Just One of the Guys -
Thirty Five
Corbin
*Holy hell!* My entire body feels like one giant bruise... *What the hell happened?*
Opening my eyes, I take in the sterile white walls, the beeping of the monitor, and the head of sandy blonde hair of a guy sitting in a chair next to my bed, his head lying against his folded arms that rest against my bed rails. "Gentry?" I croak, my voice rough, not sounding like my own.
At the sound of his name, he shoots up straight, eyes wide with panic.
"Averi?" he gasps, and then breathes out a sigh of relief as he leans closer to me. "You're awake."
"What happened?" I ask, not remembering anything after I watched Colt and Knox leave.
"What's the last thing you remember, Averi?" he asks as I try to recall what I was doing when I saw them leaving.
"I remember standing by the fire. I was drinking. I'd had quite a bit to drink, actually. I remember Colt and Knox leaving, and then...nothing."
A sharp pain surges through my head, causing me to wince. "Freaking A, my head hurts," I complain, as reaching up, I press my hand to my forehead as a wave of dizziness hits me.
Slowly blowing out a breath, I close my eyes and try to work past the nausea, muttering, "I don't feel so good."
"You have a concussion, Averi," he says, watching me as if he's waiting for my reaction before continuing, "that guy beat you pretty bad." Then, with a shrug of his shoulder, he chuckles, stating, "Knox took care of that asshole, though."
A knock comes from the door, and then a woman walks in wearing light blue scrubs, a stethoscope around her neck, and a nice smile on her face.
"Oh, good, you're awake!" she states before turning to the beeping monitor, where she checks some things and then returns her attention to me.
"Ugh!" I groan, feeling as if I've been run over by a freight train. "I've definitely been better."
"Okay, Corbin. Tell me, on a scale of one to ten, with one being the least painful and ten being the worst pain imaginable, how would you rate your pain?"
"A nine, maybe an eight if I breathe very slowly," I inform her, and then cough from my mouth and throat being so dry-no doubt a side effect of how much alcohol I drank "Nope, make that a ten. Holy shit that hurt!"
"Okay, Corbin, we'll get you something for the pain. Do you think you can eat? Fair warning, it may hurt pretty bad, your jaw isn't broken, but you took quite a beating to the face."
I nod, willing to try, my stomach growling in agreement.
The nurse chuckles before walking back towards the door. "I'll be right back with something for the pain, and I'll have them bring you something light to eat."
I nod my thanks, and then turn my attention back to Gentry as she closes the door.
"We were all really worried about you, Averi," he says, grasping hold of my hand.
"I'm sorry, I—"
Suddenly my words break off as it dawns on me that he called me Averi.
That he's been calling me Averi since I woke up.
*He knows...shit!*
*Who else knows?*
"I think I'm going to throw up..." I mutter, the monitor's beeping going faster and faster as my heart begins to beat out of my chest at what this means. Gentry manages to get a trash can under me just as I start dry heaving. When the nausea finally settles, I look up at Gentry, my stomach tied in knots, the monitor still beating rapidly. "You know," I say, not elaborating any more.
I didn't need to, as Gentry acknowledges that he knows what I'm talking about, and answers my question at the same time with a nod of his head.
"H-how?" I ask, tears pricking the back of my eyes at the danger he could be in, and the real possibility that once my handler gets wind of my being in the hospital, I'll have to be relocated again.
"When they had to cut your clothes off to assess how bad the damage was that you sustained to your body," he answers as he looks me straight in the eyes, his never straying from mine, nor his voice wavering. "They pulled your shirt open and there was binding around your chest area. I was confused until they cut that off too, and there had been a lot more of you than what I was expecting."
Embarrassment hits me at him having seen my chest.
"I quickly looked away, I promise. But by that point, I was able to put two and two together and came up with...well, that you're Averi."
Afterward, he shrugs, but he's not finished speaking. "When I started thinking about it, it was actually pretty obvious. Even with binding your chest, and not wearing any makeup, you still looked like her, or you."
He gives it a thought, his face scrunching up as he tries to work that out. "I don't know how I didn't connect the dots before...the whole towel thing in your apartment that one time it makes so much sense now. How did none of us figure it out?"
"Dammit!" I cry, covering my face with my hands.
As a tear drips from my eye and trails down my cheek, I speak again, all the while praying he didn't say anything to anyone. "Please tell me that no one else knows?"
"Just me, no one else knows," he says, and then releasing my hand, he lifts his own up between us, as if to hold me at bay. "I brought you here while the rest of the guys went back to the school with Knox."
