chapter 28

Nic's POV

I gulped, wiping my sweaty hands on the mattress while frowning at my mother who had the answer to break my heart or to save it from permanent destruction.

I finally had the courage to ask her about Lauren's whereabouts but I'm not sure if I'm ready to hear the answer, I'm not sure if I'll be able to take it if she was no longer here. No longer alive.

I stared at my mother's lips, waiting for the words to come out and tears were ready to fall from my eyes, but before she could speak, the door slammed open.

My mom turned around, not answering my question or relieving my heart as a figure who looked very identical as her, appeared on the door way. Jonathan.

His eyes caught mine in a split second and I couldn't read his expression, before he looked away and smiled at our mother. Mom smiled back and went to give him a tight hug. Caught up in the embrace, Anger filled me as recalled all the unlikable events he caused for Lauren and I. "What the fuck is he doing here, mom?" I questioned my mom and she turned around, glaring at me in the word 'language' but I didn't care. I didn't want him here, nor did I want to see him either.

"It's okay, mom." Jonathan spoke while holding our mom's arm before letting go and walking towards me. "I know you don't want to see me or have any type of conversation with me but I would like to speak to you." He continued while holding his gaze on mine, hope filling his eyes but all I did was glare back. Just as I was about to flip him off, mom interrupted me and excused herself out.

I sighed in frustration and told Jonathan to sit down while rolling my eyes. He smiled brighter than ever and sat on mom's seat. I looked at the mattress that I'm covered with and avoided his eyes. He noticed but decided to not say anything about it, while leaning back in his seat. He stared at me for a really long time and didn't say a word. "Speak and get it over with." I turned towards him and told him urgently, losing my patience.

"Right." He paused before leaning forward in his seat, ready to say what's in his mind. "Um, I ready don't know where to start." He chuckled and caught my eyes as his were filled with sadness. "I did you wrong. All of the time ever since high school. I'm not in your life and It is mostly my fault. Well actually, it's all my fault and I treated you wrong and I have no excuse for it. I don't even know what happened to you and why the fuck are you in the hospital with a gun wound on your shoulder?!" He asked, frowning at me with desperate eyes, desperate to know.

"Does it matter to you?" I retorted with narrowed eyes and he sighed, angrily and stomped his foot.

"Of course it matters to me! You're my sister and I'm so sorry, I wasn't a brother to you." He closed his eyes and looked down, away from me, obviously from shame. "I'm really sorry." He said, his voice barely above a whisper. I sighed and looked away to the other side of the room. I saw the person sitting on the opposite chair move but remain asleep. That's when I noticed it was my best friend, the one who stood beside me almost my entire life, rita who was sleeping on that chair this whole time. I smiled softly at her peaceful state before, returning my gaze towards my brother. I saw tears falling from his eyes and I sighed for the third time today.

"You know, I forgave so many people in my life. Some who deserved a second chance and some didn't." I paused and looked at my hands. "But for some reason, I see one good thing in them and I just give in. Give in to forgiveness like they've done nothing wrong. Jonathan, you're my brother and you didn't have my back when I needed you the most but you've done a lot of good things to me as little kids." I looked up to catch his teary eyes staring back at me. "So yeah, I forgive you but don't mess this second chance and don't make me regret this."

In a second, I felt strong arms wrap around me and in the exact moment, pain shot through my shoulder. I yelped in pain and Jonathan immediately pulled away, apologizing frequently. I breathed out and assured him I was fine before falling in to a deep silence.

My mind became deep in thought as I zoned out from the real world. I looked at my brother who was playing with the him of his shirt like he always does whenever he's nervous and I asked "Where's Lauren, Jonathan?" The question that I have not received an answer to yet. The question that my mother ignored and refused to answer, right there escaping my lips. Fear no longer hidden in my heart, I'm sure it's very vivid on my face right at this moment.

