Something Good Can Work: Book Two - ON HOLD INDEFINITELY-

“Your time is almost up Summer, only a few more days and you can go home.” The doctor’s words were beyond exciting, I had been waiting to hear that for weeks. I had apparently been doing quite well, so well I qualified for early release if Gran and Christopher thought it would be wise. We worked out a plan too, I was going to continue living with Christopher until the end of the school year and I’d be at gran’s every weekend so that I could see my friends. Everything was finally working out for me again, I was finally feeling happy.
I said good night to the doctor and headed back towards my room, my mind thinking about how I couldn’t wait to call Harry and tell him the good news. I still had to apologize to Elliot too, I cannot forget to do that.
“Summer, you’ve got a call.” I hear the receptionist say as I’m passing by, I stop and backtrack so that I can pick up the phone. “Hellooo?” I say in a sing song voice, nothing can bring me down.
“Summer…” I hear Lucy’s shaky voice; she sounds like she’s been crying.
“Luce, what’s wrong babe?” I ask as I duck into the corner to give her all my attention.
“Christopher is on his way up there, I know it’s late and you’re doing so well… I just wanted you to hear it from me….it’s Niall.” She was sobbing now.
“What? What happened?” I raised my voice slightly, warranting a glare from the lady at the front desk.
“He…” She paused and I heard a muffled sob before she finished speaking. “He killed himself.”
I felt a pang of sorrow hit me straight in my stomach, this had to be a joke. This couldn’t be real, he would never.
“What, no there has to be a mix up” I try to argue, somehow getting tangled up in the phone cord. I didn’t even realize I was moving.
“Ms. Vanderford, are you okay?” I hear one of the nurses ask.
“I’m so sorry Summer…I didn’t know he felt this way…” Lucy tried to calm me down and it wasn’t working one bit. Finally, someone took the phone from me and I was being led to my room, I guess I had blacked everything out?
The next thing I remember is waking up to my Gran, her soft wrinkled skin glowing down at me as her green eyes tried to search for some kind of response. I blinked a few times before throwing my arms around her.
“Oh say it’s not true…” I cried as she hugged me tighter, this was all my fault. I did this- I drove him here. Why was I so selfish?

“I’m so sorry baby…” Gran cooed softly as she stroked my back, which I have to admit had a calming effect on me.
“I have to go to him…” I said, once against being selfish. I had to see him for closure, but why? He didn’t want to see me. He willingly gave me to his enemy. This was all part of his plan.
“The funeral is Saturday my love, we’ll see everyone then…” Gran’s voice was eerily calm, but this wasn’t her first loss after all.
I was given some medicine to calm me down and when I woke up I was in my bed. My bed at Grans.
I just lay there staring at the ceiling, not wanting to move because the weight of reality was going to crush me.
I jumped when I heard my cell phone go off, it had been weeks since I had heard that sound. I turned and grabbed it, frowning at the screen. It was Elliot.
I ignored the text and sat up some, grabbing the water from my nightstand.
“Summer…” I heard louis say as his head peeked through my door. I tried to compose myself, he just lost his best friend.
“Come here.” I held my arms open and he walked in quickly, jumping into my bed and hugging me so tight I thought I may burst.
He was crying so hard; I couldn’t even fathom the feeling.
His best friend.
How could we have missed this? How could I have missed this?
“I can’t believe it Sum, I hadn’t talked to him in days and the last time we spoke I was so mean to him. This is all my fault, I was his friend and I turned my back on him…” Louis’s voice quaked with each word. He was about two words from hyperventilating when I squeezed him tighter.
“It’s not your fault.” It’s mine. It’s all my fault, I should have just stayed in America.
We lay there taking turns crying and talking about funny things he’d done.
Tomorrow was his visitation.
Tomorrow we see him again.

Notes