Chapter 20

Waiting For Nothing

I was in a hospital room and I have no clue how I got here. The room was white and there wasn't another bed beside mine so it must be a private room. I looked at my arm and saw that I had an IV needle on.

I sat up and looked around the room. There were flowers and balloons on the side, which made me, wonder how long I've been in here. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I don't remember what happened, but the last thing I knew, I was being pulled away in the room from Jake.

Jake

Oh my God, what happened to Jake? I start to panic once again pulling the blanket completely over my body. I felt my eyes welling up. Jake, I hope he's doing better. I need to know if Jake is alright.

I took in a shaky breath and pulled my knees up to my chest. I hugged my knees and put my forehead against my knees.

"Jake, please be alright." I softly said.

I heard the door open and I stayed in my spot, not moving an inch, and continued to cry.

"Miley?"

A voice said which sounded very much like daddy.

"Miley, are you okay?" He said and I felt my bed move with a hand touching my back.

I lifted my head up and glanced at dad. It was almost as if he hasn't slept since I came into the hospital.

"What happened to Jake?" I asked dad and he shook his head.

"He's still in the emergency room." Dad softly said with his eyes narrowing.

"How long have I been here?"

"A day. Everyone is waiting in the waiting room." He kissed my forehead.

"What happened?" I asked and he looked away from me.

"You fainted when you left the room and you don't have to worry anymore because Matt is locked up tonight, so is that Timmy fellow." Dad said.

"But Jake…"

"Jake's in surgery. He's been in surgery for 8 hours or so." dad said while looking down to his lap.

"No…" I shook my head not believing my ears.

"I'm sorry bud." Dad kissed my head once again. "All we can do is pray that he'll get better."

"We did that for mom and did she get better?" I shot back and put my head back down on my knees.

"Miley, don't be like that."

"No dad, I need Jake."

I heard the door open and then got up from the bed.

"Doctor." He said.

I lifted my head up and saw the same doctor that helped Jake a few years ago when Jake was last here. Next to him was a nurse and she didn't look like anyone in particular that I might know.

"Hello Mr. and Miss Stewart." Doctor said and went next to me. "Good to see you're awake." He took the clipboard from the nurse and took a stethoscope from his big white pockets. "We're going to give you a normal check up just to see if you're healthy." He then said and gave the nurse back her clipboard.

-----

After my exam, the doctor and dad started talking about my health while the nurse removed the IV from my arm. I looked away, but listened to what the doctor had to say about me.

"She's fine; she'll be able to leave today once you sign the release papers." Doctor cheerily stated.

"Okay, I'll get right to it."

"As soon as you change Miley, you can go outside and see your friends." The doctor said and dad followed him right out of the room.

I was left alone with the nurse in my room and I looked at her.

"Umm…" I started, I wanted to ask her about Jake, but would she know anything about what's happening to him?

"Yes Miss Stewart?" She said as she lightly dabbed my arm with a piece of tissue.

"Do you… know what's happening with Jake Ryan?" I asked her and she looked puzzled.

"I'm sorry, that information won't be allowed to anyone else other than the doctors and his parents." She said and left my side, getting something from a drawer beside me.

"But I'm his girlfriend; I need to know if he's alright." I begged, but she shook her head.

"I'm really sorry." She replied and then left me alone in my room.

I buried my face in my hands. Everyone is being stubborn. Why won't they tell me about Jake? I'm his girlfriend; I have the right to know about Jake!

I angrily got off my bed and saw a plastic bag of clothes on the chair. I took it with me as I headed in my bathroom to change.

A few minutes later, I walked out with my gown in my arms, wearing pants, a t-shirt, and shoes. I set the gown on the bed and walked out of the room. I looked around the hallway and saw the same nurse that came in my room.

"Nurse, where is the waiting room?" I asked and she smiled.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better." I smiled. "So where?"

"Down the hall." She pointed. "And to your left."

"Thanks.

I walked down the hall and started walking toward the waiting room. As soon as I reached the room, I saw Jake's parents, Luann, Oliver, Lilly, Freddy, Aimee, and Jackson. They were all talking in their little groups about something and hadn't noticed me in the room yet. Finally, Aimee looked p and smiled.

