Yay! I actually pushed myself to write chapter 3! Has anyone else seen the new promo 4 the breaking point? It was leaked yesterday. So anyway to answer a few of the same questions, yes, the title and the story is inspired by the song "How to Save a Life" by the Fray. Now that that's clear as crystal, let's get on with the story!

Chapter 3: The Hospital

"Can I help you?" A curly haired nurse asked from behind the front desk.

"We would like to see Clare Edwards. She was just brought here." I struggled to say.

"Names?"

"Elijah Goldsworthy and Adam Torres. A police officer back at out school said that…" I glanced at Adam. He gave me a pretend-I-got-permission-too-even-though-I-wasn't-there look. "That we could see her." The nurse just looked at me for a moment.

"Room 4 on your right." She finally said, gesturing to a long hallway. We followed her instructions. When we were two doors down… I froze.

"Eli? You alright?" Adam asked. My hands shook a bit.

"I don't know if I want to see her…"

"What are you saying? Not this again! Dude, face it, you love Clare and your too chicken to go see her in critical condition!" Adam fired back. He shouldn't have said that. Shouting in a hospital isn't good, but shouting back would have been worse.

"I'm not chicken…" I mumbled. Adam scoffed.

"Okay, whatever you say. But prove it then. Say you really do love her and you're going to march into that room right now!" Adam jeered. Okay he needs to stop shouting in a medical facility.

"Fine. I love Clare. Now would you stop yelling? There are sick people here. They don't need to hear your loud voice. Now lets go." I said pulling Adam forward by his arm. He gave me a quick glance. I could see his satisfied smirk.

But I realized Adam was right… I am chicken. I'm afraid whether Clare will… live… or not… As we approached Room 4, I felt myself begin to shake again. My trembling hand reached for the door handle. Adam nudged my shoulder to open the door. I counted down quickly in my head. Three, two, one! I pushed the door open, revealing a motionless Clare. She was hooked up to all these weird machines. Adam glanced at her, than sat down in one of the three chairs in the corner. Her cross necklace shined in the dim light. I walked up to her bedside. The heart monitor beeped at a steady pace, thank God. I gently stroked her cheek. Her soft, pale skin felt cold… dead…

"Wow. She's unconscious and I still feel like a third-wheel." Adam joked from the corner. I couldn't be annoyed with Adam. He's just trying to lighten the depressing mood. I heard the door click open.

"Oh. Hello there. I didn't know Miss Edwards had guests." A girl, probably in her 20s with long, flowing black hair said softly as she entered the room.

"I'm Adam." He said with a slight nod.

"And you?" the girl said.

"E-Eli." I stuttered.

"I'm Miss Edwards 'hospital guardian' as I like to call it. I come and check on her every hour or so. Oh and my name is Julia by the way." She said… Julia? Really? Adam stiffened when he saw the contemplated expression on my face.

"Well… I better get going… See you boys in an hour." Julia said. I watched as she left the small room.

"Julia? That really had to be her name?" I ranted. " This night is seriously turning out to be a giant smack-in-the-face!"

"Well, I'm just glad she referred to me as a boy. My mom said that this tux made me look 'feminine.'" Adam murmured.

"You really have to stop listening to your mom. She's kind of… cruel." I said in a serious tone.

"Trust me, I know." Adam said. I dragged my feat over to the chair next to him. I kept my eyes on Clare.

"What time is it?" I asked keeping my eyes glued to hers, even though hers were closed.

"11:42." Adam yawned. My eyes began to flicker, but I fought the urge to fall asleep. I wanted to be awake for when… or if Clare wakes up. I heard a few angry murmurs from beyond the door, followed by silence. Then, it opened. Two adults entered the room, a man and a woman. Their eyes wandered and landed on me and Adam.

"Who are you two?" The man asked coldly.

"C-Clare's friends…" Adam said in a shaky voice.

"What do you mean Clare's friends? My daughter's friend must be of… 'Higher quality'…" the man began until the woman hit him on the arm. She held out her hand to me.

"I'm Mrs. Edwards, Clare's mother." She said kindly.

"Eli Goldsworthy. Pleasure to meet you." I said with a smile, shaking her hand.

"Oh," she said with a grin as she brushed her brown hair out of her face. "You're the boy Clare always talks about. And you must be Adam." She said reaching over to shake Adam's hand. Adam nodded and shook her hand as well…. So Clare talks about me at home?

"She says you two are very sweet and great friends," Mrs. Edwards said.

"Well, she is a great friend to us as well." Adam said, giving me a halfhearted smile.