Fallen Memories: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Forbidden Truths Duet Book 1)

by Amber Nicole

  “You have to wait here son. King will stay with you. You should call Gracelyn’s parents,” Dave tells me, crushing me in a bruising hug. “Just breathe Tristan, just breathe okay son, I have to go on another call, but I’ll be back after my shift.”

  “Dave, earlier at the school, why were you guys just sitting idle?”

  He looks at me with such a guilty expression.

  “When we arrived, Bianca and the girls came running out the door saying it was a false alarm. That Gracie was fine, just a sprained ankle and the nurse was patching her up. She didn’t need to go to the hospital. I've known that girl her whole life I never imagined she would be lying to us. Johnson decided to take our ten minute break and flirt with the girls. He’s young Tristan. He didn't know the truth. If we did we never would have wasted a second of time. I am so sorry son, I will be letting Bill know of our incompetence, and will accept any punishment he decides fit. But I really do need to leave okay? King stay here with him, and if I know Dom like I think I do he will be here soon with his dad. Make sure you make those girls pay for the distraction okay?”

  He rushes back out the door and jumps in his rig to head out. I feel the room spin and collapse on my ass right there in the middle of the floor. A hand touches my shoulder and I look up into the eyes of my best friend. He sits down next to me and grabs my arm then tugs me onto his chest. I lose it. My heart is breaking. Waiting here, I feel like years are being taken off my life. Gracie's parents arrived not long after Dom called them. I couldn't, I haven't moved from this spot on the cold, hard floor since we arrived. I feel dead inside.

  “Tristan what the hell happened?” Gracie’s dad, Grant, screams at me.

  “I knew she should have never got back with you. Your whole family is poison. First Mia, now this.” Gracie’s mom sneers from behind me. What the hell is she talking about?

  “Christine, enough. Now is not the time for this!” Grant snaps at his wife. What the hell is going on? “No Grant, now is the perfect time! Tristan take care of my daughter. Or don’t. I don’t care anymore. I'm done, I can’t handle any more of this bullshit.” She storms out the emergency doors while I’m still just sitting here broken and so confused.

  Arms wrap around me from behind, and I turn and see a friendly nurse. “Everything is going to be okay hon. That girl of yours she's a fighter. I remember when she came in the first time. How about we move to a chair? You’ve been sitting on this cold floor for over three hours. She’s still in surgery, I will come get you if anything changes.”

  “Come on Ash it’s okay let’s just sit on that couch, my ass is all tingly I think it fell asleep,” Dom says while lifting me from the ground and maneuvering me to the couch in the corner. I don't know how long we sit here but King’s dad eventually returns with dinner. The guys eat but I’m not hungry. I’m numb. I just need to know if she’s going to be okay. That's it. “Why can’t anyone just tell me if she’s going to be okay? It’s been so long now. I don't need a full report just tell me if she’s going to be okay.” Dom jumps next to me, I must have startled him. “Shit Ash, you scared me, you've been in like a catatonic state for six hours now.”

  I start to shake again, and my eyes are wet. I look at him. “Six hours? Why can’t they just say she's going to live? I can’t lose her Dom. She’s the only light in this world that keeps me from going into the darkness. I need her, man.”

  Wrapping me in his arms again he just holds me. “She’s going to be okay Ash, she will be okay Gracie is a fighter.”

  Sometime later a doctor walks through the double doors to where we are sitting. “I’m looking for the family of Gracelyn Rose?”

  I jump up from my seat. “Is she okay? Please just tell me she’s okay,” I say, my voice cracking at the end.

  “Are you family? I can only discuss her status with family.”

  I look him in the eye and say, “I’m her fiance.”

