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Fan Fiction

 Title: True love
Author: Trang
Genre: Romance/Drama/Humour
Started: 29. July 2001
Finished: 06. November 2001

CHAPTER 13 - Please don't leave me, please don't go

Soon the eight went inside and picked there rooms. There was a master bedroom with an ensuite and a king sized bed, three smaller bedrooms with a double bed in each one and a dresser, and one small bed room with two twin beds and a large closet.
"Who gets what?" Patricia asked.
"It doesn't matter to me" Paddy said, and everyone else agreed.
"Okay, how about this?" Marie suggested. "How about Jess and I get the master bedroom, and we will share the bed, because it's a huge bed, and because we should have more privacy with the bathroom thing."
"Sounds good" Jimmy said.
"And" Marie continued. "You guys can decide which room goes to who."
"Well" Patricia said. "I'd like my own room, so I can sleep. If that's okay."
"That's fine" Jimmy said.
"Who wants their own room and who wants to share?" Joey asked, picking up his bag.
"I don't care" Jimmy said. 
"Neither do I" Angelo said.
"I sort of want my own" Paddy said. "I mean, if it's okay."
"I want my own too." Maite skope up.
"It's okay" Jimmy said. "Me and Angelo can share."
"Okay" Joey said.

What smells so good?" Angelo said, shuffling into the kitchen in his boxers and wife beater, rubbing his eyes from the bright sun streaming through the windows.
"Me" Marie said, smiling at him.
Angelo smiled. "No, really."
"Haha!" Marie said sarcastically. "No, I decided to make some breakfast for you guys."
"What did you make?" Angelo asked, walking and standing beside her.
She took a plate out of the microwave and placed it on the table with other food. "Eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, and orange smoothies."
"Looks great!" Angelo said. "Do you want me to get the others?"
Marie nodded.
"I'll get Jimmy and Jess. They are in the other room watching TV. Can you get Joey, Paddy, Maite and Patricia?"
"Sure!" Angelo said, walking out of the room.
Marie smiled, and walked into the TV room. "Guys?"
Jess looked up.
"Hey" she said.
"Hey" Jimmy said, noticing Marie.
"Yeah, hi!" Marie said. "Listen, I made a huge breakfast. How about you come devour it?"
"Good idea" Jimmy said, helping Jess off of the couch. The three walked back into the kitchen, and Paddy, Angelo, Joey, Maite and Patricia were sitting at the table, waiting for them.
"Good morning" Marie said with a smile. 
"Good morning, Marie" Joey said. "Did you have a good sleep?"
"Yeah" Marie said. "How about all you?"
"I did" Patricia said. "I feel so good today. What's it like out?"
"Looks warm" Jess commented. "I'll go check. You guys can start without me."
Marie and Jimmy sat down and started to eat with the others, and seconds later Jess returned. "I have good news and better news" she said with a smile.
"What?" Marie asked, her mouth full with eggs.
"The good news is, it's really warm out" Jess said.
"Let me guess" Joey said. "The better news is that I get to see your gorgeous self in a sexy bikini?"
Jess smiled.
"Not quite. The better news is that there are waves... which means we can surf!"
"You know how to surf?" Paddy asked.
"No, but you can teach me." Jess replied.
"I've tried it" Angelo said. "I'm not really good."
"I think I am too tired to swim" Patricia said. "Just incase something happens."
"I'll surf with, Jess" Jimmy grinned.
"Thanks" she said. "Anyone else going to try it? There are four surfboards in the shed thing back there. I checked last night."
"I'll try again" Angelo said. 
"I'll try it" Marie said. 
"Great!" Jess said. "Oh, this is great. Hurry and eat, I want to swim!"
"It's only eleven in the morning, Jess" Angelo laughed. "Calm down."
"Nope!" she replied with a giggle. "I've only been in the ocean once. I can't wait!"
She sat down and piled her plate with food, then ate it just as quickly as she put it on. 

"Which bathing suit should I wear?" Jess asked Marie later, when they all went to get their beach things. She held up two bathing suits. One was bright orange Nike bikini, and the other was a lime green bikini, that was a little more revealing.
"Either will look good" Marie said, absentmindedly.
"What's wrong?" Jess asked, sitting down on the bed.
"Nothing" Marie said. "Well, yeah, Paddy. He accused me and Angelo of being together, then told me not to talk to him."
"Do you love him still?" Jess asked.
"I guess" Marie said. "I'm sort of unsure of what love is. But if it's what I think it is, then I really love him. Angelo and I? We're friends. I sort of have a thing for him, but we won't get together."
Jess nodded and lowered her voice.
"Sort of like Jimmy and Joey and me."
"Yeah" Marie said. She forced a smile. "Which bikini do you want to wear?"
"Maybe the green one to impress Jimmy" Jess answered.
"To impress who?" Marie asked.
"Joey" Jess replied.
"You said Jimmy" Marie said.
"No, I didn't" Jess insisted.
"Yeah" Marie said. "You did."
"Well, I meant Joey" Jess said. "He's my boyfriend. I really like him."
"I know" Marie said. She decided to change the subject. "Wear the orange one if you are going to surf."
"Good idea" Jess answered. "What about you?"
"I'm going to wear this" Marie held up board shorts and a matching bikini top.

