AN: Plot device. Needed it to move the story on so it's kind of boring.

Chapter Two

Two Weeks Later

The monitors beeped frantically as it broke out of its steady staccato beat. The person lying there on the hospital bed, covered in white suddenly jerked awake, face pale, hair dull and eyes wild scanning the rooms as his arms and legs flew about. With all the strength that he didn't use for the last two weeks, his arms flew forward as he sat up, nearly ripping out the endless needles and tubes that kept him alive. Hissing at the sudden pain that it caused, the patient rubbed his arms but continued to scan the room with distrust.

Veins popping and muscles tensed, the man looked around the room then sagged back in relief when there was no immediately danger but even with that, his brown eyes continued to survey the room. The small white room was pretty empty except for the plastic chair in one corner, the bedside table that could fold open to be a dinner table and the machines. The smell of disinfectant met his nose, causing him to wince at the smell. Light entered the slits from the blinds behind him and painted stripes all over the floor and his bed.

He came to a conclusion that he was in a hospital.

A hospital wasn't bad.

Stretching hides arms and legs, he sighed in satisfaction as the resonating crack echoed in the empty room. It felt like he hadn't move in forever which was true in a way. Slowly and lazily like a cat bathing in the afternoon sun, he stretched all his other muscles then ran a hand through his hair. His hair was now up to his collar bone and the fact the heavy five o'clock stubbled pricked his hand when he ran it down his faced alarmed him.

Something wasn't right.

Why was he here?

Before the panic began to set back in, people bustle in dressed in white and blue distracting him from the problem at hand.

Cowering closer to the top of the bed, he watched as they checked his monitors, the clip board in front of his bed and his water bag that dripping in the nutrients. One tried to check the long needle protruding out of his arm only to cause him to flinch away.

Why are these people touching him? What's wrong?

A man with brown hair highlighted with strips of grey walked in and stared at him before clapping him in the shoulder in a friendly way.

He cocked his head at this. Who was this person?

The man began to talk and that was when he noticed the white lab coat and the name tag that read: Dr Gregory James.

So he was a doctor?

That was a relief, after all a complete stranger poking around does tend to not bode well with him.

The doctor continued on talking, asking him questions about his body's condition which he answered with a simple nod or a shake of the head as the doctor continued on with his check but then there was one question that sent him into full panic.

"Can you tell me your name?"

A name was on the tip of his tongue but then it disappeared as if he was chasing a mystical fairy and now it was gone. That wasn't right. You don't just forget your name.

"Sir, can you please tell me your name?"

Dark brown eyes bore into the doctor's as a flat answer came out of his mouth for the first time in weeks: "I don't know."

One Month Later

"Rose, where are you? Rose!"

Lissa's voice rang out in the dark hallway. Light from the open door spilled forward and into the house, highlighting the amount of dust present as they waltzed in circles. Dressed in a sundress filled with bright blue flowers and a pair of brown flip-flops, Lissa looked like the perfect picture of summer and youth even if it was windy autumn. Her blonde hair falling down her back in its natural state and the hundred and one bangles on her arms clinked together as she cranked her head around the small wall and into the open living room and let out a sigh.

It looked exactly the same as she last left it.

The maroon fuzzy rug was still there, spread across the timer flooring as a white L-shape coach sat on top of it as well as a glass coffee table that held Rose's magazines and his novels. The fire place in front of it was empty as the ashes of the last burning sat there cold and still. The flat screen TV sitting on top of the fire place collected dust from misuse and the potted plant slumped in its wilted form, leaves turning yellow and leaning against the wall in order to stay up. The large drapes that once were white now turned a shade of greyish yellow, blocking out all forms of sunlight into the room.

Sighing again at the sight, Lissa dropped the key she got under the mat into the dish on the low shelf next to her and continued her way through her friend's house.

"Rose, are you in? Answer me! You are freaking me out! Rose where ar –"

Standing in the kitchen was Rose yet not Rose. This Rose was worn, thin and tired. Large circles under her eyes stood out as the red puffiness of the upper eyelid contrast it. Dull flat oily hair hung around her face which was once flushed with colour now paled. Those eyes that Lissa once knew spelled out every emotion, now grew lifeless as her friend turned to look at her still dressed in the same outfit she wore at the funeral a month ago.

