Chapter 2

When I woke up I was in my bed with an oxygen mask on. I didn't remember anything that had happened the other day, all I could remember was seeing Nick's face and that's all. It was early and quiet; I stared out the window to see the clear blue sky and the bright sun shining down. How I wished I could go out and breathe in the fresh air. I decided to take this opportunity do go out. I was able to get on my wheel chair and leave my room without Sarah knowing. I rolled down the hallway when someone got a hold of me.

"Where do you think you're going?" Asked a very familiar voice. I turned my head to see Sarah staring down at me. I smiled weakly at trying to think of an excuse.

"It's not what you think, Sarah! I was…I was going to… to the bathroom…"

"Mel, you know you're not allowed to go outside." She said rolling me back to my room.

"It's Melanie! And why can't I go outside?"

"Because the doctor said so and what the doctor says goes. You shouldn't do what you want just because you feel better."

"That sucks. I'll never leave this hospital; you might as well just kill me now." I said crossing my arms around me chest.

"Don't talk like that. Now get dressed, Nick should be arriving soon."

"Again? Why? He can leave me alone for all I care, everyone does…"

"Don't be like that. Maybe he likes you, you both make a cute couple. Besides you were whispering his name when I came to check on you last night." She grinned at me.

"I was not! It was another Nick!... My hamster!" Sarah could tell I was lying; I've never been really good at it.

"If you want, I'll let you go outside tomorrow, but you have to do something for me." Said Sarah smiling down at me.

"What?"

"Promise me you'll spend time with Nick 'till the end of the week and try to be friends. Do that and you'll get all the freedom you want."

"I would rather rot. Besides what interest would he have in me? I'm not pretty or talented; he's way too good for me, anyway."

"Say what you will, but I think he likes you."

I was alone in my room. I looked at the clothes that Sarah had laid on the bed for me. I got dressed and laid down on my bed with my guitar and began playing it.

I then herd a knock on the door and said, "Come in" The door opened and I saw Nick holding a red rose in his hand.

"Hey." He said walking in.

"Hi…" He sat down next to me and handed me the rose. "It's for me?" He nodded and I took the rose and held it to my face, smelling it. "It's beautiful. No one's ever brought me roses before…"

"There's a first time for everything I guess…" There was a long pause and he spoke again. "I herd you playing the guitar before I came in, you're pretty good."

"I'm not that good…" I said, blushing and took out my book.

"Why do you ignore me so much?" He asked.

I didn't say anything, I just kept reading. I wanted to talk to him, but I didn't know about what. I've never had a conversation with a boy before.

"You're face is all red, are you ok?" He asked, looking at me.

"Well, I'm going to be completely honest with you." I gulped and my face felt extremely hot. "Apart from the doctors I've never talked with a boy before…"

A blush ran across his face and mine too. Then we both stayed silent.

"I just noticed that you're window is on the west side of the room." He said, staring out the window.

"What of it?"

"Well, you must get a very good view of the sunset from here, it must be beautiful."

"It is."

"Sarah told me to talk about things we have in common so… I don't want to lie to you or anything like that."

"It's ok. Beside you've given me something I've always wanted." He stared at me confused.

"Company." I smiled at him and then he smiled as well. "Will you do me a favor?" I asked.

"What do you need? Ill do anything you want." He said

"Will you jump off a cliff?" I asked him.

"Except that." I giggled and told him what he had to do. I had told Nick to get a book from the library that I've always wanted to read. "I'm back." He said closing the door behind him.

"You're slow." I said. "Did you find the book?"

"Yeah…" He took the book out of the bag and handed it to me. I stared at the book and frowned. "What is it?"

"This isn't the book that I wanted."

"What?!" Nick took the book from my hands a stared at it.

"You idiot. Can't you do such a simple errand?" He frowned and stared at the book. "Go back." I ordered.

"What? Well…It's really cold outside today…"

"So? What of it? You said you'd do whatever I asked."

"Got it. I'm going." He said and began to walk out the door.

"The library will close if you don't hurry up." I said.

He looked at me over his shoulder and said, "I'll hurry." He then took off.

"Am I being too harsh?" I asked myself. The sun began to set and Nick still wasn't back. I got really worried. Night fell and he finally came in.

"I got the book. This time I'm sure I brought the right one." He said. He didn't have the time to set the book down when I was out of my bed wrapping my arms around him. "Melanie, what's wrong?"

"You idiot! Idiot, idiot, idiot!" That's all I could say as I started to cry. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? Don't do that again!"

"I'm sorry." He said, but he still wasn't embracing me in his arms, which is what I wanted.

"Never! Never leave me alone again. Don't leave me…Please…"

I continued to cry and sob, I couldn't help myself. I never felt more alone. I thought he's left me because I was being to mean, but he didn't. Finally, he wrapped big strong arms around me.

"I won't ever leave you again, I promise." He said. I lost my energy and lost my balance, but he caught me again.

"I'm surprised that you're always around to catch me."

"I always will be." He said.

"You act so calm around me. Why is that? Don't I make you nervous at all…Like you do me?"

"I don't know myself. But I do get nervous; you can't even imagine how fast my heart is beating being this close to you." He smiled down at and I smiled as well, and I closed my eyes.

The next morning I was so happy and I couldn't explain why. I took a bath, got dressed and had breakfast. All I wanted was to see Nick's face. I wanted to get to know him more, I wanted to become his close friend and…maybe something even more. When he got here all I could do was smile.

"I wanted to apologize for yesterday." He said. "I didn't mean to be too long, I'm sorry if I made you feel lonely."

"Just make sure it doesn't happen again."

"Yes ma'am!" He said.

"Aren't you going to ask?"

"Ask about what?" He walked up closer to me and sat down beside me.

"My condition."

"Well is it bad? Sarah told me you've been here for eight years. Is it serious?"

"No one knows what I have. I'm probably going to die…"