He smiled, a smile I recognize all too well; a sympathetic smile. A smile that brought sadness into my heart. A smile that gave me my answer, an answer that I dreaded, an answer I didn't want to hear; she's dead. "She suffered from internal bleeding and she lost a lot of blood. When the ambulance reached the hospital, she was dead. It was too late. I'm so sorry, cole. They tried." I broke down and did not care if my tears were streaming down my dried skin like an odd rain in the middle of the dessert. My tears came hard like never before. Broken can not describe me anymore nor can numb describe my state of mind.

I felt four arms wrap around my fragile body and two scents filling my nose; the smell of lemon mint came from my left which belonged to my best friend Rita's and a strong cologne scent came from my right which belonged to my brother, Jonathan's. I screamed loudly that they both pulled away in frighten and I didn't stop. I wanted to scream until I can no longer scream again. I wanted to scream until my vocal chords break and I will lose my voice forever. Never again, shall I be able to speak a word.

My blurry vision saw people with white coats rushing to me and I felt them restraining me in my bed while I resisted. Finally, a needle was struck through my vein and I felt slowly but surely numb. My eyes drift shut and I was in a peaceful mind; fallen asleep with hopes to never wake up ever again.

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"I still don't know what exactly do you love; roses, peonies, orchids. I have no fucking idea. You always told me that you would love anything from me. The important thing is that it comes from the bottom of my heart but at the same time, you hated it when I spent money on you." I sat down on the wet grass, not carrying if my pants got dirty. I stared at the tomb stone that had Lauren's name craved to it and I held back the tears.

It was a windy day and no one was in the grave yard except for me, no one stepping on the dirt where bodies of their love ones lie beneath. No one sitting down like me with a grieving heart and a sad soul. A memory came flooding in my head....

"So what are you doing on the rooftop? You're not thinking about jumping, are you?" She asked playfully and I could feel and see her from my peripheral vision, her smiling at me.

I shrugged. "I needed some fresh air. And no, I wasn't planning on jumping. I thought about screaming but disregard it." I said, a small smile escaped my lips. "And why are you here?" I asked her, turning away from the beautiful night sky to face her.

"I followed you." She answered, shrugging. I just stared at her with narrowed eyes. "Well of course, you could just say that. It wouldn't creep me out or anything." I said sarcastically and looked towards the moon as she chuckled next to me.

I turned my head so my eyes could meet hers again and waited for her to elaborate more. I knew she had more to say. Her eyes shone underneath the bright moon and my heart skipped a beat. "Well, I needed to know if you're okay." She said, looking at the people walking below.

I frowned my eyebrows, confused. "I'm fine, Lauren. What made you think I'm not? And why does it matter to you? I'm not your friend." I told her, completely and utterly confused. Why does she all of a sudden cares? This is completely new and different to me. This is not the Lauren I used to know.

"I want to be..." I heard her say but I couldn't catch it because she was barely audible and her voice didn't go above a whisper. "What?" I asked leaning my head closer to her face to hear more clearer. "I want to be your friend." She said in a whisper and I looked up to meet her eyes and saw how red her face was. She looks cute. I mean... Yeah, she looks cute.

"Why?" I asked, doubtful. The hell is going on?

"Seriously?! Can you please stop doubting everything I do? I want to be your friend. It's that simple. I've changed, I wouldn't hurt you. I don't want to hurt you. I'm sorry I've hurt you. I was bad before but if you could give me the chance to prove myself, then you would see how sorry and different I am." She finished and let out a sigh. She gazed at me, her brown eyes shining from the moon light, her hair flowing down her face.

I considered what she said. So far, she hadn't done anything bad or terrible to prove her wrong. She was nice and still is. Nothing bad could happen if I gave her chance, would it? You know what, fuck it what could possibly happen, right? A zombie apocalypse? A plague spreading wildly?

"Fine. I will give you a chance." I said, hoping I'm not doing a wrong decision. She smiled and hugged me so tight, catching me off guard. I felt her arms holding my waist so tight, I felt like suffocating but I didn't. This felt nice and warm. I slowly lifted my arms and wrapped them around her tiny body as well.

