“Austin, did you cast that guy’s leg in Room one? I’ve got to go do the MRI and the X-rays for the family in 2. I’ll be back in an hour to check in again. Bye.” Kelly waved and took her charts. Austin watched her walk by. He didn’t even get to answer her. He hadn’t done anything all day really and figured that he would have to start getting to patients or else he’d get fired. Then he had another thought, “Yeah, Kelly’s the boss around here and she’d never fire me, not if she knew what I knew.” He mumbled to himself again, “If she does fire me, she’ll regret it even more this time.” Austin shook his head clear and picked up his own charts and walked off on the other side of the hospital.
The two didn’t see each other until late that night. It was 10:00 before Kelly actually sat down again. Kelly turned in her patient’s charts and made sure that there were enough doctors on for the night shift and checked out her time card. She and Austin both made their ways to lounge, neither one speaking. They were both too tired. Austin laid down on the lounge couch and put his head down. By the time Kelly was done getting ready to leave, Austin was asleep. Kelly turned and saw him and thought, “If he’s that tired than he shouldn’t be driving. He’ll wake up in time and it’s better if he sleeps here instead of on the road.” Kelly got Austin’s jacket out of his locker and covered him with it. As she was walking out of the lounge, she heard Austin’s tired voice mumble sleepily, “Kelly will be min…” She shook her as if not wanting to believe what she just heard. Kelly quickly said goodbye to the other doctors and nurses and left.
On the way Kelly was listening to the radio trying to think about what Madison had planned for her tomorrow night. Just then she heard the DJ speak up, “That’s right everyone. Just one hour left till the bad boys of pop start their first show in New York. The Boys are in town. All of you know that anyways. Too bad for all of you who don’t have tickets. You can hear about it tomorrow.” Kelly quickly changed the station not wanting to think that Kevin was still in the city and she was not doing anything about it. She listened to her CD’s the rest of the way home, because all of the stations were talking about them.
When Kelly got home Madison had dinner ready for her. Madison had it out on the table, but Kelly just said hello and made her way into her bathroom. Madison stood still, not knowing what her problem was. She put down the glass of milk she had in her hand and walked into Kelly’s room. Madison heard the shower running. She put her ear to the door and heard sobbing. “Why can’t I be happy? Why God? I try so hard to be good to you and now I get nothing in return. Please, don’t take my family or my one best friend Madison or my dog. Please, if you do that too, I have nothing left.” Madison was shocked to hear her friend say these words. She wanted to go in there and help Kelly and soothe her, but she wouldn’t know what to say. She quietly walked back out into the kitchen and ate dinner alone. She cleaned up the dishes and fed Riley and made sure the door was locked. She turned out the lights and went back into the bedroom area. All the lights were off, except Kelly’s lamp by her bed. As Madison made her way towards the staircase she walked past Kelly’s bed and saw that Kelly was sound asleep. Madison carefully pulled the covers up around her and kissed her on her forehead. She wrote a quick note to remind Kelly to be home by 5:00 tomorrow night and put it by Kelly’s sink. She walked back into the room and turned Kelly’s lamp off. As she went up the stairs she heard Riley jump quietly up on the bed and then it was quiet again. Madison walked up the staircase slowly and pushed the trapdoor open quickly to her room. She quietly lowered the door back door and jumped into her bathroom. She got into her pajamas and went into her sitting area wrapped up in her quilt. She turned all her lights out and just watched the snow fall slowly down in the light of the street poles. Madison quietly prayed to God that he would make everything all right for her best friend. She fell asleep peacefully in her chair.
Same night, at the BSB Hotel room, December 7…
“Man, I’m pumped. I can’t sleep now!!” Aj was running around the halls like a madman. Nick started to get hyper again and followed Aj in his antics. Howie chased after them and told them to shut up. It was 12:00 at night and they were just getting back from their concert. Brian and Kevin were just hanging back. They were too tired from the show and too excited for their surprise tomorrow night. Nick and AJ ran into AJ’s room and Howie turned around pleading to Brian, “Bri, please? I can’t sleep with Aj when he’s this wild. I know you don’t want to sleep with Nick when he’s like this either.” Brian smiled, “Sure D. Get your stuff and come over.” Howie thanked him and ran to get his stuff. Brian unlocked his door and stopped when he saw that Kevin had not gone to his room. Kevin was standing at the end of the hall looking out at the snowy night. He spoke up when he heard Brian come up behind him. “Wow. It’s snowed the whole time we’ve been here. I hope that we’ll be able to get out on Friday.” Brian answered, “Yeah, I just hope that this doesn’t ruin our surprise tomorrow.” Kevin chuckled, “I know what you mean. I have been waiting for this for what seems forever. I hope that she hasn’t forgotten me. She looked so beautiful at the mall. She’s the one for me, I know it.” Brian patted Kevin on the shoulder. “I know you think that and I hope she is, but please take it slow. See how it goes tomorrow night. Promise me man?” Kevin turned from the window and smiled, “I promise. I’ll keep it slow. You better keep it slow yourself, old man. Nick told me that you kicked him out of the room when Madison called. Personal things to talk about, huh?” Brian smiled mischieviously, “Yeah, whatever. Get to bed, tomorrow will be a night of fun and surprises.” The two said goodnight and made their way to their rooms. The floor was quiet until Howie came into Brian’s room. As he opened the door Brian heard Nick and AJ yelling across the hall. Howie quickly shut the door to keep the noise out. “Man, they are hyper. They’ll never sleep tonight.” Howie dropped his stuff and went into the bathroom to change. He came back out and went right to bed. Brian and him talked for awhile and then turned the lights out for the night, falling asleep to the sounds of AJ’s stereo and Nick’s wannabe rapping.