Chapter 2:
Nina s POV
Do you think she ll be okay? I asked Fabian, as we sat in the waiting room, peering through her window. Only family was allowed to see her now. It was around midnight, but no one wanted to leave. Tears stung my eyes as I watched my best friend lay there, unmoving.
We can only hope. Fabian said, pulling me close to him and give me a quick kiss on my nose. Ever since we had become boyfriend and girlfriend he had been a lot sweeter to me. Not that he hadn t been before, but he bumped it up a notch.
I hope Jerome will be okay, he hasn t spoken at all since the accident. I said, peering over Fabian s shoulder to see Jerome. He was sitting there in a wheelchair, tears falling down his cheeks. It s the only time I ve ever seen him cry. The doctor says it s the shock that s keeping him from talking, he said he should recover, but I m scared. What if he doesn t, will Jerome ever be the same again? He feels like it was his fault, and if Amber dies, he ll be even worse off any of us.
He just needs time Nina, he just needs time. Fabian said, pulling me even closer to him. He was crying too, Amber was like a sister to him, sometimes annoying, but still someone there for you.
I know, but Fabian, what if, what if she s not going to make? What will he do then? He ll never forgive himself. I asked.
She ll be alright, Nina. Fabian said.
You don t know that Fabian. I said, pulling away from him, and turning to face the window.
But I do know is you re tired, go sit down and sleep. Fabian said, pulling me towards the bench. I let him pull me there. He was right when he said I was tired. We sat down, my head leaning on his shoulder.
I started watching the monitor. The screen with the green line, that moves up and down. It just being there showing that she was still alive, helped me know that everything will be fine. I started remembering moments with her: The time she brought her lucky red heels, and garlic up to the attic, to follow Fabian and I. Or the time she d been so selfless to let me and Fabian have the stage at Prom. Or even that time she sacrificed her picture for Sibuna. And yesterday night, she was the only one that I trusted to tell about Gran, {besides Fabian}, and even though she s Miss Gossip Queen, she kept it a secret. And I drifted off to sleep, hoping that Amber would live through this. She had too.
*Fabian s POV*
We re losing her! I woke up to the screaming. Give her more oxygen! More, more! Nina was already awake, standing by the window, a look of horror on her face. The blinds were shut in Amber s room, and the yelling was coming from inside.
What s happening? I asked.
I don t know Fabian, no one will tell me anything. Nina cried, resting her head on my shoulder. I hated to see her like this; I couldn t stand to see her cry. I pulled her closer whispering,
Its going to be okay, Amber s a tuff one, she s going to live. She just sobbed harder into my shirt.
This is all my fault. A voice said next to me. I let go of Nina, to see Jerome, sitting there in his wheelchair, tears running down his face.
No it s not. I said, trying to convince him. It wasn t his fault; it was the dude that hit their car.
Yes it is, if I hadn t taken her out, nothing like this would have happened. Jerome said, resting his head in his hands.
No it isn t Jerome, you can t control what happens. Amber wouldn t blame you, and neither would I. A tall, blonde woman came out of Amber s room, his face ashen and sad. She reminded us so much of Amber, it hurt.
I m Mrs. Millington, and Amber is very lucky to have a boy like you. If anyone s to blame, it s that van that hit you. She said, smiling sadly, and putting a gentle hand on Jerome s shoulder. Van, did she say van? I looked over to Nina, and she seemed to put it together. Rufus. Oh god, he was back, and this time for revenge.