I apologize for the long update. I have been really busy with school and work that it's been hard for me to update. But luckily, I've finally been able to find some time to update… so here's the next chapter!
Also… I made a banner for this fic a long time ago, but I didn't find any use for it since I don't have this fic up on a site anywhere, but I thought that those who enjoy my story would like to see it anyway. So if you wanna see this banner that I made, simply copy this url and paste it on your browser:
http://members.shaw.ca/lindsayb/endlessroads.jpg
Endless Roads
Chapter 17 - Telling the Truth
The room was intense, quiet and awkward as everyone remained standing after Dr. McCarthy had left the room. No one was sure how react towards the news that they had just received.
Jason paced back and forth near the entranceway of the waiting room, while Lacey kept to herself, sitting in a corner in absolute silence. Both of them felt fear and worry knowing that Kim ended up right back in the hospital again; a place that Jason knew Kim never wanted to be in ever again. His effort to make sure that she never had to go through the same traumatic experiences that she had before, had failed, and he took all the blame for it. Letting Kim leave by herself on the night of Rocky's party was a complete mistake. But at the same time, he was completely frustrated with Kim and Tommy as well, for guiding themselves into such a wreck after all the warning signs he had sent their ways.
Jason finally stopped his pacing and took a moment to look at Tommy. He stood there, holding onto Kat with the look of pure concern in his eyes. Meanwhile, Jason remained staring at him, thinking how ridiculous it was for Tommy to act the way he was when knowing nothing about the actual situation Kimberly was in. Tommy's worry was nothing compared to his… because he knew nothing.
As for the rest of them, they just remained where they were, thinking of what they were going to do. Rocky was just in pure utter shock. Nothing this serious had ever happened to anyone whom he had cared for. And to hear all of the happenings in Kim's life was just too overwhelming for him to understand, as he began to experience an unfamiliar feeling of concern and worry. Adam quietly comforted Aisha, who was feeling extremely guilty at the moment. All the things she had put against Kimberly just didn't seem to matter anymore; the only thing that did was Kim getting out of the hospital fine and well.
Billy stood by the window of the room, quietly staring out into the black sky. The light of the moon gently lit his face and reflected off of his glasses. He clenched his jaw shut, trying his hardest to keep his emotions in. He knew that at times like these, the best way to keep everyone calm was to show strength and assure that everything was going to be okay. At least that's what he should have been doing. The emotions of guilt and sadness inside of him kept building up and within time they would most likely burst out.
Jason slowly took a step in front of all of them, and gave out a little cough to grab their attention. Soon after, all heads turned his way, and all their teary eyes stared into his, making what he was about to say even harder to let out. He took a moment to look at all of them, noticing all of emotion-filled expressions on their faces.
"I-I…" He stuttered. "… just want t-to thank you guys… It really means a lot to see all you guys here at a time like this."
"You don't have to thank us Jason. Being here wasn't an option. Kim's our friend, we'd be here no matter what." Adam quickly responded. Jason gave him a quick smile, noticing how strong he was through all of this, and he appreciated it with deep gratitude.
"Any ways, I'm sure that we won't be getting more news anytime soon, and it's almost one in the morning. So… I suggest that you all go home… get some rest… and if there is news, me and Lacey will give you a call."
"No way man." Rocky shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here."
"Rocky, I'm serious. You should all go home and get some rest. I assure you, I will call all of you if something happens."
"Jason…" Aisha began.
"Aisha… please." Jason begged. "I think it's best that you all go and get some rest."
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Billy asked.
Jason nodded back.
Again silence filled the room as everyone stared at each other.
"Okay then." Adam replied. "We'll go."
Everyone began gathering their things and headed out of the waiting area. Lacey immediately noticed Tommy leaving, and she was instantly reminded that she still needed to talk to him. She quickly got out of her seat and reached for his arm.
"Tommy." She quickly replied.
Both Tommy and Kat turned to look at her. Jason widened his eyes soon realizing what Lacey was about to do.
"Lacey could I talk to you." He said.
"Jason, no. I need to talk to Tommy." She responded.
"What about?" Tommy asked with concern.
"Lacey, please… don't do this." Jason sneered.
"Don't do what? What's going on?" Tommy asked again.
Lacey slowly turned to Jason and gave him a hard and serious glare.
"He needs to know." She sternly whispered.
"Why are you doing this?" Jason whispered back.
Lacey noticed the desperation in his eyes. She saw how much he didn't want her telling the truth, but she just had to, even if it meant going against Jason's word.
"I told you before that I would… why are you acting so shocked that I am now?"
Jason didn't answer her, but gave her an intense stare.
"Please." He quietly whispered.
"What are you two talking about? What the hells going on here?" Tommy replied.
Lacey gave Jason another glare and turned away.
"Tommy…" Lacey began. "We haven't been honest with you these past few days."
Jason couldn't believe she was going through with it. Anger built up inside of him once again, and the more Lacey spoke the more it grew. It finally came to a point where he couldn't be in the same room with her. Instantly he jetted out of the room, catching Tommy, Lacey and Kat's attention.
"Lacey what's going on here. What the hell were you and Jason arguing about?"
Lacey paused for a moment, realizing there was no turning back at this point.
"It's about Kim." She began. "There's a lot more to it… than her being hit by a car."
Those words suddenly caught all of Kat's attention. More to it than just being hit by a car? Could it have been possible that Lacey had found out about her little conversation with Kim earlier? And was she about to reveal it to Tommy at that moment?
"More to it?" Tommy replied.
"Do you remember the night of Rocky's party?" Lacey asked.
"That was just a few days ago, wasn't it?" He answered.
Lacey slowly nodded, while Kat's suspicions faded away. Nothing happened between her and Kim that night.
"You know how she left the party… by herself?"
