I'M BACK! Ok, first of all I want to apologize for the late update but I erased half of the chapter because I didn't like it so I had to rewrite something better. Anyway, I believe that this is the best chapter so far. Thanks for the reviews, favourites and follows. REVIEWS ARE MORE THAN WELCOMED! Enjoy :D
P.S Don't hate me for the ending but I couldn't resist.
Paige's POV
"It's not as bad as it looks." I heard the doctor saying as he entered the room with my x-rays. "You just sprained your ankle. But you need to be careful."
"What are you saying?" I asked.
"Well, first of all you should rest your ankle and stay in bed for at least week. Second you won't be able to do any sports. You also have to put an ice pack every four hours for two days."
"But…" I was about to protest when Kris interrupted me.
"Will do. Thank you doctor."
"Don't thank me. I was just doing my job. Now, just sign here and you're free to go." He said as he gave me a pen.
"Yeah, ok, we'll wait outside of the hospital. Bye." Kris said as she ended the call. She had phoned Jay to ask him if he could take us back to campus. "He'll be here in forty."
"Ugh, I'm bored." I said
"What do you want to do?" Kris asked.
"I don't know."
"Wanna hear some music?"
"NO!" I answered immediately remembering the last time I heard music.
"Ok, relax, don't hit me." She said hurriedly.
"What happened back there anyway?"
"I just got distracted."
"Oh, I see."
"Can I ask you something?" She said after a while.
"Sure, what is it?"
"I've managed to come out to Jay but how am I gonna come out to the others?"
"I think that our next step is for you to come out to the swim team."
"What if they don't accept it?"
"They accepted me why wouldn't they accept you?"
"I don't know."
"After all you are the captain."
"Right." We sat there in silence just looking the ambulances come and go until Kris' phone started ringing.
"Yeah?"
"Oh, hey Austin, what's up?"
"Yeah everything is great, why?"
"No, we haven't planned on going somewhere. Why are you asking?"
"Yeah, I talked to mum. I'll be there and so will Paige." She said looking at me.
"I'm in the hospital with Paige."
"No, nothing happened to me. Paige just sprained her ankle while running."
"She'll be fine. Yeah, bye."
"What happened?" I asked her when she ended the call.
"Austin wanted to know if we were going to visit my parents." I nodded and after that we had nothing left to talk about. So I observed her from the corner of my eye. Her cute nose, her cheekbones and those eyes. God, one day those eyes are going to drive me crazy.
Knock Knock.
Kris and I looked at the door. I tried to get up but she stopped me.
"Doctor said you need rest." She said and walked to the door.
"Oh my God, Austin!" Kris said once she opened the door, a little louder than I expected.
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to surprise you."He said with a smile plastered on his face.
"Well you did."
"Wait, that's not all."
"Ok. What is it?"
"I need your help."
"You need my what?"
"I know I haven't said that in a while but I really need your help." He responded a little bit more serious.
"Ok, come in." She gestured him to get inside.
"You're staying here?" Kris said when she saw the suitcase behind her brother.
"Yeah, for a while. I'll check in a hotel after I leave."
"No, no, no. You are staying here with us."
"Hi. You must be Paige. I'm Austin, Kris' brother. My sister forgets her manners sometimes."
"Yeah, it's nice to meet you." I said and smiled. Only when he got in I could take a look at him. He was tall, slim, with dark hair and those green eyes, similar to Kris'.
"Anyway, you don't have to check in a hotel." Kris continued. "You can stay here. I'll sleep in the couch and you'll sleep in my bed or the other way around."
"Nah, I don't want to become a burden."
"You won't." I said reassuringly. Austin let out a sight. He knew his sister wasn't going to stop.
"Ok, ok, I'll stay here."
"Yes." Kris said and lifted her fist up in the air.
I sat down with some help from Kris after leaving my crutches next to me. Kris then sat right beside me.
"So, what's up?" I asked as soon as I sat down.
"I'm planning on going on a trip so I won't be around for a while." Jay responded.
"To where?" Kris asked curiously.
"Remember when I told you that my motorcycle broke down last month?" He asked Kris.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well I asked my dad if he knew any mechanics that could fix my bike and he told me he knows one who's the best at what he's doing but he's in New York. So, my dad helped me get in touch with him and then make sure that his friend got the bike."
"Ok… Where is this going?" Kris asked confused.
"Well this guy called yesterday and told me that my bike is ready so tomorrow morning I'll be leaving to New York to pick up my bike."
"And how are you planning on coming back?" I asked.
"I'll ride my bike."
"You'll do what?!" Kris and I both asked.
"Yeah, I always wanted to drive across country." He said excited.
"Emily and I wanted to drive across country" I thought.
"So I'll be gone for about a week..." He continued.
Kris' POV
When Austin called and told me to meet him at the mall I had no idea what was going to happened.
"Hey. Thanks for meeting me here." He said once he saw me.
"Yeah, well you do live in my place for now. So why did you asked me to meet you here?"
"Because I need your help."
"With what?"
"Ok look. Vivian and I have been together for three years now. So I thought it's time to take our relationship to the next level."
"Which is…?" I asked not sure for what I was about to hear.
"I am here to buy a wedding ring."
"A what?" I asked shocked.
"That's why I need your help. I want it to be perfect." He said smiling at the thought of him and Vivian getting married. Austin met Vivian three years ago in a concert. They made a really weird couple but at the same time they were so perfect together. Vivian teaches guitar to children. She has short dark hair with blue highlights and a couple of tattoos in her arms and the back of her neck. "Will you help me?"
