Chapter 5

Gary woke up slowly. His head was pounding and his entire body was in pain. He groaned and heard footsteps. He saw his mother standing over him with a very worried look on her face.

“Gary ... oh Gary...” Alice began to cry. She stroked his hair.

“Hey mom,” Gary gasped.

“You need your pain medication?” Alice asked.

Gary could only nod. The pain on his stomach was excruciating.

“Let me call the nurse,” Alice said and pressed the button near the bed for a nurse to come assist.

Within a few minutes, a male nurse showed up to give Gary his pain medication. It only took a few seconds before Gary could feel the pain relieved.

“Ahh ... this is good mom. No wonder people become addicted to pain pills,” Gary teased.

“Gary ... That’s not funny,” Alice said drying her tears.

“Did you come alone mom?” Gary asked.

“No, your uncle is here and so is your grandmother but they went downstairs to get something to eat since you were asleep. You’ve been out for nearly 14 hours.”

Gary turned his head to the side and his eyes wandered off. “Where’s Ginger?”

Alice stroked Gary’s hair again. “I sent her home to get some rest. She’d been here for too long. She looked tired.”

Gary smiled weakly. “Thanks mom. I do hope she comes back. I need to see her.”

“You will sweetheart you will,” Alice assured. “Ben was the one to call me down here. I’m so happy to hear that you and Ben are friends again.”

Gary grunted. “Um ... yeah ... I guess.” His mother had no idea the real reason he and Ben had ended their friendship.

Just then Gary heard footsteps.

“Gary!” It was his uncle.

“Gary, oh my Gary!” Ava cried out.

They both headed towards Gary’s bedside and gathered around him. Alan hugged his nephew the best way he could and Ava bent down to kiss Gary on the forehead.

“Hey Uncle Alan. Grandma...” Gary could barely speak suddenly. The pain medications were making him so drowsy.

“Gary, what kind of trouble are you in?” Ava asked sternly. “Why were those hoodlums beating you up?”

Gary groaned. “Grandma ... c’mon now. I’m in the hospital. I’m terribly hurt and all you can do is lecture me?”

Ava frowned. “Well ... I’m sorry Gary but you never used to get into this kind of trouble until you started hanging around with that ... girl.”

Gary was too drugged up to get angry. “You mean Ginger? No this is not her fault.”

Alan looked away. It was obvious that his nephew was very much in love with Ginger ... his half sister. How in the world was he ever going to tell Gary?

“Well Sally called me this morning because she heard through the grapevine that those hoodlums beat you because of Ginger. Gary, the girl is nothing but trouble,” Ava continued to blame Ginger.

Alan cleared his throat. “Ahem ... um mom? Maybe we should talk about his another time. For now, let’s let Gary rest. He needs to heal.”

Ava pursed her lips. “Fine.” She looked down and saw that Gary was already falling back asleep.

“You are the biggest fucking idiots that exist! Fuck! I never told you to fuck him up! I simply said to pick a fight with him but never ordered to hurt him!” Sally yelled.

She had to go bail Max, Lenny and Marty out of jail and then take them to get Max’s Escalade from the vehicle impound.

“Hey shut your mouth,” Lenny snapped from the backseat of Sally’s car.

“Fuck you!” Sally shouted at him.

“Your place or mine?” Lenny retorted.

“Dude! Shut up already!” Max warned Lenny.

Lenny and Marty sat in the back pissed off. They had a terrible night in jail and to top it all off, they had no real family they could call to bail them out. Lenny’s family now lived out of state and Marty ... well Marty was practically an orphan since his grandmother passed away over six year ago.

“I just hope Gary isn’t hurt. If you assholes damaged him in some way permanently, I will be sure to get all of your asses back in jail you hear me!”

Max laughed. “And how do you plan on doing that? By ratting us out that we sell dope? Well guess what honey, you buy dope so you’ll be rotting in jail just like us. So I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”

Sally clenched her jaw. She was done dealing with these stupid assholes. She should have known better than to set Gary up the way she did. She never thought these fuckers would go back and beat the shit out of poor Gary. It was all that skanks fault! Sally gripped the steering wheel tight. There had to be another way to get Ginger out of Gary’s life. There just had to be.

