Hello everyone,
Here is the newest chapter of this story. Thank you for the reviews so far. I enjoy reading them. I am glad you are enjoying the story.
Enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Eighteen:
AJ wakes up to see her parents and friends worried. Her parents are pacing as Randy, Jack, Stacey, and John sitting down. Stacey is in the arms of Jack blaming herself for AJ's condition. If she just did what Dawn wanted AJ wouldn't in this condition now.
"AJ, you are awake." Randy, who is sitting next to her, utters in relief.
"Randy, where am I?" She tries to get up, but everything starts to spin.
"Oh princess, you are awake. Your mother and I are so worried about you." Her dad says with Randy getting off the chair to let Mrs. Lee take his place to hold AJ's hand.
"Sweetie, what were you thinking?" Her mother wipes her tears.
"Randy, what happened? The last thing I remembered is pushing bestie away to prevent Dawn from hitting her." She rubs her head feeling a headache come on.
"AJ, you are in the hospital." He answers her previous question first. "You did move Stacey out of the way, but Dawn knocked you down. You were unconscious until now. We rushed you to the hospital as John called your parents. They know what happen to you also." Randy explains.
"So bestie is fine she didn't get hurt too, did she?" AJ asks still concern about everyone else besides herself.
"She is completely unharmed. Jack is comforting her right now."
"Why, what's wrong?" She inquires. If she is fine why does she need comfort?
"She blames herself for not complying with what Dawn said. If she didn't provoke her you would be at home right now."
"Oh don't let her think that. Where is she?" AJ looks around to see her laying her head on Jack's shoulder.
"Hi bestie." Stacey gets up with Jack behind her for support. "How are you feeling?" She wipes her eyes.
"Oh Stacey, I am fine. Yeah I have a headache, but you shouldn't blame yourself. You didn't make me take your hit; that was my decision." She smiles.
"But if I just stood up when she said it the first time this wouldn't have happen." Stacey argues not happy with herself.
"No Stacey, you stand up for yourself. You didn't let Dawn push you around. I am proud of you. This-" She shows her, her condition. "This is my fault. I will always come to your aide just like I do with Randy and John." John and Randy nod in agreement. "As you get to know me longer, I am very loyal to people I care deeply about. This goes for you too Jack." She utters. "So, no more crying and blaming yourself for this; this is Dawn's fault not yours."
"Okay, anything for my bestie." She giggles. AJ looks at her a bit weird not getting the way she giggled.
"Sorry, Randy tickled me." She glares at him.
"What, that was plan b if you didn't feel better after talking to AJ." Randy explains his actions. "It worked. You gave us your cute giggle." He smiles, but Stacey crosses her arms trying not to blush at his compliment. "It was actually your brother's idea." He points to Jack to take the heat off of him.
"Thank you, brother. Thank you for always looking out for me." She hugs him as everyone except Randy titters.
"You got played Randy by bestie and your girlfriend." AJ proclaims.
"Wow, you have been teaching her, haven't you?" AJ nods. "Good thing you are in a hospital bed." AJ gives him a quizzical look. "You would have a visit from a certain tickle monster if you weren't." He warns.
"Phew." She wipes her forehead. "That is a good thing, however, you have to get pass my parents and Jack." She happily smiles. "Is that right baby?"
"That is absolutely true, sweetheart." He smiles giving her a wink.
"I can take Jack." Randy looks at his stature; with his football backyard he can get through him.
"Sweetie, your dad and I approved you two together just don't do the PDA too much around us." AJ's mother suggests.
"Sure think mommy. So when can I get out of here?" She feels fine, so she guesses they are just waiting for her to wake up. AJ hopes that is the only reason.
"Princess, they did some scans on you since your were unconscious. We have to wait for the result of them." Her father rubs her hair.
AJ notices her father's actions when he is nervous. He always rubs her hair when he doesn't want to tell something important to her or her mother. "What are the scans for?"
"They found some bruising on your back, head, and elbows. They want to make sure that you are perfectly healthy." Mr. Lee gives her a small smile.
"That is not all of it, what else is there?" She looks around to see all of them not make eye contact with her. "Someone tell me I can handle it."
Being the big brothers they are, John and Randy break the news to her. "AJ, they think they found a brain bleed in your head. They think that it is why you were unconscious." Randy tells her.
"And the bruise near your spine gave them another reason to scan you." John includes.
"They think that I could become paralyzed from that." She whispers very scared now.
"They just want rule it out. Anything impact to the back or spine could cause problems down the line. They just want to make sure everything is fine before they discharge you. You can be just fine, AJ." Randy assures her.
"Or I could be paralyzed and need surgery." She panics.
"Princess, you are fine. Everyone here will be here when you get your results. No one is leaving until we know." Mr. Lee tries again to assure his daughter.
"That is right baby, we are not going anywhere." Jack pecks her forehead.
"Thank you, all of you." She apprises.
They wait in silence for a moment until there is a knock on the door.
"Daddy, don't let go of me." She moves closer towards him. He takes her hand and rubs her arm. "Everything will be fine, princess I've got you." He is scared for her. He doesn't like his baby to be in pain or unhappy.
