A faint, rhythmic beeping echoed around me as I slowly came to. My head throbbed, and I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. Blinking against the harsh hospital lighting, I tried to move, but a dull ache in my ribs held me back.
As I looked to my side, I saw Scarlet—her head resting on the bed next to me, her fingers intertwined with mine. A soft, steady rise and fall of her breathing told me she was asleep. Even in this sterile, cold room, she looked peaceful.
I couldn't help but smile, despite the pain. Slowly, I squeezed her hand, and she stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. When her eyes met mine, relief washed over her face.
"Max?" she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
"Hey," I croaked, forcing a small smile.
She sat up, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "You scared the hell out of me," she murmured, eyes welling up.
I chuckled softly, though it hurt to laugh. "Sorry… didn't mean to."
Before she could say more, the door creaked open, and Chris and Evan strode in. Chris flashed a grin when he saw me awake.
"Well, well. Sleeping Beauty's finally up," he teased.
Evan rolled his eyes. "Eight hours, dude. You've got half the nurses thinking you were in a coma."
I groaned. "Give me a break. I just fought a guy twice my size."
Chris smirked. "And lost consciousness like a champ. Real impressive."
Scarlet shot them both a glare. "Guys, cut him some slack. He's still recovering."
Chris raised his hands in surrender, but his grin didn't fade. "Just saying. Never seen our tough guy go down so dramatically before."
Evan snorted. "Almost thought Scarlet knocked him out with that hug."
A faint blush crept onto Scarlet's cheeks, and I shot Evan a warning look. "Don't start."
They both laughed, but Scarlet's hand stayed wrapped around mine, and that alone made it all feel a little less embarrassing.
After a few more minutes of banter, Scarlet cleared her throat. "Hey, can you two give us a minute? I'll stay with him tonight."
Chris raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Oh, we see how it is."
Evan nudged him. "Alright, lover boy. Take it easy. We'll catch you later."
Once they left, the room fell into a quiet stillness. Scarlet sat back down, her fingers tracing circles on the back of my hand.
I shifted, trying not to wince. "You really didn't have to stay."
She glanced at me, her eyes softening. "Of course I did. You just… collapsed. I couldn't leave you like that."
The way she looked at me—like I was the only person that mattered—made my chest tighten. I tried to shift the mood. "You know, you don't have to worry about me. I've been through worse."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Maybe… but that doesn't mean I won't worry."
For a moment, silence hung between us, and I could see the question in her eyes—one she didn't dare ask. I squeezed her hand a bit tighter.
"I'll tell you more about it someday," I said quietly. "About… everything."
She gave a small nod, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Whenever you're ready."
A hint of a smile tugged at my lips. "You're stubborn, you know that?"
She smiled back. "Takes one to know one."
We stayed like that, her hand in mine, sharing the quiet. Despite the bruises and the pounding headache video, I felt a strange sense of comfort. For the first time in a long while, I wasn't alone.