Just Good Friends?

Chapter 37 Heartbreak

Nate.

I wake up in a daze and look at my phone, its 4.30am and my phone is going off. It's Joe. s**t, whats happened. He stayed at Ems last night after the club, because she needed to be at home early this morning.

---N---"Dude, what's going on?" I say answering the phone.

---J---"Is Bex with you?"

---N---"No, chill out, she's in her room. Nothing is going to happen ok" f**k man, it's 4.30am, can't he give it a f*****g rest.

---J---"Nah dude, it's not that. You need to go wake her and get down to the hospital. Harry too. Its Mike, not good" he hangs up and I'm already out of bed Pulling on my joggers and running down to Bex room.

......

Mike died at just after 8am that morning. We were all in a state of shock. He'd been recovering. But the doctor said he took a turn for the worse during the night, and they found he had an internal bleed, but they couldn't stop it. I think he knew, I think he realised a few days ago, and that's why he was pushing Bex away. I just don't know what to do. She's a mess, but won't speak. Not to anyone, not even Joe. We need to give her time to process this, but its so hard to leave her be.

......

Bex.

He's gone. Mike's gone. Dead. I'm numb. I feel guilty. Why wasn't I with him when he started going downhill, why did I listen to him! I just went out and actually enjoyed myself, whilst he was dieing. We wasted all thise years, we had no time at all together as a couple, had do many plans for the future. I f****d up. If it wasn't for me flirting with Nate, Mike would never of been in that bar in the first place.

I run, I just run. No plan, no times, I just run till I can't run anymore, and then collapse.

I don't know how long I was there on the floor, just sitting, crying, but I feel arms gently scoop me up and start carrying me back the way I'd come. I pull myself in to his neck and cry my heart out. Nate has been so good to me, and he's still carrying me, literally.

Before I know it, Nate is laying me down on my bed, taking my trainers off, and pulling the covers over me.

"Sleep now beautiful. You need to sleep" he kisses my head and quietly leaves the room.

......

Nate.

"Where did you find her?" Joe looks beaten.

"Up on the hill. It's a track we've taken whilst on a run quite a few times. Tricky, nobody really uses it apart from us. She was just sitting there, broken, tears streaming down her face but no sound. I don't think she even realised it was me lifting her up at first" I don't know how long I can do this. I need to be strong for Bex, but I feel so much guilt. My feelings for her caused all this, I don't think I'm the one that should be consoling her. As if Harry reads my mind, he speaks up.

"I'll give her a few hours, then I'll go and talk to her. This isn't on you Nate. I know you're blaming yourself, but it's not down to you. Mike had a bleed, there was nothing anybody could of done. And it was because of his mums boyfriend he was in that state in the first place, not because of you, so get that out of your heard right now." He looks at me pointedly.

"I know, but I just can't shake the feeling Bex is thinking the same thing" I look at him, silently saying about what happened, or didn't happen, the other night.

"She might now, but she won't feel like that for long. She'll realise there is nobody to blame".

.......

Joe.

I feel like I've missed something between Bex, Nate and Harry. They seem to have this secret. But surely not. My twin doesn't keep secrets from me, my best mates don't either, so what is it I'm missing?

......

Bex and Nate have been avoiding being alone together for a few days now, so when I get Nate alone, I confront him.

"What's going on Nate, have I missed something? You and Bex, what's happened? Things are really bad right now, nobody knows what to do or say, but you 2 just won't even look at each other" then he tells me, tells me everything about the day before Mike died, and what happened.

"So you think this is all your fault? What about Bex? Does she think it's your fault too?" I ask incredulously "Dude, Mike was going to die no matter what did or didn't happen between you and Bex. This is not down to you, or her. She needs you right now, she needs her friend, her support, grow a pair and f*****g be there for her!" I lose my temper a little bit, but I'm shocked he thinks this is all on him.

"I got a f*****g b***r over your sister dude, had to f*****g yank one off in the f*****g shower because she sat on my f*****g lap and got me so f*****g horny I almost f****d her on the loungers! All whilst her boyfriend is dieing in hospital! And you don't think i have a reason to feel f*****g guilty!?" Nate is losing control, he finally breaks down in tears and slumps down on to the stool, on the verge of tears. I can't stand to see him like this. I walk over and grab him in a hug. He tries to pull away but I hold him tight, and he eventually gives in. We are like that for about 15 minutes, when he starts to calm down.

"You yanked one off in the shower thinking of my sister? Duuude!" I shake my head but smile so he knows I'm messing.

"Yep, I did." We both look at each other and burst out laughing.

"I knew you loved her man, but I really don't need to know any more details about you wanking over her ok" I head to the fridge to grab some beers and go out to the pool. I hesitate by the loungers and turn around to Nate.

"Which one was it? I don't really want to sit on the one that you almost f****d my sister on" I duck as Nates trainer is launched at my head, and throw myself down on one.

"It was that one dude" He laughs when I jump up and move to the other one with a look of disgust on my face.

......

Bex.

"So, are we going to go out and join them?" Harry asks me when he sees me looking out at Nate and Joe.

"I don't know"

"Come on Bex, you've got to face him at some point. You've accepted that it's not yours or Nates fault what happened to Mike, and it looks like Joe has talked some sense in to Nate too, so let's go and join them, and try getting a little bit of normality back in to our lives yeah? We need to be strong for Cal too now, he's hurting more than any of us realise" Harry holds my shoulders and looks at me.

"OK, OK, grab some beers and let's go out there" I put I brave face on, and prepare to face him.

"And Bex, next time you use the rabbit over one of our mates, keep it to yourself yeah? You are hot as f**k, and that is a total turn on hearing that, but I'm also fiercely jealous of Nate, that he has the hottest girl in town, flicking her bean over him" I look around for something to throw at him, but there's nothing in arms reach. He smirks at me.

"I told you that in my most vulnerable state Harry! Don't you ever repeat it to anyone. I can't believe I told you that" j burry my head in my hands in shame.

"It's cool Bex, I kind of like having this dirty little secret between us. Nate is one lucky fucker, if only he knew!" I snap my head up and stare at him

"He will never know Harry, or you will pay" I stomp out to the pool, forgetting all about my hesitations at facing Nate, and throw myself down next to him.

"Someone please entertain Harry, he's beginning to get right on my t**s" I say huffing.

Nate and Joe both burst out laughing, and Harry saunters over.

"Well at least I'm on someone's t**s eh lads" oh god, what have I done telling him that.