Chapter 10

I felt like nothing was actually happening around me, in all honesty. I kind of felt like it was all just a dream. Jade was still in her coma, Kris was up but feeling guilty as ever, Tracy has been popping up between Kris' and Jade's room daily, and Zayn? Well, he's about the same as me. Completely and utterly broken.

"Are you hungry?" Zayn muttered from his seat across from me. He was picking away at a salad, shoving the pieces of green around. I shook my head no, answering his previous question. He sighed and shoved the disgusting hospital food away from him. "Yeah, me either."

We sat in silence for a while. My mind was wandering to Jade, silently laying in her bed. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see Zayn standing over me. "C'mon, let's go up."

I followed him aimlessly up to Jade's room, his hand holding stearnly onto mine. "The boys have been asking about her," he muttered while we were in the lift. "I keep telling them that she's gonna wake up."

I moved my eyes from the floor to his face. A tear fell from his left eye and he quickly wiped it away with the back of his hand. "I don't want to be lying to them," he whispered.

"I don't want to be lying to myself," I told him. "I don't want to be lying either. We're not lying. She will wake up."

He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and lent against the back of the lift. I burried my head into his chest and we cried the whole way to Jade's floor.

~~

Tracy's small giggle filtered in the air of the cafeteria as Zayn made a smart remark to Kris, who is now allowed out of bed. 

"It's not that I think your hair looked like an animal, it just looked like you missed a part when you dyed it," Kris said with a smirk. I even felt myself chuckle at his statement. Zayn threw a napkin at Kris' head.

"It was a phase," Zayn mumbled. 

"Yeah, a phase of the moon." Kris proceeded to stand up and circle around the table, mimicking the moon. We all fell into a fit of laughter.

"Alright, alright. I'm going to go have a smoke," I said as I stood up. Tracy sent me an awful stare and rolled her eyes. I groaned and walked towards the front doors, pulling my cigarettes out of my bag. As I lit up, Zayn came out. I offered him one, but he shook his head and watched me.

"You should stop, Ray," he said quietly. 

"I don't want this shit from you, too. I get it enough from Trace," I grumbled.

"It's not good for you-"

"Coming from the man who used to smoke a pack a day," I retorted. I shoved my hand into my coat pocket and sucked in the smoke.

"I know, I know, but I quit, Raven. You should too."

I sighed. I can't stop. This relaxes me and takes the edge off of the pain I get from Jade being in here, at this awful hospital, not waking up. 

"Ray, please, just think about it? For Jade?" I didn't say anything. Zayn just took a step closer, pushed his lips to my temple, and went back inside.

The pain of Jade being here is just god-awful. I want her to wake up. When I was laughing with Kris, Tracy and Zayn, that was the first time I've smiled since I got here. I felt bad for laughing and smiling as my baby is suffering, but there's nothing I can do. They said it's what's best for her.

I flicked my cigarette and stepped on it, making sure the fire is put out. I spun and made my way to Jade's room. 

I hate hospitals and I always have. My best friend in primary school became suddenly ill during year 5. I'll never forget the night I had to go to the children's hospital and "play" with her. It was awful, like torture. Not for me, but for her. She couldn't do anything. If she moved too fast, she'd get dizzy and suddenly start to vomit or worse, have a seizure. The last day I saw her was the last day she lived her life. I've hated hospitals ever since then.

I stepped out of the lift and towards Jade's room. The door was open, which was strange, and then I realized Zayn sitting by Jade's bed, holding onto her hand. He was speaking to her quietly, no knowledge that I was leaning against the doorframe, listening.

"... is weird without seeing your small smile, my love. Please wake up for me, my precious jewel. Mumma misses your laugh and eyes, most of all. I miss seeing you and mum smiling together. Grammy Malik wants to meet you soon, Jade, so you gotta pull through this."

He hung his head and began to sob, violently wiping the tears away from his cheeks. I trotted over to him and placed a hand on his back. He jumped, but soon stood up and collapsed into my arms. 

I would expect him to be strongest out of us. I was expecting myself to just fall apart and completely lose it, but I guess I'm just emotionless lately. 

"C'mere," I whispered and guided him to the couch that's against the wall. He sat down and collected himself. After taking in a shaky breath, he opened his arms and I curled up next to him, placing my head in his lap. No words were exchanged. I just tucked my legs up underneath me and let Zayn play with my black hair.