  Giving me a scrutinizing look he just sighs, then nods his head and continues on. “Gracie is in critical condition. She suffered a significant hematoma, broken ribs, and a broken wrist from the fall. Due to the hematoma and her previous head injury we placed a shunt to help reduce the fluid build up. We will remove it in a few days depending on her progress. Now she does currently have a tube down her throat that's just temporary, and we will remove it in a few days if everything looks good. She is also in a medically-induced coma to help speed up the healing process. If everything goes as planned we will wake her up in a week. Now for the hard news.” He puts his hand on my shoulder and softens his voice. “Gracie suffered significant blood loss due to the placental abruption which caused her to hemorrhage. We did stop the bleeding, but she lost too much blood and needed a transfusion. I’m sorry to report Gracie suffered a miscarriage.”

  “What! No Gracie wasn’t pregnant. She would have told me.” My hands start to shake, and my breathing quickens. I may pass out. Is this what Gracie feels before an attack? The doctor is still talking but I’m not comprehending.

  “We performed a D&C, and she will be fine in that aspect. I’m sorry for the loss of your baby. You both are young and should have no issues later down the road if you decide to try again. We were able to determine the gender since she was in her second trimester. Once Gracie wakes up if that is something you wish to know just ask the nurse to come find me.” He gives me one more pat on the shoulder then turns and walks back through the double doors. Gracie was pregnant? The room spins again and the next thing I know I’m on the floor with Dom shouting from above me.

  30

  Gracie

  Everything hurts. I try to wiggle my toes, oh good they moved. So not paralyzed. At least those bitches didn't put me in a wheelchair permanently. I slowly open my eyes but all I see is darkness. Turning my head to the side I see a little red dot. Okay so not blind. I sigh in relief, it must just be nighttime. Reaching over for the button I see my wrist is in a cast. Ahhhh I hurt so bad this turning is not easy, finally brushing the button I take a deep breath then try again, this time actually pressing it. It takes a few seconds but I hear from the intercom “Yes, how can I help you?” It takes me a few tries before I can say pain in a whisper. “Gracie? Is that you hon? Be right there,” I hear before my door comes flying open to a panicked Ash.

  “You're awake!” he says in a shout, running to my side. He looks at me with tears in his eyes. “When you didn't wake up from the medically-induced coma I started to think I may never see those eyes again. I thought I lost you both.” Both? Shit he must know about the baby. I close my eyes as the tears start to fall. I only knew I was pregnant for less than an hour but the loss still hits me hard. Opening my eyes I see the hurt and confusion staring back at me from Ash.

  “Did you know Gracie? Did you know you were pregnant?” he asks, choking on his words. My vision is blurry due to the tears streaming down my face but he looks just as distraught as me. “After everything we went through before, you still kept it from me? Why? Why Gracie?”

  Trying to respond to him my voice comes out in crackles, “Phone call … After you … Left locker room … Pain Ash … So much pain.” I try to get my point across but I don't think I do a very good job, Ash’s face just turns from devastation to pissed off.

  Looking away from me, he walks over to the door just as the nurse comes bustling in.

  “Oh good you're awake. You gave us all a scare there missy. Ash, can you inform Gracie's family that she's awake while I give her some pain medications?”

  Facing the nurse he just nods then leaves the room making my tears fall faster. He left me, he really left. I close my eyes again, so I don't see that he returned until I feel a kiss on my forehead. I open my eyes to his gorgeous hazel gaze filled with tears. Looking down at my lips he gently presses his to mine. “I’m not mad at you beautiful, but I do need to make some calls okay? I will be back. I love you Gracie forever and on.” He looks at me for confirmation but it's still hard for me to talk so I just give him a small smile and nod. He turns
towards the door once again and exits.

  “Whew girl, you have yourself a good one there. That boy hasn't left this hospital the whole time you've been asleep. Good thing he's rich otherwise they would never have allowed him to commandeer the room next to yours,” the nurse says, making me jump, I forgot she was even here. He never left the hospital? What does that mean? Looking over at her I ask “How … long?” Grrrr this not being able to speak sucks!

