Almost You

Breaking a Mending Heart

Chapter 37

Breaking a Mending Heart

"Tell us! Tell us!" A loud, repeated chorus erupted from the excited group of teenage girls, chanting in between fits of high-pitched, girly giggles.

I sat criss-cross apple sauce on the air mattress, surrounded by six, keen and anxious girls.

Of course, a traditional sleepover with these girls wouldn't be the same without our junior year influence. Some girls have a bottle of wine they bring secretly and hide it until the parents leave the house and had vicious gossping wars. But us, not our style. Our typical sleepovers had ecstatic laughter, tons of food, and a concentrated energy.

After twelve sodas, four bags of jumbo popcorn bags, a bag full of candy, and six half-finished hot chocolates, and two tubs of Ben and Jerry's finest ice cream, we were completely off the walls, buzzing with sugar. All of us were wound, giggling with energy and roaring with laughter, just like all the sleepovers we have.

Their eyes were wide as they watched me, and ears prying with question.

"Alright, I will!" I laughed, putting my palms out in defence at the excited girls, hysteric from sugar and feeding off the energy in the room. "Eager are we?"

A ripple of excitement washed through the room, energy reflecting from every angle.

"Well, you put us through all this suspense!" Payton cried, rolling her wide eyes.

"Oups, sorry." I bit the inside of my cheek, and then giggled to myself, uncontrollably.

I motioned for the girls to lean in closer, as if I was going to for lay a massive secret.

The craziness turned to stone hard seriousness. I felt a little like Mark. A few giggles held for a few seconds, but more snicker-like.

I held their attention, drawing in so we were a close knit circle. A little bit like a cult. All eyes were on me, making me shift uncomfortably. The news I was about to share wasn't as exciting as they were expecting.

Without further ado, I launched into a dramatic story, setting the scene. I started with a quick re-cap about the risky Hospital situation, and how lucky Evan was. A rib was barely a hair away from his lung, and could have punctured it easily. I explained about Officer Parks, and how we wound up in the hotel. I explained the risks and assumptions.

As I told them, I realized how dangerous it sounded. I laughed to myself; Evan has his own personal stalker now!

The girls hung on to my words, remaining quiet, and soaking it all in.

"We have to stay in this Hotel until further notice." I explained. "This freaks me out! Who knew it would be that serious?"

"How much longer, do you think?" Gracie asked me.

"Err... I'm not sure. Soon, I hope." I told me, tipping my head back. I ran my finger down the fabric of my comfy pyjama shorts. I stretched my legs out into the circle, and then folded them back underneath me. I dug my hand into the bowl of popcorn sitting in the middle of the circle, and I threw the handful of warm popcorn into my mouth.