Chapter Five: Dance, Dance

I'm two quarters and a heart down
And I don't want to forget how your voice sounds
These words are all I have so I'll write them
So you need them just to get by

Emma

"Hey Oliver, I'm back again. Dani's here with me too. Guess who else came? Brooklyn and Maddox."

"Daddy!" Maddox yelled. I placed him on the bed, and he crawled right up to Oliver's face and kissed him on the cheek. "Love Daddy," he said. Then he lay down next to him and put an arm around him.

Brooklyn was still standing by the doorway. She was staring at Oliver, tears filling her eyes. It was the same thing I did the first time I came. It's scary to see him with tubes coming out of him. It's scary talking to him when it's almost like he's not really there. I've heard that when someone is in a coma they can still hear you talk. Sometimes it helps them wake up.

"It's okay," I told her. She walked closer and finally sat down in the chair on the other side of his bed, across from Danica and I. "I'm gonna go change her diaper okay?" Brooklyn nodded at me but lowered her head. I stood up to go, but before I left, I turned back. "Just talk to him. It helps." Then I left.

Brooklyn

I tried to remind myself why I'm here. I ran Emma's words over and over in my mind. Just talk to him. It helps. How would it help? Even if Oliver could actually hear me, does he care what I have to say? I probably won't even finish thinking of what to say before Emma comes back. I don't want to talk in front of her. What to say…

I looked back at the door and seriously considered leaving. But then I looked at my son and saw how content he was. He had actually fallen asleep there, with his arm draped around his father. Well, not his biological father, but I guess Oliver is all he has. He's all I have too. I'm not in love with him, but I still need him.

Being only one and a half, Maddox is able to look past all the tubes sticking out of his dad. He probably thinks nothing of them. He sees his dad; that's it. Maybe that's what I should see. I can try and pretend that he's awake and I'm just talking. I guess I'll have to.

"Hi Oliver, it's me, Brooklyn. How are you doing?" That was incredibly stupid. I almost expected him to pop up out of bed and yell 'How do you think I'm doing?' But of course he didn't. "I feel so horrible for what I've done to you. I know I've already apologized, but it seems like I should again. I just didn't know what to do." I held back tears.

Then I decided that I should hold his hand. If he could hear me, then maybe he could feel me too. I messed up his hair a little, something I used to always do, then fixed it again. After that, I stroked Mad's cheek and almost woke him up.

"Oliver, you have to get better for Maddox. He loves you so much and I don't know what he'd do without you.

I love you too. I love you for what you've done for me. You are my best friend and I can't lose you either. Emma needs you more than anyone though. Her and Danica. I feel sorry for her because Jay's in love with her, but the only person she wants is you. You can't let her down. You'd be happy though that she's letting Craig be a small part of her life. They told his step dad about Dani today, but I guess I should let her tell you about that kind of stuff."

I felt like someone was watching me. Wiping tears from my cheeks, I turned around, and sure enough, Emma was standing in the doorway, holding Danica.

"Feel better?" she asked me. Instead of answering, I stood up quickly. I bent down and carefully picked Maddox up.

"I'll meet you in the car," I told her. I had to get out of the hospital.

Emma

I let Danica play with Oliver's hand for a minute, but when she realized that he wasn't going to play back, she gave up.

"Today was really Brooklyn's day to talk. I wanted her to have a chance. I'll come back and see you tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you," I told him. I kissed him on the lips and picked Dani up. As I was walking to the door, his parents entered. Giving them a sympathetic smile, I left the room so they could be with their son.

Brooklyn was sitting in the car with her head leaning against the window. She was staring off into space, and I decided not to bother her. After buckling Danica in, I drove her back to her house, where she took Maddox and his car seat out.

"Thanks," she whispered before going into her house.

When I got back into the apartment, it was three thirty. We had only been gone for an hour and a half. I saw that the light on the answering machine was blinking. Setting Danica down in her playpen, I pushed the play button.

"Hey Emma, it's me, Joey. Listen, I was really hoping to talk to you about some stuff. Particularly what Craig and I have been talking about. I'd like to have you over for dinner tonight if you have time. Call me back. Thanks, bye."

I called him back and explained that I couldn't come for dinner because I had homework to do. I also didn't feel like going out again, and had to feed Danica and put her to bed. So Joey decided to come over here instead, and he said he'd be here around four. I gave him the address and hung up.

First, I dragged all my boxes into the bedroom. I put my clothes away and then I set my vanity up in an empty corner with my makeup on it. Then I started heating a bottle up for Dani when the doorbell rang. Completely forgetting about the bottle, I answered the door.

"Hi Emma," Joey said as I let him in.

"Hi." I motioned for him to sit on the couch, then sat down in Oliver's chair.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry for yelling at you today. I just didn't expect any of this," he said.

