Chapter 31- Why don't you meet your girl now ? Austin's POV Blurred faces , flashing lights , frantic voices . I could see and hear a million things at once but could not focus on any one of them . My attention was on her . Cupcake . I looked down at her pale face , the oxygen mask around her mouth also they had inserted an endotracheal tube to her lungs to help her breathing as the doctor feared that she was bleeding internally as the bullet had penetrated her flesh , ricocheted around her ribs like a pinball fracturing it and then curving around the heart and finally hitting her lung . An IV was inserted inside her vein , a tube connected to it with her blood flowing inside it . The paramedics were puttering over her on the moving van and I felt as if my entire world was falling apart piece by piece . Every passing moment was carrying her last breaths , every second counted . She literally took a bullet for me . I felt my eyes cloud up with tears . What was the old saying ? The Knight in shining armor saves the damsel in distress . But it seemed as if the entire thing was turned around for us , the damsel in distress saved the supposed knight . I enclosed my hand around her cold one and gripped it . Please cupcake , don't die on me . Please . I love you . The ring around her neck glinted in the dull lighting of the van and made my chest constrict . I looked away as they cut open her top clothes and tried to stop the bleeding . The blood was pouring out of the wound and I felt tears spill form my eyes as I gritted my teeth . No one deserved to see the love of their life bleed out her life . Finally after what seemed like an eternity , we reached the hospital . Everything was a blur , the medics were wheeling her inside for surgery . The fluorescent lights , the green scrubs , the red blood spilling on the sheets . The wheeled her inside the OR and I was left standing outside the door as they cut her open , not knowing what her fate was , neither mine . I looked down at my hands and saw red , coated till my elbows . Her blood . I crumpled to the floor looking at my hands and cried . A pair of arms went around me . I looked up . Mom . Mom wrapped her arms around me and I felt like the five year old kid I had once been , crying in her arms after scraping my knee in the playground . I put my head on her shoulder and cried for all it was worth , not like the grown man that I was . I was not 00 1/7 COMT O < Chapter 31- Why don't you meet your girl now ? +9 Points > Austin Hamilton at this hour , I was just an ordinary guy who was on the edge of losing the love of his life . I was an ordinary guy who felt as if his world had crashed and burned in a split second , my riches , my money , my fame was just a tiny dot of nothingness in the background . It didn't matter one bit when compared to her . " Mom..she..she..she took a bullet for me..she's ..dying because of me . " I stuttered . My mom cupped her hands around my face , her beautiful blue eyes swimming with tears . " It's not your fault , darling … she will be okay , that's what you always tell her right ? " " I don't know what I'll do without her … " I sobbed . " Hey..ssh , that's not going to happen . She is a fighter and she will live and you both will live happily and give me my grandkids , okay ? " I gave her a weak smile . I looked behind her and saw everyone . The police had informed them all , they were all here .. Emma , Stef , Jen , Trish , Aerin , Jace and Dad . The others would probably with the kids . Trish had her back to me and was sitting in a chair near the window . I walked towards her , her arms were wrapped around her and she was shaking with sobs . She looked up at me with absolutely broken eyes . She was a mirror image of my distress . " I'm the only family she has..She's not just my best friend she's like my third sister..she can't leave us..she cant . ' She put a hand over her mouth as she sobbed . I put an arm around her as she leaned to me and for once I felt like I was sharing my grief with someone on a similar level as we cried together . For if we lost her , we would lose a part of our life , our heart . After a few hours , Sophia was still in surgery and mom urged me to go and atleast breathe some fresh air . I just walked down the corridor and took a left and entered the hospital praying room . A saw the dozens of candles flickering near the altar . Dozens of heartbroken prayers . Dozens of wishes . Dozens of hopes . All burning collectively with one thing binding them- helplessness . I walked to the altar and lit another candle , amongst the dozens of other candles . I bowed my head down and prayed . I had never been much of a religious man but right now hoping and blindly believing on a greater power for her . It was my only source of finding strength . Hope was my strength . Praying was giving me that . I hadn't believed in it till now . As I walked out of the small chapel , Jace met up with me a small croissant in his hand . " You gotta eat Austin . " " I don't want to . " Jace sighed . " You not eating is not going to suddenly make the surgery go faster . Eat this , so that atleast you don't pass out with starvation when she wakes up . " " If she wakes up .. " I muttered . 