Fearless Beings

Chapter 27

Tom's POV:
~~~~~~~~~

I feel stupid. Although I'm anything but. At least that's what Karen, Berianna and Hannah tell me. Basically, the only female characters in my life who hadn't tricked me.

Yet.

"So you're tryna tell me that the bitch--" Hannah starts, but stops shortly after she sees the sour look on my face that's arose from the name she called Mia. "--that Mia knew, but she never told you?"

I stare at the flower vase that just so happens to be in my eyesight, because as much as I miss my sister, I can't really bring myself to look her in the eye and say yes.

"I knew I didn't like her for nothing," Hannah comments, pushing her long blonde hair from her sweat-matted forehead. "Can you give me the air conditioner's remote?"

I nod and stand up, walking to the farther side of the room to retrieve the small remote. It's as wide as my pointer and middle finger combined are. And is probably the length of my palm.

Hannah takes it from me eagerly and presses several buttons before I could feel the room's temperature drastically fall.

"It kinda sucks, y'know?" I ask her, trying to regain her undivided attention.

Hannah nods slowly, her eyes focused for some reason on my hair. She averts her gaze and looks away quickly, a small smile on her face.

"What's wrong?"

Hannah looks at me again, before her eyes travel back to the top of my head. "Nothing..?"

I close my eyes and heave a deep sigh. "Okay, what's up with my hair?"

Her eyes widen a fraction, before they return to their normal size. "Nothing."

I narrow my eyes dubiously. "Shut up, Hannah."

She lets out a quiet laugh and looks down at her lap again, fiddling with her faded pink shirt.

When I exit her room, a bypassing nurse also bumps into me. She looks younger than most nurses here. And new--judging from her attitude.

"OH EM GEE!" she exclaims rather loudly. "I'm so sorry, kid--I mean, sir. Wait. What am I supposed to call you; sir or kid? Nevermind. They're so firing me today, goddamit. Hang on, I'm not supposed to curse either--"

"It's okay," I say, chuckling at her frantic behavior.

She's a tad bit shorter than I am, has light brown hair and I'm pretty sure I'm seeing a purple strand.

Nurse Molly (as the tag name on her coat suggests) runs a hand through her hair and grimaces. She looks at me again, pressing two fingers to her temples. "Um.."

"Tom," I say, extending my hand. She eyes it carefully before shaking it.

"Right," she nods and takes her hand back. "Look, Tom, can you... well, can you not complain about--"

I chuckle again. "Yeah, it's okay. Are you new here?"

She huffs, puffing her cheeks out as her shoulder slump downwards in disappointment. "It's that obvious?"

I shrug.

She sighs. "Yeah, I'm new. First day, actually."

I nod, wish her good luck and leave the hospital wing. I make it to my car in less than two minutes, trying as hard as I can to ignore the buzzing texts of my phone in my back pocket from both: Mia and Megan.

When I'm inside my car, I know I can't keep my fingers from unlocking the front screen and swiping to see the 300+ new messages.

Most of Mia's are of my name spelled letter by letter. Waste of texts and failed attempts of getting me to answer my phone.

Well, a half-failed attempt anyway.

As for Megan's, they're more inquisitive. How are you? I'm so sorry I should have never dropped it on you like that. Are you okay? Did you talk to Mia yet? Have you talked to your step mum yet? I'm so sorry, Tom, please reply back.

I roll my eyes. Girls and their dramas.

•••

"Okay, I need you to listen carefully, James," I say firmly, cupping my brother's cheeks with my hands. "Do you remember where you got the picture you gave Mia?"

James nods, widening his blue eyes.

I look down at my wrist watch. "Alright, Mum's gonna leave for the grocery store in less than five minutes. After she leaves, you're gonna show me where you got the picture from. Got it?"

He nods again, fidgeting in his place.

I sigh. "Also, don't tell anyone. Alright?"

"Okay," James replies and put his hands over mine--where they were still resting on his cheeks. He pulls my hand away and sit down on the floor, staring at it.

About three minutes later, we hear the front door open and close, signaling that Karen has left the house.

James stands up and walks out of my room, with me following behind him. He opens my father's study and says, "It was there," pointing to the medium-sized wooden desk.

I pat his head and tell him to leave and forget this ever happens. He opens his mouth to protest, but seems to think better of it and leaves my father's study without uttering another word.

Questions I Have To Find The Answers To
_______________________________

#1: What happened to my mum?

#2: What really happened at the fire incident in that apartment?

#3: Who is Abby?

#4: What does Mia have to do with any of the above?

#5: What secrets is my dad keeping from me?

I blink at the paper in my hands hesitantly, before adding another question.

#6: What happens after we die?