He chuckles, and then clasps my hands again. "They've been blowing up my phone wanting an update. But I didn't know what to say until I spoke with you. So, no, I haven't said anything. I promise you that." Relief washes over me, but it's quickly replaced by concern for Gentry.
"You can't tell anyone, Gentry. Please," I plead with him, needing him to understand the severity of the situation.
"I won't, but I think you should tell Knox."
As I shake my head *no*, he gets a confused look on his face. "He's been worried sick about you, Averi. Plus, don't you think he deserves to know?"
*I wish it were that simple, I can't help thinking, but it's not. Gentry, knowing could be a big enough problem as it is.*
"I-I can't," I mutter.
*Shit!*
*Why?*
*How could I be so stupid!*
*I never should have gone to that party as myself.*
*If I hadn't, then Knox and the other guys would have never met Averi. I would just be Corbin to everyone still.* But my heart clenches at that thought because that means I would never have gotten to know Knox the way I have, either. "Why not? What's going on? Whatever it is, I'm sure he would understand," Gentry says, waiting for me to say something, but I'm too busy freaking out to say anything to him.
"Why are you here, at Endover, masquerading as a boy?" he continues.
"You don't understand," I say, shaking my head as tears continue streaming down my cheeks. The realization that I'm going to have to leave Endover, hits me hard-much harder than I ever expected it to. *I'm going to have to move and start over again.*
*I'm going to be all alone, again.*
*These guys, this place, has become home much faster than I ever thought possible.*
I try calming my breathing, trying to figure out a way to explain this whole screwed-up situation without saying too much.
"It's not that I don't want to, you need to understand that," I say as I turn my attention back to him, needing him to, not only hear the sincerity in my voice, but I need him to see it too.
"I've wanted to tell every single one of you, basically since you guys took me in, accepting me as one of you with no questions asked. I've wanted Knox to know since things became more serious between us."
I squeeze his hands, hoping he understands. "I can't, Gentry. It's too dangerous."
"What do you mean? Why is it so dangerous? What have you gotten into? Whatever it is, maybe we can help. But you have to talk to us-me, or Knox, or any one of us," he says.
Reaching out, Gentry tries to wipe the tears from my face but it's no use, they keep falling, my heart breaking.
"I'm in witness protection," I whisper, "once my handler replaces out about this, I'll have to be relocated. You don't understand."
"Fuck!" I think he's finally beginning to understand the gravity of the situation. "I won't tell, I promise. I still think Knox deserves to know, but I'll respect your wishes."
Another knock comes from the door and the nurse pops her head in the door. "I have your meds and some food, but they're likely to put you to sleep, and there are a couple of officers here who would like to talk to you if you're up for it." Gentry must be able to sense my panic because he squeezes my hand, letting me know that he's here with me; I'm not alone.
I nod my head, agreeing to go ahead and see them.
The nurse opens the door further, wheeling in a cart thing with a tray on top, a cup of water, and a box of juice, sitting atop it. Following behind her, are two burly men wearing police uniforms and kind smiles.
She scans the band around my wrist, and then scans a bottle into the computer, afterward she takes it over to the IV pole and injects the medicine into my IV.
"The pain meds should kick in soon, making you less uncomfortable," she tells me, and then moves out of the way of the cops, but turns back before leaving the room. "Doctor Reynolds will be making his rounds this afternoon and will stop in to check on you then."
Glancing to the officers then back to me, she finishes, "If you need anything, just hit the call light on the bed," and with a friendly smile, she steps out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Ms. McEvoy, can we borrow a few minutes of your time?" a younger guy, blonde with bright green eyes and a charming smile, asks, stepping forward and squatting down at my bedside. I would assume that's something they occasionally do so that they don't seem so intimidating. As he does this, the older one, heavy of stature-indicating he eats well-and a head of salt and pepper hair, as well, a face that supports dark brown eyes that crinkle at the sides when he smiles, stays at the foot of the bed. With an overall friendly demeanor, he pulls a small notepad and pen from his pocket.
Nodding, I give them a small smile and try to maintain my composure, now is not the time to panic.
"Do you remember what happened?" the younger one asks, taking the lead in questioning me.
"I don't remember a lot," I say with a frustrated sigh, looking up at him.
"It's okay, just try to give us what you do remember," he offers, that smile still on his face.
"I was at a party with some friends. There was a bonfire and I..." I hesitated a moment, not sure if I should say that I had been drinking or not. Although I'm sure the hospital ran a tox screen, which would have shown my blood alcohol level, the cops probably already know.
"I had been drinking," I continued after a few moments and they nod, confirming my suspicion they had already known that bit of information.
