Chapter 16:
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I woke up screaming.
"NO!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
"Shhhh" Josh said calming me down "It was just a dream"
I glanced around he was right it had been a dream. I breathed a sigh of relief. Man I feel stupid, but that was the worst nightmare I've ever had.
---Mary-Kate---
I felt like I was underwater, Gazing at the surface but no matter how much I swam I couldn't get to it. I heard voices around me occasionally. I think I heard Ashley and later Michael.
What happened?
Where am I?
Why can't I wake up?
What's going on?
I felt soo helpless!
---Ashley---
"Come on Ashley" Josh said to me "You need to get some fresh air" He took my hand and pulled me up out of the chair. I relucantly followed him outside.
It was strange. Everything looked the same. Smelt the same. Felt the same. Life was going on like it always did. But nothing about this day was normal.
"Where do you wanna go?" Josh asked.
"Somewhere calm" I said stretching. My muscles ached from having sat down on those uncomfortable waiting room chairs for so long. Josh nodded his head and thought for a minute.
"This way" he said and we started walking.
---Josh---
I took Ashley to a bench by a beautiful fountain. I'd discovered the place earlier that day. I went there after kissing Ashley and her running away. Something, I'd decided not to mention.
Ashley seemed to like the place and soon relaxed (a little).
It was quite a relief. She'd really scared me when she woke up screaming. I wasn't the only one either. A nurse who'd been walking past with a pile of papers screeched and threw them all into the air. It was raining paper!
---Micheal---
I woke up wondering where I was then I saw Mary-Kate lying there and it hit me. I was in the hospital with Mary-Kate. I must have dozed off, I kissed here forehead and walked out of the room. Then took a seat in the waiting room again.
Waiting, and Waiting, and Waiting!
---Ashley---
Just as Josh and I were arriving back at the hospital my cellphone rang.
"Hello?" I stifled a yawn as I answered, unfortunately Josh noticed.
"Hi Ashley, anything new?" My mother asked me.
"No, shes still in a coma when are you coming here?"
"Well I'm at the airport but I wont be able to come till tommorow the plane was delayed"
"Aw mom thats terrible" I felt like crying.
"Hey honey i have to go love you!!! Call me if anything happens!"
"Love you" I said as i hung up
How was my mother being so calm?I was totally freaking and she was as cool as a cucumber.
"Come on Ash." Josh said to me "I'll take you home. you need to get some rest" Darn Yawn!
"No I want to stay here!" I said firmly.
"Ash it's 1am!" He said incredulously.
"Michael gets to stay!" I sounded like a little kid and I'm sure he was working to hold back laughter.
"I'll come back for him after you"
---Josh---
She eventually conceded.
I took her to the dorm by the time we got to her room she was asleep in my arms I took her in and laid her on her bed, kissed her forehead (I know thats a weird thing to do... don't know why I did it!) and left to go get Micheal.
---Michael---
"NO! I don't want to leave her!" I insisted stubbornly.
"Come on man, You're no help to her when you're asleep on your feet. If anything happens the hospital will call us. Meanwhile you can get at least a few hours sleep!"
"Well I guess" I finally conceded.
---Josh---
By the time I got Michael home and collapsed into my bed I was totally beat. I think I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Only to be awakened a few minutes later by the phone.
"Hello?" I asked groggily.
"Josh?" A shaking voice answered "It's Ashley. Can you come over. Nikola isn't here and I'm freaking."
"Ashley it's 3am" I said as I rubbed my eyes.
"I k-know I just need reassuring that Mary-Kate's gonna be ok." She sounded so small and alone...
I sighed "I'll be right there"
I grabbed a pillow since by the looks of it I'd spend the night on a couch, so she wouldn't feel so alone. yippee! (Hope you caught the sarcasm there)
I got to her dorm and we just sat on the sofa. Me stroking her hair and telling her it was all gonna be ok. Like in that Shawn Mullins song, Lullaby...
And just before
She hangs her head to cry
I sing to her a lullaby, I sing
Everything's gonna be all right
Eventually she fell asleep. I carried her to her room then walked back to the sofa. Man, it looked uncomfortable. *Sigh*. The things I do for girls.
Chapter 17:
I was (cruely) awoken the next day by the phone ringing. Not wanting it to wake Ashley I raced towards it as fast as I could. I only fell over once and stubbed my toe (hey I was tired)
"Hello?" I asked grumpily.