The white blouse that was once crisp now wrinkled and stained from either tears or vomit and the black skirt and jacket too, carried stains and rips of its own.

A moment of silent passed them before Rose suddenly collapsed and burst into tears.

Swooping down, Lissa immediately hugged her friend in a death grip as the girl cried her heart out on her shoulder.

How could this happen to her friend? Someone so strong and independent. Why?

0-o~V~o-0

Hours later when all her tears were done for the day, Rose sat quietly on the couch as Lissa hunted down some tea for both of them. Handing her the mug, Rose gave her best friend a silent nod of thanks and drank the liquid which once was her favourite for its flavour, now tasted bland and flat in her mouth. But what else was new? Everything tasted the same since he was gone.

And they said everything tasted like chicken, Rose thought scornfully.

Lissa moved to sit beside her the two just sat there, taking sips of tea until Lissa broke silence, unable to stand the deafness.

"How are you?"

Rose groaned inwardly at that question. They always asked her that question. Every day. Every night. It was always 'how are you?' Did they no see that she wasn't alright? Did they not see the pain in her face every time she woke up? Did they not see the blank spaces around the house that once held his photos which now resided all over their bedroom wall? Did they not see that nothing moved an inch since that night for the fear that she might forget him?

That he might come back.

Apparently not.

"Fine."

"Rose, you are not fine," Lissa's hands clasped around her hands, as she gently removed the mug. "You've been in here for a month. It's not healthy. You need to get out of here even for a second."

Rose turned away from this. She couldn't leave here. Where his smell still stayed inside. Where it felt like he was still hugging her like the old times.

"Rose, have you been eating properly? Are you taking care of yourself? You better not caught a cold and die, you hear me?"

"If only I was so lucky, maybe."

"Rose!" Lissa shouted in shock as she looked her friend who only stared at her with her face voided with any emotions. Lowering her voice, she moved forward to hug her friend. "Please don't say that. I already lost one friend. I don't want to lose the other."

Rose brought a hand up to awkwardly return the hug. The friend's warmth didn't warm her soul up though. Only one person did and he's gone.

"Come on," Lissa said as she rose up from the couch. "Let's get you clean up and to bed. I'll make some soup for you. You need rest."

Weak from all the crying, she followed Lissa to her bedroom where the en suite bathroom was. Rose heard Lissa gasped as she entered the room before her. So she discovered it.

The cream wall that once stood empty now filled with every picture she could possibly find of him. Every photo, smile, clip, paper with his handwriting were stuck to the wall to create a huge collage of them. She needed to see his smile when she woke up.

Just like old times.

She needed to see the way his eyes danced in the morning light.

Just like old times.

The piece of paper that the doctor handed her still sat in the bedside table's draws along with the once blue box now coated black with dried blood. Rose couldn't open it. It hurt too much just to hear the news and to read what was in there might kill her more.

She couldn't risk the pain again. Not that she was getting any better.

Lissa's head popped out of the bathroom door as she made a movement for Rose to come. Moving from the front of the collage, she went into the bathroom and started to strip. Lissa's, being used since their collage days, tested the water one last time then sat her friend into the warm water.

Rose sigh as her muscles began to relax in the water. Bubbles covered the surface as Lissa made a move for her shampoo. Holding a hand to stop her, Rose grabbed his shampoo and handed it to Lissa. Wordlessly, Lissa took it and started to lather it in her hair after splashing some water on it.

"It'll get better Rose. I promise you." Lissa whispered to her as she continued to wash her hair.

"Are you sure?"

"Only time will tell."

"I do hope you're right Liss. I do hope you're right."

After that, Lissa tucked her in after blow drying her hair and dressing her in a pair of comfy sweat pants and a large green t-shirt which she found.

Before Lissa left her friend to sleep, Rose grabbed her hand and looked her in the eye.

"Thank you."

"What are friends for?"

Rose smiled a small smile for the first time in ages then fell into the velvety arms of sleep.

AN: Hi guys, I need to ask, what name do you want Dimitri to have other than Dimitri? Because he lost his memories and Tasha isn't going to let him have the same name so send in, review in or comment on my blog what you guys think and I'll pick the best on.

See you next week.

Bookworm-At-Starbucks.