ILY

ILY Like Versus Love

Jethro tried his best to focus on the movie but he could not help but think about what Topaz said earlier. She thought that he liked her.

But for someone who believes in perfect timing and saying the right words at the right time, Jethro felt that it was too early to disclose his feelings to her. He, too, was uncertain about his actual feelings for Topaz. He was sure that he liked her, but beyond that, Jethro felt that it was too early.

Jethro had no girlfriend since birth. It was not a big deal really. He was so young. Having a girlfriend or two in his teenage years seemed irrational to him. He had to take care of himself most of the time. He might not be able to keep up with the demands of taking care of someone else either.

And yet, here he was, staying overnight in a hospital to be with a girl so her Mom could rest.

Was he starting to fall in love with Topaz?

Again, he was thinking too far ahead.

"Hey, it's nine already, I think you should rest." Jethro reminded Topaz.

"I'll just text Mom." She grabbed her phone but stopped to look at Jethro. "Where will you sleep? Or are you staying up longer? Don't we have schoolwork?"

Jethro did not want to tell her that he had skipped class. But that would be lying. He did not want to lie to Topaz. He began scratching his head and said, "I actually skipped school after lunch to come here."

Topaz looked surprised a bit, then her cheeks started to turn pink. She was obviously flattered by the gesture. "You shouldn't have, the school might call your parents."

"Don't worry about that. I doubt they will be able to reach them. They are on a cruise right now, so it would be quite hard to tell them what happened."

"Are you saying you are alone at home?" Topaz sounded a bit worried about him.

"Well, my uncle comes by every now and then. He is practically my guardian when my parents are not around. Which is most of the time. But Clyde is quite cool, too cool actually. Sometimes I feel like I am the uncle between the two of us." Jethro laughed a bit, sharing that part of his life with Jethro. He has been left so many times at home under Clyde's care when, in fact, he was the one taking care of his father's youngest brother. He is not complaining though, he loves Clyde like an older brother. But he had been so used to taking care of himself that the thought of the school calling Clyde for skipping class sounded funny to him. He could only imagine the excuses and lies that Clyde would tell his homeroom teacher.

"Sorry to hear that," Topaz said. It was obvious that she felt bad for him.

"Don't worry about me. I am already used to this setup. And Clyde is actually a good person. Child-like, but he has my back. And my parents are just trying to secure a good future for me, not that I am asking, but that's their way of showing that they care."

Topaz smiled. "Mom is not replying so I am assuming that she is already sleeping. Would you be comfortable on the sofa? Did you bring a blanket? It can get really cold here at night."

"Oh, I forgot about the blanket. But I have a towel, I guess it will do." Jethro said.

"I can scoot over so you can fit here too. This bed is way too big for me."

This time, it was Jethro's turn to turn red. His ears are starting to turn red too. Did he hear it right? Topaz is offering him to sleep beside her.

He looked at her bed. It was indeed too big for her small frame. They could comfortably sleep there together even with a pillow in between.

"It can really get cold at night. Besides, I have this weird feeling that I will be having nightmares tonight." Topaz paused and looked at her legs, covered in a blanket while playing with her fingers.

She was obviously worried about her legs and not being able to walk again.

"Fine, but your Mom might see us tomorrow." Jethro felt stupid for using the Mom's excuse.

"She won't be back till 10. She needs to go to the police station first thing in the morning. Besides, what could possibly happen with a boy and a crippled girl." She was making a joke out of the situation and was poorly executing it.

"Come one, don't talk like that. Scoot over before I change my mind, "Jethro said. He did not want Topaz to start pitying her situation. He helped her move her legs to the opposite edge of the bed so Jethro could sleep beside her.

"Are you really sure about this? I am fine with the sofa." Jethro did not want to take advantage of the situation. "You just met me yesterday." He added.

"Yeah and yet here you are skipping school and doing overnights in the hospital for someone you just met yesterday." Topaz laughed a bit as she turned the table on him.

"Well, true. But I have known you from school. And I always see you at The Note Nest. So you are not a stranger to me."

"Same here, " Topaz answered in between a yawn. She placed her head on Jethro's shoulders. "I really hope that I can walk again. I cannot imagine my life like this." She whispered.

Jethro turned to face her, holding her hand. "We'll get through this. You just have to be patient and be ready to work hard. Miracles do happen and doctors can make mistakes in creating diagnoses. There is always hope as long as we believe."

Topaz smiled at her.

"Now sleep. You need to rest."

"But I am afraid of getting nightmares."

"I'll be here. I am not sleepy yet. I'll watch you sleep and wake you up in case you have a nightmare." Jethro said, turning again, now facing the ceiling of the hospital room.

Topaz slipped her hand inside his right shoulder, between his body and his arms, embracing it. Jethro could smell the lavender in Topaz's shampoo.

"Good night," Topaz said before closing her eyes.

"Dream of me," Jethro said. Of course, he was joking.

"Maybe I would," Topaz replied in a whisper.

Now, Jethro is certain. He is in love with Topaz Layton.