Chapter 7

Nick's Point-of-view

I strapped on my guitar and was ready to play. I heard Joe tell Amanda and Garbo congratulations, so I decided to say something too. Kevin also expressed congratulations to the newly married couple. We started playing 'When You Look Me In The Eyes' and I started to feel real dizzy. My fingers were barely moving from chord to chord and I felt clammy all over. I hadn't felt like this in a long time. I know I should have eaten some food tonight, but I just wasn't hungry.

I looked out in the crowd and saw all the couples dancing to the song. Then I laid my eyes on Meg. She looked amazing and I was so excited that she said yes to a date with me. She looked like she was having fun singing along to the song with the two other girls. She looked up at me and gave me one of her killer smiles. I don't know if I was just starring at her too long, but Meg started to look really blurry. I felt my arms and legs go limp, eyes rolling into the back of my head. Darkness.

Joe's Point-of-view

THUMP My head jerked right to look at Nick laying lifeless on the ground. I could hear people gasping all around, but I didn't care about them, I just wanted to get to Nick. I saw Kevin throw off his guitar and run over to Nick's side, I did the same. We both tried to wake him, but to no avail he didn't move. People had gathered all around including Kristi and Meg. Then I saw the girl that Kevin was talking to push through the crowd to help Nick. She looked like she knew what she was doing, so when she asked me to get people to move back, I did. I looked back down and she had already started compressions. That is when I became worried for my little brother.

I wasn't coherent to anything going on around me when I felt a warm hand sneak into mine. Kristi had reached over to grab my hand, but I stood there starring at my brother. I felt colder and weaker as Nick kept receiving more and more compressions. I saw Kevin kneel down by Nick and hold his hand. A small tear had trickled down Kevin's face. All I wanted to do was pray my little brother was going to be ok.

The EMT shortly arrived and Nick was placed on their strecher and put in the back of the ambulance. I saw Kevin get in the front seat and the girl got in the back with one of the Paramedics. The first words that brought me back to reality was "Follow us!" Kristi caught the keys in the air and I felt my phone go off.

To: Joe

From: Kevin

I am going to call mom and dad. Ride with Kristi to the hospital. Joe, I think this is bad. Pray that Nick will be ok! Pray. – Kevin

"Come on let's go!" Kristi said as she tugged on my arm. We walked outside and the night air squeezed into my lungs. It was hard to breathe. Meg was following behind us.

"Kristi, where is your car?" Meg asked from behind us.

"I didn't drive here, Cara did, we are taking her car" Kristi said. And before I knew it I was climbing in the passenger seat of a black SUV.

Kristi drove as fast as she could to the hospital, but to me it almost didn't feel fast enough. All I wanted to know is if Nick was going to be ok. And then I felt my phone vibrate again:

To: Joe

From: Kevin

Mom, Dad and Frankie are meeting us at the hospital. Nick has a pulse but is still unconscious. Cara and the Paramedic did 3 rounds of compressions each. It is really scary. Continue praying! See you in a minute. I love you Joe! – Kevin.

I closed my phone, sat there, and before I knew it I was crying. And I couldn't stop. The car was silent except for my tears echoing through the car. Kristi grabbed my hand and broke the noise of my tears:

"Joe? Is everything ok?" She asked as she flew around the corner on the main strip leading to the hospital.

"Ni-Nick has a pulse, but is still un-unconscious. I am so scared. I don't want him to die!" I said through my tears.

"HE IS NOT GOING TO DIE!" Meg yelled from the back seat and started crying herself.

"Meg everything is going to be ok, don't cry!" Kristi said as screeched into a parking spot. Meg jumped out of the car and ran into the emergency room. I couldn't even begin to move; I just sat there numb.

"Come on Joe, let's go in" Kristi said squeezing my hand. My tears had subsided, but I didn't want to see Nick in the hospital.

"I can't go! I can't see Nick like this!" I said a little harsh, I could feel the tears start to come on again. "He is my little brother, we are so close, I have always looked out for him, I –"

Before I could continue I felt Kristi's lips on mine. Her lips were soft and sweet, for a short kiss. She still had her hands on my face and looked me straight in the eye, "Joe, Nick is going to be fine. The doctor's are going to take good care of him. He would want to your to relax and just be there for him. So, let's go in and be there for him, ok?"

