Delicate - BOT ?

୭ ˚○◦˚. Theo ୭ ˚○◦˚.

"The devil that you know looks now more like an angel"

May 30, 2005

"Theo, was it?" The man I recognized as Cassandra's father was staring down at me.

I was sitting in the hospital waiting area, where I had been since half two in the morning. I'd practically begged Asher to get his ass out of bed and watch my sisters while I made my way to the hospital. It was irrational and stupid, yet I couldn't get myself to stop.

Cass was here, lying in a hospital bed either comatose, dead or dying—none of which were options I was okay with.

It might've been pathetic—waiting around for a girl who was hell bent on pushing me away—but Cassandra Crawford was worth every minute of waiting.

There was good inside her, maybe it was buried deep down, but I'd seen it. I'd known it in the weeks we were friends, and I knew it now.

"Um, yes," I blurted out, my heart beating frantically.

The environment of the hospital, the sterile scent of bleach and the beeping of monitors put me on edge, reminding me of the many months I spent visiting my mother on her death bed.

I'd go to her chemo with her and sit on the chair next to hers, keeping her busy while they pumped her with a cocktail of drugs I couldn't even pronounce. I'd hold her hand before they wheeled her off to surgery after surgery only for them to tell us she had no hope.

And I was here the day she died, the life leaving her body while my sisters sobbed and my dad died with her—his soul did at least.

"Is she okay?" I asked, standing up from my chair and running a shaky hand through my hair.

Please say yes. Please say yes.

"She's alright, all things considered," he nodded, his brow furrowing. "She's asked to see you, and we are alright with that. However, I have a few conditions, young man."

My eyes widened, gaping at the man in surprise. "Oh, sure. What are they?"

"You will not hurt my daughter," he said firmly, his arms crossed over his chest. "She's had terrible experiences with lads, and I will not see her suffer again. If you've got a vendetta or if this is a joke to you, you better leave right now."

"It's no joke, sir," I shook my head. "I like her a lot. I'm serious about that. She's a good person, really."

He eyed me for a moment, as if he were trying to determine if I was lying, before he nodded and stepped back.

"I'll take you to her," he led me towards the elevators.

We went up multiple floors until the elevator dinged and we got off. He led me down a hallway full of nurses and various healthcare workers. We stopped in front of a closed door, and he gave it a knock.

He cracked the door, and said, "he's here, sweetie. Do you want him to come in?"

I couldn't hear her response but I assumed it was a yes since her dad opened the door wider. I slipped past him, my eyes landing on the dark haired girl sitting in bed.