  “I’ll get you some water in a few minutes hon, you had a tube down your throat for about a week so I can guess that your throat is killing you. Just try and take it easy. Here, Ash left this here for you. They found it after the fall.” She hands me my phone. “Maybe try texting instead of talking just for a little while, well as best you can with your wrist in a cast. I will notify the doctor that you're awake. He’s going to want to talk to you before your entourage arrives.” Pressing the button on the side of my phone I see that it's fully charged.

  How long have I been in the coma? I type.

  I show the phone to the nurse. “About three weeks hon. They put you in a medically induced coma to help with your recovery but that was only a week, we have been waiting for you to wake up. They were starting to worry you wouldn’t due to your previous head trauma. But that's all I can say okay love. Just lay back and relax. I just gave you some morphine to help with the pain. I’m going to go pop in the office and notify your doctor you’re up.” She gives my hand a pat then heads back out the door. Lying back like she said, I close my eyes. I’m alive. I'm not sure that thought had hit me yet. I didn't think I would survive that beating. Oh god, the beating. I have to tell someone. Does anyone know? Or do they think it's an accident. Grabbing my phone from my lap I open up a new text to Ash.

  GRACIE: This wasn’t an accident!!

  Closing my eyes again I start to feel relief—the pain medicine must have kicked in. I feel warm and floaty. It feels nice. Looking back at my phone I see four new messages.

  ASH: What do you mean Gracie?

  ASH: Gracie? What are you talking about?

  ASH: Helllooooooooooooo, fuck doll answer me!!!!

  ASH: I’m headed back now!!!!!

  I go to reply when he starts calling me. I answer even though it hurts to talk.

  “Gracie? Are you there?” Putting him on speaker I start to respond to his message.

  GRACIE: Hurts to talk Ash

  I hear him hang up then see the little bubbles showing him replying.

  ASH: You scared me, I thought maybe you slipped back in a coma

  Awww, okay now I feel bad. I really love this damn boy. Wow these drugs are strong.

  GRACIE: I love you Ash

  Lying back again I start to shut my eyes. “I love you too Gracie forever and on. I love you more than anything in this world. When I saw you lying there so broken and bloody, hardly breathing, I thought I was going to lose you again. I honestly don't think I would have survived if you didn't wake up. What did you mean by it wasn't an accident Gracie?” Ash says, walking back into the room.

  Looking into his eyes I see the tears he's trying to keep from falling. Raising my phone so he can see I’m going to text him. He nods at me taking a seat at the foot of my bed never taking his eyes from mine.

  GRACIE: When you left the locker room I got a phone call from Dr. Lawry’s office. I went about a month ago because I wasn't feeling well. They ran all sorts of tests, one being a pregnancy test. I never mentioned it because I didn’t think it was possible plus they never called with my results. I wasn’t hiding anything I swear Ash.

  I stop there while I wait for him to read. I look at the wall.

  “A month? Why did it take so long for them to call with the results?” Looking back at him I see he's not mad, just confused. Taking a deep breath I continue.

  GRACIE: When the receptionist called she said my tests had inconclusive data so they had to run them again. She told me I was pregnant. I'll admit at first I panicked. I decided to tell you that night at dinner but Bianca must have heard my phone call because she followed me to the gym and confronted me. I think in my shock I must have said you were the father. She flipped out on me.

  Hitting send I close my eyes. I'm feeling really sleepy. Before I know it I must have dozed off.

