Chapter 1

Nick sat outside of a cafe, thinking about his best friend, CJ. She was so beautiful, funny and he had loved her for the longest time. He heard a scream and looked across the road down the alley. There was a girl who was pushed up against the wall, screaming at the guy to move away. He saw him punch the girl and her double over in pain. The boy side kicked the girl to the ground and started kicking her all over. He thought to himself, 'That girl looks like her, dresses like her.. o no! It is her, its CJ!' He threw a $5 bill on the table and grabbed his bodyguard and dragged him across the street. As he ran across, he saw the boy pick CJ up by her hair. He saw the guy pull out a knife and taunt her with it. Nick started running, his bodyguard chasing him. He pushed the guy with the knife away from her, but before he did, the knife was jabbed into her. The bodyguard called for backup and he kept the kid down. Nick ran over to his best friend. "CJ?"

          Her eyes looked up, black and cold, with out the twinkle he usually saw, she said, "Nick? That's my ex. Why did I go out with him tonight? Look what happened. You remember what happened last time." Indeed, he did. Last time she ended up with lots of bruises and a broken rib.  Her blood was all over her white dress. Her eyes still didn't sparkle.

          Nick took her in his arms, crying for her and what seemed like hours, the ambulance finally showed up. They took her from his arms, leaving him teary eyed. He cried out for her at that instant she left his arms, "CJ!! DON'T LEAVE ME!!" They put her on the stretcher and left. The cops took the kid, Nick told them what his name was. They left with Cliff in custody. It was completely silent for a few minutes before Nick's bodyguard helped him up, took him to the car and drove to the hospital.

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          Nick paced the floor of the waiting area. Along with him were Brian, Jessie and the rest of the group. “NICK! SIT DOWN!” Jess said, tired of him pacing. “You are making us all nervous!” Reluctantly he sat down; he placed his elbows on his knees and placed his head in his palms. Jess turned around in Brian’s lap, they glanced and Brian let go. She kissed his nose and jumped off. She walked over to Nick, bent down and she placed her hand on his head, “Nick, I’m sorry for yelling. I just couldn’t take it. We are all as worried as you are.”

          “You are? The girl you love and she doesn’t know it is in there?” He mumbled.

          “Of course I love CJ.”

          “But not like I do. She doesn’t even know I love her!” He shouted.

          Brian walked over and bent down next to Nick. “Nick, she’ll be fine, buddy. We all love her.”

          Nick stood up, having them follow him up. “BUT NOT LIKE ME! I HAVE LOVED HER FOR SO LONG AND NOW SHE MIGHT BE DEAD!” He screamed as his voice cracked. Nick’s head fell into his palms again and Brian took him in his arms.

          “Shhhh. Frack, it's ok. Shhh. She isn’t dead.” Brian said, soothing him. Jess looked at him and had tears in her eyes. His eyes looked over her eyes and jerked his head back, motioning her to come to them. She shook her head and ran out of the room. “Shit.” He said. He looked over to the other girls, he mouthed, “Please, someone go to her!” Melanie, Julie, and Jenn all got up and left.

          Nick cried, “It should have been me, not her!”

          All the guys looked at each other as Brian soothed Nick with comforting words. They all got up and joined Brian and Nick.

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          Jess sank down in the couch in the waiting area of the bathroom. Her tears didn’t stop, they kept flowing out. She sniffled as she heard the door open. Why had she left Brian? She needed him. “Jess?” She heard one of her best friends, Melanie, say. She sniffled again and nodded. She never picked up her head, but she could tell all her best friends, except CJ, were in the room.

          “I miss her. I want to know what is wrong, why it's taking so long. What if she is dead, like Nick said? I couldn’t handle losing her.” She cried as she felt everyone put their arms around her and hold her, comforting her. Soon, her tears were gone, but fear still lived inside her. Her friends took out makeup, which cracked her up. She put on a smile for them as the tried to get the redness away from under her eyes.

Together, they walked back to the waiting room. Everyone seemed to be fine and looked up as the door opened, revealing the girls. Brian ran up to Jess and took her in his arms. The other girls walked up to Nick and hugged him. He was still upset, but had stopped crying. Jess left Brian’s embrace and went up to Nick. She simply said, “Hug?” and Nick had her in his arms. Brian chuckled at the sight, and sat down on the couch. After the hug, Jess crawled back to Brian. She put her head on his shoulder as he put his arms around her shoulders.

Chapter 2

They all woke up as they heard someone scream. They looked toward the door, which was open. They knew it was Nick. They ran out of the room toward the voice. There he was, in front of CJ’s room, screaming, “NOOOOOOOOO!” They looked in the room to see her lying down, the heart monitor blank with the straight line. Doctors and nurses rushed in and out. They stood there, Jess held onto Nick and Brian, soothing Nick, and squeezing onto Brian. Finally, they revived her. Nick stopped sobbing as he heard the ‘beep beep’ of the monitor. They all breathed in, and knew they hadn’t lost her. ‘Thank god,’ Jess thought to herself. The group started filing back into the waiting area. Nick was the last one back in.

          “I need coffee.” He mumbled. A lot of them shook our heads, in agreement. So, Nick and the guys went to get the girls and themselves food and drinks.

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(An hour later)

          Nick was asleep, having a good dream.

:Flashback:

          They all went to a club. CJ was dancing with Nick. Not just any dancing, but grinding. He looked at her with amazement and love. He loved her so much; he didn’t know how she didn’t know he loved her. The lights shinning in her eyes just set him off, he was defiantly turned on, especially with CJ’s leg in between his. She had one arm around his neck and one was on his back. He had both of his arms around her waist, helping her move to the music while grinding. She looked up and he could see love in her eyes. He lowered his head and she closed her eyes as their lips met. That was their first kiss. They both felt something, but they thought it would be too weird because they were best friends. So, they tried to forget the feelings.

:EndFlashback:

          “NICK!!!!” Brian screamed.

          “Waahh?”

          “She’s awake!”

          “CJ?”

          “YES!!!” Jessie screamed. They all hugged, and went through the door, leaving the others sleeping. Jessie and Brian let Nick go in first.

          “CJ.” He whispered.

          “Nick?” she said, alerted.

          “Yea, it's me.”

          “Oh, Nick, come here.” She said.

          “It feels good to know you are awake and alive. I would have died without you, CJ. I really would have. I.. I.. “ He started he hugged her, it was tough but it would do.

          “What Nick, spit it out ol’ chap.” She joked.

          “CJ, I love you. I always have and always will. I was so worried about you.” He saw tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He said, wiping the tears away.

Chapter 3