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A tear strolled down my face as it was the beginning of my journey with the beautiful Lauren hills.

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We ran away from the gym of our old school and turned left, seeing a door click open in front of us. Lauren grabbed my shoulders and pushed me on the bushes. She fell on top of me and hid her face in my neck. I wrapped my arms around her and saw someone's feet walking past us. I held her close, not wanting to let go. I don't why but there was something about her being in my arms. I loved it.

"Is he gone?" I heard her whisper in my neck. Her hot breath sending tickles down my spine. "Yes." I whispered back and she lifted her head up and her eyes catching my light orbs. She smiled and I couldn't help but capture this moment in my heart. She leaned down and kissed my cheek. Her lips are the softest thing that has ever touched my skin. Her lips were like oxygen and I was the fuel, together there's heat and when there's heat, there's fire. That's how I felt like I'm on fire. She got off and pulled me up. We ran away and laughed like kids.

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I held my tears in as another memory popped in my head.

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I kissed her forehead and without a second thought, I said. "I'll help." She shook her head, knowing that I would say that but I am a stubborn white bitch. "No, I want to help. You helped me reunite with my family. Now, I want to help you get back on your feet. You can pay me back afterwards. Please, take my offer. You're my girlfr-" I cut myself off before it slipped but Lauren caught on and looked at me with a shocked yet questioning gaze. I'm sure my cheeks are as red as a redhead but I tried to act normal.

"Did you just say I'm your girlfriend?" She asked and I could see the corner of her lips twitching upwards. I looked everywhere but at her, ignoring the looks she's giving me. I'm so stupid, I said I will make it official but not like this. What if she doesn't want me? Oh my god, I'm such a fool.

"I would love to be your girlfriend." My eyes snapped upwards and caught that wide smile on her face. Hearing those words, those blessing words, I never felt more alive. She wants to be my girlfriend. I couldn't help but to release a heavy sigh. I looked into her eyes and I fell under her gaze. She looks so beautiful with her adorable brown eyes, shinning like chocolate milk. They're was something about her eyes that made me want to stare at them all day long. They were captivating.

"Arent you gonna say anything?" She said with a smirk on her face, knowing that she had me gauging at her.

I smiled at her and caressed her left cheek with my hand, being as gentle as possible. She turned her head slightly and kissed the palm of my hand. I smiled at her gesture and leaned forwards capturing her lips with my own. I felt her smile and I couldn't help but smile too. Our kiss was soft and gentle. There was no rush or eagerness. I felt so relaxed just kissing her sweet lips. We pulled away and I kissed her cheeks, causing her to giggle and hide her face in her hands. I laughed and I heard her whisper, still covering her face. "God, I'm acting like I just got my first kiss."

I took her hands away from her face and smiled at her. "Now, would you let me help you?" I asked, hoping she would agree. She nodded her head with that same smile that never left her lips.

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I took out the object that was in my pockets and it seems like I've befriended this little thing way too much.

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I opened my eyes, confused. I looked at the man standing in front of me and his smirk looked frozen. His hand holding the gun unmoving and time was paralyzed. Something wasn't right. I saw his eyes drift away from me and he was looking at something further away, further way back. At that moment, I knew something that I should've realized; life can never be expected, the scenarios you always play in your head don't always come true. I turned my head and looked behind me; I saw an angel. Not just any angel, my angel. My Lauren. She had tears in her eyes as she watched the scene unfold, her beautiful brown eyes struck me like they always do. The look on her face seemed like she just watched a scene in a horror movie. My eyes drifted slowly, away from her chocolate eyes and down to her dress, her blood stained dress. I'm not the one who got shot, she was.

My heartbeat increased and I ran towards her, catching her before she falls. "Lauren!! Lauren!! Sweetheart, don't close your eyes. Baby, look at me." I called out to her as I gently placed her on the floor, her head in between my palms. She sobbed as tears streamed down her face. My heart felt heavy as I watched her cry in pain and I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

Her eyes caught mine and I saw things I wished I didn't; pain, love, sorrows and regret. Emotions I can not describe enough.

