Chapter Three
Toby and Manny sat facing each other around a little circular table at The Coffee Shop. Manny sipped her coffee, Toby nervously cracked his stubby fingers.
"Remember when you had that massive crush on Emma," Manny asked, "and you were always so jealous of Sean?"
Toby half-cringed, half-laughed at the old memory of his slight obsession with young Emma. He wondered if deep down he always cared about her, maybe just pushed his feelings away since it was apparent she did not return them. He still was, through and through, her friend, and that was enough to satisfy him.
"Yah," Toby laughed, "funny the stuff we remember..."
Silence owned both friends after Toby's comment. Manny continuing sipping her coffee.
"JT is waiting upstairs..." Manny said.
"Do you want to go back?" Toby asked.
"Okay."
Toby and Manny walked to the elevator door, and pushed the "up" arrow. The doors finally opened, and they stepped inside. Manny fidgeted with her hair while Toby outstretched his arm to push the number.
"She's on the fifth floor." Manny quietly said.
The button was pushed, and the doors closed. Toby awkwardly kept a distance from Manny, holding his hands in front of him. Some things, he thought, never changed, like his awkwardness around girls.
Ding!
They stepped out, and Manny called out to Toby.
"This way, room 511"
Toby followed, and stepped through the door to find Emma is an awful state. Bruises covered her body, and the evil heart monitor continued to beep out it's sad song.
"Hey Tobs." JT said dully, which was understandable, everyone was tired.
"Hi JT" Toby signalled, waving his hand in a sort of lifeless way.
"How is she? Any change?" Manny asked, cuddling around JT.
"Nothing. No change," JT declared, frustrated, "Stupid heart monitor."
He swore under his breath. Manny rubbed his arm, hoping somehow it would make him feel better. She rested her head on his shoulder as she sat down in his lap.
"I just want it to be a dream..." JT bitterly whispered.
"So do we, JT..." Manny answered.
"At least we have each other." Toby said as he approached the window and looked out, waiting for some kind of sign. He noticed a butterfly flying across the sky on the opposite side of the window.
"She's going to be okay." Toby declared, even if he didn't believe it. They needed positive thoughts to comfort them. They needed each other as much as they needed Emma to be okay. She would be sorely missed if she left them behind.