Gary woke up feeling groggy and his stomach growled. When he finally opened his eyes he found himself staring up at the ceiling.

“Hello?” He called out.

He turned his head slowly to the side and spotted none other than Lila sitting on one of the chairs reading a magazine. Gary felt his pain slowly start to creep.

Lila looked up when she heard him call out. She felt so nervous. Gary was her ex boyfriend. Her brother’s ex best friend. He was the one she had left to be with her own brother.

“Hi Gary,” she whispered.

Gary turned away and stared back up at the ceiling. “Lila. What are you doing here?” He asked angrily.

“I-I just came to visit,” Lila responded in a small voice. He heard her get up and walk towards him.

“I hope you are ok with me being here. I mean ... we need to talk. I would like to talk.”

Gary didn’t say anything. He just laid there and listened to her talk. He had forgotten how sweet Lila’s voice was. Her voice always so smooth and child like sounding.

“Gary ... I just ... first I just want to say I’m really sorry that I hurt you. I never meant to.”

Gary continued to listen.

“Ben is sorry too. We both are.”

“Why ... why did you do it?” Gary asked. He was so angry and hurt still.

“I-I didn’t mean to do it intentionally. It just happened,” Lila said quietly.

“You’re pregnant right? Flanna told me,” Gary cringed as he said it.

When he didn’t hear her respond, the turned to make sure she was there. Sure enough Lila stood by his bedside with her head down and tears streaming down her pretty face.

“Yes. I’m pregnant,” she sobbed.

Gary gulped. “I don’t know how to respond to that. I mean I should say congratulations but then again...” Gary’s voice trailed.

“I want kids someday and for some reason I thought that maybe you and I would have children together,” Gary said after some silence. “I always imagined you and I have kids and Ben being their uncle who spoils them. I never once imagined Ben actually being the one the fathered a child with you.”

Lila dried her tears with her hands. “Yes ... I know. I’m sorry. I don’t know how else to say I’m sorry. I really am.”

Gary reached out his hand. It hurt to stretch but he still did it. Lila looked down and took his hand. “I forgive you Lila. I mean it hurt like hell but I forgive you.”

Lila gently squeezed his hand. “Thank you. Ben has missed you a lot. So have I.”

“Yeah ... I missed Ben too. I just...” Gary sighed. “I just don’t know how to go back to the way we once were you know. When you were my girl and Ben was my best friend and your brother. Now he’s your ... well you know.”

Lila smiled kindly. “So I see you got a new girl now. I met her that night at the Kid Cudi concert but finally had a chance to really talk to her last night when they brought you in. She’s very pretty and so nice. We chatted outside in the waiting room and I can tell she loves you a lot.”

Gary beamed. “Yes she is. She’s the best thing that has happened to me. I tell you Lila, if she hadn’t came around ... I don’t know what I would have done.”

“I’m glad she makes you happy. You deserve to be happy.”

Gary smirked. “Yeah too bad I don’t have a sister huh?”

Lila laughed. It was nice to hear her laugh again. “Well at least you’re in a normal relationship unlike Emma and I.”

Gary nodded. “How is Emma?” He asked.

“She’s doing really well. She’s gone back to work. She’s a news anchor now you know.”

Gary raised a brow. “Oh yeah?”

“Oh I forgot you don’t watch the news,” Lila giggled.

“You remember huh?”

Lila nodded. “Yes I do. Well anyway she’s the news anchor for channel six and you can see her every evening on the five and nine o’clock news.”

Gary suddenly wanted to watch the news but realized it was barely going to be noon.

“She um ... she had her baby too. Just a little over a month ago. It was a girl. They named her Amber.”

Gary was slowly digesting the information. His ex girlfriend already had her brother’s baby. He wasn’t sure how to feel about the whole thing but what could he do? What was done was done. It was time to move on. His stomach growled.

“Is someone hungry?” Lila teased.

“Yeah.”

“I’ll call them to bring you some food.”

She reached for the intercom button.

“You’re going to stay for a while aren’t you?” Gary wondered. He was actually feeling more at peace having forgiven Lila.

“Um ... well if you want me to,” Lila said sounding unsure.

“I’d like it if you would,” Gary said happily.

