She looks to the side, then back at me, forcing a smile from her tight lips. "I'm sorry, but no."
"Did you see him in the waiting room? His name is Jacob. He's my younger brother."
She clears her throat. "You should ask your sister. She could answer your questions."
"My sister? I don't have a sister."
"You don't?"
Shit. Is that how Brook got in here? By saying she's my sister? Only family is allowed to see me. I bet she lied and said she was my sister. Wait—did she tell me that or did I dream it? Either way, I think I just ruined any chance of seeing her today. Why the fuck did I say that? I should've kept my mouth shut.
"So who's the girl who keeps coming here?" the nurse asks.
"She's my sister," I rush to say. "I was just confused. The drugs are messing with my head."
"I'll let you rest," the nurse says before taking off.
She's going to go tell the other nurses that Brook lied and not to let her back here. Shit!
The clock on the wall says it's after seven. Brook is probably in the waiting room, thinking she's about to come in here. They'll tell her she can't, and then she'll wonder why I didn't go along with her story. She'll think I didn't want to see her when nothing could be further from the truth.
I need to talk to her. I need to find out what's going on. What happened with my dad? Did they catch him? Is he back in prison? And where the hell is Jacob? Who's taking care of him? I know Brook wouldn't let him stay at the house alone, so is she staying with him? I doubt her mom would be okay with that. Maybe he's staying with Danny. His parents don't have much room at their house but I know they'd take Jake in if Danny told them what was going on. They're good people and they've known Jake and me since we were kids.
Why didn't Brook say anything about Jake when she was here earlier? And why did the nurse act so strange when I asked about him? I just wanted to know if he'd been here but she wouldn't tell me. Why wouldn't she tell me? Why is everyone being so secretive? What are they not telling me?
Chapter Eight
Brook
"What do you mean I can't see him?" I ask as I stand at the nurses' station. I've been waiting for hours to see Dean, waiting for him to wake up, and now he has but they won't let me see him.
"Immediate family only," the nurse says.
"I AM family. I'm his sister."
The old lady nurse gives me a challenging stare, one that says she knows I'm lying.
"I saw him yesterday. And at lunch today. So why can't I see him now?"
"Immediate family only," she says in a stern tone.
Danny walks up beside me. "Are you saying she's not his sister?"
"He told us he doesn't have a sister," she says, pursing her lips. "Now please take a seat."
I sigh. "Okay, I lied, but he doesn't have any family. He just has us." I motion to Danny and me. "We're his friends and we care about him. We just want to see him, even if it's only for a few minutes."
"I'm sorry but rules are rules."
"Are you serious?" Danny says, getting angry. "That's bullshit. What difference does it make?"
"Danny, let's just go sit down." I pull on him to move.
"You let her in there before," he says. "Where's your supervisor?"
"Danny, come on," I say, yanking on his arm.
"Do I need to call security?" the nurse asks, picking up the phone.
