6 Days Later
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, and hours turned into days. Andie's condition still hadn't changed. She was still in a coma and not breathing on her own. Her hospital room was full of flowers but the only person actually with her was Jack. Jack sat by Andie's bed day and night, hoping and praying that she'd wake up.
Andie was in a hospital bed. Her eyes were closed and an oxygen tube was run through her nostrils. Sensors were attached to her arms and her pulse monitor beeped ominously. Jack leaned in close to Andie and brushed her hair from her face. He was dying on the inside but managed to keep hope alive. Their father had arrived a few days ago and stayed with Andie most of the time. Now he was out, keeping tabs on his work. Jack and Andie were now alone in the hospital room.
"You need to wake up Andie. Do you realize you've missed four days of school? You have a lot of make up work." stated Jack.
No response.
"Just wait until you realize how far behind you've become. I'm sure you'll have a conniption fit when you see all the make up work. You better wake up know and save yourself some grief."
No response.
"How do you like the flowers? They real pretty aren't they? I like the blue ones Grams brought. I was always partial to blue." stated Jack, rubbing his fingers against the soft blue petals.
No response.
Jack looked at Andie and a wave of sorrow came over him. He took Andie's hand and began to weep.
"Please don't leave me Andie. I can't live with you. Please come back to me." he cried, hot tears soaking the hospital bed.
Still no response.
=====/////=====
Pacey shouldered his backpack and headed to his next class. He was angry. Boy was he angry. His black eye had gone down but tinges of yellow still circled it. He hadn't spoken with Dawson or Joey in the past five days, and he felt angry and alone. Nothing had gone to plan. Pacey recalled his and Joey's last conversation as he headed to class.
"I don't know what to do, Pace. I'm just not sure we can be together." explained Joey, massaging the temple of her forehead.
"What are you saying Joey? You want to give up on what we have because Dawson throws a tissy-fit?!"
"We need to take a break Pacey. All the signs are telling me, that if we move forward we'll only make things worse."
"I can't believe this! I should have known this was going to happen. Dawson always wins!"
"Let's just give it some time. Let everything cool down and then we'll go from there." stated Joey, putting her hand on Pacey's shoulder.
Pacey pulled away from Joey and shook his head angrily.
"Take all the time you need, Joe." he said, before storming off.
Pacey scowled at the memory. It was bad enough that Andie was in critical condition but losing Joey that same week was unbearable. Anger and frustration continued to build up inside him. Pacey entered his class and slammed his book bag on the desk.
=====/////=====
"Is that weird or what?" asked Henry, taking a sip of milk.
"What do you mean?" asked Jenn as she un-wrapped her sandwich for lunch.
"Look." he replied, pointing across the cafeteria.
Jenn turned around and took in the view of the lunch room. Dawson sat alone eating his lunch. He seemed distant and angry. On the other side of the wall, Pacey sat alone eating his lunch. He too appeared to be distant and angry. Two rows from where Pacey sat, was Joey, also eating alone. It was obvious that Joey was sad. Jenn took a bite of her sandwich and nodded.
"I'd definitely say we're not in Kansas anymore Toto." she stated.
Meanwhile, Matt Caulfield entered the lunch room, butted into the lunch line, and got his food. As he left the line he scanned the room. He didn't see any of his friends but Pacey quickly caught his attention. Matt smiled devilishly and slide in across from Pace.
"Hey Witter, how's your food?" he asked.
"Go away Caulfield. I'm not in the mood."
"Easy man, I just wanted to say great job on playing hero the other day. You really surprised me."
"Thanks, I'm flattered. Now go away." replied Pacey sarcastically.
"Naw, I'm comfortable where I'm at." stated Matt, opening his milk.
Pacey swallowed a bit of his food in frustration but suddenly thought about Caulfield's Explorer. Curiosity stung at his brain.
"So how's the Explorer? Still at the bottom of the creek?"
"No, my parents had it fished out a couple of days ago."
