Massie sighed and sat down on a chair. She had been dancing her butt off all night, while Derrington had been drinking beer after beer. Something was gonig to happen. Good or bad? She had no idea. She saw Claire dancing with Cam, but always looking up at someone in Derrington's direction. Massie glutched her champagne glass so hard it was almost going to break. I wonder if Claire knowns how drunk Derrington is right now. Heh. Maybe she'll be turned off. She needs to be. Then, Massie got an idea. She ran to Claire and Cam, holding onto to her glass, and pretend to be super drunk.

"I love this party," slurred Massie, and her legs gave way, causing Cam and Claire to quickly grab hold of her.

"Maybe you should go home," Claire said thoughtfully. That way, I can be with Derrington too. Not that I don't care about Massie, it's just...

"No way! The party's just begun." Just then, Massie groaned and droppd her glass, it shattering into a million pieces on the floor. "Maybe you're right," she said, and grabbed Cam's hand accidently on purpose.

"Cam, can you take me home? Derrington's way too busy," she said, holding on to his shoulders. Cam nodded and turned to Claire, "Is that ok?"

Claire couldn't believe her luck. She couldn't say fast enough, "Of course. Massie, get some rest. Hope you feel better tomorrow." And the instant they were gone, Claire ran to Derrington, who was drinking a whole cup of beer while other guys chanted, "Cnug chug chug chug chug!" They all erupted into cheers when he finished the whole thing. "That's ten in a row, Harrington!" said one of them, handing him another one. "Can you beat O'Neil's record of 15?"

"Bring it on," said Derrington, and reached for the cup. Claire quickly interjected and pushed the cup away, and back to the person who had handed it to him. "Um, Derrick, I think you've had enough."

"Aw come on, Clllllaire," he said, smiling foolishly at her. "Stop being so uptight and have some fun!"

"I did, now fun's over," she said, feeling like "Orlando" Claire all over again.

"Duude, you better listen to your girlfriend," said one of the guys. Claire quickly elbowed Derrington in the back.

"She's not my girlfriend," Derrington said.

"Hey! Why don't you do tequila shots?" the guy suggested, ignoring Derrington's statement.

"What are those?" asked Claire. All the guys burst out laughing and Claire and even Derrington blushed.

"It's when you lie down, and put salt on your legs or your stomach, and the guy has to lick it off. Plus you can put a slice of lime in your mouth and he has to get it with his mouth," one of them explained. Claire desperately wanted to, but there were too many people who knew the Pretty Commitee here, and it was just way too risky.

"Let's just get out of here, Derrick," said Claire, and pulled him away and out the door.

"Come on, Claire!" he groaned, looking at her.

"You're way too drunk, so I'll drive and take you home," Claire reached for her car keys, and led Derrick to her Mom's hand-me-down Toyota. "Now what kind of a guy would I be if I let my girlfriend drive and take me home?" he said, and sat down in the driver's seat.

"You're way too drunk to drive," Claire stood her ground.

"Get in or else I'm leaving without you," he said, putting the keys into the ignition. Claire just stared hard at him.

"See ya, wouldn't want to be ya, Claire," Derrington said, and fired the car's engine, driving away. He was serious? Claire thought, and started to run after him. "Derrick! I'm gonna kill you! Come back!" But he kept on driving.

Just then, another car came around the corner of the intersection, heading towards Derrington. Claire's eyes widened. She watched, frozen, as Derrington didn't speed down or switch lanes, instead, he ran full on at the car, who honked crazily.

"DERRICK! NOOOOOOOO!" Claire screamed, covering her eyes. She couldn't watch.

BEEP BEEP BEEP! SCCCCRREEEEEEEECCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOOOM!!!!!!!!

It seemed like Claire was rooted to the spot. She felt herself dialing 911 on her cell phone as fast as she could. She felt her heart catch in her throat when the paramedics arrived. She felt her tears fall down her face, never seeming to end. She felt herself getting into the ambulance with Derrington in a stretcher. She didn't look though. She couldn't. What was his future going to be like? Was he...dead? Claire shook her head crazily like a dog shaking off water. She would not let her thoughts wander there.

-

-

Claire sat numbly in a green plastic chair in the ER wing of Westchester Hopsital. She had to tell someone. Someone. Anyone. Claire flipped open her cell phone, and opened up a new text message. I'M IN THE ER. DERRINGTON WUZ IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

She quickly sent to Massie. After all, Derrington was her supposed boyfriend. Claire put her phone back, and sat back in her chair. She fidgeted restlessly in her seat. There was nothing she could do right now, excpt sit and wait.


