Chapter 3



"I'll drive you," said Nick. "You shouldn't drive when your upset." They got in his car and he drove as fast as he could, legaly, to the hospital. They got there and hurried inside. When she passed the waiting room she saw her mom sitting there. Jessica ran over to her and they hugged.
"How's dad?" asked Jessica.
"He's in critical condition and they won't let anyone see him," said her mother. "Who's your friend?"
"This is Nick Carter. Nick this is my mom Kathy."
"Nice to meet you Nick, sorry we couldn't meet under nicer terms," said Mrs James.
"Nice to meet you too," said Nick.
They all sat down and waited. After about 15 minutes a doctor came in. Mrs James jumped up and wen't over to him. "Is he all right?"
"I'm so very sorry to inform you that... you husband has passed away," the doctor said in a low voice.
Mrs James started crying. Nick got up and led her to a chair and handed her a tissue. Jessica just sat there. She was to shocked to say anything. Her father, her one and only father, was... All of a sudden Jessica jumped up and ran towards the exit.
"Jessica wait," yelled Nick. He ran after her. He caught up to her outside. She sat down next to a tree, put her head in her hands and started crying. "I... I'm so sorry," said Nick, who was starting to get choked up himself. He put his arm around her and stood her up. He held her in his arms. She layed her head on his chest and cried.
"I loved him so much," she sobbed. "And I didn't get a chance to say goodbye."
"I wish I could say I know how you feel, but I've never lost someone that close to me before. Come on, lets go back inside to your mom."
Jessica wiped the tears off her face and walked inside with Nick's arm around her. Her mother was talking to a nurse. When she saw Jessica she wen't and gave her a hug.
"I can't believe this happened," said Mrs James.
"I know," said Jessica.
"Come on, lets go home."
"Is it allright if I go with Nick?"
"Well, I guess thats allright."
"Bye mom, I love you."
"Bye," said Mrs James.
Jessica and Nick left the hospital. Nick put his arm around her waist and pulled her close as they walked.
When they got to her car she got in and she started crying. She couldn't help it though.
"I wish I could do something," said Nick. "I'm sorry."
"I'ts not your fault," she said through her sobs.
He reached over and touched her chin. She looked up at him. She wiped the tears off her eyes and tried to smile. "I love you," said Nick.
"I love you too."
Nick started singing. "My love is all, I have to give, without you I don't think I could live. I wish I could give the world to you, but love is all I have to give." He had the most unbelievable voice. She almost forgot about all her troubles. All she could think about was that she liked Nick, and Nick liked her back. "I'll take you to my house," said Nick.
"Okay," said Jessica.
Nick turned on the car and pulled out of the parking lot. "I hate hospitals."
"How Come?"
"I don't know, its a place where sick and dying people go. The last time I was in a hospital was when Brian was having his surgury. We were all so scared that something would happen and he wouldn't be okay. But what's really sad is when we visit little kids with terminal diseases. Its like, What did they do? Why do they have to die so young? Everytime I see a little kid with cancer who only has a short time to live, I almost break down in tears."
"Last Christmas we took some christmas presents to the hospital for some little kids. There was one girl who had like a week to live. She had brain cancer, her hair was gone from the treatment they used to try and help her. But she seemed like she didn't know what was hapening to her."
They sat quiet for the rest of the short ride to Nick's house. Nick parked the car in the garage and they got out. "All this time I never knew we lived this close."
"Did you go to elementary school here?"
"Yeah, did you?"
"Yeah, I wen't to Bayside Elementary school," said Nick.
"Really? So did I."
"Who did you have for 5th grade?"
"Um... geez, that was a while ago," thought Jessica. "I was in Mrs Hollands class."
"I had Mrs Wallace. So that means our classrooms were right next to each other."
Nick led Jessica to the front door and inside. "Nick, is that you?" called a woman from another room.
"Yeah mom, its me," said Nick.
