A/N: I know I said one chapter during weekdays but this chapter is just a celebratory chapter since this book just got contracted. Please vote and unlock chapters. Thank you for your support!
Evening came quickly and the couple was on their way to the hospital. While they sat in the car, Stuart was holding some books in his hands while Berry did not even bother to hide the glare he was throwing at those books. This was because Stuart got those books for Seth and Berry wondered why. Was Stuart going there to get revenge on Seth for him or make friends with Seth? It made Berry incredibly pissed. So pissed that he did not speak a word the entire ride. He could be a handful when upset.
"We are here", Stuart announced when the driver pulled over in front of the hospital. He stretched out his hand for Berry to take it but like he was air, Berry ignored him and stepped out of the car himself. His little tantrums left Stuart amused, smiling as he came out of the car with the books in hand. He knew that Berry was upset because of the books and he tried to explain his reasons for buying them but Berry refused to listen.
Before he could utter a word, Berry was already striding Into the hospital with hurried and angry footsteps that made people turn whenever his foot hits the ground. Not to mention, he was incredibly handsome with a straight face like that.
Staurt hurried to catch up with him and when he did, he held Berry's hand and as expected, the man stopped walking. Berry tried to pull his hand back but Stuart wouldn't let him and held his wrist tightly before leading them both to the door of Seth's room where he knocked gently before pushing the door open.
Seth was lying down and facing the ceiling, bored out of his wits. He was so bored that his mind conjured numbers and equations on the ceiling which he solved diligently. Well, he missed school. When he heard the door open, he sat up happily thinking it was Aspen since he was the only one who seems to want to check on him but when he saw the unfamiliar face of Stuart, he furrowed his eye brows only to see Berry behind him with a blank expression.
The sight of Berry made him scowl and the disappointment made him fall back on the bed helplessly.
"Good evening Seth", Stuart greeted cheerily like he and Seth were good friends who had known each other for years which made the other two people roll their eyes.
"What do you want?" Seth asked coldly as he tried to focus on the imaginary maths he was solving by staring hard at the ceiling. The voice of Seth left Berry very irritated so after pulling his wrist away from Stuart's grasp, he left the room.
Stuart's hand was left hanging as he sighed. He knew Berry did not go far since he could still see him through the small round transparent hole on the door so he calmed himself and decided to speak with Seth first.
"You are quite rude for someone who is sick", Seth rolled his eyes at this and refused to speak back. He had just finished the first ten questions and was moving on to the second part.
Stuart was amazed by this kid's attitude. He could now understand why Berry was so pissed because he himself was getting ticked off by Seth's attitude.
"I thought that you might be bored in the hospital, so I bought you some books. Berry mentioned to me that you are the top student in your school. I thought you might want them".
At the mention of books, Seth's attention was effectively stolen by Stuart. He hadn't seen the books before because he was not interested in Stuart but now that he saw Stuart waving those books at him, he itched to touch their sleek covers.
Seeing that he had finally gotten the attention he needed, Stuart walked over and sat on the bed, not miding the displeased glare he received from Seth. "I've got different books here; there is Math, Biology, English and oh, there is a book about trees too!" Berry told stuart everything he heard this morning while eves dropping and Stuart remembered everything which is why he specifically bought the books about trees.
"Well what are you waiting for? Give them here!" Seth said, reaching out to snatch the book but Stuart raised them above his head, keeping them away from him. Seth almost cried when the books were taken away leaving his the tip of his fingers tingling and his nose itching because of the smell that was very common with new books. He was only a hairs breath away from touching those sleek covers.
"I got them for you but I never said I was giving them to you", Stuart said, an evil grin on his face as he knew that Seth was affected by the books. How did he know that? He had a little sister, though younger than Seth, she was also a top student. The mere sight of a book leaves her with the very same expression Seth wore right now.
Meanwhile, Seth was staring at Stuart wondering what was wrong with him. "I got them for you but I'm not giving them to you?" Who does that?!
"You think I am desperate for those books. Take them away. I don't need them!"
Stuart smiled cunningly, "I did not buy these books just to return them. Here is what; utill you do as I say, I will rip out the pages of these books one by one and I will be starting with this book about trees… oh look, the Aspen tree! It's so beautiful. Too bad I will have to tear it off if you don't do as I say". Stuart sounded regretful, like he was being forced to do it but he was already reaching for the page to tear it off when Seth grabbed his hand.
Seth's eyes were shut tightly as he tried to calm his breathing. The Aspen tree stuarrt showed him had bright red leaves and the bark of the tree was a bright shade of grey with the foggy background. It didn't help that the pages were glossy which only accentuated the perfect colours. Even if he didn't like the Aspen tree so much, he couldn't bear anyone tearing a book. It made him extremely sad.
"Monster!" He muttered under his breath but Stuart heard him perfectly and he smiled like he wasn't the one Seth was referring too. He was relieved though, that Seth was not very stubborn. He couldn't see himself tearing books. "Fine! What do you want? Tell me".
Seth had not choice. This was the first time he was meeting Stuart but in just the short time he has spent with him, he knew that he was no match for this man. He asked knew that Stuart's presence must be related to berry and what he said to him this morning.
"You are such a smart boy!" Stuart cooed and even went far as ruffling Seth's hair but Seth's head snapped to the side so fast that Stuart was sure he heard a crack was worried that his head was going to fall of the next second.
"Very well. You remember that man outside don't you? He is my boyfriend and he is quite upset after what you did to him today. So I want you to apologize."
Seth was shocked and confused. Why did he have to apologize? That man outside was the first to trouble him by entering his room without knocking and disrupting his not so good conversation with Aspen. And after he left, Aspen did not speak to him even once. Not that he did before but this time, he could see that Aspen was mad at him. "I will not apologize!" He said firmly, only to hear the rip sound of book tearing.
"NO!!!" He cried but the page of the Aspen tree was already separated from the rest of the book. With red rimmed and teary eyes, he tried to snatch away what was left of the book but Stuart raised his hand again leaving Seth with a teary face.
Stuart was surprised by this and he was quite worried too. He was surprised by the deep emotion Seth haboured towards books and was a tad bit impressed and he was worried because he was scared that Seth might just pass out because of how red he looked. It hasn't been a day since he was pushed out of the surgery room.
He considered stopping this but he couldnt, not after making Berry mad at him. He had to get something done for Berry else they might break up tonight. Berry's anger was no joke.
"You just have to apologize. What's the big deal about it?" His voice was soft and gentle different from the evil person he was a minute ago. He wanted Seth to apologize. Everything would be fine if he did. It was a win for everyone.
Seth gets his books, Berry gets his smile back, and Stuart gets his boyfriend back.