First of all, thanks again for all the reviews so far, an dof course also for all those yet to come.You've all boosted my confidence enormously, and it has kept me writing.
I've granted Paige the use of a black convertible (or is it convertable?). It's hers, just so you know.
In this new chapter, you will read the name Caranto. This is, in my fanfic, a city with about the same size as Toronto, but its whereabouts is approximately 70 miles northeast of Toronto. (I have no idea where Toronto is, and I had no access to the internet while writing, so I just made this town up. You may, of course, replace it with some town near Toronto) Just so u don't get confused. I hope you enjoy it!
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Chapter 4 The Terrible Truth
No ten minutes later, a black convertible parked just outside the dorms where Dylan had been living for close to a month now. The screaming tires left a black trail of burning rubber on the street, but nobody seemed to care at the moment.
Spin leaned over to Paige. 'Uhm, honeybee, I don't think you're allowed to park here.' 'Screw it. We have more important things to do!', she furiously snapped back at him. Marco hads been uncomfortable the entire ride, and it didn't have all that much to do with Paige's driving skills. He was worried about what they would find at Dylan's dorm.
Perhaps they would find him sleeping, or passed out on the floor. Perhaps. His mind had already gone through most possibilities, most of which weren't desirable. Maybe Dyl was having an affair, maybe he was ill, maybe he was unconscious. No matter what, Marco blamed himself. If he hadn't kept it a secret for so long, none of this would have happened.
'Oh, brighten up, Marco. It's not your fault. Dylan is an adult and he knows perfectly well how to decide for himself.' Paige, as usual, avoided any unnecessary pleasantries and went straight for the goal. 'Yeah, I know...' That's exactly what's bothering me. If he chose to do this, then it'll all be over. If he wanted to. I'd rather have it be all my fault.
As he slowly moved towards the main entry doors, his heart started pounding in his chest, more and more rapidly as he came closer. Even walking up to his room was nervewrecking for Marco. If it hadn't been for Paige, pushing him along, he would've turned around and ran for it minutes ago. 'Come on, Del Rossi. We both know it's better for you if you find out now. Go!'
Reluctantly, he agreed and walked on. There was no stopping the hurricane known as Paige Michalchuk, every sane person knew that. As they came closer and closer to the dorm room, Marco felt his heart was now pounding in his throat as well. This was about as nervous as he would get, or so he thought. When they finally arrived at the door of Dylan's dorm, he stretched out his hand, which was trembling uncontrollably.
Full of fear, he slowly started turning the knob. It twisted on, and on, and on...and suddenly a click sounded. His heart was pounding even more heavily, now throughout his entire body. His fingers, his toes, every inch of his body was throbbing in an unnerving kind of harmony. Behind him, Spinner sighed. 'Come on, Marco, be a ma...' he was interrupted by a smack to the back of his head, delivered by Paige. 'Quiet, goon. This is very important to him.'
Paying no attention to the two, Marco slowly pushed open the door, which now seemed a hundred, maybe even a thousand times heavier than ever before. It opened widely, and to his surprise, there was nothing special. Nothing at all. It was just Dylan's dorm, messy as ever. The only thing was, that Dylan was nowhere to be found.
He sighed and felt like a huge weight had just been lifted off of his shoulders. His stress wasn't gone, but he was relieved. For a minute, he just stood there, being relieved and passive. 'Come on, honey, we'll go ask around so that Marco can inspect his dorm. I assume he knows it a whole lot better than we do.' Actually, I really don't know it all that much better, another thing that has me worried.
Upon inspection, the room seemed to be perfectly normal for Dylan's doing. The floor was littered with clothes and a few books, his table for studying was completely empty and that was just about it. Everything pointed out that Dylan was just out, nothing more. Marco thrashed the room, not that Dylan would notice it as practically everything was already on the floor anyway, looking for Dylan's cell. He couldn't find it anywhere. 'Right, so he must be out.' Or with someone else, he silently added.
'Marco, we talked to some of the guys here. Dylan left with his car this morning. He hasn't returned since and nobody knows where he was heading.' Paige had just walked in and was already casting an evil, disapproving eye at the room. 'My god, my brother did this by himself? I knew he wasn't exactly tidy, but this is...hey, what's this?' She walked over to an enormous pile of clothing. She pulled out a red an yellow sweater saying 'Going in for the score', and lifted it into the air.