Jane Carter walked in the room. "You brought a friend."
"Mom, this is Jessica. Jessica, this is my mom Jane."
"Nice to meet you," said Jessica.
"Nice to meet you too," said Mrs Carter.
"I'm gonna show her around some," said Nick.
"Okay." She turned and wen't back in the other room.
"The living room," said Nick spreading his arms. He led Jessica up the stairs and down a hall. "And here's my room." He opened the door and we wen't in.
"Hey Nick!" said a little boy laying down playing Nintendo.
"Hey Aaron," said Nick.
"Who's that?"
"This is my friend Jessica."
Aaron whispered something in Nick's ear. Nick laughed. "I think so too." He turned to Jessica. "This is my brother Aaron."
"Nice to meet you Aaron," said Jessica.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too," aaron grinned. "I'm going to go downstairs, see ya later."
"Bye," said Jessica and Nick.
Aaron left the room and shut the door behind him.
"Do you remember when we had field day and it rained, so we had to stay in the gym?" asked Nick.
"Yeah, I remember that," said Jessica.
"Did you used to wear your hair in two little pigtails all the time?"
"Yeah, my mom used to make me wear my hair like that."
"Then that was you?"
"What?" asked Jessica, slightly confused.
"There was this gil who I used to pick on, and she would always pick on me back. I couldn't remember her name though."
"Oh my god! I remember that! Was that really you?"
Yeah," said Nick. "Thats so weird."
"I know," said Jessica.
"Say, do you like video games?"
"Yeah, some kinds," said Jessica.
"What about Diddy Kong Racing?"
"Yeah, I like racing games."
Jessica and Nick sat down and started the game. They played for abouth half an hour. They turned off the game and got up to go downstairs. When Jessica started to open the door, Nick stopped her and pulled her close to him. "I love you." Jessica started to say something, but Nick stopped her. "I don't think I've ever had the same feelings for anyone before." He leaned closer and gave her a kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too," said Jessica.
They kissed again and wen't downstairs. They walked into the living room where Aaron was sitting with his sisters.
"Hey guys this is Jessica," said Nick. "Jessica this is Angel, B.J., and Leslie.
"Hi," said Angel.
"Is she your girlfriend?" asked B.J.
Nick looked at Jessica and smiled. "Yeah, she's my girlfriend."
Mrs Carter walked in the room. "Jessica, would you like to stay for dinner?"
"Sure, if its not a problem," said Jessica.
"Its not a problem," she said.
"Okay."
"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, Aaron, Angel, Leslie, don't forget to wash up," said Mrs Carter.
Jessica and Nick sat down on the sofa next to Leslie. B.J. was sitting in the arm chair, and Aaron and Angel were sprawled out on the carpet.
"Whats this?" asked Nick, talking about the TV show.
"Figure It Out," said Aaron.
"Oh."
"I wish I could be on that show," said Aaron.
"You probably could be," said Nick.
The watched the show until Mrs Carter called them to the dinning room. They sat down, said a prayer and started eating. When they were finnished, Jessica and Nick excused themselves and went outside. They sat down on the porch swing and talked.
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" asked Nick.
"No, I'm an only child," said Jessica. "I wish I had some brothers and sisters though. "
"Yeah, Its nice to have some little kids to pick on," he laughed.
"My mom's probably wondering where I am."
"Do you wan't me to take you home?"
"I guess I'd better go home, or my mom will call the police."
"Let me tell my mom I'm leaving." He got up and ran inside. He came back out and they got in his car. They rode to Jessica's house, talking the whole way. Nick parked the car by the curb and turned to Jessica. "I have to take Aaron and Angel somewhere tommorow, so I won't be able to see you. Do you think you and your mom can have thanksgiving dinner with us?"
"Yeah, that would be great. I'll tell my mom."
"Well, I'll see you then." They kissed, Jessica got out and went inside.

Chapter 4 Index