Chapter Twenty-Eight: One Moment More

Rory

"You're awake!" I yelled again. I threw my arms around him one more time and cried into his shoulder. He let me cry for a few minutes before he pulled me away and looked into my eyes.

"Yeah, I'm awake," he whispered. "How long have I…?"

"For a week and a day," I answered. I sat down on the edge of his bed and held onto his hand. "Marco I thought that…" I trailed off as fresh tears spilled out of my eyes.

"I'm here now," he answered, knowing exactly what I was talking about. "I wasn't planning on dying," he joked, laughing a little. He sat up, wincing the entire time.

"It was all my fault," I cried out. "You shouldn't be here like this; I should be the one in that bed."

"Don't say that Rory. It's not your fault at all, no matter what way you put it. You didn't know it was going to happen. Don't blame yourself," he reassured me. "I'm not mad at you, I don't blame you."

"Thanks. Hey Marco…?"

"What?"

"Do you remember anything I said to you while you were…asleep?" I asked him.

"No, sorry, I don't." he answered. I was relieved. I wasn't sure that I wanted him to know everything. He's still with my brother.

Thomas

"Why are you here?" I asked my dad. We were in one of the men's bathrooms on Marco's floor, where my dad locked the door behind us.

"Can't I come and visit my only son on Christmas Eve?" he asked, moving a step closer to me.

"Not really," I told him. "You never want to actually see me. You just come here to beat me," I said, getting bold.

He slapped me across the face, but I showed no emotion at all.

"Don't talk to me like that," he said, his face getting red.

"Why not Dad? What are you gonna do about it? Oh, I know! You're gonna hit me, right?"

He punched me this time, right in the jaw. I rubbed the spot that was probably already bruising.

"You're coming home for Christmas Tommy," he told me, grabbing onto my arm and pulling me closer to him.

"No, I'm not. I'm staying here with my friends."

That only caused him to squeeze my arm harder.

"No you're not. You're coming home with your family."

I did the only thing that I thought of at the moment. I pulled my other arm back and punched him, right in the eye. He let go of me and stumbled back. I smiled, proud of myself for once; big mistake.

He charged at me, shoving me up against the wall and punching me in the stomach. Then he threw me down, kicking me in the chest and ribs. I heard someone banging on the door just then.

"Thomas?" someone called. I instantly knew who it was.

"Lindsey!" I yelled. "I'm in here. Help me!"

My dad kicked me one last time before unlocking the door. Lindsey burst in and pushed past him and ran to my side.

"This isn't over Tommy," my dad said, turning back.

"Yeah, I think it is," Lindsey told him, glaring in his direction.

He turned and left, letting the door close as he went.

Jesse

A knock on the door woke me up. I stood up after what seemed like hours, untangling myself from Rex as best as I could. I opened the door, and there was Alyssa, with her daughter in her arms.

"You should come in," I whispered. She shook her head, but handed me the baby.

"I'd like to," Jeff said, shoving the door open a little. Alyssa grabbed his arm to hold him back, but he broke away from her. "He's a good kid."

"He's dying," I blurted out, hoping to get Alyssa in. She didn't move.

Once Jeff, Isabella, and I were in the room, we turned and saw that Rex was awake. An odd silence filled the room. I walked over and silently placed the baby in Rex's open arms.

"Hey baby," Rex said happily, tickling her under her chin. Bella let out a loud giggle, then leaned forward and kissed him on the nose.

"I, uh…I want to thank you for taking such good care of her," Jeff said, sighing.

Rex

"Jeff," I choked out, tears in my eyes. It was now or never, and I chose now. "She's my daughter."

Jeff instantly stood back, taking it all in. A single tear rolled down his cheek, but he wiped it away.

"I figured as much," he confessed, surprising both Jesse and I. "I have to go. Thanks again Rex. I'm glad you kept it a secret as long as you could." And with that, he left, not even glancing in his wife's direction as he passed her in the hall.

