Alternate Ending-2

"What?!" "I'm in a hospital bed; you should be encouraging, not agreeing with statements of stupidity!" I tossed at him, glaring a bit. Shane just gave me an impish grin, raising his hands. "What can I say? Moments like these are just too good to pass up." Making a noise of disgust, I shook my head. But I was still grinning, so my actions really weren't taken to heart. But I seriously couldn't believe that three days passed since being trapped with my dad in that house ... "Wait! My dad! Is he okay?" I asked, completely forgetting about the pain in my back and shooting straight up in bed. Which I immediately regretted. Shane leveled me with an annoyed look as I leaned back again, obviously wanting to smack me for not remembering the pain in my back. "He's fine. Real worried about you though. kind of like someone else I know." Shane glanced at me, giving me a pointed look. I understood exactly what he meant though. I think. Oliver. Who ... from what I understood at this point, was Keegan. Which still blew my mind. Though, looking back now, things started to click together in my mind. Keegan seemed to be there the entire time, from day one. In some way shape or form, Keegan was there. But it still confused me as to why he was okay with writing me letters instead of just talking to me. Seriously, I'm not that scary. Or did I need to remind people that I literally knocked myself out? "Quit thinking so hard; the room is starting to smoke up," Shane said with a grimace, waving his hand around for extra effect. I narrowed my eyes at him. "I wish I could punch you right now," I muttered, crossing my arms and looked away. "Yeah, well we all want to roll you up in bubble wrap, so I guess we're even," he shot back. He looked annoyed and I couldn't quite understand the reason. "Seriously, what's your damage? You're not the one in a hospital bed!" "No, but someone I honestly care for is!" Shane stared me down and instantly, I started to feel bad and understood exactly where he came from. "Who, by the way, should have told us all about the letters instead of running off like those stupid girls in movies do!" Slowly, I nodded, knowing how right the guy in front of me was. "I know, I know. I just ... I just thought it was a prank, you know?" Snapping my finger to point at him, I continued sharply, "And for the record, I was drugged and kidnapped. I didn't exactly go gallivanting off into the sunset, seeking answers and revenge, you know." Shane let out a bark of laughter and shook his head. "Oh, good to know you knocking yourself on the back of the head kept your humor in tact, Gabs." He stood and stretched, jamming a thumb in the direction of the door. "I think I'm going to go and see if Shelby wa - " "Make way! Best friend coming through!" I couldn't help but grin when Shelby's anxious and loud voice pushed through the halls of the hospital. Shane rolled his eyes and let out an obnoxious breath of air. "Well, I guess that saves me a trip ..." And on that note, he walked out, just as Shelby came running in, nearly knocking the boy over. She apologized quickly before running over to my bed and falling down on it, making sure she avoided any tubes or needles before pulling me into a bone crushing hug. "I was so worried about you!" she shrieked. I could hear the way her voice sounded tight, like she had been crying or near tears at the moment. I hugged her back with the same ferocity. "God, I was scared. I tried to keep my cool, cause what good would freaking out have done, but it was terrifying, Shell," I admitted quietly. We sat there for a good five minutes, just holding onto each other. With a huge sigh, Shelby finally released me, but just snuggled into the bed next to me, our arms linked. "So I've gotten to know lover boy a little better," she grinned. I groaned and tried to bury my face in the pillow, but failing. "Gabrielle, he's perfect." Peeking up at her, I cocked an eyebrow, urging her to continue. She shrugged her shoulder before saying, "I don't know, I just think he's great. He obviously caresabout you. It makes me wonder how we couldn't see it and went searching elsewhere." "You mean like how you stuck your squeeze on the first draft of the search," I teased with a poke, making her blush. She swatted my hand away and stuck her tongue out. "So you know the story of what happened, right?" she asked me, her eyes focused in on my face. I shook my head in response.