Chapter 26
What happened to Ally

Austin's POV

I saw the Dawson's arrive three days ago, but they disappeared again. I saw their car pulling in the driveway and I saw them walk inside with their luggage. Although, I realized yesterday that their car was gone and that there was no sign of life whatsoever in the house. I wonder where they can be.

I tried to call Ally a couple of times because I wanted to meet her. I think it's time I finally apologize to her.

She never answered. I guess she's still mad at me.

I tried to call Lester or Penny, but they didn't answer either. It's like they left.

Oh gosh.

I hope they didn't move away. I need to see Ally again.

I walked downstairs and went into the kitchen where I smelled the most amazing thing ever: pancakes.

"Morning mom." I said to Mimi.

"Morning Austin." She responded.

"Where's dad?" I asked her.

"He went to the store." She responded.

After five years, I finally started to treat them like parental figures. I guess it was time.

"Okay." I said.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"What?" I responded.

"Your face. You're wondering something. What's wrong?" She responded. She can always see through me. Sometimes, it's annoying.

"It's just, I've been trying to reach Ally since they arrived from Miami, but no one is answering, not even her parents. Do you know where they are?" I asked.

"No. I'm sorry." She told me while putting a plate of pancakes in front of me.

"Eat this; it'll make you feel better." She said with a smile.

"Thanks Mom." I responded.

When I was done eating my plate, I walked back to my room and tried to distract myself. What if Ally left forever? What if she hates me and doesn't want to see me anymore?

Anyway, I tried to play video games, but it didn't work. A part of me was telling me to get drunk, but another part wanted to respect my Mom's wish. I also thought about medicinal marijuana, but I have non left.

I ended up just laying in my bed and crying.

"Austin?" I heard my mom yell from across the house.

"What?" I responded as I walked downstairs to meet her.

"I just saw M. Dawson enter the house." She said. "You should try to call him."

"Did you see Ally?" I asked her.

"No, I'm sorry." She replied.

"I'll call him." I said.

I turned around and headed back to my room to get my phone. I dialed Ally's home phone number and waited for someone to answer.

It wrung two times before I heard M. Dawson's voice.

"Hello?" He answered.

"M. Dawson, this is Austin." I said to him.

"Hi Austin." He said.

"So, hum, is Ally here?" I asked.

"You don't know, do you?" He rhetorically asked.

"What do I not know?" I asked starting to feel nervous.

"She's been in a car accident." He choked out. I could feel he was crying.

"What?" I almost yelled.

"It happened three days ago. She's at the hospital. Unconscious. She's been in a coma for those three days and she hasn't woken up yet." M. Dawson explained and my heart broke. I was speechless.

"Austin?" I heard him ask.

I couldn't manage to get something out of my mouth.

"Austin?" He repeated. I heard him hang up.

I was frozen in place. I couldn't think straight.

Was this really happening?

Why does this keep happening to me?

Once I regained consciousness, I threw my phone against the wall and it smashed into pieces. I couldn't care less.

I was so angry I started throwing everything I could against the wall. When I ran out of things, I started screaming and hitting the wall.

I wasn't in control of myself anymore.

I knew my knuckles were bleeding, but I didn't care.

Eventually, I heard rushed footsteps and my door slammed opened. My adoptive parents were staring at me in shock.

"Austin, what's wrong?" Mimi asked me concerned

Those four words made me break apart.

I felt my legs wiggle and I fell on the floor. I put my knees to my chest and started sobbing.

I can't take this.

Why does this keep happening to me?

I remember it all in a blur, but I think Mimi sat down next to me.

She put an arm around me.

"Everything will be fine Austin." She kept telling me.

Will it?

Because last I remember, my dad killed my mother AND my sister. And now Ally's injured. Badly. In a coma.

Lester said she'll be fine, but she hasn't woken up in three days. How is that fine?

Why does life hate me?

What did I ever do wrong?

"Austin" Mimi said.

"What?" I managed to croak.

"What's wrong?" She asked again.

This time though, I was able to blurt out an answer.

"Ally" I said.

"What happened?" She asked.

"She was in a car accident." I said to Mimi.

"Where is she?" Mimi asked.

"At the hospital. Unconscious. She hasn't woken up in three days."

"Poor thing." Was all Mimi said.

"What if she doesn't wake up?" I asked between sobs. "What if she's gone?"

"She won't be. I'm sure she'll be fine." Mimi said.

"Will she?" I asked. "I can't lose her too Mom."

"You won't." She responded.

"I told you, it's like some invisible forces want to make me suffer." I responded.

"Stop telling yourself that. It's not true." She said bitterly.

"Ally wouldn't be in that situation if it wasn't true." I spat.

