The Two of Us

Chapter 14 - The Truth Hurts

"Do it, I dare you. Murderer." 

That was when Khalid had lost it. He'd dropped the gun, punched Reed in the face a few times before the other guys pulled him off. Reed spit, stood up and fixed his shirt and looked down at Khalid. 

"I knew you couldn't do it. Not after last time, huh?"

Khalid roared at him, eager rip his face off for unearthing the memories he'd tried so hard to bury. He shouldn't have come here, shouldn't have scoured around for the sick man who stood there with his knowing smile. He knew too much for his own good.

"Its funny how you think it was me, though. You know Im not a killer, Khalid. I leave the dirty work for the others.You should know that better than anyone, actually."

Of course, Khalid had thought as it dawned on him. Just like what he did with me.

And that was when Reed leaned down and whispered a name and Khalid couldn't breathe anymore because Reed nodded at the boys behind him and the next thing Khalid knew, there was a piercing pain in his back and everything went dark.

It was a miracle that he'd been found. Usually they left their victims to bleed to death.

"Who found me?" He rasped. 

Sabrina stared at his and gave him a puzzled frown. "What do you mean?"

"After I was stabbed, I passed out. Who found me?"

Sabrina's eyes widened. "I didn't even think of that! Oh my Allah, what if they hadn't...uh...I'll go find out."

She stumbled out the room, blinking in bewilderment. He couldn't blame her. He thought about her unfinished question. What if I hadn't been found? What would have happened? Would Sabrina cry over him? Would his father care? His thoughts were diverted as the name that Reed whispered into his ear, surfaced in his mind. He gritted his teeth, a flash of white, hot anger making his head hurt. He should have known.

Sabrina came back, more bewildered than before. "No one seems to know. It was an anonymous call. Apparently the guy who found you called the Police, gave them a few details and a location but didn't stick around when they arrived."

Khalid let out a short breath. "Oh."

Sabrina lingered by his bedside looking out of place. He realized that he was alone in a room with her.

"Where are my parents?" He asked. "And yours?"

"They went to get coffee. I didn't want to come." Sabrina explained. She sent him a nervous glance.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Sabrina scoffed. "Oh nothing. My fiance has been stabbed by a bunch of crazy gang members. Nothing at all."

Khalid winced at her sarcastic tone. He figured if he was in her position, he'd be pretty pissed off too. He wondered what her parents were thinking. He wasn't sure if they knew about his gang history...

"Do your parents...know?"

"About you and your past...activities? No." Sabrina answered without emotion.

She looked away quickly and he saw that it hurt her to have to keep his secrets, though. He grimaced as he realized that it was unfair for her. That she should keep things from her parents for his sake.

"You can tell them." He offered.

Sabrina shook her head slowly. "They'll never let me marry you."

"Oh." He said, and noticed she was looking at him oddly again.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"Khalid." She began, in a broken voice. "You're not telling me something."

His face closed. "What do you mean?"

"You look like you've found out something and its killing you. Well its killing me too. Tell me."

Khalid licked his lips, contemplating whether or not he should. She watched him think and stepped closer, her eyes serious. 

"I know you don't want to, I see you thinking of a way to lie right now. But please Khalid, You promised you would never hurt me. But you're hurting me right now by lying. I know there's more to what you've said. Please tell me what you're thinking."

She stared at him so openly that it made his head hurt. She knew he was going to lie to her and she'd probably guessed that everything he'd told her so far were also half lies. He looked away, at the bright white room. He thought it hurt him to lie to her, the girl he loved.

But the truth hurt so much more.

Khalid took a breath.

"Reed didn't shoot my mother. It was...Osama."

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Well, MOST of you guessed it was Osama so this shouldn't be much of a surprise. What I really want to know is: what do you guys think Khalid will do about this new information?

Also, HOW DARE SOMEONE STAB MY KHALID! Okay, so technically he's Sabrina's but still, awh, poor Khalid...(he's like my child let me sympathize with my baby!)

Vote, comment, give me a slice of cake? I mean what? (though a slice of cake would be welcome...I may even share will all you wonderful people ^-^)

Btw, if you dont know who Osama is, then you either a) didn't read the first book (The Best of Us) or b) forgot, in which case I am very disappointed in y'all. how dare you. Jk, its been a while so I understand. Osama is the guy who was bothering Sabrina and the girls at the mall. Does 'fly open dude' ring a bell? Seriously, he needs to keep his pants zipped up xD 

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Taib: alright or okay (Arabic)