Lila stroked his hair. “I’d love to.”

Ginger showed up a little later just as Gary had finished eating his meal. Lila had fed him and they talked about school and the Kid Cudi concert.

Gary’s face lit up when he saw his lover. Lila moved his food tray away from him and put it to the side.

“Hey, hey. There’s the love of my life,” Gary said as he stared at his lovely girlfriend.

Ginger’s green eyes looked so sad. She walked over to her boyfriend and leaned down to place a soft kiss on his lips. She licked her lips and giggled. “I can taste that you just had strawberry jell-o.”

Gary laughed and then groaned because he felt the pain.

“Shhh ... don’t laugh sweetie,” Ginger couldn’t help but laugh herself.

“It hurts, but it’s a good kind of hurt,” Gary admitted.

Ginger looked at Lila. “Hi Lila.”

“Hey Ginger. I was just about to leave. I have to study and babysit Amber.”

“You help take care of Amber?” He asked her.

Lila nodded. “Yeah. I mean Ethan and Emma were nice enough to let me and Ben live in their house so it’s the least I can do. Emma goes into work in about an hour and Ethan is working at a 24 hour clinic on the other side of town as a part time job for now. He goes to school in the mornings and then works at the clinic at night. Ben is working too full time as a waiter at Landry’s and goes to school as well in the mornings. We are all doing what we can.”

Gary’s heart went out to Lila. She had told him how her parents were so livid when they found out she was pregnant and that Ben was the father. They were not so open minded like Ethan and Emma’s parents were.

“Ok ... well stop by anytime ok?” Gary said kindly.

Lila smiled. “You got it.”

After Lila left, Ginger sat down on the bed and grabbed Gary’s hand. She held it and pressed it against her lips. She kissed his hand softly and then held it against her cheek.

“How are you feeling my love?” She asked.

Gary shrugged. “Eh ok I guess. I mean having broken ribs is no funny business but I’ll live.”

“Yes, you’ll be better soon and in no time you’ll be back home with me. Where you belong.”

Gary caressed her porcelain skin. “I’ve missed you. I hated waking up and not finding you here.”

“I know. Your mom suggested I go home. She was right though. I was extremely tired. Brett gave me two weeks off to tend to you.”

Gary nodded. “Brett is a good guy.”

“They say you should be able to go home in a few days. You’ll need a lot of rest though so I’ll have to play nurse.”

Gary smirked. “Will you wear a short white nurse’s outfit for me?”

Ginger laughed. “If you want.”

“Oh I want. I want.”

She leaned in and kissed him. Their lips met and then their tongues entwined. Gary felt something stir down between his legs. He wanted her so much at that moment.

“Gary!”

Ginger almost jumped up when she heard Alan’s voice at the doorway.

Gary frowned. “Uncle Alan?”

Alan felt his face turn red. He hadn’t meant to yell but seeing his nephew kissing his half sister had made him panic. He had to find a way to keep the lovers apart at least for a while until the secret was ready to be exposed.

“S-sorry. I was just ... I’m sorry I-I,” Alan stammered.

Ginger sighed. “Hello Alan,” She said politely and went to shake his hand.

Alan took her hand in his and wanted to really hug her. She was his niece after all but she didn’t know that ... yet.

“I’m really sorry to have scared you both like that. I guess it’s just been an emotional few days.”

“It’s ok Uncle Alan,” Gary said and tried to sit up. Ginger went over to adjust the bed.

A few seconds later, Alice walked in.

“Hey mom,” Gary greeted his mother.

“Hi Gary,” Alice said and looked at Ginger and smiled.

“Hi,” she said quietly to the young lady.

“Hello,” Ginger replied.

Alan stared at his sister and then at his niece and saw a huge resemblance. They both had the same facial expressions when they looked concerned, they both had small waists, full lips, and even the same smile. Shit! This wasn’t going to be easy at all.

“How are you?” Alice asked Gary. She went over to his bedside.

“I’m a little better. I could use more pain meds though. It’s my excuse to be high,” Gary teased.

Alice shook her head. “You are hurt but still manage to find time to be funny.”

“I do need something though,” Gary looked over at Ginger. “I need a bath. I mean I know I probably stink by now. I feel dirty.”

