The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the room, making Dana's head swim as her eyes fluttered open. She groaned softly, the ache in her skull making it difficult to focus. As her surroundings came into view, she realized she was in a hospital bed, the white sheets crumpled beneath her. Her vision was blurry for a few seconds, but as it cleared, she saw two familiar figures sitting by her side.
Steven's worried eyes locked onto hers almost immediately, his features softening in relief as he noticed she was awake. He'd been beside her since the moment the doctors had brought her in, not once leaving her side. The exhaustion in his eyes was unmistakable, but it was his gaze—filled with concern—that made Dana's heart race.
"Hey," Steven whispered, his voice hoarse. "Welcome back to the world of the living."
Dana blinked, still disoriented. "What happened?" she asked, her voice weak, but a faint smile tugged at her lips as she realized Steven had been there, right by her side.
"You hit your head," Steven replied, his hand gently brushing a lock of hair from her face. His fingers lingered at her temple, his touch so tender it made her heart skip a beat. "But you're okay now. The doctors said you'll be fine."
Dana looked around, trying to shake the fogginess from her mind. "Where's Mel? Rhys?"
Just as she mentioned them, both Melanie and Rhys entered the room. Their eyes landed on her at the same time, and Dana noticed the sharp intake of breath from Rhys. Melanie's face was pale, her lips pressed tightly together in a thin line.
The room felt tense, and Dana's gaze shifted between the four of them—her, Steven, Melanie, and Rhys. The air crackled with unspoken words, feelings, and unresolved tension. But despite the heavy atmosphere, Steven stayed close, his presence grounding her, his hand still resting gently on hers.
Melanie spoke first, her voice laced with both concern and an undeniable relief. "Dana... thank God you're awake."
Rhys was quieter, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. It wasn't that he wasn't relieved; he simply appeared caught in his own thoughts. All the fight and everything that has happened, he still can't believe that Steven was actually in love with Dana not Mel. But it was Steven who stood closest to her, blocking out the tension that seemed to envelop the room.
"How are you feeling?" Melanie asked, her voice wavering slightly. "Do you remember anything?"
Dana shook her head, wincing at the dull throb that spread across her temples. "Not really... just everything went black for a while."
Rhys stepped forward, his brow furrowed as he took in the sight of Steven hovering over Dana. He didn't speak at first, his gaze flicking between her and Steven with something unreadable in his expression.
But before he could say anything, something in the room shifted. Dana felt the magnetic pull between her and Steven. She didn't know what it was—maybe it was the overwhelming relief of being awake, or maybe it was the comfort of knowing that Steven had stayed by her side—but she couldn't deny the connection she felt in that moment.
Steven's hand gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek as he gazed at her. It was a look Dana couldn't place, but it was undeniable—the warmth, the intensity, the care in his eyes.
And before anyone could react, before Rhys or Melanie could even register what was happening, Steven leaned in, his lips brushing softly against hers. It was brief—just a fleeting moment—but it was enough to send shockwaves through the room. The kiss was gentle, sweet, filled with unspoken emotion, and it lingered in the air long after they pulled apart.
Dana's eyes widened in surprise, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she felt it—the undeniable spark, the pull between them that had been building ever since Steven had first stayed by her side. She was still reeling from the accident, but in that kiss, everything felt suddenly clearer.
Melanie was the first to break the silence. She stood frozen, her expression unreadable. Rhys, on the other hand, looked stunned, his mouth slightly ajar, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just witnessed.
"Steven..." Dana began, her voice shaky, unsure of how to process the whirlwind of emotions flooding her mind. "What... what was that?"
Steven glanced at Rhys, his face hardening as he straightened up. "I'm not going to apologize for it, Dana," he said quietly, but with conviction. "You've been there for me through everything, and I... I'm not letting go of you."
Melanie's eyes darted between Dana and Steven, her expression a mix of shock and something else—something Dana couldn't quite place. Rhys, however, remained silent, the confusion overwhelming him.
"Dana, I—" Rhys started, but his voice faltered. There was a flicker of something in his eyes, something that Dana couldn't decipher. He quickly turned to Melanie. "I'll give you both some space." He needed to think and process everything that was happening.
With that, Rhys walked out of the room, his footsteps heavy as he left the hospital room, leaving Melanie standing there, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Steven, however, remained by Dana's side, his hand still resting gently on hers. "Don't worry about him, Dana. He's got his own battles. We've got ours."
Dana opened her mouth to speak but found herself at a loss for words. Her mind was racing, trying to process everything that had just happened. The kiss. The tension. The complicated emotions swirling around her, between Steven, Rhys, and herself.
But in that moment, all she could do was look into Steven's eyes—eyes that held an honesty she hadn't seen before. And maybe, just maybe, for the first time, she realized that her heart had already begun to shift in a direction she hadn't expected.