Update: Holy crap ok so I wrote this chapter within a couple of hours! I can't believe how much I wrote! I should really write this much for college but I have stayed up gone 2am so this is dedication! I didn't even make a plan for this I just started writing and I couldn't stop! I haven't done this in a LONG time. I am quite proud of myself. And this chapter is an interesting one too! ;) thank you all again for all your kind words and commitment to reading this! - Luna

-

I'm frantically trying to check his pulse and see if I can do CPR..

It's not working! Shit fuck!

I quickly grab my clothes and rush to put them on and then I run out of the studio to get help.

I shout down the corridor, "HELP HELP! NICK HAS COLLAPSED!"

My Nick... please...

*

It's Been A Long Year; Since We Last Spoke

Chapter 22

Demi's POV

June 1st, 2012

I have not left his side for two straight days.

I cannot believe he left himself go like this.

I feel like it's all my fault.

He has barely been awake, and he has barely said a word.

He knows I'm here though.

He seems to be doing better, but I couldn't say for sure.

The doctor walks into the room, his glasses are fixed tonight across his face. He has a stern look on him, he seems distressed slightly. I hope to god that it isn't bad news.

"Okay, Miss Lovato is it?"

He flicks through the pages of his clipboard and then looks up at me.

I nod, my throat caught up. I didn't know if I could speak or really wanted to.

"and you are a friend of his...?"

"Girlfriend." I say the word with a croak in my voice, I barely recognise how I sound. I am so scared I don't know how to think.

"You've been here for practically two days now. Even his family haven't stayed this long. You must go home some time."

I'm looking down at the floor, not realising this until I look back up at the doctor.

"Not without Nick."

"I must look like hell" I realise.

My eyes feel puffy from the crying, I haven't washed my hair, I have barely eaten or slept. The doctor is probably right but I don't care.

He sighs, "Okay but you are lucky I let you be here. And I have been made aware you have been released from Timberland Knolls quite recently. I don't want to be harsh; but if you're not careful you may end up back there."

No way.

I am not going back there.

Not when I have made so much progress.

Or have I? I mean, I am really that much better?

I will be better when Nick is.

"Just tell me that Nick is gonna be okay."

"Yes he is. We need to keep him here for one or two more days and then he can be released. He would be in a lot better shape if he had kept up with eating properly. His blood levels have skyrocketed and it's no wonder he's been unconscious most of the time. Seeing as you are his girlfriend, please make sure he does keep up with it this time."

I nod again thinking, "This guy seems like such a jerk... but I guess he's just doing his job."

"Thank you."

He smiles at me meekly, and I realise he doesn't seem like he does that often. With the job he does, I can't imagine he would. I notice the lines across his face, the bald patch on his head. I couldn't tell if he was quite old or just unfortunate in aging.

He walks away, leaving me to ponder whether things really are going to get better.

A few hours later

I'm half asleep and still holding a coffee cup when I notice Nick's eyes begin to flutter open. I jolt awake, hearing him murmur, "Demi..."

"Nick?"

He turns his head, and finds his eyes towards me. His eyes are droopy, his face rather drained. Somehow he still looks so devilishly handsome.

"Demi... oh man..."

He reaches his hand up to his face and rubs his palm across his eyes.

I notice the bag with the needle and insulin next to him. The nurses must have been making sure he's taking it.

I fed him earlier when he needed some carbs. He reluctantly ate, which makes me wonder how much he really has been eating since I was gone.

"Demi. Are you okay?" He asks in such a drowsy tone. His face looks pale, scary pale.

"Never mind me, are YOU okay? You fucking scared me Nick!"

He sighs, "I know."

"And why haven't you been eating properly?"

He shrugs, "Life's been too busy. I haven't had the time..."

"No Nick you can't do this. You NEED to make sure you're taking enough insulin and having a balanced diet!"

He groans, "Oh Demi come on what are you my mom?"

I roll my eyes. He's not being fair.

He realises how he sounds.

"Shit Dem I-"

I put my hand up to shut him up.

"Nick it's fine. Just please. I care about you! I wouldn't have stayed at the hospital for two days if I didn't!"

"Wait wha..? You've been here for two DAYS?"

"Yes Nick. Believe it or not I thought you could die."

"Jesus shit I'm so sorry Demi. I didn't mean for this to happen I-I just..." he pauses.

A tear begins to fall down his cheek, he looks so broken that I honestly think I'm looking in the mirror. Can he actually emphasise with my situation more than I thought?

"...I guess I just haven't been looking after myself because I needed you to be ok first."

"Oh Nick you're such a moron! You gotta stop this. You don't need to take care of me all the time."

"But Demi I do. I don't know anything else."

He smiles at me, his warm smile that always flips my stomach.

"How dare he say that to me?

Total bastard he is.

But mine... and I'm not sharing him."

-

June 5th, 2012

So it seems that Nick is back to his healthy self. He had been in hospital for almost 3 days in the end but everything is in the clear for now.

I'm at Nick's hotel room/apartment, and we had been discussing about his family and where they stand with me. I briefly spoke to them when they came to the hospital, but it was still awkward between them and I. I don't know where to start with how they feel about me.

"So Joe and Kev are being cowardly about all this. They can't seem to come to you and tell you how they honestly feel. Instead they have to lecture me about it and how I'm getting back into such a mess, blah blah blah, bullshit bullshit..."

I snort sarcastically. It really is sad.

"I am getting so sick of them. Even dad. I don't know where I stand with dad sometimes. I thought he cared. I thought they might have all actually changed in the last year and a half but I guess not. Joe and Kev forget that you were one of their closest friends. Some family huh?"

It startles me how much he had been complaining about this. It's like he had pent up the last 6 years of his life and damn, there has been a lot that happened. It feels nice to hear someone else's problems that are not mine. I feel like I can be Nick's therapist for once.

