Chapter Twenty-Seven: Wake Up, My Love

Andrew

Marco's been in the hospital for a week now. He still hasn't woken up, and I still haven't gone to see him. I just can't. I sit at home every day and cut myself until I'm satisfied. It's only little cuts, here and there, to help me cope.

It's Christmas Eve. We all need a Christmas miracle.

I heard that Rex is in the hospital too. He's not in a coma, but he's pretty sick. Jesse told me that he has pneumonia. He and I have been talking since we share common ground with the loving Marco thing. Of course, Rory still does too, but he will never leave Marco's side.

Jesse's the only one who supports me because I don't want to go to the hospital. He said he understands because he had to go through is parents dying. But he also told me that Marco's getting better, and that I should really go.

But I can't.

I wrapped his present and put it under the tree with all the others. Marco and Rex had the most presents. But I have a feeling that at least one of them won't live through this. And it's probably going to be Marco.

Nate

Craig only stayed for three days, and I wasn't sure what to make of the situation. He promised me that he was going to break up with Manny, but should I believe him? I guess I should since he's back on his meds again. The best thing about his visit was that I didn't get hit. That, and the fact that we had great makeup sex.

But I have a feeling that this isn't over.

Anyway though, we exchanged Christmas presents while he was here, and opened them. He gave me a CD of songs that he wrote and recorded about our relationship (minus the bad parts, obviously). It was the best present I've ever gotten. He has such a sweet voice, and I love listening to it.

But my mind is still back to Marco and Rex, two of my friends who are now in the hospital.

Thomas

Theresa and I snuck out of the women's bathroom successfully. We went back into Marco's room with everyone else. This Christmas vacation is the worst and the best one I've had in my life. It's the worst because obviously Marco, and now Rex, are in the hospital. But it's the best because I'm finally with Theresa, and I'm not anywhere near my dad.

Scratch that last one.

I saw him looking through the door as soon as I looked up.

Lindsey

After working on my case and memorizing a bunch of things I was going to have to say, my dad dropped me off at the hospital to see Marco.

When I walked into the room, Nate, Remy, Rory, and some girl was in there. The girl was a gorgeous brunette. Remy was glaring at her from across the room as she stood next to Nate. He introduced her to me as his sister, Theresa. If I wasn't taken, I would have definitely hooked up with her. I snapped out of staring at her and turned to Marco.

He looked so horrible, lying there in that bed, and I instantly felt terrible that I hadn't been able to see him until now. They told me he'd been there for a week, and still hadn't woken up. I said a small prayer for him, knowing it was the only thing I could do for him.

"Where have you been Lindsey?" Nate asked suddenly.

"Didn't Thomas tell you?" I directed the question at everyone, and they all shook their heads.

"I was arrested."

"For what?" Rory asked, interested.

"Statutory rape."

"Did you do it?" Remy asked me. Realizing that none of them knew what happened, I decided to choose my answers carefully. Thomas is the only one who knows the truth, and I have to talk to him before he tells anyone else.

"No."

"That sucks man," Nate said.

"Where's everyone else?" I asked them.

"Well, Craig is at home in Canada, Andrew won't come to see Marco, and Jesse is in visiting Rex," Remy explained.

"What happened to Rex?" I asked.

"He got drunk and passed out in the snow. He has pneumonia, but he's gonna be fine," Rory said. "He's such an idiot."

"And where's Thomas?"

"Oh, he went with his dad somewhere. To talk I guess," Nate said.

"Since when is his dad here?" I asked, worried.

"I dunno. He just showed up."

"Do you know where they went?" I asked him.

"Nope."

"I better go find him then." I rushed out of the room and hoped I could find Thomas before it was too late.

Rory

Lindsey pretty much flew out of the room at the mention of Thomas' dad. That was really weird. I shook it off and turned back towards Marco. He still looked the same. I could barely stand it anymore. I broke down for probably the fifth time that day. Then a nurse came in and announced the ending of visiting hours.