Taking a deep breath, I continue, "I drank much more than what I should have. I remember watching a couple of my friends leave, but I don't remember anything after that."
I wish I could remember what happened between when I saw Knox and Colt leaving and when they found me.
"Thank you, ma'am. You did great and your account of the events of the evening corroborate what your friend also said," the older one says, tucking his notepad and pen back into his pocket.
"If you remember anything else, please let us know," the younger officer murmurs as he stands up and then they both leave the room, closing the door behind them.
"Is there any chance that your handler won't replace out?" Gentry blurts as soon as the door's shut. "I mean, they didn't use your real name. Is Averi your real name?" he asks, getting sidetracked. "Yes, my first name is really Averi. My last name isn't really McEvoy though," I tell him as another knock comes from the door, and the same nurse pokes her head in again.
"Sorry to bother you, you have a waiting room full of people who are asking if they can see you. Are you up for any company other than this one?" she asks with a smile, nodding her head at Gentry.
I look at Gentry, wondering what he thinks. At his nod of encouragement, I turned back to the nurse. "Yeah, they can come in."
She shuts the door behind her as she goes to let the people in the waiting room know they can come to visit me now.
"Before they get in here," Gentry hurries to say, "pull your blanket up higher, to hide your...you know. And just remember, everything will be okay. We won't let you go anywhere if we can help it. I know I won't, and I know a couple of the guys would agree."
His words are like a salve, coating over my aching heart, but they also make me tear up. Sniffling, I push the tears back, determined not to cry.
"Thank you, Gentry. You really are a great friend. I don't know what I'd do without you," I murmur, my voice teary sounding.
Gentry pats me on the top of my hand, then let's go when someone knocks on the door and then pushes it open without waiting for a response.
"Oh, thank fuck you're okay!" Knox says as he comes to my bedside. "You look like shit though," he says with an easy smile, letting me know that he's messing with me.
"You'd look like shit too if you were in my shoes," I chide back, my voice still a little rough. My mood brightens with him here though, I'd missed him.
The clearing of a throat behind him draws my attention to where, over his shoulder, I replace Colt, Kamden, Cameron, Kourt, Wesley, Kendrick, Asher, Kade, and Emmett, all waiting.
"Everyone came?" I ask, my voice becoming gruff as my emotions begin to well up again. Gentry must notice because he pats me on the arm, trying to help settle me.
*Thank you*, I mouth to him just before Knox leans in giving me a gentle hug, followed by Colt, Kade, Wesley, and on down the list until they have each given me a hug and asked how I'm doing.
It all becomes too much as my emotions try to come to the surface again and Gentry speaks up, taking the attention off me so I can try to calm down.
"What happened to the guy who did this?"
"Wait...guy who did this? What *did* happen to me?" I ask, confused and realizing that no one's told me what happened yet.
"You don't know?" Knox asks. Then turning his head, he looks from Gentry to me, questioning, "You mean you didn't tell him?" before looking back at Gentry.
"Well, I started to after *he*..." Gentry says, emphasizing the 'he' as he tries to keep himself from slipping up, "woke up but then the cops came and took his statement."
"Some mother fucker got the jump on you," Knox growls. "His buddies just stood around laughing, watching him beat the living crap out of you."
Knox cracks his knuckles as he speaks, anger pouring from him in waves. It's then I notice the scrapes and bruises marring his knuckles.
"You fought him?" I ask, glancing up at Knox, and wishing more than ever I could tell him the truth of who I really am.
"Wasn't much of a fight-one hit and he was out cold," Colt brags from behind Knox. Knox just continues cracking his knuckles, his jaw is clenched tight, and an almost scary look on his face, in his eyes. "I'd do it again, too. That dipshit deserves what he got and more," Knox says, his voice getting louder the more worked up he gets.
"Dude, chill before they kick us out," Colt says, resting his hand on Knox's shoulder. Knox shrugs him off and takes the empty seat on the left side of my bed.
His eyes on me are unnerving as if he's trying to look past the exterior, trying to see the secrets that I hold.
"Thank you," I whisper, hoping he truly understands the depth of my gratitude.
He nods in acknowledgment, saying no more.
As the guys talk with Gentry, occasionally aiming one of their questions my way, my eyes begin to get heavy, the pain meds kicking in.
I fight to stay awake, not wanting to be rude to my company, but it's no use; the meds make it too hard to fight, to keep my eyes open.
"I think maybe it's time to let Corbin rest," Gentry says quietly, getting up from the chair, the sound of his footsteps leading across the room.
"I'm so sorry that this happened to you," Knox says, squeezing my forearm and then walking out the door with the rest of the guys.
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