Connor was eventually kicked out of the room and was forced to wait in the waiting room until visiting hours started again. It was six in the morning and he hadn't gotten an ounce of sleep the whole night, when he saw Dalton walking towards the front desk. He held his jacket and was forced to wear his bloody clothes he had been wearing during the crash. He had a bandage on his head and a cast on his left arm. That was it.
Connors fury burned even brighter. Neil lost an arm and Dalton got to walk away with a scratch and a band aid. The world just wasn't fair. Dalton turned away and was heading towards the door when Connor stopped in front of him.
"You piece of shit." He said, through clenched teeth.
"Connor...How's Neil, have you heard anything?" It was obvious he had sobered up.
"Yeah, you stupid son of a bitch!" Connor shouted. The nurse gave him a look and he dragged Dalton outside.
"Is he okay?" Dalton asked, not noticing how Connor dragged him outside by his collar or how his jaw was clenched so tight you could practically hear his teeth crack under the pressure.
"God you're such an ass. I cant believe you did this! He's in the hospital! He had to have surgery!" Connor shouted, pointing inside the hospital. Dalton looked down at the ground.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. How is he?" Dalton asked.
"He's in deep shit, now. You did this to him you cost him..." Connors voice cracked and he turned around, trying to keep himself from crying. He turned back around, angrier than ever.
"You cost him his fucking arm, Dalton!" He shouted. Dalton went pale. "You just ruined his life! He wanted to go to Berkeley! He wanted to be a musician! How the fuck is he supposed to play the violin with one hand!" He lost control and swung at Dalton, who moved just a second too late. The blow connected to his shoulder and he fell against the wall. Connor pulled his hand back again, but this time Dalton was ready. He moved aside and Connors hand hit the wall of the hospital.
He cried out and bent over, holding his hand in agony. He pulled it away and looked at the scraped flesh. His anger was subsiding, but he was still furious at Dalton.
"I've dealt with you two being together, and him picking you over me. I can live with that, as long as I know he's happy. And he was! He was so happy with you!" Connor shouted. "But you just had to go and fuck it up, didnt you? What the fuck was going through your head? He loved you, and in return, you ruin his life!" Connor said. "Stay the fuck away from him, or I'll beat you so bad you'll wish you're in his position, right now." Connor said. Dalton was crying and looking down at the ground like a kicked puppy.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." He sobbed quietly.
"Good. I hope you feel sorry for the rest of your life." Connor said, anger finally gone. Now all he wanted to do was get back to Neil. The nurse said he would probably be waking up today. Without another word, he did just that. He stepped inside and walked up to the front desk. The nurse he had gotten to know, Wendy, agreed to let him into visiting hours half an hour early, since it seemed Neil was beginning to wake up. Connor wanted to be there to comfort him when he found out just what kind of condition he was in.
He stepped into the room and sat down on his left side, so he was able to hold Neils hand. Neil turned his head and wrinkled his brow when Connor put his own hand on his. Connor watched him and smiled a little when Neil squeezed his hand. Connor took another look at where his right arm used to be. It had been amputated just above the elbow, and was wrapped in thick gauze. Connor sighed, he didn't want Neil to go through this. He had already had a harder life than most people his age, he didn't need this.
As if on cue, Neil began to wake up. He sighed and squinted his eyes as he opened them. He groaned and turned his head, as if he was trying to turn his head away from the bright hospital lights. Connor swallowed, how soon would he notice? What was he going to tell him? He didn't want to have to deal with that look on his face when he realized he was missing his right arm.
"God, my head." He mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
"Hey, Neil. How do you feel?" Connor asked, sweetly.
"My head hurts." He mumbled. Connor looked at the large gash in his head that had been stapled shut. "My mouth is dry." He said, not able to open his eyes completely yet. "Can I get some water?" Neil asked. Connor paged the nurses station and Wendy walked in.
"He's awake." She smiled. She looked at Connor and he shook his head, Neil still hadn't noticed.
"He's a little thirsty. Can he have something to drink?" Connor asked.
"Let me get some ice chips for you." She smiled sweetly, and came back with a paper cup full of ice chips and a plastic spoon. She gave them to Connor without hesitation. Connor scooted closer.
"Open." he smiled, and fed Neil a small spoonful of ice chips. Before long Neil had taken the whole cup and was beginning to open his eyes.
"Thank you." He said, voice still dry and raspy.
"You're welcome. I should get the doctor." He said.
"What happened?" Neil asked, before Connor could even completely stand up from his chair.
"You don't remember?" Connor asked. Neil shook his head.
"I remember...I think I remember graduation...we went to the grad party afterwards in the gym..." Neil mumbled, squinting as if he was trying to see something that was just really far away. "I can't remember anything after that...Am I in the hospital?" He looked around.
"Yeah...You were in a car crash." Connor said. Neil looked at him like he was insane.
"What?" He asked.
"Dalton got drunk...he freaked out and just started driving...I couldn't stop him Neil, I tried. He didn't see the turn and he rolled the car." Connor sighed. "Jesus, he must have been going ninety on that fucking road." He swore, running his hands through his hair.
"I don't understand..." Neil said.
"He flipped the car, Neil. You guys were both thrown out of the fucking windshield. I had to carry you to my truck and get a police escort to get you here before you-" He couldn't finish the sentence. "I was so fucking scared." His hands were shaking and he looked down at the floor.
"Fuck..." Neil swore. "...Where's Dalton? Is he okay?" Neil asked.
"That piece of shit is fine. He walked away with a bruise and a kiss from mommy." Connor said, bitterly.
"What?" Neil frowned.
"He just has a broken arm and a bandage around his head." Connor shrugged.
