Rose's room surprised Brian.  He thought, after having been in hospital for a year, her room might be more personal than his.  But, apart from a few photographs and an un-made bed, the two rooms could have been identical.  He paused in the doorway while Rose went in suddenly feeling a little shy.

He watched her walk over to the little table under the window, and opened the suitcase that was resting there.  She removed a little pink box, and turned back to Brian.  "Come in here."  She said softly, stting down on the bed.  Brian walked over and sat down next to her.  He could smell a faint perfume on her.  Up close, she looked even smaller and frailer.  "I found this under the mattress the first day I got here."  She said, handing him the box.  "And now I keep it with me all the time.  It's my good luck."

Brian looked down at the tiny box.  He looked over at Rose, then lifted the lid and peeked inside.  A mess of cotton was lying on the bottom, and on top of that was a little heart shaped pendant.  He picked it up, and held it closer to his eyes.  In tiny golden letters, the word Faith was inscribed in it.

Rose stood up.  "I thought it might help."  She said, feeling oddly like she shouldn't have given it to him.  She had this vision in her head of Brian laughing at her, and telling her that he didn't need her charity.  "I mean, it's not much."  She said quickly.

But Brian shook his head.  "Yes it is."  He said, standing up.  Rose was standing with her back to him, looking out the window.  He noticed the change in her.  "Thank you."  He said.

Rose hadn't ever heard anyone speak that simple phrase with so much sincerity.  She turned around to face him, and found herself wrapped in a hug.  Her body tensed up, and she pulled away a little.  Brian let go. 

"Sorry."  They said at the same time.  Rose looked away from him and blushed.  Brian smiled.  "Hey, I have an idea."  He said.  Rose looked up at him, and raised her eyebrows.  "What are you doing for dinner tonight?"

"The same thing I've done every night for the past year.  Caferteria food."  She wrinkled her nose.  "Why?"

Brian grinned at her.  "Well, maybe you could come over to my room for dinner."  He said.

Rose looked confused.  "Why?"  She asked.  "Are we going to the cafeteria together?"

Brian shook his head and smiled.  "Something like that.  Just come over at 7. I'm in 102.  Okay?"

"Uh. . ."  Rose bit her lip.  She was nervous about going over to his room.  She didn't know how she was going to be able to keep a conversation going that long.  "Well, I guess I could. . ."

"Great!"  Brian stared walking to the door.  "I'll see you then."  He tightened his fist around the little box.  "And thanks again."  He added, then he walked away, and closed the door behind him.
Brian was lying on his rockhard bed, watching a re-run of some old black-and-white show when Nick entered his room.  "Hey."  Brian said, waving him in.  "Thanks for coming."

Nick scowled.  "You owe me so bad, man."  He said, setting the box of pizza down on the table.  "This nurse stopped me and told me that I wasn't allowed to bring this to you, but then she decided that if I signed about a billion autographs for her daughter's girl scout troop, she'd let me come in."  He shook out his hand.  "Damn writer's cramp."

"Sorry about that.  Thanks for the pizza, though."  Brian said, turning off the TV.

Nick nodded.  "Sure.  But you've got to tell me about this girl that you're trying to impress."  He said, taking a seat on the bed.

"I'm not trying to impress her!"  Brian said quickly.  "I'm just thanking her for this good luck charm she gave me.  And to cheer her up, too.  She's been here for a year already.  And as fas as I can tell, she doesn't know anyone here."

"Rough life."  Nick said, shaking his head.  "Can I stick around and meet her?"

"No!"  Brian was a little to quick to respond, and he realized it, blushing.  "I mean, I'd rather you didn't.  She's shy."

Nick grinned at his friend.  "Uh huh.  Yeah.  That's is.  'She's shy'.  I'm sure that's the reason you don't want me sticking around."  He winked at him.  "Looking to get a little action, are we, Rok?"

Brian's face colored instantly.  "No!"  He said again, eve quicker this time.  "Look, we're just friends, okay?  Not even that, really.  Just two people who happen to be in the hospital at the same time, and are deciding to share a pizza."  He pointed to the door.  "Now get."

Nick held up his hand in mock surrender.  "Yeah, yeah.  I'm getting."  He got halfway out the door before he stopped and turned around again.  "Oh, and Bri?  We'll all be here when you wake up tomorrow.  And don't worry.  You're going to be fine."

Brian smiled weakly.  Leave it to Nick to always be able to tell when Brian was uspet about something, even if he did everything he could do to hide it.  He nodded.  "Thanks man."  He said, and Nick waved, then disappeared out the door.

Once he was gone, Brian checked the clock on his bedside table.  It read 6:57.  Rose should be here any minute.  He looked around the room.  Anything he forgot to do?  Anything embarrasing on the floor?  Satisfied that everything was in order, he walked over to the mirror, and checked his reflection for the fifth time since 6:45.  He was re-straightening his hair (again) when there was a timid knock at the door.

Brian hurried over, and pulled it open.  His jaw fell to the floor.  Rose was dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a pink sweater, but she'd added a sparkly clip to the front of her hair, and her face was brushed with shimmery pink sparkles and a light blush.  She'd added something shiny and pink to her lips, and stuck silver studs in her ears.  The clothes covered the parts of her body that were bruised, and also hid just how thin she was.  She smiled shyly at him.  Brian finally recovered his senses.  "Come on in."  He said, and Rose stepped through the door.