Zac didn't really talk to Taylor too much for the rest of the time they were gone, still sort of thinking over whether or not he was going to forgive him. The day they came back home, Taylor went over to Nell's to break things off, thinking that he could win Zac's favor that way. Bev let him in and told him to go into the living room where Nell was watching television. He went into the living room and sure enough, Nell was sprawled out on the couch, watching a movie. She didn't hear Taylor come in and didn't notice him until he was sitting on the edge of the couch. She sat up and smiled at him. "I have something I have to talk to you about.." his voice was uneasy, he didn't look at her, not sure how she was going to react. "It can wait.." Nell pulled him to her and kissed him intensely. He kissed back with little feeling, not feeling right kissing her when he had come over to break up with her. She noticed his unenthusiasm and pulled away, giving him an alarmed look. "What is it?" "I.. I've been thinking.. I.. I think we should break up.. for Zac's sake and for yours..." he avoided her eyes, hoping she wouldn't slap him. "What are you talking about? Where did this come from?" "I've been thinking about it ever since Zac found out about you and me.." "You're making a mistake." "I don't think I am..." "If that's how you feel, Taylor, then I guess I can't change your mind, can I?" He shook his head solemnly. "I'm sorry." "I'll live. Zac talking to you yet?" "Not unless he has to." "I'm sorry."
Zac finished unpacking and left the house to go and see Nell. Just as he was half-way across the street, he saw Taylor and Nell come out of her house and hug before Taylor started walking in his direction with his eyes on the ground. Zac stood there, staring motionless in awe. He could hear the horn honk and the tires screech, but he did not realize what had happened until he was on the ground and in extreme pain. He could faintly hear the sound of sirens and people screaming and telling him not to move. He silently laughed. Moving was not an option. He listened to their screams and the sirens and a soft, female voice in his ear until everything was black.
Nell sat with Taylor in the Hospital room, holding Zac's hand up to her lips and kissing it over and over again without even comprehending what she was doing. He looked so pale and fragile with all those machines hooked-up to him. He didn't look like her Zac at all. He looked like a young boy with a bunch of tubes stuck into him. The only sign she had that he was alive was the rhythmic beeping of the monitor. She could feel the tears start to come to her eyes again and she continued to kiss his motionless hand. She felt a warm hand rubbing her back and looked up to see Taylor standing behind her, looking down at his brother. She could see the tears in his eyes also. She'd never seen Taylor cry until the day Zac entered the hospital. He had looked so sorrowful. All she had wanted to do was hold him and hug him until his problems floated away. But she could not. Zac needed her. To stay alive, Zac needed her. He needed her a lot more than Taylor did. Nell squeezed Zac's hand and pulled it from her lips. She began to trace a lite pattern around the IV poking out of his skin. He did not move. He had not moved for three weeks. The doctors told his family that if he ever woke up, it would be a miracle. There had been press, thousands of press. The house was surrounded. There were letters pouring in from concerned fans, offering their sympathy. Neither Nell nor Taylor wanted sympathy. They wanted Zac awake and alive again. The happy, cheerful teenager he had been before any of this had happened. But he was not happy and he was not cheerful. He was not even awake and it wasn't expected that he would wake any time soon. Nell watched him, her eyes running over every inch of his body, over the cuts and bruises and casts. A fractured shoulder blade and a large cut on his forehead would have been rejoiced had they been his only injuries. But he did not move and he did not open his eyes and he was deathly pale. "Do you want anything to eat or drink? I'm going down to the cafeteria. I can't handle watching him anymore." Taylor said quietly, continuing to rub her back. She shook her head silently. "You have to eat something.. You haven't eaten in two days." "Fine, just get me a muffin or something.." "Okay. I'll be back." he said this as he left for the cafeteria. Nell relished in the chance to be alone with Zac. She had things she had to say that she had not gotten a chance to as of yet. "Zac? I hope you can hear me. I heard you can hear coma victims.. Tell me when you wake up. Anyway, listen up. I want to tell you a few things. First of all, I love you more than anyone I've ever loved. More than my sister.. I want you to wake up. I want you to open your eyes and give me one of those big, goofy grins that always make me laugh. I need you to make me laugh, Zac. I need you here with me. You have to be here. You have to get through this. We have to get through this. I don't want you to give up. Keep on fighting. Keep it up until you open those beautiful, brown eyes of yours and look at me. I want to look in your eyes again, Zac. I want you to make me laugh again. I want you to wake up. You can do this. You can get out of this. Don't give up. Don't stop trying. You're going to make it. You're going to live. You have to live. You have to wake up. Do you hear me? You have to. If you don't wake up then I'm going to go to sleep and not wake up, too. I can't survive without you, Zac. I need you. I love you. Please, wake up. If no for me, for Isaac and Taylor and little Mackie. He misses you, Zac. Mackie misses you a lot. So do your parents. And Avie and Jess and even Zoe. They all need you. I need you. We all need you. You need to wake up. You need to tell us you're okay. Just let us know you're going to pull through. Okay? Just some little sign. Like, squeeze my hand or something. Please?" Zac's hand remained still in her hand. She sighed and brought it back up to her lips, kissing it gently.
