"Hi there. I'd like to know what room Amanda Jenkins is in. I'm her mother." Mrs. Jenkins asked the nurse at the desk.
"7th floor, room 419."
"Thank you."
Mr. & Mrs. Jenkins hurried to the elevator with their daughter and Chris behind them. Chris pressed for the 7th floor and within a few seconds they were there. They found 419 and walked in. Criss was sitting on the chair next to Amanda's bed when her family walked in.
"Amanda!" her mom said. She ran to her daughters side and gave her a hug.
"Hi Mom."
"Honey, how are you? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, I just have a minor headache."
Amanda said hello to her dad and sister and of course to Chris. She also introduced everyone to Criss. She knew Amanda would want to spend some time with her family so she told Amanda she'd be back later tonight.
Criss walked out to the parking lot and hopped into her car. She had to pay a visit to Nick's house. Last night he hardly said one word to her or to Amanda and she wanted to know what had happened between them.
Criss didn't bother to knock, she just let herself in. Nick was sitting on the couch reading a magazine when she walked inside.
"Oh, hey Criss."
"Hi Nick."
"Uh, how's Amanda doing?" he asked her slowly.
"Better. It would be nice if you were there with her Nick. I know she wants you there deep down inside and I know you want to be with her too."
"You don't know how badly I want to be there Criss. It kills me to see her in tis position, I wish it was me." Nick said.
"Then why aren't you there!?"
"After what happened yesterday, I don't think she wants me anywhere near her-ever."
"You don't know that! And what happened yesterday?"
"She came over, it hurt me so much to see her again. It took forever to even try and forget about her, seeing her just makes it harder to forget. All we did was yell at each other. She ran out of here upset."
"What did you say that would make her so upset?"
"I don't know Criss. I don't know what I said that did that. She thinks I don't love her. I love her more than life itself but she doesn't believe me."
"Well, Nick you kissed Megan. That's why she thinks you don't love her."
"That was over a year ago!!! I didn't even know why I did, and it was not because I like her! I liked Amanda, gosh I loved Amanda!!!"
"I know you do. That's why we broke up." Criss said hardly even saying the last part.
"What did you say?"
"I know you loved her." she repeated.
"No, after that."
Criss was quiet for a minute before saying, "You loved her so much, that's why we broke up."
"I'm sorry Criss."
"Why should you be sorry? I knew you loved her when I went out with you. I knew what I was getting myself into when we were together. I just wanted you to love me."
"I do love you."
"As more than your best friend. I wanted to be in Amanda's place when you were together, only I didn't let anyone know. I've always loved you. You just never loved me."
Nick got up to hug her, to comfort her. He knew she had feelings for him but he couldn't deny his feelings for Amanda.
"Well, Amanda doesn't love me. She'll never forgive me. I ruined such a great thing."
Criss pulled away from Nick.
"Amanda doesn't love you? Nick you have to be kidding me. You are the reason she came out here. She wanted you back. She loves you so much. Do you know how much pain was in her eyes when she came back? She was so hurt, we drove past your house and she started crying she missed being with you here so much."
"It doesn't seem like she loves me. I told her I loved her but she won't forgive me."
"Give her time Nick."
"I gave her a year!!! And she doesn't forgive me now she never will!!"
"Step into her shoes right now, you should have been her shoes the past year! What if you caught her kissing someone else? You would be upset and heartbroken just like she is. "
Nick was quiet. If he had seen Amanda kiss another guy, he would have been mad. He wouldn't have wanted to see her and he sure wouldn't forgive her. It was just switched around, he was the one who kissed someone else.
"I've gotta go." Nick said.
He ran out of his house and right to his car. Criss just stared wondering where he was off to in such a hurry. She stood in his house for a minute and left.
Back at the hospital, Chris was in her room. Everyone else went back to the hotel to check in since they came right to the hospital after they landed.
"Did you see Nick?" he asked her.
"Yeah. Yesterday. I went there."
"What happened?"
"I yelled at him, he yelled at me, we both cried. I left and got hit by a car."
"I'm sorry."
"He came by last night but we didn't say a word to each other the whole time. I just talked to Criss."
Chris wasn't sure what to say to her. He knew how much she missed him and wanted him back.
