Two Locked Hearts (Part 17)

Sawyer reached over and shook Ethan. "Buddy, we're home."

Ethan smiled at the sound of that. "Home."

It went over Sawyer's head. "Yes, we're home. Let's grab your suitcases and set them up in my bedroom and you can climb on the top bunk where you will be sleeping and get some sleep."

Ethan nodded.

Both of them got out of the car and grabbed a few suitcases and made their way inside the house. Ethan, oddly enough, had never been to Sawyer's house. Sawyer had only been to Ethans'. Ethan was amazed at Sawyer's home. It was big, on some nice country land, and it was very clean and homey.

"Sawyer your house looks amazing." Ethan said.

Sawyer laughed. "Everybody says that Ethan."

Once they found Sawyer's bedroom, Ethan and Sawyer entered and placed the suitcases in the corner. "Ethan, climb on the top bunk and get some sleep. I am sure you are exhausted over the drama with your mom and over the concussion you are still recovering from. My parents don't care that you are here. They just want you to take care of yourself. Treat this house as your own was mom's message to you. I say the same thing, but only after you get some sleep."

Ethan smiled, climbed up to the top bunk, laid on his back, and closed his eyes. Sawyer went and got the rest of Ethan's suitcases. When he was finished, Sawyer shut his bedroom door, turned off the light, and climbed on the top bunk and woke Ethan up.

Ethan looked at him like he was crazy.

"I just wanted to give you a hug. You have no idea how much I worried about you and missed you."

Ethan had to force the tears from leaving his eyes. After all, Ethan was in love with Sawyer. He hadn't told Sawyer yet how he felt, and was still sure Sawyer was straight.

Instead, Ethan sat up, reached for Sawyer, and wrapped one of his arms around him. Sawyer wrapped both of his arms around Ethan and gently caressed him. Sawyer started crying. "Sorry Ethan. I have been holding these tears in for four solid days now. I really was worried about you."

Ethan held the hug steady and allowed Sawyer's release. Deep down Ethan was giddy as hell. But he also understood where Sawyer was coming from. Seeing someone get hurt is never fun, especially someone you care about.

Ethan had not recovered all of his strength, so eventually he asked Sawyer to let him go. Sawyer did. Gave his best friend a wink, then climbed down into his own bed.

"Good night Ethan. Don't worry about your parents. Eventually you'll make up with them," Sawyer called up to him.

"I know Sawyer," Ethan yawned. "I just needed some space. Good night man."

Both boys fell asleep minutes later.

Ethan had to take it easy for a total of two months. Really six weeks. He also had to follow up with his doctor in four weeks.

Sawyer's mom was a nurse, but she didn't hover over Ethan. She helped him by giving him advice. He asked her if she'd go with him to the doctor in four weeks and she said she would.

"What is your opinion about my recovery Mrs. Lancelot?"

"Well Ethan you really should listen to whatever the doctor tells you. Since you went to the emergency room, your doctor should have had a nurse draw up some paperwork with instructions on what you needed to do. Simply follow those directions. If you have any needs, you need to let it be known. No one can help you if they don't know what you need. I don't believe in hovering over anyone and suffocating them with kindness. I believe in fresh air and freedom."

"Well, I've been following the paper instructions just fine. I retire when I don't feel good and I've been lightly moving around."

"A concussion is nothing to play around with, but it doesn't last forever and a full recovery is possible. Just be careful. Wait two or three months before you go back to sports. Sawyer told me you are pretty intense with workouts and competing. I don't think you should stop or slow down over a concussion, but I do believe you should be more careful."

"Have you been talking to Sawyer?"

Ethan asked.

"Yes. He says you are very intense with your workouts. That you like to pace yourself at a mean and unfair pace. Be careful, I repeat. When you go back to it, be careful."

"Ok." Ethan said.

Ethan knew he had a long time before he went back to all that. He'd finished all his school sports anyways. He had even landed a scholarship in track for Duke University. He didn't need to hurry back to all that. College didn't start until the following Fall. It was still barely February.

Ethan returned to school a week after he moved into Sawyer's house. His teachers and all his friends missed him and hovered over him when he returned. He could not walk down the hall without at least six people wanting to walk with him, and every teacher he had wanted to bombard him with schoolwork. He voiced his concerns about that to his school counselor, Mrs. Wise, and she had to pull a few strings and help him out.