Her tears stopped flooding out and she wore a small smile on her face. A smile I'll never forget. "I-I'm sorry. I....I'm so sorry. I wasn't the b-best. I don't...deserve y-you. You deserve better than me. You always have. I l-love you. And my love for you....won't die. It will never die." A tear dropped from my eye and I shook my head.

"Stop apologizing. Stop it. You're not dying today. You won't. I got a fucking life planned for us, okay?!" I sobbed and broke down. I held her close to my chest and heard someone calling my name but I blocked them out. The only person who deserves my attention is the girl in my arms. I looked down at her angelic face as she rested on my chest. I dug for my phone but she held my hand and looked up to catch my eyes. She placed her hand on my cheek and weakly pulled my face and touched my lips with her own. It wasn't hard or soft. It wasn't dry or wet. It wasn't perfect, nothing is, but this one, this one felt different from all the times I've kissed her. This one felt like a new beginning. This one felt like goodbye.

She pulled away as her strength weakened. I looked up to the person calling my name and I saw rita with fear in her eyes, looking down on us. She saw the woman in my arms and hastily pulled her phone out of her pocket. I turned away and found Lauren with her eyes closed. "Lauren?" I whispered so softly, my heart racing more than it already is. "Lauren, baby?" I whispered again but got no answer. "..no...no........" I placed my hand onto her neck but with it trembling, I couldn't feel a thing.

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A tear strolled down my face as the most horribly memory in my head came rushing to me, before I lifted the object in my hand and pointing it on to my head. "I love you, Lauren. I'll meet you soon. I promise." Then I pulled the trigger.

Bang!!

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You see, sometimes, not everything ends up as a beautiful fairy tale. Sometimes, not everything ends up as a horrifying nightmare. We always live in the latter, in between, where darkness and light meet, where the ocean meets its shore, where the living live above the dead. Where reality is shadowed by dreams.

Well in this case, it was.

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Lauren's POV

I flipped through the magazine, skipping the tedious articles and mesmerizing the pictures. I heard a soft knock on the door and I called them in. Jonathan appeared through the doorway, smiling delightfully at me. I smiled back politely at his kindness. Surprisingly, He apologized to me after my incident and even cried when he heard about Nic's horrendous situation. "Here you go." He said, handing me my black coffee which I smiled to him gratefully.

"Any sign of movement?" He asked and sat down comfortably in the chair next to mine. I shook my head no as I turned to look at my darling, who seemed to be sleeping soundly in her hospital bed, but we knew better. Nic is in a coma, has been for the past two weeks. Her brain is still functioning but her body isn't allowing her to wake up.

I still remember waking up in the hospital bed, to be told that nic was in the other room with a gun wound on her shoulder. It broke my heart into half and I so badly wanted to see her but I wasn't allowed to. A few days after that, I was discharged but I didn't leave. I stayed right here, sleeping on the couch besides nic's solid bed. I had to tell them I was Nic's wife so they would let me stay. Thankfully, everyone went along with it.

I didn't understand what happened, no one did. I was told that nic took off while I was being taken away by the medics. That pissed me off but at the same time, I was disoriented, still am. Where did she go? We have no clue. How did she get here? A random guy called the ambulance and found nic passed out on top of a hill. How was she wounded? We don't know the story or the events that occurred after my incident.

"Hey, I just received a text from my mom, she needs me with something urgent. Update me when something happens, okay?" I nodded my head as Jonathan locked his phone and stood up. We said our goodbyes and he headed towards the door. When the door was closed shut, I turned to nic with a small smile spreading across my face at how peaceful she looked. Yesterday, Nic moved twice but nothing else happened. The doctor didn't really have an explanation for it but Matthew said she's probably dreaming. I would like to believe that. What is she dreaming about?

