Aaron waited patiently outside her door until her parents stepped out and let him in. Once in the room he refused to leave her side. When her parents left to get breakfast, and Caden, he stayed with her. He softly sang to her and held her hand until Nick and Erica walked in the room. �Aaron, are you okay?� Nick kneeled down by the bed next to Aaron.

�Its all my fault Nick. I should never have been so hard on her.�

�Aaron, look at me. This is not your fault. Don�t blame yourself for this.�

�I thought you guys were visiting Mom and Dad��

�We came back. Shorty called and said it would be a good idea.�

�Aaron, they say you haven�t eaten all day. Come on, you have to eat.� Erica prodded.

�I don�t think that I can eat Erica. I know I can�t sleep.�

�You know what Aaron� how about we go get you something to eat. You won�t have to leave her� and it�ll make you feel better.�

�I guess.� Aaron just stared at Jess� hand in his.

�I love you Aaron,� Nick hugged his brother and he and Erica left to get food for Aaron.

Once they had him eating it took a whole lot more effort to get him to go back to school. Elise finally got him to go back with the promise that he could carry his cell at all times and could leave the school if he felt it necessary. Immediately after school he would rush to the hospital to sit with Jess again. He did his work and stayed caught up with the rest of the class but his heart and mind were always on Jess. One day while he was in with her a nurse slipped in to take her vitals.

�Weren�t you in here a few minutes before I came?� Aaron looked worried.

�It�s okay� just keep talking to her.�

Aaron leaned down right next to Jess� ear and began to whisper, �I know you can hear me Jess. I can feel it in my heart. I never meant to hurt you Jessie. I swear I didn�t. I only did it because I didn�t want to see you hurt. I don�t hate you Jess�� Aaron glanced up and noticed the nurse straining to hear what he was saying. �Do you have a problem?� He glared.

�I�m sorry. I�ll be going now,� she hurried out of the room mumbling something.

�Hey Aaron you okay?� Nick stepped in the room almost immediately after the nurse had left.

�Yeah.�

�Have you slept yet?�

�Take a guess,� Aaron motioned to the heavy dark bags under his eyes.

�You want something to eat? Erica and I were going to go get a pizza. She�s getting hungry.�

�Yeah, sure. You know you guys don�t have to stay here all the time.�

�I gotta keep an eye on you bro.� Nick smiled and hugged Aaron. �Why was that nurse in here?�

�She said she needed to check something� I think she just was eavesdropping on me. I swear Nick if anyone sys anything to the papers or anything��

�Don�t worry about it Aaron. I�ve got it covered. Now I�m going to go get a pizza and you just stay here and try to relax.�

Nick walked out of the room and out to where Erica was waiting for him. �Is he okay?�

Nick wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on top of hers. �I�m worried about him. I�ve never seen him this depressed.�

Erica pulled back then gently kissed him, �Let�s get him some food.�

Aaron scooted up closer to the bed and took Jess� hand. �I won�t make it without you.� He set his head next to hers and closed his eyes letting the tears stream down. Almost before he realized it his eyes became too heavy to stay open and he drifted off to sleep.