Kristi was right. I wanted to be there for my brother more than anything. So I told her I was ready to go in. We got out of the car, I grabbed Kristi's hand, and walked into the emergency room.

Kevin's Point-of-view

I knelt on the ground beside Nick and took his hand into mine. It was cold and clammy. My heart ached for my little brother. It took all my will power not to, but a small tear trickled down my face. Cara continued compression after compression. If she wouldn't have been here, I don't know how I would be reacting. She seemed so determined to help my brother, which pulled at my heart to truly let her in.

The Paramedics arrived and placed Nick in the back of the ambulance. Cara climbed in the back with one of them and threw her keys at Kristi, as I climbed in the front. I knew Joe would be ok to ride along with her, I had to stay with Nick. I decided to send Joe a text message letting him know I would call mom and dad and to follow us, but more importantly to pray for the health of Nick. The message had sent and there I was looking down at the house number on my phone weary to make the phone call.

"Helloooooo?" I heard a small voice over the phone.

"Frankie! Its Kevin!" I said.

"Kevin! Guess what I got to do tonight at the party?" Frankie said with excitement. How do you possiblity interrupt a 7 year old when he is excited about something…

"Frankie, buddy, you can tell me all about this later. This is an emergency, I need to speak to mom or dad." I said, hoping I didn't burst the kids bubble too much.

"An Emergency? Like fire truck emergency?" Frankie asked really curious.

"Yes, something like that. Frankie, I really need you to get mom or dad." I said hoping I didn't have to explain too much more to him.

"OOOooooook. Mommy, Kevin is on the phone and he says it is a fire truck emergency!" I heard Frankie scream.

"Kevin? Whats wrong?" I heard my mom ask frantically through the phone.

"Mom, its Nick! He passed out at the wedding. I am in the ambulance with him right now. Cara and the Paramedic have been doing compressions, they just got a pulse. Joe is with Kristi and Meg in the car behind us. We are –"

"Kevin! Oh my gosh! Nick! We are on our way to the hospital. Be there for your brothers. I love you!" And then I heard the phone go silent.

I looked into the back of the ambulance. Nick laid there motionless, white as the sheet he was laying on. The Paramedic was messing with one of the machines but I was happy to see that there was a pulse being detected. I looked over at Cara who looked mentally and physically drained. She was looking out the back window with one arm propped up over her head. Her hair was no longer curly but straight with hints of the possibility that it was curled before. Her makeup was a little bit smugged and smeared, but to my surprise she still had on my jacket; I never thought someone looked so beautiful in my life.

I sent Joe another text message letting him know I called the house and Mom, Dad, and Frankie were all meeting us at the hospital. And I told him the news that Nick had a pulse. I hit send and before I knew it we were at the hospital.

The paramedics got Nick out of the ambulance and wheeled him into the emergency room. I went around to the back of the ambulance and helped Cara out of the back. As soon as her feet touched the ground I wrapped my arms around her and felt like I couldn't let go. I soon felt her arms around me. It was great hugging her, but I really felt like this hug was for me and what I had just gone through. I felt a vibration and Cara stepped away from me and reached into her clutch and pulled out her phone. She typed something really quick and the phone went back in her cluth.

"Cara, I don't even know how to thank you for eve-" I began.

"Kevin, please. It's my duty to help someone in need. I only did what any other healthcare personal would have done in my situation" Cara said smiling as stray hairs around her face danced in the wind. I caught one with my hand and pushed it behind her ear. I could tell she was embarrassed my the gesture, but I didn't care.

"Come on, lets go see what the doctors say." She said grabbing my hand as we walked into the emergency room.

As soon as we walked through the doors I was blinded by the bright light. I looked over and saw Cara reaching in her clutch again. This time she answered the phone.

"Hello?" I heard her say. And then the rest of her conversation caught me off guard. "I have not been ignoring you all night. David that is the most ludicrous idea I have ever heard. Fine, if you want to know where I am at, I am at the hospital. No, I am fine. David, do not come down here."

And then I saw her hang up the phone and basically chunk the phone in her bag. She looked upset, but the question I wanted to know was, who was David?