Chapter 38 - Hospital Blues.

"I came as soon as I could!"

Nicholas said as he walked straight to his sister and gave her a hug. Stephanie busted into a fit of sobs.

"I was so scared! I'm glad you're here."

She said as she buried her head in the crook of his neck. Cara was standing far away from the two of them like they were the plague. Nicholas glanced at her.

"Hey."

He said and Cara nodded.

"Hi."

The call had been uncomfortable enough to make, with Nicholas mistaking her call for a chance of reconciliation. She had quickly cut him off telling him the hospital they were in and how he had to pick up his sister.

She didn't say more than that and she had ended the call as soon as she could.

"I came here as soon as I could. Is everything okay?"

He asked, not directing the question at anyone.

"The doctor said he's stable, but he'll keep him overnight to be sure there's no danger."

Nicholas nodded.

"That's good. Have you called his parents?"

Cara shrugged.

"His phone's locked and we haven't been able to reach his emergency contacts."

Nicholas furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head.

"That's sad."

He turned to Stephanie.

"Why don't you go wait in the lobby, I want to talk to Cara for a bit."

Stephanie nodded and started walking away.

"Thanks for calling me."

He said as soon as she was out of earshot.

Cara nodded.

"No problem, you should get going now, wouldn't want to keep Stephanie waiting..."

"I know."

"I tried calling you so many times..."

"Nicholas!"

Cara snapped as her eyes darted around sharply.

"This is not the time or the place to be discussing such things with you!"

She said sternly and Nicholas rolled his eyes.

"What would you have me do? There's no way of reaching you! You've shut me out!"

"Shut you out? And why wouldn't I? After everything that's happened what did you expect?"

"Not this!"

Nicholas retorted.

"I know you're angry and hurt and all but remember that we agreed to solve this together. Do you remember?"

Cara narrowed her eyes at him and moved towards him.

Together? Oh what a joke!

"You're the one that got me into this mess the first place."

"Stay away from me Nicholas! I mean it!"

She said and she walked away.

"Goodbye Nicholas."

She said without looking back. She didn't even know where she was walking to and she passed several doctors and slowly started leaving the ER, she just knew she had to get away from Nicholas before her heart failed her and she starts to rethink all her decisions.

She had to stay away from him. For her own good.


"Why were you at that party Stephanie. What really happened?"

Nicholas asked as he put his car in gear and started driving out of the hospital parking lot.

Stephanie shook her head.

"Oh I don't want to talk about it. I need to lie down. Besides you've got to promise me Mum and Dad won't know anything about this."

Nicholas's jaw tightened. The only way he wasn't telling her was if he was sure she wasn't in any danger or she had not done anything that would affect her and them gravely.

"I have to know what happened Stephanie. I have to be sure that whatever happened tonight won't cause future problems."

Stephanie shook her head quickly

"It won't. Greg is fine, you heard what the doctor said."

"And if he decides to press charges?"

Nicholas said with an eyebrow raised and Stephanie sighed as she slouched in her chair sulking.

Sometimes she acted like a petulant child.

"He can't. We were both doing drugs before the party. He won't want his parents to learn about that."

Nicholas sighed.

"Whatever you say. You're still giving me the full story. What were you kids doing? Meth?"

Stephanie scoffed.

"Meth? Of course not! I'm not a crack head."

"It was just a bit of molly."

"Still..."

Nicholas warned and she quickly cut him off.

"I know. I know."

"I'm more interested in what you were talking about with Cara."

She added quickly as she folded her arms and gave him a look. Nicholas's heart skipped a beat.

"Did you hear anything?"

He said as calmly as he could muster and Stephanie shrugged.

"I wasn't particularly listening but I have been curious and left in the dark for the past few days. I know something's going on."

"Nothing is going on."

Nicholas tried to reassure her and she shook her head strongly.

"I noticed during the Bachelorette party, the first day Cara had been so withdrawn and detached. Then we come back and she's still the same way while Alex doesn't want to hear Mum even bring up your name."

"Then tonight you're frantically trying to talk to her. If I didn't know better, I'd say you guys were shagging and Alexander found out."

Whelp.

That was surprisingly easy to figure out.

Was it that obvious?

Nicholas asked himself as he kept mute, shifting uncomfortably in his chair while Stephanie gasped.

"Oh My God! Don't tell me that's what happened! Did you shag her?"

"Stephanie..."

Nicholas said in warning and Stephanie started cursing.

Her eyes slowly widened and he looked away in embarrassment, he didn't tell her but he knew Cara was going to be mad at him for telling her.

"Fucking hell! No wonder Alexander's been unbearable and Cara..."

"I really didn't think it was true when I blurted it out but you've just confirmed it."

She shook her head wearily as she pouted.

"Now that is disgusting. Really."

Nicholas sighed.

"Try to keep your mouth shut. Nobody else can know that you know. Not even Cara."

Stephanie looked a bit sceptical and was about to open her mouth in protest till Nicholas narrowed his eyes at her.

"It's the least you can do for me after making me do this."

He said and she rolled her eyes.

"Oh please. You weren't really there for me, you looked happy enough seeing Cara."

"That's not true Stephanie. I was worried about you. So worried. You scared me."

"Awwn. I'm sorry. I promise I won't do this again."

Nicholas shrugged.

"Let's hope so."

There was silence between the two of them for a while before Stephanie broke the silence.

"So you like her?"

Nicholas already knew who she was referring to and he knew his answer too. He nodded his head slowly and Stephanie shook her head.

That was messed up! She thought as she shivered a bit. She didn't realise her family had so much family drama and secrets brewing.

She had stayed detached from her family because she didn't want her mother meddling in her life too much but maybe she shouldn't have been so detached from her brother Nicholas.

She should pay more attention to them.

"What are you going to do?"

Nicholas shook his head.

"I can't do anything. She doesn't want me to help."

"Do you think she feels the same way about you?"

"I can't say... Lately she's been pushing me away. I don't know what to think."

Nicholas said and Stephanie nodded.

"I don't know what to tell you Nick. Really. I'm sorry."

There was a short silence between them before Nick grunts.

"Me too."