It seemed hours before Rye heard sirens getting closer and closer, and she knew that help was coming at last. Two paramedics pushed through the circle of people that had formed around her and Brian, who was now lying lifelessly on her lap.
The two paramedics put Brian slowly on the stretcher they had with them, and everything seemed to happen so fast at that moment. Without a word to Rye, they carried him away.
Rye stood up and walked up to them, holding Brian’s hand in hers.
“Uh, sorry Miss, we have to take him to the hospital.”
“I’m going with you,” she said firmly.
Both paramedics looked at each other, and finally the second one shrugged, then said "fine, but let’s go now..."
She went in with them, not letting go of Brian's hand for one second. One of the paramedics stayed in the back with her, while the other one went to the front seat and drove away, blasting sirens shrieking in her ear. She watched as he put a face mask on Brian, then checked his pulse, and heart rate. Brian was not moving at all, though, and Rye leaned closer to him and with his hands on her cheeks, she whispered, "Brian, I know you'll be ok, please be ok... you're going to get better, I know you are..." then with a soft smile, she whispered again, "Remember that candy I promised you..."
It was no use, for Brian lay motionless in front of her, and she cried again.
*********************
Those deep green eyes, thought Lauren... and wow, those lips look like they wouldn't really mind if I kissed them right now...
She was staring at Kevin speak, not necessarily listening to him, though. His eyes were so enchanting, his smile. Hey wait a sec, why'd he stop speaking, she thought... and realized he was looking at her with an amused smile.
"I don't know, everytime I start speaking, you never seem to be listening," he said chuckling. "Am I that boring?"
"No, no, of course not!" she said blushing. "It's just been so long... I guess I still can't believe you're really right here, having dinner with me..." oh great, she groaned... that must have sounded so weird... I sound more like a crazed fan, she thought...
Kevin grinned, and was about to say something when a waiter came up to their table and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Richardson, you have a phone call."
Kevin looked puzzled and said, "A phone call? Well that's weird... Lauren, I'll be right back, ok?"
"Alright, I'm sitting right here," she smiled. She watched him stand up lazily from his chair, in that usual manner she remembered. Maybe things could be different, she thought... I've already buried my past now...
***************************
The ambulance reached the hospital, and the doors were opened very fast as they carefully yet quickly carried Brian and from the stretcher put him on a bed. Then doctors came, screaming orders at everyone else, that Rye felt lost. They started to roll the bed down the hall into the emergency room, and she tried to catch up and go in with them, when she was stopped by a doctor.
"I'm sorry but you can't come in here," he said firmly.
"Please, I need to be with him!"
"Nobody but doctors or nurses is allowed in here right now, leave."
"I'm-I'm a volunteer..."
He looked at her curiously, "What's your name?"
"Ryan Ann..." she said nervously...
The doctor looked at her for a second and said, "You're the one who took him out of the hospital, aren't you? Please go wait in the waiting room with everyone else, that's all I can tell you for now..." and with that he closed the door and left her standing out in the hall alone. Taking one last look at Brian inside, who seemed to be struggling for life, she turned away feeling so guiltly and walked slowly to the waiting room, hoping, praying that Brian was going to be all right...
Chapter 14
"Nick, what are you doing here?" asked Rye when she reached the waiting room. "And Nicole?" How did they hear about Brian so fast, she thought...
"What the hell did you think you were doing?!" screamed Nick angrily at her. "You were not supposed to get him out of the hospital, dammit, this is Brian's life we are talking about! Because of you, his life could be in serious danger!"
"Nick..." said Nicole, putting her hand softly on his shoulder. He pulled away and sat down.
Nicole looked at Rye with a questioning look, a look that said what-were-you-thinking??? Rye knew that look well enough, and she felt so sorry, so upset... she never wanted this to happen, she thought at silent tears rolled down her cheeks... I only wanted to make him happy for one day, never to hurt him... never...
"Uh, guys we just called Kevin," said Howie, who walked into the waiting room at that moment. "A.J went down for some food," he said shaking his head. "He said he'll be right up." He looked around the room when no one bothered to reply, then saw Rye sitting there with her face buried in her hands.
"Hey, aren't you Ryan ann? The one who helped him sneak-"
"I'm going for a walk," said Rye, standing up from where she was sitting to leave. She couldn't bare to hear it again... it was her fault, she knew it...
*****************************
"Is everything ok?" asked Lauren worriedly, for Kevin came back from the phone not in his usual lazy like walk, he was actually hurrying.
"Yeah, Howie just called from the hospital. I don't know what exactly happened but Brian was brought in to the emergency room."
"Wasn't he already in the hospital?"
"Apparently, he and Ryan Ann snuck out... I'm sorry Lauren to stop this date like this-"
"No, I understand," she said with a smile, then in a worried face again she said, "Do You mind if I go with you?"
"No, of course not," he smiled. "Let's go..."
