Burning Brighter Than The Stars (Jalex)

Alex's POV for the rest of the story:

When I open my eyes I see the white tiles that cover the ceiling. I try to move but the pain that moves throughout my body screams at me to stop. I manage to move my head to the side and I see Jack sleeping in a chair next to me. I missed his face and smile and everything about him. Being stuck in my own head for as long as I was Jack's voice was the only thing that kept me sane. 

I look around and notice Jack's the only one here and I instantly miss the girls and Tom. I want to see them and tell them how much i missed them. I turn my head toward the window and notice the stars shining bright in the nighttime sky. I smile at the fact that I was so close to becoming one of them but that moment will have to wait for another day. 

"The stars are beautiful tonight aren't they?" I turn my head back to look at Jack again and see that he's awake. He smiles at me and I manage to smile back.

"Where's Tom?" I ask trying to sit up and Jack helps me. 

"He and the girls went to the Wendy's down the street to get some real food to eat" He replies and we both laugh. I missed laughing and smiling with Jack. I stop once a pain starts creeping it's way up my side and I wince. I then notice the dull ache of pain that has decided to once again cover my entire body. It hurts but it's not nearly as bad as it was when I was first brought in.

"How do you feel?" Jack gives me a look of concern. Do I lie or tell him the truth.

"Well everything still hurts but it's much more bearable now" I reply. I wasn't lying but I didn't tell him the entire truth.

"I missed you" I say a moment of silence. I remember how much I longed to talk to him or kiss him when I was in the coma. 

"You missed me? I was literally falling apart without you. It's like someone found a loose thread in my life and decided to pull it until my life fell apart. I missed you" he replies and I remember what he told me right before I woke up. 

"I hate to say this but I started cutting because I couldn't deal with the pain of everyday life on my own and I hate myself for doing it especially after I asked you to stop cutting."

I look at Jack's wrist but he's wearing a sweatshirt so I couldn't see them. He could just be wearing it because he's cold but I know the real reason.

"You need to stop that" I say pointing to his wrist.

"What?" He asks with a look of confusion painted all over his face.

"Cutting. Look I know I left you on your own for a while but I'm back and I'm not going anywhere ever again as long as I can help it. If I could stop then I know you can because you're stronger than me in more ways than one." He smiles at me and looks from my eyes to my lips.

"So are you going to kiss me already?" I ask and he gets up out of his chair before he leans over and places a gentle kiss on my lips. Jack starts to pull away after a minute but I pull him back in for a deeper kiss. I missed this so much. I want more believe me I do but my body screams at me to stop so I pull away. Jack gives me another concerned look so I assure him that i'm okay. 

Jack and I talk for a while and he catches me up on stuff in missed both at home and at school. He also tells me how Tom, Mabel, and Charlotte are doing. I hated that Mabel blamed herself for this, everyone makes mistakes and stuff like this just happens and it was in no way her fault. Jack also tells me what's been going on with Zack and I remember his apology from a couple of weeks ago. I was completely shocked when Jack told me Zack quit the football team for us. I don't know if we could ever have the friendship we used to have but i'm willing to forgive him and give us another chance to be good friends.  

"It's nice to see you alive and well again." Jack and I both turn out head to look at the door and we see Tom and the girls walk into the room. Tom is smiling but Mabel and Charlotte look scared, probably from the machines and noises. Tom makes his way over to the side of my bed and the girls follow him. 

He asks me a lot of questions but I only answer with a "I'm fine" to get him to leave me alone. He sits in the other chair in the room and both Mabel and Charlotte sit on his lap. We talk for a while before Dr. Charles enters the room which makes us all fall silent to hear what he has to say.

"It's nice to see you awake" He says ending the silence that had engulfed the room. He walks over and stops at the foot of my bed.

"How's he doing doc?" Tom asks and I myself would like to know. I still feel awful but I feel better at the same time.

"Well you're doing much better and I can't describe it as anything but a miracle. A day ago I thought you waking up would be impossible. Even though you woke up you should be a vegetable. The fact that you're sitting up and talking is amazing. Your bones are healing correctly and the swelling in your brain has gone down. You went through over five surgeries to repair the damage so I don't want you moving too much to prevent ripping your stitches or staples. I also want you to stay in the hospital for about two to three weeks so we can closely monitor you and make sure you're okay and we will have you start physical therapy as soon as possible.  I hate the fact that I can't go home for a while but at least i'm doing better. I remember how close to death I was. I remember the bright light and the warm calm feeling there was. I remember mom being there and telling me to go with her but I decided to stay. I stayed for Jack.

After Dr. Charles leaves we continue to talk for a while before Jack says he needs to leave. I'm not ready to let Jack leave yet but I know I can't keep him here as my prisoner until I can go home. After Jack leaves I start to feel tired so I decide to go to bed. It was a long two months I was stuck in my head but now for the first time in a long time i'm happy.