Jimmy looked at Jess. "Don't do that."
"Do what?" she asked innocently.
"What are you trying to pull? Do you want everyone to figure us out?" he demanded.
"Jimmy... it's not like we're cheating" she said. "We're just friends."
"Yeah, but we know that there is much more behind it" he said with a sigh. "You can't go around blowing off Joey. Damn it, Jess. Do you like him or not?"
"I like him a lot" she said.
"Do you really?"
"I do" she said.
"Seriously?"
"I swear" she insisted. "Anyway, forget it. I won't do it anymore. I'll go in the kitchen right now and apologize."
"Thanks" he said. 
"I'm doing it for me, not you" she replied.
"Well, then... whatever" he said, shaking his head.

"Hej Joey!"
"Jess!" Joey said, surprised. "I thought you were talking to Jimmy."
"I wanted to come apologize" Jess said. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry, for blowing you off."
"Oh, that's okay" Joey said. Marie walked out of the room. 
"Well" she said. "Are you mad that I am friends with Jimmy again?"
"No" Joey said, forcing a smile. 
"Are you sure?" she asked. "I mean, because if you are, I can stop hanging out with him that much and stuff."
"It's fine" he said. He reached for her hand. "Let's go outside."
"Okay!" she agreed, helping him with the drinks and going outside.

Angelo walked over and picked up one of the board. "Well, I am going off to try this baby. See you guys later."
"See you" Joey said, walking over and picking one up. He put it back down. "I think I will try later. I'm going to go see the boat."
"Want to go for a ride?" Jess asked him.
"Sure" he answered, slipping his arm around her waist.
"Jimmy, do you want to come?" she asked, turning to look at Jimmy.
Joey dropped him arm from her waist and frowned.
"I think... nah, I'll stay here" Jimmy said, winking at Joey.
"Okay!" Jess said. Joey smiled at Jimmy and they walked over to the far dock where the boat was.
"What's up with you, Jess? We just had that talk in the kitchen... then you have to invite him?" Joey asked her.
"I was just trying to be nice!" she said defensively. 
"I bet." Joey said. "Come on, Jess. What's going on between you two?"
"Nothing!" she said. "Stop asking. Let's just go for our boat ride."
"No" he said, grabbing her arm.
"Ow, Joey, you're hurting me" Jess said.
"Can't you freaking tell me the damn truth? Why is it always a lie with you?" Joey insisted.
"Please, let go!" Jess begged.
Joey dropped her arm, and she immediately stepped back away from him.
"Come on, Jess, what's the problem? Do you need to have two guys?"
"I don't!" she said. "Come on, Joey. I really like you, and that's it. Please, just believe me."
He saw the pained look on her face and his expression softened. "I'm sorry."
"That's okay" Jess said. "Look what you did to my arm..."
He glanced down at her arm, and shook his head.
"Sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to grab you so hard..."
"That's okay" she said. "You just bruised me..."
"I'm sorry" Joey said. "I shouldn't have flipped out." He leaned over to kiss her, but she shifted her face, and he kissed her cheek.
"Let's go for that ride" she said, leading him to the boat.
"No more fighting, okay Joey?" Jess said. "I don't want to ruin this because I am friends with Jimmy."
"Okay" he said with a smile. He took her hands, and leaned in to kiss her.
She kissed him back, and grinned. Right now, I am truly happy, she thought. What's a little jealousy?

"Are Angelo and Marie together?" Paddy asked Jimmy, looking at them trying to surf.
"I don't think so" Jimmy said. "Why?"
"Just wondering" Paddy said.
"No, really... Are you jealous or something?" Jimmy asked.
"Jealous? No!" Paddy said. 
"Oh" Jimmy said, looking back at the magazine he was reading. "Are you sure?"
"Okay, I'm a little jealous!" Paddy said. "Not a lot..."
"That's okay." Jimmy said. "You wouldn't even believe how jealous I am of Jess and Joey."
"Really?" Paddy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, yeah." Jimmy said. "Really."

"Oh shit" Joey moaned.
"What?" Jess said.
Joey tried the motor again.
"Okay... I think that the motor just died, but I can…"
"The motor just died?" Jess shrieked.
"Don't worry" Joey said, "I think I can fix it."
"Damn it, I can't believe that we are stuck out here" Jess cried.
"Listen to yourself!" he said. "I'm fixing it."
Jess crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

Marie put the surfboard in the water, and saw a large wave building. Butterflies flew in her stomach as she tried to get up. Suddenly, the surfboard rose, and she was on the wave.
She tried to steady herself, and smiled. 'I can't believe I am doing this' she thought.
The breeze was flying through her hair, and some water splashed in her eyes. 
"Oh, crap!" Marie said out loud, trying to wipe the stinging salt water from her eyes. She raised her arm to her face, and her foot slipped out from under her. Severe pain flooded into her head as it hit the hard wood of the surfboard. She closed her eyes in pain and all she saw was black.