Chapter 15
"Hey, I can't believe they don't even have good burgers in this hospital... anyone want some, I, uh got some extras," said A.J as he walked in. Nobody even bothered to look at him, and he grumbled to himself, "Fine, I guess that means more food for me... you all don't know what you're missing..." and with that he took a huge bite and made a point of making 'mmm' sounds, until he got a deadly look from all of them, when he decided to eat quietly.
***********************
Rye splashed some water in her face, where she was standing at the fountain. She felt like she was going to faint herself after everything that happened. She couldn't stand not knowing what was wrong with Brian, yet at the same time she didn't know if anyone really wanted her around.
"Ryan Ann!" said someone behind her. She turned around and saw Lauren and Kevin walking towards her. She silently groaned, preparing herself for another guilt session... couldn't they leave her alone???
"What happened? We only heard that he was brought in the emergency room..."
"They don't know yet," she said silently, feeling their eyes on her. "We-we were having a lot of fun when he just blacked out..." She knew they were going to say something, scold her in some way as Nick had just done so she quickly muttered, "Spare me your sermons, I'm not in the mood..." and with that she walked away.
Rye didn't know where exactly she was heading to, until she reached the room with the number 206 on it. She went in, opening the door slowly, and headed for the now empty bed. She lay down on the bed, with her arms around her knees. Everything still looked the same, in exactly the same way she had gotten so used to seeing it everytime she'd come to the room... only one thing was missing, she thought as the tears started to make a quick comeback, and that was Brian...
**********************
"Ryan ann... Ryan ann..." Rye could hear someone caling her name, so she opened her now misty eyes and looked up to see Lauren standing in front of her.
"Lauren... I'm sorry, I must have fallen asleep..." she quickly stood up and asked, "Is there any news? Is he ok? Lauren what!"
"Calm down... well, I don't know if you can say he's better but he's breathing, so that's good... they managed to get him conscience again..."
"He is?" asked Rye, breathing a sigh of relief. "But what do you mean, he's not exactly better?"
"Look, he is alive, he almost didn't make it if you really want to know. But his heart is still in a lot of danger, so the doctors said they think they might go for that surgery a little earlier than they thought..."
Rye could almost feel HER heart skip a beat, so she quietly asked, "Can I see him?"
Lauren sighed and said, "Well, only immediate family is allowed but I convinced them that the Backstreet Boys are like brothers so they're inside right now, well at least one of them, only one person is allowed at a time..."
"But what about me?" she asked nervously.
Lauren smiled and said, "I think the doctors said that he kept calling out for a certain 'Rye' when they finally got him back to consciousness-" she didn't have time to finish, however, as Rye raced out of the room to see him.
***************************
Brian's head was pounding, his chest was killing him, yet he said nothing, he was too happy to see his friends anyway. Nick was in the room at that moment, telling him something, when he saw someone at the door, and the smile on his face hurt so much yet he didn't care for he was happy to see the one person he truly cared about- Ryan Ann.
Nick looked up and when he saw who it was, his eyes turned cold. "I'll leave you guys alone," he said, and stood up to leave, walking past Rye angrily.
"Can I come in?" she asked softly, as tears brimmed her eyes for the umpteenth time that day.
Brian didn't say anything, just smiled, and nodded slowly. Rye walked in from where she was standing and sat down beside him. Neither of them said a word until Rye couldn't stand the silence anymore and whispered, "I'm sorry..."
"Why?" asked Brian slowly.
"It's all my fault," she said, starting to cry softly. "If it weren't for me, none of this would have happened, you'd be lying in bed peacefully instead of in pain... I never meant for this to happen, I'm sorry..."
"It's not your fault, whatever made you think that?" he said. He lifted his hand and with his finger, he softly wiped off her tears. "I had the greatest time in a long time, thanks to you..." he said with a smile.
"Yeah..." she said bitterly, "I almost killed you."
"Don't say that," he said putting his hand on hers, then hugged her, and she cried on his shoulder, not sure whether it was because she was happy or sad, either way, it felt so good to be in his sweet arms again.
Chapter 16
"Nick, you know, it's ok, there's no reason why you should be so upset," said Nicole, when he came back from Brian's room, looking really angry.
"No, I guess not," he said sarcastically. "She nearly kills him so he totally ignores his friends when she comes back, huh?"
"Oh come on," she said. Then she smiled and said, "Say it was you there lying on that bed really sick, and I had done the same thing, for love of course, would you rather see me or Brian at the moment?"
Nick smiled back and said, "Oh, I don't know. What would I want to see you for? I mean, I do cherish my life..." he teased.
Nicole playfully punched him in the arm, and then he said, "Ow, that wasn't a hint for you to hit me. Yup, definitely Brian first..."
"Ok, ok, fine, I never gave you this example. Great way of letting me know that I am number 2 on your list..." she said with a pout, and turned away.