Zac stood in a field, looking around in confusion. He had never been in a place like this before. It was unlike any place he had ever seen in his entire life. It was beautiful, absolutely breathtaking. Was this Heaven? Suddenly, Nell appeared before him and he smiled. "Where are we?" "This is a dream. I've been sent to tell you that you have to go back. It isn't your time to die. Your family needs you and so does Nell.." "Wait, you aren't Nell?" He scrunched up his face in confusion. She smiled softly and shook her head. "No, I'm Noel, her twin sister. You need to wake up. Everyone is very worried about you." "How do you know?" "I watch over Nell very carefully and she's been by your side in the hospital since your accident. I want you to go back to Earth and tell Nell that I'm with her and that she doesn't need to be afraid anymore. I'm looking after her. Alright? Can you do that for me?" "Sure. But... how do I get back?" "Simple, go back the way you came. You remember the way, don't you?" "Yeah..." "Then go." She kissed his cheek and disappeared. Zac closed his eyes and sighed.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw Nell sitting next to his bed, crying. He looked around to notice that he was no longer in a garden. He was in a hospital room and there were machines and wires and fluid bags all around him. He tried to sit up but found he couldn't move. "Nell?" he asked raspily. Nell looked up and a look of complete shock and joy graced her face. "You're awake!" she grinned and hugged him, making him cringe. "Owe.. Careful..." "Oh, I'm sorry.. Are you alright, Sweetie?" she brushed some hair out of his face and sat back with a smile. "I'm alright for being hit by a car..." "You remember the accident?" "I didn't until Noel reminded me. Hey, you're talking..." he grinned. " I knew you would eventually." "You scared me into it." Nell laughed softly, "I missed you..." "I missed you, too... I'm sorry for what I did to you. It was completely uncalled for.. Do you forgive me?" Nell laughed again. It felt good to laugh after three weeks of tears, "Yes, Zac.. I forgive you. How are you feeling?" "My shoulder hurts a bit and it hurts to breath sort of.. And I have a headache.. But other than that I'm okay." "I'll go get a doctor.." "No! Not yet. I'm supposed to tell you something first. Noel came to me and told me to tell you not to be scared anymore because she's with you." "You talked to Noel?" Her eyes began to water again. "Yeah, she told me to come back here because you needed me." "She told you the right thing. I do need you." She kissed his hand softly as a few tears fell down her cheeks. "Where's everyone else?" "Taylor's in the cafeteria. Everyone else went home to get some sleep. The doctor said you more than likely wouldn't wake up for another week, if at all." "Well, I showed him, didn't I?" He grinned that grin that she had missed so much and she nearly broke down in tears. "You sure did.." she smiled softly and kissed his hand again just as the doctor walked in for his hourly check. "How's our little patient doing?" he asked Nell, not even looking at Zac. "I'm alright. I'd like some aspirin though. I have a splitting headache." The doctor looked up at him in surprise. "How long have you been up?" "A couple minutes." "Good. So, how are you feeling?" "I'm feeling pretty good for being asleep for three weeks."
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