+chapter.nine+

A loud bell sounded from the elevator and off quickly stepped Walker and Diana. Jennifer’s head shot up at the bell, the silence in the room so thick, almost unbearable.

Diana took one look at Jennifer and nearly melted. Her face was so lost, confused, hurt…lonely. “What’s going on?” Diana’s voice wavered slightly.

Jennifer shook her head. “I have no idea.”

“They haven’t said anything?”

Jenn shook her head again. “Nothing…I think they only let immediate family know anything.”

“You are immediate family as far as we’re concerned,” Walker spoke up. “You and Zac grew up together. You two…you’re Hanson kids and Porter kids.”

Diana nodded along with Daisy and Ray.

Jenn tried to offer a smile, but it was no use. “Thank you.”

Diana nodded again as she turned her head to a doctor on the way in.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, I presume?”

Both nodded. “How’s my son? Is he okay?” Diana asked, worry cutting through and appearing in her voice.

Jennifer stared at the doctor’s mouth. His next words could change her life…forever.

“Zachary seems to be doing very well.”

“Thank God,” Diana breathed.

“There is a complication though. When he arrived at Ms. Porter’s home, Zachary was high on heroine.”

“Heroine? There has to be a mistake…Zac doesn’t do that stuff…He doesn’t need to,” Diana’s voice cracked.

“No, Mrs. Hanson, I’m not saying he does. I believe Zachary was unwillingly injected with this drug. Are there any users that live around you? Or do you know of any?”

Diana, Walker, Daisy, and Raymond all shook their heads.

“Oh my God…Oh my God! When we were walking home earlier, there were these kids sitting on the curb getting high. Then when Zac collapsed, he said he was hanging out with his new friends!” Jennifer exclaimed. She knew Zac wouldn’t do that on purpose.

The doctor nodded. “You’re going to have to help pick them out. You realize that, correct?”

Jennifer swallowed and nodded. She’d seen the kids before, dealing and using around town.

“C-can I just see Zac?”

“Only family,” the doctor spoke.

“Please?” Jennifer asked, tears forming in her eyes.

The doctor looked at her sadly, but gave in. “All right, but don’t wake him. Two visitors at a time.”

Jennifer nodded.

“Jenn, let Mr. and Mrs. Hanson see him first,” Daisy spoke.

Jenn nodded, intending on it. “You know, you two go in before me too.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

Jenn watched as Walker and Diana walked down the long hall, finally turning into a room a good ten doors down.

About a half an hour later…

It was finally Jennifer’s turn. She approached the door slowly. She turned the silver handle and opened the door. She turned around and pushed it closed, the click being so loud in the silent room. Well, silent except for the beeping from the heart monitor.

Jennifer breathed in deeply as she turned around and walked a few steps into the room. She stared two feet ahead of her where the bed was; Zac’s mostly still body resting on it. Slowly, she approached, her heart racing. She wanted to stay strong. She did, but it was so hard.

Jenn sat down in the hard chair next to Zac’s bed. Slowly and gently, she picked up his hand in hers and held it to the side of her face. Her chilled fingers were warmed slightly by his. She looked up at his angelic face. He looked so relaxed, so peaceful in his sleep.

A single tear rolled down her cheek. “God, Zac,” she whispered. “I’m so worried about you right now…I’m crying…again. This is a record for me…First time I’ve cried twice in one day in eleven years.” Another tear rolled down her cheek. “You have to be okay…You have to. Please? How else can we make our relationship grow even more? God, I love you so much…so so much. Without you…” Jennifer’s voice broke as the tears began to spill. She laid her head down on the bed next to his limp body. Why was all of this happening? Why? The tears flowed, getting more like sobs as the seconds passed.

She jumped when she felt a hand gently come down on her back. Slowly, she lifted her head and looked up to see a blurry vision of Diana in front of her.

Diana knelt down as Jennifer wrapped her arms around Diana’s neck. “I don’t know what to do anymore,” Jennifer choked.

Diana rubbed her back gently. “Shhh, calm down…calm down first.”

After a few deep breaths, Jennifer wiped her eyes. “Now, first off, Zac’s going to be okay…and so are you. You’re both going to be fine. As for those kids, after they get caught with that stuff, they’ll be punished…by the law. So try to calm down.

Jenn nodded and shifted again. “Thank you for everything. I mean…everything.”

Diana nodded. “Thank you. For everything.”

Jenn smiled and nodded.

“We’re going to be leaving, Cutie. Say good-bye and tell him we’ll be back tomorrow,” Diana spoke gently.

Jenn nodded. “Okay.”

Diana left, letting Jennifer say what she had to.

“Well…I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Feel better, Baby. I love you. Sweet dreams, my prince.” She kissed his lips gently and could have sworn she felt a response.

Slowly, she parted her lips from his and looked down at him. His eyes moved rapidly before opening slowly. “He—ugh,” he groaned.

“Shh,” Jennifer hushed, even more than really happy to see him awake. She pushed some hair behind his ears.

“Where am I? What happened?” Zac asked, his voice low and quiet.

“You’re in the hospital. Those kids…they shot you up with heroin…And you were pretty bad,” Jenn spoke, her voice soft. “How do you feel?”

“Not so great…I feel sick to my stomach and I’m really tired.”

Jenn looked at him, sympathy for him in her expression. “I’m sorry, Baby…I wish I could make you feel better…”

Zac looked her in the eye, tiredness showing in both of theirs. “You are…” he trailed before closing his eyes. “You are.”

Jenn smiled gently. He was going to be okay.

She slowly kissed his forehead and stood up. She knew her parents were waiting…but he was worth the delay. So worth the delay.