Epilogue
Marissa opened her eyes and looked around her. She was lying on a bed, and Shawn was
standing beside her.
“Hey, Riss, you okay?” he asked.
Oh no! Marissa’s mind screamed. I shouldn’t be here. I’m supposed to be dead! How could I have failed?!
Marissa struggled to sit up. “What happened?” she asked.
“You passed out. Too
much to drink, I guess. Luke and I
carried you in here,” Shawn replied.
“Huh?” Marissa
looked around and suddenly realized she wasn’t in a hospital room. It was a bedroom. A familiar looking bedroom.
And then it hit her.
“Wait, did you just say Luke?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Shawn replied, looking confused. “Why?”
It was a dream! Marissa thought. Just a horrible nightmare! None of it was real. I’m back at the party, and everyone’s alive.
“Never mind,” she said shakily. She leapt off the bed and threw her arms
around Shawn. “God, Shawn, I love you so
much!” she cried, hugging him tightly.
“I love you too, babe,” Shawn replied, looking down at her
strangely. “You ready to go home now?”
Marissa’s heart began to pound rapidly. “Yeah,” she said slowly, looking up at
him. “You’re not driving, are you?”
“Of course I am,” he said.
“No, you’re not,” she said firmly. “I’m calling my parents to come get us.”
“What?!” Shawn cried.
“They’ll kill you! And what about
my car?!”
“You can get it in the morning,” Marissa replied
sensibly. “Your life is more important
than your car.”
“But-“
“No buts, Shawn. I’m
calling my parents right now. Where’s
the phone?”
Shawn sighed.
“Fine,” he muttered, leading her out of the bedroom and to the nearest
phone.
“Where’s Kaelyn and Luke?” Marissa asked as she dialed.
“They’re waiting by the front door,” Shawn replied.
“Okay. Go get them
and tell them that my parents will be here soon. Don’t let them leave with anyone else. Got that?”
“Okay,” Shawn said grudgingly, heading off towards the
front door. Marissa noticed that he was
weaving from side to side when he walked.
Suddenly, someone on the other line picked up, startling
her. “Hello?” came her mother’s groggy
voice.
“Hi, Mom. It’s me,
Marissa,” Marissa said. “Mom, can you
come pick us up?”
“Have you been drinking?” was her mother’s first question.
“Yes,” Marissa replied honestly. “None of us are sober enough to drive.”
“Okay, honey. I’ll
be there in five minutes,” Joyce said.
“Okay. Thanks, Mom,”
Marissa replied, sagging with relief.
“Goodbye,” said Joyce, and the line clicked off.
Marissa hung up and walked to the front door, where Shawn
waited with Kaelyn and Luke. She smiled;
her joy at seeing her two other friends alive and happy was indescribable.
“My mom will be here in a few minutes.”
They nodded.
As the four of them stood there, waiting, Marissa heard a
Backstreet Boys song start playing on the stereo. She smiled to herself, knowing that Nick was
all right. His life would go on, and so
would his group.
Marissa felt relief surge through her. She felt as if she’d been given another
chance. And this time, she’d made the
right decision.
The End
