Broken Bad Boy

HAILEY

"Wait. We're going to see Percie?" I pulled my hand back. "No. He would not be so happy to see me. Besides, I'm sick, remember?"

Lexie rolled her eyes. "Sick? Colds? That's what's stopping you to apologize to someone you love?"

"Who said I love him?" I glared stubbornly.

"Isn't that obvious? You can deny all you want, but I don't buy if you said you're not in love with Percie, and besides, he needs you right now, Hailey." She put a little emphasis on besides.

My face heated. I guessed, maybe she was right, but I was not going to admit it to her. "You told me that his grandma is okay, and her injury isn't so bad."

"Oh, my God. You're so clueless who much Percie's struggling right now. He's torn between staying here with you and in the hospital. That's why he asked a favor to keep an eye on you before his grandma is gonna be discharge. That dude is madly in love with you, Hailey. You mean the world to him. And please, don't break his heart by acquainting with Remy. He'd been gone through enough." Lexie was done with me. She grabbed her purse and was ready to leave. "Lex, wait!" I called her urgently. "You're leaving?"

"Yeah, I'm done here." She was already walking towards the door.

"Just wait, please? Let me change my clothes." I watched her pause for a while before she turned around, grinning, flipping her hair, and walked back. "So that's speech was a lie?"

"Is it that effective?"

My shoulders sagged. I wished that was all true. "I have doubts, but it doesn't matter. You're right about one thing. Percie needs me right now."

"Silly." She hit me playfully on my butt, causing me to jump.

"What was that for?"

"He may not tell you everything, but I could feel it in my bone that what I said is what I saw. Trust me, Percie is like your knight in shining armor with a heart of gold."

Thirty minutes later, we were on the road to the hospital. Still, I did not text him because if I did, he would only tell me to stay put and rest. I was hoping he would talk to me when we got there.

My heart was beating a mile as soon as the hospital logo came to view.

"Relax. He doesn't bite." Lexie must have noticed my anxiousness.

"I'm fine."

"You're not. In a sec, you're gonna pee in my car seat. Forget what I said earlier. Just think of being there for him. He might have anger issues, but he's one of the good guys."

"I know."

"Good."

I was counting my steps as we got closer to Percie's grandma's room. My heart almost stopped. He was there outside on the bench, his head against the wall with a paper cup in his grip. "Percie?" Lexie called him first. "Is your grandma okay?"

The shock in his face was prominent the moment his gaze landed on me. "What the hell is she doing here?" He stood up, placed the cup on the bench.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

The moment those words came out of his mouth, I froze. I felt like my world just came crashing down on me. He hated me. Lexie wasn't right after all.

I dropped my gaze down. If there was a way I could just disappear or run away, I already did, but my feet were just rooted to the floor.

"I told you to look after her while I'm still here. And not to bring her to the hospital. She needs some rest." His words were firm. I could literally see him glaring at Lexie.

"She's fine. She took her meds before we came over. And it's just flu. You're overreacting."

I gasped in shock. His shoes came to my view. "You okay?" When his voice earlier was firm and harsh, right now, it sounded like a lullaby. The back of his hand touched my forehead, down to my neck. "You should have stayed rested." I swallowed hard. "I'm fine."

"Doesn't sound fine to me, Lee." Oh, god, that nickname he gave me.

I cleared my throat, gathering all my strength left to meet his gaze. "I feel better now."

"You have to." A gasp slipped my throat. I didn't see that coming when Percie pulled me into a hug. "I wish I was with you. I couldn't bear the fact that you're sick alone."

Before I could hug him back, he pulled away, staring right back at me, then kissing my forehead. "I still don't like the idea of you coming here to the hospital."

"If that makes you feel better, she actually didn't come here for you, jerk. She came to visit your grandma." It was Lexie that made me chuckle.

"You hurt my feelings, Lexie." Percie snorted.

"Now makeup and kiss already. We don't have all night. And the old woman is probably waiting."

Percie cupped my face, anticipation quickly brewing all over me. But it didn't happen. "I'm so sorry for running away-"

"It's okay."

"No, it's not okay. It should never be okay, running away from our problem. And I left you even though I knew you're sick. What kind of person in the right mind would do that to someone he cared about. I couldn't even breathe the guilt out. I'm so sorry, Hailey."

"It's all good. You're here with your grandma. It's all my fault anyway. I should be the one apologizing."

"Then where is it?"

"Fine." I rolled my eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Okay. Now, chop-chop," Lexie urged.

"She's annoying sometimes."

"I know." I smiled.

His grandma was still awake, chatting with his grandpa, and they stopped as Percie entered. Their gazes flew to us.

"You must be the roommate. Hailey, right?" His grandpa said to Lexie as he joined us.

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My throat choked up. My heart just crashed. I wanted to dash out of the door and never come back.

"George, stop being silly," scolded his wife.

Then he came to me. "Nice to finally meet you, Hailey." He squeezed me into a hug.

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Matthews."

"Just call me grandpa, honey." He then hugged Lexie. "You would be a good nurse or doctor someday, honey." Wait, he knew Lexie took care of me?

We chatted for a while. Grandpa cracked some jokes and told us about Emma. Apparently, it was true that we had a resemblance. Percie constantly cleared his throat to warn grandpa when he told us about his life as a kid, but nothing could stop gramps.

"Oh, he's a bully."

"Really?" we chorused.

"You were a bully when you were a kid?" Lexie stared at Percie with pure surprise. "Aren't you full of surprises?" She followed with laughter.

"I was a kid, attention seeker, and my parents were constantly away. When they came back from trips, all they did was see the school principal."

His grandparents listened to him with warmth in their eyes. I could feel it in my bones that they loved Percie like their own son. "Wow! What changed you?"

Sadness and grief were so deep in his expression. Silence stretched.

"Sorry," Lexie apologized.

"Emma," I whispered.

"Then she's gone."