Reject Rejecting Rejected

Rumor Has It

Amelia POV

Why should I care if he's in the hospital or not? It's not like he's my concern anymore. I've cut ties with him, freeing myself of him, completely... then why do I still feel affected, why am I feeling worried... Ugh! why am I even thinking about this?

I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts as I take my seat.

"I heard that they found him half dead in a classroom, they suspect it’s foul play."... "I heard he was playing football and sustained a nasty injury to his head, leading to a concussion."... "I heard he had a heart attack, or I think it was a stroke."...

Rumors, rumors that's what they are yet they seem endless.

.... "The doctor says he might die unless he finds his mate."

But it's that one particular whisper that freezes my heart.

His mate... as in me? Luckily no one seems to recognize me or they are too busy gossiping and jumping to conclusions to know I'm the same one involved in the hallway scandal with Austin. Whatever the reason, I'm just happy I could lay low and out of the spotlight, but still...

Could this simply be just another rumor like all the others?

The teacher tries to silence the class but to no avail and I'm left to endure the speculating whispers until the end of class.

"Hey sis, why the long face?" I look up from my locker to see Jax standing beside me.

I shake my head. "Nothing, just a lot on my mind right now."

"Austin, right?"

I freeze. "What!? Noooo" I avert my gaze, quickly pulling some books from the locker before clutching them against my chest as I hurry off to my next class avoiding further questions from Jax. I hate that he's correct, but he is. I haven't stopped thinking about that one particular whisper since I heard it.

I'll hate to have him die because of me, I won't be able to live comfortably with myself knowing I could have done something to save his life but didn't.

School ends and I stand at the gate waiting for Jax to meet me outside so we could go home together.

"So, are we going straight home or to the hospital first?"

My head snaps to him. "Huh?"

"Sis, I know you want to see if any of the rumors are true and I'm willing to go with you."

Dang it, I'm like an open book to him.

I sigh, "I'll just pop in and pop out."

He nods and we cross the road taking the bus to the hospital which invariably takes us in the opposite direction, further away from home.

We arrive and Jax opts to sit in the waiting room while I nervously make my way towards Austin's room, bracing myself for whatever awaits me on the other side; after all, with all the rumors circulating, it's hard to know what to expect.

As I near the door, I'm greeted by the sight of a middle age woman. She looks up at me as soon as she hears my footsteps and I notice that her eyes are red and swollen. Her resemblance to Austin is uncanny.

"Good evening." I respectfully bow knowing that if she's Austin's mother that'll make her Luna, though she's not my Luna.

She nods in acknowledgment as she gives me a faint smile. "Are you here to Austin?"

I politely answer "Yes ma'am"

"Lora is fine." Her puffy eyes sparkle with warmth "and you?" I thought she was seeking an introduction but she continues "...you must be one of his good friends."

Me? Friend? As if!

As my mind struggles to come up with an appropriate response, she continues yet again. "You're the first friend of his that I've ever met." Her trembling lips stretch a little more as she extends her hand to shake mine.

What? Has she really never met any of his friends? I don’t even know what to make of that sad reality but unexpectedly, I come down with a mild case of word diarrhea. "Actually, we're not friends. I'm just a schoolmate of his, I barely know him. I'm just passing through." Shoot! I hold my breath anticipating the reaction of the grieving Luna. Maybe I should have thought that response through just a little longer before spitting it out.

"Hmm." Her eyes search me, generating an uncomfortable silence- well uncomfortable for me at least, because I'm under scrutiny, anxiously awaiting her response.

"I like you." What? I stare at her dumbfounded. "You are just the kind of person he needs in his life.... What's your family's surname?"

Random but ok. "Rose, ma'am"

Her eyes narrow though not directly on me, she appears deep in thought. "The Roses... I do believe I've heard the title before." She mutters to herself. "Tell me." Her eyes flick to me. "What are their given names?"

I know she's talking about my parents, but Jax is all the family I have now. "Jax Rose, ma'am"

"Hmm, that name, in particular, doesn't ring a bell" she returns to her internal monologue being unintentionally audible.

"That's because I'm not from this pack."

Her mouth makes an O shape of realization. "That would explain your scent."

Instinctively, unintentionally, my eyes widen and I subtly sniff my armpit. She chuckles. "No, you don't have a bad odor, you just carry a unique scent- Which isn't a bad thing." She quickly adds.

I nervously throw a smile on my face. Awkward doesn't even begin to cover this moment.

Her phone buzzes and she fetches it from the little black handbag hanging from her shoulder that complements her black dress suit attire. She scans the content of the message and in no time there's not a trace of sorrow left on her face. "Seems like duty calls."

The rapid shift in her expression is astonishing, but who am I to say whether either is just a facade; nevertheless, I mentally exhale, saved by the buzz.

"Hopefully we meet again miss-?" Her phone buzzes again before I could give my name. "Gosh, he chose a bad time to get sick." She mumbles under her breath, her eyes briefly flicking to me. "Sorry, got to run."

"Ok, travel safely." I quickly reply, though I doubt she even heard me. I chuckle amusingly to myself as I watch my almost mother-in-law disappear from sight.... bullet dodged!

As I walk back to Jax, the silly smile is still on my face.

"So, I take it, he's ok?"

"Huh?... Oh Shoot!" I hold my hand to my mouth. "I'll be back."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk" Jax chuckles as I head back towards Austin's room. Hopefully, I actually make it in this time.

As I draw near, the atmosphere seems to change and the seriousness of the situation crashes down on me; and suddenly, the feeling of dread begins to rise like bile in my throat.

My hand trembles as I turn the nob.

When the door swings open I'm immediately met with the sight of Austin's body stretched out on the bed, tubes running into his arms and connected to a machine that seems to be keeping him alive.

My eyes widen as I lean against the doorframe, taking a few moments to collect myself.

"Hey," I whisper without thinking.

He doesn't respond. He doesn't even move.... as expected. Really, what was I thinking?

I slowly draw nigh, the beeping of the machine fading into background noise, leaving a suffocating silence. My breath catches and I feel overwhelmed, as tears threaten to break free from the dam. Why do I feel like crying? I fight to keep the tears back, refusing to give into weakness.... why do I even care so much?

I swallow past a lump in my throat as I stop by his bedside and stare at his pale lifeless frame. Instantly my knees buckle beneath me and my strength evades me, causing me to absentmindedly, unintentionally, sit on the edge of his bed to support my weight.

As I continue to stare at him, unable to look away, I'm suddenly possessed with the strangest urge to reach out and not just touch but kiss those lips that somehow resurrect arousing memories.

Subconsciously, I lean forward, a real Snow White moment.... Our lips touch.