Six Months Later

Rehab. AKA- The most training you'll have in your life.

"Come on, Spurs! You want to be out of here, don't you?" My trainer, Kyle, yelled as I started running on the treadmill.

"You have no idea." I heaved and pressed the button to make it go faster.

"That's what I'm talking about!" He laughed.

I was always the fast one in my school. Especially when it came to running from the trouble. I would either be running from the competition, or running from the cops. And as always, Aaron would be by my side. He would always be one foot in front. The thought of Aaron made my knees lock and I tripped over myself.

"Spurs!" Kyle yelled and he caught me before I fell on my face.

"Ugh! It's okay I'm fine!" I stood up and leaned against the railing. "Let's go again."

"I think that's enough for today. You leave tomorrow. I know you're going to need your energy tomorrow."

"Yeah." I smiled at him weakly and turned the machine off.

"You excited to go home?"

"What's there to go home to?" I rolled my eyes and walked off.

I grabbed a towel and walked back to my room. I was transferred into the recuperation room about three months ago and began my physical therapy for my leg and arm.

Kyle was the only one I truly trusted here in this hospital. I wouldn't even talk to counselors without him being around. He was actually more than just a trainer. He was a real friend. He knew about Aaron and the accident.

"Chris?" I heard Rachel call, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I turned around and smiled.

"How are you feeling?"

"The usual, Rachel. You should know that." I chuckled and sat on the bed.

"Right." Silence.

"How is he?" I looked up at her and looked back down.

"Still unresponsive." She sighed.

"Oh." I nodded and decided to get up and go ask a nurse for a drink.

"Christina. I need to discuss something with you." Rachel called out.

I walked back into the room, with a glass of water, and looked at her, slightly confused. We never really did grow close since she married my dad. I was really close to Zack though. She sighed and gestured to the bed. I sat next to her and waited for her to continue.

"Your father and I have been talking." She started. This isn't good. "We seem to think that with Aaron…. Gone…. Maybe it would be best if you weren't around places that kept him on your mind all of the time."

"What? You mean like just up and leave? What about school? What about Zack! I won't leave him!" I stood up and stared at her in disbelief.

"Christina, you need to understand. Zack will wake up at any moment. You can't just sit around and wait for that day. It could be months, years even."

"No! I'm not leaving!"

"Oh yes you are." I whipped around to see my father in the doorway. His eyes had slight bags underneath them.

"Dad?"

"Chris, you need to understand. Your mother and I have been talking."

"Oh there's a shocker."

"We both think it would do you some good if you went to live with her and Collin for a little bit."

"In Washington? Are you kidding me! I'd be better off in the grave with Aaron!"

I sat back down on the bed and started crying. I couldn't just leave Melvin! What were they thinking?

"Chris. Hunny, you need to just take it easy for a few weeks. If you're doing better, and I know you will, you can always come back."

"Dad I-"

"It's not a suggestion. You're leaving next week."

"So you're just kicking me out?"

"It's just temporary. I know you need it. Think of it as a vacation. Besides, you wanted to go stay with your mother for a while."

"When I was eight!" I argued. "I can't believe you're doing this."

"You'll thank me." He kissed my temple and he and Rachel walked out.

I laid on my bed and groaned in annoyance. They really thought I was going to just up and leave! I had a life here!

"Chris?" A voice called from the other room.

I sat up and saw Aaron's mom, Jessica. Her black hair tied behind her head and her eyes in a distance. She looked like she'd barely eaten a thing.

"Jess. How are you?" I ran up to her and hugged her.

"I've been better. I hear you get out tomorrow."

"Yeah. Time to get back into my routine."

"Yeah." She nodded and smiled. I put my hand on her upper arm and she sat down on the bed. "Chris, I need a favor. I just can't seem to do it."

"Anything." She sniffled and looked at me.

"It's okay if you don't want to. I completely understand if you don't want to."

"Jessica, I'll do what ever you need to do." She took a breath.

"I was thinking…er… William and I were thinking rather. Since I knew Aaron loved your singing. Would you play a song at the funeral?"

"Me?" She looked at me with a needing look. "Like in front of other people?"

"You don't have to." She began but I knew, deep down, she was begging me.

Aaron did love listening to me sing when I wanted to. He would play the guitar while I pretended to form a beat with two pencils during school and sing random things.

"I'll do it." I smiled and she looked at me like I was God.

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yes. I want to. It's what Aaron would have wanted." She tackled me in a hug and thanked me.

Now I just had to think of a song that will make him smile wherever he is.