All I've Never Wanted(130)

Rico didn’t look fazed. “Please. This is Roman we’re talking about. He’ll pull through.”

“I certainly hope so,” I mumbled. “We should head back.”

“Fine. But I’m going to be taking you up on that dinner offer.”

I rolled my eyes. Maybe Rico wasn’t as bad as I originally thought, but boy was he perverted. Still, I was glad I had a chance to talk to him. He certainly answered a lot of questions.

* * *

Another week passed, with no change on Roman’s part. I was getting more and more worried. At least it was already winter break. There was no way I could concentrate on school with him still in the hospital. I barely managed to finish my college applications, though luckily, I started so early there wasn’t much left for me to do by the time Roman was hospitalized.

And then, four days before Christmas, the call came.

“Maya! You need to get to the hospital, now!” It was Zack, and he sounded more frantic than I’d ever heard him. That in itself terrified me.

I didn’t even bother to ask what was wrong. Instead, I grabbed the keys to my dad’s car and sped towards the hospital.

My parents had been absolutely horrified and shocked when they found out about everything that had happened, but on the upside, my relationship with my dad was gradually mending. It would still be a while before we were back to the way we used to be—if that’s possible—but it was an improvement.

However, the only thing on my mind right now was Roman. Why did I need to go to the hospital so quickly? Did he wake up? Or did he—


My chest constricted so fast I almost blacked out right there in the driver’s seat. No. I wasn’t going to think about that. I needed to stay positive.

Nevertheless, a cold sweat broke out my forehead, and my palms were so slick they kept on slipping on the wheel. Miraculously, I managed to get to the hospital and up to Roman’s floor without incident.

When I reached his room, though, I almost wished I hadn’t. Everyone was there. And they all had the same look on their face. Devastation.

I froze, my entire body turning numb when I took in Zack’s uncharacteristically somber face and Giselle’s loud wails. Even Adriana’s eyes were rimmed with red.

Carlo and Parker stood on either side of the door like sentries, their eyes downcast, shoulders tense.

When I neared, though, Carlo looked up, his eyes filled with sadness and sympathy.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but I just shook my head and opened the door, my heart in my throat.

The first thing I noticed was that the monitors were no longer beeping. Instead, the entire room was silent. Dead silent.

And there Roman was, in the exact same position as the last time I visited him. He was unnaturally still.

I walked over, feeling like a zombie, and stared down at his face, my heart pounding an ominous drumbeat against my ribcage. “Roman?” My voice trembled.

Silence.

“Roman?”

Once again, silence.

I sucked in a deep breath, refusing to believe it. This couldn’t be true. A deep pressure weighed down my chest, and I grabbed Roman’s hand, digging my fingers into the flesh. “Roman! Roman, please wake up!” My voice broke. “Please! Just open your eyes, for your friends, your family, for me. Please!”

Not even a twitch. The pressure increased, and hysteria bubbled up inside me as I grabbed his shoulders. I didn’t think about hurting him. All I could think about was getting him to open those eyes, so I could look into those violet orbs once again. I didn’t care if he yelled at me or cursed me out or even forgot me completely, as long as he was still alive.

“You can’t just leave me like this.” My voice came out in shallow gasps, and I could barely see through my tears. “I know we’ve—we’ve had our differences but I—I can’t—“ Oh god, I couldn’t breathe. “Please wake up. Please, please, please. I need you!” I laid my head on his chest, suddenly too exhausted to keep myself upright, while my shoulders shook. “I love you. You can’t be—“ I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to get a hold of myself, but it didn’t work.

I couldn’t believe I was never going to hear his voice again. Never be able to kiss him again. To hold him. To see him scowl at me and tell me what an idiot I am.

I chuckled, my chest heaving as I struggled for breath. But wait. That wasn’t right. I definitely didn’t chuckle.

I slowly lifted my head, then screamed when I saw Roman gazing down at me with a half-annoyed, half-amused expression on his face.

“You know, you’re really loud when you cry,” he said, rolling his eyes affectionately. “It’s kind of annoying.”

I just gaped at him, too stunned to speak. Was I daydreaming? Or delusional? Was he a ghost or something?

And then I heard it. The laughter.

Parker, Zack, Venice, Giselle, Rico, Adriana and even Carlo all burst into the room. Adriana and the guys were doubled over, tears of mirth streaming from their eyes. Venice’s face was red as she shot me an apologetic look, though her mouth twitched suspiciously. Giselle just looked sheepish.

I immediately stood up, narrowing my eyes. “What the hell is going on?” I demanded, whipping my head around and taking in Roman’s smirking face.

“Oh, you should’ve heard yourself,” Parker gasped. “Please, please, please. I need you!” He pitched his voice higher in a poor imitation of mine.