"Yes, of course."
"So, how've been?" Austin asked as we sat down at one of the cafés.
"Pretty good, I guess." I said.
"May I take your order?" The waitress interrupted us.
"I'll have a latte." Austin said.
"An orange juice for me." I said handing her the menus. We waited for the waitress to bring our orders and then Austin continued.
"What about your love life? Any new boyfriend I should know of?" He asked and took a sip from his coffee.
"No. And I don't think there will be any."
"What do you mean?" He asked me confused.
"Austin there's something you need to know." I started. "I'm gay."
He remained silent progressing what I told him. After a while he looked at me worried.
"When did you realize it?" He asked softly.
"I've known this for two years." I said quietly.
"Are you planning to inform mom and dad about it?"
"Yes."
"This isn't going to end up well." He mumbled. "But I'm here for you and I'll support you."
Paige's POV
"Easy? What planet do you live on? I spend most of my life trying not to feel the way I feel. I come out and they ship my first girlfriend off to God knows where. And now maybe she's done with me. So yeah, it's all about Emily. All Em, all the time."
"Paige, I'm back." I heard Kris saying, immediately waking up. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know you were sleeping." She said apologetically.
"It's fine. Where's Austin?" I said looking behind Kris.
"Oh, Jay offered to show him around campus." She said as she sat on the couch and turned on the TV.
"And now let's connect with Adam, who's currently in Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where a murder of a detective took place. Adam?" I heard the woman from the news saying. I got up and walked to sit next to Kris on the couch. She looked at me concerned when she realized that something was wrong.
"Yes Liz. Yesterday detective Gabriel Holbrook was found dead outside of his apartment. The police believes…" I never heard the end of it. All I could think of was Emily and A. I got up and grabbed my phone. But, since I forgot to charge it this morning, it was useless.
"Hey Kris, can I use your phone." I asked.
"Yeah, sure." She said and handed me her cell phone. I opened the laptop and after a few minutes of searching I found the number I needed to call. I dialed it and waited for a response.
"Hello?" I heard the girl saying from the other side of the line.
"Hello. Is this Spencer?"
"Yeah, who's asking?"
"Oh, hey Spence, it's Paige."
"Paige?"
"Yeah, I know I haven't communicate with any of you guys but I really need a favor. It's about Em." I added when I felt her hesitation.
"What do you need?"
"I just heard about Holbrook and I was just wondering if you could give me a heads up every once in a while about Emily. You know, if anything bad happens or if she needs help."
"Uh, yeah. I guess I can do that."
"But please, don't tell her that I called you. And that phone call never happened." I added hurriedly.
"Wait. Have you changed your number?"
"No. You can keep calling me to my old one." I said. "Oh, and Spence? Thank you."
"No problem. I'm glad that you didn't forget about Emily."
Jay's POV
"Jay, my boy! How've you been?" I heard Thomas saying once I got into the workshop.
"Thomas! I'm good, how are you?" Once I saw the mechanic.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking. You came to pick up your bike?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, just wait here till I get it." He said and headed to the back of the shop. "Here you are."
"Wait, that's not my bike." I told him once I saw the guy gesturing me to a red motorcycle.
"It's not? What is your bike again?"
"It's a black Yamaha FZ-09."
"Oh yeah, right. Now I remember." He said and went back, hopefully to bring me the right bike this time.
I was now 20 miles outside of Rosewood riding my bike on my way to California. I wanted to check Paige's hometown so I drove a little bit around. As I turned left I saw a black, sport car parked aside of the road. Nearby was a girl with long dark hair, shorter than me, and her eyes not visible from my point of view. I slowed down when I saw her waving at me and stopped in front of her. I took off my helmet.
"Is everything ok here?" I asked.
"Thank you for stopping." She said. "I got a flat tire and my phone's battery died."
"I can lend you mine. Here." I said and handed my phone to her. She took it and called roadside assistance. In the meantime I observed the girl's features. She had brown eyes and toned lips.
"They'll be here in ten minutes." She said when the call ended. "Thanks again." She said and gave me back my phone. I took it back and I sat down.
"No problem." I said.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm sitting."
"Yeah, I can see that. But why?"
"I'm waiting here with you until the tow truck comes to pick up your car."
"You don't have to do that."
"I know. But I'm not leaving you here all alone."
"Thanks." She said and sat next to me.
"They're here." I said ten minutes later when I saw the tow truck. They loaded the car and after informing us about where they're taking it I turned to face the girl.
"Come on. I'll give you a ride."
"You don't have to do that. You've already done enough."
"Oh, ok. Then how are you planning on reaching your destination when the tow truck left you behind?" I said pointing towards the direction of the vehicle. The girl sighted.
"Are you sure you're ok with that?"
"Yes. Oh, and wear that." I said giving her my helmet.
"What about you?"
"I don't need one." I said and started the engine.
Once the tow truck parked outside a building I slowed down and eventually stopped.
"Thanks for the ride." The girl said.
"You don't have to thank me. It was my pleasure." I said as I followed her inside the building. We sat at the reception and waited.
"What are you doing here anyway?" She asked confused.
"I'm keeping you company." I said casually. "So, where are you going?"
"San Francisco. I'm going to check up Stanford."
"Really? I attend at Stanford."
"That's great."
"I'm Jay, by the way. Jay Sutherland." I said extending my hand towards her.
"I'm Sydney. Sydney Driscoll."