I'm working to finish the Daniel novella in time for a Christmas release. One thing I love about writing Daniel? He's got a sense of humor that Leila lacks and he can be WAY more fun to write... Here's his take on the Jason's hospital confesion scene from the first
Telesa book.
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Daniel Tahi Speaks.
By the time I get to the door of Jason’s room, Leila is standing by his bed. He’s awake. His eyes are
a brilliant blue. And they’re staring up at my girlfriend with undisguised joy. He’s not some washed out, frail palagi nerdy scientist anymore. No. He’s stronger, he’s smiling. And while I stand there in the doorway, he kisses her hand.
WTF?! And then he speaks, “I wasn’t joking, Leila. They tell me I’ve been dying for the last three days. And trust me, I felt like it. But you know the one thing that kept me hanging on? The one thing I kept fighting for?”
I know what the answer is before he says it. Because it would be my answer too if I were in his shoes. (Or in his hospital bed.) And it's that realization which is the only thing stopping me from punching a hole in the wall right now. Oh yeah, and because its seriously uncool to beat up people when they’re recovering from knocking on death’s door.
“You. And my promise to you.” I knew it. He’s crazy about her. And I just helped save his life. Just great.
Leila’s crying. “Jason, no…”
I want to get the hell out of there but I can’t. Im frozen in place because I want to know what she’s going to say. I need to know. Is this where she wakes up to the fact she’s crazy in love with this volcano man and his ocean eyes? Is this where she turns to me and says,
sorry Daniel, I have to listen to my heart. And my heart is screaming Jason’s name? He’s still talking. Why can't he shut up already? “No, please, let me finish. Let a critically ill dude speak. Please?”
Yeah Leila, let him speak. We all want to hear this. Not.
“Leila, you asked me to be your friend. And nothing else.” That was news to me. It's good news right? I’m reeling here. Trying to stay upright but the world is determined to knock me over. “And I am. But nearly dying does something to a person y’know? It makes him realize that life is short. And you have to grab at every moment, every happiness with both hands. Tight. And not let go.”
I’m going to grab onto his neck. Tight. And not let go.
“So yes, I’m your friend and I'm one hundred percent committed to helping you deal with your problem. But you gotta know…”
Here it comes. Here it comes. Wait for it. Brace yourself.
You must not beat up a sick man. You must not beat up a sick man in a hospital bed. You must not beat up a sick man... “I’m in love with you Leila.”
There, he said it. Now I know what getting hit by a truck must feel like. I wonder if Leila knows I'm standing right here. And then I'm sure she knows. Because she tries to shut him up. “Jason, no, you don’t know what you’re saying. You’re sick. You need to rest. Listen to your nurses.” She’s covering for him. Trying to salvage something from the wreckage. But what? My heart? My pride? Or his?
For a critically ill dude, he sure is tough to shut up. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my whole life. I’ve loved you from that first night you bewitched me with your fake bimbo-ness. And then when I watched over you as you slept during that storm, then I was sure.”
You. Slept. With. Leila. (During a storm?! Why a storm? What does a storm have to do with this?)
The words hit me where I don’t want them to. Low. In the gut. Everybody in the room heard him. Leila heard him. The palagi friends heard him. The nurses heard him. ( They’re rolling their eyes at the love drama. Nurses at the Samoa National hospital are not known for their sensitivity or patience with people’s feelings.)
Everybody just heard him declare his undying love for my girlfriend. Everybody now knows that he’s been in love with her since forever. And oh yeah, by the way, they spent the night together too.
I’m either the world’s dumbest boyfriend. Or this volcano scientist’s mind is seriously screwed up from telesa poison.
Daniel Tahi's Novella will be released in time for Christmas 2012. Available in e-book format only from Amazon. This will be a companion book to the first Telesa book - The Covenant Keeper. Now is a good time to get your copy of the Telesa book, Amazon has it on .99cent sale for one week only. Telesa:The Covenant Keeper .99cent SALE Gift an e-copy to friends and family so they can stop borrowing YOUR copy! lol.
