DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance

CHAPTER 27 - Confrontation

 “Dawn, Dawn, are you okay?” Annie’s voice echoed through the hallway as she ran into Dawn’s room. But Dawn was not there. Annie looked around the room and ran out onto the balcony. “Dawn, where are you?”

From somewhere inside Annie could here laughter. She stopped and listened for a moment before running back through the bedroom into the hallway. She listened again and yes the sound of laughter came from the bedroom at the end of the hallway. She tiptoed down the hall and put her ear to the door. The laughter was coming from behind that door.

Unsure of what to do, but knowing she had to find Dawn and make things right. She tapped on the door and called, “Dawn, are you in here?”

Annie jumped back as the door suddenly flew open and Stephen’s smiling face greeted her. “Yes Annie, Dawn is in here, but not sure if now is a good time for you to see her.”

“Stephen, please I have to see her. I must talk to her.”

“It’s okay Stephen. I’ll see Annie.”

Stephen stepped aside and Annie walked in slowly, trying to find the right words to say to Dawn. As she approached the bed she noticed Dawn had her foot raised up on pillows and a towel was wrapped around her ankle.

“Dawn, are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine thanks. I seem to have twisted this stupid ankle again.” She said as she tried to lift her foot off the pillow. “Ouch!”

“Dawn, keep your foot still. I told you don’t move it till the swelling goes down.” Stephen ordered. “Looks like you will be walking down the aisle on crutches after all.” He laughed.

Dawn laughed again. “Who would’ve thought the very thing I tried to avoid doing, I end up doing after all.” She giggled. “I wonder how Luke will feel seeing his bride walk down the aisle on crutches? But then again, I might not turn up at all.”

“Might?” Annie asked.  

 “That all depends on you Annie.” Dawn said as she studied her friends face.

“Me? Why me?”

“What’s going on between you and Luke?”

Annie was shocked. She never expected Dawn to be so blunt. She took a deep breath before she replied. “Nothing … nothing is going on between us. Well, not now… not ever.”

“What do you mean, not now?” Dawn held her breath, hoping Annie would tell the truth. “Annie come and sit and tell me everything. I want the truth please.”

Annie looked from Stephen to Dawn, sighed as if her world had suddenly come crashing down around her. 

“I think this is where I make my exit.” Stephen said as he turned to go.

Annie sat next to Dawn on the bed. “Dawn, I don’t know where to begin or what to say that won’t upset you.”

“All I want is the truth Annie, please.”

“Luke…ummm… we kissed.” Annie waited for Dawn to say something, but she just sat quietly and never said a word.

“Dawn, say something please.”

“What do you want me to say Annie?” 

“Scream, shout, punch me. Just do something.” 

Dawn lifted her fist and aimed it at Annie’s face. Her eyes opened so wide they almost popped out of her head and Dawn burst into laughter.

“What? What are you laughing at?”

“Annie you should see your face. Did you really think I would punch you in the face?”

“I would’ve if I was you.”

Dawn dropped the aim of her fist and connected it with Annie’s arm.

The punch came as such a shock that Annie bit the tip of her tongue hard and tasted blood in her mouth. She rubbed her arm and stared at Dawn.

“Dawn I’m so sorry. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you or ruin your day. It was just one kiss and it happened so unexpectedly and I promise nothing else happened and we knew it was an accident and nothing more was to come of it. Luke loves you and wants to marry you and I’m so sorry. Oh God Dawn, what can I do to make things right?”

Annie spoke so fast that Dawn had to really listen as her friend’s words tumbled out on top of each other.

“Mhmm, I’m not really sure what you can do or say. Are you sure Luke wants to still marry me? He seems to be quite taken with you.”

“It was just a moment, nothing more. Dawn, I promise Luke loves you and wants to marry you. Why don’t you call and ask him?”

“I think I will wait a bit and give him time to cool down, or maybe just wait and see if he does turn up at the church tomorrow.” She said thoughtfully, twirling a strand of her hair round her fingers. 

“Dawn, I’m really really sorry. If you’d rather I didn’t come to the wedding, that’s okay. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. Maybe it would be better if I just go home now.”

Dawn looked her friend straight in the eye. “No. I want you to come to the wedding. I want you to be my Maid of Honour, but only if you can keep my secret and promise not to say anything to anyone ever.”

“Of course I will keep your secret. I promise I will never say anything to anyone ever.”

Dawn held up her little finger. “Pinkie swear, you’ll never tell even if they pull off all your fingernails.”

Annie locked little fingers with Dawn and said. “Pinkie swear, even if they pull off all my fingernails and toenails too. I will never give away your secret.”

“Jace …. We kissed.”

Annie sucked in air. “Jace, my brother?”

Dawn nodded. “Like you with Luke, it was just a moment.”

Annie wasn’t quite sure what to say or do. “I… gee Dawn, I don’t know what to say.”

“Nothing. There is nothing to say. We both had a… wrong moment. I think it’s best if we never mention it again.” 

“Okay…umm… like it never happened, sort of, I guess.” 

“Unless…” Dawn fiddled with her engagement ring. “Is there something more you aren’t telling me?” Dawn looked at Annie, trying to read her expression. Her eyes looked darker than usual.

“No, there is nothing else, but are you sure? I mean, I just want you to be happy Dawn. Marriage is supposed to be for life.”

“I’m sure Annie. When Luke and I made love, I could feel his love for me. We are going to be okay. Just a minor glitch we will work through it. Luke and I have jumped over a hurdle and it’s time to reach the finish line.” She slipped off her ring and held it up to the sun. It caught the sun’s rays and sparkled. “I will be there at the church tomorrow and … only time will tell if he will be there too.” She kissed the diamond and slipped it back onto her finger.

She wanted to make a wish, but she wasn’t quite sure what to wish for.