"Hello AJ, you are awake. Hello Mr. and Mrs. Lee." The doctor greets.
"Hello doctor." Her parents greet back.
"I see you have informed her of her scans." The doctor sees AJ have a hard grip on her father.
"We have, so what are the results?" Mr. Lee asks hoping it is good news.
"Well, we did a few scans as you know. The results show no swelling on the spine just a bruise that will heal." Everyone is relief and grateful for that information. "Now for the brain bleed, we need to actually go into the brain to fix it. Sometimes if it is small enough you can stay for a few days so we can monitor it." The doctor deeply regrets to inform them.
"Why can't we do that?" AJ wonders not wanting to be in surgery.
"That is an option, but your fear and anxiety of hospitals; the surgery is the better option. You won't have your family and friends with you most of the time. You will need quite and bed rest for those days. However, if you have this procedure you get to go home after a few hours. You would be on bed rest for a couple of days to fully heal, but you can have visitors over anytime. You also will have two weekly checkups to make sure everything is okay." The doctor explains his options.
"Can I have someone with me to hold my hand in surgery?" AJ asks wanting to a familiar touch to guide her.
"We don't usually have civilians inside the OR." He discloses. AJ pouts not wanting to enter without anyone. "I will ask my boss. I will explain your status and hopefully I can approve it for you guys." The doctor authorizes.
"Thank you, doctor." AJ smiles which puts a smile on his face. As best as it is possible, he tries to keep his patients happy.
After ten minutes, the doctor comes back. "I am sorry AJ we don't let any civilians in unless they are parents of children. I am sorry for that."
"Okay." She lowers her head in disappoint. She knew it would a long shot.
"I will give you time to digest this information. A nurse will come to bring you to the OR." The doctor leaves again to prepare the OR.
"You will do great princess. Mommy and I will be right here when you get back." They kiss her head.
"Stay strong AJ. This time we will wait for you after your procedure like you always do for us. Remember Team Siblings." John informs her. Team Siblings is a name AJ came up with before they graduated eighth grade. Since they are all only child and they think of each other as siblings, it is fitting for them.
"Team Siblings!" AJ cheers as the three of them chuckle.
"Remember, we are going to be friends forever no matter what." Randy kisses her forehead. They always say that whenever one of them is in the hospital. It gives them comfort in that nothing can break their friendship.
"Bestie, you will stay strong. You are the truest and loyalist friend I will always have. Go teach them how we never give up." Stacey sniffles.
"Oh bestie, I am glad you are my girl best friend."
AJ finally turns to Jack as he rubs his neck. He is scared on the inside for his girlfriend. He hasn't been in this situation before. Stacey is a safe sister not hurting herself bad enough to go to the hospital. "I don't think there is anything else to say."
"Go ahead Jack we allow it this time." Mrs. Lee approves the PDA. Jack looks at her father to make sure which he does nod.
Jack sits on her bed to give her a sweet, innocent kiss. "I will wait for you forever in any shape or form. No matter what I will always care for you. Now teach them that no fear is big enough for you." He gives her one more peck before they take her.
"Are you ready to go?" A nurse enters in.
"Yes, I am ready to go." She puts on a brave smile.
"Woah, we don't want to mess with you." The nurse giggles making the situation a bit lighter.
"That's right." AJ giggles back appreciating the nurse's effort.
Everyone is proud of her strength to proceed with the surgery.
Back at school, Kourtney takes Dawn outside under a tree. "What is your problem?" Kourtney asks.
"I am giving them what they deserve. They lied and got your boyfriend expelled. You should be soaking up all of this." She is surprise that she is not more excited about this.
"I didn't want to hurt them." She exposes to her. Wow, she does still have the old self in her.
"Of course you didn't. Me on the other hand I am a physical girl. I use actions instead of words. However, when you knocked AJ into the lockers and dated the main QB before, I knew I had changed you. You were so like Stacey and them before; it made me sick." She confesses.
"You turned me away from my best friend on purpose." Dawn nods. "So all these years, you never liked Stacey you just put up with her for me." Kourtney is in shocked; Stacey is right.
"That's right. When you started to date the QB I wanted to be your best friend. I wanted to because I know you would be invited to al the cool parties." She expresses.
"So you never really wanted to be my friend besides the cool parties?" She is hurt and realizes that her only true friend is not her friend anymore.
"In the beginning no, but not you changed, so definitely. With both of us together we will take back the school." She reveals her true feelings.
"Dawn, I don't think-"
"Dawn! Stacey! In my office now!" Mr. Michaels marches up to them with the nurse and Ms. Silver behind him.
"Did we do something wrong, Principal Michaels?" Dawn speaks innocently.
"Save your kiss up Dawn. You two in my office now-" Mr. Michaels orders. "You two are in big trouble."
"Your best friend sold you out. You see a true best friend would keep this a secret." Dawn whispers.
"Shut up Dawn." Kourtney speaks out. Dawn is surprise at her outburst.
"No talking until my office." Mr. Michaels orders again. They all walk to his office maybe for the last time.
What do you think will happen with AJ, Dawn, and Kourtney? Leave you comments in the review.