Angelo walked in the beach to the place where Patricia was sunbathing.
"Did you see that Patty? I was surfing!" Angelo claimed.
"Yeah, sure! Where's Marie though? Was she with you?"
"No, we started apart. She should be over..." he looked out to the ocean. "There, somewhere." He pointed.
Patricia stood up. "I don't see her."
"She's somewhere around there" Angelo said. "Maybe she went further up the beach. I'm going inside to get a towel."
"Okay" Patricia said.
She shielded the glare from the sun from her eyes, and looked out into the ocean. She saw a flash of yellow and black come above the water, then go back under. She walked closer the edge, and then looked at the three surfboards that were left. The yellow and black one wasn't there.
"Oh shit" she said, kicking off her shoes. "Marie!" She yelled. 
No answer.
"Oh, no" she said. "Help! Angelo! Jimmy! Someone, come on!"
She waited a few seconds impatiently, then ran into the water.

"Did you hear that?" Joey asked Jess, still working on the motor.
"Like someone yelling?" Jess asked.
"Yeah" Joey said.
"I did" Jess said. "What if someone is in trouble?"
"Let's try not to think about" Joey said, pulling on the engine rope. It roared to life.
"Hurry, let's go" Jess said.

Patricia looked up, and saw a glimpse of the surfboard. She swam over to it. Marie was underneath it, in the water, attached by her ankle to the board.
She swam underneath, and got her, and shifted her onto the surfboard. She tried to catch her breath, and she felt faint.
She held the rope of the board, and pulled it in, Marie laying on it. About halfway there, she felt as though her lungs were going to collapse.

Patricia exhausted picked up Marie, and gently laid her down on the sand.
"Patricia!" Joey shouted. 
"Hurry up!" Patricia yelled.
"What happened?" Jess asked.
"She's unconscious, let's go."
"Jimmy knows what to do in this situation" Joey said. "Remember when our roadie…"
"That doesn't matter! Come on! Jess, go get Jimmy and call ambulance when you are in there. Joey, go get a towel to support her head."
"You're going to be alright, Marie. Hold tight." Tears formed in Patricia's eyes, not knowing whether her words were the truth.

Jess ran inside.
"Oh, my God, guys... Jimmy, get outside."
"Why?" he asked, taking a sip of his Coke.
"Marie's been in an accident, you have to help her" Jess said.
Jimmy put his drink on the counter, and ran outside.
"Is she going to be okay?" Angelo asked Jess, panic in his eyes.
"I don't know" Jess answered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Angelo hugged her, and they softly cried. 

Paddy ran outside to the edge of the beach. Jimmy was desperately trying to get a pulse on Marie. Patricia was sitting beside her, breathing heavily, holding onto her hand.
"Is she conscious?" Paddy asked, falling to his knees beside her.
"Not yet!" Patricia said.
"Are you okay, Trish?" Paddy asked.
"I'll be fine" Patricia said.
Sirens sounded in the distance.
"I'll go out to the road." Paddy said, getting to his feet and running to the front yard.
Seconds later the paramedics, along with Jess, Angelo and Paddy, ran out to the beach. They strapped in Marie and brought Patricia along to check her, and Angelo, Maite, Paddy, Jess, Jimmy and Joey rode in the police car to the hospital.

***A Couple Hours Later***
Patricia walked out of the room.
"Patricia!" Jess exclaimed, running up to her. "Are you alright?"
"Fine" she said. "Just a little over exerted and stuff. Have you heard anything about Marie?"
"No" Jess said. "You?"
"No" Patricia shook her head. "How are the others?"
"We're all shaken up" she said. "I need to find the doctor that's helping Marie."
"He's in there with her" Patricia said. "He said that a nurse would be out and tell us what is going on."
"Fine" Jess said. She sat in a seat in the waiting area next to Joey, and buried her face in her hands. Joey put his arm around her.
"It'll be okay." he whispered, rubbing her back.

Paddy paced around the room. 'I can't believe this, he thought to himself. I can't lose Marie. Not after losing Madeline... I swear, if Marie wakes up... God... please... let Marie wake up. Please.' He begged.

Angelo sat in the corner and stared blankly out the window. He felt someone sit down beside him.
"Hey" Jimmy said.
"Hey" Angelo answered.
"How are you holding up?" Jimmy asked.
Angelo turned to him.
"What if she dies? What am I going to do?" 
"She won't die" Jimmy said.
"You don't know that" Angelo said.
"I know" Jimmy admitted. "But she's strong."
"She's also dying" Angelo shook his head and walked away.

A nurse walked into the room. "Friends and family of Marie Reno?"
Jess walked up.
"I'm her best friend, Jess."
The nurse nodded.
"We have news, but immediate family is supposed to hear it first."
"I live with her, we've been best friends forever. She has no one else. Her parents passed away." Jess begged. "Please tell me."
"And I… I'm her boyfriend." Paddy said.
"We can see you in here" the nurse said, opening the door to a small office.
The nurse, Jess and Paddy walked into the small room.
"I have some good news and some bad news" the nurse began. "The bad news is, she is in a coma, and has some minor brain damage. The good news is, she isn't in incredibly bad condition, and her normal chances of waking up, are usually only about 35%, but in Marie's case, it's up to 65%. Through tests, we figured this out. She can only stay here for a week, since it is such a small hospital, and we are going to bring her to Cologne on a helicopter hooked up to life support at the end of the week."
"Thank you" Jess said. "When can we see her?"
"In about an hour" the nurse answered. "But since she has such a crowd waiting for her, we have to limit visiting to half an hour each."
"Thank you" Jess whispered, and walked out of the room in tears.