"Demi please stop me. I don't want to keep droning on about this..."

"No Nick. I'm taking care of you and I'm here to listen to you. You have never spoken about any of this to anyone have you?"

Nick shook his head. He looks so frustrated, tired even. I have never seen him like this before. His hurt is my hurt.

"Nick... I've never seen you so vulnerable before. You've been wearing your heart on your sleeve for too long."

He looks back up at me, his smile sheepish.

"I could say the same for you."

I nod, knowing he's right.

"Who knew we had so much in common. More than either of us ever knew about..."

"Uh huh. We're both drop dead sexy err..." he grins at me.

I roll my eyes. He was always good at making a serious situation into a funny one.

Maybe that is part of his shell.

I've been stuck in my own little world for so long that I never ever stopped to think that maybe Nick had been damaged too.

A complicated relationship with his father for so many years, (which funnily enough is the same with me and my real father Patrick) a string of exes that pulled his heart, (my exes pulled my heart) and of course unlike myself, his struggle with diabetes. How has he coped?

"You should have opened up to me a long time ago Jerry.

"Oh god no. My problems are a mess. You need to focus on your own."

"Nope. Your problems are mine now, just like mine had been yours. It works both ways! You are too damn selfless for your own good..."

Nick looks at me in slight shock. I shook him up a bit, and maybe he'll start to realise that I really am back in his life for good now.

I'm not walking away this time.

If I do, then I will never forgive myself.

"I just hope that they will come around. They can't stay ignorant and mad at you forever. You didn't even do anything wrong..."

"Yes I did. I left you."

"We are not going through this again. Just remember you needed the help and you got it. I'm so thankful for that."

I smile at him reassuringly, and then I say, "you are amazing."

He lifts his eyebrows up and smirks, "Weelll... I do try..." he winks at me.

I giggle and I then put my hand on his leg. We have been sitting on this couch for ages talking about everything.

We have conviniently managed to avoid the whole fainting situation though, which I WILL get him to talk to me about.

I look at the table with Nick's medicine on it. His bottle of insulin, two syringes, his glucose level thermometer, cotton pads and the little bottle of alcohol for soothing.

"Would you like me to do it?"

"No Demi it's ok you've done plenty."

"Please. Let me."

I pick up the bottle of insulin and roll it between my hands. I then get the thermometer and the needle that pricks the finger or stomach. I shuffle closer to Nick and lean over him. I lift his shirt up and I get the needle, gently grazing the tip of his skin until a little blood comes out. I then let it sink onto the strip that indicates his levels.

"Hmmm a little low..."

Nick nods and I proceed to get the alcohol and a cotton pad to place on a patch of Nick's skin. I then grab the bottle of insulin and insert the syringe into the liquid. I then place the syringe upside down so the bubbles go up to the top. I wait a couple of minutes before I put the syringe in.

I then gradually edge the syringe towards Nick, where he pinches a bit of his abdomen to avoid getting too much muscle and then I push the insulin into him at a 90 degree angle. Nick grunts, shaking his head.

"Is that ok? Are you ok?

Nick closes his eyes and nods.

He opens his eyes once more, and despite the strange timing, he looks sexy. His brown eyes glow in the sunlight that is shimmering through the curtains.

I really do love him.

"I love you." I realise I say this outloud.

Nick gives me a big smile and pulls me into a tight hug. He has barely touched me since we left the hospital. He had been too weak to do much until now.

He then stands up and says, "I think I'm gonna use the treadmill. I need exercise."

"Good idea. I will go to the supermarket and buy some groceries. I'm gonna make sure you eat more staple foods, for a healthier diet. And NO protesting!"

He nods, "Yes ma'am"

Nick grins at me once more and I pull him into a kiss. I haven't really kissed him for 6 days so I need this.

Nick hums into the kiss, his lips moist and soft. His tongue gently wraps round mine. His hand wavers in my hair, slightly tugging it into a fist. I have my hands round his back and I begin to lose myself in him. But I know I must get some food for him.

I let go for air. He stares into my eyes, having not let go of me quite yet, our heads stuck together. I then give him one last taste of my lips before I head for the door.

"I love you too by the way! Please do hurry back Demi..." his eyes are puppy dog eyes and he looks calm. He's so cute.

I turn to the door and give him a blow kiss goodbye, grabbing my bag as I leave.

-

I'm in the supermarket now and I begin to look for things that I know Nick should tolerate. Obviously he'll be happy with things like pasta, but green veggies maybe not so much.

I also pick up some glucose tablets, diabetic chocolate and just a few sweets in case of an emergency.

I then get some chicken, fish, and rice. I also pick up avocado for myself, and various other deities that I know we would both need. I know I certainly need a good facial scrub for the shower! I am NOT using soap again.

As I grab the Clean & Clear facial wash that I sometimes buy when I then accidentally bump into someone in front of me.

I look up to say, "sorry" when I realise that I recognise the person that I just walked right into.

Wilmer.

I hadn't spoken to him in months.

I barely have even thought about him since Nick had been back in my life.

"Oh my god! How is here right now? What the fuck do I say right now? 'Oh hey Wilmer how are you it's been like half a year since I last saw you, but that's fine because it wasn't like we were going on any dates or anything!' Jesus christ..."

His hair is gelled back, his eyes similar to the colour of Nick's, his skin tanned as always...

"Hi Demi! Sorry I didn't see you!"

He gives me that smile that at one point I honestly can admit made me slightly starry eyed.

Why has he been put here in this exact moment to bump right into me of all the times ever?

Talk about THE worst timing.

"Hiya... Wilmer..."

"How's it going? How's life?"

"Well, does he have all day?"