Sorry that it took me so lang to update...

but I had a very bussy time...

the story is also going to be cut short, so an alternate ending will replace the original, whiwh shortens the story for about 6 chapters...

after this chapter is chapter 10...

then a Bonus chapter

and then the Epilogue

so this story is near its end...

thanks again for the faithful reviewers

xxx

Chapter 9: Words of Comfort and Confronting Reality

Ned looked at Mrs. Mosley like she could sentence him to death. Which at some point actually was true. Her face showed little what the news could be, it was still the dumb-struck and frightened look she had earlier.

"Ned, dear…" Mrs. Mosley said as soon she was close enough to talk. "They just brought Jenny back to the intensive care, she… Its not sure what will happen when she wakes up, if she ever wakes up..." she let out a heavy sob. Ned did the only thing he thought of; he hugged Mrs. Mosley and whispered to her that Jennifer would be alright. That she made it to far to give up now.

Mrs. Mosley muttered a word of appreciation and left, leaving Ned and Suzie alone again.

"So she is really…" Suzie said softly, tears glistering in her chestnut colored eyes.

Ned simply nodded, he still had to sort out the events of the past hours.

A single tear rolled down his cheek when Ned turned to Suzie. "I love her Suzie… I can't cope if she…" Ned's breath quivered and more tears started to fall.

"She will be okay Ned, I promise… I'm sorry for not believing you…" Suzie hugged Ned close and stroke his hear in a comforting way.

"Any news?" the careful voice of Cookie made Ned jump. He turned around to face his best friend. "She just came back of surgery, she's lying in the intensive care now… No one knows when she'll wake 

up…" Ned said while looking down at his shoes, not able to look Cookie in the eye.

"Will she… there's something you're not telling me…" Cookie said, looking worried.

Ned drew a large breath before he blurted out: "They're not sure how she'll be when she wakes up…"

Cookie's eyes went wide. Without one more word he pulled Ned into a hug. "This is probably not the good time to say this, but you made the news again Ned…"

Ned frowned. "Now what?"

"Well, they call you the 'poor boy no one listens to but stuck to it till the end'" Cookie said, frowning also.

"They call me what now?" Ned snapped.

"You're a hero Ned," Cookie said with a sad grin.

"So now I'm not the lunatic that can't accept that his girlfriend is dead? Now, when its to late for them to help, they see that I was right al along… They make a report over it, saying that I'm some kind of hero?" Ned said, outraged. "When would they just butt off and leave me, Moze and our families alone?"

"I know Ned, but…" Cookie sighed. "No, no buts, you're right, they should leave it alone, but that's the press, they die if they don't have a good story in time… and to tell you the truth, this is quite a story… a bit scary though…"

"Tell me about it," the grim voice of Suzie piped up.

Ned looked at her with worry, she hasn't said anything since she asked if Jennifer would be alright.

"Well it is…" Suzie said, taking Ned's worried expression as one of disbelieve. "You showed up at my door, telling me that Jennifer called you to beg you to help her… A little before that, Simon called me and told me about your dream…," Ned shot Cookie an annoyed glance at this. "And then you tell me that she called you… and… now she's here…" Suzie let herself fall back onto the bench and rested her forehead on her palms, a sob escaped her. "You never gave up… even when everyone made fun of you because of it… you just wouldn't give up… If we only believed you sooner…" a tear fell down on her cheek, Suzie slowly wiped her eyes.

"Even if you would believe me… I believed it all along, but never did something…" Ned said, the nightmare still fresh in his mind.

Suzie's cell phone rang, she answered it with a soft sobbing 'hello?'

Ned turned to Cookie. "She would be alright, right?"

Cookie padded Ned reassuring on the back. "Moze is tough… Nothing will ever break her… and she's a fighter Ned,"

Ned smiled softly. "Yeah she is quite a fighter… remember when she had that fight with Missy in our freshman year?"

Cookie laughed. "Yes, that was good… pity she got suspended though…"

"Yeah, most boring week ever!" Ned said with a huge grin. "But Missy finally left me alone."

"Remember when she got drunk?" Cookie grinned broadly. "Now that was entertaining."

"Yeah," Ned admitted with a grin.

- Flashback –

Ned stalked towards Jennifer and Trevor, who was still trying to kiss her. Just when he reached the pair he heard Jennifer shout "I said no you insufferable bastard," before she hit him full in the face with her fist. Trevor's hand yanked to the other direction by the force of the impact and he stared at Jennifer with amazement and anger.

Ned stared at her, baffled. Then he stepped forwards and took her by the arm. "Come on Moze, enough excitement for you today," he led her off the dance floor to a astonished Cookie.

Ned barely reached Cookie when a angered teacher walked towards them. "Fighting on the dance floor, I expected better behavior, especially from you miss Mosley,"

Jennifer opened her mouth to retort when Ned said hastily. "I saw it happen sir, Trevor tried to kiss her, and the punch was spiked, so I think he was pretty wasted and I just wanted to save her when she punched him, it was all an accident really," talking at a rate that would make a Querly proud Ned tried to explain the angry English teacher what happened.