2/7 COM DT < Chapter 31- Why don't you meet your girl now ? +8 Points Jace slapped my arm . " Don't say s ** t like that . She will , now eat the goddamn croissant , you need to stay strong..atleast for her . " I bit back a retort and took the croissant and bit into it . It tasted like paper to me , I had no appetite . But for the sake of appearances I finished it . As we made our way out , I saw the two officers who had escorted me , Officer Dane and James . They were speaking to a doctor and as the doctor finished , I walked up to them . " Mr.Hamilton , how is Ms. Martell ? " " She's in surgery . What about that nutcase ? " Dane looked down at his shoes , looking uncomfortable . " Sir , the guy is Schizophrenic , there can't be a trial against him till he regains his stable state . A person needs to be fit to stand for trial and unfortunately Ryan doesn't have competency to stand for trial . He's been admitted here . " I felt my blood boil at his words . " What the f ** k do you mean , so he can walk free ? Get treated after shooting my girlfriend ? " I snarled . James sighed . " Sir , I'm sorry but we're bound by the law . The guy is truly sick , he has no idea of reality and doesn't know anything about rationality , there literally isn't a case against him till he regains sanity and currently he is not in a coherent state . " " What do you mean ? " " Shooting Miss Martell was not intentional and he is in a state of shock which has sent him on borderline suicidal edge after the incident , sir . " I shook my head disbelievingly . " What I don't bloody understand is why is this f **** d up creep is getting sympathy when all he did was torture Sophia . " Dane pursed his lips . " That is the other thing , Miss Sophia has not yet regained a state in which she can press legitimate charges to begin trial . " " Then I will f ***** g press charges ! Understand ? That guy deserves to rot behind bars . " James let out another annoying sigh . " Sir as I told you , that is not possible till he regains a stable state of mind . " I could punch them in the face . I clenched my fist . Life was unfair . " Can I see him ? " " Sir , we suggest you don't- " " Actually no , I rephrase that- I want to see him . Now . Do you understand ? " I sent a cold glare to the officers . They obliged reluctantly and walked with me to the ward Ryan was in . All my anger and my cold fury dissipitated as I took in the man from the other side of glass . 14 OOON 3/7 COM to M G O < Chapter 31- Why don't you meet your gul now ? + Fouits He was curled up on the cold tiled floor and was crying and screaming like a four year old , he had finally lost . his sanity . He was bound on a bed and he was pulling at the bounds and crying like someone had stolen his soul . I stared at him , shocked . I could see it now clearly- He was dying . And I know it should have made me feel good knowing he was suffering , a small part of me felt sorry for the sick man behind the glass . Without saying a word , I turned on my heels and walked away from it all . I had nothing to say . Not anymore . I walked down the corridor and joined the rest of them . I sat on the chair and waited . Each second seemed to drag on forever and after what seemed like years , the head surgeon Dr. Patel walked out his doctor's cap in his hands . I stood up at once and walked to him my heart in my throat thudding frantically . This was it . I looked at the man in front of me , he literally had my cupcake's life is his hands . Now the question was - did he save it or lose it ? A sick dread filled me to even think about the latter . " What happened doctor ? Is she okay ? " My voice caught on the last question . " She had suffered massive internal bleeding and the bullet fractured her ribs and her lung suffered a lot of trauma but she did fight it all . We managed to sew her back , " He smiled at me . " She's going to be okay . " I couldn't even describe what I felt when I heard his words . All I could think was- She was going to be okay . Happiness knew no bounds as everybody got up and thanked the doctor and hugged me . I turned to the now beaming doctor . " So when can I see her ? " " She will be regaining consciousness anytime soon , you can meet her then ." I gave the doctor a big hug . He saved her life . " Thank you so much . " I spoke , my voice catching with emotion . He smiled . " Why don't you go meet your girl now ? " Sophia's POV- 14 4/7 DOM DU O < Chapter 31- Why don't you meet your girl now ? Bright . Too bright . I squinted my eyes as they fluttered open . The fluorescent light seemed to be glaring at me . I blinked the blurriness away as I registered my surroundings . Hospital . And then all at once , the event came rushing back to me at once . I gasped with the realization . " Cupcake ? " Austin's voice snapped me out of my reverie . Austin . My face broke into a smile as I looked at his face . Our hands were entwined as he looked at me with so much emotion , my heart beat sped up , which obviously showed on the stupid monitor . He laughed , his honey laugh making my heart flutter . The laugh I had first heard and loved when I spoke to him the first time , the very laugh that had been my solace , my comfort on so many days . I'm so glad I can