"Now, man up and go see her. You're legally an adult Austin. You need to be more mature." She said.

"I know. It's easier to just mourn." I sighed.

"Life isn't always easy Austin. Sometimes, you have to go through rough patches to find happiness." She wisely said. I always liked her for that. She always knows what to say. I guess being a social worker helps a lot.

"I hope you are right Mom." I said.

"I am right, I am always right." She grinned. I faintly laughed. "You know Austin, there is always a little rain before the rainbow."

"Thanks Mom." I said.

"Now, what are you going to do?" She asked.

"I'm going to see her." I said.

"I'm proud of you." She said.

"Thanks. I want you to come with me. I don't want to go alone." I asked sheepishly.

"Of course I'll come with you honey." Mimi responded with a huge smile.

My mom decided that it was better if she drove, so we took her car. Once we arrived at the hospital Ally was at, I stood in front of the large glass doors.

I was petrified. I knew what I was about to see would remind me of the past. I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

"You must really love her." My mom said to me. "You've never acted that way about a girl before."

"Yeah." I responded sheepishly. "I don't know what I'd do without her. You were right. She did put me on the right path. She understood me when no one else could." I said. She frowned for a second, but her expression softened immediatly.

"I knew she was changing you. She's good for you Austin." She said smiling. "Now, are we going in?" She asked staring at the door.

"Yeah, we are." I said determined.

I pushed on the door, but it didn't open. Mimi laughed.

"Austin... It says pull on the door." She said and she chuckled.

I looked at her a bit embarrassed and then opened the door.

Here we go.

Mimi lead me to the front desk and there was a petite woman with grey hair behind it. She was on the phone and she somehow looked annoyed.

We waited patiently for a couple of minutes before her phone call ended. I frenetically tapped my fingers on the desk. The woman looked annoyed with my actions.

"May I help you?" She asked on a bored tone.

Wow, when you work in a hospital, you should be able to use proper communication techniques and you should be used to meeting stressed people. She just looked like she wanted us to leave her alone. How professional.

"Yes, we're here to see Ally Dawson." Mimi responded seeing I was annoyed with the woman.

"Let me check in what room she is." She said scrolling through her computer. She looked at it for a couple of seconds before actually giving us an answer.

"She is in room 307." She responded. "You just have to take the elevator to the third floor and then turn right and walk down the corridor."

"Thank you." Mimi answered politely as she grabbed my arm and dragged me to the elevator.

"I'm capable of following you you know." I said to Mimi. "I'm not a child anymore."

"I know. You looked distracted, but I wanted to get away from the desk as quickly as possible." She responded.

"You noticed how unprofessional she was too?" I asked a bit surprised.

"No, there were just a lot of people waiting behind us." She said as we steppes in the elevator.

After hearing the tremendous 'ding' signaling we arrived at the third floor, the doors opened and we walked towards the direction the secretary gave us.

There it was.

Room 307.

I was about to twist the doorknob and my mother was right behind me when the doorknob twisted and it revealed Penny whose eyes were wet.

"Austin." She exclaimed looking surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see Ally." I responded. "I really need to see her."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. This is just too much." She said as a tear escaped her left eye.

"It's okay Mrs Dawson. I understand." I responded.

"So, you learned about the accident?" Penny stated and asked at the same time.

"Yeah, I spoke to M. Dawson." I responded.

"Why don't you and I chat for a bit?" Mimi suggested to Penny. "And let Austin go see Ally."

"Sure." She responded. "Make sure to be careful around the tubes and the other medical stuff."

Wait? Was she in a condition that bad? I know the accident will leave scars, but Lester only said she was in a coma. What if she has a broken back?

I watched as Mimi and Penny walked to the waiting room and took a couple of seconds before turning around to face the door to Ally's room.

When I did, I twisted the doorknob and opened the door.

I carefully closed it behind me and looked around. The room was white and green and there was an empty bed on front of me. The room was separated in two by a curtain, Ally must be behind it.

I slowly walked towards the other side of the curtain.

When I did, my eyes landed on her. Her fresque body was pale. All sorts of tubes were attached to her and she had breathing aids.

Her eyelids were obviously closed and her face was expressionless. The monitor beside her beeped to mimic her heartbeat. It seemed stable, which is a good thing.

She had few scratches, cuts and bruises on various part of her body, but everything seemed under control. She didn't look injured. I mean, it didn't look like she had broken bones or bled a lot. Then again, the accident happened three days ago. How could I have missed that?

I sat on the chair right beside Ally's hospital bed and slowly, but carefully took her right hand between mine.

It was cold and stiff. Definitely not like I remembered it.

"I miss you so much." I whispered to her as tears filled my eyes.