Alice nodded. “Sure of course. We can take care of that. I’ll call for a nurse-”

“No mom. I want Ginger to help me. I don’t want some nurse checking out my hard body.”

Ginger giggled. Alice turned red. Alan had to force himself not to smile.

“I can help you,” Ginger offered right away. She didn’t mind checking out his body, not one bit.

“Uh are you sure about that Gary? I mean ... we could get a male nurse to help you if that would make you more comfortable,” Alan chimed in immediately.

Gary’s eyes widened. “Uncle Alan ... you can’t be serious. Besides,” he looked at Ginger, “My girlfriend would do a better job than any nurse.”

Ginger beamed.

“I’m just saying what if you need some type of medical attention? A nurse would know what to do,” Alan insisted.

Alice frowned. “Alan, he’ll be fine. They have a button in the bath if you need a nurse. All Ginger would have to do is press it and a nurse would show up.”

“Yeah ... but still ... we have to be very careful. Gary is in a fragile state-”

“Uncle Alan, I know you care about me, but seriously ... you need to chill,” Gary said and laughed. He groaned because of the pain again.

“Oh honey ... be careful,” Alice said sounding concerned.

“I’ll be fine mom.” Gary looked at Ginger for support. Alan and Ginger helped Gary get out of the bed while Alice went to get everything else ready for Gary’s shower.

Once they were in the shower, Alan and Alice waited in the room for them. Alan stared at the door and wondered what was going on behind it. Was Gary getting intimate with his half sister?

Alan looked at his own sister who seemed lost in her own thoughts. He couldn’t help but realize how pretty she looked. Her hair bun looked like it was slowly falling apart, leaving her hair slightly messy looking. Her naturally ruby red lips were as plump as ever and even in sweat pants and form fitting t-shirt she looked great. A little too great.

“What?” Alice asked him distracting him from his private fantasy.

“N-nothing. Just thinking.” Alan knew that sooner or later he’d have to tell Alice about Ginger. It just wasn’t the right time. Not yet.

After Alan, Alice and Ginger left Gary was all alone. Visiting hours were almost up. He had been given his pain medication but in a smaller dosage this time so he wouldn’t be as drowsy.

It was nearly nine at night and he wanted to check out the news. He heard his door opening. He expected to see a nurse, instead it was Ben at the door. Gary took a deep breath.

“Hey,” Ben said as he closed the door behind him.

“Hey,” Gary replied.

“Um ... I went to talk to your professors at school. I told them to forward me all of your assignments for the next two weeks at least. I wasn’t sure if you had the same email or not so that’s why I asked them to send to me instead. I can forward them to you that way you won’t be behind.”

Gary nodded. “I have the same email.”

Ben stood in a distance with his hands in his pocket. He wore his waiter uniform from Landry’s.

“You just got out of work huh?” Gary asked.

Ben nodded.

“Well ... um thanks man. I appreciate you getting my assignments for me. I really do.”

Ben looked uneasy. There was silence for a few seconds.

“Well have a seat man,” Gary offered his ex best friend.

Ben looked somewhat shocked but went to take a seat in the chair across from Gary’s bed. “I can’t stay long. I think they told me visiting hours are almost over.”

“Yeah but it’s cool. I mean, stay for a few minutes at least.”

Ben smiled weakly.

“I talked to Lila earlier today,” Gary began. “She seems to be doing good. I mean I know you are taking good care of her. Or at least I hope you are.”

Ben shifted. “Yeah I am.”

“So I guess I should say ... congratulations huh? You’re going to be a father.”

Ben blushed. “Yeah ... thanks.”

Gary shook his head. “All this time I thought Lila and I would have a baby together. It never once crossed my mind that you’d be the one giving her a baby.”

Ben blushed more. “Yeah sometimes things work out very differently.”

Gary stared at his ex best friend for a moment. Ben looked tired but happy. He looked more mature. He would soon be a father. Even though they hadn’t talked for months, Gary realized that Ben looked like the same guy that Gary had grew up with and loved like a brother.

“How did you feel when Lila told you she was pregnant?” Gary wondered.

Ben was surprised by the question. “Um I don’t know really. I was happy. Scared. Excited. Nervous.”