She walked down the short corridor into Marie's room. The continuous beeping of the life support machine made her stomach ache. She walked over to Marie's and sucked in a breath. Her head was bandaged, with blood seeping through the gauze. Her lips were purplish-blue. She pulled a chair beside the bed.
"Well, Marie" she said, grasping her hand. "I know that you are strong. You can do this, you can pull through. We might have to dye your hair when we get back home, the blood is all in it. It might make it red." She put her other hand on Marie's and rubbed it. "Your hands are cold. I'll buy you a fleece blanket. You're really cold." She looked at Marie's face. "You know, Marie, the hit on the head isn't messing up anything. You're going to come through."
Tears rose in her eyes.
"Marie, you know you are everything to me" Jess said. "Without you, I don't know what I would do. I mean, there goes my roomie, there goes my house cleaner... there goes my best friend in the whole wide world. My parents would laugh if I asked to move back in... I didn't leave them on good terms. Shane... he is my only other friend. If you weren't around, the guys wouldn't talk to me. Joey would break up with me, and Jimmy and I wouldn't be friends. You're like the glue, that holds us all together."
She began to cry, and started to pray.
"God, if you help Marie through this... please. Give her another chance at life. She really deserves it."
She heard a knock on the door.
"Time's up" a nurse said softly.
"Thanks" Jess said. She leaned over and hugged Marie, then kissed her on the cheek. "I love you Marie."
Jess walked out of the room, and fell into Joey's arms.
"Joey..." she said, through tears. "She can't die..."
"She won't" he said soothingly. "She can pull through."
"I hope so" Jess said. They walked over into the waiting area, and she cried quietly in his arms.
"Whoever wants to go next, go ahead" the nurse said to the remaining of the group.
Paddy looked at everyone. "Can I go last?"
"Sure" Jimmy said. "I'll go."
Jimmy got up and walked into the room. He walked around it, looking at different things. "These are pretty nice curtains" he commented. He walked over to her, where she was breathing into a mask.
"Well, Marie," Jimmy said. "I know we weren't that close and stuff, but we did talk a few times that really meant a lot to me. I know you might not remember, but I do, and I always will." He sat down on the chair that was beside the bed. "I promise that if you survive... I mean, when you survive, I swear, we'll get close. I didn't realize it, until you were gone, that losing you would be losing some of me. You're a great friend, Marie. I know you can do it."
He looked at the clock and saw that he was half done.
"Well, I heard that you and Angelo are together? That's pretty funny. Thanks for helping me with Jess, I don't think we will get back together, but I can handle it. I'm really running out of things to say, you know. I think I'll go so the others can have longer with you."
He walked over and kissed her on the cheek, then left the room.
"Joey? Patty? Angelo? Maite? One of you guys can go" Jimmy said.
"Thanks" Patricia said. "But I was in there earlier, when the doctor was checking me. You guys can have time with her, okay?"
"Thanks" Joey said, walking into the room.
He looked at the machines hooked up to Marie, then looked at the blood seeping through the gauze. His eyes shifted down to her blue lips.
"Oh... shit" he whispered. He turned around and vomited in the sink. "I can't... Sorry... Marie, but I can't stay." He ran out of the room and found a nurse. "Um... all the machines... I am not too good in hospitals. I sort of threw up."
"Don't worry" she said with a smile. "Happens all the time."
"Thanks" he said, gratefully. He walked into the room.
The next one was Maite.
"Oh… Marie, we weren't very close, but I really like you. I was glad that Paddy chose you for his wife… I'm so sorry that things changed and you two are not together anymore. But I know he needs you and loves you. He deserves to be happy more than anyone in this world. You know it. You must fight for the life. Otherwise a lot of people will be very unhappy. Marie, don't dare to leave us!! You are a great friend!!"
Then Maite went out after ten minutes!
"Angelo or Paddy. One of you guys can go." She said.
"What happened?" Angelo asked.
"It's too hard for me" Maite said.
"Sorry!" Angelo apologized. "Do you mind if I go?" He asked Paddy.
"Nope" Paddy said. "Go ahead."
Angelo walked into the room, and took a deep breath.
"Whoa..." he whispered, looking at her hooked up to the machine. "Well, Marie" he said, sitting down. "This is stupid, don't you think? It's totally obvious you are going to pull through. I'm really glad we talked on the plane, because if we didn't... we might have never talked again. I don't want to think that way or anything, but you mean a lot to me."
He smiled.
"You know, that I will never, ever forget the first time you called me, when Jess was on tour with us. I was so happy, I mean we had hardly talked, and there you were, calling me, out of any of the guys, or even Jess. I knew it was the starting of this great friendship. With you, I felt so comfortable. But, with all good friendships, there is usually a relationship. I just didn't know it was going to end so sloppy."
He stood up.
"Damn it, Marie!" He kicked the chair. "It's my fault, that you drowned. You know that? If I wouldn't have suggested that we go far apart, I could have been there right away to save you. So look what I have done. I made you almost die, or even die... and I made Trish worse. I've screwed up everything!"
He took a deep breath.
"You know, ever since me and Paddy were both with you, things have never been the same with him. Joey is so hooked on Jess. Patty is sick. Maite is buse with school stuff. Jimmy is the only one who really talks to me. If you die, that's all I'll have, is Jimmy."
He picked up the chair off the ground and sat in it for about ten minutes breathing heavily. He took her hand, and leaned close to her.
"I love you" he whispered. "I really do. If you wake up, I promise we'll never fight again." He looked up. "Please, God, don't take her away from me."
The nurse quietly knocked on the door. "Sorry, dear. Time is up."
"Thanks" Angelo said, standing up and wiping his eyes with his sleeve.
Paddy walked in the room.
"How are you doing?"
"I don't want to lose her!" Angelo said.
"Neither do I." Paddy said, hugging him.
Angelo walked out of the room and Paddy sat in the chair beside Marie.
He watched her take small breaths with help from the life support, and listened to the rhythmic beeping from the machine.
"I've always had trouble expressing myself" he told her. "So I am going to do as best as I can. I hope you can hear me, Marie." He brushed a few stray hairs away from her face. "You're so beautiful" he whispered. "Please don't leave us. Please don't leave me. Remember when I was in coma? I didn't leave you, now you have to do the same for me."
His voice was quiet, but his words were strong. Taking a shaky breath, he began to sing to her.
"When I see you, my heart begins to pound, And I feel so lucky to have you
When I kiss your smiling face, I hope you know that I love you…" tears began to spill down his cheeks. "Do you know how much I love you...?" He held tightly on to her hand and cried softly into the sheets.
"God, why? Please..." he cried. "Don't take her. She has so much to live for. If she wakes up... I swear, I will be so good to her." Paddy pleaded. "I love her. My purpose in life was to be with her. I live for her."
Through tears, he looked at her again. "Marie..." he whispered. "You can get through this, you know you can. Don't do it for me, or for anyone. Do it for you. I love you, Marie."
He dropped her lifeless hand and started to back away towards the door. "I love you" he whispered again, then shut it gently behind him.