"Hey baby." I said softly, afraid my voice would break. "We miss you here. I miss you here." I reached out to grab her hand, holding it tightly with my own but cautious as to not hurt her. "I'm sorry. I'm very sorry for keeping the truth from you. I'm sorry for lying and saying that I love Jonathan more than I love you because that's not true. I wanted to push you away from any harm, I didn't want them to harm you." I put my forehead on her arm and sighed while closing my eyes.

"They came to our home, baby and showed me pictures I didn't want to see. No one wants to see, so I pushed you away." I looked up, tears filling my eyes. "I pushed you away thinking it will protect me and you but look at us now; It didn't. I thought that you'll be safe when I leave you but here you are, laying on your deathbed. Would you please wake up? I'm the one who deserves to die, not you! I'm the one who has been evil, you weren't! You never were..." I paused, taking shaky deep breaths. "Nic, you're an angel. You have the purest soul, you were never bad. Not even towards the ones who wanted you hurt. I don't understand why would anyone hate you? You're perfect. I never saw that when we were teenagers but I wish I did. You are always loving, caring, forgiving. You had your heart in your damn sleeve and people were stupid enough to break it for you. I was stupid to break it for you. You don't deserve me." I paused and sobbed quietly. "You deserve better. You deserve another angel, not me."

"But I can't let you go. Call me selfish but I need my superhero. I need my rock. I need your silly ass mama's jokes." I laughed with tears streaming down my face. "But most importantly, I need your love. I need your arms to hold me tight during the night. I need your lips to rest my heart and I need you alive. So please, live. If not for me, for you but please, please, I don't want to lose you. I don't want you dead." I leaned forward and pressed my lips hard on hers. I closed my eyes and kissed her passionately even though I didn't receive any respond. I pulled away when I need to breath and cried. I opened my eyes and stepped back. Turning towards the door with a heavy sad heart and without thinking, I ran.

I ran and ran in the hall, swiftly passing all the doctors, nurses and even patients. Soon after, I found myself on the bathroom floor, sobbing and crying my eyes out. I stood up quickly and entered the bathroom stall, to cry without anyone seeing me. It felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest and there was a hole left in the aftermath. No heart to pump the blood in my body, just a void. An unwanted sickening void. A void that was caused by the beautiful, loving but pale and seemingly lifeless Nicole Erickson.

I wiped my tears and stood up. I shouldn't cry and I shouldn't be weak. Nic needs me at my strongest and at my best. She doesn't need me to be broken or on the edge of descent. I opened the door of the bathroom stall and took an encouraging look at the mirror before walking out.

Feet hitting the ground with a beautiful rhyme, I headed back towards Nic's room. My thoughts running wild and so was my mascara, I saw nurses rushing towards a room in the hall. I watched them carefully and saw them entering Nic's room. Oh no. My head started spinning and I felt breathless. I ran with extreme force, paranoid and fearful. I slammed the room open and what I saw next shock me to the core; nic's awake. She's awake and she's yelling. Yelling my name.

"Lauren!! Lauren! Where's Lauren?! Fuck off. Don't touch me, you blood sucking bitch. Where's Lauren?!" And here I thought she was an angel. I shook my head and rushed forward, pushing the nurses who were blocking Nic's view from me. I met Nic's eyes and that's when she grew silent. Her eyes shined with hope and admiration, I smiled. I grabbed her face with both of hands on her neck and attacked her with my lips, showering her face with kisses.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?" I kissed her lips with each word I spoke and nic nodded her head as if acknowledging my fear. She had a small smile spread across her lips, lost in heavenly kisses.

"Ma'am, we need to check her vitals. It's best to let her rest after waking up from a coma." The doctor said and I nodded my head, pulling away from nic, who sighed and rested her head on the pillow. I stepped back, my eyes never leaving Nic's. She winked at me and I smiled before stepping out of the room to let the doctors do the work.

