It had been three days and Jacob still hadn't come out of his coma. The doctors said that if he didn't wake up in the next few hours, they would have to take him off the respirator, and his family didn't want him to do that.
Rachel decided to try something� As soon as school let out, she drove out (with Jacob's mom in the car, naturally� his whole family had practically adopted her) to the hospital. In her bag was her Bible. Rachel knew that there was something special that she and Jacob shared with a certain Biblical story, and she was counting on that story to wake Jacob up.
When they reached the hospital, Jacob's mom went in to visit him, while Rachel flipped to the page in the Bible that she was going to read to him. She waited outside for Jacob's mom to finish, and when she did, Rachel went in.
She fought the tears as she forced herself to look at Jacob. Rachel couldn't let Jacob die. He just couldn't. "Hey, Jake. Listen� I know the doctors said there's practically no hope for you, but I refuse to believe that. So� here's my cure for you."
Rachel began to tell Jacob their Biblical story.
"Okay, Jake� a long, long, long, long, long, long, long� well, you get the picture� a long time ago, there was a man named-guess what?-Jacob. He was the son of Isaac, the grandson of Abraham, and he had stolen his father's blessing to his older brother, Esau. Anyway, while Jacob was on a journey, he came to this town and asked the shepherds if they knew someone named Laban, who happened to be his uncle. They said yes, and they pointed out that his daughter was there with his sheep. Jacob instantly fell for this girl, his cousin-I know, I know, it sounds sick, but that's the way people married back then-and he approached her, opened the well for the sheep to drink, and then kissed her. Guess what, Jake? Her name was Rachel. And he came home with her and met her father, his uncle (his mother's brother), and asked for Rachel's hand in marriage. Jacob was willing to work seven years for Rachel, and once those seven years were over, he was given his bride, but it happened to be her older sister Leah. See, it was custom back then for the oldest daughter to be married first, you know, just like The Taming of the Shrew? Anyway, he still loved Rachel, so he worked seven more years just so that he could marry her. He loved her so much that he gave up fourteen years of his life to marry her. Jake� I don't know if you love me that much, but I do know that you still care about me a lot, and I'm just hoping that love will bring you back, because I still love you."
There was no response� just the rhythmic breathing of the respirator and the steady beeps of the heart monitor. Hanging her head in defeat, Rachel closed her eyes and prayed. "Don't let him die," she whispered. "I need him. I love him. I am so sorry that I inflicted this on him� please don't take him away from us."
"Rachel?"
The whisper made her head snap up and her eyes pop open. What she saw made her smile. There was Jacob, stirring in his bed, his eyes barely open, trying to adjust to the dull greenish light of the hospital room. "Jacob? You're alive?"
"Of course I'm alive," he said, smiling. "I heard you, Rachel. I heard everything you said to me, even three days ago."
Her eyes filled with tears again-but this time, they were tears of joy. "Oh, Jake, you don't know how happy I am."
"I do. I'm elated that you're here with me now, that you're finally free of that jerk."
Rachel shook her head. "Let's not talk about that now. Right now� everyone needs to know you're awake. Try to rest. You need your strength."
Jacob nodded and leaned back in his bed as Rachel went outside to talk to someone� was it his mom? He confirmed that as his mother practically ran into the room. "Oh, Jacob, you're okay!" his mother exclaimed, showering him with kisses and hugs.
"Mom, not here," Jacob said, exasperated.
"Don't worry about it, Jake. My mom does it all the time," Rachel said, winking, grinning. Finally, after a week and a half, she felt at peace.
"How did you do it, Rachel?" his mother asked.
"It was all in the hands of God," she replied. "His Word and His love brought Jacob back."
"Not just His love," Jacob interjected. "Your love, too."
Rachel blushed and said, "Well� if you say so." She flashed a look at him, and Jacob understood it. He dropped it by saying, "So, don't you think we should call Leah and Dad?"
"What? Yeah. I think I'll do that," his mother resolved, going outside to find a pay phone (remember, no cells in hospitals!). "I'll be right back," she called over her shoulder.
When she left, Rachel took Jacob's hand and held it. "Oh, Jake, you don't know how much I wanted you to come back. I really am sorry for all of this. I know it's my fault that you're here."
"Shh. Rachel, stop. It's not your fault. So maybe I was a bit depressed about you and Ethan. But what I really wanted for you was to be happy. He made you happy, at least for a little bit, didn't he?"
Rachel nodded.
"Well, then, that brought me happiness too. It was when he started screwing with your emotions that I got like this."
"Jacob, we don't have to talk about it now. We have to concentrate on you getting better and stronger. But there is one thing I have to ask you�"
"What is it, Rachel?" he asked, eager to know what she was going to ask.
"It's about us. I was just wondering� are you willing to give me a second chance? I mean, I know that I hurt you so much, and I understand if you don't want to, but I need you in my life, and-"
"Rachel. Stop. I'm more than willing to give you a second chance, but you just broke up with Ethan three days ago. You need time. I know you liked him longer than I've even known you, so it must hurt, somewhat."