Paddy walked out into the waiting room and sat in a chair. He stared blankly at the wall.
"Are you okay?" Jess asked, sitting beside him.
"No" he said softly. He looked at her. "You guys are best friends, right?"
"She's the best friend I've ever had." Jess nodded.
"I love her, Jess" he said. "I know it's really stupid that I had to realize it this late, but I really do."
"I love her, too, Paddy" Jess said. They sat in silence, and she held tightly on his hand. Suddenly, she began to cry.
"It's okay" Paddy said, pulling her close to him.
Jess continued to cry, and he hugged her. Tears began to fall down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry" she said between sobs. "I'm making you cry."
"It's alright." Paddy said. "I need to get it out."

Paddy walked into Marie's room, the rhythmic beeping taunting him.
He sat down beside her and gently caressed her cheek.
"Marie..." he whispered. "Today they're taking you to the hospital in Cologne. We're all coming with you, we won't let you go. You're going to be all right, Marie, you're going to pull through. I love you."
A nurse walked in.
"There is some news about Marie that I think you should know."
"What is it?" he asked, turning around. "Is she coming to?"
The nurse shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Paddy. But it doesn't look like she is going to make it."
"No" Paddy said, shaking his head. "You aren't right... Stop it."
"I'm sorry" she said again "But I thought you would want to know."
"Nope" Paddy said, refusing to believe it. "I'll see her in Cologne." He turned around and left the room.

In Cologne.
Angelo walked into the room. There was no beeping; just complete silence.
"Nurse!" he called.
A nurse casually walked into the room. "Yes?"
"It's Marie! The monitor is off!" Angelo cried. "She is going to die. Do something!"
The nurse laughed bitterly. "Where have you been? We're cleaning her up. She died last night."
The voice echoed in his head. 'She died last night. She died last night.'
Angelo's eyes shot open and he breathed deeply. He was sleeping on the couch in the living room, not talking to the nurse in the hospital. He got up to go into the kitchen to get a glass of milk. He flicked on the lamp, which shone into the kitchen. The small overhead stove light was on, with a female figure in front of it. 
Her blue bathrobe... 'It's Marie', Angelo thought as his breath caught in his throat. He rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn't sleeping. I can't believe it... she's actually here. He walked silently across the kitchen floor. And stood beside her. 
"I'm glad you are finally home" he whispered.
She turned around, the shadow looming across her face. Angelo pulled her close. "I love you" he whispered. He gently kissed her.
"Angelo!" she exclaimed, pushing back. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Marie?" he asked.
"Marie? Damn it, Angelo, are you dreaming?" She grabbed his arms and shook him. "Wake up! Are you delirious?" She flicked on the light.
"Holy shit, Jess!" Angelo said, his face growing red. "Oh, God, I didn't know it was you." He put his face in his hands and moaned. "I'm such a loser."
Jess smiled.
"No you aren't. I understand that you just miss her."
"I swear, maybe I was dreaming or something" Angelo said. "And the bathrobe tipped me off."
Jess grew embarrassed.
"I'm sorry. It's just that I needed something to feel really close to her."
"That's okay!" Angelo said. "So did I. I just used you instead of a bathrobe."
Jess laughed.
"Don't worry about it." She hugged him. "I really miss her." she said softly.
"So do I" Angelo said, a lump forming in his throat. "Do you honestly think she is going to pull through?"
Jess held on to Angelo, filled with hesitation. 
"Jess?" he asked, pulling back and looking at her closely.
Jess shook her head.
"It doesn't look good, Angelo." 
Angelo's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm going to bed." He announced, walking away.

