Title: More Than You'll Ever Know
Summary: All Adam's dad wants is for Adam to make pro-hockey. All Adam ever wanted was a friend. A friend to stick by him. He'd lost one before, and when she comes back, sparks fly, but not for the better.
Main Duck: Adam Banks
Rating: PG-13 for language especially in this chapter and later violence
Time frame: After D2, before and during D3 maybe after D3 if I feel like it and if you give me reviews =p
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own 'em. I just own Jessica, Ethan, Sally, Jason, and Andrew.
This chapter: We find out what's wrong w/ Jessica. Well, sort of.
Jessica
The ride to the hospital was long and quiet. I would have said something, but the only thing that ran through my mind was, 'What's wrong with me?' I was scared of the hospital, yes, but I was even more scared of what the doctors were going to say. That was the main reason I kept everything a secret from everyone else at first. I was afraid.
"We're here. Are you alright Jessica?" the nurse (Nurse Johnson), who was very nice, turned around to ask me.
"I think so," I swallowed. Ethan squeezed my shoulder. We got out of the car and entered the white and sickly atmosphere of the hospital. I sat in a row of red cushioned chairs with Ethan and Adam on either side of me while Nurse Johnson signed me in. After an hour, I still hadn't been called in because I wasn't on the top priority list. I started getting drowsy and fell asleep on Ethan's lap.
Adam
At the hospital, Jess fell asleep on her brother's lap. I watched her as she slept, noticing just how beautiful she really was. She looked like a sleeping angel, a young angel, never disturbed by anything in the world. She didn't look sick or anything, at least not to me, but the recurring fever and committing got me pretty worried. I must have been looking at Jessica for a long time because Ethan finally spoke up.
"She's pretty isn't she?" I jumped and smiled weakly at Ethan.
"Yeah."
"You know, the two of you would be very good together."
"You think so?"
"Yeah."
"I don't know. I mean I've…I've had a crush on her for awhile back," I admitted, "So part of our little fight started when I got jealous of Zak. But now it's been two years and we haven't talked much unless you count the endless arguments everyday talking. She's changed so much."
"Yeah. Well things have changed for us, life's changed for us. When my dad decided to take Jessica in as well, it was the best feeling in the world that we got to stay together…that we wouldn't be apart. And now that we're at Eden Hall, things have finally slowed down and life is in order for us again. I just don't want whatever it is that's wrong with her to screw things up. She used to be so depressed everyday because of our mother and because everyday, she was reminded of the ongoing war with you. There was a picture of you, Danny, and her together in her room and she refused to take it down. And the whole incident with Zak. I didn't know about that one. But her band and the music. It really helped her through it."
"I'd really like to hear them play sometime," I shrugged as an afterthought.
"You should. I'll ask Jessica when their next big gig is. Maybe I'll go with you or something. I haven't heard them play together since last New Year's and I think they have a whole new sound now."
"That's cool." Suddenly, Jessica woke with a start and groaned, clutching her stomach (around her kidney area). Immediately, Ethan scooper her into his arms and cradled her, whispering soothing words in her ear. I went into the bathroom and wet a paper towel, bringing it to Jessica to place onto her hot forehead. Finally, after another fifteen minutes of pain, Jessica was called in. I remembered suddenly that I had just missed a jockey game just as Ethan went in with Jessica and told me to sit tight. But soon after they left, my cell phone rang. And I knew that sitting tight was not an option.
"Hello?" I knew it was my dad from the caller ID and was expecting the worst. I got the absolute worst.
"Where were you?" he demanded without a hello. I cringed, knowing my dad would not be happy with my excuse.
"Well you see, Jessica's sick; so sick that she had to go to the hospital emergency room. That's where I am now. I've been here for a few hours."
"Doesn't she have Eric or whatever his name is?" I groaned inwardly, wondering why in hell I even bothered to try.
"Yes, but she asked me to come with her. She doesn't have many other close friends."
"Well tough for her. Adam, you tell me what's more important. You're entire future or some silly friendship with a girl you were mad at anyway?"
My blood boiled through my veins. Clenching my teeth, I responded tersely, "There will be other games, dad. It's okay."
"You didn't answer my question!" he snapped.
"I don't want to argue-"
"We're not arguing. We're discussing an important matter in an adult way."
"Oh big difference!" I snapped back at him sarcastically.
"Don't you snap at me!"
"It's just one game! There will be others!"
"Adam. Bradley. Banks," my dad said my full name slowly, "Answer the damn question!" he exploded in my ear. I had to hold the phone a few feet from my ears, which made people stare.
"People are looking…"
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT WHO'S WATCHING! THE PRESIDENT OF THE FUCKING UNITED STATES COULD BE THERE! WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU: YOU'RE FURTURE CAREER OR YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THAT BITCH OF A GIRL?!?!"
That was it, "My friendship with Jessica, who I think is a great friend, by the way." I told him calmly. I heard a click as my dad hung-up on me. I ended my call casually. A dad hanging up on his son. Who would've thunk? All of our fights over the phone happened like that, actually. Half an hour later, he'd call back and apologize. And each time I'd accept, but this time we needed to talk for real. In a different way. If only I could figure out how.
Ethan and Jessica came out of the small room solemnly. I stood up, forgetting my deranged father for a moment, fearing the worst. Jess sat down in a chair, eyes downcast. I looked to Ethan, hoping he'd tell me something.
"She has a low blood cell count. The doctor's getting results for a test on her kidneys. Hopefully, it's nothing too bad," he told me before quickly adding, "No, she's not pregnant," after he saw the look on my face. I bit my lip, knowing that it must have been much more serious than being pregnant. I took a seat next to Jess.
"Should I call the team?" I asked her gently.
"No," she whispered, "You should go. We have a game. You're dad would get mad if you didn't show up." 'Too late' I thought to myself. But instead, I said,
"There will be others."
"What will your dad say?"
"Screw my father. It's always about hockey for him anyway and my mother thinks I enjoy it. She's never around for the fights…" I trailed off, realizing that it wasn't the time or place to be discussing my issues. Luckily, the doctor stepped into the waiting room. He led us into a small office-like room and offered the three of us seats. Soon, I found that it wasn't so lucky the doctor came to talk.
"I have a pretty good idea of what it is. It's not a sexually transmitted disease, rest assured. However, you're not going to like what I have to say. I've appointed you to see a rheumatologist for confirmation of my suspicions."
"Well what do you suspect?"
Thanks for the reviews:
RosieLady: Thanks for the reviews! It's okay about the amusing thing. I was just teasing =D
PyroRockerGirl: WHOO HOO!!! Thanks for the ramen noodles! =D Yeah well I didn't have time to type up the next five chapters *grins sheepishly and shakes fists at teachers* Well…no she's not pregnant as you just saw. But she is something else. Adam angst in a few chapters!
Anne: Well…wait no more!! Well, wait a little more!
Percussion: Nope, she's not pregnant!