"I understand." It was all I could think of to say.

"I…um…saw you on the news that night Tric burnt down. And after talking to Craig…I realized that…" he looked really nervous and I knew what he was going to say. "Emma, you're Sky aren't you?" he asked. When I nodded my head, he got all upset. He looked disappointed. Almost as much as my parents had been. I guess it was because he's known me for so long and he's like family to me. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to cry.

"I'm sorry," I said between sobs. "I tried to leave, but he wouldn't let me."

"Emma, honey, don't be sorry. I'm the one that should be sorry. All I know is that I'm never going to a strip club again. I can't imagine how your parents felt when they found out; especially your dad. If Angela ever did that…" he trailed off when he realized that he was making me more upset. "I want to help you," he said suddenly.

"How?" I asked, trying to wipe some of my tears away.

"I want to give you a job at the dealership. I can't promise as much money as you were making before…but I think it would be a start."

"Joey, I have no clue how to sell cars," I told him.

"No, you wouldn't have to sell cars. Your job would be helping customers with paperwork, washing cars, getting them ready, and probably cleaning up the office from time to time," he explained.

"Isn't that Craig's job?" I asked, curious.

"No. I told Craig that if he went to school full time then he didn't have to work for me. He's planning on getting another job anyway for pocket money. But I pay for his school," he said.

"I didn't know Craig went to University."

"Yeah, he just lives at home because it's cheaper. But anyway, will you consider taking the job? The most I can afford to pay you is nine dollars an hour," he said.

"I'll take it," I told him, smiling. "I need the money. Oliver's parents pay for the apartment, but we have to pay for food, and I have all kinds of expenses for Danica. And with Oliver in the hospital, he's not working," I explained.

"Oh and when Craig gets his new job, he'll be paying you money too. I told him that he'd have to give you at least fifty dollars a week, if that's enough," Joey added.

"That would be great, thanks." Danica started crying then, and I remembered her bottle.

"You take care of that, I'll just see myself out. You can start tomorrow, and work whatever hours are easiest for you. See you tomorrow!" he called on his way out the door. I hurried to the kitchen, heated Dani's bottle again, and then fed her.

"You want a bath honey?" I asked her. I went to her room and looked everywhere for her little baby bath that sits in the tub. Great, I probably left it at home. Okay, I'll just climb in my window, get it, and leave. I don't need to visit with my parents. I want to prove I can last more than one day without them.

It was five thirty and getting dark, so I put Dani's jacket on her. I put her in the car and drove over to my house. I parked around the block, took Danica's car seat out, with her in it, and walked to my house, over to the window. Propping it open, I climbed in, then turned around and grabbed her car seat.

I turned around, car seat in hand, and slammed straight into someone. I almost screamed, but didn't want to give myself away. It was dark in the room, but then the person walked away and flicked the light on. It was Sean.

"What are you doing in my room?" I asked him. That's when I saw the bags on the floor by the bed.

"This isn't your room anymore," he smirked.

"You live here? I haven't even been gone a full day and my parents gave my room away?" I asked.

"Emma, I didn't have anywhere to go. Besides, it's not like you planned on moving back in, did you?"

"No, of course not. Anyway, I just have to get her bath and then I'll be out of your way." This was really weird. I walked over to my closet…well, Sean's closet now, and pulled the bath out of the closet. Then I saw a few more of Dani's toys, and her blanket, and piled them in. "Okay, I'm all set. I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow."

"Here, let me help you. I'm guessing you parked around the block if you came in through the window," he said.

"Um, okay." I climbed out the window; Sean handed me Dani in her car seat, then pushed the bath through, and climbed out. I picked Danica up and Sean grabbed the other stuff. We silently walked back to my car. I buckled the car seat back in, and stuck the bath onto the seat next to her. I walked over to the car door that Sean opened for me. Instead of getting in right away, I leaned back against the car and just looked at him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Why did you come back here?" I asked. But he didn't answer me. I saw him coming closer to me and didn't move. He kissed me softly on the lips. For a moment, I was brought back into that familiar feeling. Then I pulled away and stared at him.

"Did that answer your question?"

Dance, Dance
We're falling apart to half time
Dance, Dance
And these are the lives you'd love to lead
Dance
This is the way they'd love if they knew how misery loved me

A/N: That seemed like a good place to stop! The song is "Dance, Dance" by Fall Out Boy and they own it. I love that song. Anyway, R&R.

Qtpye: Thanks for your review...it cheered me up.

LyG4ever: Thanks...I'm glad you like the songs. I didn't think anyone else thought about Paige and Sean.

Thanks everyone else for the reviews! I've now got chapter seven written and that's why I'm updating so soon.