Scars [An Exclamation Point Fan Fiction]

PART 14

My parents sit in the chairs by my bed and tell me Maggie heard about my accident and wants to see me. The door opens and in walks my sister. My parents walk out to let us talk.

"What are you doing here?" I ask harshly.

"I heard you were in the hospital. It' s all over the news. I wanted to see you."

"Why now? You didn't come when Brady went to the hospital? You weren't here for our Senior Proms. You weren't here to watch us walk across at graduation. You left me. I was alone. I had to deal with everything by myself. I took care of mom. I made sure dad didn't have too much to drink every night. I kept my grades up. I never slept. I did everything!" By now I'm yelling through the tears.

"You need to understand I didn't want to leave the way I did. But I couldn't face mom and dad and tell them.." She pauses. "I got pregnant." She says smiling. "A little boy. Mom and dad met him. His name's Leland. Justin takes care of him, and me. We're getting married in January. I'd love for you to be there. As my maid of honor. She says blinking away the tears. I lean up and hug my sister. Ignoring the past two years. My family. I think to myself. Whole once again.

The rest of my family joins us, and we catch up for a few minutes. We're interrupted by a police officer walking in saying Nate was caught, and his fingerprints match to the prints on my body. He was arrested and is being transported back to Texas. I don't even try to hide the smile when I hear the news. Paul walks into the room. My family leaves so Paul and I can talk for a little bit.

"I heard the good news." He says sitting on the bed next to me.

I smile at him. "I guess I have you to thank for that." I say.

"Why are you thanking me?" He asks playing with my hands.

"I would't have told the doctor what happened. Even though I wanted to, there's no way I could've told. He scares me so much." I whisper.

Paul kisses my hands. "You don't need to be scared anymore. I'm always going to be here for you."

I reach up and hug Paul. I don't let go for a long time. He strokes my hair and hums Fix You into my ear. I turn my face into his neck and smile.

"What?" He says.

"I love that song." I say. "I used to listen to it when I was having a bad day while I was-" I stop and pull away from Paul. "Sorry. I shouldn't bring that up." I look down.

"It's in the past now." Paul says pulling me closer. "Just promise me if you feel like you need to do that again, call me. I don't want you to feel alone anymore."

I nod and hug Paul again. I let go and he checks his phone.

"I better get to rehearsals for tonight." Paul says. "Text me later." He kisses me and walks out the door.

My doctor walks in just as Paul walks out. "Well I have good news." He says.

"Your rib is healed, and you will be released as soon your ready to. And you should be able to dance in a couple of days. Just don't overdo it." He says smiling at me.

"Thank you!" I say excitedly.

My parents check me out half an hour later, and drop me off back at the studio. It's about an hour before show time, when I get there.

"Nikki! You're back!" A voice yells. I turn and see Lyndsay run towards me along with dozens of other people. She attacks me with a hug.

"Oh my gosh! How are you? We've missed you so much!" She says.

"I'm good." I say laughing. "I missed y'all too." I look around. "Where's Courtney and Dylan? I need to talk to them.

"Court! Dylan! Come here!" Jared yells.

I see them walk through the crowd up to me.

"Hey." I say.

"Hey." Dylan says. Courtney nods, but won't look at me.

"Let's give them some space." Chris says. Everyone walks away leaving me with Courtney and Dylan.

"I want to apologize, for what you guys have had to deal with. I also want to thank you for finding me when you did. I don't know what would've happened if you didn't. And Dylan, I heard what you said the doctor the night of the accident." He looks me in the eyes, tears building up. "I don't blame you." I say. "There is no way you could've known. Don't feel bad anymore. Go back to being happy, and smiley all the time." He nods his head and smiles at me. I hug him tightly and he walks off. Courtney still won't talk or look at me. "Court, please talk to me."

"I can't get the image of you out of my head Nikki. You just lying there, bleeding, black and blue. Then you passed out in Paul's arms. He almost didn't catch your head. I can't just forget that." She says crying.

"I know you can't. And I'm so sorry. I wish it never happened. But it did. I need you to move on with me. Ok? Be happy for me? I'm ok now."

She nods her head and hugs me tightly.