Well, we've made it to the hospital, so now I'm okay again. The nurses and doctors were told I'm a cancer patient, so they made me quite a priority. The pain is gone, and the scar is doing ... alright, I guess. They've sorted my wound; they've stitched it back together as best as possible, and they've placed a dressing over it – which is basically a huge plaster. It's going to stop the wound from becoming infected, and from opening again – something I doubt any of us want.

Michael has been at my side throughout the entire thing. He's been amazing for me; I really wish I could find some way to repay him for everything he's done for me. The thing I'm worried more about, though, is if someone discovers Alex's body at the park. It's likely that they'll also spot the picnic – which will make the police believe that whoever was having the picnic killed him.

"Michael?" my soft voice lets out.

He's currently sitting on the bed by my side, holding me in his arms. His head is close to mine; his nose and mouth leant against the side of my own head.

His lips lightly press against my temple in comfort, before he averts his eyes to me fully, "Yeah, sweetheart? Are you hurting? Need something?" he inquires sweetly.

My head shakes slowly, "No, no ... I'm just worried about what's gonna happen with Alex's body. And the picnic; what if someone thinks we killed Alex?" I question nervously.

He furrows his eyebrows, sliding his hand down my arm until it reaches my hand, then he laces his fingers with mine, "It won't happen, and I can promise that. They won't think it's us at all. Okay?"

"But they have fingerprints and stuff, so they might think we—"

"Exactly! Fingerprints. There'll be fingerprints on the gun, too, so they'll identify them as Alex's. You have nothing to worry about, alright?" He kisses my temple once more, in reassurance.

"But won't it look a little strange, having a random picnic there next to a dead body?" I press anxiously, gripping his hand tighter.

A small, exasperated sigh comes from Michael's lips, making me feel guilty for being so jittery, "Sweetheart, listen. If it makes you feel any better, I can go down right now and take the picnic stuff away from the park, so no one will find it. How 'bout that?" he offers.

I nod my head in response, "Please ... " My head leans against his chest, as he strokes my hair gently to soothe me, "It'll put my mind at rest."

Michael nods, and I feel the movement of his head against the top of my own head as he does, "Well, I'll have to go now, then. I won't be long, though, okay?" He begins to stand himself up, carefully placing my head down on the pillow properly. "I'll be back as soon as possible," he continues, before bending down to kiss my lips, "Don't go running down too many corridors whilst I'm gone, heh?" he teases.

A small smile forms on my lips, "I doubt I would be able to anyway. My wound ruins it."

Michael then lets out a sudden burst of laughter, "That was the point of the joke, you silly little thing! Rest now, sweetheart." He pecks my forehead lovingly, grabbing his jacket, "I love you."

"I love you too," I reply, watching him exit the building. Once he's out of view, I heave a hopeless sigh, sinking lower under the blanket. "I love you ... too," I repeat in a whisper, despite him not being here to hear it.

--

Michael's POV

I'm almost back at the park now. I'm just hoping and praying that nobody has noticed that Alex is lying dead there. It's a little scary, when you think about it; a dead body – of someone we knew – is lying in a park ... typically a place of enjoyment.

Pulling up in the car park again, my eyes wander across from where I am, to see another car here too. That must mean they're in the park somewhere – about to discover Alex!

After cursing under my breath, with a word I'll choose not to repeat, I quickly get myself out the car. But then, I realise that in order to appear as normal as possible, I should just take it slow and steady; then it'll look like I'm just a passer-by, and whoever else is here won't acknowledge me, with some luck.

My lips create an "O" shape, as I start to whistle a nameless tune to myself, beginning to walk towards the area Becky and I just came from. Upon entering the park, I instantly spot the person from the other car – but I can't tell if it's anyone I know. Hopefully they're just a normal person. If I do this right, they won't see me. Gosh, I feel like I'm on a secret mission.

Quick work is made of getting to the picnic area, and once I get there, I notice the picnic – and Alex – still there. Unfortunately, there are also police officers there, and the entire area is closed off. It's time to put my acting skills to the test.

"Woah, what's happened here?" I question in surprise, rushing over to the closed-off area, my hands running through my curls in frustration, "Officer, what's happened!"

A police officer turns around to see me, immediately placing his hands up to move me backwards. I oblige with no hesitation, not wanting to cause any confrontation with a member of the police force.

"You know anything about this?" he then asks me.

My eyes furrow deeply, as I look on to the crime scene, "The body? No idea. I mean, I recognise the person, but I dunno how they got there. But that's my picnic there. Mine and my fiancée's picnic, officer."

He gives me an interrogative glance, "Why do you know about the picnic, but not the body?" he asks slyly.

"You see, sir, my fiancée and I were enjoying this picnic, but then, she got really sick. She's a cancer patient, sir, and there was no time to lose. I had to get her to the hospital, and I completely forgot about the picnic. But here I am now, to collect it. This body must've got here whilst we were gone!" I explain, trying my best to sound convincing. After all, most of it is the truth – but not all of it.

The officer glances over at the crime scene, "Well, we're investigating the incident right now. There's a gun by his hand that suggests he killed himself, but until we've done a fingerprint test, we won't know for sure. We're testing the body itself first, then if his fingerprints don't match the ones on the gun, we'll have to test yours and your fiancée's, if that's convenient."

