Yes

The fluorescent lights buzzed. Kyle clenched his fists against the coarse hospital sheets. Apologize? To Tyler? His rival’s smug half-smile was back—barely hidden beneath Diane’s doting fingers. Kyle inhaled sharply. The air reeked of antiseptic, cheap vanilla, and sweat. He **** his jaw to unclench. "Fine," he ground out. Words thick as tar. "Thanks." The silence screamed louder than the heart monitor. Diane beamed, oblivious. Lydia sighed, swaying toward Kyle—her hip brushing his thigh. Tyler watched, jaw tight. Kyle locked eyes with him. "I owe you." The admission tasted like ash. "Guess I was... distracted." He let his gaze drift deliberately to Lydia’s chest. Tyler flinched, his knuckles white against the wall. Kyle savored the flush creeping up Tyler’s neck—the humiliation was *his* now. Calculated. Cold.

The door swung open. A stout doctor strode in, clipboard gripped tight. His expression was carved from granite. "Kyle Walker?" He scanned the chart. "CT’s clear. Mild concussion." His eyes flicked to Kyle’s ribs—bruised purple-black. "Broken rib? Painful. But stable." He paused, gaze sweeping the room: Diane’s gaping uniform, Lydia’s sweat-slicked collarbones, Tyler’s rigid posture. Disapproval hung heavy. "You’re lucky," he said flatly. "Against medical advice—but you can go home." He scribbled something. "Rest. No driving." The pen snapped against the clipboard. A punctuation mark. "Follow up next week." He strode out without glancing back. The door slapped shut. Silence swallowed the room, thick with unspoken tension.

Diane extended a hand to Kyle, "Sweetie, let me help you get up. Let's go home." Kyle gingerly took her hand, taking one last glance at Lydia, he was hoping he'd see her again. Tyler interrupted his daydream, "Let me come home with you guys. I feel guilty for what happened, so I would like to help Diane to take care of Kyle." Diane smiled brightly, "That's so thoughtful!" Kyle felt Tyler's eyes piercing him as he used Kyle's mom against him, again. Tyler grinned at Kyle when Diane wasn't looking. Kyle clenched his fist as he realized Tyler was using Diane's stupidity to his advantage. Tyler was using Kyle's mom. Kyle furrowed his brows, "No, Tyler, you don't have to." Diane waved her hand dismissively, "Oh nonsense Kyle, Tyler is going to be your caretaker now." Diane wrapped her arms around Tyler's arm as she led him toward the door. Kyle sighed as he leaned against the wall to catch his breath. Lydia smiled at Kyle awkwardly, "I'll see you soon Kyle." She brushed her hand against his cheek before leaving the room. Kyle couldn't help but smile at the gesture.