| Chapter Three |
| “So you can’t tell me anything about her condition or what’s the matter with her? You mean to say, that you can’t tell us ANYTHING?” JC was beside himself with anger. “She’s laying in there about as weak as a newborn baby, and you’re telling me you DON’T KNOW WHAT’S WRONG?!?!” The doctor flinched as he stood across from JC in the bleak hallway. “Mr. Chasez, I can assure you that we’ll notify you the second we find anything. Right now, your friend seems about as healthy-“ “HEALTHY? LOOK at her! She can’t BREATHE without it hurting her like hell. I’ve sat back and watched her suffer for the last week and I’m SICK of it! Either you find out what’s wrong by the end of this weekend, or I swear to GOD I’ll take her to a different hospital and make SURE everyone knows exactly what kind of SERVICE this place provides.” Turning back to Nikki’s room, he slammed the door in Dr. Philip’s face and closed his eyes. His breathing was heavy, and Nikki stared at him in concern. “Josh? I heard screaming. What’s wrong babe?” She watched as he sat on the edge of her bed and grabbed her hand in his. “Oh Nik… aren’t you tired of laying here not knowing what’s the matter with you? Aren’t you scared of what might just be your problem? God, if you were me… I… how can you do this? I don’t think I would be strong enough.” She smiled a little bit, squeezing his hand, “Being strong has nothing to do with it. I just don’t have a choice. There’s nothing else for me to do, and complaining about it isn’t going to help. They won’t give me a diagnosis no matter how much hell I raise.” She gave him a stern look, “No matter how much hell EITHER of us raises.” He gave her an embarrassed smile, and ran a finger over her cheek, “You are really too brave Nikki. I couldn’t do what you’re doing. And I don’t care what you say… you are one of the bravest people I know.” He smiled at her when he realized that she had fallen asleep. “The bravest person I know.” He gently let his lips slide over hers before exiting the room to have lunch. Nikki’s eyes flew open as she raised a hand to her mouth. “He just…” she whispered in shock. Her eyes still as wide as saucers. “Josh just what?” Arlee said with a gentle smile as she carried Nikki’s lunch tray into her room. She slid the tray onto her bedside table, and sat in the plastic chair beside her. “What’s bothering my favorite patient?” “Arlee… Josh just kissed me. He thought I was asleep, and he KISSED me.” She looked around frantically, “I thought we were just best friends. I didn’t mean to lead him on. Did I even lead him on? What does he want now? Does he want to be more than my friend? Or did he just feel sorry for me? Oh I’m so CONFUSED.” Arlee raised an eyebrow. “Maybe its about time me and that boy have heart to heart talk about women.” She gently kissed Nikki’s forehead and pushed her cart out of the room, leaving her to her lunch and her thoughts. “Prince? Can I talk to you?” She slid into a chair at JC’s table and pulled a tray out to munch on. He stared at her in surprise but nodded. “What’s up Arlee?” He asked in fake boredom. “Boy don’t play mellow with me. I know you’re on a high from kissing that best friend of yours.” She stared at him with a steady gaze. “You saw that, huh?” He let out an embarrassed chuckle. “I wasn’t the only one.” When he looked at her in confusion, she explained, “She was awake JC.” He gasped and stared at her, “She was WHAT? I thought… what does she… oh she must hate me. Did you talk to her? Does she hate me?” “You two sure do ask a lot of questions. Listen up boy. She could never HATE you. But that girl is as confused as all get out, and I think you need to talk to her about this. By the way… how about filling a girl in… why exactly DID you kiss her?” He stared into his coffee cup, “I don’t know Arlee… it just seemed right. I thought she had fallen asleep, and I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so I just kissed her.” “But there’s a difference. You kissed her on the mouth. Why did you do that?” “Who are you? Sally Jesse Raphael?” He shrugged when she glared at him, “Ok here’s why… I like her a lot, but I don’t want to go out with her. I just… have you ever heard of friends with benefits?” Arlee snorted and he continued “I guess that means yes. I love her, and I think kissing her is nice, but a relationship would never work out. At least not right now.” Arlee nodded slowly, “I think I see where you’re coming from. Until you were ready for her to know… you just wanted to get it out there subliminaly. Am I right so far?” He nodded. “Yeah, well, you struck out there buddy. That girl is confused as a rooster in a pig pen. You might want to have a little chat with her.” JC stepped into Nikki’s room and knocked on the door frame. “Come in” she whispered at him. He walked to her bedside and immediately began to talk. “Nik… I really didn’t mean for you to be awake when I… I mean, you’re an awesome girl…” “Josh, slow down. I liked it. I mean, I like you. But I don’t want anything more from you than friendship right now. I used to… but not right now. Do you understand that?” He nodded slowly, “I think so. But Nikki really… I’m so…” “Don’t apologize. There’s nothing to apologize for.” She smiled at him, and both of their heads whirled around as the doctor walked into the room. “Well Mr. Chasez it seems that you have gotten your wish. Ms. DeLoach, you….” |