The Iceking's Obsession

Chapter Ten

This has to be heaven because I don't feel like I'm burning over and over again. My head aches very badly so I'm still not sure it's heaven. Didn't they say pain ended after death? My eyelids flutter open and I confirm it. Yes! I'm dead and I'm not in hell. Just that heaven isn't as beautiful, it has a white ceiling and blue curtains, and a sleepy woman dozing beside me. What?! Why's mom in heaven too?

"Mom?" I call and realize my voice is hoarse and sounds like I swallowed sand. I'm thirsty.

"Jane?" The voice wasn't mom's voice. It was Noah. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. He had dark circles under his eyes and his lips were so dry they looked like they were about to c***k.

He starts approaching my bed but mom wakes up and he stops. His hands fall by his sides and he steps out. Quietly.

"Jane. Oh my God! You're awake." She pressed a button and in less than a minute a doctor walked in and started asking me funny questions. Of course I can feel my legs.

Wait. Why am I even here? Why's a drip attached to my hand? Why am I wearing this ugly gown?

Mom probably notices my unease and runs her hand through my hair. Then I smile and my face hurts. And then I remember! And my smile falls.

"Xander! Mom? Where's Xander?"

Mom's expression changes immediately from sympathy to anger. The kind of anger that only came out when I screwed up real bad. "You still care?"

I try to sit up but I can't. What the hell is she saying? "Do I care?" I ask her, my expression probably matching hers. The doctor was uncomfortable and excused herself. I was okay. I just needed more painkillers.

"You sneak out behind me and almost got yourself killed and now, the first thing you ask of is him? The bastard that almost killed him?"

I stare at the woman before me like she's a stranger. And where was she the night I almost got myself killed? Probably curled up with a man half her age. My tongue is tied and I know anything I say right now won't make this any better.

"That bastard also saved your daughter's life." A voice boomed from the entrance to the room. "That bastard refused to get knocked unconscious" he stopped and laughed bitterly. "He made sure you were called before he passed out. It's obvious you can't ever change."

Phew! What was that? Is this... Xander's dad? I swallow hard. Mom probably doesn't have any comeback this time. Her mouth hangs open as she stared wide-eyed at the man.

Okay, okay. I know this man is hot. Hot? Friggin hot! But is mom actually drooling over a man while her daughter is on an hospital bed and the man in question probably hates her already. But why did he say she couldn't change?

"George" she whispers and the man's face hardens as he turns around and leaves the room. Behind him was Noah, with his hands deep in his pocket, looking unbelievably hot with his unkept look.

This is so friggin confusing. I'm too stressed to even tell anyone to leave me. Mom stands up, picks her bag and leaves without a word.

I sigh and look at Noah. Then the first tear drops and I start to sob. He starts to approach me with his hands still in his pockets. He stands by the edge of the bed without saying a word and keeps staring. I'm dreaming. In real life, I'd never let Noah stand and watch me cry because my mom hurt my feelings. And he hasn't even said a word and neither mom nor Xander's dad acknowledged him. Am I dreaming or is he a ghost. I laugh while sobbing then start to cough violently. My chest hurts. Real bad.

He turns back and strolls out again. He's gone again. He left me too. Again. I sob harder and my chest hurts even more. He comes back in with a cup of water which I down in three big gulps. I nod my thank you and hand him the cup. His fingers brush mine and electric sparks rush through me, waking real butterflies in my belly.

"I just want to be here Jane. I'm not going to ask for your forgiveness because even i can't forgive myself. Let me just be there. I want to watch you from afar. Please."

The tears want to flow again but I remember everything that happened. The hatred I'd gathered for two years was fast melting away. I want to hug him. I miss him. I want to cry on his shoulder and have him rock me. But I don't, instead I nod and say, "You look like hell"

He smiles, a half smile. I know what his real smile looks like. It looks good. The sides of his eyes crinkles and his dimples show. But this smile was just polite. "I know" he says and runs his hand over his face. Stubbles were starting to form on his jaw. He really looked like hell.

"Is Xander fine?"

"He's still unconscious"

"His father hates me" I whisper.

"From what I've gathered, he got you this private room in his hospital and you're not paying bills. If he hates someone, I'm sorry but it's probably your mom."

"Oh.." I'm really surprised at the information I just got. Noah nods and looks away.

"Noah?"

"Yeah?"

"Go home please. Clean up."

He nods and doesn't argue. As he reaches the door, I call him again. "Noah?"

He turns back and I smile, a real smile. "Thank you."

I don't know why I'm thanking him but I feel indebted. Like he saved my life. He nods and gives me another half hearted smile and walks out, closing the door behind him.

I chuckle. I chuckle again. I can't believe I just had a normal conversation with the person I hate the most in the world.