A rustle behind them made them turn, and Kayla gasped as a huge man jumped out of the bushes, holding an evilly long knife, at least three feet. He lifted the blade and Kayla's scream grew louder. A flash of silver, and Jett was screaming her name as blood drenched her, drowning her, suffocatingly heavy...
"KAYLA!"
"Jett!!" she yelled. "Help me!" It was choking her, surely she was going to die now, there was no air...
"Jett.... help..." Kayla's eyes were closed, and the heart monitor showed her elevated pulse. "Jett... no, leave him alone!"
"Kay, wake up." Jett was standing over the sleeping girl, shaking her gently. "You're dreaming, Kayla."
"Aaahh!" She sat straight up, gasping from the pain in her side where the stab wound was. Jett was beside her, whole and perfect, not hurt like in her dream.
"Oh, God," she gasped. "Oh, good God." She reached for Jett. "I was dreaming."
Jett held her closer to him. "I know." He brushed the hair from her face. "Lay down again. It's just a dream." She was really shaking, and he could relate.
"Relax," he said, trying to keep his own voice steady. "It's not good for the stitches. You'll hurt yourself."
She lay back down. "I hate this."
"What?"
"I'm stuck here in this goddamn bed and I can't get up!" Kayla's voice rose a little. "Jett, this is driving me crazy! I'm... I'm really scared."
He took her hand. "I know." He sighed.
A nurse walked into the room, holding a blood pressure monitor and a tray of what Jett assumed was breakfast. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was only eight-thirty. How had convinced his dad to leave that early, he didn't remember. The nurse helped Kayla sit up, and took her blood pressure.
"Good, sweetie. You're doing just fine. You should be walking again soon." Kayla's eyes lit up. She gave the nurse a small smile.
The nurse left the room, smiling at the two teenagers. The love was obvious, and for a moment she wondered if maybe they were older than they looked. A second thought made her shake her head, smiling. How wonderful to find your soul mate so young.
"So," Jett said. "How have you been?"
"Jett, it's only been five hours since you were here," Kayla said. "Nothing's changed."
Jett grinned sheepishly.
"I read your letter," Kayla said softly.
Jett's smile started to drop. "Oh," He looked down at his hands. "Look, if I scared you or anything, I'm really sorry. I mean--"
"Jett." Kayla cut him off. "I feel the same way."
His smile grew again. "You... you do?"
"How could I forget when we danced outside of JB's store? Or the junior prom?" She looked up at him. "All I can say is, you better be there for the senior prom."
Jett grinned. "Count on it, Kay." He twined his fingers in hers. "So like you were saying?"
"That letter is what I've been waiting for for the longest time," she went on. "I mean... what happened when you thought you were going to quit Silverstone was my wake-up call. That you do feel that way about me and I better act before I lose you."
He cocked his head and grinned. "You wouldn't lose me, Kayla. Not in a million years. Now what's this about the nurse saying you'd walk again soon?"
"Oh." Kayla shifted to face him. "I should be able to get out of bed and walk around today."
Jett smiled. "Why wait?" He pulled the railing down on the side of the bed and helped her sit up. She drew in a soft breath at the twinge in her side from the stitches. She slid off the bed onto her feet.
"What?" she said, noticing Jett surveying her appearance.
"You're wearing two hospital gowns?"
"Duh. Think, Jackson. They don't close all the way. So I wear one one way, and put the other one on backwards."
Jett started to laugh. Kayla pulled the IV pole behind her and walked out of the room.
Jett caught up with her and kept pace with her slow walk. They made their way down the hall. As they walked, Jett's hand found its way into Kayla's, and they simply walked, enjoying each other and what was developing between them.