Angelo woke up the next morning, and walked downstairs. There was a note on the table that Jess and Joey went for a walk and the rest went to hospital o see Marie. Angelo sighed and walked into the empty kitchen, getting himself a bowl of cereal.

"Sit down, please, Jess" Joey said.
"I'm sick of hearing you bitch me out" Jess said stubbornly.
"I'm not bitching you out!" He exclaimed. His voice grew soft. "I just don't know why you won't open up to me. Why are you bottling up everything inside?"
Jess forced a smile.
"Joey, I'm not."
"You know what?" Joey said. "Forget it."
"Forget what?" Jess asked him.
"Forget me trying to reach you... forget... us" Joey said.
"Us?" Jess cried. "Us? Just forget us, like that."
"Come on, Jess. What are you doing with me? I thought a relationship... a relationship like ours could have trust. You won't even tell me anything. Marie is your best friend and you aren't even acting concerned."
"I was too acting concerned" Jess answered.
"You sound like you are seven" Joey said. "You were concerned for like, a day."
Jess stood in front of him, unable to meet his eyes. "Do you really want to forget about us?"
Joey stayed silent.
"Because I don't think that I can handle this. I can't handle my best friend dying, and my boyfriend not staying with me" Jess said. "It's too much, Joe."
Joey stood in front of her, not moving.
"I mean, I love her so much" Jess said, trying to swallow the lump forming in her throat. "And you... you're everything to me."
Joey stayed unmoving.
"I'm sorry if I've been acting like this, but my best friend Joey... she's going to die, and I am left with nothing" Jess said. Finally tears spilled over her eyes and trailed down her cheeks. "I don't know what to do."
Joey sat on the bed and she sat beside him. He cradled her in his arms while she cried.
Minutes later, he whispered in her ear.
"I love you."

Angelo sat beside Marie and watched her slowly breathe. He put his hands over one of hers.
"Marie, I just want to let you know that I am going out tonight with this girl, Jenn. She was one of your schoolmate and she was here to visit you. She's really nice. But she's just a friend, and I am bringing her dancing. The whole time, I am going to be thinking of you." he said. "I can't stay long, but I just wanted to tell you that I love you." He kissed her forehead and left the room.

At the same night.
Angelo walked over to the counter and pretended to be washing a dish.
"Hey Angelo" Jimmy said, walking in the kitchen. "How was your date?"
"It was not a date" Angelo said. "We're friends. What's going on with you and Jess?"
"Me and Jess? Nothing" Jimmy said.
"I find that hard to believe" Angelo said. "Come on, Jimmy... is she cheating on Joey?"
"No, I swear, she isn't." Jimmy said. "We're friends, me and her. Nothing physical is going on.
"Sure!" Angelo sighed pushing past him and walking into the living room.

Jess walked out the door, and saw Paddy and Joey shooting around in the driveway. She started to walk back inside, but Paddy saw her.
"Jess, hey!" Paddy called. 
"Hi" she mumbled, sitting down on the hard concrete of the front porch.
"Who called you?" Paddy asked, walking over to her.
"The doctor of Marie." She said.
"Why?"
"No reason" she said, not meeting his eyes.
"Was it about Marie?"
"Nope." Jess shook her head.
"I think I am going to visit her this afternoon" he said. "Want to come?"
"No" she said.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because" she replied.
"Come on, answer me" he begged.
She hesitated.
"She's dying, Paddy" she finally said. "That's the doctor called me. To tell me that she isn't going to make it."
"No" Paddy said. "You're lying." He laughed. "Good one, Jess. You had me there for a second."
"I'm not kidding" she said, serious. Suddenly she burst into tears. "I have to go." She took off down the street.
Paddy sat down on the porch. He looked up at Joey, tears entwined in his long eyelashes.
"She's dying, man."
Joey was torn between his brother and his girlfriend. Finally, he sat down beside Paddy and hugged him. Paddy cried.

Jess leaned on Joey's shoulder, feeling in pure bliss. As they watched TV, she looked up at him. "Joey?" she murmured.
"Yeah?" he answered, squeezing her hand.
"Thanks," she said.
"For what?" he answered, raising an eyebrow.
"For being so great," she said.
He smiled. "You're not so bad yourself."
"You know what I am in the mood for?" Joey asked Jess.
"This?" she replied, kissing him.
A few seconds later, he replied with a smile. "Actually, I was going to say that I am in the mood for a cappuccino, but I'll take whatever you want."
She grinned. "We have no coffee in the house."
"That's okay" Joey said. "There's a store on the corner."
"Want me to come?" Jess asked.
"I'll only be gone for a second" Joey answered. "Keep the sofa warm."
"I'll be waiting" she said.
He leaned down and kissed her, and with a smile, walked out the door.

The phone rang and Jess walked over to it.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Jess, I'm glad I caught you" a nurse's voice flooded the phone.
"Is something wrong with Marie?" she asked.
"I just got a call from the doctor, and he said that usually after a month the patient doesn't wake up" the voice was distraught.
Sadness washed over Jess.
"What else did he say?"
"He said there is a slim chance she could wake up, but with a very slim chance of no brain damage. The options are to pull the plug, or to wait it out."
"I would wait it out" Jess said.
"That's why I was calling, to see what you would say" 
"I think this is a right thing" Jess said.
"Bye"
"Bye" Jess answered, hanging up the phone.