Massie stepped out of the shower, and wrapped a fluffy white towel around her. Ahhh. That was a lot better. She still had a slight headache, but now she felt all fresh. What time was it? The digital clock on her desk read 2:17 AM. Wow, it was still early. Bedtime? I don't think so. Massie dryed her hair and was reaching for her hairdryer when her phone beeped on her bed. She opened the phone and it said: One New Text Message. Read?

Massie pressed ok and she almost dropped her phone when she read the message. Was it true?? Well, he was drunk but would his beloved Claire really let him drive in that condition? Pfffft. Some affaired girlfriend. But, since she was Derrington's public boyfriend, she had to go. But seriously, after all the things that had happened, she didn't give a damn about him.

Massie sighed and started to get dressed. In the end, she was dressed in a pink babydoll top, Seven cutoff jeans, and silver Kate Spade flipflops. (It was still summer.) She grabbed her silver Miu Miu clutch, and ran out and into the garage. She climbed into her silver Mercedes convertible and drove to the hospital. While at a stoplight, she quickly forwarded Claire's text to everyone who was close friends with them: Alicia, Dylan, Kristen, Josh, and Cam. She needed all to witness her act as a majorely worried, hurt, and concerned girlfriend. After all, she was a pro at converting her fury and rage into tears that looked like sadness.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Why haven't the doctors come yet with news? I need to know now! Claire thought, tapping her fingers on the chair's arms impatiently. She felt a gust of wind blow at her when the door to the ER opened, and there stood Massie, who looked about ready to cry. At least she cares a little. Massie headed over to Claire, her eyes wide with terror and when she spoke, dread was in her throat. "Is he..." Massie whispered, sitting down next to her.

Claire's heart thumped and she chocked out, "We don't know yet. The doctors haven't said anything." And they sat in silence, each supposedly (Massie) absorbed in their thoughts of Derrington. Claire desparately wanted to think of something else besides him, anything else. So she focused on Massie, whose face was buried in her hands. Wait a minute, why would a super drunk person be looking all fresh and clean and even in a new outfit, when she left the party an hour and a half ago? Whatever. All she could focus in on right now was the person dressed in a blue doctor's uniform headed towards them, holding a clipboard.

Claire and Massie stood up and at the same time said, "How is he?"

"Are you the people who notified us immediately?" he said.

"I am, and we're very very close to him," said Claire, watching him write something on his clipboard.

"First of all, my name is Doctor Sanders, and I'd just like to say, you brought him in just in time," said Doctor Sanders. Does that mean...he's alive? Claire felt her hopes rise. Was he alive? Meanwhile, Massie was trying her hardest not to yawn in the doctor's face. Boring!

"Derrick Harrington has two broken arms, one completely broken leg, and one slightly broken right leg. He has a broken right hip bone, rib cage, a partly fractured skull, along with many many bruises, cuts, and scars. He's alive, very barely, but he's alive," stated the doctor. Claire's legs turned to jelly and she collapsed into the chair.

Thank goodness.

"Ehmagawd, Claire! It's all thanks to you that he's alive!!!" Massie said, and hugged Claire tightly, who tensed a bit. I hope this is acting, because she sounds overjoyed, more than me. "I can't thank you enough," she said, to Claire and to Doctor Sanders.

Doctor Sanders nodded but then said solemnly, " I'm afraid he's also in a coma right now from a bit of damage to his head, and maybe even his brain. He's not brain dead, but something...could happen...and he might never awaken. Maybe, we don't know yet if the damage was very serious. So anything's possible right now. But if he does awaken anytime soon, he will still be in intense care for a while. So all we can do now is hope for the best." Dr. Sanders nodded at them and politely excused himself when a nurse walked up to him.

Massie and Claire were silent, each absorbed in their own thoughts.

Hmmm...Derrick Harrington might be dead...Massie tapped a long, slender finger against her chin. I personally think the world, or at least, my world, will be a whole better place without that player/ cheater. But, since I am his public girlfriend, that would mean I would have to pretend to be sad and cry and all that bullcrap. No thanks! Unless, I reveal to the world about him and Claire Lyons, the girl everyone thinks is sweet and adorable. I think...maybe it's tiime to lie in the weeds again.

-

-

Oh. My. Gawd. Claire was thinking. Derrick is in a...COMA? And he could...NEVER AWAKEN? Nononononononononononono. Not possibile. He will awaken. He will. He has too! Or else...what would happen to me? To everyone? To our lives?


A/N- Hmmm...should he live? or die? livedielivedielivedielivedielivedie????? Please tell me in a review or a PM.

I would just like to thank all my reviewers: puppyloveallways, lemonkiwi, littleitalygrl2, Channychans, weizgangster, whistle.for.the.choir, and horribleliar. You guys rock! All your reviews made me jump for joy! And please visit my page and read the special news bulletin. Very very important! And maybe answer the poll too?

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