“Oh God,” I cover my mouth with my hand as I stand in the doorway of Jade’s hospital room.
Nick is standing right by me and I lean against him, grateful for his support. Jade is hooked up to about three machines and she looks like she’s dying. Her tanned face looks pale and her hair lies limply on the pillow. Brian is sat by her, holding her hand and talking too quietly for us to hear what he’s saying. I take a deep breath, put a smile on my face and walk inside the room.
“Hi Brian,” I greet him and he looks up.
“Oh hi guys,” he smiles slightly and Nick walks over to hug him tight.
“We came as soon as we heard,” he says. “I am so sorry bro.”
“She’s goin’ to be ok,” I say, more confidently than I feel.
“Of course she is,” Nick agrees, letting go of Brian. “Since when has Jade ever quit?”
“Like, never,” I say with a grin and sit on the other side of her. I stroke her arm softly, “Hey Jady, it’s Ali. You sure know how to put on the drama huh honey? Do her parents know?” I ask Brian.
“Fuck, I completely forgot to call anybody,” he runs his hand through his hair wearily. “I’d better go call them now.”
“I called Jay. He’s on his way here,” I tell him. “Maybe we should leave it to him.”
“Maybe,” Brian agrees.
“Hey honey,” Nick sits on the edge of the bed and takes Jade’s hand in his. “You’re gonna be just fine Jady,” he murmurs and I feel my eyes fill with tears. I can’t believe how awful she looks. She doesn’t look like my best friend. She’s too pale and still.
“I’m her BROTHER!” Jay yells as a nurse tries to stop him entering the room.
“It’s ok,” Brian walks over to them. “This is Jay Greene, Jade’s brother.”
“Oh, sorry sir,” she disappears and Jay stares at his sister.
“Oh my god, what happened to her?!”
“She had a car wreck,” Brian starts to tell Jay what he knows as he walks over to sit by his sister. Nick has stood up and moved over to stand by me, giving Jay and Brian more space.
“Shall we go get a coffee?” I suggest and stand up. We head outside. “It was getting a little crowded in there,” I say and Nick agrees.
“Where is she?!” AJ yells as he runs into the hospital corridor.
“Through there,” Ali points and walks over to take his arm gently. “Brian and Jay are with her.”
“Is she gonna be ok?”
“I don’t know,” she admits and tears fill his eyes.
“I need to go see her,” he says and walks into Jade’s room. Brian is talking to her and Jay is holding her hand in both of his. AJ stares at the girl lying on the bed. It’s not Jade. She’s too pale, too still, too lifeless to be his Jade.
“Hey Aje,” Brian says softly and he walks further into the room.
“I just heard. What happened?”
“Car wreck. They think her brain is a little swollen but when it goes down, she’ll wake up,” Brian tells him. “That’ll be pretty soon, huh baby?” he asks Jade.
“Sure it will,” AJ says and starts to stroke her hair. It still feels so soft. “She’s a fighter. She’ll get through this.”
“Uh huh.”
“Jady…” AJ tells her softly. “You need to open those beautiful eyes you got and say hi.”
“You wanna sit with her?”
“Uh…” AJ stammers slightly.
“I know you still love her,” Brian says. “You have as much right as I do to be here. More I guess. I mean, you didn’t leave her.”
“No but she would forgive you if you came back,” AJ says and sits on Jade’s bed. “She loves you so much bro. I wish she loved me even HALF as much.”
“She does love you.”
“Not the way she loves you,” AJ says as he takes Jade’s hand in his.
“I’m gonna go get a coffee,” Brian decides. “Guys?”
“That would be good,” Jay says. “Two sugars.”
“I’m ok,” AJ says and Brian leaves the room. “I’m AJ,” he tells Jay who nods.
“I remember you.”
“I remember you too.”
“So, you love my sister huh?” he asks and AJ looks at him carefully. “She told me what was goin’ on a while back. She tried to pretend you weren’t serious but I know it hurt her.”
“It hurt me too. It still does.”
“What about Brian?”
“He’s the reason I’m not tryin’ to get her,” AJ says. “I’ve never tried to get her to leave him. I wouldn’t want her that way.”
“I know the feeling,” Jay sighs. “You want her to be with you because she wants to be with you and only you.”
“Ali?”
“Ali,” Jay says simply and the two guys exchange looks before concentrating again on Jade. They know exactly how the other feels.
“Oh god Howie,” Callie whispers as the couple stand outside Jade’s room. They can see her pale still form hooked up to monitors.
“She’ll pull through,” Howie reaches for Callie’s hand. “She will.”
“But what if she doesn’t?” she looks at him. “I couldn’t deal with it!”
“It won’t happen but if it did, you got me.”
“I couldn’t do it!” she exclaims and lets go of his hand, running down the corridor and towards the exit.
When Howie recovers he runs after her, catching up outside. He grabs her arm and pulls her back to face him. He realises she’s crying and pulls her close to him.
“Callie, Jade will be ok. She’ll get through this.”
“Saul didn’t!” she sobs against him and he holds her back a little.
“Whoa, Saul? Who’s Saul?”
“A guy I loved,” she sniffs and wipes her eyes. “We were gonna get married but then he died. It was so sudden. I mean, one day he was here and then he wasn’t.”
“I’m so sorry Callie,” Howie whispers. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I couldn’t. I don’t know why. I guess I never wanted you to feel sorry for me or to feel like you were competing with a dead guy.”
“I understand those feelings. I lost somebody too. My sister Caroline died of lupus a few years ago,” he tells her quietly.
“I didn’t know that,” she stares at him. “I’m sorry Howie.”
“So, we’re both sorry,” he says. “Can we move on together? Keep their memories alive but create new ones just for us?”
“I would like that,” she smiles and buries her head in his body as his arms hold her tightly.