Chapter Thirty: Breaking News

“Here,” Ben’s father said placing a cup of coffee in front of me.

“Thank you,” I muttered grabbing the hot cup, in my shaking hands.

He just nodded his head in return, as I sipped on the coffee. None of us uttering a word, lost in our own thoughts. “You know what happened to Ben, isn’t your fault.” Ben’s father whispered.

“That’s what people say, in order to make the other person feel better,” I told him honestly. I didn’t want him lying, we all knew it was my fault that Ben jumped in front of me.

“So it is your fault that man was following you? It’s your fault that Ben wanted to go outside and get some ice cream?” He asked incredulously. I stayed silent, I didn’t know how to react. “Alice, it isn’t your fault.” He whispered softly.

“So it’s Ben’s fault?” I asked in disbelief. “He’s your son,” I whispered. “How could you say that?” I searched his eyes for some sort of answer, he soon broke eye contact getting up from his chair. 

Ben’s father took a deep breath, “I am going to get some air.” He muttered, walking down the hall.

I sighed running my hands through my hair. It’s been two days, two days of waiting for Ben to wake up, two days of waiting to know if the police had caught the bastard who did this to him.

I propped my head on my arm, I was tired and even coffee couldn’t keep me up. “Alice?” I turned my head and noticed Ben’s mom looking at me with tired eyes, her brown hair was put in a messy pony tail and like everyone else she looked exhausted.

“Yeah?” I asked sitting up, a little straighter.

“Maybe you should go back to the hotel, and get some rest.” She suggested coming towards me and extending her hand.

“But,” I said in denial, I didn’t want to leave in case Ben woke up.

“I promise if he does wake up, which he will. You will be the first one, I call.” She said honestly.

I nodded, grasping her hand in mine and getting up. “Thank you,” I whispered softly.

Ben’s mom Barbra gave me a small smile in return, I then went over to Thomas and my mom and shook them awake. “Mom, I am going to head back to the hotel.” She nodded.

My mom was here majority of the time as well, she hasn’t slept here but Thomas had for one night. Unlike my dad who dropped in basically whenever he felt like. Considering his best bodyguard’s son was in a coma, it’s nice to know he cares.

“Alice?” My mom said sitting up, “Take Thomas with you, he needs a goodnight sleep.” She said waking Thomas up, he stirred in his seat, until finally waking up looking at us with squinted eyes.

“What’s wrong?” He said looking at us, he then noticed his surroundings. “Is Ben awake yet?” He said sitting up.

I gave him a tight smile, as I felt my heart sink. I shook my head, “No, no he is not.” Thomas nodded, he looked sad, but why wouldn’t he be?

*

By the time we reached our hotel room, Thomas headed straight for his bed. None of us uttering a single word our ride back to the hotel. It’s been tense, and all I really wanted right now was a good sleep. However, I also wanted to be the first person to see Ben when he woke up, if he woke up.

I walked over to the television and turning it on, I then reduced the volume so I wouldn’t wake Thomas up. I was about to change the channel, but when I noticed my dad on television. My eyes widened, “What the heck?” I muttered, turning the volume higher.

“It has been with great sadness, to inform you all about a tragic event that took place two days ago.” My dad began looking down at his paper. “A bodyguard, and I will not name his name, asked by his family.” He said looking at the camera. “Has been shot multiple times, protecting my daughter.” My dad said choking up a little.

I narrowed my eyes, “That faker.”

“Prayers from the Whitehouse and here in Brussels are with the family, during their time of difficulty.” My dad said once more looking back at his paper. “However, as a friends and family. We will strive our best to do whatever we can to catch this man who did this, to us- as a family. We are asking anyone with information on the shooting to please contact police or leave an anonymous tip.” My dad was looking directly at the camera this time. “Thank you.” He said waving, then shuffling off stage with a bunch of bodyguards and police men in tow. They were yells from the audience, but nothing more was said by my dad. 

The news soon cut to commercial, causing me to turn of the television. “Why didn’t he tell us?” I mumbled. I could tell this news broadcast was replayed over and over again, but considering I haven’t left the hospital I would understand. It seemed that the broadcast station cut majority of my dad’s speech. But the one thing I couldn’t understand was why wouldn’t he tell us that he was taking it to the public? I was confused, but it was probably because he thought that was the only way to get the information he needed.

I yawned as I got up getting ready for bed, I wanted to take a shower considering the last shower I took was the day Ben was injured but I couldn’t be bothered, I’ve been managing on twelve hours of sleep. I stripped out of my white dress, and yes to answer your question I haven’t changed my clothes for two days, I am pretty sure you would be the same if your friend was in a coma.

