Fall {ON HOLD}

Chapter Three

Author's Note: Hallo! I'm super psyched to be posting the third chapter of this story! I can't wait for you all to read it! Remember to let me know what you think by commenting! If you like it, be sure to hit that vote button like its the most annoying person on Earth. Questions or criticisms can be sent to my PM and I'll clear everything up! Also, thinking of making some changes to the first chapter, mostly just adding detail and slowing down the plot, but that won't happen until I've posted the rest of the story, so let me know what you think of that idea. Thanks again for all the reads! Happy Reading!

***************************************Chapter Three************************************

I whirl around to see who the voice belongs to. It's a boy, he looks about my age, but towers over me. He has dark hair that's almost black, and eyes that are the same.

"Hey," he says, waving a hand in front of my face "you're staring."

"Sorry. Uh.. sorry." I sputter. "Umm this might sound weird, but if no one else can see or hear me, why can you?" 

"Well, we're all for being blunt, aren't we?" When he sees that I have nothing to say to that, he continues "It's okay, I'm the same way. Actually, the reason I can see and hear you is because I am also stuck here. No one can see or hear me either, so..."

Neither of us seem to know what to say next. A silence that seems to last for ages falls between us. Finally, he clears his throat.

"Well, um... I'm Daniel." he says, sticking his hand out for me to shake.

"Nice to meet you, Daniel. I'm Vanessa." I say, shaking it.

"Vanessa." he says my name skeptically, as if he's testing the feel of it in his mouth. He nods to himself. "So, Vanessa, tell me about yourself."

I'm caught off guard by the normalcy of the question. If it weren't for the strange settings and the eerie circumstances, this could be like any other time I've met someone new. I shake my head. "Okay, well, I'm 15, I have a twin sister and an older brother." I point them both out. "Those are my parents and that's my figure skating coach-"

I'm going to say more when he stops me.

"Wait," he says, excitement evident on his face, "you figure skate?"

"Well, yes." I answer, slightly confused by his question. "Why?"

"I skate too!"

If I say I'm shocked by his answer, that would be the understatement of the century. I look at him again. He doesn't look like a skater, he looks like a linebacker.

"I know, I know. I'm not your 'typical' skater." he says, as though he read my mind. " However, I do figure skate, look, I'll prove it."

He puts his arms above his head, rises on his tiptoes and twirls, ballerina style. The sight of someone so tall, someone who looks like the definition of the word 'manly', doing such a delicate act is ridiculous. So ridiculous that I do something I couldn't have seen coming, given the circumstances. I laugh. At first, it's a quiet giggle, but then Daniel joins in and the next thing I know we are both doubled over, shaking with laughter. When we stop to catch our breath, there is almost immediately another tense silence.

Daniel walks over to the window as I turn back to my family. I feel a wave of guilt wash over me. How can I laugh at a time like this? I can't believe that for a second, I was actually enjoying this- whatever this is. I see Alex escorting Sabrina out of the room. My mom is holding one of my hands, my dad is holding the other, and Stefanie looks at me from the foot of the bed. The sadness on their faces is evident. I want to ease their pain, to yell and scream I'm okay! I'm fine! I'm right here! I try it a couple times, wishing, trying to get through to them, hoping harder than I've ever hoped before. Deep inside though, I know it's useless. Not able to bear watching those I love grieve when I myself am aware and unable to help, I join Daniel by the window.

"Six months." he says, more to himself than to me. Still, desperate for conversation, I respond.

"What?"

"Six months and it never gets any better." he mutters, quieter than the first time.

"For Pete's sake Daniel! What never gets any better?" 

"This! This alternate dimension! I've been here for six months. Oh, but that's not even the worst part! Every day, my  mom walks in. Every day, she has the same hopeless expression on her face, as if I'm dead already!" he's yelling now, bordering on hysteria.

"I-I don't know what to say. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's not your fault."

I'm not sure what scares me more, his shouting, or the emotionless tone he uses now. When I don't respond, he turns to the window, a stony silence filling the air.

I don't know how long we wait like that, but at some point the silence becomes less stony and more comfortable, both of us lost in our own thoughts. As the sun begins to set, a nurse walks in to tell my family that visiting hours are over. My sister is the last one to leave. Momentarily forgetting about Daniel, I walk closer to her.

"Bye Sabrina." I whisper. She completely ignores me- no surprise, and takes my limp hand in hers. She leans over to whisper in my ear.

"I'll see you tomorrow, 'Ness."  She casts one last look at my body before running out the door to catch up with everyone else.

Daniel turns to me "I'm going to go say goodbye to my mom." I nod. He walks over to the door but stops abruptly when he gets there. "Be thankful for your family." With that he walks out the door, leaving me alone in the dark hospital room.

*********************************************************************************************************************

Author's Note: So... I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It's a bit of a filler, but there are some subtle clues. Anyhow, what did you guys think of Daniel? Are you nervous about the Alternate Dimension (AD)? Let me know in the comments!

Oh, and one last thing! Thanks again for all the reads! I'm super excited to keep writing this story and I hope you're all just as excited to be reading it! I won't promise an early update, but you never know... but probably not before next weekend- probably. Anyway, don't forget to vote/comment/fan! Thanks again! Happy Reading!