The seven remaining students piled into the waiting room of the Hospital. Nobody had come out to talk about Nick's condition. The students weren't sure if it was good or bad that they hadn't seen a doctor yet.
"This is crazy" Mark said. "They should at least know something by now. You don't just drop like that. Nobody just drops like that."
"He was tackled, Mark" Marcie said. "He went down wrong."
Mark shook his head. "No," he said. "I've been watching Nick play long enough to know how he takes a tackle. Something isn't right."
"OK, so... we'll wait. We'll wait and they'll come out and tell us what's going on," Marcie said as Michael slowly made his way into the waiting room, "Michael?" she said. "How is he? Is he OK?"
"What happened?" Mark asked.
"Nick... he uh... his heart gave out on him." Michael said.
"Oh my God" Marcie said. "How? How? Nick is in better shape than any of us."
"That's what I... needed to ask you guys." Michael said. "He might have... taken something..."
"Nick?" Mark said. "On drugs? There's no way. No way. He's too into his body, his health, football..."
"His body, football..." Michael said. "Have you noticed any changes in his attitude? His mood,, anything?"
"Well he has been... more of a pain in the ass lately," Riley said.
"If that's at all possible," Jen said.
"Look," Mark interjected. "Nick's not on drugs. I share a room with him. I would know."
"His heart wouldn't just give out like that. Not with the shape he's in."
"He's been training really hard," Mark said. "He's been under a lot of pressure... maybe it's stress."
"He has been pushing the limits a bit" Marcie admitted.
"Is he gonna be OK?" Jen asked.
"He's in recovery now" Michael said. "He should be able to get out of here in a few days."
"Can we see him?" Mark said
"I think only one at a time"
"Mark..." Marcie said. "Why don't you go in?"
"Oh yeah" Mark laughed. "I'm definitely the first face he wants to see."
"Just as much as he'd want to see any of the rest of us"
"He's in room 212." Michael said. "Not too long though."
Mark nodded slowly, reluctant at first, but slowly making his way down to Nick's room. Michael turned, starting to head out of the waiting area.
"Michael" Marcie said going after him. "Michael?" he stopped, turning to face her. "I know it's probably not... the perfect time but... do you have a few minutes? Can we talk?"
>>>>>>
Mark slowly made his way into Nick's room. Nick looked so fragile in that bed, hooked up to the monitors. He looked towards Mark.
"Did we win?" he asked.
Mark shook his head. "Yeah..." he said "Yeah, 28-7. It was on the radio."
"Good" Nick said. He took a deep breath, resting his head back.
"OK..." Mark said. "I'm just gonna come right out and say it. What are you doing to yourself?"