"Hello?" The person on the other end of the line sounded surprised to hear me. "I must have the wrong number. I was calling Ashley"
"No! You've got the right number. Just..." I proceeded to explain about Mary-Kate.
"Oh man! That's terrible" The guy said "Tell Ashley it's David called and that I'm praying for Mary-Kate" WHO?!?
"Will do"
We hung up. I looked around and decided to start cooking breakfast. But hard as I tried, I couldn't stop wondering who the guy was and why he was calling Ashley.
---
"OW!" I stuck my burnt finger in my mouth as my eyes began to water.
"What are you doing?" Ashley asked walking into the room.
---Ashley---
"Making breakfast" he answered.
I surveyed the messy kitchen. Ok, cooking is definitely not one of his strong points!
"Ok new question" I started "What are you cooking?"
I picked up what seemed to be pancakes then dropped it on a plate and dusted off my hands. He smiled at me and I smiled back. I grabbed a potholder and told him to move over. He sat there watching me as I cooked.
"Ashley this is amazing" He told me when I finished.
I laughed "Its just eggs"
He smiled
"Have you heard anything about mk?" I said getting worried again
"No, we'll go to the hospital after breakfast ok?" He told me.
I turned back to the stove and when I turned around I bumped into Josh. All of a sudden he threw his arms around me and gave a long, deep, tender kiss.
"Woah!" I said pulling back.
"What?" He asked looking hurt.
"We can't...My sisters in the hospital!..." I grasped for words "how dare you?!?!" I stomped to my room and slammed the door.
"Ashley" he pleaded from the other side.
---Josh---
After about 10 minutes my hunger got the best of me and I crept out of my room.
I saw josh asleep on the sofa and breathed a sigh of relief. I just don't get it! It's not fair! Boys make life so confusing!
They should be outlawed!
I sat down to eat my breakfast as my mind drifted to Mary-Kate. I decided I wanted to go to the hospital, So I had to wake up Josh. I sighed and walked over to the couch
"Hey sleepy head" I said "helloooo!"
---Josh---
"Ahhh what!" I yelled as I woke up.
Ashley looked kinda like she was gonna cry "Can we go to the hospital?"she asked me in a very timid voice
I sighed and rubbed my eyes "yeah"
I decided we should go by and see if micheal wanted to come too We knocked on the door and it opened immediately.
"IS SHE OK?! DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?!?"
"She's fine as far as we know" I answered. I peered at him "Did you get ANY sleep last night?"
I saw about 6 coffee cups in the sink.
"Um yeah" Michael insisted trying to block my view.
I nodded even though I didnt believe him "Wanna go to the hospital?"
"YES!"he said running out the door. I looked at Ashley she just shrugged.
---Ashley---
We arrived at the hospital, a quick interview with the doctor told that nothing had changed but I could visit her.
"Can I go too?" Michael asked.
"Sure"
---
"Brrr... it's cold in here" Michael said shivering.
"I'll turn on the heater" I walked over to it and turned it on. And waited, and waited. "Um,... this is your cue to start working!" I informed it.
"Are you sure you turned it on?" Michael asked examining the on switch.
"OF COURSE!" I said rather grumpily. I turned back to the heater "TURN ON!!!" I said stomping my feet for extra emphasis.
There was laughter behind as then a voice said "I think you might need to plug it in... Geniuses"
We looked to the end of the cord to see that it was indeed unplugged. I slapped myself on the forehead (Gently) "duh!" I said. "hey,.. wait a minute"
Michael and I glanced at each other then spun around.
"MARY-KATE!!!" We both screamed running over to hug her.
---Josh---
There was a lot of sound coming from Mary-Kate's roomm and I had no idea what was going on. I thought of something "No way! She can't of..."
Just then Ashley came running out of the room. A smile as big as texas on her face "SHE'S AWAKE!!!" She said. She ran over to me, threw her arms around my neck... and kissed me. Long and Deep.
She pulled back looking freaked out at what she'd done "oh,...um, I better go talk to the Doctors" And she disappeared again.
No fair girls make things so confusing!
Find out what happens next in 'Year 2: A year of Change!
Find out what happens next in the sequel 'Year 2: A year of Change'