AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"What the fuck happened?" I ask, tears pooling in my eyes.
Brayden hesitates. "He didn't want to risk Nathan bothering you any longer."
My mouth falls open, but only a sob escapes.
Mia interjects. "Babe, we have to get him to the fucking hospital. He's lost too much blood."
I grab my cell and dial the one person who will know what to do.Dad. He answers on the first ring.
"Liv?" he answers wearily.
"Dad, Tomas is unconscious in my apartment. Nathan or someone with him stabbed Tomas, and he's lost too much blood and I don't know what to do." I try to temper my voice and keep the panic at bay. Time is becoming more critical as the seconds tick by.
"Call Dr. Jin. He should be on campus. Tell him James told you to call him and it's life-threatening. Do you need me to come over?" he asks, voice thick with concern.
"No, Dad. I just don't want him to bleed out here because of me." My emotions spill over and I sob.
"Oh, Olivia. It's not because of you," Dad says tenderly.
"No, Dad, it is. Nathan's been stalking me, and he told me he'd take care of it and then we had a fight and–" My words die off, fully replaced by my hyperventilation.
"Liv, Mom and I will be right there." I can hear him fumbling for his keys.
"No, Dad. I'm fine. I have Mia here. I'll be okay, I promise," I sniffle.
"Call me if Dr. Jin isn't there in five minutes. Is Nathan nearby?"
Tim and Brayden shake their heads. "No, he's gone. I promise I'll call. Love you," I say and hang up.
Mia calls Dr. Jin and handles the situation, much to my relief. Dr. Jin gives her instructions, not unlike the steps she had already taken. EMS arrives, attaches an IV drip, and ushers him onto the gurney. The four of us follow the ambulance to the campus hospital, where Dr. Jin is waiting at the front. He doesn't ask questions and I'm grateful. I'm assuming it's because I name-dropped my dad, but I'm too shocked, nervous, and numb to answer anything. He leads us down a staff-only hallway to a secluded section.
An hour later, the transfusion finishes. Dr. Jin relays the severity of his wound. He tells us Tomas lost a liter and a half of blood and that the transfusions will help. He isn’t sure when he’s going to wake up, but he says it'll likely be within twenty-four hours. Before turning to the door, he reminds us to call him when he wakes up so he can reassess and remove the intubation. I nod and thank him as he leaves. Mia puts a sympathetic hand on my shoulder that makes my heart crack open again. Tim and Brayden give me a somber nod. I climb into bed with Tomas, curling close, and cry until I can't anymore.
The hours pass slowly, leaving me racked with guilt and nervous energy without an outlet. I can't leave him, nor do I want to. I don't remember sleeping, but I must have eventually because a soft knock at the door wakes me up around nine am.
"Hey kiddo, can I come in?" Dad asks gingerly.
I open the door and instantly melt into my dad's arms.
"Dad, I'm so sorry," I tell him as I cry into his shoulder.
He runs his palms through my hair soothingly.
"There's nothing to be sorry about, Olivia." The tenderness in his voice makes me feel all the more guilty.
"There is, Dad. I lied." I wipe away the tears with the back of my hands.
"I know."
My gaze snaps up to him. "What do you mean, you know?"
He smiles sadly. "I knew in my office last week. You were too quick to blame yourself, and Tomas didn’t say a word. He didn't even have an opportunity to speak for himself."
The tension dissipates marginally. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. He was just supposed to be a rebound after Julian."
He cringes slightly, then gives me a knowing look. "But?"
"He fell first and I'm on the fence. I don't want to disappoint anyone." I hesitate before continuing. "And I'm scared after the breakup with Julian."
