I was stranded in a parallel universe immersed in darkness. I could hear murmurs but I couldn't understand them. As if I was underwater.

My whole body hurt.

I strained my ears to understand something, anything. My eyelids felt heavy but I mustered all the force I had into the sole action of opening them. They fluttered for a fraction of a second but they were too heavy and I was too fragile to keep trying.

I didn't want to die.

There was so much more that I wanted to do. The first person that popped into my head was Nathan. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to know what it felt like to wake up next to him, to be loved by him. To spend Christmas Eve in his arms. To play in the snow. To watch a baseball game. To pig out on fries and marshmallows.

I love you, Nate.

It was frustrating wanting to wake up but my body felt sort of numb.

I thought about Dad. I wanted to see him happy.

I even wanted to give the damn speech. Anything, at this point.

A heavy lump pressed my chest. It hurt. "Nate," I was barely able to open my mouth but his name slurred. It hurt, too.

My voice was different, though; my mouth was too dry and my tone had been too raspy.

"Oh my God," another sharp pain burst from within me. "Finally," A trembling voice whispered relived beside me. "You are fine, Cassie." My ears ached as the voice was stronger. I could hear a monitor on my right. Slowly, my whole body started to come alive. Boy, it hurt like a bitch.

Especially my head. "Ow" a soft whimper left my lips.

"I know, honey." Softness laced in every word, "but I'm glad you're back with us Cassie."

My eyes fluttered open and I had to close them again. Even the freaking light hurt my eyes. I recognized the voice, "Marie?"

"I'm here, honey." Something rustled as I imagined her pressing different buttons at the same time. I opened my mouth again to ask for Dad and Nate, but a warm hand touched my arm. "Don't talk yet, sweetie. I've already called a nurse and she's going to bring you some ice. Your Dad went home to take a shower and Nathan is just down the hall."

At the mere sound of his name, my heart clenched and it started to beat faster. The annoying monitor's beeping was proof of it. Marie added softly, "I sent him to get something to eat. The poor boy hasn't left your side."

The door opened. Squinting my eyes because of the light, I willed them open. A brunette with a blue uniform walked inside carrying a bottle of water and a tray filled with ice chips. Marie thanked her and placed one chip on my lips. I tried to raise my hand but it was in a cast and it hurt too.

Marie grimaced, "you broke your wrist and had a severe concussion on your head." Her hazel eyes examined me all over. She looked awful. Her usually tamed hair was all over the place and her eyes were red and had dark circles underneath.

The cold ice melted into water, my mouth instantly felt better. How long have I been here? Her brows furrowed as she placed another chip in my mouth. "You were unconscious for a long time and we had to give you strong painkillers that knocked you down for almost a day. You're too sensitive to the dose, apparently." Her eyes softened, "we're not giving you anything for the pain now. I'm sorry if it hurts badly."

I breathed out wincing, "it's ok."

The door opened once again. I looked up and my breath caught in my throat as I saw Nate's grey eyes looking at me with so much relief in them that it warmed my heart. He was next to me in no-time. Marie smiled at him and squeezed his hand as she left the room. She glanced at me before closing the door with an honest smile on her face.

Nate's eyes brimmed with tears as he softly stroked my cheek. He looked awful. I was pretty sure he hadn't slept at all. His hair was completely disheveled from running his hand through it so much. "You scared the crap out of me."

"Sorry" I whispered softly.

"I was dying without you, Cassie" his grey eyes bored into mine. He swallowed hard. "Seeing you unconscious was the worst. I thought," his voice faltered, "I thought I lost you."

"Hey" My left hand reached out for his, forgetting my pain for a moment. "I'm fine."

He sat next to me, holding my hand. "I almost lost it." He shook his head defeated. "Sean freaked out that you weren't getting up and ran for help. He explained the whole thing to Emma, who in turn fetched Mr. White after ringing the hospital." His grey eyes were soft as he looked to the side. Not before I noticed how hurt he seemed. "Why didn't you tell me?" He shook his head as my heart sank. "Promise me that you'll never keep something like this from me?" he breathed out as he ran a hand through his hair.