Tears misted up in her eyes. Even though she put up a strong front at school, it still hurt-a lot. "It did, Jake. It hurt so much."
"I know how that is," he responded, quietly.
She looked at him and then turned away, realizing what Jacob had meant. "Oh, my God. I am so sorry."
"Don't worry. I'll be here for you, Rachel, and when you're ready, we can go back to the way it used to be."
"Okay. Now, you have to get your rest, or else it'll be forever until you get out of here."
Jacob smiled. "You have a point. I'll let you go. Take care, okay?"
"No problem. I will try and visit you as much as I can, okay?"
"Cool. I have no problems with that."
Rachel blushed, then grinned. "Zesty."
Jacob laughed. "Now where did you get that?"
"Taco Bell commercial," she reminded him.
"Oh yeah!" He laughed again as Rachel got up from her chair. "'Bye, Jake."
Before she reached the door, she heard Jacob's voice call her back. "Rachel, wait."
She turned. "Yeah?"
"Come back here, please?" he asked. He felt pathetic for asking it, but he certainly couldn't get up out of his bed�he felt too weak.
Rachel obeyed and returned to his bedside. "What is it, Jake?"
"I just wanted to give you this." He kissed his fingertips and lifted them to her lips. She closed her eyes at his touch and wished that she could really kiss him, but Rachel knew that he was too fragile, and besides, she didn't want to move too fast. She smiled and kissed his hand before he pulled it away, then said, "I'll see you later, Jacob. Get better."
"I will. 'Bye, Rachel."
"'Bye." He watched her leave and then leaned against his pillows. Maybe there was a chance for them after all.
~*~
After much recuperation and rest, two weeks after he was released from the hospital, Jacob returned to Riverdale High, feeling much better physically and emotionally. He set a goal for himself, to try out for the next choir concert. He wanted to show the world something that he was keeping to himself for right now.
The day after he auditioned, Jacob started his day in the choir room (like he almost always did). There, Mr. Kerner motioned to him and Jacob went to talk to his teacher. "Jacob," Mr. Kerner began, "the song you auditioned for was originally a duet, right?"
"Yes�"
"Well, someone else auditioned with this song, but she sang it solo too. So I was wondering if you two are willing to sing it together, because I can't decide between the both of you."
Jacob smiled. "Who's the girl?"
"Rachel."
His smile brightened. "Really?"
"Yes. I'm taking that you want to sing this song with her, right?"
"Yeah, sure! I didn't know that she was auditioning for my song. Have you talked to her yet?" Jacob asked.
"No, but I will."
"So if we sing it together, we're definitely in the concert?"
"That's right."
"Cool. Thanks, Mr. Kerner."
"No problem, Jacob."
~*~
It had been almost a month since Rachel had broken up with Ethan. She tried her best to avoid him, but since they shared a French class, that was kind of hard to do. She felt she was finally getting over Ethan, so as she curled her hair, picked out another dress to wear at the concert, and fixed up her makeup, she focused on Jacob. They were going to sing a duet tonight and she needed to look her best-and sing her best-because this was the night. The night she would tell him that she was ready to move on.
Neither of them knew it, but the song that Jacob and Rachel were singing together was an indication for each other, a message that they both wanted to say but couldn't find the words to. Rachel waited nervously as Concert Choir performed. They needed the first solo spot so that they could both change for their other respective performances (Rachel with Treble Choir, Jacob with Show Choir). As Rachel waited in the wings, facing Jacob, she reviewed in her head what they were going to do. The way that Jacob and Rachel had planned it, Jacob would go onstage from one side and sing his part, until Rachel chimed in and she would join him onstage from the other side. She couldn't mess up. Rachel smoothed down her skirt for the twenty-seventh time that night, restlessly, waiting for her time to go. Jacob fiddled with the sleeve of his dress shirt and fixed and refixed his tie. Rachel shook her head as she watched Jacob. "He's going to mess up his tie," she muttered, to no one in particular. A few people onstage heard and smiled amusedly.
By the time it was time for them to go onstage, Rachel was lightheaded, shaky and she could feel her heart pounding. Jacob, though not as shaky as Rachel was, was very nervous, also. As he began, he hoped Rachel would listen to his words. They were something he had to tell her.
I never believed in dreaming, it never got me very far
I never believed that love could find me,
like an arrow through the heart
I never believed in miracles, or building castles in the air
Not until that day I found you, turned around and you were there
Jacob cast a nervous glance at Rachel, who smiled reassuringly at him. Was she getting the message? he thought, as he kept on singing. At the same time, he was reliving the way he felt when he first fell for her.
From the day you came you gave me a whole new point of view
I've been touched by an angel; it's impossible, but true
I believe in you
I swear that forever, from today,
no one will ever take your place
I believe in you,
and I believe our love will last always
The audience was somewhat surprised when they heard Rachel's voice through the speakers, but couldn't see her. And then, she glided gracefully toward Jacob, singing her own part. She gazed intently on Jacob alone; this was directed solely to him.
