won't be, It’s not your fault, anyone would lose their temper if it was their mother's life on the line, we would find a donor, there's got to be someone with an O-negative blood around here"

O-negative? Am O-negative. Susan needs blood and am O-negative I can help her and stop Megan from worrying. Also save that beautiful woman's life. I decided to show myself, they might need the blood now and we were wasting time.

"Can I?”I said showing myself as they looked up, "I mean, can i donate?"

Megan and Sam looked up surprised.

"You?”Sam asked standing up, anger and surprise evident in his eyes, I know this wouldn't end well, but Megan and his Mom was involved so damn the consequences. "What the hell are you doing here? What are you doing here!”Sam said lunged at me, grabbing the neck line of my hoodie.

"I come in peace”I said raising my hands up in surrender, as he pushed me against a wall. The things I do for Megan.

"Samuel! Unhand him now, we are at a hospital!”Megan said coming to tear the maniac away from me. He actually relented and leg go of my hoodie, I quickly straightened up. "Javier, you were saying something about donating?"

"Yea, I heard you guys needed blood, am O-negative, am willing to give out some of my blood”I said looking directly at Megan.

She gasped covering her mouth with her hand in happiness, I almost chuckled but was interrupted by Sam.

"At what price?"

"Well am in good spirIt’s so am doing this free”I said smiling at him while he glared.

"Thanks a lot Javier”Megan said hugging me, but I didn't have time to cherish it as Sam pulled her away from me.

"Hey, you don't know him, don't hug him. He is going to ask for something in exchange I know it”Sam said whispering to her but I still heard it.

"I know him Sam, and even if he is going to ask for something in exchange, for now let's just focus on Susan”she turned to smile at me, "I'll be right back”then she ran to probably call the doctor.

I sat down on the chair and Sam sat far from me, we stayed in silence for a while.

"Am not giving up Kristen without a fight”he said breaking the silence.

"You can keep her, am not interested anymore”I told him and he looked up at me surprised.

"Then why are you really doing this, last time I checked we weren't exactly friends”he said.

I shrugged, "am friends with your mum”and Megan, ”and am doing this as a good citizen"

He scoffed, "I don't believe you"

"You don't have to”I replied, he didn't say anything anymore, he actually looked too weak to utter anymore word. I brought out my burger and kept it in the seat next to him.

"What's this?”He asked looking at the burger like It’s an alien object.

"Umm--- a burger?”Man, I thought he was wiser than this.

He laughed, "you don't expect me to eat it do you, am not letting you poison me so easily"

"I didn't bring it for you in the first place so it can't be poisoned and you better eat else you'll be the one needing blood after all this”I said, he was about to speak again but I cut him off, "just take the damn burger and don't make this weird"

Silence.

"I won't thank you for the burger”he said unwrapping it. I just rolled my eyes.

Megan soon came in with the excited doctor, I was tested and proven to be a good match.

"You aren't scared of needles right?”Megan asked.

"Nope, I do this a lot in Mexico, am a hero”I said as the nurse prepared to Pierce my skin.

Megan pouted, "and here I was hoping you would be scared so I kiss you as an excuse of distraction"

"Ha no no”I said as the needle approached me, I tapped my lips "I still need that kiss afterall"

Megan smiled and looked as if she was going to do it, until Sam entered and leaned on the door post. Kill joy. I didn't even notice that the needle was already in, as Megan backed away and awkwardly ran her hands through her hair.

I donated three pints of blood. I felt as if I just ran a Marathon from Mexico to New York, weak and tired. I was told that Susan was rushed to surgery immediately.

"Take this”Sam said holding an energy drink in front of me. I collected it without argument, then he sat beside me.

"Am not going to thank you for this too”I said sipping it with the little strength I had.

"You don't need to, I owe you my mother's life”he said looking at me, not glaring like with actual gratefulness. He didn't need to say it but I knew he was thankful.

"Look, I don't know how if feels. Having a sick mum and not being able to do anything, I don't know how it feels but I know what it means to love s mother and I just want you to know that no matter what, Megan would always be here for you, always”I told him.

"I was wrong to hide it from her, I didn't want to worry her”he said looking at his nails.

"Yea but problem shared especially with friends and family, is problem half solved”I said to him.

"Thanks Javier Altamira, you know you are nor that bad”he said to me, betraying a small smile.

I laughed, "you are not that bad yourself”then I brought out my phone, this hospital smell was finally getting to me. "Why aren't you with Megan? Where they are about to operate on your mum?"

"I can't-- I can't watch them do whatever they do during surgery to her”he explained, I can tell he was frightened, I would be too.

I nodded "want to watch me play Mortal Combat?"

"You have it in your phone?”He asked peering over.

"Yea, almost everybody does”I said putting it on, he must be a bush man.

"Wait, are hospital patients supposed to play game?"

"Am not really a patient”I announced.

"You are wearing a ridiculous hospital gown”he pointing out.

I shrugged, "am bored"

He swiped the phone out of my hand with lightening speed, and got "Go to sleep and recover Javier. You can't die now"

"Wow I didn't know you cared so much about me”I called out to him sarcastically, I saw him chuckle as he left the room, "cheater!”He was so going to play my game.

~*~

I woke up to Meg sleeping on the sofa in my hospital room, she looked so peaceful and beautiful. I got up and walked to her watching her beautiful face. Then she steered awake.

"Hey beautiful”I said.

"Hi pretty boy”she said in a super morning sexy voice.

"How was the surgery?"

"Successful, we just have to wait for Susan to wake up”she said.

I nodded, then she surprised me with a long awaited hug "thank you so much Javier, you don't know what you've done for me"

"I'd do so much more, when it comes to you Megan so much more, Eu te amo ( I love you)"

She smiled, "another strange word?"

I just nodded. "Am starting to think that's really romantic thing you are saying”she said.

I shrugged and went back to my bed before my cover is blown. She cleared her throat and followed me.

"Javier, after all these can we go on a vacation, I heard it's the company anniversary, can we go please?”She pleaded giving me the puppy eyes.

Who can say no to that?

"Of course, your pick”I said and was rewarded with the most beautiful smile ever.

******