~About 2:30 AM; the next night~
"Lauren?" Jen walked into my room, the hallway light creeping up over my blanket, hitting my eyes. I groaned and looked over at my clock. The bright lime green numbers blinked 2:37 AM. I struggled to sit up in bed. A heavy sense of dread washed over me. I tried to shake it off, but something told me someone was in trouble.
"What Jen? It's like 2 AM in the morning." I said groggily.
"Yeah I know." She wringed her hands nervously. "There's some guy on the phone for you. He says it's real important."
"Important? At 2 AM? Who is it? Brian? AJ?" I asked, rubbing my eyes. Jen knew Brian and AJ, Howie and Kevin too. She's talked to them before, knows their voices. It wasn't one of them. If it was a practical joke, I was gonna seriously hurt somebody.
"Uh- Uh. He asked to speak to Laur. Which I assumed was you…" her voice trailed off.
"H-He said what? Who'd he ask to speak to?" I stuttered. Only one person called me that. Or used to.
"Laur." She said. I hopped out of bed, and she gave me the phone.
"Hello?" I asked, my voice so soft I could barely hear it myself.
"Laur?" My stomach turned, and my heart stopped beating.
"Nick?" I asked incredulously, hearing his voice for the first time in more than half a year. "What-" my head spun.
"It's Brian. He w-was in a car accident last night. They…They don't know if he's gonna…"his voice trailed off, and I could tell he had been crying.
"Brian?" I let out a silent sob. "Where are you at Nick?"
"At Tampa Memorial. Hurry Laur."
I took a shaky breath. "I'll be there soon. Don't let him…without saying good bye." I couldn't mumble the words that I couldn't say.
"I won't." he said, and he knew what I meant.
I hung up the phone, and threw on jeans and a tank top. I walked into the living room, and Jen was looking at me with a concerned look on her face.
"What's the matter Lauren?" she asked standing up when she saw the tears in my eyes.
"It's Brian. He's been in a car accident." I choked out, tears streaming down my face. She hugged me tightly for a moment, then grabbed her keys. She slipped into her tennis shoes, and headed for the door.
"C'mon. I'm driving." I just nodded after her. I was too emotionally upset to drive anyway.
"Tampa Memorial?" she asked as she began to zoom off down the street.
"Yeah. Please hurry Jen." I whispered as I closed my eyes.