"Of course I know… but what does that have to do with what happened tonight?"
"It may have a lot to do with what happened tonight." She answered.
"What are you talking about?" Tommy asked with frustration.
Lacey swallowed hard, not believing that she was about to tell him.
"Kim never came home that night." She whispered. "We waited in the morning, hoping she would show up, but she didn't."
"What are you trying to say?" Tommy mumbled.
"What I'm trying to say is that… Kimberly's been missing during these past few days." Lacey let out. "We reported it to the police and everything, but no one was able to find her until… well today."
A wave of shocked just rushed through Tommy. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"What?" He whispered.
Kat couldn't believe what she was hearing either, just realizing that she was probably the first one to see Kimberly after her disappearance.
"I'm so sorry Tommy." Lacey whimpered, as tears began to form in her eyes. "I wanted to tell you, but…"
"Why am I just learning about this now!" He interrupted.
"Jason didn't want you to know." She trembled.
"And why not!" He snapped.
"He wanted you to stay away from Kim after what happened between the both of you at Rocky's party."
Tommy froze, irritated that Lacey just said that in front of Kat.
"Tommy… what is she talking about?" Kat stepped in.
Tommy said nothing, glaring back at Lacey, who froze as well not able to believe that she had just said what she did.
"What happened between you and Kimberly?" She asked.
Still, there was no answer.
"Tommy… what the hell is going on! ANSWER ME!" Kat yelled, hoping that her nightmare wasn't about to come true.
"Kat… I…" He muttered.
"Actually, no. I don't want to know." She interrupted, as tears began to form. "I'm leaving."
"Kat… wait." Tommy replied.
"Take a taxi home… I can't be here right now." She snapped and ran off.
Lacey remained silent as Tommy regained his composure.
"Tommy… I'm so sorry. I didn't intend for that to happen."
"I can't believe you. And I can't believe you guys kept this from me." He snarled.
"Jason said that if you knew, you'd just dig yourself deeper into a hole that you wouldn't be able to get yourself out of." Lacey responded. "The way you've been leading Kim on with how much you so-called 'care for her', is making her believe that you two have a chance. But we both know that nothing could ruin your bond with Kat. You'll just end up breaking Kim's heart."
"I'm sorry is this you or Jason talking here?" Tommy asked. "And news flash Lacey… what the hell do you think happened just now! You said OUTLOUD that something happened between me and Kim right in front of Kat's face!"
"I didn't mean for that to happen." Lacey replied.
"Where the hell is Jason." Tommy sneered, as he turned around to go find him.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to find that son of a bitch!" Tommy yelled out.
Lacey immediately ran after him. "What are you going to do?" She asked nervously.
"Give that bitch what's coming to him."
"Tommy… don't do this."
"If that moron would have just backed off, none of this would have happened." He snapped.
"Look I don't one hundred percent agree with Jason's point of view, but do you honestly believe that this is all Jason's fault? Come on Tommy, you know better than that!" Lacey exclaimed.
"That's not the point! The point is, he should have told me! I have the right to know when things like this happen."
"And there is no reason why you should bring violence into this!"
Tommy stopped and nodded at her. "You're right." He muttered.
Soon enough Jason walked around the corner, not knowing he was walking up to Lacey and Tommy at that moment.
"Jason." Lacey replied.
Jason quickly lifted his head, surprised to see the both of them standing before him. He looked at Tommy wondering if he had already been told of what happened.
"Did you tell him?" He quietly asked.
"Yeah she did." Tommy spoke up. "Why the hell did you keep this from me, man?"
Jason didn't know what to say.
"I'm going to leave you two alone." Lacey said and quickly walked away.
Both Tommy and Jason remained standing in the hallway face to face, trying their best to keep back the anger they had towards one another.
"Kat knows now." Tommy replied, trying to break the awkwardness between them.
Jason quickly looked up at him, surprised to hear what Tommy had just said.
"Lacey was telling me what happened, and then she went into the details about what happened that night out in Rocky's driveway…"
"How did that turn out." He finally spoke.
"Kat ran off… obviously upset."
"Did you run after her?"
Tommy paused, then shook his head. "No."
"Tommy…" Jason sighed.
"I wanted to know the rest of what Lacey had to say!"
"You chose that over comforting your girlfriend, whom you knew was upset!" Jason exclaimed. "Do you have any idea how she's probably feeling right about now?"
"I can deal with her when I get home." Tommy replied.
"You see… this is exactly what I'm talking about, man! You've hurt her… and you don't even realize it. Tommy this mess is a lot more serious than you're taking it!"
Tommy didn't say a word.
"Dude… I didn't want you to know for a reason. And this is exactly why. You've hurt Kim… and now… you've hurt Kat. Don't you get it! You're now in that place I was trying to prevent you from heading to.
"You don't know how this feels Jason." Tommy muttered. "All these years I've tried getting over my feelings for this girl. And when Kat came into my life I thought I did. But having Kim back made me realize that I haven't. And after hearing all that has happened to her, and seeing her act the way she has… I don't know, I guess it's just basic instinct for me to be there for her."
"But you can't let that happen Tommy." Jason responded. "Not with a girl that's vulnerable like Kim is."
"It's not that simple."
Jason was without words. Everything that he feared for had now happened, and he just didn't know what to say. He had tried so hard, and yet he failed. It just made him so angry and frustrated that all of these preventable things just blew up in his face, despite his effort. Quickly he rubbed his face into his hand in frustration, letting out a loud growl, when suddenly he stopped. He looked up at Tommy, and at that moment he soon realized what he had to do now. They had to move on.
"Who cares." Jason simply muttered.
"What?" Tommy replied.
"It's too late now! All that I didn't want to happen has happened!" He exclaimed. "All we can do now is wait."
Tommy took a moment and realized that he was right and agreed.
