Chapter 10.

Waiting, that's what I've been doing here in the hospital's waiting room.

I'm waiting for Wesley to come back and tell me what's going on, that everything is okay with his mom. I hope everything is okay.

After I told Welsey about the importance of Jack's call, he rushed to call someone, that someone being a man named Bob. I didn't know what the relationship was there, but they seemed to know each other pretty well. Bob then told Wesley that he'd call someone to come pick up his truck, and he didn't have anything to worry about, except his mom.

The minute we had been dropped off , we burst through the doors and I let him go off to be with his mom, well, right after he borrowed me his warm hoodie. So I've been waiting for a little over 15 minutes, without a word from Wesley.

In my wait, I even got the time to call my brother, who at first didn't give me a chance to speak, yelling over the phone until Owen snatched it away from him, and being the calm one, spoke to me and heard what I had to say.

When I mentioned the hospital, I could hear Aiden freaking out in the background, he was surely going to get grey hairs if he didn't calm down.

Anyway, I explained that someone needed me here with them and like he understood, Owen simply told me that they'd be here within 10 minutes.

I am both thankful and a little anxious about their reaction, once they learn that someone is my classmate, who so happens to be a guy. It surely isn't going to go down pretty well, because both men are pretty protective and anything male in the sentence, has resulted to long lectures and interrogations.

I swear one time, we'd all gone out and I decided to check out a nearby thrift shop, one guy came up to me and we started chatting. It was harmless chatting since he needed advice on what to buy his girlfriend, for their anniversary.

Apparently my brother had been looking for me and when he found me, talking to that guy, well more like the guy helping me with a little situation, concerning something hanging on to my dress. Aiden misinterpreted everything, believing that the guy was feeling me up when it was not the case.

He nearly punched the guy and I had to step in between the two guys, shielding the poor guy from my brother, who literally overreacted over small things.

I've never been so embarrassed, since we got kicked out of the shop.

Right after, I'd given Aiden the silent treatment for the rest of the day, until Owen stepped in and got us talking again. So Aiden can pretty much overreact, I just hope he won't do anything drastic, that might get us kicked out of the hospital.

" Chloe!" 

I rise to my feet, seeing my family.

Aiden is the first one to reach me, pulling me in for a hug before leaning back, a frown is set on his face as he takes my current state.

" You better start explaining little girl." Aiden says in a no nonsense tone.

" After school, I got a lift from a fellow classmate, unfortunately his car broke down in the middle of the road -------" 

" When did you start taking lifts from strangers, huh?" He asks, crossing his arms.

" Since it started raining and my brother wouldn't have really answered, since he was busy with a certain red haired called Ingrid, who he failed to mention to me!" I snap.

Glares are thrown at each other and I'm pretty upset about him, hiding the fact that he's seeing someone. I thought he trusts me and knows me better enough to know that I'd be more relieved than anything, to see him being more social and focused on his life, then depriving himself with his constant worry over me.

He'd taken such a huge responsibility over me since we were kids, he took on an adult role so young and I worried about him, he never enjoyed himself or went out to spoil himself, his top priority has always been about our safety and our next destination, in case we needed to run.

I hated seeing him like that, his life consumed by fear and paranoia, no, I want him to live his life.

So when I saw the red haired yesterday, learning that they had been going out for a month now, I was upset. He couldn't tell me about a change in his life, making me feel that he doesn't trust me. He didn't want me to know.

" Chloe, that's your big brother, " Owen speaks up.

" Well I'd pretty much appreciate that, than a detective." I mutter.

" Chloe.... " 

I roll my eyes at the warning, walking away from them both, only to be spun around by my arm. " Don't you dare roll your eyes at me little girl because ----------" he stops mid sentence, making me frown at him.

Some unknown emotion passes through his eyes, before he drops my arm and his eyes cast down to his feet.

A tense moment of silence passes between all of us.

" Where's your classmate now?" Adrian asks.

" Friend." 

" But you just said ------------" 

" I know what I said and I'm fixing my mistake, he's my friend." 

" He?" His eyes narrow.

I know what's coming next.

" Chloe?" I spin around to face Welsey, who glances behind me curiously.

I'm pretty sure he's wondering about these two males behind me.

" Hey, is everything okay, your mom?" I ask, stepping forward.

" She's okay. " 

" What had happened? Because he sounded worried over the phone." 

" No don't be fooled by that, he doesn't care, " his eyes harden as he talks about Jack.

" Wes." His eyes quickly glance between us to where our hands have joined.

I didn't even realise that I'd taken his hand, entwining our fingers together. I gulp, pulling my hand back, but he tightens his hold, his eyes pleading for me not to pull back.

I sigh, relaxing. He too follows, his thumb making circling movements on my skin.

All we do is stare at each other, until we hear a cough behind us.

Gosh, Aiden and Owen.

I turn to face both males, Aidens eyes glance at our joined hands, I sigh when I feel Wesley pull away, ears all pink in embarrassment.

" Guys, meet my friend, Wesley. " Wesley's head whips in my direction but I still keep a straight face on.

" And this is my brother, Aiden, and a close friend of ours ,Owen." 

" Mr Shelton." Owen says with correction, his hand outstretched .

Wesley shakes both their hands, though Aiden has been making Wesley uncomfortable with his unwavering gaze.

At least he's  not saying anything rude to Wesley. His silence is better.

" So, is your car getting fixed?" Aiden asks.

" Car?" Wesley frowns in confusion.

" Chloe told me about the breakdown, after you offered to take her home -------" 

" Oh, yeah, someone's taking a look into it." 

" And you're mom, is she okay?" Owen asks.

" Yeah, she'll be okay, I hope." Owen arches his brow at that, making Aiden sigh and to speak up again. " My mom's in a coma." 

" You didn't have --------" 

" It's okay." He waves it off, offering a small smile to me.

I return his with mine.

" Wes?" His body tenses and eyes grow hard.

We all turn around to face the person and right before us, stands an older version of Wesley, apart from his hair, because the person's hair is dirty blonde.

" It's Wesley. What do you want Jack?" Wesley mumbles.

Oh, so this is Jack? He must be Wesley's dad?

" Who's this?" Mr Adam's eyes find me right behind Wesley.

" None of ---------" 

" Hello sir, I'm Chloe, the one who answered the call." I hold out my hand.

" I'm Jack, Wesley's father, " he shakes my hand and I offer a small friendly smile.

" I didn't know you had a new friend." Jack says, looking back at Wesley, who looks ready to get out of here.

" You don't need to know everything Jack, ------;-" 

" Wes." I warn, stepping closer to him.

" Could we go somewhere, anywhere?" He pleads quietly, taking my hand in his.

I glance at both Owen and Aiden, who both have disapproving looks on their faces.

" I'll be back." I tell them, just as Wesley pulls me away from everyone.

I don't know where he's taking me, but I know he needs to be away from everyone.

I don't know why I haven't asked him of where he's taking me, which I should have done when we stepped into the elevator.

He still hasn't let go of my hand and unexplainably so, I don't actually mind my hand in his. The elevator doors ding open and we step out of the elevator. We continue on and I take my time looking him over without him noticing. He's quite tall, tanned, more on the lean side, now that he's without the hoodie and his hair is thick and dark.

I give him a questioning look when we stand before a door.

He turns to look at me.

With his face dead serious face, I now understand that whatever he's about to show me is serious.

" I want to introduce you to someone, " he tells me before opening the door, pulling me close behind him.

Stepping into the room, my eyes quickly find a peaceful sleeping figure, with many tubes stuck to her.

" Chloe, meet my mom."