12. Epilogue
Epilogue
2 months later
I watched Waverley get into the car with Joanna and her boyfriend, Lucas or Carl or something, I hadnt bothered to find out his name. I watched them drive away and kicked the floor, then turned and hit the post of the porch railing. Warren came down the stairs and shoulder checked me before I could do any major damage, to the post or my own hand.
Shell be fine.
I swore Id go with her, Warren. I swore. Your old man did this on purpose.
King is an asshole, he always will be but hes testing your loyalty.
After everything, he felt he needed to test me on this? It was one fucking night, War. One night. That was all she asked for. She put up with us getting inducted, she doesnt question us when we disappear on jobs, even though I know it kills her not to know where we are. She even accepted we arent going to college with her.
Not without a lot of arguing and some crying. It had been a shitshow telling her. And yeah, I was a prick for doing it the day before my father was sentenced to thirty-three years in prison, with no chance of parole. Maybe I hoped it would force her to lessen the repercussions given I had that hanging over my head as well. She was still Waverley, and she was not happy with us for a while. It sucked when she wouldnt see me for a week. She barely even spoke to Warren.
As time went on, once she let us back in and the more we talked about it not being that big of a deal, especially if she was in New York, the more she came around. Shed been accepted into three different colleges too. She found out a couple of weeks ago. Id won her back around and we were planning on having an awesome summer together before she left for college. I would do anything for her, and I made sure she knew it.
Tonight was senior prom. I had a suit, I had a fucking plum coloured tie to match her dress. Rosa helped me pick a corsage. We were gonna go on my bike, fuck going in a limo, but we were going, and I would make it the best night of our lives. I even had a hotel room booked, as clich as that was.
Until King told us we were needed on a job for the club, and it was non-negotiable. We couldnt refuse to do anything our President asked of us.
Shed been oddly calm when I told her and that was even more unnerving. She acted like it wasnt a surprise. I could tell shed struggled to maintain her composure, but shed done it. I hated myself right now. I hated King, I hated the Club but most of all, I hated hurting her.
She decided she was going without us. Warren cancelled on his date but hadnt cared, he was only going because Wave talked him into it. She wasnt going to let us, or the club prevent her attending at least one of her high school proms.
Shed kicked me out while she got ready. But I hadnt left. I waited downstairs for her. Joanna had come over and theyd got ready together. She looked so beautiful in her dress, like a fucking Goddess. Id told her so and shed given me the saddest look before she came over and kissed my cheek. I hugged her for maybe a few seconds before she pulled away, but I at least managed to get a photograph of her with Joanna, before she took her best friends hand. Then she left.
We need to go, Warren told me. Youll make it up to her.
Im sick of making stuff up to her.
You chose the club.
I gritted my teeth. There was no point arguing about it. It was done and I had to accept that. So I got on my bike and we headed back to the compound.
!!!!!!!!!!!!SCENE brEAK GOES IN HERE!!!!!!!!!!!
The Following Afternoon.
Hudson! Are you in there?
The banging on the door jolted me out of sleep. I was lying face down in a pile of blankets that smelled like sweat, cigarettes and booze. Or maybe that was me. I could barely open my eyes. I had no idea where I was or how I ended up here.
Hudson, wake the fuck up!
I tried to roll over and open my eyes, but the world was too bright. And every move I made had my stomach roiling. Shit, I was gonna puke. I half stumbled off the bed, whirling to get my bearings but it was too late to find a bathroom, I spotted a trash can and grabbed it, spewing up what felt like gallons of alcohol Id consumed last night.
It burned all the way up and I coughed and retched until my stomach ached. Id never had a hangover like this before. It felt like I was dying.
The door burst open, and Connor and Warren stumbled into the room. Connor looked as rumpled as I was, but his face was frantic. Warrens hair was sticking up all over the place and he held his phone in his hand so tight his fingers were turning white.
Has she called you?
What? I leaned against the bed and wiped vomit from my mouth with the corner of the sheet.
Waverley, has she called you?
My jaw tensed, I didnt want to talk about her . I tried to shake my head, but it felt like I had rocks rolling around in there and set me off. I puked in the can again.
Jesus Christ, Warren was pacing back and forth.
Where is your phone? Connor gave me a wide berth as he went to grab my phone from a table beside the bed. He made me unlock it with my fingerprint but shook his head at Warren. She hasnt called him.
Whats going on? I eventually asked.
Rosa said shes gone.
Gone? I was still struggling to catch up. Although I had an idea the more I sat there, the more my memory came back.
Yes! All her stuff is gone from the house and Rosa said she gave her money and a car.
Huh? That got my attention. That was a little more than disappearing for a while. What do you mean?
Shes gone! She left! Warren screamed at me. Then he stopped and turned stony eyes to me. He took in the state of me and looked around the room.
I stared at the floor, not wanting to meet his gaze, reeling from what he was saying. Gone? What the fuck did that even mean?
We can get her back, Connor said. She cant have gone far. Well find her and bring her home.
He sounded awful but I couldnt look at him either as waves of anger and guilt washed over me.
Hudson.
Warren repeated my name twice before I looked up at him with bleary eyes. Whether it was the hangover or tears, I didnt want to acknowledge.
What the fuck did you do?
To Be Continued.