"Hello?" Angelo answered the phone on the first ring.
"Angelo?" a female voice replied.
"Yeah" he said.
"Hey, it's Jenn" Jenn answered.
"Hi, Jenn" he replied. "How are you?"
"Great" she said. "Now that I am talking to you."
"Yeah, anyway, are we doing something tonight?" Angelo asked.
"I'd like to" Jenn said. "I'm working until eight only."
"Okay" Angelo said. "I'm going to visit Marie tonight…"
"You sure visit her a lot" Jenn said, cutting him off.
"…And then I will pick you up. What do you want to do?" Angelo continued.
"I'd like to go out for a dinner for two" she said. "And then after, we can go to my house and watch a movie or something."
"Sounds good" Angelo said. "See you at eight."
"I'll make the reservations" Jenn said. 
"Okay" Angelo said. "Bye."
"Bye" Jenn answered.

Paddy laid on Marie's bed, breathing in the slight smell of her perfume. He held her pillow to his cheek. Two single tears slid down his cheeks as memories of Madeline's funeral came flooding back.
Paddy looked up at the ceiling.
"Please, God. Keep Marie alive. Keep her going. I love her."

A while later.
Angelo walked into the hospital, clutching a small bouquet of daisies. He walked into her room, relieved to see her still breathing.
"Hey, Marie" he said, sitting down. "I brought you some flowers." He placed them on her bedside table. "You look pretty good. I'm going out with Jenn, but she doesn't mean anything to me, and she definitely doesn't amount to you. I think she's a little possessive, tonight I am going to tell her exactly what I feel for her, and exactly what I feel for you." He glanced at his watch. "I better get going, but I am coming back as soon as I am done tonight."
He kissed her hand lightly and placed it back on the bed. "I love you." 
Angelo left the room.

Joey got up from his chair.
"Patty, I'm going to the Jess's store."
"Ok, see ya later!"

Jimmy got into the car and drove towards Jess's store.

Joey ran down the street, pulling in his jacket. He saw the store in the distance, and broke into a sprint.

Jimmy drove down the last main street, passing a dark figure running desperately against the wind. He turned off the car and walked inside the back doors.
"Hey Jimmy" Jess said with a smile. She took off her headset and placed it in her locker, then took out her jacket. "I'm just about ready."
"Look, Jess" Jimmy said "I can't help it. I have to tell you that..."
"And what is that?" Jess asked, taking her wallet from the shelf and looking in her locker mirror.
"This" Jimmy said, turning her around and kissing her softly

Joey ran into the store breathing hard.
"Shane" he said. "Where's Jess?"
"Getting ready to leave." Shane pointed to the back.
"Thanks" Joey answered, breathless, running to the back of the store.

"Jimmy" Jess murmured. "This is so wrong." She pulled back.
"But it feels so..." Jimmy began.
"Right" Jess said, cutting him off with another kiss.

Joey opened the door at the back of the store.
"Jess, I…" He stopped. 
She pushed Jimmy away.
"Oh, shit, Joey. I'm sorry, I…"
"I'm sorry, too" Joey said. "I'm sorry I ever wasted my time on you."
"Come on, Joey!!" Jess said.
"We just broke up!" Joey cried.
Jimmy took a step away from Jess.
"Look, Joey, I'm sorry."
"Both of you..." Joey shook his head in disgust. "I can't believe you."
Jess tried to take his hand, but he shook it away.
"Don't touch me."
"Joey, please" Jess said.
"Please what?" Joey asked. "Please say, it's alright, go ahead? Please understand? For your information, I was coming back to tell you how much I care for you. But now..." he laughed bitterly. "I want to let you go. I've had enough of you. Both of you."
"Please, I…" Jess started.
"No" he said, shaking his head. "Stop." He turned around and left the room.
Jess started to go after him, but Jimmy grabbed her arm. "Don't."
"Why not?" Jess asked, shaking her arm out of his.
"He's vulnerable" Jimmy explained. "I know how Joey is. You might think you do, but I know him better than you. Seriously, Jess, don't bother him right now."
"Fine" she said, reluctantly.
"Let's go home" Jimmy said.
She slipped her hand in his and they walked out the back door.

Angelo walked into the diner. Jenn was sitting on the barstool near the door. "Hey, Angelo" she said, standing up.
"Jenn" he said, with a grin. "You look great." He gestured to her sleek dark blue jeans and fitted baby pink shirt.

"This is great, Angelo" Jenn said. "It really is."
Angelo nodded absentmindedly, his mind on Marie.
"Is anything wrong?" she asked.
"No, sorry" Angelo said. "Just concerned about Marie."
"You guys are good friends?" Jenn asked. 
Angelo looked at her. "Something like that"
Jenn smiled, and took a bite of her vegetarian lasagna.
The waiter walked over.
"Can I interest you in any drinks?"
Angelo shook his head, and Jenn spoke. "Just water, please."