I never believed in fairy tales, though sometimes I wish I could
I never believed that golden slippers would ever find the perfect foot
I never believed in magic, or that wishes could come true
but your very first kiss changed all this, something only you could do
Tentatively, but almost instinctively, their hands met and their fingers intertwined with each other, and Rachel smiled as this happened. Maybe he was getting it after all.
You made me a believer, you made me trust again
You showed me there's a pot of gold at every rainbow's end
I believe in you
I swear that forever from today,
no one will ever take your place
I believe in you
and I believe our love will last always
Now, with Rachel at his side, Jacob finally had the courage to tell Rachel what he had to. He had the feeling that maybe she was trying to tell him something. He hoped it was the same message he was trying to get through to her.
Only love sets you free
and if it's up to fate, then you're my destiny
Rachel had an eerily familiar feeling that maybe Jacob was sending her the same message she was trying to tell him. After he sang his part, she replied with her part.
Now I know, now I see
anything can happen if you just believe
I believe in you
I swear that forever, from today,
no one will ever take your place
I believe in you
and I believe our love will last always
As the refrain echoed through the room and Jacob's and Rachel's voices drifted above the enchanting melody, they both realized that the other knew how each felt. The final refrain came and went and Jacob and Rachel took their bow, their hands still intertwined with each other's.
"Jacob, that was so good!" Rachel exclaimed as soon as they were outside.
"Well� you did great, too," Jacob told her. "Really. I couldn't have done it without you." And then, impulsively, he pulled her into a tight embrace, reveling in the feel of her in his arms again. At first, anyone would know that they were friends, but after a while, Jacob pulled her closer as Rachel pulled his head closer to hers, making their foreheads touch.
"Rachel� there's something I have to tell you," Jacob whispered, still holding her closely.
She looked up intently. "What?"
"I think�"
"Yes?"
Jacob didn't say anything, but leaned in for a kiss. Rachel responded eagerly, deepening their kiss (tonsil hockey� *wink*), but then pulled away abruptly.
"Rachel? What is it?" Jacob asked, worriedly. Maybe he had taken it just a little too fast�
"I totally forgot. I have to change!" she practically screeched, already running up the stairs to the choir room. Then, on a second thought, she composed herself and walked back to Jacob, and, putting her arms around him again, gave him a soft peck on the lips. "I'll be back� wait for me, yeah?"
"Of course." He gave her one more little kiss before she flew up the stairs to change into her choir dress.
~*~
Rachel hated group songs. There they were, two hundred something choir students, all smushed onto one little stage. It was not comfortable, so she was relieved when it was all over.
In the madness that followed, she felt someone grab her wrist and fought the urge to scream as she turned to look at who had panicked her, and smiled as she saw Jacob. "Hey."
"Hi. You know, Treble Choir rocks," Jacob commented.
She laughed. "Well, so does Show Choir," she added, her voice softening. "Then again� that's because you're in it�" Rachel winked, making Jacob blush.
"Yeah, well� hey, do you have to go home right away?" he wondered.
"Um� I would think so, but my parents aren't here, they couldn't come. So, maybe not."
"Good� because I have something to ask you, okay?" Jacob told her, leading her to a part of the campus that no one was staying in. "I just wanted to know� do you think that� maybe�"
Rachel understood completely. "Jacob, I'm over him. I'm ready. I just�" She sighed.
"What?"
"Why would you want to still go out with me if I hurt you so much? Oh, and just to tell you, those rumors were so untrue."
"Yeah. I know. I found out Jane started them because she was jealous of you, and she wanted to get back at you."
(Somebody tried to tell me love don't last forever
Said it only happens in your wildest dreams
After all that's said and done, we're still here together
Never listened to the lies and jealousy
You better stop
Don't you let them turn you around
You better stop
Hang on to this love that we've found
Nothing that they say can stand in our way
Rachel looked down. "She took away my reputation and a lot of my friends," she said, sadly.
"It's okay, Rach. She didn't take me away from you."
She looked up and smiled. "I know. I'm ready and willing to go out with you again� but you know, it's not going to be easy."
"Yeah, I know. I'll be here with you whenever you need me, I promise. Oh, by the way, I keep my promises."
"I know, Jacob."
No one ever said that love was gonna be easy
Gotta take the ups and downs, the in-betweens
If you take this journey, gotta give yourself completely
Never let nobody ever step on our dreams
You better stop
Listen to these words that I say
You better stop
Don't you throw this good thing away
Put your trust in me, and I'll make you see
No, the rain won't last forever
Find a way to make it better
As long as we can stand together,
love will find a way
Gonna make a new tomorrow
Say goodbye to tears and sorrow
Better listen to what I say:
Love will find a way)
"So� it's a yes, then? You'll go out with me again?"
"Of course, Jake. I�"
"You what?"
"I love you." She smiled at him. "I always have."
He smiled back. "God, you don't know how much I've wanted to hear that from you." And as Jacob pulled Rachel closer to him, he replied, "You are my everything, Rachel. I love you so much."
She replied by giving him a kiss and then hugging him again. As they held on to each other, Rachel looked heavenward and saw thousands of stars shining upon them. "Thank you," she mouthed. Finally, she truly had someone to love.
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