Dancing in the Oaks

Hey Nick

The next day I returned to the hospital. A young woman named Shenia greeted me at the front desk. "Hello, my name is Shenia, how may I help you?" The young woman asked very kindly. Her red hair shimmered against the light that was peeking through the window.

I did not pull my hair half back this morning because it is a way that I can hide. It is so difficult talking to people without the whole 'thing' being brought up. "Yeah, I am Norah Jean. Can I see Nick?"

She looked at me from behind her computer setup. "Yes you may. Let me just check something really quick. I am assuming this is Nicholas Reed?"

"Yes, I am so sorry about that." I quickly realized my lack of explanation.

She quickly typed something in her system. "It is alright. Norah, how have you been? Have you been alright? You know that I am here to help anytime."

"Thanks Shenia, I really appreciate the help and the kindness. I am doing alright, just trying to figure something out here." I laughed and sort of smiled. "I was really referring to Nick."

"I have to ask this question: how are you related to Nick? We have really restricted the premises due to something that happened last year."

My foot accidentally kicked the desk. "I am his girlfriend." I smiled at the word girlfriend.

She looked shocked. "Oh my gosh! You are dating Nicholas Reed! That is so awesome. You two are perfect." she finally typed something in again. "Alright, do you want me to show you where his room is?" she asked very kindly.

"Yes please." I walked behind her as we neared the room. I got a little worried. It seemed as if I was worried to see him.

"Hey Nick." I peered into the hospital room. My cheeks turned a shade of light pink.

"Hi Norah. I am so happy to see you. Last night was painful. I could hardly breathe." He said.

"I will leave alright?" Shenia said. She left and shut the door.

I felt bad for leaving. "I'm so sorry. I should have stayed. Now I feel terrible. I found out more information. It was the Dales that took out my father's business and forced us into bankruptcy. It wasn't my uncle. It was Berry and her parents. It was all out of jealousy."

"Alright. What's happening to them then?" He asked. He shifted his body around in to sit up more in the hospital bed.

"I don't know. They said they were locked in a dark room for two years. When I told my mom about how we found not one, but twelve bodies in the basement she didn't seem to care. It was as if she already knew. Okay, so if she did not know then she would act so surprised and shocked. It didn't phase her one bit at all. She just brushed it under the rug as if it was no big deal." It was sort of a whirlwind moment that I didn't seem to understand all that was happening.

He gave me a smile as I stared into his gorgeous eyes. "Do you think they were held hostage in Dale's basement? Think, your family knows Berry and her family. If your mother was not affected by the bodies, then that must mean something. They had to have known. They know something you don't. Question is: what is that?" He played around with his hair.

The birds flew by outside of the window. It appeared as if small, fast darts zoomed by. I couldn't wrap my head around them coming back. I was just worried about everything. "So... yeah. That's pretty logical. It ain't my fault I don't know what's happening. Oh how's your stomach today?" I asked nicely.

He groaned a little in pain. "It's painful. Do your parents know?" His eyes drooped giving him a saddened expression.

"Do they know about what?" I asked in return.