"Daddy loved you Gracie," I whispered into my daughter's ear. "Don't you ever forget that." I kissed her on the nose, then brought her close to my chest.

Turning to look at Jesse, I spoke.

"I want you to take good care of her Jesse. You and Marco."

Jesse

His eyes were pleading. I knew I could never fulfill that promise. She was still Alyssa's daughter.

"I promise," I choked out, grasping Rex's hand. And then he was gone.

I stood up and took Gracie out of Rex's arms. I held her close, willing her to stop crying. With the middle and index fingers of my free hand, I closed his eyelids before turning and walking out.

Hot tears stung my cheeks as I walked right past Alyssa, still holding the baby in my arms. I kept going, straight to Marco's room.

Remy

While we all celebrated over the fact that Marco was awake, Jesse came in crying and holding a baby.

"Take her," he said to me. I wasn't sure what to do, so I just lifted the (also) crying baby out of his arms and held her.

"What's wrong?" Nate asked him, holding onto his arm.

"Rex…" he trailed off.

"What happened to Rex?" Rory asked. Marco looked on, helpless.

"He…he…he's dead!" he yelled before collapsing to the ground. There he pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped himself in a tight ball.

Alyssa

Ten minutes later, I made my appearance. A sheet had been pulled over Rex's face, but he hadn't been moved yet. I sat down, removing the sheet.

"I'm so sorry Rex. I didn't mean it. I love you," I whispered, grabbing onto his hand and placing my head on his chest. He was so cold. My tears soaked his front. But he didn't mind. Because he couldn't.

Give me just one part of you to cling to
And keep me everywhere you are
It's just enough to steal my heart and run
Then fade out with the falling sun

Oh, please don't go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You've gotta hold me and keep me now

Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more

You've gotta hold me and maybe I'll believe
So hold me even though I know you're leaving.

Marco

Even though I'd suffered a traumatic experience, I was okay, so the doctors allowed me to leave the hospital that night because it was Christmas Eve. I wanted to spend Christmas with my friends, who were becoming my only family.

Of course, I had to report back to the hospital by six the next night for a check-up, and see a doctor as soon as I got back to school, as well as find a therapist to talk to.

Rory called everyone to tell them I was coming home, and Remy and Nate showed up to help. Jesse was already there, since he had been with Rex, but Thomas and Lindsey were missing. And so was Andrew.

"So, where's Andrew?" I asked as Rory wheeled me out to the car. I had to stay in a wheelchair for a little while because my legs were weak from not being used.

No one answered me. They all looked around at each other, and wouldn't look at me.

"Is he okay?" I asked, suddenly worried. I hadn't given his absence a thought before, but that was only because I was caught up with everyone.

"Yeah, he's fine. Just a complete asshole," Remy spat, rushing ahead of us to unlock the car.

"What's he talking about?" I asked Nate, who was standing right next to me.

"Well, Andrew…he wouldn't come to the hospital. He never did," he told me.

I felt like a huge weight was placed on my chest. My own boyfriend didn't even come to see me. I suppressed tears and rested my face in my hand that didn't have a cast on it.

"There's more to it than that," Jesse assured me. He was still very upset about Rex, we all were, but he was still there for me. "Just talk to him when we get back. He'll be so happy to see you."

"Are you okay?" I asked him, changing the subject.

"Yeah…I'll be fine," he said. He wasn't convincing me, but I didn't know what else I could do. "I'm sorry Jesse," I told him, grabbing onto his hand and holding it the rest of the way to the car.

"I'm sorry too," he said, helping me in.

Andrew

"I'm so glad you're okay!" I yelled as soon as I saw Marco being wheeled into the house.

"Are you really?" he asked, surprising me.

"Come on guys, let's give them some space," Rory said. The rest of the group went upstairs, leaving Marco and I in the living room. I wheeled him across from the couch where I sat down, facing him.

"Of course I am!" I said, leaning forwards and kissing him. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You didn't even visit me in the hospital!" he yelled suddenly. "I thought you loved me."

