Home Is Where The Heart Dies

Chapter 6

   I woke up to a sharp pain in my head I moved my hand up there and there was definitely going to be a bruise. I have no idea where I am and I am starving!
I was awake for about 10 minutes before someone came in.
"I see that you are awake Cassie can I get you anything?" A friendly nurse asked.
"Why am I here?"
"Because your friend found you unconcious in her front yard."
"Can I have some breakfast?" I asked.
"Sure I will be right back," she said while leaving.
   She came back about 10 minutes later.
   "You have a visitor," she said and before I could protest Ms. McPhee walked in. What does she want?
   "Hello darling," she said once she was right next to me.
   "Umm hello why are you here?"
   "I wanted to bring you some cookies," she showed me a basket.
   "Thank you," I said taking the basket and putting it on the side table.
   "Your welcome," she said but didn't move. Doesn't she know I am starving?!
   "Is there anything else?" I asked.
   "Don't go peeking around where your no wanted," I think she said but I wasn't sure because she said it so quietly.
   "What?"
   "Goodbye hope you feel better," she said in her sweet voice again while she left. After she left the nurse walked back in with my breakfast.
"Is Gabrielle here?" I asked her before she left.
"Yes would you like me to send her in?"
"Yes please," I said before I dug into my cold eggs.
"Hey are you feeling better yet?" Gabrielle joked as she walked in.
"To be honest it doesn't even hurt."
"Really? Because you did fall on cement you know?"
"All I remember is seeing the darkness engulf me."
"How are those eggs?" Gabrielle joked as she came to sit by me.
"Cold and plain," I said.
"Oh so like you?" Gabrielle jumped out of the way before I could punch her.
"You're a butt," I said.
"I don't think I'm a butt though."
"I think you are."
"Well I'm not," before I could respond the nurse walked back in.
"You have another visitor," she said leaving as Alex entered.
   "I am going to leave you two alone," Gabrielle winked at me before she left.
   "Hey," I said.
   "Hey I heard what happened are you ok?" He asked. Why does everyone seem to need to ask that?!
   "I'm fine, the only thing that is wrong is that these eggs taste like cardboard," I joked which got him to chuckle.
   "I know but if you were in the hospital all the time like me you would get used to it."
   "Wanna cookie?" I asked because I wasn't sure what to say to that.
   "Sure," he said taking two of the cookies out of the basket, I took two too.
   "This are delicious," I said as I put the still warm cookie in my mouth.
   "Who made them?"
   "Ms. McPhee."
   "Really?" Alex asked.
   "Yea why is it so surprising?" I asked.
   "She is my grandmother from my mothers side."
   "I did not know that."
   "Yea," Alex said his eyes glazing over.
   "I'm sorry," I said rubbing his back.
   "It wasn't your fault."
   "I know I just feel so bad."
   "Don't," Alex said. I didn't know how to reply so I just kissed him on the cheek.
   "Your doctor is wanting you," the nurse said to Alex.
   "Ok, bye Cassie."
   "Bye," I said.
"Ok Cassie you are free to go, here is your medicine use it if your head starts to hurt," the nurse said while handing me some aspirin.
"Thank you," I left.
                *****
   "I don't think she would say that," Gabrielle said after I told her about Ms. McPhee.
   "Well I heard her say it, do you think I am imagining it?" I asked kind of meanly.
   "Well you did just get knocked out before that."
   "Fine I'm not talking about it anymore," I said.
   "Ok," Gabrielle smirked.
   "What's so funny?"
   "You," she said while holding in her laugh.
   "What about me?"
   "You are really bad at being mad," she said as a laugh escaped her mouth.
   "And you are bad at being serious."
   "Yep and I'm proud of it."
   "That sounds like you."
We were silent the rest of the way home.
*****
"Oh my goodness my mom is home!" Gabrielle shrieked as we pulled up to her house.
"Haha, you are going to get in trouble," I laughed as she jumped out of the car and ran into the house. I took my time getting out of the car and going into the house.
   "Gabrielle Douglas! Clean your room right now!" I heard as I walked into the house quietly.
