She was tired for some reason so right after the gallery she was changed into her pajamas and crashed on the bed. She was also happy, AJ would join her and that just put a smile on her face. She was dozing off when she heard the desperate knock on her door, “who could it be at this time?” she walked to the door clueless to whom it could be. Could it be AJ already??
He ran to her arms and started to cry. All he wanted was her to be there for him, “I am so sorry Lizzie, I was a fool to not listening to your advices.” He still held her tight and all he wanted was to here call him Gibbs.
She was in surprise as she felt Gilbert’s strong arms around her. She felt tears come down her face as she heard his friend apologize, “I forgive you Gibbs.” He looked horrible and he looked like he had been crying for days.
“I am so stupid Lizzie, I am really stupid… I think that’s why karma kicked me in the ass!” he said as he took a seat on the couch. He couldn’t keep it in him any longer so he just blurted it out, “I am dieing Lizzie,” he began to cry again.
She felt her breathing stop as she heard his words…was she hearing right? Her Gibbs was dieing? No this couldn’t be right… this was all a joke from him it had to be. “What are you talking about Gibbs?” she asked with desperation.
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She watched him sleep on her bed, it reminded her of those days in which he would stay over and talk about his dreams. She hadn’t stopped crying yet; still his words echoed through her head, her Gibbs had HIV. She just couldn’t get it through her head, how could this of happened? She wiped her tears as she sat there looking at her friend almost brother finally asleep. She looked at the clock and saw the time, she couldn’t sleep. Tomorrow she would board another plane and would be in another city, but what would she do about AJ and Gibbs? The truth was she needed both, Gibbs was her brother and AJ was her friend. God knew just how much she needed a friend right then, maybe he could help her find Gibbs help. She heard the light knock on her door for the second time, this night, not really wanting to answer again, she tried to ignore it. The knocking persisted and she then realized she should go see who it was.
He knew better than to be knocking at such hours but he needed her, he was in pain. He had just arrived here and needed a friend. He waited patiently hoping she would wake up, after realizing she was not coming to the door he hesitantly headed for the number on the key he held in his hand. He would just wait till the morning to see her.
The knocking had ceased when she made it to the door, so frustrated she was that she didn’t even looked through the peephole, she opened the door in time to see AJ walking away. “AJ?” she asked as she tried to see correctly she didn’t have her contacts on.
He smiled when he heard her voice, she had opened the door. He made a quick turn and headed back to the open door. Without asking so he walked into the room dropping his luggage and hugging his friend. “I did it I put the wedding off,” he said as he held on to her.
“That’s good AJ I am very proud of you now if I can breathe again it would be nice,” she said as she pulled away from him. It wasn’t that she didn’t like his hugs it was just, she felt weird; Gilbert was just in the other room. “I thought you were going to meet in Chicago tomorrow?”
“Change of plans, I just couldn’t stay home.” He then noticed her eyes were red, “hey what’s wrong my Mona Lisa?” he asked in concern as he touched her tear stained face.
She felt his hands on her face and couldn’t help but close her eyes; he just had that affect on her. Then just like that she began to sob she couldn’t help the sadness she felt. “I feel so helpless,” she managed to say.
He now knew something was wrong and hugged his friend again, “you know I am here for anything right?” he told her as he wiped away her tears. He couldn’t help but smell her soft cologne and just for an instant remember the kiss they had shared back at the coffee shop a while back.
She nodded as she hugged him back, “I – received the worst news ever AJ. Gilbert my best friend is in big trouble he has…”
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“Don’t worry he will get the help he needs there for his addiction,” he told her as all three waited in the airport.
“Thanks so much AJ, I mean you don’t even know me and you are helping me. What I still don’t get is how Lizzie never told me about you.” He said as he gave a questionable look at her.
“Well I was but I just didn’t know if you would believe me, I mean he’s a Backstreet boy,” she told him as she blushed. She couldn’t believe how great Gilbert liked AJ and to her surprise he had been a closet fan of the Backstreet boys. She felt jealous a little by all the questions that Gibbs asked AJ that she wished she knew.
“I hope this place can really help me with my addiction, I need to live healthier if I am going to survive this decease.” He suddenly felt his heart stop he knew no matter how much he tried to quit his addiction to heroine he still had a good reminder of his stupid choices…HIV.
“It will help you Gibbs I know, it helped me. Besides I spoke to them and they know your situation and they are positive you will be healthy in no time. They are actually ready to meet you,” he smiled the man. This Gilbert guy was actually quite a good guy; except for his little crush on Howie he was pretty nice. It was a little creepy though, knowing he was a fan, but if his Mona Lisa trusted him he could too. It also killed him to know what he had contracted by using needles that had already been used. He was so glad he hadn’t gotten to that extent and got help before if not who knew where he’d be.
“Hey I am the only one who can call him Gibbs,” she said quick trying to lighten the situation. She didn’t have the words to explain what she felt at that moment; she was sad cause of Gibbs but was excited because thanks to AJ he would get some help. She had been very busy, finding ways to help her friend she hadn’t even thought about Marco, till she saw the ring. She felt a tug in her heart and made a mental note to call him as soon as she arrived to Chicago.
He heard his call and knew he had to leave, afraid but confidant he could do this he hugged his friend and AJ his new friend. “I guess this it, I am heading to Arizona and I promise I will do all I can to leave this habit.” With that he walked away only hoping that this would help feel at least a little better. The truth was his hopes weren’t high, but he had to try right?
Author's Chapter Notes:
So I added three more chapters please let me know what you think..