"And let me guess, daddy's gonna buy you a new one huh?"
"What do you think?" laughed Matt, as he brought his milk to his lips.
Pacey shook his head. I can't believe this rich boy is still breathing; he needs the crap kicked out of him, he thought.
Matt continued to talk.
"It's a shame about the Explorer though. It was banged up beyond repair. Sorta like Andie, which is a real shame too. I had almost sealed the deal. She would have been one nice piece of ass."
Pacey quickly dropped his fork and reached out from over the table. He quickly grabbed Matt by the collar and jerked him close.
"If I ever hear you talk about Andie like that again, I promise I'll make you regret it!" growled Pacey, fire in his eyes.
Everyone in the lunchroom stood up and watched in interest. Joey shook her head in fear. No Pacey, don't do anything rash, she thought.
Matt pulled from Pacey's grip and glared back at him.
"Real tough Witter. Can't you see I'm shaking?" he shouted, rising from his seat.
"I'm warning you Caulfield."
"Why don't you follow Andie and go to hell." laughed Caulfield, mockingly.
Pacey's rage and temper suddenly got the best of him. He leaped over the table, tackled Matt to the ground, and proceeded to launch a flurry of punches. Matt was defenseless. Every punch landed hard. The cafeteria was in an uproar and Joey couldn't belief her eyes. Pacey continued to hit Matt, one punch after another. Caulfield tried to retaliate but Pacey was the better fighter. However, the fight was quickly broken up. Teachers pulled Pacey off Caulfield and forced him to Principal Green's office. Meanwhile, Joey felt like crying.
=====/////=====
The school day was over and Dawson and Jenn walked home together. They talked casually but their conversations didn't go very far. Dawson seemed distant and melancholy.
"So are you going to the hospital later to see Andie?" asked Jenn.
"No, I don't need to be there." replied Dawson, sternly.
"Why?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Jenn was a little taken back but quickly brushed the feeling away. The two friends continued to walk and several minutes passed. Jenn still tried to make conversation.
"Did you see the fight in the lunch room today?" she asked.
"Yeah I saw it."
"Pretty intense huh?"
"I just hope both of them get expelled."
"You don't mean that Dawson."
"Yes I do. I can't stand Pacey or Matt."
"Pacey is your best friend. You can possibly mean what you say."
"No offense Jenn, but you don't know how I'm feel. Pacey isn't my best friend and we're not having this conversation." stated Dawson, before walking away, leaving Jenn in awe.
=====/////=====
Jack and his father sat in Andie's hospital room. They were silent and watched her as she slept. The only sound came from the steady beeping of Andie's pulse monitor.
The McPhees were extremely scared. Andie was still not showing any signs of improvement and the week was almost out. Jack was beginning to think that his sister wouldn't live.
"I spoke with your mother today." informed Mr. McPhee, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Really? Did you tell her about Andie?" asked Jack.
"No. I didn't think it was a good idea. You're mother is in no condition to take in that kind of information. I'm not even sure she'd really understand."
Jack nodded in agreement. The sad fact was the Jack and Andie's mother was clinically insane. There were certain times when she appeared to be normal but any emotional distress sent her over the edge. She didn't have a strong grasp on reality and now she spent her days in an institution for the mentally challenged. Jack's father was correct on not telling her about Andie's condition.
Jack rubbed his eyes in exhaustion and turned to his sister. He hadn't slept in days but his pride wouldn't let him. He had to be there when Andie opened her eyes.
Andie was motionless and with out life. Jack prayed that she would open her eyes and smile. Tears stung at his eyes but he repressed them. Mr. McPhee stood next to Jack and patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't give up hope son. I know she'll be alright." he stated.
Suddenly, Andie's pulse monitor stopped it's steady beep..beep...beep. The monitor gave off a long eerie pitch indicating that Andie had no pulse. Jack and Mr. McPhee turned to the monitor and quickly realized that Andie was flat-lining.