Seeing her like this makes it real. When I was home, I did not want to believe it and nothing could prove it to me. Now, I have my proof.

"I'm so sorry about everything I've said Ally. I was an idiot and you did nothing wrong." I whispered still holding her hand.

"I tried to keep you to myself and I shouldn't have. Just know that you mean everything to me." I said and tears were now rolling down my cheeks.

"I can't live without you anymore Ally. You know, you always said that you wanted to help me and I've always implied that I didn't want your help. The truth is, I didn't even realize how much you've help me. You helped me step out of my shell. You, along with Mimi, helped me realize that I could still be happy. You put me on the right path and for that, I am forever thankful. I love you Alls." I told her. I knew she couldn't hear me, but finally verbalizing this to her feels really good

I lightly squeezed her hand and then let it go. I placed it carefully beside her on the bed making sure I don't unplug anything.

"You know, right now, I wish we were Snow White and Charming and wake you up with true love's kiss." I said looking at her expressionless face.

I turned around to exit the room to find my mother with teary eyes.

"W-were you listening to all of this?" I asked her sheepishly.

"Maybe." She admitted. "How are you?" She asked.

Three words. Three words that made me fall apart again.

She just hugged me and hold on to me while I was sobbing.

Fucking feelings.

"It's so hard to see her like this Mom. I'm really scared she won't wake up." I said to her between sobs.

Then, I saw a doctor walking towards Ally's room.

I walked towards him and spoke to him before he could enter.

"How is she?" I asked the doctor.

"Her condition is stable. There wasn't any internal bleeding and there are no broken bones. She was extremely lucky. She could've died instantly." He responded.

"Is she going to wake up?" I asked.

"Considering her state, she should wake up eventually, but we don't know when. She has a pretty bad concussion, so it's hard to tell." He responded.

"Thank you, doctor." I said and I turned around to face my mother as the doctor walked into Ally's room.

"Mom, I want to get flowers for Ally." I said determined.

"How sweet." She said happily. "Let's go."

We took the car and drove to the nearest florist.

I bought five hibiscuses. They're Ally's favorite. It wasn't really cheap, but I didn't care. That hospital room was too dull. It needed something more.

We also stopped at the dollar store and bought a cute vase. I'm sure Ally would love this.

When we went back to the hospital, we immediately took the elevator to the third floor and walked towards Ally's room. A nurse was exiting the room when we got there.

"How is she?" I asked the blonde middle-aged woman.

"She's stable. Everything is fine." She responded.

"Great." I said through a fake smile. For me, being fine is being awake. Not in a coma. "May I put these on the table beside her bed?" I asked the nurse.

"Of course you can." She said with a smile. "I don't mean to intrude your personal life, but is she your girlfriend?" The woman asked. I scoffed.

"Not exactly. It's complicated." I responded with the truth.

"Well, you can't deny your love for her." She said cheekily.

"What? How can you tell?" I asked a bit surprised.

"You look at her and act like a married couples in this kind of situation. Trust me; I witnessed a lot of that." She said.

"I can imagine. I do love her." I responded.

"She'll be fine. Her condition is stable and everything is looking for the best." She reassured me.

"Thank you for your encouragement." I responded.

"Why don't you go put those flowers on that table?" She suggested.

I smiled at the middle-aged woman and then walked to Ally's room. I quickly reached her bed and put the vase on the table after I put water in it. I put the flowers in it and admired them. I chose hibiscus since they are her favorite, but I also chose her favorite color, red.

I also bought a card with a cute little kitty. I know she loves kitten and can't resist their adorableness. Inside, i wrote a simple, but meaningful message.

Even in our darkest days, I'll never stop fighting for you. I love you.

I put the card beside the flower and carefully took Ally's hand even if it was almost lifeless.

"Please come back to me." I whispered as tears filled my eyes and slowly made their way down my cheeks. I stayed in that position for a while before my mother came to get me to take me home. I asked her for a minute.

"Ally, I'll visit you every day and I'll bring a new flower everyday so you don't run out of them. I love you." I whispered and kissed her hand right before letting go of it.

The pain I was feeling was comparable to the pain I was feeling when I was at my mother and sister's funerals.

It's like everything is over.

It's like I lost everything.

I officially think this was my favorite chapter to write so far. I really loved how it turned out. I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I do.

Thank you so so much for reading and still following this story. I also want to thank everyone for the follows, favorites and the amazing reviews. I love to see that this story makes you guys react so much.

So, this was officially the last chapter I had time to write. This story will be put on hiatus until May unless I find time to write somehow. Next update will be the week of May 13thsince my semester ends on May 10th.

Thank you all for your amazing support!

Peace out :)