Chapter Twelve

“Mr. and Mrs. Carter?” the white clad man asked.

“Yes?” Mr. Carter asked as the two stood. Nick watched momentarily before he stood and joined his parents with the doctor. Gretchen slowly followed, standing a little behind Nick as not to interrupt the family.

“Well, she got through the surgery okay...she had some internal bleeding which we had to stop. We were successful. She has a concussion from hitting the dash board, and a severely sprained wrist. Other than that and a few lacerations, she should pull through this fine.” he explained.

“Thank the Lord.” Mrs. Carter said bringing her hand to her face. Nick reached behind him to grasp Gretchen’s hand. “And Mark? The boy that was with her? Can you tell us his condition?”

“I’m sorry, he didn’t make it.” the doctor said sadly. “His parents were in here already and have been notified, they didn’t take it too well. It was a pretty bad accident, I’m surprised your daughter turned out as well as she did. She’s a very lucky girl.”

“Mark?” Nick asked. Mark was dead? How awful...

“Yes, unfortunately.” the doctor shook his head. “You daughter should be waking up soon, you may all go in and see her. Just make sure you’re quiet...”

“Thank you.” Mrs. Carter whispered as the doctor retreated. “Bob? He didn’t make it.” she said, a few tears falling from her eyes. “What will BJ do?”

“I don’t know, Jane. I don’t know.”

“Come on...I want to see her.” Nick said squeezing Gretchen’s hand.

“Nick, I don’t think I should go...” Gretchen said struggling a bit. “It’s your sister, I’m not family.”

“Gretchen...” Nick said stopping to look down at her. His parents continued on down the hall to the room BJ was moved to. “I need you in there. This is going to be hard for me....I need you with me.” he pleaded. He looked so innocent.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, please, come with me.” Nick said pulling her again. She willingly followed. They entered the hospital room silently. Mr. and Mrs. Carter were already huddled by their daughter’s bed, blocking Gretchen’s view of her. Nick moved further into the room, bringing Gretchen with him. BJ came into view. Gretchen held her breath as Nick pulled a chair over and sat in it, pulling Gretchen back to sit on his lap. The scene was making Gretchen nauseous. BJ looked so pale and weak laying perfectly still in the huge hospital bed. BJ looked so small and helpless, still sleeping under anesthesia. Her arm was wrapped tightly in white bandages and she was hooked up to a few beeping machines. The room was completely white, sterile...too clean. You would think that hospitals would make the rooms colorful and happy, but no. They’re depressingly neat and disinfected.

“Nick?” Gretchen asked quietly.

“Yeah?”

“I don’t feel so good.”

“Me either.” he said resting his chin on her shoulder. “What’s she going to do when she finds out Mark didn’t make it? He was her life.” Nick said quietly.

“I’m not sure...it’s going to be pretty bad.”

“I know..I’m going to stay here when they tell her, in case she needs me. You can stay too, but if it’s too hard or uncomfortable, you can leave.” Nick explained.

“I’ll stay....I’m just a little scared.” Gretchen said taking a deep breath. Why was life so hard? Complications during birth...accidents...death.

“BJ?” Mrs. Carter asked suddenly. Gretchen looked back at the bed to see BJ moving a little. She was waking up. This was it.

“Mom?” came a weak reply.

“Bobbie Jean....we’re here.”

“Who’s we?” BJ asked opening her eyes.

“Me, your father...Nick. Gretchen’s here too.” Mrs. Carter said leaning over her daughter.

“Nick? Nicky came here?”

“Yeah Beej, I’m here.” Nick said calmly. He gently pushed Gretchen off his lap and made his way over to the bed. “Hey.” he whispered.

“Nick? What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. You were in an accident, I had to make sure you were okay.”

“Gretchen?” BJ asked weakly.

“Yeah, B?” Gretchen asked standing next to Nick.

“Hey, girl.” BJ said smiling a little.

“Hey....” Gretchen smiled nervously. When was she going to ask about Mark? Nick returned his hand to hers and held on tightly, looking down at his sister.

“Mom? Where’s Mark?” there was silence in the room. The four visitors looked uneasily at one another.

“BJ....” her mother began, but she couldn’t continue. Nick took a deep breath.

“Beej, Mark didn’t make it.” Nick said quietly. His parents looked at him, grateful that they didn’t have to say it.

“Mark?” BJ asked again. Her eyes widened and filled with tears. “He..he...”

“He’s gone, Beej.” Nick said kneeling next to his sister. He released Gretchen’s hand and took BJ’s trembling one.

“Mark?” she asked again. Tears trickled down her pale white cheeks as she looked up at her big brother. “My Mark?”

“I’m sorry Beej.” Nick whispered, letting BJ latch onto him. She looked like she was in shock. Her hands gripped Nick’s arm as she looked at her parents’ faces, Gretchen’s face...Nick’s.

“He’s gone?” she asked again. Nick nodded, unable to speak. Gretchen watched silently as BJ cried harder. Nick let his head rest on the mattress as BJ repeated Mark’s name over and over again. Her parents looked away. “He can’t be...he talked to me. He told me we were okay...that help was on the way. He held my hand...he can’t be gone!” BJ said gritting her teeth. “Mom? He’s okay isn’t he?”