To Be Continued..
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, and hours turned into days. Andie's condition still hadn't changed. She was still in a coma and not breathing on her own. Her hospital room was full of flowers but the only person actually with her was Jack. Jack sat by Andie's bed day and night, hoping and praying that she'd wake up.
Andie was in a hospital bed. Her eyes were closed and an oxygen tube was run through her nostrils. Sensors were attached to her arms and her pulse monitor beeped ominously. Jack leaned in close to Andie and brushed her hair from her face. He was dying on the inside but managed to keep hope alive. Their father had arrived a few days ago and stayed with Andie most of the time. Now he was out, keeping tabs on his work. Jack and Andie were now alone in the hospital room.
"You need to wake up Andie. Do you realize you've missed four days of school? You have a lot of make up work." stated Jack.
No response.
"Just wait until you realize how far behind you've become. I'm sure you'll have a conniption fit when you see all the make up work. You better wake up know and save yourself some grief."
No response.
"How do you like the flowers? They real pretty aren't they? I like the blue ones Grams brought. I was always partial to blue." stated Jack, rubbing his fingers against the soft blue petals.
No response.
Jack looked at Andie and a wave of sorrow came over him. He took Andie's hand and began to weep.
"Please don't leave me Andie. I can't live with you. Please come back to me." he cried, hot tears soaking the hospital bed.
Still no response.
=====/////=====
Pacey shouldered his backpack and headed to his next class. He was angry. Boy was he angry. His black eye had gone down but tinges of yellow still circled it. He hadn't spoken with Dawson or Joey in the past five days, and he felt angry and alone. Nothing had gone to plan. Pacey recalled his and Joey's last conversation as he headed to class.
"I don't know what to do, Pace. I'm just not sure we can be together." explained Joey, massaging the temple of her forehead.
"What are you saying Joey? You want to give up on what we have because Dawson throws a tissy-fit?!"
"We need to take a break Pacey. All the signs are telling me, that if we move forward we'll only make things worse."
"I can't believe this! I should have known this was going to happen. Dawson always wins!"
"Let's just give it some time. Let everything cool down and then we'll go from there." stated Joey, putting her hand on Pacey's shoulder.
Pacey pulled away from Joey and shook his head angrily.
"Take all the time you need, Joe." he said, before storming off.
Pacey scowled at the memory. It was bad enough that Andie was in critical condition but losing Joey that same week was unbearable. Anger and frustration continued to build up inside him. Pacey entered his class and slammed his book bag on the desk.
=====/////=====
"Is that weird or what?" asked Henry, taking a sip of milk.
"What do you mean?" asked Jenn as she un-wrapped her sandwich for lunch.
"Look." he replied, pointing across the cafeteria.
Jenn turned around and took in the view of the lunch room. Dawson sat alone eating his lunch. He seemed distant and angry. On the other side of the wall, Pacey sat alone eating his lunch. He too appeared to be distant and angry. Two rows from where Pacey sat, was Joey, also eating alone. It was obvious that Joey was sad. Jenn took a bite of her sandwich and nodded.
"I'd definitely say we're not in Kansas anymore Toto." she stated.
Meanwhile, Matt Caulfield entered the lunch room, butted into the lunch line, and got his food. As he left the line he scanned the room. He didn't see any of his friends but Pacey quickly caught his attention. Matt smiled devilishly and slide in across from Pace.
"Hey Witter, how's your food?" he asked.
"Go away Caulfield. I'm not in the mood."
"Easy man, I just wanted to say great job on playing hero the other day. You really surprised me."
"Thanks, I'm flattered. Now go away." replied Pacey sarcastically.
"Naw, I'm comfortable where I'm at." stated Matt, opening his milk.
Pacey swallowed a bit of his food in frustration but suddenly thought about Caulfield's Explorer. Curiosity stung at his brain.
"So how's the Explorer? Still at the bottom of the creek?"
"No, my parents had it fished out a couple of days ago."
