I was still a little confused about the incident, but I didn't want to waste any more thought. We wrapped ourselves up again in the many layers of clothing in which we had come. I don't know how I did it, but no sooner had we stepped outside the door than I found out that I had left my scarf in the café. I sighed briefly and softly, but the others heard it anyway.

"What's wrong?" Jaime asked.

"Nothing bad, I just left my scarf. You can go ahead; I'll be right there"

They nodded. "Alright"

They set off, I returned to the cafe and found my scarf very quickly. It wasn't hard to find, it just lay on the back of my chair. I went out again.

I had just taken a few steps when I heard my phone beeping. I fished it out of my pocket. I thought the others might have gone in somewhere and told me about it, but when I saw who it was, I really wanted to put my phone away again. However, I had already seen who it was, so I could just as easily read what she wrote. I stopped and read.

Jessica: Hi! Shame you don't like me. But it doesn't matter. I deserve someone better anyway. If you'd rather hang out with the losers you call friends, do that. Seriously, Harry Potter musicals? How old are you? 12? Nobody our age likes Harry Potter anymore. That's for kids. Find a decent job. Without these people. Goodbye to you too!

I stared at the screen. If she insulted me, I could live with it, but not my friends. My friends are not losers, we are winners because we do what we enjoy. And we're winners because we do that with our friends. I looked up from my phone and saw the others at the end of the street. They came back again. Meredith waved once and I waved back. Then everything happened very quickly.

In the distance I heard someone scream through the cold wind. It was someone from the others, I couldn't tell who. It could have been anyone, maybe everyone. I didn't know why. Not yet.

I heard a rumble behind me. Jerkingly, I turned around and saw a red car coming straight towards me. I was petrified. I couldn't move, and before I could contain myself, I felt a mighty impact on my stomach. The jerk landed me on the bonnet and the car slowed down and I slammed down again. It hurt. Okay what did I expect? Someone was approaching from the left. Someone called my name, I wanted to answer, it just didn't work. Rosenthal knelt next to me.

"Joey! Hey, Joey, pal. Stay with me. Look me in the eye" He almost yelled at me.

I did my best. Brian dialed a number, most likely an ambulance. My head ached; my whole body ached. Where were the others? My eyelids began to flutter, they wanted to close. I fought against it with all my might. Brian leaned over me.

"Joey. Do you hear me? The ambulance is on the way. They'll help you right away. Please stay with me! Keep your eyes open, I know you can do this. You are strong. You can do it. Look me in the eye. Yes, right here" He pointed to his own eyes with his index and middle finger. I stared into them. Someone else came from the other side, at first, I couldn't see who it was because I was staring into Brian's eyes, but at some point, I realized it was Jaime. She put a rescue blanket around me against possible hypothermia. She put her jacket under my head. I realized that I couldn't keep my eyes open much longer.

"Brian, I can't"

"Yes, you can, Joey," he said firmly. "You can, I know that. You get what you want. And you want to stay with us. With me. With Jaime and Brian. And with Meredith and Lauren. Your best friends. You don't want to give them up for anything in the world, you said that yourself. Take your word for it, Joey. Don't give up on your best friends just because your damn eyes want to close"

'Yes, my best friends,' I thought. 'I want to stay with them. But I can't. Besides, it doesn't mean that I'll give them up just because I'm closing my eyes now. Or does it?' Suddenly I panicked, so I opened my eyes wide again.

"Yes, Joey, that's what you want. Open your eyes, look me in the eye"

It actually helped looking Brian in the eyes. Soon I heard sirens. Soon the ambulance was there. Soon Brian had to leave my side. Soon, looking Brian in the eyes lost its effect. Soon I passed out after all.