Chapter Three

Another Storm

"Good morning" Jodi seemed in a good mood when she walked in and greeted Kate, Tess and Nick, who were already eating breakfast.

"G'day" Stevie came right after her, she also was in a good mood.

"You two look happy today!" Tess said with a big smile.

"Man I'm hungry" Stevie sat down, and started to eat some toast.

"Where is Alberto?" Jodi asked

"Still in his room" Nick replied. They all wondered why she had asked that, the evening before she couldn't face him and now she wanted to see him. Only Stevie knew, but she just smiled and ate her toast.

XxX

"Be right back" Nick, Tess and Kate looked confused; Stevie smiled, but said nothing.

"Alberto?" Jodi knocked on the door of his room "Are you awake?" she slowly opened the door. Alberto apparently slept; Jodi walked to his bed and smiled. "Alberto. You gotta wake up!" Alberto started to move and slowly he opened his eyes.

"Jodi! Io sogno!" Alberto still thought he was asleep.

"Alberto, I gotta tell you something" Jodi sat down on his bed and grabbed his hand. "I thought about what you said last night and you are right."

"About what?" Alberto was awake now

"I'm not happy without you, not as happy as I was!" Jodi smiled "I was wondering… that means…I thought…" She didn't know how to say it. Alberto understood

"Jodi! Ti amo" Alberto kissed her hand "We don't have to marry if you don't want to, I can wait" he kissed her hand again "I really can!"

"Oh Alberto" She hugged him "I love you, I never stopped loving you"

"Well in that case I better go!" Luke was standing in the door opening.

"Luke!" Jodi had all forgotten about him "Don't run away" She ran after him, but she couldn't stop him, he got on his motorbike and drove away like a mad man.

"You're in trouble" Stevie stood behind here.

"Yes, I really am" Jodi sighed and walk back to Alberto; he needed an explanation.

XxX

Luke drove off like a mad man, and mad he was. Jodi didn't love him, she never did. That was the only thing he could think about, he didn't care anymore, if she didn't care about him! Deep in his thoughts he didn't see Alex' car. Alex used the claxon and just before he thought he would hit him, Luke changed his direction. Alex didn't hit him, but Luke slipped over some water on the road. He spun around and hit a tree. There he laid still under his motorbike. Alex was a witness of all this, he stopped his car and as fast as he could he ran to Luke. Luke was unconscious but alive. Alex grabbed his cell phone and called the hospital and the police. After he was sure Luke breathed and his heartbeat was okay, he also called Nick and Tess. Jodi needs to know. He thought. The chopper from the hospital was there within 20 minutes. Alex went with Luke. He felt like it was his fault that this happened.

XxX

"Can someone pick up the phone please?" Tess said

"Got it" Nick replied "Nick here" … "Gee, how bad?" … "of course I'll tell her but ya need to know Alberto is here!" … "Yeah arrived yesterday" … "We'll see ya at the hospital" … "Righto, bye"

"What's wrong" Tess had followed the conversation but only heard Nick's side of the story.

"Luke has had an accident" Nick said as he walked to the door "He's badly hurt!"

"Oh gosh" Tess was shocked "We gotta tell Jodi!" Tess followed Nick outside, soon they found Jodi and told her.

"Jodi, Luke has had an accident" Tess said and waited for a reaction from her side, but Jodi apparently was too shocked. "He's badly hurt!" still no reaction from Jodi.

"If ya want I drive you to the hospital" Nick said

"Yeah, okay" Jodi couldn't say anything, she just followed Nick to his car.

"Wait I'll come with you" Alberto said and ran after her. Nick looked at Tess. Tess' nodded. Jodi might need him now. She thought. Soon they were on their way to the hospital. Nothing was said enduring the trip. There was no need to say anything.

XxX

"Alex, where is he?" Jodi ran in to the waiting room.

"Easy, he is in the operation room" Alex replied "Sit down, ya look awful." He pointed at the chair besides him and Jodi sat down. "Alberto, good to see ya again" Alex greeted him and shook his hand.

"You too, Alex" The atmosphere wasn't good at all. So they sat in silence waiting for the doctor. Another 15 minutes later he appeared.

"Friends of Luke?" He asked "Doesn't he has family?"

"He has one brother, we don't know where he is" Nick answered his question.

"Good, Luke just had an operation, he came out well, he is now in the recovering room and after that he'll be at the IC"

"Can I see him?" Jodi couldn't wait to see him.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yeah… No… Well, that's complicated, can I?"

"I see" The doctor talked very slowly "No, you can't, not now. The nurse will tell you when. Any other questions?" The doctor left the room.

Again nobody said a thing, Nick went to call Tess, to tell her how Luke was doing. Alberto was holding Jodi's hand. Jodi's eyes were all wet by tears and Alex was wondering whether he should go or not.

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Io sogno - I'm dreaming

Ti amo - I love you

Note: I don't speak Italian so my thanks to Polly for the translation!