I held my chest with both of my hands and I felt my heart beating again, as the void no longer existed and all I feel now is the love nic has given me. The love Nic has made me feel. I took out my phone and called Nic's parents with a wide smile spreading across my cheeks.

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5 years later

"Mom!! Elijah is throwing rocks at the pigeons." Nic pulled away, groaning as our naked sweating bodies pressed against one another. I chuckled at Nic's frowning expression as she stood up, muttering curse words at the mischievous twins who were playing in the backyard. I smiled as she started putting her clothes on and I covered myself with fluffy purple blanket that I adored so much, happily knowing that I won't be dealing with these kids today. It's not that I don't love them or don't want to hang out with them but sometimes, a mother needs a break.

You heard me right; after Nic was discharged from the hospital, she went to visit a therapist. Nic suffers from depression and till this day she is but she's a fighter and a strong one with no doubt. Nic told me she wanted help, mentally and I offered to aid her but she refused, saying she wanted to fight this battle on her own. I supported her decision, although I was hesitant but it was her decision to make. Nonetheless, she let me know of the progress and came to me whenever she was down, not hiding her feelings from me, which I very much appreciate her for.

Nic told me about the situation she was in after I got hurt. I was mad at her for an entire week for putting herself in that kind of danger but slowly understood how necessary it was for things to get fixed, yet I didn't like it.

A year later, in an ordinary night with Nic's family, Nic took me to the backyard, where the flowers and the lights decorated the garden beautifully. Till this day, it surprised me how an old lady did all this by herself, got to give credit to Nic's grandma for being healthy. We stood underneath the largest tree that was in the middle, where lights circled the branches of leaves with Nic's hands were shaking as the held my own. She got down on one knee and stumbled with her words but nonetheless proposed beautifully. I couldn't sleep that night as I was staring at my ring the entire time, it was just captivating. I knew about Nic's proposal before she even did it (she hid the ring in our closet, I mean OUR closet as If I won't see it) but still, she took me by surprise. I was surprised when she told me that was where her parents got engaged, again.

We got married on the beach, just like her parents and we didn't invite as many people. Not more than a hundred since we never wanted a huge wedding. We spoke our vows which brought Nic to sobs and had to be comforted by me in the middle of the ceremony. She made the entire crowd laugh the entire night especially rita who made sure her laugh was the loudest.

We had our honeymoon in Maldives and Nic was spoiling me like a bitch the entire time. Of course, I made sure she was spoiled as well which ended up with both of us, saving money for the next few months to make sure we don't go broke.

We bought a house after saving enough money so we can start our own family which we did; Elijah and Noah where brought into our lives a few months later. Which was three years ago when we adopted two beautiful intelligent twins but also very troublesome and mischievous. They have brown hair with adorable chocolate brown eyes. Rita takes them out every Friday for games night as Nic and I went on dates or had a lazy day or basically have sex all day long. The best day of the entire week.

I got off the bed and took one of Nic's baggy shirts to put them on. I smiled as I sniffed her addicting scent and took a look in front of the window. I looked down and smiled as I saw Nic being attacked by my 8 year old boys who where fighting her to the ground. They laughed as she faked defeat. I smirked and slide the window open to yell. "Wait for me, boys. Mama is coming down for you." Elijah stuck his tongue out for me and I gasped before shutting the window and put some pants on. I placed my hand on my belly, rubbing it gently and smiled widely. "Ready to save your mom from your brothers, darling?" I paused and opened our bedroom door. "Me too." I whispered to my belly before rushing down the stairs, careful not hurt the baby inside of me.

Life isn't bad after all.

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A/N

Hope you guys love the ending. I'm very pleased with this chapter and the way I ended this story. it's making me a little sad since this is it; There will not be an sequel or anymore chapters, I'm just going to end it here. I know it got a little depressing to some of you and I'm sorry for that but thank you so much, I have no words to say how happy I am for you guys to enjoy reading this. Hopefully, I will see you guys next time.

Byeeeeee.