+chapter.twelve+

"Maybe tomorrow…if I'm doing well. That's what Mom said at least. I hope they let me go today though."

"Me too," Felicity voiced. "It's not gonna be the same at home. For awhile…'til you get better that is."

"Yea," Col agreed.

"Yea," Noelle echoed. "And what about the guys?"

"What about the guys?" came a voice from the doorway.

The three girls looked to the door to see Walker, Diana, Taylor, and Zac in the doorway.

"Oh, hi!" Noelle exclaimed.

"Hi, Honey. How are you feeling?" Diana asked, hugging and kissing Noelle on the forehead.

"A little better. My stomach has a bit of a knot in it, but that's about it."

"It's good to know you're okay," Walker said, patting Noelle's knee.

Noelle smiled. "Thanks…where are the younger kids?" she asked as Zac came up to give her a hug.

"They slept over our grandparents' house…here, these are for you," Taylor said handing her a small bouquet of flowers.

"Ohh! You didn't have to do that!" Noelle exclaimed, hugging Taylor and inhaling the sweet smell of the flowers. "They're beautiful."

Tay turned a sudden crimson as he pulled away.

"That's okay, Hon. Where's Isaac? And your parents?" Walker asked.

"Last I heard, Ike and Dad were in the waiting room and Mom went down for some breakfast," Noelle replied.

"Well, we'll let you children talk…don't kill Noelle though. We'll be back in a bit," Diana said as Walker and she walked out.

Noelle laid back in her bed. 'God, I'm so tired,' she thought.

Luckily, for her, Felicity, Zac, Collette, and Taylor were all getting deeply engrossed in a conversation.

"Oh! Guess what! Ike and Noe are going out!" Lic exclaimed.

"They are? Since when?" Tay asked.

"Since Noey woke up," Col replied.

"Cool," Zac said. The four turned their heads to the teen dozing in the hospital bed.

"She looks so peaceful," Col spoke. "Surprise, surprise."

The other three laughed. "Really. She's usually as hyper as anything by this time in the morning," Felicity commented.

"I still can't believe Ike and her are going out," Zac spoke.

"What's so surprising about it?" Taylor asked. "We all know what a hopeless romantic Ike is."

"Yea, I guess you're right," Zac replied.

"No, you know I'm right cause I just told you," Tay replied with a smile on his face.

There was a groan from the bed across the room. Noelle was only half-awake.

"Noe? Noey, what's wrong?" Felicity asked, jumping up & rushing to her friend's side.

"Guys, my stomach…owww," Noelle groaned.

Collette hit the nurse pager button. "Okay, Noelle, I sent for the nurse. Just hang on a sec."

"Mmmhmm," Noelle groaned.

Just then, Isaac walked in. He had a smile on his face of which quickly faded once he saw Noelle. "Ohmigod, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

"We dunno. She was dozing and she started groaning like this and clutching her stomach," Zac replied, scared.

At that moment, the nurse walked in. "May I help you?"

Felicity told the nurse what was going on. "Oh dear! All of the toxins must not have all gotten out. We have to take her to the OR ASAP to get the excess out." The nurse called for more help and Dr. Greene.

By now, the five teens were scared. Zac was holding onto Felicity and Tay was holding onto Collette as Ike followed the nurses that were taking Noelle away. "Go tell our parents," he called over his shoulder.

After the chaos had ended, the four just stood there for a second. "Who's gonna tell out parents?" Zac asked.

"I will," Taylor said quietly.

They began walking to the waiting room where the Adams, Hansons, Mrs. Johnson, and Mrs. Burns were.

"Guys?" Tay began. "Noelle was just rushed to the OR…something about the toxins not all being out of her system. She started groaning and Col called the nurse."

"Ohmigod, John," Carol gasped, grasping her husband's hand.

"Ohmigosh," Diana gasped. The others all did the same. "Where's Ike?"

"He went with Noelle," Felicity said.

There was then a silence. No one knew what to say.