"Why didn't you tell us?" I asked.
"I was sick and tired of the way people were looking at me."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't want you to think that I'm weak. That I needed any help."
And that was the final piece of the puzzle. Eric Charles Wharton was just another boy trying to piece himself together after being broken repeatedly. It made me feel bad for all the times I judged him without really looking beneath the hard mask he wore to hide his true self. And just when he decided to take off that mask and reveal himself to me, I tried to push him away.
I placed my hand over his, tracing his knuckles with my fingers. They were hard and rough, just like the persona he had created for himself.
"I'm sorry," Eric said after awhile.
"Sorry for what?"
"For calling you ridiculous, you know, for talking to Adam."
I shrugged. "It's okay."
"I talked to him, you know," Eric said. "I'm not really sure if it was a dream or something, but I did talk to him."
"What did he say?"
"That we should stop blaming ourselves."
Somehow, that made me laugh. "Yeah, he'd say something like that."
Eric nodded, wincing as he did.
I watched him for awhile, thinking I should probably let him rest. But I realized that I wanted to stay by his side a little longer. After all, I hadn't told him exactly what I came to tell him.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I know it's not enough, but I'm really sorry. I want to make it up to you."
Eric smiled.
It was totally unexpected, but I guess that's what made him different from Adam. He was spontaneous.
"Then would you do something for me?"
"Anything."
"Stop apologizing."
Epilogue
I had my haircut a week later. I didn’t really plan on it. I was on my way to visit Eric when I passed by a hair salon. Next thing I knew, I was sitting in front of the mirror watching as the hairdresser cut my shoulder length hair. And with every snip he took, it felt like a weight was being lifted from my shoulders. By the time it was done, I felt lighter. I felt like a new person.
Eric had just returned from therapy when I entered his room, and as soon as he saw me, his mouth hung open.
“Is it that bad?” I asked, touching the back of my head, feeling self-conscious.
“No, it’s…great. You look edgier,” he said. “I like it.”
***
The news of the accident spread around school fast, though the stories were much worse than reality. Eric was spared from hearing all of it since he was still in the hospital undergoing physical therapy for his new leg.
"So you pushed Eric in front of a huge delivery van?" Drake asked, as Sara and I were taking stuff from our lockers for our first period.
Sara turned to me, pouting her lips. "It's a delivery van now? I thought it was a bus."
"It's a train, dammit!" I said, and the three of us laughed as we came up with more silly things to run over Eric with.
I was starting to feel like my normal self again. I didn't have to pretend any more, not when Eric understood how I felt. I visited him after school, sometimes with Drake and Sara. She still claimed that she hated Eric's guts, but given time, I knew he'd grow on her, and it was all I need.
I still missed Adam. But I consoled myself to the fact that he was finally free. That wherever he may be, I knew he was happy. After all, I kept my promise of being nice to his brother.
Speaking of which, I had been meaning to do something I hadn't done before. The idea occurred to me while Eric and I were talking about how he or Adam used to ditch class by pretending to be the other twin. I felt a rush just thinking about it.
"So Eric is finally getting out of the hospital," I said.
"That's great," Drake said. "He can help us think of more ways on how you tried to kill him."
"I'm going to ditch class," I said.
Both Drake and Sara looked at me like I had totally gone bonkers. "What?"
"I'm going to ditch class," I repeated. I returned my books to my locker and slammed it shut.
"Just make an excuse for me," I told Sara, and I was gone.
***
Eric stood in front of Adam's grave with one arm over a crutch. He was wearing a blue sweater and a pair of colored jeans. His back was facing me, and I stood watching him for awhile.
It felt like he was having a private moment with his brother so I waited until he took a step back and wiped his eyes. After a moment, I walked towards him.
"Hey," I said.
Eric turned around, raising an eyebrow. "Hey! What are you doing here?"
"I ditched class."
"Why?"
"Because I can."
I wrapped an arm around his waist. I raised my head to kiss him and he kissed me back.
"I was just talking to him," he said.
"I hope you're not telling him those complicated medical stuff. It really gets a little boring, you know."
"Really? What shall I tell him then?" he asked, nuzzling my hair.
"How about playing a game?"
Eric raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A game?"
I nodded. "It's actually a game I've been playing with Sara and Drake."
"Oh, so you're having fun without me. Tell me more about this game."
"It's where we come up with ways I tried to kill you."
Eric tilted his head in amusement. "That sounds fun. Let's play."
The End
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank my best friend, Glendale Ang for believing that I could finish this book after procrastinating for over a year. Also to Tahlia Meredith who patiently went through the whole manuscript and edited a lot of my errors, which made me cringe by the time I sat and worked on it. I owe you a lot!
I would also like to thank everyone who took time to review the book even before I published it. I love you guys!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Denise Kim Wy is a designer who also loves to write her own stories. Her favorite authors include Stephen Chbosky, Jane Austen and John Green, and she prefers reading tear-jerking novels that drive her nuts.
She is also a sucker for English period dramas and well designed furniture.
WEBSITE: http://www.denisewy.com
BLOG: http://denisey.blogspot.com
EMAIL: [email protected]
TWITTER: @denisewy
Also by Denise Wy
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter OneKat
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter FiveEric
Chapter SixKat
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter ElevenEric
Chapter TwelveKat
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter FifteenEric
Chapter SixteenKat
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter NineteenEric
Chapter TwentyKat
Chapter Twenty−One
Chapter Twenty−Two
Chapter Twenty−Three
Chapter Twenty−Four
Chapter Twenty−Five
Chapter Twenty−SixEric
Chapter Twenty−SevenKat
Chapter Twenty−Eight
Chapter Twenty−NineEric
Chapter ThirtyKat
Epilogue
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Also
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