Criss,
It's about noon. I'm leaving to go see Nick, didn't want to wake you. I'll give you a call later.
Love,
Amanda
Amanda finished her note and grabbed her things. She walked outside and threw them in the backseat. Amanda put the car in reverse and backed out of Criss's driveway. She took the long way there so she would have some time to think. About 25 minutes later she entered Nick's subdivision and drove to the back where his street was. She turned left and drove slowly down the road to Nick's. She pulled into his driveway and turned off the engine. When she shut her door, she made sure it was quiet not wanting to attract attention to her. Amanda walked slowly up to his door and rang the doorbell. No one was answering so she turned around starting to leave. The door opened with Nick saying, "May I help you?"
Amanda stood there quietly not moving, making Nick ask her again, "Excuse miss, did you want something?"
Carefully she turned around and looked straight at Nick.
"Hi Nick," she whispered.
"Amanda?"
To Nick, Amanda looked more beautiful then ever. She wore a pair of overalls that sported a red tank top underneath it. Her hair was braided into two thick braids on the side of her head.
Amanda nodded her head to tell Nick it was her. Shocked, both of them stood there staring at each other, but not saying a word.
Finally, Nick spoke. "Would you like to come in?"
"Yeah, sure, " Amanda said almost soundlessly.
She took small, careful steps into his house, Nick closing the door behind her.
"So- uh, how have you been Amanda?"
"I've had better years." Amanda didn't face him when she answered his question. She was too nervous.
"Yeah, me too, " Nick spoke, then adding, "why? Why did you leave?"
Amanda was scared to answer that, not knowing completely what to say.
Facing him she said, "I had to."
"No you didn't. "
"Yes Nick, I did. I couldn't stay here. You hurt me, don't you realize that? You hurt me so bad you pushed me away from here. I couldn't live here knowing you were right next door or even 10 minutes away."
"I loved you Amanda. Loved. I wanted you back. I didn't want Megan, at all. You were the one I wanted."
"Then why did you kiss Megan!!?" Amanda yelled partly.
"I don't have an answer to that because I don't know why I did. "
"Was I not good enough for you? What if I didn't catch you kissing her? Would you have told me what happened?"
Nick kept quiet. How was he supposed to know what he would have done? That was over a year ago.
"You wouldn't have would you? You would have lied to me."
"Don't put words in my mouth Amanda."
"Why not? It's the truth."
"Why are you back here anyway? You don't seem to want to forgive me, so why are you back?"
The tone of voice Nick had hurt Amanda. He didn't sound like he missed her.
Tears started to fall slowly from her eyes. She knew why she was back here, she wanted Nick back.
More angry than sad Amanda said, "I came back here to see you Nick. To see how you were doing."
"No you didn't! You left me with a note Amanda. A Note!! You never called, never wrote. You didn't show one sign that you still cared about me."
"You didn't show any signs that you wanted me back either!!! Do you know what the past year has been like Nick!? Horrible. I cried myself to sleep for months. Every single thing reminded me of you. It felt like a part of me was missing. Do you know why? Because there was. You were missing."
Nick kept quiet while Amanda continued.
"I've picked up that phone numerous times dialing your number but hanging up before I punched in the last digit. I sat in my room for a week not coming out. I was depressed and no one could do anything about it. My parents gave up. The only thing that would make me happy again was you. But I knew I could never have you."
"Yes you could've. But your had to forget what happened and come back to me. I couldn't make you come back. You knew I loved you."
"If you loved me enough you never would've kissed her."
"Gosh Amanda!! Get off the subject of that already. You know that it was wrong and a mistake. I told you that!! Can't you find it in your heart and forgive me?"
"Would you have forgiven me if I kissed someone?"
"Yes, because I knew you loved me enough to know it was wrong."
"I can't deal with this anymore. See ya Nick."
