Chapter 91 Chapter Eighty-Seven

Chapter 91 Chapter Eighty-Seven

Omniscient Narrative 

The hospital room was too quiet.

Not peaceful, just still in a way that made every small sound feel louder. The faint beeping of the monitor. The soft hum of the overhead lights. The distant echo of footsteps in the hallway.

Demi stood just inside the doorway for a moment, like stepping any closer might make this real in a way he wasn't ready for.

Alex lay against the pillows, pale, eyes tired but open now. Awake. Present.

Looking at him.

"You came" 

The words were soft, almost disbelieving.

Demi swallowed hard and forced himself to move forward. "Of course I did" 

He stopped beside the bed, close enough to see the details he wished he didn't notice, the exhaustion in Alex's face, the way his hands lay too still, like even resting took effort.

Chris lingered by the door, quiet, giving them space without leaving.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then Alex let out a weak breath. "I didn't think you would" 

Demi frowned. "Why wouldn't I?"

Alex gave a small, humorless smile. "Because you've been trying not to" 

The honesty hit harder than anything else.

Demi looked away briefly, jaw tightening. "That doesn't mean I don't care" 

"I know" Alex said quickly.

Too quickly.

Like he needed Demi to believe that.

Silence stretched between them again, but it felt different now. Thinner. More fragile.

Alex shifted slightly, wincing before settling again.

Demi noticed immediately. "Are you okay?"

"I will be” Alex said 

It was the same thing Demi had told Chris weeks ago when he came back home ranting about Alex. 

Hearing it now, like this, made his chest tighten, because he knew he wasn’t okay then so definitely Alex isn’t okay now. 

"You scared me” Demi admitted quietly as he fought the urge to comb his hand through the boys hair. 

Alex's gaze softened, his heart squeezed as he heard the other boy’s admission. 

"I didn't mean to, I’m sorry” he said.

Demi exhaled slowly. "You don't get to decide that” 

The words came out sharper than he intended.

Alex flinched, guilt hit immediately.

"I didn't mean-“ Demi started, then stopped. "I just...I got a call in the middle of the night. They said your name and 'hospital' in the same sentence. That's not something you just..brush off Alex” 

Alex nodded faintly. "I'm sorry” 

Demi closed his eyes briefly.

There it was again.

‘Sorry’

The word felt heavier now. More complicated.

When he opened his eyes, Alex was still watching him, carefully, like he was trying to read something he didn't understand.

"I texted you” Alex said quietly.

Demi's breath caught.

He hadn't checked.

"I didn't see it” Demi admitted, he had archived his number. 

Alex nodded, like he expected that.

"It's okay” he said.

But it wasn't.

They both knew it.

Chris shifted slightly by the door, breaking the tension just enough.

"You should sit” he said gently to Demi, he knew Demi enough to know the boy would soon be getting dizzy. 

Demi glanced at him, then nodded, pulling a chair closer to the bed.

"Thank you” he muttered.

Chris gave him a small nod and stayed where he was, still present but not intrusive.

Having Demi there felt...unreal to Alex. 

Like something he'd imagined too many times and finally got wrong.

He looked tired.

Worried.

But he was still here.

Alex swallowed, his throat dry.

"I didn't mean for things to get like this” he said.

Demi's eyes flickered. "Then why did they?"

Alex hesitated.

Because the truth?

He still didn't fully understand it.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I just..everything felt like too much” 

Demi stared at him.

"For months?" he asked quietly.

Alex nodded.

Demi leaned back slightly, absorbing that.

"You could've talked to someone” he said.

"I tried” Alex said as he gave Demi a look. "Just...not the right way."

Demi's jaw tightened, he knew Alex was referring to him. 

"Yeah” he said.

Seeing Alex like this broke something in him.

Because no matter how much he tried to move on

This was still Alex.

His Alex. 

Still the person who had mattered more than anyone else for longer than he wanted to admit.

"You don't get to do this” Demi said suddenly.

Alex blinked. "Do what?"

"This” Demi repeated, gesturing vaguely. "Break like this and then expect me to just...step back in."

"I'm not expecting that” Alex said quickly, trying to defend himself 

"Then what are you expecting?" Demi asked.

Alex didn't answer right away.

Because he didn't know how to say it without sounding selfish.

"I just...didn't want you to disappear," he said finally. “For good” 

Demi's chest tightened.

"I didn't disappear” he said. "You pushed me away” 

The words landed hard.

Alex flinched slightly. "I know” 

Silence.

Heavy and unavoidable.

Chris on the other hand, had been quiet long enough.

Not because he didn't care, but because he wanted Alex and Demi to have their moment.

He watched the way Demi looked at Alex.

Watched the way Alex looked back.

It wasn't subtle, it never had been.

Chris stepped forward slightly, breaking into the space just enough to be part of it.

"The doctor said he'll need someone around for a bit” he said calmly.

Demi glanced at him, startled slightly by the shift.

"Like...supervision?" Demi asked.

Chris nodded. "Just making sure he's okay. Not alone” 

Demi looked back at Alex instinctively.

Alex shifted uncomfortably. "I'll be fine” 

Chris raised an eyebrow. "That's not really convincing right now” 

Alex didn't argue.

Because he couldn't.

Chris took a breath, praying under his breath that Demi agrees to what he’s about to say. 

"He can stay with us” 

The words landed in the room like a dropped glass.

Demi turned sharply. "What?"

Chris met his gaze, steady. "We've got the space” 

"That's not the point” Demi said.

"I know” Chris replied. "But think about it” 

Demi's heart started racing.

This was a bad idea.

A terrible idea.

Dangerous in ways Chris knew, yet he suggested it. 

"He shouldn't be alone” Chris continued. "And you know that” 

Demi looked back at Alex.

At the way he avoided their eyes now.

At how small he seemed again.

And that pull, that same, impossible pull came back stronger than ever.

"This is complicated” Demi said quietly as he massaged his temples. 

Chris nodded. "I know” 

Alex spoke before Demi could say anything else.

"You don't have to do that” he said quickly. "I'll figure something out” 

Chris shook his head. "This isn't just about you figuring something out” 

Demi stayed silent.

Because part of him, the part he kept trying to ignore was already considering it.

"Demi” Alex said softly.

Demi looked at him.

"I'm not asking for anything” Alex said. "Not...not like before. I just-“ 

He hesitated.

"I don't want to be alone right now” 

That did it.

Demi closed his eyes briefly.

Because no matter how much he tried to protect himself, that was still something he couldn't ignore.

When he opened them again, he looked at Chris, he exhaled slowly.

"Okay" he said.