Chapter 11

Nick reclined the seat back all of the way in Brian’s car as they drove back to their hotel. “You okay bro?” Brian asked, putting his hand on Nick’s shoulder.

“I think I have an ulcer. I swear to God, I’ve never felt more sick,” Nick said, as Brian smiled at him. “That scared the shit out of me.”

“I know it did. Let’s head back, we leave for Sweden day after tomorrow,” Brian said, as they got on the highway to get to town.

The year of 1999 started off with a loud banging on the door for Samantha. She opened her eyes, realizing that she was on the couch in her living room. She heard her mother answer it, and walk into the living room with Jake. He rushed over to her side, checking to see if she was okay. Samantha was a little confused, not remembering what had happened at first.

“What time is it? What day is it?” she asked.

“Three o’clock, January 2nd,” Jake answered.

“You slept through almost the entire day yesterday,” her mother said. “Listen sweetie, now that Jake is here, I’m going to run to the store and pick up a few things. You need anything?” she asked.

“Just aspirin, my head is pounding,” Samantha said, as she put her hand on her forehead.

“Okay, I will be back soon. Oh, and Nick called quite a few times,” she said, as she grabbed her purse and walked towards the front door.

Samantha closed her eyes back, feeling exhausted and sore.

“Samantha, what the hell were you doing in Orlando? Why didn’t you tell me you were going?” Jake snapped at her.

Samantha opened her eyes, looking confused. “Megan and I went to the Backstreet Boys concert. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to be mad at me,” she said.

“So you lied to me?” he asked her. “You snuck around behind my back. Don’t you ever lie to me again,” he said as he grabbed her arm roughly.

“Ouch Jake, that hurts. Let go, you’re hurting me,” she said, as she tried to twist her arm out of his hold.

“What if something worse had happened to you? What would I do? Don’t ever fucking lie to me, how can I trust you?” he yelled at her, still having a tight grip on her arm.

“Jake, let go!” she said, as she finally grabbed her arm away, rubbing over the spot he had grabbed. Her eyes welled up with tears as he looked at her.

“I said I was sorry,” she said, as a tear fell down out of her eye, and she wiped it away.

“God, I’m sorry baby,” Jake said, as he kissed her cheek, “I was just so scared when you didn’t show up at school today, and when I called here, your mom told me. I don’t know what I’d do with out you,” he replied, as he grabbed her arm and kissed over the spot where his red handprint was. “I was just so scared, I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Jake said.

“It’s ok, I’m ok,” she said, but she still looked confused. “I think I just need to rest some more and all,” she said, as he kissed her on the lips.

“Okay, I’ll let you get some more rest. You’re my girl, you know that right, I just care about you a whole lot, you know that right?” Jake said.

“I know.. I care about you too…,” she said, as she gave him a small smile.

“I’ll call you later,” Jake said, as he kissed her again and stood up to go. “Bye,” he waved to her.

“Bye,” she replied, as she turned over on the couch. She began to cry, as she rubbed over her arm where Jake had grabbed her. She didn’t know if she was crying over Jake, over Megan, or just over everything. She lay there crying until she eventually fell back asleep.

Later that same night, Samantha was in her room wide awake. She had slept so much the past few days, she didn’t think she could sleep any longer. She picked up her phone and dialed Nick’s cell phone number. She listen to it ring and ring and finally his voice mail picked up.

Hi, you’ve reached Nick. If I didn’t answer this, it means I’m in the studio recording. Leave me a message and I’ll get right back to you. Sammy id this is you, I will call you right back, as soon as I can. BEEP.

“Hey Nick it’s me. Call me okay? I need to talk to you,” she said, as she hung up the phone.

Samantha lay in bed remembering New Year’s Eve over and over again. Laughing with Megan, dancing in their seats at the concert, singing on the way home in the car. Then the accident played over and over in her mind. The headlights, the broken glass everywhere, Megan lying there on the street. Samantha closed her eyes and tried to shake the image out of her head, but it wasn’t working. She jumped in surprise when the phone rang.

“Hello?” she asked.

“Hey Sammy, how are you feeling?” Nick asked her.

“Nick, I’m not good, I can’t get the thoughts of her out of my head,” she answered.

“I know Sammy, it’s horrible. I’ve been thinking about you and Megan constantly the past few days. How life is so short, and you never know when you’re gonna go,” Nick said.

“Yeah, she had everything ahead of her. Prom, graduation, colloge, and it’s all gone. She was my long time friend. I feel so guilty Nick,” she said, as she began to sniffle, trying not to cry again.

“Samantha, you know this isn’t your fault. Accidents happen. Things that we can’t control. This made me realize that no matter how protected you are, accidents happen and you could be gone in an instant. Megan could have been you. I could have been in that car. Sammy, I was so scared when you called me that night, I just thank god that you are okay,” Nick said, his voice shaking a bit.

“I know, you’re right. I am just feeling guilty. I don’t think I can go back to school without her,” Samantha said.

“What can I do to help?” Nick asked, “I mean I’m in Sweden, but say the word,” Nick said.

“Oh right, you guys are recording. Well do you have time for me? I just want to stay on the phone and talk. I’ve slept so much the past few days, I can’t get back to sleep now,” she said.

“Of course, I’ll stay on the phone all night if you need me to,” he replied.

“Thanks,” she said.

Nick and Samantha talked on the phone for almost six hours that night. They talked about the accident that night, and some of her memories of Megan. He tried everything to get her mind off of what had happened, tried to cheer her up. But it was hard. Nick finally hung up when he heard Samantha’s breathing change on the phone line, when he knew she had fallen asleep. He shut the phone off and went to sleep himself.