"I love him Chris. I want to be with him so badly, but I can't. It's so hard to forgive him after what happened even if it was a year ago. But all I know is I love Nick."
"I love you too Amanda." Nick said as he walked to her bed.
He had just entered her room as he heard her say she loved him.
"How long were you there?"
"Just long enough to hear you love me."
"Nick, this is Chris, my best friend from Denver. Chris, this is Nick."
"Hi."
"Hi." Chris was upset at Nick for making his best friend hurt and be in pain for a year.
"I'm going to leave you two alone, I'll be back later Amanda." Chris gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and left the room.
Nick sat in the chair Chris had gotten out of and took Amanda's hand.
"Amanda, I love you more than anything in this world. Why can't you forgive me?"
"I don't know."
Nick sighed. "I love you too much to let you leave me."
"I -I love you Nick. I won't leave you ever again." Amanda said with tears.
She leaned forward and gave Nick a short, sweet kiss on the lips. She had wanted to do that for a whole year.
Nick had tears in his eyes from happiness and a smile that melted Amanda's heart.
"I'm so sorry for what I put you through Amanda."
"I'm so sorry for what I put you through. I never should have left."
"It's all behind us now. We're together now and that's all that matters."
"So, when can you leave this place?" he asked still holding onto her hand.
"Friday the doctor said," she said, the paused, "But, I have to leave after I get out. My parents want me back in Denver. And I have school next week." she said sadly.
"Can't they let you stay one more day, for me?" he said with a puppy face.
"I think I can convince them for one more day."
Nick grinned. She sat up and gave him a hug never wanting to let go.
Criss walked in the room to see her two best friends hugging. She smiled to herself as she got closer. They separated and kissed.
"Well, well, well, I take it things are back to normal."
"Yeah," Amanda said softly.
"I'm happy for you." Inside it was killing her. She was happy for both of them but she wanted to be with Nick. But, she knew they belonged together.
"I talked with the police department Amanda. Your car needs repairs but fortunately Megan has to pay for them. And I paid her a little visit too. She didn't know it was you she hit and she said she hopes you get better."
"Yeah right. When I am better I'm going to go kick her butt for recking my car but I'm going to thank her too, Nick and I are back together."
"You go girl." Criss said with a laugh making Amanda smile.
"I'm going to go, I know you two have a lot of catching up to do. I'll come back later tonight."
"You don't have to go." Amanda said.
"I know, but I think I should."
"I'll see you later then."
"Bye."
Criss walked out of the room and went back to her house.
"So Nick, what have you been up to this past year?" she asked.
"Besides the obvious, finished up the tour, were taking a break now. 3 months off and then we go back to the studio to record for the new album."
"I want to be the first person with the new album. "
"I can do better than that. I can get you a personal serenade of the album, well a few of the songs anyway, how would you like that?"
"I'd love that."
"Of course I'll give you the album before it comes out and I'll sing you my song on there."
"You always know a way to a girl's heart."
Nick gave her a warm smile.
Amanda yawned. She's been up since 4 in the morning because she couldn't sleep.
"I can see you're getting tired."
"Just a little bit."
"Lay back."
"Ok." Amanda said a little skeptic.
Nick seen she was wondering why he told her to do that so he added, "I'm going to sing you to sleep."
"Goody."
Amanda shut her eyes as Nick began.
"Open up your heart to me, and say what's on your mind...." Nick continued while Amanda fell asleep peacefully.
He gave her a kiss on the forehead and sat back in the chair watching her sleep. He soon fell asleep himself, but to be woken up by the doctor 10 minutes later. He needed to check on Amanda and was glad to see her sleeping since she hasn't been. Her family came in about an hour later with Chris.
"I'm Nick." he said outstretching his hand out.
"Hi there. I'm her mother and that is her father and sister. And I know you already met Chris."
"Yeah. Well, I'm going to go now, I have some things to do and I'll let you be alone with her. Nice to meet you all."
"Nice meeting you too Nick."
Nick walked out of Amanda's room with Chris close behind him.
"I just wanted to ask you if you and Amanda were back together."
"Yeah, we are."
"That's good. She loves you more than anything. Take care of my girl."
"I will," Nick responded, "I will."