'Never seen this before. Good for him. Now he's in real trouble. I mean, look at this. Aren't gay guys supposed to have a better sense of style and fashion?' She turned to Marco. 'I...I don't know. Thay say we do, so I suppose it's true.' But that sweater simply can't be his. Dyl would never buy something that...conspicuous. So he really does have... It was simply too depressing for him to think about that right now. Dylan had been his first and only true love, and it felt so powerful, so overwhelming, that he knew for certain he would never find anything as intense or as beautiful in his entire life.
An always vigilant Paige saw the glimpse of what seemed to be tears in the distraught boy's eyes. 'Marco, hon, don't worry. I'm sure Dylan's just out partying, or maybe he went and visited an old school friend. You never know. You knwo what, why don't you try calling his cell again. Use the phone over here, that'll save you some cash.'
She grinned and chuchkled like there was nothing wrong at all. But there was, and for Marco this meant the world to him. However, she did make some sense, so he nodded and dialed Dylan's celll number. It rang...but nobody answered. Even after what seemed like an eternity, but was in fact closer to thirty seconds, nobody answered the phone. He hang uop, ready to crumble and fall, when suddenly the phone rang.
He nearly jumped, and turned towards the machine. A small display showed Dylan's cell number. His heart skipped a beat and his soul was screaming with joy. 'Guys, it's Dylan! It's really him!' He couldn't believe it. All this trouble, and now he was only a simple action away from him. 'Well, pick up before he hangs, Marco. Quickly!' Paige was also bursting with happiness, knowing that Marco would be fine, and she would get to yell at Dylan for all this mess, not to mention that dreadful sweater.
'Dylan, it's me, Marco. I'm so glad you called. I've been looking all over for you. Paige is here, and Spin, too. Why didn't you return my calls?' A moment of silence followed the outburst of thoughts and concern. 'Hello, Dylan, are you there?' Marco held his breath. Was Dylan hiding something, or worse, someone? That would mean his suspicions were correct...
'I'm sorry, who is this?' An unfamiliar male voice sounded through the phone. What? He is asking me who this is?What's this freak doing with Dyl's cell? 'I think that question would better fit into this conversation a lot better if I were to ask you it. Who are you, and what the hell are you doing with my boyfriend's phone?' Paige gasped. Had Dylan been attacked or mugged? Maybe he was lying in the gutter somewhere, dying. She held on to Spinner tightly, thinking this just couldn't be happening.
'Oh, I am terribly sorry. I am doctor McKenzie. I work at the Angelwing hospital in Caranto. And now may I ask you who you are?' Marco was silent for a moment. A doctor, in a hospital. This was even worse than what he had thought of. 'I...I'm Marco, Marco del Rossi. I'm Dylan's boyfriend. Why are you in possession of his phone?'
'I am terribly sorry, sir, but I cannot tell you that. That information is to be delivered to close relatives first. If you would be so kind as to help me get into contact with one or more of them, if any?' Marco dropped his head and shoulders. He knew what this would mean. He could only imagine the possibilities. He might be in a coma, disabled, dead even. 'Y...y...yes, of course. Hold on...'
He held up the phone. 'Paige, for you.' Paige was tense and her face had 'concern' written all over it. She took the horn and spoke. 'Hello, this is Paige Michalchuk.' She listened intently. 'Yes, I am Dylan's sister. Can you tell me what's going on?' A few moments later, she gasped for air and collapsed onto the floor, crying. Spinner immediately dived for her and picked up the horn. 'I'm sorry, but she can't talk right now. She'll call you back later,' he said, and he hung up.
Paige was crying uncontrollably, gasping for air every few seconds. It was a terrible sight. Spin was holding her tightly, trying to comfort her, but it wasn't really helping. After fifteen minutes and a couple of glasses of water, she cleared up a bit and turned to Marco.
She spoke slowly, in a voice marked by unimaginable fear.
'Marco, it's Dylan. There's been...an accident.'
