Illusion Never Changed [M. Shadows] Into Something Real -17-

CHAPTER 17


Brian and Zoe came back about an hour, just waltzing into my house. Matt and I were downstairs, watching tv and eating dinner on the sofa when they happened to grace us with their presence once again.


"Have fun car sex?" I asked, dodging Zoe's hand as she went to hit my bare leg. They sat down on the loveseat opposite us, getting comfortable.


"Where'd you go?" Matt spoke up from above me, running his finger's through my hair as I rested on his chest.


"To have dinner at that little restaurant place we always used to go to last year," Brian answered, wrapping an arm securly around Zoe's waist. She grinned at the both of us and I smiled back, but suddenly frowned when I remembered about Amanda.


"Zo, you know about Amanda right?" I asked, just to make sure. Her wide eyes and suddenly tense posture told me otherwise.


"No, what's happened? Is she okay? Where is she?"


"Baby, breathe," Brian soothed, rubbing her back. I bit my lip and looked to Matt, who nodded comfortingly.


"She's back in hospital," I announced, with a grim look. "She collapsed the other day after school... The doctor's are really starting to worry now," I whispered, looking at my hands as Matt reached over and linked our fingers together.


"...What are we gonna do?" Brian asked, wrapping his arm around Zoe's waist to bring her closer.


"What's Zack gonna do?" She whispered, from behind her hands, looking straight at me. I sighed and shrugged- I had no clue what Zack was going to do. "This year was supposed to be the best year of our lives so far," She pointed to the roof, "Whoever's up there royally screwed Amanda over."


Matt was silent the entire time, while Brian whispered things into Zoe's ear as a tear fell down her cheek. I broke our eye contact and stared at the tv- the screen flashing with images but none of them being absorbed into my brain. I glanced over at Matt, to see him chewing on his nail, looking worried. "Babe, you okay?" I asked, nudging his side a little. He broke out of his trance and looked over to me.


"Yeah, sorry. Was just thinkin'," He replied, shooting me a weak smile. "C'mere." Holding his arm out I scooted closer, snuggling into his warm chest, and relaxing under his gentle touch. "I think I'm gonna go and see Zacky tomorrow, just to see how's he's doing. Do you mind if I miss the game?"


I shook my head, remembering the football game at school. Ugh, another extra day of the week that I had to deal with Susannah. She's the devil re-encarnated I swea- "Oh! We have to plan our Halloween night," I remembered. Thinking about the Devil made me think our the most un holy and awesome night of the year.


"You want to plan a party? With all that's going on?" Zoe voiced her opinion, looking at me skeptically. I understood where she was coming from, but we were all stressed and needed something to relax us.


"Yeah I do. We can make it fun for Amanda... who knows if she'll see Halloween aga-" My breath caught in my throat and I looked down at my lap, blinking back tears.


"It sounds like an awesome idea Nik, just what we need," Brian spoke up, making me look at him. He nodded enthusiastically and I smiled, grateful at his attemps to make me feel better.


"We can call the gang around some time next week after school, Halloween is on Saturday," Matt reminded us, bringing me closer. "Let's just let loose."


"What if Amanda's not out of hospital?" Zoe asked, making us think logically for a second.


I sighed. "We can see what the doctor thinks first, if he thinks she'll be out, we can plan a party. If he's not gonna discharge her... then we'll bring the party to the hospital," I shrugged, grinning at her. She rolled her eyes but smiled back none the less.


It was time to get some things sorted.
You know I love you
I really do...


That is my all time favourite photo of those two. Sorry it's been a while!!!