Hallucinations (rewriting post-physical publication)

Chapter 15 - This Could Be The Start, Of Something New

Am I dead?

"Nina."

God?

"Nina?"

Conor?

"Nina?"

Is Conor God?

"Nina. Please come back to me."

My eyes snap open.

Conor is staring down at me with concern in his eyes which soon turns into relief.

"Hi," I say.

"Hi," he replies, a look of amusement on his face.

"How long was I out?"

"A day."

What?

A day?

"Question-" I start.

"The answer is yes," he says.

Huh?

"But you don't even know what I am going to ask you."

"The answer is still yes."

Okay.

Two can play at this game.

"What's your question?"

I smirk to myself.

"Are you single, and if so, do I seem appealing to you?" I blurt out.

"What!?" he sputters in disbelief.

I burst out laughing, hoping he gets the joke.

He does.

He starts laughing too.

Soon we are both laughing so hard, that every time we try to keep a straight face, it starts all over again.

Finally, we regain control.

"Wait, wait. What was your actual question, Nina?"

"Were you here the entire time? Also, that fake question is something I want answered, now that I think about it."

He smiles a little.

Just get to it lovebird.

"Yeah, I was here the whole time, afterall, I did keep my promise to stay with you. Always."

"Now the other question."

"What other question?"

"Stop changing the question."

"Ohhhh, that question." He smirks behind his hand.

I swear, if he doesn't answer the freaking question, I'm going to smack him across the face.

So I say.

"I swear, if you don't answer the freaking question, I'm going to smack you across the face."

His eyes widened, and then calm.

"You wouldn't wreck my perfect face, would you?"

I'm gonna add a little kick to his back with a slap to the face as well.

"Just answer it. Now."

"Alright, alright. Fine."

I raise my eyebrows at him, and he lets out a little huff of breath.

"I am single. Always have been. Are you an option for me? Well, agree to disagree."

I give a nod of approval, but on the inside, my spirits lift a little. Just a little.

Then Lisa walks in.

"Sorry to interrupt this little festival between the two of you." She gives a little knowing smile.

Conor and I just stare.

"Don't worry," she says cheerfully, "I was the same way with my High School sweetheart at your guys' age." she adds.

Conor and I just glare at her.

She realizes that it is the same with all lame adults.

Whenever adults try to attempt teen talking, they fail. Big time.

"Anyways," she hurries on. "Conor, your mom is here to bring you home."

Conor gives me a slightly sad look, rubbing his neck where his New York-shaped birthmark is.

Lisa sees this and jumps in by saying; "But, don't worry, Conor, you can come back and visit anytime. I think we will maneuver back into our "Hospital Learning" method."

He perks up at that.

He gets up to leave. But, before he walks out the door, he glances back at me and says; "Sorry, I have to go into the out now. I have to break my promise."

We both smile.

"That's okay," I say.

"Good," he says, and he throws me one last happy smile before he walks out the door.

"Wait," I called out to him.

He turns back around; "Yeah?" he asks.

I hesitate before I ask him; "Is it okay if I call you Kierce?"

A sly grin spreads across his face.

"Yeah," he says with mischief in his voice.

"Why are you acting so weird?" I ask him.

"Because," he says, "I wanted to ask you something else as well."

"Oh," I say, surprised. "What do you want to ask me?" I'm rushing my words.

"Can I call you Nini?"

I sat there, stunned.

I have to think a moment before I am fully capable of answering his shocking question.

"Yeah. You can call me Nini," I say, and smile.

"Sweet," he says, and once again throws me one last friendly, almost flirtatious smile before closing the door behind him.

I grin back at him and throw him a peace sign which he politely rolls his eyes at.

Lisa walks back in.

She folds her hands in front of her, and smiles at me.

Before she walks out the door, she says very matter of factly; "This could be the start of something new."

She closes the door behind her.

It could indeed be the start of something new, Lisa.

It could indeed.