"But one of you may stay the night if you want," she added.

"I will!" I volunteered before anyone else. They all agreed that I could stay. Everyone said their goodbyes to Marco and left, while I got comfortable in the chair next to his bed.

When they were all gone, I took his hand in mine and squeezed it tight.

"Marco, I love you," I told him. "If you get through this, I'm going to tell you how I feel. I'm going to be with you no matter what."

I cried for a few minutes, my tears soaking his sheet. Then I sat up and wiped my eyes before leaning down and kissing him on the cheek.

"And if you don't get through it, then I'm going to die with you," I whispered in his ear.

Jesse

"You idiot!" I yelled, rushing at Rex and holding his face in my hands. I waited a week to yell at him like this. I didn't want to, but he deserved it. "You nearly got yourself killed!"

"Not nearly…" he said with a sad smile.

"What do you mean?"

"I did," was all he said.

"Rex, you're not gonna die. The doctors said that this type of pneumonia is not deadly…"

"Not deadly for most people…I'm surprised they haven't figured it out yet," he muttered. "I guess they didn't do a blood test."

"Figured what out? What are you saying?" I asked, on the verge of tears. He answered me in a tiny whisper.

"Don't blame yourself Jess…I never told anyone. Not even…Rory." He choked out the name.

"What does Rory have to do with any of this?" I asked, stumbling back a little.

"Tell him I'm sorry. For never saying anything. I know he was scared. He still is." I was utterly confused. I still didn't know what he was talking about. And then he finally explained.

Rex

"I have AIDS."

My cheek stung as Jesse slapped me.

"I hate you!" he yelled. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he said it again.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him into a hug.

"I love you," I whispered, kissing him one last time.

Marco

This time when I woke up I was at the ravine back at home. Everyone was there that I knew from DCS. Ellie was sitting in Jay's lap by the fire; Emma and Spinner were sitting on the picnic table. Jimmy, Craig, and Manny were drinking off in the corner. I also saw Paige and Alex smoking and laughing near some trees.

It was all so weird. I wasn't sure why I was there, or where I was going. I walked towards the infamous van, deciding to see what was inside.

It was just like I expected it to be…well, almost. It was carpeted, with some candles lit around the walls. There was a bunch of pillows near the back; definitely a sex spot. But there, in the middle of the pillows, was Andrew.

"What are you doing in here?" I asked him, climbing in and closing the door behind me.

"You told me to wait in here, remember?" he asked me.

"No, I don't remember. But I'm glad you're here. I missed you," I told him, crawling over to him and kissing him hard.

"Missed me? I just saw you ten minutes ago."

"Yeah, but still…" I reached for his pants, and tried to get them off, but he stopped me.

"You first," he said, grinning. I obliged, and he took his pants off too. Then our shirts came off, and then our boxers. We were lying there, next to each other, completely naked.

Andrew climbed on top of me, kissing my cheek, then my neck, and back to my cheek again. When he got to my mouth, his hand trailed downwards. After a few minutes, he rolled me over. I got on my knees and waited, but nothing happened.

I turned back over and he was gone.

"Andrew?" I called out. But there was no answer.

I quickly got dressed, and plopped back into the pillows, unsure of what to do.

Then, with a sudden, loud crashing noise, all of the windows in the van broke open, showering me with tiny bits of glass. I could feel it cutting me, and felt the blood rush out. I screamed and closed my eyes, protecting them from the glass.

When I opened them, Rory was standing above me, looking worried.

"Rory?" I asked in a hoarse whisper. My body hurt all over.

"Marco! You're awake!" he yelled. He threw his arms around me as I winced in pain.

I didn't know where I was.

But I wasn't in the van anymore.

A/N: The title is from the song "Lunacy Fringe" by The Used and they own it. Now you know who Rory got HIV from. He is also not dead from that little scene right there. How'd you like the chapter? Sorry it's so short. Anyone have any predictions?