Chapter Four

~ Zac ~

Now I feel guilty, I shouldn’t have read her journal, it was sitting there and I was kinda bored after talking myself dry. I poured a drink, and the sight of my face again hitting me. It was bad I know it was, but I also feel it was good because it gave me an insight to her personality, I feel like I know her much better now after reading it. I must admit I was kinda worried she might be one of these obsessed fans, you know the sort, the scream squad. I don’t think I could handle it if she woke up, and totally freaked out because I was sitting here, they always make me scared and nervous those sort of fans. I know she’s not because she put here in year 2000, she was at a concert in America, how awesome coming all that way to see us. She has it right there, saying "I hate it when they all scream, I can’t hear the music properly, thank god mom and I were at the front". Looking up at Claire as I read that, saying out load "yeah, I agree Claire they ruin it all, and scare the living shit out of me, I never understood why they do it". Of course there was no response from her, but maybe, just maybe she can hear me.

Another thing I learned was she must be very artistic, she wrote here on several pages, drew another new picture of Zac today, mom loves it, she thinks I capture the real Zac in my art work, makes me feel real proud. I hope I get to look at those drawings sometime, I’m getting to like this girl more and more, as I find out new things about her. Placing the book down, I picked up her hand in one of mine kissed her forehead, and placed my other hand enveloping hers inside both mine, I whispered "good night Claire", as I placed my head down for the night, I could feel sleep take over almost immediately.

~ Claire ~

Eyes flicking, quick spurts of light then dark invading my eyes as I tried to prize my eye lids open, voices spinning in my head male and female voices, but mostly male, all sounded familiar but unfamiliar at the same time. My head fell to the side, eyes still trying to open to look towards the light, panic crept in as I saw a dark shadow near me, trying to raise my hand to my eyes, but nothing moved. It felt like a lead weight was on top holding it down. Telling myself to calm down, trying hard to focus on the light in the distance, I closed my eyes again, wondering where I am, how I got here, and what could be happening to me.

After what seemed like a few minutes I re-opened my eyes realizing it must have been a lot more than just a few minutes since I shut them, it was a lot lighter, the time I woke earlier must have been in the middle of the night. Everything was much clearer, still fairly dark; I looked around it was evident that I was in fact in a hospital room. Thoughts of how I got here and why I’m here came, but no memory was there to clear up my puzzlement.

Looking down to where my heavy hand was resting, now feeling really warm, seeing the shadow a lot clearer right next to me I realized it was a person. Following the shadow down to my bed I saw a large hand laying loosely over my own, covering it completely. My eyes followed the large hand’s trail up the shirtsleeve, to the shoulder, wondering and having no idea who it belonged to. As my eyes trailed up further along I saw the long dark blonde hair fallen partially over the face covering the most of the side in my sight, but not enough. Those lips I had full view of, I knew exactly who they belonged to straight away.

I should know, I’ve drawn them enough times, and longed to kiss them too. My heart started to pound, how could he be here, how could it be him? My mind swirled, and heart raced, what do I do now? Do I just sit here and watch him sleep, hell yes I could do that all day, shutting my eyes quickly and opening them again just to check I wasn’t imagining it, I had no idea what to do next.

I have to touch him, I need to free my hand. Slowly sliding my hand away from the two of his capturing it, I slowly, and shakily lifted it to touch his cheek, I don’t want to wake him, but I have to find out if this is real, if he’s real. Tucking a finger around the stray hair to move it over to his shoulder and behind his ear out of the way, so I could get a better look. I slid the back of my fingers over his cheek, and immediately felt a hand on mine. OH MY GOD………., HE’S AWAKE!!

~ Zac ~

Taking her hand in mine, as I opened my eyes, for the very first time, seeing the chocolate brown of hers, thoughts of how she was even lovelier with her eyes open, they seemed to light up her face some how. Noticing the smile on her lips, to match mine, I heard myself saying, "Hey sleeping beauty, I’ve been waiting for you". It just fell from my lips so naturally I didn’t even realize I was saying it. A blush forming at her cheeks, her shaky words slipping from her lips, "Zac, your really here, but why? I mean what am I doing here? Where’s my Mom?, I’m sorry I’m confused".

Standing then, lifting her hand into both of mine, I tried to explain how she got here, and how we were asked to come. She just lay there staring straight at me as I spoke, her eyes flitting from my eyes to my lips eagerly taking in what I was saying. "Shall I phone your mom, she has been spending the day here and I have been filling in while she sleeps at night. Oh god…I’m just so happy you’re awake, I have to go call your mom, be right back okay". Grinning again and nodded, I placed her delicate hand down and walked out the room, clutching my phone, I looked back and smiled at the door giving her reassurance that I would be back.

~Taylor ~

:::::RING RING RING:::::: "Hello" I said steeling a look at the clock, 6.30 a.m. not instantly realizing where I was at first, cringing then, at the thought of who it could be on the other end, wondering if they would want to know who I was and why I was there.

