Reconnected by Bethany Daniel

  Chapter 15

  Later after signing a bunch of paperwork and Liam getting special authorization for a nurse to come along with us, we were finally able to leave the hospital and go to the cemetery. I had spoken with Luke's parents earlier and found out where he had been buried at and gave Liam the directions. I had to sit sideways in the backseat to be able to be comfortable.

  "Are you going to be ok?” Liam asks me with worry in his eyes.

  I nod, "I will be...I just, need to say my goodbyes."

  The nurse helps to lift me into the wheelchair and Liam begins to push me towards the middle row. There I see it, the freshly marked grave that doesn't even have an official grave marker yet. Just a sign that says "Lucas James Austin", I take a deep breath and a tear rolls down my cheek but I gently wipe it away.

  "I'm so sorry Luke. If I could have any way to turn back the clock and have you still be here with us, I would.” I bite down on my lip and wipe at another tear lingering by my eye.

  "I love you, Lucas. I know it’s not in the way you wanted” I smile sadly looking at the freshly dug dirt, "But I do love you, and I swear I won't ever forget you or stop looking for the person who caused this. She will be caught and I hope your face haunts her as much it'll haunt me.” I sigh and kiss my fingers and motion them towards the ground. "Goodbye Luke, I hope you are at peace.” One final tear falls and I let it. It's time to close this wound, and move forward and hopefully be able to find happiness among the madness again.

  "Ok.” I whisper when my emotions settle, "I'm ready to go."

  "Are you sure?” Liam asks and frowns when he wipes away a streak my tears left behind.

  I nod and look around at our new security team that has made a barricade around us and sigh. "Are these guys from Raden Security too, like Nate and Eric were?"

  Liam shakes his head, "No, Raden was thoroughly chewed out and put on Excite's black list after...the incident. These guys are with Tyrell Security Teams. They are the best of the best and are highly recommended."

  I just nod at that and sigh. I have a feeling these guys are going to be within eyesight at all times at the very least until Alexia is caught again.

  "You ok, baby?"

  “Yeah...I’m just tired. Do you think I might be able to see Krista when we get back to the hospital?"

  "I'll check...Scott said she keeps asking where you are. She can't remember the accident though. The last she remembers was the three of you coming to set."

  "Does she know about Luke?” I ask softly looking back at his grave as Liam helps to transfer me into the car again.

  "She does. She feels guilty because she was the one driving the car...but don't worry, Scott's trying to help her through this."

  I just nod and lean my head back against the seat closing my eyes and listening to the sounds lulls me into a quiet sleep.

  "I fell asleep?” I ask tiredly and rub my eyes when we come to a stop and I realize what happened.

  Liam nods, "Yep, we're going to move you into the wheelchair and try to get in before any photographers get nosy."

  After they move me over we roll in and I see Scott leaning against the wall, "Hey there...everything go ok?"

  "Yeah...I said my goodbyes.” I tell him and we roll up to a room that's not my own.

  I frown and turn to look at Liam, "Um...wrong room."

  He just smiles at me, "You wanted to see Krista, right?"

  "Oh!” I sit up excitedly as we go into her room and I catch my breath seeing my best friend with so many bruises and cuts all over her. I imagine she hasn't seen a mirror yet...she would be having a panic attack and be begging for make-up.

  "Kate!” I hear her yell out, "Oh my God...you're ok? You're really ok?” she asks me and grabs onto my hand when I reach her side.

  "I am...” I smile sadly at her, "I'm more concerned about you!"

  "Oh sweetie don't you worry about me...I'm a tough cookie.” She squeezes my hand again and sighs. "I'm really sorry about Lucas, Kate. I might not have been a great friend to him or anything...but I know he made you happy, and in one way or another he was my friend too."

  I nod, "I went and said my goodbyes to him, they’re having an actual service for him in about a month, and I’m hoping I’m up and going by then so I can go.”

  "I'm bound and determined to get up and going myself...then I'll go with you, ok?

  I lean over and hug her, "I'm so happy you’re ok, Kris.” I whisper and notice tears coming down.

  She squeezes me tightly and I feel her own tears on me, "I'm so sorry, Kate. I don't remember the accident, but Scott told me I was driving..."

  "Stop, this wasn't your fault. It doesn't matter who was driving our car, Alexia did all this."

  She nods and wipes her eyes and looks over at Scott, "You really still love me even after seeing me all...yuck?” She asks him with an eyebrow raised.

  "Baby, I love you more than ever,” he walks over and kisses her forehead. "But you’re not allowed to ever scare me like that ever again, promise?"

  Krista grins and kisses him, "Promise. Now Mr. Movie Star, think you might have some of your make-up friends come visit me? I want to be back to being all pretty and lip-glossed up."

  He laughs and shakes his head, "I'll see what I can do, but for what it’s worth, I think you’re just as pretty minus the lip gloss."

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah....you do act for a living, you could be lying through your teeth right now,” she scolds him. "But I would greatly appreciate some of those hair and make-up people."

  I laugh, "You’re still the same old you, Krista."

  "Of course, who else would I be?"

  I laugh and hug her again, "God I missed you."

  "I've missed you to, from now on; we let the bodyguards do the driving, k?"

  "Agreed,” I tell her and pull back smiling. "Have the doctors said how long you'll have to stay?"

  "Uh, if I'm doing good, which I am by the way...then maybe by the end of the week, what about you?"

  "I'll probably get to leave soon because it’s just my legs that are the issue. But I was thinking, has Scott told you about my school situation?"

  She nods and frowns, "Yes. What the hell am I supposed to do without you there?!"

  "Well, if Scott's ok with it, I was thinking maybe you could come home with me. Liam says we have a house there, and the guys are going to be in L.A doing interviews and stuff for the movie...want to come keep me company?"

  She gets a big grin on her face and looks at Scott, "Honey, I'm not even asking for permission...I'm going!"

  "Well I'm glad you want to... it makes it lots easier security wise. I was worried I'd have to argue with you about not taking you to L.A."

  She shakes her head, "Nah, I’ve got two of L.A’s hottest celebrities right here,” She points to him and Liam, “Why would I need to go there to see more?”

  "Besides, I promised you stories and pictures of a certain someone.” I say with a mischievous smile.

  She gets a happy glint in her eyes and sneaks a look at Liam and starts giggling.

  "Whoa, wait...what stories and pictures?” Liam asks with his arms crossed.

  "Oh, just my own personal stash of the "Before he was a star" variety,"

  He groans and covers his face, "Oh God."

  "Oh man! Can I get in on this stash?” Scott asks with a big grin.

  Liam yells, "No!” just as Krista and I yell “Yes!” and we all break into a laughing fit, and it really feels good to laugh again.