Anna^

Life after the accident was dull. Everyone didn't know what to do. We were all just praying that Alex would pull through. Four months of pacing and punching walls was what my life had come to. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to function. My mom, despite me begging and pleading for her to not be his doctor refused. And watching her running down the narrow halls of the hospital as the blaring alarm coming from Alex's room was nerve wrecking. Now I knew how Alex felt when I was in his place. She was a stubborn woman and I that's what I loved about her. She didn't give up easily and will do anything and everything to make sure her family and those she loved were okay even if it meant having to face reality that sometimes death is inevitable.

A couple days after the accident, I got a call from Justin asking to see me and I did, as much as I didn't want to see him, I needed to know if it was him that caused the accident. Andrew and Cory had gone with me to make sure I didn't do something stupid that will only make things worse.

Knocking on the door of the apartment where he lived was like going back in time. He had been living in his own ever since his parents kicked him out at age 16 for being a drug addict. The door opened a second later and we were greeted by Justin. His eyes were red rimmed and I scoffed. He had this look in his eyes that made me know he was shooting up.

"You came," he had said with a dopey smile before running his nose and sniffling

"You wanted to talk" I said and he nodded moving aside and let us in. He didn't even notice Andrew and Cory with me and closed the door behind us. We walked into the small loving room and sat down

"What did you want to talk about?" I had asked sitting across from him with Cory and Andrew on each side of me

"Us. You're going to need someone to help you move on after the death of that kid" he had said and I remember raising an eyebrow at his suggestion but didn't correct him about Alex still being alive only the the was in a coma.

"How do you know about Alex being in the hospital?" I asked and as far im as I was concerned no one but our families and friends knew about it. We haven't even announced it at school yet though Uncle Jaime would be doing it for us at the assembly the following day.

"Well isn't he? I mean I heard there was a car accident and that he was involved" he replied and I nodded

"We were both in the accident, Justin, as were my little sisters" I had replied and the look on his face hearing that I was in the accident with my sisters and Alex was pure shock.

"You weren't supposed to be in it. Nor were the girls. It was supposed to be only him" he said standing up and pacing the room. He was shaking and kept rubbing his eyes making my jaw clench

"So you caused the accident hoping that Alex would

die? And thought that if he died, that I would come crawling back to you? You're more pathetic then I thought you were Justin. Our relationship was nothing but me making sure you didn't go of the deep end but I never fucking loved you" I hissed grabbing him by the front of his shirt and getting in his face,"You better fucking pray that Alex pulls through or I will fucking kill you for killing him. You're nothing to me, and will never be anything . The only person that I'm fucking in love with and will always be in love with is fighting for his live because you were to fucking delusional and to fucking selfish to realize that we're never getting back together no matter what you do"

"We belong together Riley, don't be stupid. You've told me you loved me many times when we were together. Alex is nothing but an inconvenience. Once he's gone we could be happy together" he said with a smile cupping my face but I pushed him away

"You're nothing to me. Nothing hit a fucking mistake that I should have left a long fucking time ago" I snarled and he was about to grab me when Andrew pushed him back causing Justin to table over and land on his ass. He looked up with wide and tear filled eyes at me but I didn't for a fuck.

"If my fucking brother dies, I will personally haunt you down and I will make you regret ever coming here. So you better pray that he makes it" Andrew snarled as he crouched to be at Justin's eye level and grabbed his shirt

"Riley," Justin called me but I ignored him and grabbed my jacket and walked to the door

"Pray to the gods above Justin that Alex makes it because then you'll regret ever threatening him and putting his life in danger." I said with my back to him before opening and waking out of the apartment, Andrew and Cory following close behind.

I had gone to the police right after meeting with Justin and presses charges against him. A couple days after that I got a call from his lawyer saying that he was found hanging in his jail cell. He had left a note behind addressed to me. I was pissed to know that justice wouldn't be served for Alex even if he did pull threw. I went to the office of Justin's lawyer to pick the letter up.

"He was a good kid, Riley," the lawyer, who also happened or be his aunt, said and I scoffed

"If he had been a good kid, he wouldn't have caused the accident. He wouldn't have abused my trust. He wouldn't have abused me the way he did when he was drugged. If he was a good kid he wouldn't have even started using drugs, so don't fool yourself in thinking he was a good person because he was far from it. No one in their right mind wild have thought about using" I said and she chuckled

"Pot calling the kettle black" she had said and I smirked

"At least I knew when enough was enough. I knew the harm that I was chasing to those around me. I knew when to get help. But look what happened to Justin, Erica. He's been using since he was 15 years old. I've had begged him to get help but he always lashes out on me. Or did you forget that he got violent to the point of me landing in the hospital because of a severe concussion? He didn't give a shot what he did as long as he did it. I had hoped that he would have gotten help the day that I left but it never happened. Now because of him my boyfriend in lying on a hospital bed fighting for his life hooked up to machines and a breathing tub down his throwing helping him breath as he can't do it on his own." I ranted and she only sat at her desk and didn't say anything and that cocky little grin she had on her face vanished because she knew that I was right. No matter how hard or many times we wish that he would change it never happened.

