Chapter 17: And so He Cried

GioYanna's PoV:

I heard voices, my head was pounding and my limbs heavy.

I opened my eyes, blinking trying to force my vision to focus.

"She's been here 2 weeks, why hasn't she woken up!"Cullen's voice...he sounded pissed.

I stared at him blankly, watching him take out his aggression on a nurse who was just doing her job.

"Cullen."Alice put her hand on his shoulder, "Look."She pointed to me.

I realized I was hooked up to tubes and something in my nose and a breathing mask to help me get oxygen.

"Gio!"he cried, he took 3 steps and he was at my side. He gently wrapped his arms around me.

I just sat there. I didn't feel like moving. I didn't feel like cussing him out. I wanted to, but I didn't have the energy.

All I could muster was a bitter "Get off."

He moved away from me, staring as if someone had shot his brother. He looked bewildered.

"Wha..."His face began to twist into that of extreme sadness.

"Cheater..."My voice was raspy and it hurt my throat to speak.

"Gio I-"

"Liar.."I felt intense anger well up inside me.

He stood there staring at me, taking everything that he knew he deserved.

"I hate you..."I felt so groggy.

He gulped, his eyes glazed over, tears forming in his eyes. Eyes that any girl would most certainly get lost in. His green eyes were ocean eyes. Able to sweep any girl off of their feet, to be swallowed by it's fervent depth.

He looked devastated. "Gio I..."

"That's the best you can say?"My voice still raspy and low. "That's the best you have?"I said spitefully.

"You are disgusting..."I murmured, looking away from him.

"I...Gio..."He winced as though his heart ached.

"That's all you have to say for yourself?"I hissed harshly.

"Gio."He grabbed my hand, his expression was urgent.

"I love you and only you. She meant nothing to me."

"Yeah?"I smiled, "That's what they all say."I glared.

"Get off of me."I tried to move my hand, but it wouldn't budge, I couldn't tell if it was because his presence still comforted me, or if it was because my body was so weak. I think it may have been both.

"Can you.."His voice cracked with each word, he sounded like he was about to cry. "Can you ever forgive me?"

I don't think I'd ever seen him cry. But he didn't. He shook of his feelings, trying to not let his face betray him.

"I...I don't..know."I moved my eyes off of him, looking around the room at everyone, everyone whom I hadn't noticed who was watching this soap opera-like scene take place from various places in the room. Each couple was together, each couple that had never felt the singe of betrayl like I had. Each couple who loved each other enough to never even think about being with someone else, let alone have sex with someone else.

"I...need to be alone.."I finally mustered the strength to pull my hand out of his.

"You heard her, clear the room."Cullen said looking at everyone.

"No..Not them. I want them here. It's you who needs to go."I said aggrieved.

He pulled himself from my side and walked out of the room reluctantly. Kollin followed his brother out.

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Cullen's PoV:

"I fucked up."I choked, looking down at my boots as I leaned against the wall.

"Yeah you did."I could feel my brother's disapproving eyes latch onto my entire being.

"Thanks."I said flatly.

"Well what do you want me to say? Here's a cookie?"He sounded disgusted with me.

"You did fuck up Cullen. You screwed someone else while claiming to unconditionally love Gio."His stare, turned into a glare. "She has every fucking right to hate and loathe you. You don't deserve her."

"Stop."I yelled, tears burned my eyes. I didn't want to cry. I held my tears back as linn as I could, but eventually they got the best of me, I looked up, staring my brother in the eyes as tears streamed down my face. He looked shocked.

"Cullen..I..I haven't seen you cry since that time when we were 6."Kollin's face turned soft. He understood now. How much she really meant to me and that I knew how badly I'd fucked up.

I slammed my fist into the wall, until my knuckles began to bleed. "I'm so stupid."I sniffled, as my tears fell to the floor.

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Kollin's PoV:

I watched as my brother punched the wall. His knuckled turned black and began to bleed.

I understood now just how much Gio meant to him. I hadn't seen him cry in 16 years and we'd been together since birth. He stopped crying after that fateful day. The day that changed him.