After All This Time

Chapter 23

Chandler's POV

I squeezed my eyes shut, telling myself that this wasn't real. This was a dream and I was going to wake up and hear the sound of Katelyn's blow dryer at full power. I was going to laugh and bury my face in my pillow until the sound stopped.

But I knew that wasn't going to do any good.

I slowly opened my eyes and I was still in the light blue room with sun pouring through the window. My hand was still tightly gripping Katelyn's.

Tears ran down my face. This was my fault. If I had just simply told Katelyn that I was still talking to Monica then she wouldn't have gotten mad, she wouldn't have gone down to see Monica, and Monica would've never shot her.

"Katelyn, I'm sorry," I softly said as I cried.

I lowered my head until my forehead was lying on her hand as my body continued to shake from me sobbing.

I knew I needed to tell her parents. I didn't want to. I could already picture their reaction. I could see Natalie crumpling to the floor and Mark dropping down and wrapping his arms around her as they heavily grieved the loss of their daughter.

I wished the heart monitor would shut up. It seemed like a constant reminder that I lost her.

I took a deep breath and was getting ready to stand up and tell Mark and Natalie when I was stunned by a loud voice.

"Boo!"

I turned in surprise to see Katelyn-alive-laughing at me.

I simply stated at her in shock.

"Katelyn?!" I was finally able to exclaim.

"I got you," she choked out between her laughs, pointing at me.

"What?!" I had absolutely no idea what was going on. "You're not really dead?!"

"Does it look like I'm dead?" she asked, finally able to clam down though she was still chuckling.

"Wh-how?" I asked, still in shock. "How did you do all of this?" I gestured around the room.

"I know someone," Katelyn said simply.

"Who?" I asked.

She chuckled. "Come on out!" she called.

The closet door across the room opened and out stepped my ex-fiancé Monica Smith. She was also laughing hysterically.

"Wait," I said in confusion. I pointed to Katelyn. "You didn't really shoot her?"

Monica slowly shook her head. "I don't even own a gun," she reminded me.

"But I saw a news story saying that you shot her!" I exclaimed.

"That was fake," she told me. "I know the hosts of the news show you watch and I had them record them saying that I shot her and I had Grant secretly put the disc in your tv while he was hanging out with you."

"Wh-wh-wh," I stuttered awkwardly. "But the heart monitor flatlined!"

"That was programmed to do that at our command," Katelyn explained.

"How many people were in on this?" I asked loudly.

"Uh, let's see," Katelyn said, thinking. "My parents, your parents, Gray, Grant, everyone at the hospital, and obviously, me and Monica."

As soon as she got done saying that, Mark, Natalie, my parents, and Gray walked in laughing their heads off.

"Okay, I have one more question," I stated. "Why? Why would you do all of this?"

"Bro, that's two questions," I heard Gray say behind me.

I turned back and glared at him.

Katelyn chuckled. "The answer's simple," she stated. "We wanted to prank you."

I was about to ask why, but I knew it was because I'd been an idiot.

I sighed. "Get out of bed, Katelyn," I told her.

Instead of protesting, she obeyed, swinging her legs over the side and pushing herself to a standing position.

I slowly walked towards her. Once I got to her, I quickly pulled her into a tight hug.

She laughed and wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my shoulder.

"Don't ever scare me like that again," I said, my voice muffled.

"Okay," she responded. "I won't."

When we finally let go, I turned my focus to Monica.

She was on the sideline, watching us with a smile on her face.

I walked up to her.

"So you didn't shoot my girlfriend?" I asked.

She chuckled and shook her head.

I then pulled her into a hug as well.

Though it didn't last as long as my hug with Katelyn, I loved Monica all the same, even if my love for her was no longer romantic.

Once we let go, I sighed and turned to look at everyone.

That's when Grayson spoke up.

"So," he asked. "Who wants fast food?"

We all raised our hands.