"Tay, is that you?" I breathed a slight sigh of relief it was Zac,

"Hmmm Yeah, Zac, …..What’s wrong? It’s 6.30 is something wrong with Claire,"

"No, good news Tay, can I talk to Crystal please, is she awake"?

"Crys, wake up, it’s Zac on the phone", I shook her gently to wake her. She rolled over, opening her eyes with a panicking frown.

"What time is it"; she whispered taking the phone placing it at her ear. "ERR Zac, Hi what’s wrong, is there something wrong with Claire". Slight silence, then as Zac was brought back from his thoughts, "No she’s awake, she woke up a few minutes ago, I just left her to phone you. Crystal, SHES AWAKE!" he almost screamed with excitement. Crystal dropped the phone, not believing what Zac had just told her, then realization as she looked at me with a wide smile, "YES!!, she screamed, jumping out of bed, jumping around, not knowing what to do first, then remembered Zac was still on the phone, pulling herself together, picking it back up, "Zac, we’ll be right there", not waiting for his reply she hung the receiver.

I watched as she panicked, to get ready, fast. She looked even more beautiful in the morning I thought as I pulled my clothes on to ready myself to drive her back to the hospital.

~ Zac ~

Shit! Shit! Shit!, what is Tay up to now, it was obvious they were in the same room, I heard him wake her, in the same bed. I was disgusted with him, I’ll have to talk to Tay later, and can’t he ever keep his dick in his pants. He’s gonna ruin everything for me I just know he is. As I approached Claire’s room, I shook all thoughts of Tay away entered the room smiling to find her asleep again.

~ Crystal ~

"Penny for your thoughts", I heard him say, pulling me out of my daydream. "Just thinking of Claire, wish I was there when she woke up". I looked his way smiling as he parked the car. "Yeah, I know what you mean, but I would have loved to have seen the look on her face, when she woke up to see Zac sitting there", Taylor said with a chuckle. He turned the engine off, reached over and touched my cheek with the back of his hand, followed by the brush of his lipson mine. "That would have been worth a million dollars to see wouldn’t it". "Yeah" I said quietly, getting out the door and coming face to face with an angry looking Zac.

He looked straight from me to Tay, "How come you didn’t go to the Hotel last night Tay", straight to the point, he wasn’t taking any prisoners, I felt guilty as hell, even though nothing except a kiss occurred. Taylor shot him a None of your business look, and said "later Zac", with that he walked off to catch me up as I strolled away, and left him standing there. Taylor said he had better ring Ike let him know that they will be there shortly for the photo shoot they had planned.

As I walked into the hospital entrance, Zac caught me up. "Hey Crystal", I heard him say, I turned around, and saw a smiling Zac this time. "Sorry about back there, I didn’t mean to pry, I was just a bit shocked to find Tay answering your phone this morning that’s all". "It’s okay Zac, I can see why you were shocked, but nothing went on there last night, it’s a long story why Tay was there, but I’m sure he’ll fill you in with the details later". He added and smiled, "Okay, I just want to say sorry anyway". Changing the subject as we approached Claire’s room, I said, "sooo, how is she? And what did she say when she saw you sitting there", He smiled that Huge Zac smile that melted thousands of teenagers hearts, including my own daughters. "Well, it sure was a moment I won’t forget, she was surprised, but she was pretty cool about it too". "I Bet", was all I could say as we opened the door to see my daughter awake.

We all sat chatting waiting for a while, the doctor had been in to see her, said as far as he could tell there was no permanent damage, and after a few tests should be home in a few days. That was when I got a shock of my life, "I’m so glad she woke up, we have to leave for Italy the day after tomorrow", Zac explained. My eyes shot to Taylor’s, his eyes wide and he cringed at the expression on my face, I had reacted to the news badly. I knew they had to go "What so soon" was all I could say.

~Taylor~

The look on her face told me exactly what I wanted to know her disappointment was clear. That to me was like a green light, I knew right then that she wanted me as much as I wanted her, and I loved it. Also hating it, because the thought of being away from her was starting to hit me, and I don’t quite know how I’ll cope with it. All I know is I have to make the next few days count, because after that the future is so uncertain.

Zac and I had to leave for the photo shoot, Crys and I left them to say goodbye, so she walked me back to the car. "So your leaving soon", she said trying to sound casual.

I took her hand pulled it up to my lips and kissed it, she turned her body facing mine as I spoke, "Crys, can I take you out to dinner tonight, when we get back, I’m sure Zac will want to come back to sit with Claire". "Okay", was all she said as she leaned in and kissed me lightly on the lips. The kiss only lasted for a few seconds, as her hand touched mine when she leaned in, It sent a shiver down my spine and I almost pulled her in for a longer kiss, but could see Zac walking towards us as I looked over her shoulder. The slightest touch from her, left me desperately wanting more.