Wraith (BEING REWRITTEN)

Chapter Thirteen

I woke up at 7:00 a.m. to get ready for school. I decided on wearing ripped black jeans and a grey t-shirt with white sneakers. Emma was all grumpy this morning, no surprise there. Once we finished getting ready we started walking to school with Diego.

The first half of the day went by really fast, mostly because I wasn't paying attention.

"Hey where did you actually go yesterday?" I asked Emma as we walked to lunch.

"I told you, the doctor," she said without looking at me.

"Em, you can't lie to me, you know I can't tell when you lie," I said in a duh tone. This girl really thinks she can lie and I won't notice? She's a horrible liar. "Plus doctor's appointments don't last until 8 o'clock at night."

"Ok, Nico came and got me," she finally said after a few minutes of silent debate.

"What?! Why? Where did he take you?" I began asking. She rolled her eyes.

"He just drove me around this city and we talked and may have possibly, maybe, made out in his car," she said sheepishly. I stared at her with my mouth wide open.

Did she ju-. Omg they kissed. Wait, I didn't tell her what happened with Greyson yesterday.

"Well looks like we both got stuff going on then," I said with a laugh.

"What do you mean?" She asked. I proceeded to tell her about Greyson breaking in and us making out against my bedroom door.

She looked at me in shock and then just bursted out laughing.

"Oh my god I can't believe it!" She said laughing. I was about to ask her what she meant when my phone started ringing.

Kayden

I answered the call and brought the phone to my ear.

"Hey kiddo, what's up?" I asked.

"Hey, just wanted to call and see how you're doing. Mom and I are driving to school right now," he said happily. My mom worked at his school as a counselor.

"Hey sweetie, oh um Jace said he should be out there pretty soon!" My mom said, I rolled my eyes and sighed. I love my mom but she's too kind and forgiving sometimes.

"I know mama, he showed up at my work the other day," I muttered trying not to sound disgusted for my mother's sake.

"I don't get why you were ever with him, he was a douche and never wanted to play video games with me," Kayden whined. I heard a gasp and a smack.

"Kayden William you watch your mouth," my mom scolded. I just laughed silently and shook my head then the bell rang.

"I have to go guys, I'll talk to you later, love you!" I said quickly. I heard two 'I love you's' and then the call ended.

Happy from the surprise call I went to class with a smile on my face.

The rest of the day went by pretty smoothly and before I knew it I was off to the cafe for work.

My phone began to ring as I walked into the cafe to start my shift. I looked at the caller ID and it was from the states. I answered it as I walked into the back to clock in.

"Hello?" I asked into the phone.

"Hi, is this Vanessa Miller?" A lady on the other side answered.

"Yes," I responded, becoming slightly worried by the tone in her voice.

"I'm sorry to inform you, your mom and brother were involved in a school shooting this morning, your mother is in critical condition and your brother didn't make it," she said in a sympathetic tone. My heart stopped and I stumbled forward.

"Wha- no, no I just spoke with them this morning," I stuttered, hoping this was some sick prank.

"I'm sorry," the lady said again.

"This can't be happening," I muttered, trying to keep my breathing steady.

"Again I'm very sorry miss," I ended the call and fell against the wall, letting a pained scream escape my throat. I couldn't help the tears that welled in my eyes and began dripping down my face.

"Vanessa?" A deep voice cut through the ringing in my ears but it sounded far away. "Hey, hey, what's wrong," the voice got closer and I began to recognize it. I felt warm hands cup my face and force me to look up. Those blue eyes greeted me.

"H-he's dead!" I half screamed, half sobbed as Greyson's eyes scanned my face. He looked at me with confusion written on his face. "M-my brother, he's gone." I said, my words getting caught in my throat. I let a loud sob escape.

"Shh, it'll be ok," Greyson soothed as he leaned against the wall and pulled me to him. I cried into his chest, my tears soaking his dress shirt.

"No, no," I muttered, shaking my head. My little brother is gone, how can that be okay? Greyson held me tighter as he stroked my back, telling me to breathe. 

"Quello che è successo?" (What happened?) Miss King said frantically as she approached us.

"Qualcosa con suo fratello, la porto a casa," (Something with her brother, I'm going to take her home,) Greyson responded as he went to stand up. He held onto me so that I would stand with him.

My legs felt like they weren't there when I stood and I almost fell back down. He kept an arm securely around my waist and held me up as he spoke to his mom.

I tuned out everything that was happening. All I could think about was my brother, all of our memories. All of the times I made fun of his crushes. Playing video games together, family beach trips. All of it just made me cry more. Sobs wracked through me and I dug my face further into Greyson's chest.

I don't know how or when but we somehow ended up in a car and Greyson was speeding down the road until he pulled into a parking garage. I recognized it as the one he brought me to before.

He got out of the car and quickly made his way over to my door and opened it for me.

"What are we doing here?" I asked through sniffles.

"I figured you might want to be somewhere quiet and alone to process and all that," he said with a shrug. We went up to the penthouse and he led me to a guest bedroom.

"Thank you, for getting me out of the cafe," I muttered quietly.

"You're welcome," he said with a nod. "You can stay here and rest." He turned to walk out of the room but I grabbed his arm.

"Stay, please," I whispered, "I- I don't want to be alone." He didn't say anything, he just silently nodded and walked over to the bed.

He lifted the covers and motioned for me to get under them so I did. He walked over to the other side of the bed and sat down on top of the covers with his back against the headboard.

I moved closer to him and laid my head on his shoulder timidly. He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me closer. I wrapped my arms around his waist and my head fell to his chest.

"It's ok, darling, let it out," he muttered softly and kissed my head. I don't know why but those six words made me unhinge.

I cried and cried until I was sure Greyson's shirt was soaked through and my eyes felt heavy. Feeling my eyes grow heavier and heavier until I drifted off into darkness, memories of my brother filling my head.

Hehe.... don't hate me. xoxo