The Call Chapters 7-8
Chapter Seven
"Oh my God! Izzy, what are you doing here?" Paula Dorough exclaimed as Isabel entered the ICU waiting room. She then glared at AJ.
"He's her boyfriend. Why shouldn't she see him?" AJ defended himself.
Isabel got in the middle of them before a fight broke out. "Where is he? I want to see him."
"Brian, Kevin, and Nick are with him now. Come with me, Izzy."
Paula led Isabel to Howie's hospital room. As soon as she entered, three pairs of eyes looked at her. Kevin got up and hugged Isabel, followed by Brian, then Nick.
"Isabel, we missed you," Brian said. She looked at him with blank eyes. Brian looked at the rest of the people in the room. "We better leave her alone."
They agreed and left Isabel alone with the lifeless Howie. She felt like crying. His face was covered with bruises and cuts. He had tubes and wires going to machines. She sat down and stroked his cheek. "Howie, please come back to me. I love you." She reached into her pocket and found her engagement ring, the ring he had given her just the week before. "Do you remember this? You gave it to me." She put the ring on her finger and burst into tears. "Oh, Howie, please come back. Come back."
She stayed at his bedside for an hour. She then heard footsteps coming towards the room. She turned around and saw Paula, AJ, Brian, Kevin, and Nick. She turned her attention to Howie, stroking his cheek. Finally, AJ said, "Isabel, what's on your finger?"
She looked at him, then looked back at Howie.
"Howie and I are engaged."
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Chapter Eight
Isabel heard someone gasp behind her. Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Isabel ,when did he propose?" Kevin asked.
"Last Friday," she replied. She stood up and looked at each person. "He was going to take me on tour with you guys." She broke down crying. "We were going to plan the wedding. Now, I don't know if that's going to happen," she sobbed.
AJ stepped towards Isabel and hugged her. Kevin, Brian, Nick, and Paula each did the same. Finally, AJ spoke. "We better leave. All of us. Isabel, you're coming with me."
"No, I'll stay here."
Kevin stepped in. "Isabel, this isn't healthy. You look like you haven't slept in days. Go with AJ."
She sighed and turned to face AJ. "I'll go with you, only if you promise me you'll bring me back here early. Promise me."
"I promise, Izzy, I'll bring you here as soon as visiting hours begin."
"Let's go."
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5:00 A.M. AJ's house
"Izzy! Wake up! IZZY!"
Isabel opened her eyes. "What happened?"
"I guess you were having a bad dream. You were screaming in your sleep."
Isabel's eyes widened. She remembered she had a bad dream about Howie. She rolled over to see what time it was. Five in the morning. She groaned. "I'll never get back to sleep."
"Shhhhh. Iz, it's ok. I'm here," AJ said as he wrapped his arms around Isabel's shoulders. She burst in to tears.
AJ just stayed there with her, trying to comfort her. Then, the phone rang. AJ reached over and answered it.
"Yeah?....What? He is? Yes, she's awake...okay we'll be there.....bye."
Isabel looked at him confused. "AJ?" she asked. Her body was shaking. "Is he dead?"
"No. He regained consciousness. Kevin wants us to go to the hospital."
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