A slight feeling of nervousness fills my stomach, despite me being completely innocent, "Of course sir ... that's entirely convenient. Except, my fiancée is in hospital, trying to recover, so—"

"Oh, that's fine," he smiles, yet with a high level of coldness behind his gaze, "We find a way around everything."

I nod my head a little, at a slow speed, "Y-Yes, I didn't doubt that for a second."

"So ... if you could just provide us with contact details, that would be great," he demands, holding out a pen and notebook suddenly, "Your number, and your fiancée's, if you will."

After writing my number and Becky's, I hand the notebook and pen back over to the officer, before my eyes avert back to Alex and the picnic. It's still a shock to me that he's dead; I thought he would be the kind of guy that outlived all of us cos he's so reckless and ... crazy. But no – he's gone. I'm sure that when Lisa finds out, she'll be shocked too.

That's a point, actually. Some of Alex's last words were about telling Lisa he loves her. And someone will also have to tell her that her boyfriend is now dead. Meaning ... it'll have to be my job, won't it? Terrific. That's just what I needed right now.

--

It's been about an hour since I spoke with the police now, yet I'm still standing in the field, watching the police investigate. Why am I bothering to wait here? It's beyond me. I told Becky I would be back as soon as possible, so I hope she's okay without me being there.

Then, all of a sudden I hear a shout, "Michael!"

I recognise that voice from anywhere. I knew it was only a matter of time before I would see her. A sigh passes my lips as I turn around to see her, "Lisa, what are you doing here?"

She catches up to me, obviously not noticing what's happening behind me. Well, it isn't easy; there's police cars blocking her view of Alex. She has a surprisingly happy facial expression, "Well, about two hours ago, Alex rang me to say he was going to the park. I assumed he was going to the local one, so I was like "Okay, that's cool". But then about forty-five minutes ago, I found something out that I need to tell him, so I had to come and find him. He wasn't at the local park, so I've had to come to this one to make sure he's here. Have you seen him, Michael?"

I'm not going to be horrible towards her; in a couple minutes her world will be torn apart. I'm going to be nice to her.

"Well ... me and Becky were just here having a picnic, about two hours ago. Uhm ... and Alex came and ... the police are here now and ... "

My words aren't forming a complete sentence; I'm a little shaken up after all that's happened today. Lisa is giving me a really confused look, which has a hint of worry and concern mingling with it.

"I can see the police," she tells me, "But what's that got to do with anything? Michael, where's Alex? And where's Becky gone? I could've sworn you said she was here with you."

"Lisa ... Becky has terminal cancer ... she had to go to the hospital; she's there right now," I inform her, my voice taking on a saddened tone.

She gives me a genuine look of sympathy, rubbing my arm comfortingly, "Michael ... I'm so sorry. I didn't know at all."

I shake my head, brushing the subject off, "It's not your fault. Anyway ... I need to tell you about Alex." A nervous breath escapes my mouth, because I'm bracing myself, "Lisa, listen. Alex ... he's just passed away about an hour or two ago. That's why the police are here right now."

Her look of sympathy for me soon changes to a shocked, yet forlorn expression, "Alex is dead?" she questions, in clarification. She looks so overwhelmed right now, "He's gone?"

Full of guilt, for a reason unknown to me, I nod my head, "Yeah. H-He shot himself because he felt so guilty for what he's done to me and Becky. I'm really sorry, Lisa. Really, I am."

She doesn't even speak; instead, she bursts out into tears, falling hopelessly into my arms. It makes me feel a little awkward, but then I realise that her feelings are more important than mine right now, so I rub her back to calm her down, "Lisa ... his last words were that he loves you," I tell her, despite it being untrue. He did say that, but they weren't his final words.

"Why would he do that?" she cries against my chest, "Why would he leave me alone like that!" Her cries get louder, but they remain muffled against my clothing, "Michael! Oh my God! Where is he? I want to say goodbye to him, Michael!"

"Listen, Lisa ... he's behind those police cars. But in all honesty, if you want to save yourself from becoming mentally scarred, I suggest that you don't go back there," I answer sincerely.

Just then, an officer walks our way, "Mr Jackson, who is this?" he asks me sternly.

"Officer sir, this woman is uh ... the girlfriend of the ... the guy you're investigating the death of," I answer. For some reason, I can barely stitch a sentence together right now. I'm having to think really hard on how to word things.

Lisa looks up at the officer, "Officer, I wanna see Alex!" she protests tearfully, "Please let me see him!"

The officer shakes his head, "We're currently investigating the scene of the crime. You can see him once everything has been cleared up."

"How long will that be?" Lisa presses, anger becoming clear in her voice.

"It could be another hour or two." The officer then walks away, to help with the investigation, leaving me and Lisa alone.

Obviously distraught, Lisa then falls to her knees in grief, before burying her head into her hands, "I had something to tell him so badly, and now he can't even find out what it was!" she sobs.

"What was it? If you don't mind me asking." I bend down to her level, opposite her, "What did you wanna tell him?"

Through her tears, she places her hand into her pocket, fumbling around to find something. Moments later, she brings it out and tosses it in my direction. It takes a quick reaction speed to catch it, but it just about manages to fall into my hands.

And, oh ...

It's a positive pregnancy test.

Eh. So this was ... interesting. Anyhow, only seven chapters remaining now! Gosh ... :(
I hope you enjoyed this chapter anyway. :)