"He loved you isn't that enough?" She asked

"If he loved me the way he claimed he did, then would've gotten the help he needed. He would have moved on when he saw that I was already in a relationship but he didn't, instead he sent my boyfriend threatening messages that if he didn't break up with me, that he would make him one way or the other. He'll most likely in since there's no change in Alex. The doctor says that there's little chance of him waking up. So in the end Justin got what he wanted, get rid of Alex one way or the other" I stated before grabbing the letter left from Justin and walked out of the office slamming the door behind me.

~~~~~~

It's been over a week now since Alex woke up and not a day goes by that I don't thank god for giving him back to us. Back to me. Days leading to him waking up were hard. He's had two cardiac arrests since we were brought in. Since I was giving the clear a few days after the accident I was allowed to visit and stay the night with him. I was still sore and had to use a wheelchair to get around. The day I had gone to see both Justin and his aunt, I didn't use it because I felt fine but then my mother reprimanded me for not using it so now here I was watching as Alex rested, his chest rising and falling in its own. He had a few cuts and scratched across his face. When they brought him in, he was rushed to the ER. He was unresponsive and they feared he wasn't going to make it.

Mom said he had internal bleeding and that there was little to no chances of him making it. He had five broken ribs one of which had punctured his lung, which was why he couldn't breath on his own. He had so many injuries that it was hard to even keep up with my mom. Alex's parents and brothers had it even worse. I blame myself for this happening. And I have no doubt that his brothers do as well. I've made a promise that nothing would ever happen to him but here we were, in a hospital room with him sleeping soundly with the heart mouton the only indication that he was okay.

"God, I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you," I whispered pushing some of his hair away and staring at his sleeping form. My mom said that it was a miracle that he didn't suffer any head or neck injury only internal bleeding and abdominal trauma. Even if that was all he had, it was still a blow to the gut knowing he was between life and death.

"This is all my fault. Had I told you about him before we got serious then none of this would be happening," I murmured as tears rolled down my cheeks. Fuck, just seeing him like this was heartbreaking. He shouldn't be here. He should be at home watching his favorite tv show and laughing with his family and telling jokes with his friends. He should be playing at the playground with his baby sister. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't even hear the door opening and feet walking towards the bed before a hand landed on my shoulder making me jump and looking up to see Ryder standing there.

"This is my fault" I murmured turning back to Alex's sleeping f form and he only squeezed my shoulder before moving away

"It's not. The only one who's to blame for this is Justin. He's the one that rammed into car and caused the accident. He'll get his punishment in hell." He said as he looked down at his baby brother. How can he talk that way and not punch me? How can he act like none of this was my fault?

"You didn't know he would show up here. You left him and moved away because you knew the type of person he was. I don't blame you. Hell, no one blames you for the accident. You did everything you could possibly do to keep Alex save and the accident was something you couldn't have prevented no matter how much you wish you could," Ryder said and how did he know what I was thinking? I looked at him but he was looking down at Alex," Alex has become a stronger person ever since you came into the picture you know? He's never been happier before and that's thanks to you. You've protected him as best as you could."

I swallowed the knot in my throat but said nothing and is read looked back at Alex.

"Go home and get some rest, Riley" he said and I went to argue but he gave me a look that gave no room for discussion and it reminded me so much of Mattie and Kenny that it felt like a punch to the gut. I wish they were here. I needed my brothers. I needed them to tell me that everything was going to be okay.

"Riley," Ryder said and I looked up and he was staring at me before he walked over and crouched down to be at my leve since I was on my wheelchair. He grabbed my around the neck and gave it a gentle squeeze,"Alex will be okay. Everything will be okay. You will be okay. We will all be okay,"

I felt my eyes sting a sign that tears were building and before I could stop them, I felt a tear roll down my cheek and he pulled me in a hug and that's when the dam broke. Tears flowed and I couldn't stop them. No matter how hard I tried, the tears and the sobs couldn't be stopped.

"This is my fault, Ryder. This is all my fault," I whimpered but he shook his head holding me closer and he let me cry on his shoulder.

"You should listen to my brother, Riley" a voice whispered and we pulled back and looked back to see Alex awake and watching us

"Alex" I whispered and he gave me a small smile reaching for me. I wheeled myself closer and took hold of his hand,"Sorry for waking you"

"Don't be," he said with a sigh reaching his hand and wiping the tears away from my face and I closed my eyes,"Everything will be okay, Riley."

"I know" I replied and he smiled

"Now, like Ryder said, go home. Get something to eat then get some rest. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon" he assured making me sigh but relented and nodded my head because he was stubborn.

"Okay, I'll be back bright and early" I said and he rolled his eyes

"Visiting hours doesn't start until 9 so you bette get a good night sleep and come see me then and not at 7 am" he said with a pointed look and I nodded with a smile before standing up and leaning down to plant a kiss on his lips and forehead

"I'll see you tomorrow, love you" I murmured

"Love you too," Alex murmured back and I sighed sitting back on my chair and pushing my way to the door wishing Ryder a goodnight on my way out.