The Secret

Chapter 2: Reunions

I wake up looking up at the hospital ceiling with a pounding headache and an extremely sore back. Finally, weeks of enduring complete torture is over. I look over to my side and see dad sitting there.

"How are you feeling?," he asks.

"Like crap," I respond.

"Did you ever figure out why those people kidnapped you?," he asked.

"No," I lie.

"That's strange," he says, "the police didn't get there in time and they all got away."

"That sucks," I say. "By the way, how did you find me?"

"I had been searching this whole time." My father responds. "I found a trail that finally led to you."

"Oh." I say, looking at the wall, feeling a bit disoriented.

"Alright," he says, "I'm sorry. I'm going to let you rest and I have to head off to run errands."

"Alright," I say as dad leaves the room.

My parents are/were complicated. They got a divorce last year and I've just been living with dad ever since. They didn't divorce to be with someone else, they simply divorced because they couldn't put up with each other any longer. And then shortly after their divorce last year, my mom died from a shooting.

"You feeling okay?," I hear someone say.

I look up and see that it is Nelly. The girl I'm so in love with that I'm paralyzed to make a move with.

"I've been better," I say.

"I've missed you so much in the last few weeks. I have texted and called, and I've worried like crazy," she continues, "I'm just glad you're okay."

"Thanks," I mumble.

"It's a crazy thing to happen to you," she says, "being kidnapped and whatnot. I can't believe it."

"Haha," I whisper in pain, "you're more in shock than I am."

"I guess I am," Nelly laughs, "Well I guess I should get going. I would love to stay longer but I've got a job interview. Alright, see you."

"Bye," I say.

"Take care," she says as she leaves the room.

After she leaves the room, I can't help but have a flashback come to mind. A few years ago, Nelly and I were getting really close. So close that we could pretty much be called a couple. But one night everything changed.

"I dare you," Rob said.

"And I dare you as well," Patrick said.

"You keep talking about this girl," Rob said, "so go for it. I mean, you two can't stop staring at each other."

We were at a bar, drunk. Yes, we were underage but we were drinking anyway because the bartender would give anyone underage a drink as long as they gave him an outrageous tip. There we were, acting like idiots, and I was flirting with a girl I didn't even know.

After Patrick and Rob wouldn't stop putting pressure on me, I accepted the dare and went for it. I went over there and started kissing her passionately. The dare of doing this for a minute was almost over, and 50 seconds into the kiss I looked behind her and seen Nelly watching us through the window in tears. Immediately, I stop and run out the door to talk to her.

"Wait, it's not what it looks like!," I say, slobbering drunk.

Nelly ignores me and she sobs while running away.

"No," I whisper to myself, "No!"

I get on my knees and cry like a baby as Nelly blurs off in the distance, and I hit the ground, asleep. In the present, I can no longer hold my eyes open and I drift off to sleep.

I am suddenly awaken when someone begins talking at my bedside.

"You didn't tell it," he says, "did you?"

I look to see who it is and can't help but stare in shock. This is impossible, I can't believe this. This person was supposed to be dead! This person died in front of me years ago...

"Grandpa?!," I yell in shock.