Stephanie looked at the television again, and shuddered at the picture that was on the screen. She then saw the phone laying beside the bed on the floor. Stephanie regained her composure and picked up the phone again. She heard Nick and AJ talking.
"Yeah I really do like her Bone." Nick told AJ sighing. Stephanie didn’t mean to listen, but she just couldn’t help herself.
"Well, I know she likes you too, she’s just really confused right now. She’s gone through a lot, just give her some time." AJ told Nick. Stephanie told herself to put the phone down, but she just couldn’t.
"I dunno," Nick started. Stephanie couldn’t take anymore, she didn’t want to hear what he had to say.
"Nick, I’ll call you later. They might be trying to get a hold of me." Stephanie said holding back tears. Why does my life have to be so messed up? She thought sadly. Stephanie gently set the phone down. She knew the phone call she was expecting would come soon. Too soon for her.
Brian sat in his hospital bed just thinking about Stephanie and what Nick had told him. He held the teddy bear, Stephanie had given him just the day before. He knew he loved Stephanie. He just didn’t have the courage to tell her. Brian couldn’t hold out any longer. He had to call Steph and see why AJ was there. He reached over and picked up the phone and dialed Stephanie’s number.
"Hello?" Stephanie answered, her voice dripping with fear and sadness. Brian could tell something was wrong.
"Steph, sweetie, what’s wrong?" Brian asked. He heard Stephanie sniffle, and he could tell she was holding back tears.
"Nothing. Well there is, but B, I can’t tell you right now. I’m expecting a very important call." Stephanie said, and hung up on Brian. Brian just sat and listened to the dial tone. What was her problem? Brian asked himself. Just yesterday, she was saying we would be friends forever. Brian leaned back as a tear rolled down his cheek.
AJ listened to Brian and Stephanie’s conversation. He hung up after Stephanie did and raced up the stairs.
"Steph! Girl!" he shouted from the top of the stairs.
"In here!" Stephanie responded. AJ ran into the room where he saw her sitting on the bed. He went and sat beside her. Stephanie told AJ everything she had seen on the news. He looked at her, tears forming in his own eyes. Just then the phone rang.
"AJ" she whispered, "I can’t answer the phone."
AJ nodded and answered the phone.
"May I please speak to Stephanie Hall?" someone asked on the other end asked. AJ knew Stephanie couldn’t talk to them. She wouldn’t be able to keep herself together.
"She can’t come to the phone." AJ lied. "Can I talk a message?"
"We are only permitted to give the message to an immediate member of the Hall residence."
"I’m her brother." AJ lied again. Stephanie looked at AJ, a smile spread across her face. AJ just shurgged and smiled.
"I was not informed there was a brother."
"Well I’m her brother. Now can you leave a message or not?" AJ said his voice raising. Stephanie thought she was going to go crazy. Couldn’t they just give AJ the message? She listened to AJ breath. She grabbed his hand, as they gave him the message. AJ hung up and turned to Stephanie.
"Steph, girl," AJ sighed. "Nick was right. It was your parents car that was in accident. They both died."