   "Fine!" I heard Gabby yell as she stomped up the stairs.
   "Oh, hi Cassie I didn't now you were here," Mrs. Douglas said noticing me.
   "Yea I was visiting for a couple weeks and since my parents weren't home I stayed here."
   "Well stay here as long as you want, you know your family to us."
   "Thank you," I said while walking upstairs.
   When I walked into the room I heard Gabby mumbling under her breath about something.
   "Hey," I said.
   "Hi," she said plainly.
   "Tomorrow I am going to Missouri to get my stuff."
   "How are you going to bring it all in your tiny car?" Gabby stopped cleaning and asked.
   "I am going to get a U-Hual."
   "What is the main reason you are staying?"
   Woah there is a lot of answers to that question," I want to find my parents," I said saying the first thing I thought of.
   "Ooooo, I am going to tell Alex," she sing songed.
   "He will understand," I said knowing she wouldn't do such a thing.
   "If you say so," she said taking out her phone and pretending to text him.
   "Dear Alex, I am sorry to say but Cassie doesn't love you, and send."
   "Gabrielle Michelle Douglas! You better be cleaning that room!" Her mom yelled upstairs making Gabby go immediately back to work.
   "Your middle name is Michelle?" I asked jokingly.
   "Apparently," she mumbled and I took that as a cue to leave.
*****
"Hey guess what?" Alex texted me.
"What?" I texted back.
"They said I can come with you tomorrow to help you pack," as soon as he said it my heart skipped a beat.
"Yay!" I messaged.
"I'll be at your house around 7:00 tomorrow."
"Ok bye."
"Bye."
"Who are you texting?" Gabby asked while walked down the now vacuumed steps.
"Alex."
"What did he want?" Gabby asked sitting down next to me on the couch.
"He told me that the doctors said he was allowed to come with me tomorrow."
"Really?" Gabby gave me questioning look which was raising her eyebrows.
"Yea since the cancer is gone and chemo is done."
"Then why aren't they releasing him?"
"Probably because the won't to make sure, but I don't really know," I said while throwing my hands up in the air.
"Do you know where my mom went?" Gabby asked.
"Yea she had to work."
"Seriously?!" Gabby practically yelled.
"What?" I asked.
"I cleaned that room for nothing!"
"No you didn't, you cleaned it so it was clean."
"Ugh!" Gabby yelled before getting up and grabbing a donut off the counter.
"Why are you always hungry?" I joked.
   "I don't always eat," she said quickly while throwing the donut back in the box.
   "What's wrong?" I asked knowing that she would never turn down a chocolate glazed donut.
   "You have to promise not to tell anyone."
   "I promise," I said wondering what could be this bad.
   "I am..... pregnant," she said barely audible.
   "What?!" I yelled.
   "I am not saying it again," she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Your pregnant," I said quieter this time and with more sympathy.
"Yes."
"What? How? Why?"
"Never go to late night parties."
"How far along are you?" I asked.
"2-3 months."
"You have to tell your mom."
"Tell me what?" Her mom said as she walked into the kitchen.
"Nothing!" Gabrielle quickly shouted.
"What were you two girls up too?" She smirked.
"I said nothing!" Gabby yelled before running upstairs.
"Uhh that girl," her mom joked. I didn't reply just ran upstairs after Gabby.
   "You have to tell her at some point," I said after I found Gabrielle sprawled out on her bed.
   "No I don't."
   "What happens when you're stomach gets bigger?"
   "I haven't thought about that."
   "Well you should probably tell her so she doesn't find out on her own."
   "Ugh!!!" Gabby said getting up and going downstairs.
   I followed her and waited on the stairs while I listened.
   "Mom?"
   "Yes honey?"
   "I have something to tell you."
   "Go ahead."
   "Um, uh."
   "You can tell me anything honey."
   "I'm uh pregnant," she said pregnant really quietly.
   "Oh honey."
   "I'm sorry mom," I could tell she was crying.
   "Don't be it isn't your fault."
   There was just the silent sobbing of Gabby so I snuck back upstairs.
   "Hey Cassie so do I bring stuff to stay overnight?" I got a text message from Alex while I was downstairs.