Amanda walked out of the door not waiting for a response from Nick. She quickly got in her car and sped off. Her face was getting damp from the tears that fell. She dabbed her eyes with a kleenex from her purse. The more and more she thought of Nick the more she cried. Knowing that she couldn't drive back to the hotel because of her tears she pulled into a nearby Kmart. She waited until she was sure she could drive again and waited for oncoming traffic to clear before she was going to pull out. As she was ready to get back on the road, a car coming at full force sideswiped her making her car pushed into the curb. Amanda's head banged up against the steering wheel and knocked her out. Local witnesses went to both cars and one dialed 911. An ambulance was at the scene within 5 minutes as well as the police. The drive of the other car was fine while Amanda was knocked out. They took her to the hospital while the police talked to the driver of other vehicle.
"What's your name?"
"Megan. Megan Rivers."
The police continued on with the questions and gave her a fine for speeding. She would be charged with Amanda's medical bills, if any, and do 100 hours of community service in place for 5 days in jail.
Later at the hospital police searched Amanda's purse for any phone number of a friend that lived here. They noticed she was from Colorado. They happened to find Criss's number and called her up.
"Hello?"
"Hello. This is Officer Hugh. Is this Criss Lakeland?"
"Yes, this is she."
"I called to inform you that Amanda Jenkins was in a car accident. She is fine and is at L.A. General."
"Oh my gosh. Thank you officer."
Criss hung up the phone and hurried to her car where she drove to LA General. The nurse at the nurses station said she was on the 7th floor, room 419. She took the elevator up to the 7th floor and searched for room 419. When she found it she walked in. Amanda was the only occupant of the room and her bed was next to the window.
"Amanda! Are you all right?"
"Criss. Yeah, just a horrible headache. They told me I was knocked out cold."
"Oh god. What happened exactly Amanda? All they told me was that you were in a car accident."
"I pulled into a parking lot cause I was crying really hard and didn't want to drive. But as I was pulling out of the lot, this car came right at me and knocked my car into the curb. "
"Why were you crying?"
"Nick. I don't really want to talk about him right now Criss, please."
"Yeah, no problem. "
"I heard the other driver is just fine, I guess I just don't have any luck today."
"Aww, Manders. It'll be just fine, just you see."
"I hope so."
"Amanda, I've got to make a phone call, I'll be right back."
"Okay."
Criss walked out of the room and straight to the pay phones where she dialed Nick's number.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Nick. I'm at the hospital.."
"Why? Are you all right?" Nick interrupted her.
"Calm down Nick. I'm fine. It's Amanda. She was in a car accident. "
"Oh my. Where are you at?"
"L.A. General."
"I'll be there in about 15 minutes."
Nick hung up the phone and Criss joined Amanda back in her room.
"Who did you call?"
"Uh, Nick."
"I don't want to see him right now. Call him back and tell him I don't want to see him so make sure he doesn't come."
"Amanda you're being dumb. What exactly happened earlier?"
"All we did was yell and scream, I'd rather not continue on, thanks."
"If you'd rather not talk about it, I won't say a word."
Amanda and Criss were silent for about 5 minutes before the doctor came in and wanted to check up on Amanda. Criss decided to go get something to drink while he was in there. She returned to the room about 10 minutes later seeing the doctor was gone.
She sat down next to Amanda when someone else entered the room. It was Nick. He walked over to Amanda.
"Are you all right Amanda?"
"Just fine," she answered flatly.
Nick gave Criss a look like she didn't want him here. He sat down on the windowsill listening to Amanda and Criss chat.
"Could someone call my parents and tell them what happened? I'm sure they'd want to know."
"Yeah, I'll go give them a call."
Criss got up and went out once again to the payphones to give her parents a ring. She explained what happened and the details she knew. Her parents were taking a plane out to L.A. tomorrow morning. She returned to the room and shared the information with Amanda.
"Thanks Criss."
"Sure thing. So, did I miss anything while I was gone?"
"No, except for silence. That's about it."
The whole night went on like that. Nick sat in the same spot for hours unless he needed to use the restroom or to get something to drink. On the other hand Criss was doing all the talking and was trying to get Amanda to talk to Nick. No luck in that category.