Joey walked into the condo, slamming the door behind him. He walked into the kitchen, where Patty, Maite and Paddy were sitting. He sat down.
"Are you alright?" Patricia asked with concern.
"No" Joey said. 
"What happened?" Paddy asked.
"Okay, get this" Joey said, leaning forward and setting his elbows on the table. "I run to the store, and her co-worker said that she's in the back. So, I go into the back and..." he paused dramatically. "... She's locked in this passionate embrace with Jimmy."
"Ouch" Paddy said.
"Yeah, well screw her" Joey said, angrily. "I need to get out of here before they get here. Do you guys want to go visit Marie?"
Paddy nodded. "We were going to go anyway."
Joey smiled in relief.
"Alright. I just want to change into something warmer. It's freezing out there."

"Angelo there's something I've been meaning to tell you" Jenn said, seriously.
Angelo smiled, totally oblivious. "Okay."
"Lately I have been…" she began.
"More water?" the waiter asked, cutting her off when he walked back over.
"Sure" she said, with a fake smile.
He poured the water, then left the table. "Anyway, Angelo..."
"Um, could you excuse me? I need to go to the bathroom" Angelo said.
"Sure" Jenn answered.
A few minutes later, Angelo returned. "Sorry."
"That's okay" she said. She took the last bite of her lasagna. "Listen, I am a little tired. Do you want to just go back to my place?"
Angelo took the last few bites of his pasta. "Sure." He called the waiter over and paid the bill. Minutes later, they were back in the car.

Jimmy and Jess arrived back at the house, and found a note scrawled on a piece of paper on the kitchen table.
"Jess and Jimmy, we went to the hospital to see Marie, come meet us there if you want. Joey is with us, so you might not want to. He told us what happened. Please, lay off for his sake. Angelo is out with Jenn. See you later, Paddy." Jess read. "Do you want to go?"
Jimmy nodded. "Yeah."
Jess grabbed her keys.
"What are we going to do about Joey?"
"You still care for him?" Jimmy said.
"I do" Jess said.
"Well, then we'll do nothing, no more kisses, no more hugs, no more anything" Jimmy said. "It was great for that moment, but Joey's my brother. We can't do anything to him."
"I know" she said. "So we won't."
"Right" Jimmy agreed. "We won't."
They walked outside and got into the car. Silence filled the car. Jess pulled into the parking lot at the hospital and turned off the car.

"What movie do you want to watch?" Jenn asked, sitting down on the sofa holding a hot mug of coffee.
"I don't care" Angelo said.
"What's with you tonight, Angelo?" Jenn asked. "You're spaced."
"I'm worried about Marie" Angelo told her. "She's been in this coma over a month."
Jenn raised an eyebrow. "Is she all you think about?"
Angelo was caught off guard. He hesitated. "No."
"Oh" she answered, obviously not believing him. "Listen, do you want to watch a movie or not. I mean, you can go home if you want to."
"I'll stay" Angelo said, settling back on the sofa.
He moved over for her to sit beside him. She did, and leaned on his arm.

Paddy sat in Marie's room, watching her take slow, deep breaths. "Paddy?" a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Yeah?" he asked, not turning around.
The person walked in the room. "I talked to the nurse."
Paddy shifted his body around and saw Jess standing in front of him. "And?"
"And… they don't think Marie is going to make it. They might pull it" Jess said, fresh tears beginning to flow down her cheeks.
"No" Paddy said, shaking his head. "She still has time."
"They said because she hit her head, she'll probably have brain damage. They said it's better this way" Jess began to cry harder.
Paddy stood up.
"That's insane. She might not. We can't let them pull."
"They are giving her a week" Jess said. 
Paddy's eyes clouded over, and he gave Jess a vacant stare.
"A week?"
Jess nodded, and Paddy pulled her close. Together they cried.

Jenn put her hand on Angelo's leg. "Angelo?" she asked.
"Yeah?" he answered, eyes focused on the movie.
"Does anyone ever call you Angie?" Jenn smiled.
"Angie?" he repeated. "Yeah, Marie called me like this sometimes."
"Oh" she sighed.
When the movie finished she clicked off the movie.
"I want to talk about my future. My future with you."
"What are you talking about?" Angelo asked, suspicion growing inside of him.
She cut him off with a kiss, then another. He tried to resist, but her kisses were urgent; needy. She leaned over and she began to unbutton his shirt.
Angelo pushed Jenn off of him. "What are you doing?"
"Angelo, I want to make love" Jenn said. "Me. You. Candlelight."
"No!" He sputtered. "Jenn, I thought we were just friends."
"These last few weeks were amazing, we're more than that" she said, leaning over and kissing him again, trying to undo his belt. 
He stood up, and she fell off the couch. "Jenn. Stop it."
"Don't you want me?" she asked, beginning to take off her shirt.
"Not like that" he answered, putting a hand on her arm to stop.
"You don't want me?" She stopped.
He shook his head.
"Why not?" Jenn asked, incredulously.
"I don't love you, Jenn. I don't even like you, like you think I might" Angelo replied. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too" her voice changing from provocative to snotty. "Let me guess. You have a thing for Marie?"
Angelo nodded.
"Oh, God" she said. "This is so embarrassing."
"Don't be embarrassed" he said lightly.
"Fine, then I'll be pissed" she said. "Go have your short fling with your dying girl. She's going to die, Angelo. Maybe you should get to the hospital."
Angelo shook his head. "Come on, Jenn. I thought we were having fun."
"Angelo, I don't ever want to see you again."
"But…" he began.
She ran out the door.

Chapter 14 - Snowed in