10. Spring
As Jess and Shane were lowered back to the stage, in the corner of his eye, Shane saw Tatiana eying Jess. "Hey, can you hold on a minute?" Shane asked Jess.
"Sure."
While Shane walked over to Tatiana, she stood up straighter and lifted her chin to make herself taller. "What do you want?" Tatiana asked in disgust.
"I want to know what you are doing here," Shane shot back.
"I'm admiring the show, just like everyone else here."
"You stay away from her," Shane threatened..
"Oh, I have no intention of hurting your cancer patient, just you."
"Leave Jess and I alone. I swear, if you hurt her I'll—"
"You'll what? Come after me. Hurt me? You have already hurt me. I would love so much for her to feel the hate that I feel towards you.
"How did I hurt you?"
"You don't remember? You don't remember leaving me for that slut? I remember perfectly well."
The memory of the night at the club came back to Shane. "That was your own fault Tatiana. You know that."
"No, if she wasn't dancing all up on you then I wouldn't have said anything."
Shane glared at her. "Don't fool yourself into believing that, because you and I both know that even if I was having a conversation you would have done the same. Leave Jess and I alone."
"Jess, oh my God!" Matt yelled from behind him.
Shane turned around quickly to find Jess on the floor, passed out. "Jess," Shane yelled.
"Is she ok?" he heard from a performer.
"Somebody call an ambulance!" Matt yelled.
Shane ran and picked Jess up from the ground and onto his lap against his chest. "Jess, please wake up."
"The ambulance is on its way," a performer called out.
"Jess, honey, open your eyes."
Jess was able to open her eyes enough to see that she was in Shane's arms with about twenty of the performers surrounding them. "Ouch," she groaned rubbing her head.
"Did you hit your head?" Shane asked, clearly worried.
"I think so, my head feels big. Does it look big?"
Shane chuckled through his tears. "Its looks head sized to me." He kissed the top of her head.
"Shane, don't cry. I'm fine, really. You see," she said as she tried to get up.
Don't move, just stay still. The ambulance is on its way."
"Shane! Why did you call an ambulance? I'm fine."
"You say your fine, but for all you know, you might just be in shock!"
"Shane," Jess whined. "Let me up. I'm fine."
"Fine, but at least let me help you up."
When Shane helped Jess to her feet she wobbled a little from the dizziness, but was able to gain her balance. "You see. I told you I'm fine."
"Ok, well tell me when the room stops spinning and then I'll believe you."
Oh, he was good. It took a good minute for the room to stop spinning completely before she was finally able to move again. First she moved her hands, then her feet, and finally her whole body. She started walking forward, with Shane supporting her from her side.
hen the ambulance got to the theater, Jess said that she was fine to climb on herself. They tested her blood pressure and heart rate before telling her that she was fine. She was discharged from the hospital a couple of hours later with no injuries.
On the way to Jess's house Shane thought about Tatiana and their conversation— more like aggressive argument— that ended in him remembering that fateful night. "What are you thinking about?" Jess asked him, snapping him back into reality.
"You and why you have to be so painfully beautiful."
"Whatever," Jess said looking out the window.
"Really, you don't believe me? You really don't know how beautiful you are, do you?"
"I'm not beautiful," she looked down.
Shane pulled the car over to the side of the road. "Look at me, Jess."
She looked at him with a look that made him want to take her into his arms and take away all of her pain, even if it meant that he kept it, as long as she wouldn't have to suffer. "You are the most beautiful person in this world, inside and out. The courage that you have, even with your condition inspires everyone whose path you happen to cross. You just don't realize it, but I do. I love you."
He saw a tear fall down her cheek, which he wished she never shed. He leaned in and gave her the softest of kisses, lightly brushing his lips with hers.
"I love you too, Shane."
They sat on the side of the road a while longer, Shane holding Jess in his arms while they just stared into each others eyes. Her ocean blue eyes hypnotized him in their tranquility. Her dark drown hair creating a veil over her freckle covered cheeks. He studied her carefully, taking in everything about her as if it were the last time he would. "So, how would you like your wedding to look like Mrs. Patterson?"
"I don't know Mr. Patterson. I haven't had time to think about it."
"Well, I was thinking for spring."
"Shane, it is spring," she eyed him suspiciously.
"I know," he smiled.
"When did you plan it for, Shane?"
"May twelfth."
"That's less than a month away!"
"I know," he smiled.
"Shane!"
"What? I'm impatient, you know that."
"Ugh," she groaned, but in the inside, she was smiling.