“No baby, he’s gone.” her mother whispered.

“No! I don’t believe you! Mark! Mark!!” she screamed through her sobs.

“Beej...Beej...BJ..” Nick whispered, trying to calm her down. She continued to scream.

“Mark....” she whispered through her tears. “Nicky? Go find him...bring him here.”

“I can’t..” Nick said, his eyes filling with tears. “He’s gone BJ..he’s gone.”

“No....no...Nicky, no..” BJ said closing her eyes. Tears streamed down her face. Gretchen held back a sob. It was so sad. She wiped her face on her sleeve.

“BJ...I’m sorry.” Nick repeated.

“I never...” BJ began.

“Never what?” Nick asked raising his head to look at his sister.

“I never told him I loved him. I loved him so much Nicky...but I never said the words...”

“Beej..”

“He never knew how I felt...he left me, thinking I didn’t love him..”

“No, BJ. He knew you loved him. You showed him. You didn’t have to say it.” Nick said.

“I wanted to tell him!” she cried again.

“BJ...he knows.”

“He can’t be gone...” she continued to cry until finally she stopped as she fell back into a restless sleep, murmuring Mark’s name repeatedly. Nick stood slowly, looking at his parents. They were silent, in shock. He looked over at Gretchen. She looked upset...lost. He opened his arms and let Gretchen fall against him. He held her.

“Nickolas..” Mr. Carter began. Nick pulled back and looked at his father. “You did good.” he said patting his son on the back. “Thank you.” Nick nodded, clinging to Gretchen. His Gretchen. The one he loved. He had to tell her. He made the decision. He wasn’t going to wait any longer to let her into his heart. She was important to him, he loved her.

“Gretchen, I need to talk to you alone.” he whispered. She glanced down at BJ sleeping and nodded, letting Nick lead her out of the room. He stopped outside BJ’s door and stood Gretchen in front of him.

“What is it Nick?” she asked him.

“I love you.” he said looking into her eyes. She froze. Nick’s eyes filled with more tears. “That’s what my problem is,” he whispered, “I fell in love with you and didn’t know how to tell you.”

“You-”

“I love you.” he repeated with more ease.

“Nick....I-” Gretchen said in shock. He loved her? He LOVED her?! When the hell did this happen? How did this happen? Why was Elise always right?! He loved her?!

“Gretchen?” Nick asked nervously.

“I-I can’t believe this is happening to me.” she stated. Nick looked at her in shock.

“You, you don’t-”

“No, no, Nick...don’t take me not saying anything as something bad. I’m just really surprised you feel that way. I mean...here I was thinking that this ‘love’ was one-sided, my side. I basically convinced myself that you feeling anything for me was virtually impossible!”

“Are you kidding me? Gretchen...how could someone not love you?” Nick asked using his index finger under her chin to raise Gretchen’s gaze to his. “You’re wonderful, beautiful, funny. Okay, yeah, there’s an age difference..and I know this is wrong..but I can’t help it.” he explained. Gretchen gazed up at him.

“Nick-”

“Gretchen, how do you feel? Tell me the truth.” he stated bluntly. His eyes searched hers for an inkling of what she was about to say.

“I-I...I’m crazy about you.” Gretchen said smiling shyly up at Nick.

“You are?” he smiled.

“Yup..I’m crazy.”

“For me?” Nick asked.

“For you...” Gretchen said smiling up at him. He looked down at her, grinning.

“This is amazing. I feel so stupid for not telling you! I should have known you’d be understanding.” Nick said pulling Gretchen into a hug.

“How long have you felt this way??” Gretchen asked hugging Nick back.

“The elevator.”

“I thought so.” she smiled, replaying the moment in her head.

“Seeing Beej in there, crying like that because she never told Mark how she felt made me realize something. If I waited any longer to let you know how I felt, I may never get the chance to say the words. I had to confess my feelings to you.”

“I know, Nick.”

“You do?”

“Yeah...I understand, everything. Why you were so distant, why you couldn’t talk about it...why you had to finally let me in. I understand.”

“Thank you.” Nick whispered, pulling back to look down at her face. He felt a huge boulder lifted off his chest. He could finally breathe again, be close to Gretchen without feeling like he was suffocating. “Can I kiss you?” he asked hesitantly.

“Yeah....” Gretchen whispered, angling her face upwards. Nick smiled shyly at her as he slowly lowered his head until his lips were centimeters away from hers.

“You sure?” he asked, his warm breath blowing on Gretchen’s lips as she awaited contact.

“Kiss me.” she smiled. He leaned forward. The first touch of their lips sent shock waves down Nick’s spine. He pulled away momentarily and gazed down at her. She brought her hand up to his face and brushed her fingertips over his cheekbone, smiling as she pressed her lips gently to his again. Allowing him to grow accustomed to the feel of her. He did and let his mouth begin the slow, gentle motion of a deep searing kiss.

Epilogue
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