Our Secret (being edited)

▪️Chapter 26▪️

"Cole!" called out Elena when she caught sight of him thought the hall that smelled of antibiotics and looked bright for her taste, she hated hospitals. She and Lucas raced towards him through the hospital hallways, avoiding nurses and other people who were running around, towards where he was sitting alone. Cole looked up at them, with a tired expression, before he stood up. Lucas embraced him in a hug that he returned and a pat on the back before Elena hugged him.

"Hey buddy, you alright?" asked Lucas looking worried.

"That's a dumb question!" Elena glared at him.

"What else was I supposed to say?" asked Lucas throwing his hands up.

Cole let out a small chuckle. "I'm fine you two," he said as he gained their attention. "Besides, my mother's not the one in that hospital room. She's being treated somewhere else."

Elena and Lucas looked at him in confusion. "Then who is it?"

"Charles," he said running his hands down his face.

"What?! How is he?" asked Elena as a worried frown appeared on her face.

"He's fine, the bullet just grazed his shoulder," said Cole taking a seat again while they continued to stand in front of him

"So then, why are you here? Shouldn't you be with your mother?" she asked confused by why he was here.

Cole clenched his fists as a dark expression passed by his face. "I can't go there even if I wanted to. My brother is there."

Elena looked at him in confusion. She was about to ask him what he meant when her phone rang. She pulled it out and they all saw the caller ID.

"You should go," said Lucas who also saw who was calling. "Your sister is probably worried about you."

"He's right," said Cole. "It's a school day tomorrow, you should get some rest."

"So should you," she told him pointedly. "You both should," she said looking between the two. "I can't just leave you guys like this."

"We'll be fine," Cole reassured her with a gentle smile. "I'm just waiting for his daughter to get here. We called her a while ago, she should be here any second now. Charles is asleep and won't wake up till morning."

"Still, I don't want to leave you guys like this." she shook her head wrapping her arms around herself.

"Hey, we'll be fine," Lucas reassured her with a smile and nod of his head.

She debated on the matter for a second before agreeing, "I'll see tomorrow," she said, giving Cole a long hug before pulling away. "I'm sorry about your mother."

Cole shrugged before letting it go. "I would be more beat up about it if she and I had a better relationship. She always seems to favour my older brother over me."

Elena gave an understanding smile before turning towards Lucas. "I'll walk you out," he said.

Elena nodded as the two made their way out of the hospital and into the midnight cold air, towards the parking lot. "Are you going to school tomorrow?" she asked pulling her hood over her head

"No, I'm staying with him."

"Alright, I'll swing by tomorrow then. Anything you guys need?"

He shook his head as they neared her car. "No. If anything happens, I'll let you know."

She hummed in acknowledgement while she pressed a key unlocking her car before she opened the door.

"Hey," said Lucas as he grabbed her shoulder before she could climb in. "I'm not exactly sure what happened today, but be careful," he told her worriedly. "I don't want anything to happen to you."