"Miley!" She squealed and got up to hug me.

"Oh Miley!" I could hear Lilly say and the rest came up to me, hugging me.

"Hey…" I said as I hugged the rest of them back.

"How are you feeling?"

"Are you hurt?"

"What did that bastard do to you?"

All these questions came up at the same time as everyone came up to me and I didn't know what to say. I'm fine, they can see that. Matt left no mark on me, but on Jake…

I shook my head and forced myself to smile.

"I'm okay you guys, just relax and hold on." I lifted my hands up. I think I feel a headache coming along.

"Well, we just hope you're alright." Freddy said.

I took a seat next to Jackson and he draped an arm around my shoulders. He held me close to him.

"I'm sorry you had to go through this again." Jackson said.

"It's not your fault, it's mine." I told him and closed my eyes for a second.

-----

A few hours later, I still sat in the waiting room, waiting to hear news about Jake. Aimee and Freddy had to go pick up Tyler from their parent's house so they left, and Jackson had to leave for school. Jake's dad and my dad decided to go to the cafeteria to talk and get some food so it was only me, Oliver, Lilly, Luann, and Ms. Cahill waiting for Jake to get out.

"What's taking so long?" I asked while tapping my foot on the ground. I'm getting impatient, what's taking the doctors so long?

"Just relax Miles; they're doing the best they can." Lilly assured me as she took my hand.

I nodded and felt a hand go to my back.

"We have to stay strong for Jake." Ms. Cahill said.

"Yeah." I sighed and leaned back into my chair.

"Did you find news yet?"

My dad and Jake's dad walked into the room and sat down across of us.

"No, not yet…" Oliver replied for us.

I clutched on the material of my pants with my free hand, staring at the clock. Time is going too slow, I just hope this is all over soon.

Finally, a doctor, the same doctor that helped me, came out and walked into the waiting room. He looked happy, so maybe this meant Jake was doing better.

"Mr. and Mrs. Ryan?" The doctor said and Jake's parents stood up.

I tightened my grip on my pants and Lilly's hand, staring intently at Jake's parents as they went to talk with his doctor.

"Jake just got out of surgery and he's in the ICU right now." The doctor softly said, but I could still hear him.

He told them which room number Jake was in and how his condition was, but it didn't fully go through my head. Jake's out of surgery and that's all I can think of. He's getting better, I'm so happy. As soon as he gets out of the ICU I can be with him.

"Can we see him?" I find myself saying as I stood up.

The doctor stared at me and shook his head.

"I'm sorry, not right now. He's not fit to see anyone right now, maybe later on."

I sighed.

When will this waiting ever end?

-----

It was already night time and I decided to stay over night with Ms. Cahill. Mr. Ryan, Dad, Luann, Lilly, and Oliver all left to go home and get some rest and I refused to leave Ms. Cahill alone. Jake means so much to me and I wanted to be one of the first to know when to see him or if I'm able to.

I was getting ready to fall asleep when a doctor walked into the room.

"Mrs. Ryan?" The doctor said.

I looked at Ms. Cahill and she got up from the seat next to me. She sent me a sheepish smile and walked up to the Doctor.

"It's Ms. Cahill." She finally corrected him.

"Oh, sorry Ms. Cahill." He said, but his face held that melancholy look on his face.

He pulled her into the hallway and I moved seats so that I could see, or try to hear, what the doctor was going to tell Ms. Cahill. I watched intently and saw the Doctor and Ms. Cahill talking in hushed tones.

He started shaking his head, lowering his head and soon, Ms. Cahill burst into tears. The doctor pulled her into a hug and shook his head. Ms. Cahill continuously shook her head and by now I could hear her loud sobs, as she shouted no. She looked in my direction worry filled her face, and closed her eyes, pressing her face into the Doctor's shoulder.

My eyes widened and I covered my mouth.

"No!" I shouted and shot up.

Jake cant be… he just can't.

I shook my head, not believing what I was thinking. This must be some kind of joke… I looked around the room and started to run. I need to see to believe that Jake is...

I don't want him to be dead damn it!

Jake!

I pushed passed doors, running around and saw the number of the room Jake's room.

Please be awake! I shouted in my mind as I burst into Jake's room.