live another day to hear him make that sound . He smiled at me as he gently tucked a tendril of my hair behind my ear and leaned in to press a soft , sweet kiss on my lips . He was being gentle , afraid he would hurt me . So I cupped his face with my hand and deepened the kiss and kissed him back with all the longing , relief , happiness and love I felt . He pulled apart from me but pressed his forehead to mine , boring my eyes with his beautiful chocolate eyes . " Hey cupcake . " He whispered . " Hi Mr. Rich pants . " I smiled . He kissed the tip of my nose . " I'm glad you're back . I was so scared I was going to lose you . " He whispered , his eyed glinting with a vulnerability that almost broke my heart . I flicked his nose . " I'm not that easy to get rid of . " I gave him a cheeky grin . He shook his head , smiling at me . " I think I can deal with that . " I laughed , for the first time in a week . It felt good . After peppering me with kisses Austin left me alone so that I could meet all the others . After we were done , it was already night time . Austin bought me my dinner which was the liquid hospital grub which I had to stick to for a week , till I could get discharged . Which was a far cry from Austin's amazing handcooked food but I had to suck it up . After we finished dinner , Austin scooted me to the other side of bed and lay down with me and I felt utterly content lying in his arms . His chin on top of my head and my back to his front . 14 5/7 22 Fak COM III O < Chapter 31- Why don't you meet your girl now ? " So cupcake , I was meaning to ask you a question . " " Hm ? What is it ? " I mumbled . He got up from the bed . I let out a sound of protest . I was perfectly happy in his strong arms . Party pooper . He chuckled at my pouty expression and stood in front of me . He removed a familiar blue box from his pocket and my heart thudded against my poor fractured rib . I was probably going to get a cardiac arrest before he opened his mouth . +8 Paints > He opened the box and I saw my chain with the ring in it . They must have removed it before surgery . Austin got down on his knee , his eyes glinting with humor and a tad bit of hit usual mischief and I felt my eyes well up with the waterworks . Trust me to unleash the Niagra Falls on every occassion . It was happening . Austin removed the ring out and gave me a heart stopping grin. " Ah , I have never been good with mushy hearty stuff but I'm willing to do it for you .. so here goes … you know , I was never the guy who believed in the one true love or the it girl . It was a phenomenon but I always thought it wasn't for me . I never believed in the love at first sight crap . Neither did I believe that someone would just come and with a single word change your entire life . But you cupcake , you never did that , did you ? You didn't change my life with one word . You just barreled into my life with a hundred words at once , " I chuckled and stuck my tongue out at him . I know , how elegant . He continued smiling at my antics . " And that is probably the reason why I fell in love with you . Utterly and completely . You were different and still are in a way that only you can pull off . Your quirkiness and all your weirdness is something that I love so much . And I promise to continue to love you no matter how imperfect you think you are , because to me you are utterly perfect , " My eyes betrayed me once again , as tears slipped out of my eyes . " And I promise to love you till the time we're all old and wrinkly and have fifty great grandkids running around us because I don't see anyone else beside me in the future , cupcake . I see you , and I will forever see you . I promise to stay by your side and stick there even if you get annoyed with me and probably want to whack me with your hardcover book . I promise to love you forever and I thank the stars every night that you messed up the digits on Trish's number that night , " I chuckled as I wiped my tears . " So , Sophia Colleen Martell , would you do me the absolute honor of spending the rest of your life with me ? " I smiled so hard through the tears in my eyes , that I probably was grinning ear to ear but I didn't care , my heart could burst with happiness . I nodded . " Yes , I do , Wrong Number . " I spoke , my eyes glistening with happy tears . DOM T O < 16/7 Chapter 31 - Why don't you meet your girl now ? Austin got up and slipped the ring into my finger , it fit perfectly . +8 Points > He leaned in for a kiss and I met his mouth with the most passionate , emotional and perfect kiss we'd ever shared . I felt my toes curl with the high that his touch was giving me . He had the ability to take me to the levels I had no idea I could reach . Our intimate moment was interrupted as the door burst open and the entire group walked in cheering and hooting . Aerin had a camera in her hand as she grinned at us . " Congratulations soon - to - be Mrs Hamilton ! " I blushed as Austin put his arm around me and fondly kissed the side of my cheek making me smile . I turned to look at his beautiful eyes and smiled . I was truly complete now . I leaned in for a kiss and smiled as the people around us cheered . It was certified- A wrong number truly did change my life . +