Even Without Words

Vic

I don’t even remember why we started fighting, but before I knew it, Mike and I were wrestling on the floor. The only advantage he has is that he’s bigger than me and can squash me. I whacked my head as we fell to the floor but didn’t think anything of it.

“MIKE! GET OFF ME YOU FAT ASS,” I yelled and continued to wrestle with my brother. I heard a small gasp and we both froze. I looked up at the doorway to see Kellin with wide eyes and a hand over his open mouth.

“What is it Kellin?” Mike asked, confused. He just pulled me up off the floor from under Mike and dragged me over to the kitchen. “OH SHIT, MA! WE NEED HELP!”

“What happened?” I asked, starting to get a headache and I felt sweaty or something. We were alone in the kitchen so Kellin replied and pressed a towel to the back of my head.

“You were bleeding everywhere! We need to get you to a hospital Vic,” He looked scared and I realised I wasn’t sweaty. That was my blood staining my shirt. I was starting to feel a little funny and my mom was on the phone with someone.

“Kellin, you need to listen to me,” I said, only feeling worse every second. “You need to stay here with Mike, call Jaime or Tony if you need to but you shouldn’t go to the hospital. I don’t need you having an anxiety attack and scaring everyone more okay? Can you promise me you’ll stay here at least until my mom calls?”

“O-okay,” He stuttered and looked like he was going to cry.

“Don’t cry Kells, I’ll be fine,” I struggled to get the words out and kissed him after he hugged me. The paramedics came in to get me and the last thing I saw was Mike taking Kellin into the basement so he didn’t have to watch.

I must’ve passed out in the ambulance because I woke up being wheeled through the hospital in a bed. The back of my head still felt warm and sticky so I assumed I was still bleeding. There was only one thought in my mind though. What about Kellin. I didn’t want him to be scared or crying or having an anxiety attack.

“Tell Kellin I love him,” I managed to mumble and one of the nurses said something to me but I was already almost half asleep.

The next time I woke up, I was in a hospital room with my mom. I felt tired but I could still only think of one thing.

“Mom, call Kellin,” I sighed, my voice feeling weird from not being used for a while. “Tell him to come here.”

“We were told you could come home when you woke up,” she told me and called the nurse. “I’ll call him to tell him we’re coming home though.”

“Thanks mom,” I said and the nurse came in to unhook the machines from me.

“Now Victor,” A tall man said. “We put a couple staples in the back of your head. Don’t pick at them and take it easy for a couple days.”

“Will do,” I replied and they let me change back into some regular clothes that my mom had gotten from home that weren’t bloody. The drive home was quiet but I really just wanted to make sure Kellin was okay. When I walked in the front door I heard people talking in the basement. I stumbled down to see Kellin, Mike and Tony sitting around, watching transformers and eating ice cream. When Kellin saw me, he put down his snack and ran over to fling his arms around me. His eyes were red from crying and he buried his face in my chest.

“Baby, don’t cry,” I whispered and he shook his head.

“I was so scared Vic,” He said so quietly I could barely hear. “I didn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I’ll be fine Kells,” I chuckled a little. “Come on, mom made dinner.”

We ate and Tony stayed for dinner again. I ate about as much as Kellin because I just wasn’t hungry. It must’ve been the hospital trip. It wasn’t too bad though, we laughed the whole thing off and my dad showed up halfway through.

“My boys!” He said with a smile and hugged us both at the same time since we were sitting beside each other. “This must be your boyfriend. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Kellin doesn’t talk dad,” I told him and they just shook hands. He hugged Tony too before sitting down and eating with us.

Kellin and my dad got along fine, which was surprising because the last time I had a boy over my dad hated him. It was a nice change. We all ended up watching tv in the living room and I had my head on Kellin’s shoulder. My mom insisted that since tomorrow is the 24th we should probably go to bed anyways. And the trip to the hospital did not help. I nodded and Kellin had to help me back to my room where he tried to force me to sleep on the bed.

“I’ll make you a deal,” I said and took his hands. “I’ll sleep in the bed if you keep me compmany.”

“How could I say no to that?” He laughed and went to change. I crawled under the covers and waited for Kellin to get back. When he joined me, I wrapped my arms around him and he kissed my forehead. It was a nice feeling, to be comforted for once.

“Good night Kells,” I said quietly. “I love you.”

“Night Vicky,” He replied, making me laugh. “I love you too.”