Chapter 33

Stella:

I jolt awake, I don't know why but something tells me that is important for me to be awake I just don't know why or for what reason. I look at my phone to see that it is only 4am, 'What the hell could be so important for me to be awake at 4 in the morning?' I look beside me and see that James is still fast asleep, and I envy him for just a split second and remember that there is always a good reason when I have these feelings...good or bad...

With a silent sigh I quietly and carefully climb out of bed doing my best to not wake James from his much needed peaceful sleep. I tiptoe out of the room gently pulling the bedroom door closed behind me. I sit on the couch and place my phone beside me and turn on the tv hoping to find something interesting to watch and kill time till I know the reason behind why I need to be up at this ungodly hour. I begin flipping through the chapters surfing through them looking for something that will be good entertaining. I finally land on a channel playing Tom and Jerry and settle in for a long morning not sure of how long I will be here waiting for my mysterious answer. Not even 10 minutes into the cartoon my phone chimes alerting me that I have received a text message...

I instantly freeze, 'Well that is odd and I must say that is the quickest I have gotten an answer for this kind of a feeling...' Feeling anxious and curious all at one time I cautiously grab my phone from beside me. I contemplate whether I should read the text or if I should ignore it and go back to bed with James, after about 3 minutes my curiosity wins out and I decide I need to know what is in the text. Before I even open the text I see Jace's name and my heart stops and I feel more anxiety then I did before, 'This cannot be a good thing, if he is texting me at this time...it only means that something has happened...'

With my hands trembling I click on his message afraid of what it will say, 'Ugh Stella stop being a pussy and just read it. Who knows maybe it could be good news? Ha not likely.'

Hey Ella let me start by saying I am so sorry for sending a message at this time. Now for the reason I messaged you to begin with. Now I suggest that maybe you sit down before you read what is written next. Another suggestion make sure that you breath and don't panic...I am able to deliver to you the best news that we have had all week. 1: They have found that Scar is showing healthy signs of brainwave activities. 2: They were finally able fully remove her breathing tube! She is finally able to breath on her own! Finally...I hope that you are ready for this...3: Scar is finally awake!!! Her nurse suspects that we should be able to take her home tomorrow as long as she continues to show improvement. That is all the news we have at this moment. Her phone was destroyed in the accident so I will be picking her up a new one sometime tomorrow whenever the stores are open.

I jump up from the couch screaming for joy with tears streaming down my face completely forgetting that James is asleep in the bedroom. 'She is actually ok! She has finally pulled out of this, she has officially gotten through the worst of this situation.' James slams the door open behind me and comes running into the living room with his hands in front of him balled into fists ready to fight. He looks around the living room trying to find the cause for danger. When he doesn't find anything dangerous his eyes find my face and he is instantly beside me. He places both of his hands on either side of my face gently wiping away the tears that are still streaming down my face.

"Baby...what's wrong?" He hugs my tight to his chest causing me to sob more, "What happened my love? Why are you crying?" I can feel the tension as he holds me and I can hear the strain in his voice as he waits for me to answer him. I try my hardest to find my voice but all that I can manage to squeak out is her name, "Scar..." As more sobs rip through my chest.

James looks at me with confusion and then concern, he picks up my phone from the floor where it fell out of my hands as I jumped up and reads the message that Jace had sent me with the best news that I have gotten in such a long time. "Thank God Baby she is ok! Go on baby go pack a bag lets go see her. I will drive." He hugs me again kissing me on the top of my head this time having the calming affect on me. As soon as he pulls away from the hug I run to my room quickly grabbing the first things I put my hands on and shove them into my back pack grabbing my phone charger last and throwing it into my backpack also. I slide my feet into my shoes and run back into the living room in a hurry to make it to the hospital to see my best friend in the whole wide world.

James grabs my bag from me and pulls out his keys as we walk out of the door, I turn and lock the door behind me completely forgetting about the intruder completely. I run down the stairs and the way to James' truck and jump in as soon as he unlocks it, I take my phone out once again and call my boss not even worried that it isn't even 5am and leave a voicemail for him explaining that I will not be able to come into work for a few days due to the fact that I won't be in town because I have a family emergency.

Scarlet:

I wake up again and begin to panic, I can't breath...where is Jace, where is Cam? I see something move out of the corner of my eye and I begin to panic more and I can hear the monitor hooked to me to monitor my heartbeat beginning to beat faster. I open my mouth to scream and nothing comes out my voice is lost in my throat. "Hey hey hey Baby girl, it's ok my love I am right here. Breath my love calm down it's all gonna be ok." He runs his fingers through my hair soothing me. I take a deep breath attempting to calm myself and slow my heart rate. Even though I can't seem to calm myself or slow my heart rate I am finally able to speak in a whisper.

