Chapter 3

It had been a month now, and me and Grace were loving school, we had been to so many parties and Grace and James were dating and Austin and me were hanging out but he hadn’t asked me out yet. I was sitting in my room when my cell phone started to ring, I picked it up and saw that it was Austin calling. “Hey Austin, what’s up?” “Hey gorgeous. I was wanting to know if you wanted to come over and hang out with me tonight. Maybe watch some movies and talk?” “Sounds like fun, when do you want me over?” “How about 7ish? Work for you beautiful?” I smiled at the comment, “Sure does, see you then.”

          I woke to my phone playing “Love Struck” and looked at the screen and it said that Austin Taylor was calling so I flipped opened my phone and said, “Hello?” “Hey sorry to be calling you at like 3 in the morning, but I really need to talk to you.” He sounded really upset and nervous. I sat up in my bed and turned on the light, “What’s wrong Austin?” I started to begin to worry. “Can I come over?” Without hesitation I said, “Of course, you can.” “Alright I will be there in 10 minutes.” “Alright, see you then.” I closed my phone and sat there in utter confusion, then I walked downstairs in my shorts and t-shirt that I had on.

          I spotted his car before he pulled into the drive, and opened the door to greet him. He looked utterly distracted or worried. I stood there with my hands on my hips as he walked up to me. Before I could ask him if he was alright, he pulled me into a hug that lasted for a while and then he slowly let go and I sat down on the top step of the porch. He sat down next to me and took my hand.  

          I saw him look down at my hands and then he took a deep breath and looked back up to me. I looked into his amber eyes that were full of tears. “Evelyn…it’s my sister.” I couldn’t say anything, and it felt like someone had run right into my stomach and knocked the air out of me. “The doctor said she won’t make it through the night and if she does that she won’t live to make it another night.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him close as the tears spilled down my face. We sat there on the front porch holding one another.

          He finally said, “She asked to see you.” “W…why?” “She said you are the closest thing she has to a sister and wants to tell you something very important.” “Alright” my voice still shaky from crying, “I will go get my coat and meet you out by your car.” He nodded and we both got up from the steps. I opened the door quietly and walked over to where my brown jacket was hung on the back of the chair, threw it on and a pair of flip flops. I grabbed my house key and locked the door behind me, as I got to Austin’s car he opened the door for me and closed it.

          He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine, and we took off. On the way to his house we didn’t say a word, but we were holding one another’s hands. As we reached his driveway tears started to form in my eyes, I really didn’t want to see his sister dying from cancer, but she had requested to see me so I was going to respect her wishes.

          As we walked inside Austin’s house, we walked down this long hallway that had family pictures of Austin, his brother Tim, sister Jessie and his mom and dad. We finally reached the bedroom where there were candles lit because bright light hurt Jessie’s eyes. Austin walked into the room first and over to his sister while I stood in the doorway. I heard him whisper something to her and then turned and motioned for me to come over to where he was standing.

          I slowly worked my way across the room, my feet felt so heavy. I finally reached Austin’s side as he took my hand in his and whispered in my ear, “Its ok. I am right here with you.” I nodded my head and looked to where Jessie was lying. God, she looked so old and fragile but she was only 20. She was dying of bone cancer and the kemo didn’t help it only made her worse. She had gotten the news about her cancer two years ago and was told then that she would only last 6 months, so she had already lived past what the doctors had told her and her family.

          I had only known Jessie for about a year now, and most of the time that I saw her she would seem more and more weak as the days past by. She had been bed ridden for the past few months and now she was getting ready to die. I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer as they fell from my eyes. I felt Jessie’s cold hand touch the one that wasn’t in Austin’s hand. I sat on the edge of her bed, still not able to look at her.

          “I…so…glad…you…came.” Jessie tried to smile, but closed her eyes as she tried to regain her voice and breathing again. She sounded horrid. “Of course I did. Austin told me that…” I couldn’t bare to say anymore. “I…know.” She took my hand and said, “I want…to…share…something with…you.” She was gasping for air after she spoke. Then she reached over and grabbed a small box wrapped in red ribbon. “Here.” She said handed the small box to me. “I want…you…to…have…this.” I lifted the lid and inside was a beautiful heart necklace with diamonds encrusted on the one side. I pulled it out as I looked at it in awe. “No Jessie. I can’t take this; this was your favorite necklace. You should wear it.” I started to place it back in the box when she grabbed my hand. “I...want…you to…take good…care…of…it please.” I nodded and held it up to Austin as he placed it around my neck. “Thank you.” I leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Jessie you will be missed. You were a great sister, friend, and daughter there ever was. I was so grateful to have met you and to have the privilege to be called your ‘sister’.” Tears were falling down my face as I wiped them away with my hand. She put her hand on the side of my face and said, “I love you…Evelyn. Take care…of Austin.” She smiled and then her hand went limp and her eyes closed slowly.

          My body was shaking with the sobs that were ripping from my chest as Austin held me and cried along with me. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were also in the room crying. Finally, Austin decided to take me home. My eyes were red and puffy and I could barely walk myself. Austin noticed and picked me up as he walked to the car and gently set me down in the seat and closed the door. I hadn’t noticed I was crying again till he got in and brought me to his chest holding me there as he tried to control himself. “She always loved you Evelyn, giving you that necklace was letting you know that are a part of our family always.”

          “She was always so nice to me, and there when I needed to talk. I enjoyed having her as a big sister. She will be missed and please if I can help with anything please let me know, I want to do as much as I can for her and your family.” “Evelyn…you need to rest and if there is anything that we need I will let you know, but you had a stressful night and I want to make sure your health is taken care of first.” That was the first time he kissed me, it wasn’t just any kiss but it was filled with passion and emotion and dare I say it…love.

          As he drove me back to my house, I thought about the kiss and whether he did it because it was spare of the moment or if it was going to lead to something else. But then I realized we were back at my house before I could daydream anymore. He walked me up to my door and I gave him another hug and told him to call me if he needed someone to talk to. He said ‘goodnight’ and I waited till he got back into his car and drive off before I shut the front door. I locked the door back up took my jacket off and let it drop to the floor as I kicked off my flip flops and returned to my room. As I reached my bed I collapsed as I cried myself to sleep, wishing for the pain to go away.

 

Reviews

[~*~Peace Keeper~*~]

I like it..a wonderful chapter
Great Job :)

[17thWhitePrince]

So interesting indeed ...
a lovely chapter for sure !!!

=D