My Second Love

Chapter 3: Why?

I slowly open my eyes and see a completely white room with a desk and some blue cabinets to my right. I am on a bed? I must have fainted. This is the nurse’s office. I start to sit up when I hear the wooden door to my left open. It’s Mrs. Hovell, the school nurse. She looks over and sees that I’m awake. “Hey! Hey! Hey! You need to stay lying down. You have to rest and drink some water” No. What I need is to go find that scent again. “I’m fine now.”

Suddenly there is a knock at the door. “That must be your knight in shining armor.” “My what?” “This boy brought you in freaking out after you fainted and has been checking in on you after every class.” “How long have I been out?!?!” “Only 2 hours. If you weren’t waking up after another hour I was going to have him take you to the hospital or call 911.” “Thanks for not doing that.” “Oh. I should probably open the door.” She walks away from me and towards the door. She puts her left hand on the handle and her right on the door to open it slowly and quietly. “Hello Mrs. Hovell. How is she?” “She actually just woke up.” “Really?” He seemed excited and relieved. She steps aside and I hear some shoes walking into the room. Suddenly that strong scent comes back, but my eyes are still trying to adjust to the bright lights shining off the white walls.

He finally comes into view. A 6’2 fit male with curly dark brown hair and some striking emerald eyes that balance well with his dark tan skin. It was Aero Whitlock. The scent came from him. It smelled pine trees and fresh rain. It was such a nice smell. He stared at me and I at him. We held eye contact for about 20 seconds and the nurse could tell how awkward it was. “I’ll give you two a minute” she stepped out of the room. I don’t know whether I thought that was a good or bad idea.

We sat in silence for a while. Neither of us knew what to say. We knew we were supposed to be excited to find our mate, but we weren’t prepared for each other. Finally he breaks the silence. “You’re Gracie, right?” I just nodded my head. I am not a timid person but I knew something wasn’t right. “Aero Whitlock, right?” “Uh...that would be me.” It went silent again. “Are we gonna talk about the obvious or just stay in silence?” he asked in a playful tone. “We should probably talk about it.” “So...you’re my…” “...mate. I am your mate and you are mine apparently.” “Yea…” “You are still with Tiffany Bergum, right?” “Yea. That would be true.” He looked discouraged.

We sat in silence for a couple minutes. Then out of nowhere, Aero said the words I hoped to never hear in my entire life. “I, Aero Whitlock, reject you, Gracelynn Jacobson, as my mate.” I could hear the lump in his throat and could see the pain in his eyes as he said it. “I’m sorry. It’s what’s best for both of us.” A sharp pain went through my heart. It was an excruciating pain I had never experienced before and never wish to experience again. I quickly stood up. I was dizzy and in a lot of pain, but didn’t want to let him see me as weak or get some sick satisfaction with my pain. I walk out of the nurses office to the front desk where she is. As normal as I can, I inform her I will be going home for rest and sign myself out. I get outside and realize I didn’t drive myself here. I will have to walk. I get to the corner of the parking lot and clutch my chest screaming. It hurt so much.