"Nicole?" he said touching her lightly on her shoulders. "You do know I was just-"
"Kidding?" she finished as she turned to look at him with a huge grin. "Of course, and so was I, in case you haven't noticed!"
"Oh," he said with relief. "You were scaring me there for a sec." He shook his head, then said again with a smile, "Of course I'd want to see you, I see what you're getting at, and maybe I was kind of overreacting, huh? Yeah, well, you know me by now..."
"Oh, don't I..." said Nicole, as she leaned in to kiss him, and Nick kissed her back, with even more passion.
******************
Rye jumped at the sound of the knock on the door, then looked at Brian. He gave her a questioning look, as if surprised why she'd be nervous, but she couldn't explain, it was just her feeling that everything couldn't turn out as right as they seemed right then.
A red-haired doctor peeked her head in and seeing Rye there, she said, "Oh there you are, Lauren said I'd find you here."
Rye recognized the doctor, it was Dr. Williams, she had been the doctor she was supposed to give all her applications to when she signed up for being a volunteer. She silently gulped as she took a deep breath and said, "Yes?"
"I need to talk to you... now," she said with a serious face. "Please step out in the hall with me," she said again, giving Brian an apologetic face. Brian looked from both her and Rye, looking a little confused, yet worried at the same time. Seeing Rye's face, however, he sqeezed her hand reassuringly, which he was still holding.
Rye let go of his hand reluctantly, and followed the doctor outside, who closed the door softly behind her, but neither of them noticed that it wasn't really closed.
"Listen, Ryan Ann," she began. "This is probably the hardest for me, and I know this is the last thing you's like to hear about, but what you did tonight was very irresponsible. In fact, so irresponsible that I'm not even sure if you are really that capable to work here..."
"Oh but I am!" protested Rye. "I really am sorry about what I did, I'll never do it again," she said, feeling the tears fighting to come out, yet she managed to hold them back.
"I'm sorry..." said Dr. Williams, shaking her head.
"Ok, I understand, I'll go get my stuff..." said Rye, swallowing hard. She turned to leave.
"Wait! It wasn't her fault!"
Rye turned around, and so did the doctor, to find Brian standing by the door, holding against the wall for support.
"Are you crazy?" said the doctor. "Go back in bed right now," she said. "This is really dangerous for your heart."
Brian held up his hand and said, "No, I won't. At least not until you listen to what I have to say." He took a deep breath and said, "Look, it wasn't her fault, it was ALL entirely my idea," he lied. "I was getting so depressed so I told her that I really needed to get out for a while and-"
"That is still no excuse, she shouldn't have listened to you," said the doctor calmly.
"NO, but you see, I-I told her that you told me it was ok, I lied to her so I could leave this place. I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have done that but... please, come on, let her stay?" he asked with a hopeful smile.
The doctor looked at both of them with her arms crossed. She finally sighed and said, "Look, it's not up to me, I'll have to talk to the other doctors so for now, and don't get your hopes up, it's a maybe," and with that she turned to leave shaking her head.
Rye breathed a sigh of relief, then she hugged Brian from all of her excitement.
"Ow," said Brian with a smile, then she remembered that he wasn't even supposed to be standing.
"Oh my God, I'm sorry! Wait, let me help you back to your bed," said Rye. She put his arm around her shoulder and helped him back in, until he was safely in the bed. She sat down on her usual place, that good old blue chair near him.
"I'm sorry I got you in trouble," said Brian.
"You didn't get me in trouble, I got myself in trouble. Anyway, you helped me out, too," she said with a grateful smile. Then the smile disappeared as she said, "But she did say it's a maybe, and I really doubt it's a yes..."
"Oh come on, yes it is. Anyway, don't you even think of leaving the hospital, or me..."
"Don't worry, I won't, and don't want to," she said, smiling again.
"I'm glad," said Brian, "Because that would really kill me..." he teased, then suddenly sank back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, and took deep breaths.
Rye panicked and said, "Brian, are you ok?"
He didn't say anything for a second, just kept on taking deep, slow breaths. Then he quietly said, "Yeah, maybe it's from all those painkillers they gave me, I'm just really tired right now."
"Ok," said Rye uncertainly, as if not believing him. "I'll go now, now I think you'd better go to sleep," she whispered as she softly kissed him, then drew back.
"Yes, Mommy," he said with a soft smile, trying to assure her that he was alright. She took one last look at him before she turned to leave.
Brian sighed to himself, he was glad she believed him. He hadn't felt like telling her that what he felt at that moment was his heart racing a million miles a minute, and he could feel this on and off chest pain... but he didn't want to worry her, he thought. He reached for the breathing mask near his bed, took more slow deep breaths. Oh who am I kidding, he thought to himself, the reason I didn't tell her is I'm really scared, I just don't want to admit it... scared of admitting that I'm sick, that I could be... dying...
