"Annie he wasn't that loud." Nick told her in confusion.
"She's tired. It must be playing tricks on her hearing." The same Doctor at the door said.
"Sorry Annie." Joe apologised. She looked at Nick.
"Lie down, sleep." He whispered. Annie nodded once, lay down and closed her eyes. The Doctor approached Joe and Nick.
"Mr Lucas, you were here when Mrs Taylor left?"
"It's a personal thing between Annie and her mom," Nick started.
"Yes but right now Mr Lucas, Miss Taylor is in our care. We need to know."
"They had an argument. Annie's parents are in the process of divorcing and her Mom is pregnant with another man's baby. Annie's struggling to cope." Nick explained. Joe's eyes widened.
"Thank you Mr Lucas." The Doctor rushed away, it was obvious Nick just wanted to be with Annie, without being reminded that she was in such dire medical care. He resumed his position next to her bed.
"I'm back." Kevin exclaimed.
"Ssssshhhh!" Nick and Joe whispered; their fingers in front of their mouths.
"Annie's asleep!" Nick added.
"Oh, sorry." Kevin apologised.
"No, I'm not." Nick heard a small voice from below.
"On second thoughts, yes Kevin, some food would be great, come with me!" Joe walked out, dragging Kevin by the back of his collar.
Nick and Annie were alone.
"You have your guitar." Annie stated.
"That I do." Nick agreed, placing it on his knee. "What shall I play?" he asked.
"Anything." Jade replied. Nick started playing a peaceful melody that Annie recognised as a chart song she'd heard the other day.
Nick started singing.
Her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they're not shining.
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying.
She's so beautiful and I tell her every day.
Jade started singing the next verse.
Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment him, he won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to think that he don't see what I see
But every time he asks me do I look ok,
I say,
Nick sang the first part of the chorus.
When I see your face,
There's not a thing that I would change,
'Cause you're amazing,
Just the way you are.
Annie joined in with a harmony.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for a while,
Cause, girl (boy) you're amazing,
Just the way you are
Nick sang again.
Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day
Nick held the last note as Annie sang again.
Oh, you know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So don't even bother asking if you look okay
You know I'll say
Nick and Annie sang together.
When I see your face,
There's not a thing that I would change,
'Cause you're amazing,
Just the way you are.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for a while,
Cause, girl (boy) you're amazing,
Just the way you are
(Nick) The way you are,
(Annie) The way you are,
(Nick) Girl, you're amazing
(Nick and Annie) Just the way you are
Nick and Annie sang together again.
When I see your face,
There's not a thing that I would change,
'Cause you're amazing,
Just the way you are.
Nick sang alone, Annie was falling asleep to the sound of his voice.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for a while,
Cause, girl you're amazing,
Just the way you are
Annie was sound asleep. Nick smiled; she looked peaceful. He put the guitar down and hobbled out the room, meeting Joe and Kevin outside. They smiled.
"Since when was she such a good singer?" Kevin asked. Joe slapped him. "Sorry." Kevin apologised.
"You were really cute, you're learning bro!"
"They're doing Les Misérables at school aren't they? Dude you should go for it!" Kevin enthused. Nick shrugged.
"Right now I don't care. I just want her to get better." Nick stated.
"We all do." Joe backed up.
"hey guys," Stella joined them. "How is she?"
"She's sleeping." Kevin answered.
"So you've talked to her?" Stella asked, addressing Nick.
"Talked, sang, kissed..." Joe listed.
"Kissed?" Stella got excited.
"Dude!" Nick emphasised.
"Anyway!" Stella emphasised, destroying a fight before it was born. "How're you Nick?"
"Limping." He answered.
"And emotionally?" Stella asked.
"Worried." He whispered.
"Nick, she'll be ok." Joe reassured him.
"But what if," Nick started.
"Don't even go there. You'll worry yourself further." Kevin stopped him.
"Hey, is Annabelle Taylor's ward near here?" 3 girls asked the brothers and their friend.
"Yeah, just in there." Nick turned towards them. Their faces turn sour. One stepped forward and slapped him.
"How could you do this to her? It's your fault she's here, you jerk!" She shouted at Nick. His face turned red with embarrassment and anger.
"I tried to help I swear." He whispered.
"Oi, leave him alone, have you not noticed he's injured too. He tried everything to help her. She's asleep anyway." Joe shouted, defending his brother. Nick looked ashamed; the girls blaming him didn't help.
"Whatever." The apparent lead girl answered, going into Annie's ward. The other two followed. A single tear rolled down Nick's cheek.
"I should of," He started.
"Leave it Nick. You did everything you could've." Kevin interrupted. Nick just stood there looking guilty, Joe and Kevin were surprised 1) That those girls weren't ever remotely headachy or hung over after the amount of alcohol they'd seen them consume, 2) they didn't even know what happened, how could they accuse Nick of anything? And 3) that they didn't thank Nick for saving Annie's life.
"They're right." Nick stated.
"No way Nick!" Kevin protested.
"You saved her life!" Stella emphasised.
"And Annie herself told you there was nothing else you could have done." Joe reminded.