Sleeping Beauty

Chapter 26

Shawn

Two hours later, I'm on a plane. Sherry tried to assure me in her bitchy voice that the schedule said we would be there in two weeks for a concert anyway and that we could stop by, but so much could happen in two weeks. My parents weren't mad once I told them about America.

My arms shake and I desperately want to get off the plane so I can see her. Finally, we land and I push through everyone to the front and ignore the rude things said to me. After that, I call Dr. Allan. 

"Hello."

The words spill out of my mouth. "Can you pick me up from the airport?"

"Wait, why are you here?"

"It's America."

He sighs. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know, she hasn't answered my calls for the past couple of days and she didn't sound right the last time I called her and she-"

"Woah, slow down. I'll come pick you up." Click.

I turn my phone off and slip it into my pocket. I find my luggage and stand outside.

After about twenty minutes, Dr. Allan pulls up and I open the passenger door. He looks pissed. "You do realize it's three in the morning, right?"

I shake my head. I guess the worrying was keeping me awake. "Sorry."

"Get in," he grunts. I sink into the seat. "Good thing I like you two together."

I roll my eyes.

Once we get onto the main road, he asks, "Where are we going?"

"Her house, of course." I stare out the window and let the lights of the city buildings blur together.

"Listen, Shawn. She may not be calling you back for a good reason. l don't know if-"

"I need to see her-"

"Could you just face facts?" He looks over at me with pleading eyes.

"I have to see her! If something happens to America... I can't live without her, Dr. Allan."

We drive in silence for the next two hours. Dr. Allan pulls the car into the driveway of a house. "You're lucky I was supposed to come here to double check on her next week."

"To make sure she's recovering okay?"  I ask.

Dr. Allan continues to stare at the steering wheel. His knuckles turn white. "Her parents called me yesterday. They think..." He shakes his head. "They think she's depressed."

I close my eyes. Then I'm out of the car and walking towards the house.

"Shawn!" Dr. Allan gets out of the car and yells at me in a whisper. "Shawn! Get back here!" He quickly runs up to me and grabs my arm.

I try to pull away. "What?"

"You can't let her parents see you. They think you're the reason she's depressed. That's why she didn't call you back. They took away her phone so you couldn't talk to each other."

"Oh." Dr. Allan lets go of me. I quietly walk around the house. One light in the back corner is still on. The curtains hanging from it are purple and white. "Please be America," I whisper.

I pick up a tiny pebble from the ground and throw it at her window.

America

Tap.

My eyes break open and I look at the clock, realizing I only fell asleep three hours ago. I stretch out on the floor and accidentally roll across some of the pictures on the ground. I quickly pick them up and smooth the glossy paper out.

Tap.

I look over towards the window. It must be the tree that sits right there. It always makes weird sounds.

But it happens again. Tap.

I cover my face to block out the lights I'm to lazy to turn off and try to fall back to sleep.

"America."

I freeze. My heart skips a beat. You're imagining it, I tell myself. He's gone. He left you.

"America!"

A small smile creeps across my lips. You're going insane. YOU NEED TO FORGET HIM! The smile fades. Just get up and look out the window. He won't be there.

So I stumble as I push myself up with my crutches and walk over to the window. I gently push the white and purple curtain to the side. And there is Shawn, tall and beautiful and real. I quickly slide the curtain closed again and lean against the wall so I don't fall.

"America!"

I take a deep breath and push the window open completely. "What are you doing here?"

A smile spreads across his face. "I had to see you." He stares at me for a second before he starts to climb the tree.

"Wait!" I sit there helpless. "Shawn! Are you crazy?"

I'm surprised when he's only inches away from my face. "Well, are you gonna let me in?"

I move out of the way and watch Shawn stand up in my room. He looks around, his eyes moving in different directions until they finally land on me. His smile fades as he looks me up and down. I look down and my foot and then take a risk and look in the mirror. It being five in the morning doesn't help make my unhealthy self look better.

But to my surprise, he rushes across the room and scoops me up into his arms, smashing his lips against mine. His arms around me feel so perfect and strong. Then my crutches fall to the ground with a loud thud.

"America?" My father calls across the house.

"Hide!" I whisper.

He quickly pecks me on the lips one more time before he sets me down on the bed and slides into the closet. As soon as the door closes behind him, my mom and dad burst through the one that leads to the hallway. I close my eyes and act like I'm asleep. I'm scared they'll hear my heart beating and get supiscious. My mom whispers, "It was just her crutches." She then walks over and kisses me on the cheek. My dad runs his hand down my arm and I hear them both walk out of the room, the lights flipping off and the door clicking shut.

As soon as they're down the hall, Shawn pushes the door open and I open my eyes to look at him. He quietly slips his shoes off and climbs into the bed next to me. "I had to see you." He pushes his nose into my neck.

"I thought I didn't want to see you. I thought it would be better-"

He shuts me up with another kiss. "Nothing is better than this."