I threw the dress into the hamper, it had a yellowish stain, due to the ice cream that I spilled on it. I then pulled on my t-shirt and shorts, walking into the bathroom brushing my teeth, tying my hair into a messy bun, as I got into bed I realized something.

“The broadcast was international…” I remembered, as I replied my dad’s words in my head. How prayers from Washington and such. That means that Holly must have found out, about the shooting. I reached for my phone, unlocking it and calling Holly. “Pray to God, she doesn’t know who was shot.” Because an angry Holly was a Holly I didn’t want to deal with.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She speaks into the phone, answering it after the second ring.

“Why didn’t you call?” I fire back.

I heard her sigh, “So not telling me that Ben was shot was something you didn’t find necessary?”

“I am sorry calling you was the last thing that was on my mind, considering my mind was on Ben. He is in a coma, Holls. And they don’t know when he is going to wake up.” I said softly, I didn’t want to wake up Thomas.

“It still doesn’t make sense, if he was shot, why would he go into a coma?” She asked, sounding generally confused.

“He lost a lot of blood, the doctors put him in an induced coma to stabilize him.”

“Can’t they just stabilize him or whatever with anesthesia?”

I shrugged, but she couldn’t see me. “I don’t know Holls, I honestly don’t know.”

It was quiet for a good thirty seconds before Holly spoke, “You will call me when he wakes up, right?” She asked quietly.

I nodded my head, “Of course why wouldn’t I?”

“Um, I don’t know? Most probably cause you didn’t call me in like a week?” She said sarcastically.

I chuckled, “Hey what time is it over there?”

“Two a.m. Why?”

“Go to bed, because you shouldn’t be up.”

“I was up, worrying about Ben, and plus its Spring Break.”

“He’s going to be just fine,” I told her honestly. “I promise.” I knew Ben was going to make it, because if he didn’t I honestly don’t know what I’d do…

*

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing, I groaned turning over trying to locate it. “Could you turn the freaking thing off?” I heard Thomas yell.

I grabbed my phone, not bothering to look who it is, before answering it. “Hello?” I spoke, groggily.

“Alice?” I heard my mother’s voice from the other end. “It’s Ben,” She said quickly.

My eyes snapped open, as I sat up straighter on the bed, “What happened? Is everything okay?”

I heard her breathing quicker, she sounded frantic. “Just get over here as soon as possible, okay?” She said not before hanging up.

I stared at the phone for a couple of seconds, as I tried to wrap my mind on what had just happened. I pulled the sheets off my body, running over to Thomas’ bed and ripping the sheets of him.

“Hey, what the hell?” He asked sitting up. “What gives?”

Ignoring him, I grabbed his hand pulling him of bed. “We have to leave now.” I said, running frantically into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

“Why?” He asked yawning.

I spit, not before rinsing and running over to my suitcase. “It’s Ben, something is wrong.”

“What’s wrong?”

“If I knew, I would tell you. Now please hurry up,” I said wanting to get to the hospital as soon as possible. I wanted to find out his condition, and if I just called my mom back again, knowing her she would just ask me to get over here as soon as possible.

Ten minutes later, we were in the car minutes away from the hospital. Ben’s father had picked us up from the hotel, when we asked what is wrong with Ben he just shook his head telling us we will find out when we get there.

I prayed to God the whole way there, hoping that Ben was alright. I didn’t know why I was so concerned, maybe it was because I was his friend and because I cared for him. But I knew that if he did die, I would feel responsible, mainly because I was responsible. 

I didn’t wait for Ben’s father to put the car in park, I opened the door hopping out running towards the hospital doors ignoring the odd looks I got from visitors as I ran past them, and towards the elevator. “Come on, come on.” Clicking the elevator button multiple times hoping it would speed up the process.

When the doors finally opened I rushed in clicking the sixth floor, where Ben was staying in the private section of the ICU. I tapped my feet nervously, “Does these elevators go any faster?” I muttered.

“If it did, I wouldn’t be here for the last two minutes trying to get to the eight floor. Now would I?” I heard a woman say, I turned around and saw a woman sitting in a wheelchair she looked to be in her late seventies, with white hair, and bright blue eyes.

“Sorry,” I said quietly.

She smiled at me, “Its fine dear.” I smiled back at her looking at the doors waiting for it to open, “Are you here to see your boyfriend?” She asked.

I shook my head, “No.” I said shaking my head. “Ben. He is just a friend,” I said with a small smile.