  31

  Ashton

  Looking down at my phone I read what Gracie just sent me. I wish she could just talk; this would be so much easier. Plus with her wrist being in a cast it’s taking forever. Bianca knew before me? I Look up at Gracie, she's fallen asleep. Fuck I need to know what the hell happened. Sighing, I fix her pillow then slide myself in the space beside her resting my head on her chest just listening to her heartbeat. I place my hand on her tummy that is now empty. She was pregnant. Fuck this is really going to mess with her. We talked a lot about the accident and if she was pregnant what she would have done. She told me she would have had it and loved it with everything she had. I told her I wanted to wait till after our twenty-first birthdays. I was mostly joking but she agreed to wait a few years. I had planned on proposing to her again that night at dinner. I was going to share the big news about getting into the Air Force then ask her to marry me and come with me. Nothing has changed. I still want that more than anything. I wanted to have the wedding as soon as possible before I left for basic training but I’m not sure that's possible anymore. I don't know how long she’ll need to remain in this hospital. Her eyes are moving rapidly behind her lids. I hope her nightmares haven’t returned. We just got rid of them. Leaning up towards her I kiss her temple. Her bruises have started to fade but her nose was broken so it’s still swollen and has yellowish green bruising. Three weeks, she had been in that coma for three weeks. Not as long as the one before but it still caused my heart to race. Her parents have been MIA. I seriously don’t know what to think about them anymore. I hope they pull their heads from their asses and realize they’re about to lose their daughter for good. I sit up carefully so I don’t wake her and move to the chair next to the bed so I can text Dom.

  ASH: Gracie's awake :)

  I don't have to wait long. I swear his phone is permanently glued to his hand.

  DOM: Thank little baby Jesus, is she okay? I'll text Hope and let her know. Does she still remember you?

  ASH: Thx, see if she can reach Gracie's parents or Gray. Yea she remembers me she can't talk right now so she's slowly texting me as best she can with her wrist jacked up. She said it wasn't an accident Dom. I'm not sure Hope knew the whole plan from the cheerleaders? I don't think this was just a prank gone wrong!!

  DOM: WTF!!!!! Damn okay. What do you need me to do? I'll call the guys, have them come over for a meeting. Cheerleaders are going down. How you holding up? Need anything? I have your assignments from today. I'll swing by in the morning so let me know if you need anything else.

  ASH: Thx man. I really just need some sleep. Now that she's awake hopefully I can. When she wakes up she will explain some shit. Keep me posted. Make them pay Dom. No mercy. Hope can help.

  DOM: Done! Just take care of her man. She’s going to need you more than ever now. The boys and I can handle the Bitches. Let her know she's in my thoughts and prayers. Get some sleep man.

  ASH: KK, thx brother.

  Turning my phone off I look over to check on Gracie. She still hasn't moved, those pain meds must have really knocked her out. I don't want to leave her. I go next door to my temporary room, grab my pillow and blanket from home then carefully move Gracie so I can slide next to her and hold her. Resting her head on my chest I feel her slow breaths through my shirt. I gently run my hand over her head and she snuggles closer to me. Now she’s awake and safe. I can rest so I lay my head down, close my eyes, and think about the first time we made love. When Gracie asked me what I saw when I thought of our future, I told her I saw our wedding day, and her sitting in a nursery. Rocking in a chair while rubbing a big belly and singing softly to it. I hope one day I get to make that vision come true. We may have lost this baby, but we still have each other
, and one day we will have children.

  “I don’t want to wake them but I need to check her vitals and do a blood draw.”

  “Go do your other patients and come back.”

  Not sure who that was, but I hear the door close with a soft click. Opening my eyes, I see Gracie has rolled completely on her side resting her wrist on the bar on the other side of me, wrapping herself around me like a koala. I could wake up every morning this way. I’ve waited too long. I think it's time to make her officially mine. As soon as we get out of here I’m going to make her Gracelyn Nicole Daniels just like I’ve spent half my life imagining. She starts to stir so I gently rock her and hum her favorite song Wave by Meghan Trainor. One thing people don’t know about Gracie is she has an amazing voice, but the stage fright prevents her from doing it in public. I love listening to her from outside the shower sometimes. I feel her chest shake, but she doesn't make a sound. I guess her throat is still hurting. I grab her phone from the side table and hand it to her. She smiles up at me in thanks.

  Doll: You didn't have to stay. You should get some sleep Ash, in your bed.

  “I wasn’t going to leave you Gracie. I’m not letting you out of my sight for a while so you may want to get used to having a shadow okay?”