Lucas' P.O.V.
**Please, if you're willing, listen to Photography by Cody Fry as you read.*"
My Rose stayed here with me last night. She had slept beside me until they made her move.
Stupid nurse.
I couldn't believe she would willingly choose to sleep in a small cot like that rather than in a large bed. I want to tell her how I feel....how I really feel. I need her to know that she is everything to me. I need her to know, but I'm also scared I'll frighten her away. She can be so skittish at times.
"What's wrong?" She asked, seeming shy. I didn't mean to worry her, but I need her to know I am being serious.
"Come here," I said, patting the bed again. She slowly made her way towards me.
"I'm here," she announced as she sat on the edge of the bed. I used my good hand to grab hers, holding it tight in case she tried to run away.
"I need to tell you something, but you can't run away after," I said, smirking at her sweetly, but my heart was beating quickly. She gave me a small nod in understanding, letting me continue. "I've told you that I love you already, but I need you to really know what I mean when I say that. I don't say it lightly, and I certainly don't confuse it for the attraction I have for you. You're the one thing that keeps me from suffocating in my own darkness. The person who brings me hope when the world is crashing down on me. I told you that you saved me, and I meant it. You've brought light into my life again. One that I refuse to let go of. I don't want to fall into that darkness again." Her eyes were on me as I spoke, but I couldn't look into them. I wanted to pour out my heart to her, and looking at her would only tie up my tongue.
"When I say I love you, I mean that I cherish you. That you are the most important person in my life. When I say I love you, I mean that I will be by your side always. That I will support you in whatever you do. When I say I love you, I mean that I will not let you be hurt. That I will protect you with everything in me. When I say I love you, I mean I am happy as long as I have you. Do you understand what I am saying, Olive? I love you in all sense and meaning of the word."
It was silent for a while, causing me to look up at her finally. Her eyes were pink and misted as she bit her lip. She nodded her head at me, but I couldn't tell what she was feeling or thinking at the moment.
"When I say I love you, I mean that I will give you all of me. That you will have my heart and my soul with you always." She started, making my heart swell, and my eyes tear already. "When I say I love you, I mean that I will stick by your side through thick or thin. That I will not leave you, even when you send me away. When I say I love you, I mean that I will fight for you. That I will fight with you, if it's for your own good. When I say I love you, I mean that you are my everything. That I will place your needs before my own. I love you, my knight, in all senses of the word."
I nodded my head feeling overwhelmed and elated by her confession. She was on the same page as me, if not further in.
Don't worry Rose, I'm right there with you.
"No running away?" She asked me.
"No running away." I confirmed, pulling her towards me.
Our moment was cut short before I could kiss her the way I really wanted to. The nurse had come in with the anesthesiologist, and they had begun to prep me and roll me out to surgery.
"I'll be here waiting," she promised in a hushed voice.
I nodded, still riding the high of knowing she loves me so much. I wanted to be back by her side already, but the pain in my arm let me know this surger really was necessary. They wheeled me to the surgical room, having me hop onto the surgical table. They placed the mask over my face without a word, having me breathe in deeply.
It was like I blinked and everything was over. I felt myself waking slowly. My head felt foggy and my eyes had a hard time opening fully. I could tell my mind was still trying to fight the effects of the anesthesia. The warm small hand in my hand let me know that my Rose was by my side. I squeezed her hand tightly as I continued to stir awake.
"Lucas?" Her sweet voice made me smile.
"Mmm, my Rose. You didn't leave me," words slid out of my mouth like a flowing faucet. "I was worried you might have changed your mind and ran for the hills."
"Never," she said so confidently.
"Thank you, Rose."
She shook her head no at me.
"No, thank you, Lucas. You don't know how happy you made me today." She smiled at me.
"I wonder how you'll feel when I ask you to move in with me in a couple of months?" I winked at her, finally able to open my eyes fully, and take in her beautiful face. Her eyes widened at me, before she blushed deeply.
"Stop," she slapped my arm playfully.
"Just wait and see, Rose."
Rose kept me company all day. She skipped her classes, and got her assignments emailed for the day. She worked on her homework, and her classwork, as she sat with me. I loved seeing her focus with the way she would suck her lips in when she was concentrating. Her brows would pinch at the center any time she would get confused, but it would soon unfurrow as she found her answer.
Leo stopped by again with Lisa, who seemed to be doing okay. I was still worried about her and that son of bitch that I needed to find. I hate that I can't intimidate him now that I have this thick cast on. Lisa needs help. I love her to death, but she definitely has daddy issues, and it's causing her to pick guys with large red flags. I just hope she's able to break this habit before it hurts her worse.
"I still don't understand it. Once you start mixing the alphabet with numbers, you've lost me," Lisa complained as she looked at Rose's work quizzically.
"That's where you find me." Rose giggled as she took her work back from Lisa with a snatch of the paper.
"She's too smart for us," Leo added with a smile.
"I'm sure Lucas wouldn't be as lost as us." Lisa pointed out, knowing I actually enjoy math, and a challenge. She had Rose hand me the paper with her work. The problems were not simple, and way beyond my scope. I just shook my head no.
"Normally, math is my favorite, but even this is way too complicated for me," I frowned, sad I couldn't help her with it.
"I'll teach you." She smiled, looking excited as she offered.
"Go for it."
Rose showed me how to work the problems with ease. I followed along fairly well, and it helped her in double checking her answers as she went through them again. She was absolutely perfect, and there's no way I am letting her father keep her from graduating. I'll find a way to convince her to stay and finish out school.
I'm not letting you drop out, Rose.