"Marco, that's not fair! Of course I love you. I couldn't see you in the hospital like that. It would have killed me. After what happened to Alex…" I trailed off, looking away and trying not to cry. It didn't work though, and tears started spilling onto my cheeks.

"Help me out of this," Marco said. I did as he asked, and helped him onto the couch next to me. He instantly wrapped his arms around me and hugged me. "I'm sorry," he said, leaning back and looking into my eyes. He brushed some hair out of my face and smiled a little.

"Why are you sorry?" I asked. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"I shouldn't have gotten mad at you. I understand that you didn't want to see me like that because it's the only way you remember Alex. So I'm sorry. I didn't even think about it before," he told me.

"Don't be sorry. I should have just visited. Because you're obviously going to be okay."

Marco didn't say a word, he just stared into my eyes some more. Then he leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. He kissed me again and again, varying the pressure, and eventually slipping his tongue in my mouth. Then cupped a hand around my cheek and we kissed like that for a few minutes…until I pulled away.

"What's wrong?" Marco asked, holding onto one of my hands.

"Marco, I…I don't think I can do this," I confessed. I started crying all over again.

"Do what? What do you mean?" he asked, tears forming in his own eyes.

"This. I can't be with you. The entire time you were in the hospital, I was a wreck. I thought you were going to die, and leave me just like Alex did. I'm just not ready to be in a relationship like this. I can't Marco." I stood up and walked away from him.

"Andrew! Don't do this to me!" Marco cried from the couch. He didn't follow me because he couldn't. "I love you!" he yelled after me as I started up the stairs.

I went into my bathroom to do what I did best. I was gonna hurt myself just as much as I hurt Marco just now.

Andy wasn't mean
Andy had no self-esteem
So he was afraid
Thinking of his big mistakes

Andy wasn't cool
But anywhere he was a fool
Didn't wonder why
Everything kept passing by

Andy had no pride
Andy was a problem child
But no one ever cared
Cause this happened anywhere

And now he celebrates his loneliness again

Andy was unique
But anywhere he was a freak
Who put himself away
Drifting further everyday

And now he celebrates his loneliness again

Andy was aware
That he wasn't well prepared
For what he thought to say
But it happened anywhere

And now he celebrates his loneliness again

It's always been a shame
To wake up in a memory
Always been a shame
To wake up and deny

It's always been a shame
To fake it like a fantasy
Always been a shame
With no one to reply

It's always been a shame
To never find identity
Always been a shame
To never ever try

It's always been a shame

And now he celebrates his loneliness again

Marco

I thought that Andrew would turn back, but he didn't. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I got out of the hospital only to be dumped by my boyfriend. Sitting on the couch, I called out for anyone to come and help me. Finally, Nate came by.

"Can you help me upstairs?" I asked, wiping tears from my face. That didn't work because they kept coming.

"Sure," he said.

He supported me as we walked up the stairs. While we were going by one of the bedrooms, we could hear sobbing from inside. I immediately recognized it as Jesse.

"Here's fine," I told Nate. "Thanks." He walked off, and I knocked on the door lightly. Jesse didn't answer me, so I just opened it and went inside.

I slowly walked over to his bed and lay down next to him. Both of us were crying and both of us were heartbroken.

"I'm here," I whispered, wrapping my good arm around him.

We both fell asleep to each other's cries.

A/N: Sorry if some of you are disappointed with the way that Jeff "found out" that Isabella wasn't his daughter. (Just to remind: her name is Isabella Grace Skye and Rex always called her Gracie because he didn't get to name her). I had this whole Rex thing planned and written out before I ever started the story…it was just one of the scenes I had all planned out. The song under Alyssa's POV (and the title of the chapter) is "One Moment More" by Mindy Smith, and she owns it. And the song under Andrew's POV is "Andy" by Slut, and they own it. Did anyone think that Andrew was gonna break up with Marco? Only two chapters left! Yes, I am sticking to my 30 chapters. But never fear…there WILL be a sequel!