"I'm so sorry my love. I panicked and I thought I was all alone and then I seen your movement..." He kisses my forehead gently and then rests his forehead against mine encouraging me to match his breathing and I do my best to slow my breathing.

'Baby girl I am not going anywhere you can't get rid of me that easily. I'm not leaving your side ever again I promise. You won't be alone." I breath with him a few more times and I can hear the monitor slowing indicating that I am finally beginning to calm down. I place my head against his chest the best I can do considering that I cannot sit up and I breath in his fresh clean scent and I can feel my anxiety completely melt away. He steps back half a step and places his cheek against mine and closing his eyes as if this is the most amazing thing that he has ever experienced, I reach up with my free hand that is not infested with nasty IV tubes and place it on his cheek and feel that he has a little more stubble then I remember him ever having.

Feeling the stubble on his cheek fills me with sadness and I close my eyes trying my hardest to hold back the tears I can feel building. 'This is all my fault I have been in a coma for so long that he has completely let himself go, if he has this much stubble what else has he let go of because of me?' I sigh quietly feeling sad that I have caused him so much distress.

"My love?" I try to keep my voice even and try not to show him that something is bothering me considering that he has already been through so much as it is. He pulls back from me just far enough for me to see his face in the gentle light of the room. I study his face as I have done a thousand times, only this time it feels like the first time all over again. As I meet his gaze I can't help but to notice the bruise like dark circles under his eyes, and instantly I know that he must not be sleeping for I know that it takes a while for circles under your eyes to be that dark. Once again I feel guilty for putting him through so much in the last week.

"Baby girl? What is it my love? Are you in pain? I can go get your nurse." He begins to look panicked and starts to turn away from me and I grab his hand before he is too far away from me. He comes closer to me feeling my hand on his. "What's wrong my love?" With his other hand he gently begins to stroke my cheek soothingly waiting for me to answer his question with his eyes full of worry. I meet his gaze once again choosing my words carefully as to not cause him more distress.

"My love how long has it been since you have had a goodnights sleep? Since you have been home? You look so worn out my love." I try not to show him how sad I am or how concerned for him I am. He pulls my bottom lip from between my teeth, I hadn't realized I had even been chewing on my lip. He goes back to stroking my cheek soothingly as he struggles to find the right words to say.

"In all honesty Baby girl I haven't actually slept since the night before your accident...I haven't been home since then either, I couldn't imagine leaving your side while you've been in here I couldn't force myself to go that far away from you...of course I had to leave the hospital when visiting hours were over, it took everything in me to not just sit in my truck and wait for visiting hours to be open again. I did go to Cam's house and laid in your old bed and tried my best to sleep but nothing that I tried actually worked." He continues to rub my cheek as he speaks with the most pain and sadness I have ever seen.

"My love please lay down and get some rest. You look as though you will fall asleep standing." I gently trace the circles under his eyes with my finger before I take rake my hand through his hair trying to reassure myself that this isn't a dream he is really here he is really rubbing my cheek and I am not alone. He places a feather light kiss on my hand as if he himself is trying to convince himself that this is real and not just a dream.

"I know my love, unfortunately I cannot rest till I have you safely at home and have my arms gently wrapped around you where I know that you are safe." The thought of him wrapped around me makes me feel better, all of a sudden I feel dead tired. I feel my eyelids grow heavy and my eyes begin to burn with exhaustion. 'How is it possible that I am already this tired I have been asleep for a week now surely I should have more energy then this.'

I fight the urge to allow my eyes to slide closed I am afraid that if I fall asleep now that the next time I wake I will be alone and that all of this will have all just been a dream. "Please don't leave me my love...I am afraid to be alone." He looks at me and chuckles lightly sensing that I am fighting sleep.

"I'm not going anywhere Baby girl now get some rest my love the nurse said that you will need a lot of rest to heal and get better." He continues to gently stroke my cheek till I can't fight the sleep anymore. He kisses me on my other cheek softly and whispers ever so sweetly, "I love you Baby girl. Sweet dreams." He places another feather sweet kiss on my cheek while methodically stroking my cheek. Before I can protest any further my eyes slide shut and I no longer have the strength to keep them open. As I begin to drift into a peaceful sleep I can faintly feel his hand gently rubbing my cheek as if I am the most important thing in his entire life almost as if I am the only reason for his existence. Quickly I feel myself fading into a dreamless sleep, no fear, no pain, no sadness or loneliness just peace and quiet.