"One more accident Bigby, and you and your friends can leave the dance, I do not tolerate violence," with that, Mr Price strode of towards the table where all the teachers and chaperones sat.

"It wasn't even her fault!" Ned shouted behind him.

"That's it… out! All three of you!," the teacher started to usher them all towards the exit of the gym.

"Fine," Ned scowled and took Jennifer's hand to lead the intoxicated girl towards the exit.

"Now what?" Cookie asked when they stood in the deserted corridor.

"That bastard threw me out!" Jennifer said furiously. "How dare he?!" she turned around and walked determinedly back into the gym.

Ned and Cookie exchanged bemused looks before they went after her.

"One moment Bigby!" the last thing Ned needed on that moment stood in front of him, he looked at an outraged Suzie.

"Hi sweetie pie," Ned said with a fake smile.

"Don't you 'sweetie pie' me Bigby," Suzie bellowed.

A few students looked bewildered and amused at the fighting couple.

"What were you doing with Jennifer?" Suzie demanded.

"Nothing," Ned said a little to quickly.

Suzie's eyes went wide.

"Look, I don't have time to explain it right now… Mose is of doing God knows what…" Ned said pleadingly looking past her for Jennifer.

"Ned, I really think that Pice.. Prince… Pi… whatever is really mad now…" Jennifer said, tapping Ned on the shoulder.

"Ow, hi Suzie," she added to Suzie with a smile.

"Don't you hi Suzie me you tramp!" Suzie yelled.

"What's her problem?" Jennifer asked bluntly at Ned.

"Let me tell you what the problem is, first of all, Ned thinks clearly of you when he kisses me," Suzie said while Ned was saying things like "ppsshh" and "nah".

Jennifer looked dazzled at Ned. "Really? That's so sweet!" after a moment or to she frowned. "Actually its rather weird… and scary…"

"And now, he leaves me here while he's of with you, doing God knows what!" Suzie went on.

Jennifer frowned. "Cookie was with us…" she said although she just remembered it.

Suzie made a face as if she wanted to be sick.

"NO!" Ned shouted. "Not in that way…" Some listeners started to laugh.

Ned's eye fell upon the cup of punch in Jennifer's hand. "Can I have a look at that?" he asked in a innocent voice.

"Sure," Jennifer answered and gave him the cup of spiked liquid.

"Thanks," Ned smiled before he threw the full cup away over his shoulder.

"Hey!" Jennifer shouted annoyed. "I was going to finish that!"

"No,!" Ned said fiercely. "No more punch for Moze!" he said sternly.

Jennifer looked at Ned as though she would love to strangle him.

Suzie looked from Ned to Jennifer. "Back to me please! I still would like to know what's going on here!"

Ned sighed. "The punch is spiked…"

Which permits you to hold hands with her?" Suzie interfered.

"I haven't hold hands with her or anyone!" Ned shouted getting angry also. "Moze is completely wasted and I merely guided her," he continued in a calmer tone.

"By hand!" Suzie yelled out.

"She's my best friend!" Ned shouted back.

"A best friend you're in love with!" Suzie retorted.

Ned fell silent, not knowing what to say next.

"She's my friend Suzie, of course I love her," Ned said softly.

Cookie smacked himself on his forehead muttering "Idiot"

Ned looked beside him for backup but found Jennifer missing.

"Your girlfriend is at the punch bowl," Suzie spat.

Ned looked at the punch table and saw indeed that Jennifer was scooping up yet another cup of punch.

Shaking his head, he started to walk towards her but Suzie grabbed his arm and hissed: "If you go towards her Bigby, we're through…"

Ned hesitated for a moment, then shook his arm out of her grip and walked to Jennifer without looking back.

By now, the whole gym, including the teachers where watching the fight between Ned and Suzie, the school most known couple, some baffled others smiling knowingly at the outcome of it.

- End Flashback –

"Suzie really thought that you would pick her instead of Moze didn't she?" Cookie laughed, looking at Suzie's back who was still talking on the phone.

"I'm glad they worked it out though…" Ned frowned.

"They nearly fought though, if it wasn't for Moze…" Cookie grinned.

Ned smiled. "That's her… she would never fight a friend. Remember when she found out she was sort of a bully?"

"Yes but she was the first girl on the wrestling team… and is the best dodge ball player…"

"She is tough… but never tries to hurt someone… remember when she thought that she hit Coconuthead on the face… when she thought she injured him?" Ned explained.

Cookie smiled. "She's a real friend that one,"

Suzie went over to them. "My mom just called, I have to go," she hugged Ned. "She'll be alright just keep believing in her," she whispered before she took of.

Cookie placed a hand on Ned's shoulders. "Lets go inside, mayby you may see her…"

Cookie looked concerned at Ned. "Want to go inside? he asked carefully.

Ned sighed for a moment and nodded. He knew that he would be confronting his girlfriend injuries. It even broke him when he saw her cry after a fight with Suzie, he never wanted to see her in pain again, and now he was going to walk into a room to see her fight for her life.

I hoped you all enjoyed the long awaited chapter :p

leave a review if you want xxx