My eyes followed the movement and I noticed his knuckles were scabbed. My eyes looked up as he pulled his hand away. "I'm sorry. I thought I could handle it." A shaky breath left my lips as I winced at the pain from my head and arm. "And I didn't want to get you into trouble." He pressed his lips and from the guilty gesture on his face I knew that he had done something about it. "What did you do?"

He shrugged. "I'm suspended." His eyes looked up, "but Tom's expelled."

Grimacing at the pain, I closed my eyes for a moment. "He is an ass but he didn't mean for me to fall. I slipped."

Nathan's jaw clenched. "Either way, he's gone. And I don't care that I'm suspended because I was not going to leave your side anyway." His eyes were hard for a moment.

"I'm not defending him. I'm not," I pushed when I saw incredulity flash through his eyes. "but I did slip."

He took a deep breath. His eyes softened. "I'm just glad that you're awake."

"Me too." I shut my eyes once again. "But it hurts."

His hand gently caressed my cheek. "I know. I wish I could help out somehow."

"You are," my voice was barely a whisper as I leaned on his touch.

"Farah is feeling guilty, though." He added a moment later. My eyes snapped open. He shook his head. "And she's grounded. Her mom flipped when she admitted that the pregnancy test was hers. Good thing, too because your father would probably kill me if she hadn't said anything the moment the ambulance got to you."

"Is she," I couldn't finish my question when Nathan was shaking his head.

"She has a stomach virus. And a shit load of problems with her Mom." Poor Farah. At least she wasn't really pregnant.

My lips tugged up on a small smile when the room's door burst open. Dad stepped in with a wild look in his eyes. His lips were trembling and he seemed like he had aged over the last day. Nate kissed me lightly on the cheek before giving my father space to sit beside me. "How are you Cassie?" Marie was right behind him. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I've been better?" I started to cough. Closing my eyes for a moment, I winced. Damn, it hurt.

Marie's hand grabbed my cheek as she brought the bottle of water to my lips. "Don't talk too much, honey." I nodded.

Nate was leaned on the doorframe with his arms tightly crossed. His eyes were worried and angry at the same time. Although I knew he wasn't angry at me.

"I'm glad you are awake, Cassie" His eyes were teary as he placed a palm over my left hand. "You scared us." My eyes brimmed with tears as I saw the sorrow in his eyes. Daddy. He took a deep breath as Marie squeezed his shoulder. Without looking at her, he placed a palm over her hand. I looked at them and a small smile played on my lips. She was there for him as she had been for me.

Marie was truly a great woman. She was not Mom but she was good for Dad. Good for us.

My eyes searched Nate's. He smiled as our eyes locked. I didn't need to tell him anything. He already knew how I felt.

Marie insisted that I stayed on the hospital one more night. Dad stayed with me. After visiting hours, he sent Nate home. He did need a rest. Dad didn't bulge in after his incessant complains that he was fine and all. Reluctantly, he left for his house after kissing me lightly on the lips.

That night, as my father snored lightly on the other side of the room, I thought about everything. I had witnessed the pain and sorrow on my father's eyes. My heart clenched as I gazed at his slumped figure. He had probably felt the same when I tried to hurt myself. I was thankful that Marie had found me. That she was there for him.

The next morning, Anne and Farah visited me. Her mother had taken mercy of her daughter's guilt and let her visit me. However, she was still grounded and I was pretty sure that her mom wasn't too keen on Chris now.

"I'm so sorry," Farah's blue eyes pooled with tears as her jaw quivered. "I panicked and made you get the stupid test. This was all my fault."

My heart soared for her. "It wasn't. Please stop, Farah."

"It's also Chris' fault," she sounded reproachful. "He should have gotten the damn test. Not you."

Anne's lips twitched as she was standing behind Farah. "I slipped, Farah," I said in a soft voice. "I'm getting out today and I will just have to keep the cast for a few weeks. That's all."

"Besides, I think Chris is suffering enough, Farah." Anne added. Farah's brows were creased as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"We'll see." She puffed out her cheeks and glared at our friend. Anne rolled her eyes playfully.

They stayed with me for a while, talking about anything and everything. By the end of the hour, Farah was looking much more calmed. The best thing is that my head wasn't hurting so bad. My wrist was but I tried not to show it. At the end, Farah admitted not to be that angry at Chris. She was just making him suffer for a while. I had to stifle a laugh at that.

Either way, my friends were awesome.