Double Trouble 2: Twisted Sisters

Epilogue

I walk down the hospital hallway with a balloon in one hand and a gift bag and purse in the other. I ride up to the floor Jalissa is on and reach the nurse's station. Jalissa's nurse is such a sweet older woman who has been babying my best friend since she wound up on her floor. She smiles at me and tells me I can go on in.

I walk into her room to see Ashley leaning over her, kissing her deeply before leaning back and kissing her forehead. I clear my throat, and they turn to look at me, Jalissa breaking out into a huge smile like she wasn't just caught making out with her girlfriend while in the hospital.

I smirk at her and say, "Glad to see you are feeling better." She said, "A little love goes a long way." Ashley rolls her eyes and walks towards me, hugging me. I hug her back, and she turns to Jalissa and says, "I'm going to be back later tonight, so behave until I get back" Jalissa smiles innocently and says, "Always."

Ashely shakes her head and leaves the room, and I turn to Jalissa, and my smile slips just a bit. Jalissa had already been in the hospital for a little over a week now; the damage that Clara had done in her anger had been pretty bad. She had had to have surgery for the ruptured spleen, and they reset all of her broken bones. She was still in a lot of pain; she couldn't move around a lot, her bed propping her and a lot of pillows surrounding her to keep her still.

I was devastated when I saw her the first day after her surgery, all bruised and battered. I didn't think Clara had gotten nearly enough pain from the bullet wounds. My sister had pulled through, although the doctor had said it was touch and go for a moment. She had lost a lot of blood and spent some time in the ICU before they transferred her back to the hospital she had been sentenced to and was in their custody while she faced another trial for kidnap and assault. My sister's chances of getting released were likely completely shot, depending on the judge. Even if she did get out, she'd be quite a bit older. Her lawyer said it was up in the air right now.

I didn't go see my sister while she was here. I was washing my hands of her. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I wouldn't give her another chance to get close to me or anyone I loved. My parents didn't wash their hands of her, but their perspective had changed entirely. No longer did they just believe their daughter was troubled; she was dangerous, and that clearly wasn't going to change, and so they accepted what it was. They were getting ready to go back home, figuring they would come visit every once in a while once they deemed her fit for visitors, whenever that might be. However, they didn't want to hold off on their lives anymore.

"I'll be ok, Christa. No need to look so bummed out. I know I look a mess. Can't believe Ash still even wants to kiss me, but god, I love it." She smiles, and I know it's partly for my benefit, even though I know Ash really does make her smile. I walk over and sit in the chair next to her bed, passing her the gift bag and tying her balloon to her bed.

She slowly opened the bag, careful not to pull too hard on anything she was hooked up to. She smiles as she pulls out a pile of smut books from her favorite author. She says, "This should entertain me for a while. Thank you!" I said, "You know I had to come through for you. Can't have you in here bored." She laughs and says, "True."

She puts the books on the bedside table, reaches over, and grabs my hand. She says, "So, how are things with you? And be honest."

We chatted for a long time, and I caught her up on what was happening with my sister and that she will probably be asked to testify, which she has no problem doing. "If I could move, I'd go put an extra bullet in her ass." I laugh and say, "If anyone deserves a shot at her, it's you." Her smile turns into a grimace. I say, "Now you tell me how you are, be honest." She says, "Should have seen that coming." I just sit and wait, and she talks. By the end of the conversation, we are both in tears and hurting for each other and ourselves.

As we dry our eyes, she says, "You know what, though? Everything can only get better from here. Even though I know I have a long recovery, I'm looking forward to everything the future will bring us. I still have my sister here alive and safe and a dope ass woman out there that wants to marry me. You are blessed too. You have a good career and parents that love you, and I love you, and we will be stuck with each other for a long time." We laugh and tighten our grip on each other's hands.

My phone beeps with a notification, and I look down and smile at the name. She smiles at me and says, "Looks like you have something else to look forward to as well." I smirk and say, "Maybe." She laughs and says, well, go get him then. Just come back and tell me all the dirty details."

I hug her gently and head back out of the hospital into the parking lot where Jason is parked waiting for me. He is leaning against the hood, looking sexy as hell as I approach. He smiles at me and pulls me into his arms before he looks down and asks me how Jalissa is doing.

After what went down at the school, I knew I couldn't waste any more time. I went to Jason and told him that I was ready to try again. I loved him, wanted to be with him, and wouldn't let my sister take any more time from us. He agreed wholly; he has been my bright spot in a sea of darkness the last few days.

After informing him of my decision, the conversation with Marcus was hard, but he took it better than expected. He said that after the night Jalissa went missing and he saw us together, he read the signs and saw it coming. He wasn't resentful, saying he knew this was a possibility, and while he wanted it to be him, he was happy for me. He still wanted to be friends, but he would need some time. I was glad I could still have him in my life.

I looked up at Jason and kissed him softly before saying, "Let's get out of here." He kissed me back, walked around the car to open the door for me, then ran on his side, got in, and pulled off.

As we pulled away from the hospital and I thought of everything I had been through, everything we had all been through, I admitted I knew it would be a hard road. This type of trauma wasn't easily dismissed, but I knew we could get through. I wouldn't let anyone take anything else from me ever again and would live life to its fullest.