When I woke up I was in a room that smelt like salt and hand sanitizer. Gavin was by my bed holding my hand with silent tears running down his face. His eyes were closed but he was talking.
"Please, don't let her die. If their's anybody with the power to stop her death, please, please, please. You can't let her die. This is crazy but she believes I'm an okay person. She believes in me, and nobody else ever has. I think it's love at first sight, and it's scary, but what's even scarier, is the thought she will never wake up again."
I closed my eyes again and continued to listen to him. I listened until his silent tears turned into choking sobs that shook his body. Then he fell asleep with his head lying on my lap, and hand still holding onto mine. I watched him sleep for a while, it could've been minutes or hours, but I watched him sleep, replaying his words in my mind. Love at first sight.
How did I feel? I felt a deep protectiveness for him, but I've never been in love, so I can't say what I feel. I just know it's special. He is special.
I squeezed his hand gently, just enough to wake him up, and watched him closely. When his eyes fluttered opened, he gasped looking at me.
"You're alive! You're acually alive!" He yelled, and buried my face in his shoulder as he hugged me. I hugged him back and we stayed like that, him allowing himself to be relieved, and me allowing myself to feel the comfortable touch of his body, and the smell of his colone. "I was scared you'd be dead. I thought I'd never see you again."
"I'm fine. Just a bit sore. They did a nice job with these stitches." I replied, trying to be casual when my heart was racing.
"Are you okay? You look a little flushed. Do you have a fever?" He asked, and that's when I realized I was blushing.
"No, stop worrying. It's really no big deal." I said, and his face hardened.
"No big deal? You could've died. That's a pretty big deal to me!"
"My life isn't that important. Nobody would care if somebody like me died. It's no big deal because I'm not special. I'm just me."
Gavin went silent for what felt like ages. When he finally did speak, his voice was rough and dark. "Just you? Just. You are special. Your special to me. I would care if you died. Am I a nobody? Your life is important. You are one of very few people who can acually see monsters. You are a person who is independent and strong, but you care about other people, that's definitely somebody who should be in this world."
When he finished, we stayed silent for a moment before he stood up to leave and said, "Get better soon. I hope to see you around."
I grabbed his hand and he turned to me. "Don't go. I don't want to be alone." I protested, and he gave a small smile.
"I need to get some air. I promise I'll be right back. Just give me five minutes so I can collect myself." He said, and he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind you.
A few minutes later, a nurse came in looking grim. "Mrs. Miller. The injuries you have experienced today are healing nicely, but I need you to sign some papers agreeing that you won't sue us for negligence of passengers."
"Mrs. Miller?" I asked. "Who's Miller?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just assumed that man was your husband. The man who owns this cruise line is Gavin H. Miller. I assumed you were his wife. I apologize for the confusion."
I blushed and took the papers, signing with shaking hands, and gave it back to her.
"Thanks." I managed, before taking a deep breathe and closing my eyes. He owns the cruise line? Does that mean he was only trying to protect his reputaion? Was that why he wanted to keep me safe? Why didn't he tell me? I opened my eyes to the sound of Gavin opening the door and entering the room.
"How are you feeling?" He asked when he saw me.
Now that I was getting a better look at him, he was incredibly good looking, but he was also whereing very expensive clothing. He was wearing a Stuart Hugh's suit from the diamond edition, and a Rolex watch. How had I not realized something sooner.
"We need to talk." I said, ignoring his worried gaze. "Why didn't you tell me you were Mr. Miller? The owner of this cruisline?"
As soon as I said that his face dropped. "I'm sorry. When i first met you it would've been a random thing to say, afterward I just couldn't find the right time."
"Okay. Did you lie about being worried about me? Do you acually care weather I live or die, or was that just part of your good guy act?"
He looked hurt at that one, and replied. "No. I'm acually worried about you. I want you to live. That was all genuine."
I stayed quiet for a moment too long apparently because he started crying. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! I'm so very sorry!"
I took the nearest pillow and threw it at him. "Shut up!" I yelled, as I gave him a moment to regain his composure. Then a gave a gentle laugh and winced from the pain of pulling on the stitches. Gavin emediantly ran over to make sure I was okay and I looked him in the eyes. We stayed staring into each other's eyes for what felt like hours. His crystal blue eyes, silky brown hair, and pale skin, all directed to me and my wavy blonde hair, amber eyes and ghostly white skin.
He whispered, "I don't know how but, I love you. It's love at first sight. I can't stop it and I can't control it. It's just there and it wants to do things only with you."
"The meaning of my feelings. I don't know what it is, but it gives me thoughts I've never have before. Thoughts of you and me. The meaning of these feelings, I think it's love."
"Alyssa, I know we only met yesterday, but I can't help it, I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes, Gav, I will be your girlfriend." I replied, and pulled him into a passionate kiss.