The next couple of days, Demi and Nick were inseparable. Nick didn't leave Demi's side, and Demi didn't let go of Nick's hand. And finally, the day both of them dreaded was here.

"Are you ready, sweetie?" Madison asks, knocking on the door of Demi's room.

Demi looks over at her and then up at Nick, an unspoken question in her eyes.

"You have to go," Nick tells her. "This is going to really help you, Demi. You're going to be okay, I promise."

Demi's lower lip quivers. "I'm going to miss you," she starts.

"Hey," Nick interrupts her, "we still have a couple more hours together. I'm going to the airport with you, remember? Your flight doesn't leave until two-fifteen, and it's only..." He glances at his watch. "Eleven forty-five."

Demi nods and swallows a little as Nick reaches down to pick up her bag. She studies his face closely when he stands back up. "Are you okay?" she asks him, reaching up to touch a bruise that hasn't healed yet.

Nick can't help but laugh. Demi frowns at him so he immediately stops.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes. "It's just funny, you asking me if I'm okay after what you've been through."

"Oh. Yeah, I guess that is kind of funny." Demi giggles softly, and Nick nearly melts at the sound. "But seriously, Nick. Are you okay?"

Nick nods and smiles at her. "Yeah, Demi, I'm okay."

Demi smiles back and opens her mouth to say something when there's a bang from out in the hallway. She screams and holds onto Nick, burying her face in his chest. Nick sighs and closes his eyes, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight.

"Sh," Nick whispers to her, rubbing her back in slow circles. "Sh. It's okay, Demi. You're okay."

Nick looks over at the doorway and sighs once more when he sees Joe, shaking his head.

"Come on, sweetie," he says, slowly pulling away from Demi. "It's time to go."

But Demi shakes her head, holding onto Nick more. "I don't want to go!" she cries. "I changed my mind. I just want to stay with you. I don't want to go. Please don't make me!"

Nick sighs heavily. "You have to go, Demi," he tells her. "You need to get better. You need this." He looks down at her, hesitantly taking her face in his hands. "Please do this for me," he whispers, his eyes pleading with her. "Please."

Demi looks up at him, into his eyes, and finally nods her head. "Okay," she says after a long minute, resigned. "Okay, I'll do it."

"That's my girl," he says with a smile. "Now, come on." He pulls away from her all the way and picks up her suitcase again.

Demi grabs onto his hand, not wanting to let him go. Nick smiles softly at her as they walk with Madison and Joe out of the room and then out of the hospital, going to Madison's car.

"I'm going to follow behind in my car, okay?" Joe speaks up, putting a hand on Nick's shoulder. "The doctors don't want you behind the wheel right now, since you still have a concussion."

Nick nods. "Okay." He smiles at Joe before putting Demi's suitcase in the trunk of Madison's Mustang. Then they get in the back, Nick's arm around Demi. "I love your car, Madison," he says with a smile as she gets in too.

Madison looks at them in the rear view mirror, smiling as well. "Thanks," she replies. "This is my baby. I've had her for about ten years now. Even restored her to her former glory myself."

Nick whistles, impressed. "That must've cost a fortune."

"It did," Madison agreed, "but it was so worth it." She smiles again and starts the engine.

Demi holds on tighter to Nick as she does, burying her face in his side.

"Sweetie," Nick says softly. "Dem, it's okay." He kisses the top of her head and smiles at her when she looks up at him. "It's okay," he says again.

Demi nods slowly, still holding onto Nick. He kisses her head again, holding onto her as well as they drive to the airport.

"Are you ready, sweetie?" Nick asks Demi a couple of hours later, standing in front of her, holding her hands.

Demi shakes her head, looking up at him. "I'm going to miss you so much," she says.

"Oh, stop it. You're going to meet new people, and you're going to have so much fun, and you're going to forget all about me."

Demi shakes her head. "That's not possible," she tells him. "I could never forget about you."

Nick smiles a little. "I could never forget about you, either," he tells her. Then he stops, biting his lip. "Is it okay if I kiss you now?"

Sorry, I know it's super short, but I just love cliffhangers! Will Demi let Nick kiss her, or will she push him away again?