"And let me guess, daddy's gonna buy you a new one huh?"
"What do you think?" laughed Matt, as he brought his milk to his lips.
Pacey shook his head. I can't believe this rich boy is still breathing; he needs the crap kicked out of him, he thought.
Matt continued to talk.
"It's a shame about the Explorer though. It was banged up beyond repair. Sorta like Andie, which is a real shame too. I had almost sealed the deal. She would have been one nice piece of ass."
Pacey quickly dropped his fork and reached out from over the table. He quickly grabbed Matt by the collar and jerked him close.
"If I ever hear you talk about Andie like that again, I promise I'll make you regret it!" growled Pacey, fire in his eyes.
Everyone in the lunchroom stood up and watched in interest. Joey shook her head in fear. No Pacey, don't do anything rash, she thought.
Matt pulled from Pacey's grip and glared back at him.
"Real tough Witter. Can't you see I'm shaking?" he shouted, rising from his seat.
"I'm warning you Caulfield."
"Why don't you follow Andie and go to hell." laughed Caulfield, mockingly.
Pacey's rage and temper suddenly got the best of him. He leaped over the table, tackled Matt to the ground, and proceeded to launch a flurry of punches. Matt was defenseless. Every punch landed hard. The cafeteria was in an uproar and Joey couldn't belief her eyes. Pacey continued to hit Matt, one punch after another. Caulfield tried to retaliate but Pacey was the better fighter. However, the fight was quickly broken up. Teachers pulled Pacey off Caulfield and forced him to Principal Green's office. Meanwhile, Joey felt like crying.
=====/////=====
The school day was over and Dawson and Jenn walked home together. They talked casually but their conversations didn't go very far. Dawson seemed distant and melancholy.
"So are you going to the hospital later to see Andie?" asked Jenn.
"No, I don't need to be there." replied Dawson, sternly.
"Why?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Jenn was a little taken back but quickly brushed the feeling away. The two friends continued to walk and several minutes passed. Jenn still tried to make conversation.
"Did you see the fight in the lunch room today?" she asked.
"Yeah I saw it."
"Pretty intense huh?"
"I just hope both of them get expelled."
"You don't mean that Dawson."
"Yes I do. I can't stand Pacey or Matt."
"Pacey is your best friend. You can possibly mean what you say."
"No offense Jenn, but you don't know how I'm feel. Pacey isn't my best friend and we're not having this conversation." stated Dawson, before walking away, leaving Jenn in awe.
=====/////=====
Jack and his father sat in Andie's hospital room. They were silent and watched her as she slept. The only sound came from the steady beeping of Andie's pulse monitor.
The McPhees were extremely scared. Andie was still not showing any signs of improvement and the week was almost out. Jack was beginning to think that his sister wouldn't live.
"I spoke with your mother today." informed Mr. McPhee, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Really? Did you tell her about Andie?" asked Jack.
"No. I didn't think it was a good idea. You're mother is in no condition to take in that kind of information. I'm not even sure she'd really understand."
Jack nodded in agreement. The sad fact was the Jack and Andie's mother was clinically insane. There were certain times when she appeared to be normal but any emotional distress sent her over the edge. She didn't have a strong grasp on reality and now she spent her days in an institution for the mentally challenged. Jack's father was correct on not telling her about Andie's condition.
Jack rubbed his eyes in exhaustion and turned to his sister. He hadn't slept in days but his pride wouldn't let him. He had to be there when Andie opened her eyes.
Andie was motionless and with out life. Jack prayed that she would open her eyes and smile. Tears stung at his eyes but he repressed them. Mr. McPhee stood next to Jack and patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't give up hope son. I know she'll be alright." he stated.
Suddenly, Andie's pulse monitor stopped it's steady beep..beep...beep. The monitor gave off a long eerie pitch indicating that Andie had no pulse. Jack and Mr. McPhee turned to the monitor and quickly realized that Andie was flat-lining.
To Be Continued..