   "Yea I would because we might have to get ourselves a hotel room."
   "Ok thanks."
   "Yep."
   "There I did it you happy?" Gabby came in with a tear stained face.
   "I think you will be happy in the long run."
   "Not really I am grounded until the baby comes."
   "Well be glad it wasn't more than that."
   "You better pack for tomorrow," she said completely changing the subject.
   "Ok," I smirked while I grabbed a backpack.
                  *****
            Tomorrow
I was sitting on the couch eating a donut when there was a knock on the door.
   "Hey Alex," I said while opening the door.
   "Hey Cassie."
   "Here come bring your stuff to the car," I said walking out and opening the trunk that already had my stuff in it.
"Ok thanks."
"You wanna get some coffee and a donut before we go?" I asked once we walked back inside.
"Sure," he said as I handed him a mug of coffee and gave him a donut.
"Is Gabrielle still sleeping?" Alex asked.
"Yes, that lazy bum," I smirked.
Alex just chuckled.
We finished eating in silence then got more coffee and was on our way.
*****
"Only 2 more hours!" I yelled as we drove into the drive thru.
"Let me pay," Alex said as he took put his wallet.
"No it's fine I will pay."
"Let me pay," Alex said while shoving a 20 in my hand.
"Fine," I sighed.
"Hello what can I get you today?" The little intercom person asked.
"I would like a bacon cheeseburger please," Alex asked.
"And I would like large fries please," I asked.
"Ok that will be $5.78 at the window."
"Thank you," we both said.
"It is $5.78," the window lady said. I handed her the $20.
"Here you go the change is $14.22," she said handing me a receipt and the change.
Once we got our food we got back on the highway.
"Let's play a game," Alex said after we were done eating.
"Ok what is the game?" I asked.
"It is called the question game."
"Did you just make it up?" I grinned.
"That doesn't matter," he said and when I sneaked a glance off the road onto him he was smirking.
"Ok how do you play?" I asked.
"I ask you a question and you have to answer honestly, you ask me a question and I answer honestly, and so forth."
"Ok you go first."
"Ok, what is your favorite childhood memory?"
"Umm," this was a toughy," probably when my parents brought me to the local news station for me to see how it all worked."
"Cool."
"Now for you, what made you want to become a journalist?"
"My mother was a journalist before she died."
"Oh sorry for asking, but is it what you want to do?"
"Yes, no, I don't know," he said while scratching his head.
"What do you want to do?" I asked gently and not trying to push.
"I want to be a photographer," he said holding his hands up like a camera.
   "Really? That is amazing!" I exclaimed.
   "Yea my whole wall is covered with pictures I have taken," he said shyly and like he was telling his deepest secret.
"Can I see it sometime?" I asked.
"Sure," he said excitedly.
"Cool."
*****
"We are here," I said as I pulled up in front of the dorm building.
   "Ok are we getting everything out of your dorm?" Alex asked.
   "Everything except the couches and tables," I said as I turned off my car.
   "Ok we better get going then," Alex grinned.
                 *****
           Tomorrow
   "Finally you guys are back," Gabby walked out and said as she saw me pull up to my house.
   "We were only gone for a day," Alex chuckled.
   "I know but you didn't even say goodbye to me when you left."
   "Because you had a sticky note ok your forehead that said, Don't you dare wake me up!" I laughed.
   "Do you guys need help with that?" Gabby asked completely changing the subject.
"If you can," I say knowing she knows what I am talking about.
"I can," she says taking a box in.
   We got all the boxes out of the car, then went to the U-Haul. While Alex and Gabrielle were bringing the stuff in I was unpacking it and putting it away inside.
"This is the last box," Alex said while setting it down in the kitchen.
"Ok thank you," I said as I have him a kiss on the cheek.
"Your welcome," he blushed.
"Did Gabby already go back?" I asked.
"Yea she said she has an appointment."
"Oh ok," I said as I put milk in the fridge.
"Well I better go too, because the doctors have to double check you know."
"Ok I'll see you later."
"Bye Cassie," he said leaving.
And now it was just me and the house, the house and me.