“You are the girl whose daddy is the President, huh? And this Ben fella, is the one who took the bullet for you? Cliché don’t ya think?” The old lady said.

I chuckled, “How do you know about that?”

“News travels fast around here.” She replied.

I shook my head, thinking my thoughts aloud. “He shouldn’t have done that, he shouldn’t have taken the bullet.”

“You know sometimes, people are willing to take a bullet for the person that they love.” The old lady said.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the doors had finally opened. I looked back at the old lady but she was looking back at me with a smile on her face. “What are you doing standing here for? Don’t you want to go and check if your fella is alright?” She asked snapping at me, but with a smile on her face.

I nodded my head, rushing out the doors and down the hall, towards Ben’s room. “That was literally the longest elevator ride of my life.” I muttered.

A few seconds later, I was in front of Ben’s room. I took a deep breath, “Oh please Lord. Please let him be okay…” I silently prayed, pushing open the door.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the door was my mother who was standing just a few steps away from the door, my eyes then wandered to the boy on the bed who was sitting up smiling and laughing with his mother. “Ben!” I exclaimed.

I looked to my mother in confusion, “But y-you said.” I mumbled in confusion.

“I didn’t want to tell you he was awake, because knowing you, you would take five hundred years to get changed and get over here.” My mother said with a smile on her face.

I wrapped her in a hug, “That’s not me who takes years to get dressed it’s you.” I muttered as I heard her chuckle.

I then released myself from the hug, walking over to Ben’s bed where his mom got up from the seat she was sitting to make room for me. “You’re awake,” I whispered.

“Indeed, I am, Alice.” He said softly.

I made my way over to his bed, and wrapping him in a hug. He quickly hugged back with his right arm, due to his left arm being in a cast. “I am so glad you are okay.” I mumbled against his skin, where my face was buried in the crook of his neck.

“I am glad too,” He whispered stroking his hand in my hair.

“I swear to God, next time you decide you want to die on me I will make sure that happens.” I said angrily. “Don’t ever do that again,” I said softly, squeezing him.

“I promise I won’t.” He muttered.

“You know what, I think we are just going to go…” I heard my mom say from behind me. But I didn’t bother to turn around, I didn’t want to let go of Ben-just yet.

I heard them shuffling, and a few seconds later I heard the door close. Ben and I were left in each other’s arms, “Why did you do that? Why did you take a bullet for me?” I asked pulling away from him, and looking into his hazel eyes.

I saw his Adam’s apple bob, he patted with his left hand, gesturing for me to take a seat on his bed. He shuffled to the right in order to make room for me. “I would always take a bullet for you,” He said softly.

“Yeah, but why?” I asked my hands still wrapped around his neck.

His eyes darted to his lap, then looking back at me with a determined look in his eyes. “Because I will always take a bullet for you, if it means protecting someone I love.” He whispered.

I looked at Ben, in wide eyes. “Y-you love me?”

Ben slowly nodded, grabbing the side of my face in his hand pulling me closer to him. “More than you can ever imagine…” He said slowly.

I noticed as Ben’s eyes began to close, my eyes slowly fluttering shut. I felt his hit breath, fanning my lips. “Alice? Can I ask you a question?” He said softly.

I nodded my head, “Yeah?” I whispered.

“Can I kiss you?” He said not waiting for my answer before bringing my lips even closer to his.

*****

Hello Lovelies,

Guess who updated? And guess who left it in, in yet another CLIFFHANGER? This girl! I swear I am going to get so much hate now… So Ben is alive, so now we don’t need to worry, unless somebody shoots him again. Now you can all bombard me in “are they going to kiss?” I KNOW I MADE A LOT OF BALICE SHIPPERS HAPPY! And for the Alvin shippers, come on don’t hate the author hate the game! Ha made no sense, but I am feeling weird…

So this is dedicated to @deliriousdahlia her weird eating habit is onions with apples… Thank you but that was something… Lol. And let me say you all had very weird and I have to say disgusting habits but I narrowed it down…

So I asked this last chapter and NO ONE ANSWERED ME, which made me sad, so I will say it again, how many of you are up for a one shot? Cause my guess is no one…

To win a dedication, tell me your prediction to who will win the world cup, NOT TWO ANSWERS BUT ONE! My guess is Germany even though I desperately want it to be Netherlands! The first right guess will win the dedication… And it has to be BEFORE the world cup ends on Thursday!

Please Remember: Vote, Comment, Share and Fan!

Thanks,

Xoxo_mysteriousgirl