The steady beeping of Jade's heart monitor filled the room during the silent few hours. It's about midnight now. Kris has been discharged, so Tracy and him went home tonight to get an actualy night's sleep, something both Zayn and I are lacking.

"Should we go to your flat so we can sleep properly?" Zayn asked from his new position behind me while laying on the sofa. 

I shook my head. He knows I want to be here when Jade wakes up and that could be any day now. My hopes are high, but I'm afraid they're too high. What if she doesn't wake up anytime soon? My hopes will be crushed.

"Raven, she'll wake up and you'll be here. You just need to sleep in a proper bed with pillows and blankets. Not my arm and our jackets," he chuckled.

"I want to stay here. You can go," I mumbled against his skin.

"No," he said quietly. "I'll only go if you go." I smiled slightly to myself and turned over so I was chest to chest with Zayn. I leaned up and kissed his lips softly then nuzzled my head into his chest as his arms wrapped tightly around me.

"I love you. We'll see her eyes soon," he whispered into my hair. From that moment, I knew that we had a chance to see her eyes very, very soon.

~~

The sun spilled through the blinds and woke me up by blinding me, a few days later. I peeled my eyes open to Zayn sleeping soundly next to me. I let my eyes fall onto my sleeping daughter, knowing nothing would be different. But one could only hope, right?

I swung my legs over the edge and rubbed my eyes as I stood up. I stumbled over to Jade's bedside and plunked down into the chair. I gripped her hand and scanned at her healing wounds. The cuts weren't as deep along her cheeks and the bruises were fading, but she still had that damn bandage wrapped around her head.

I wanted her to just wake up. I want to see her eyes. I want to hear her laughter.

"Ray?" There was a knock at the door and my name being called. I spun around to see Tracy standing there, a coffee in each hand. I nodded at her and she came in quietly, making sure to not wake Zayn. "How is she today?"

"Alright. The doctor said she's better than the last check up. Should be waking up any day now," I explained.

"Good, good," Tracy said against her Starbucks cup. "Any talk about-"

"No," I quickly interrupted. 

"Raven, you have to face the reality of it," she said calmly.

"Reality of it? Reality that my daughter may have brain damage? Or she may be paralyzed? That's not something I'm going to face. I have confidence in her, in God," I explained stearnly. "She's going to wake up and she's going to be the same as she was."

"Raven, the doctor told you that there's a 60% chance that she may have those things. You can't just pretend that they didn't tell you that."

"And you can't pretend that she's going to be ok?" I asked her, tears pricking my eyes. Zayn groaned from his position on the couch. I turned slightly, watching him stretch and finally sit up. "G'morning."

"Morning," he mumbled huskily. After getting up, he gave me a quick peck on the head and excused himself to the bathroom. 

"You going home tonight?" Tracy asked. I shook my head, watching Jade intently. "You probably should, Raven. At least to just take a break from this place. Get a shower, y'know?"

I shrugged a shoulder, taking another sip of my hot drink. "At least think about going soon? That way you can come back tonight. Just go and take a shower, or something."

"Fine, I'll go take a shower soon," I mumbled towards Tracy. I squeezed Jade's hand quickly before standing up and slipping on my jacket. "I'll be back in no more than an hour." 

I walked down the hallway, passing Zayn. "Where are you going?"

"Heading home to take a shower, I guess. Do you want one?" I asked, pointing towards him. He nodded and went trotting down to Jade's room. I decided to go wait for him outside the hospital so I can at least have a smoke.

I breathed in the awful toxins as I waited. I went to take in another deep breath when Zayn came running out of the doors and spun towards me. His face was frantic and his chest was heaving, as if he sprinted to find me.

"What?" I asked, my gut twisting. A small smile spread onto his lips, right then I knew what his news was. She's awake.

"Don't go home just yet," he whispered. I tossed my cigarette and ran into Zayn's arms for a quick hug then went running back into the hospital and up to Jade's room. I knew I'd see her brown eyes again.

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aw, yay Jade's finally awake! be prepared for future drama and sadness... sorry.

I thought I'd update since you know....OVER 1,000 READS HOLY POOP I'M STILL SO HAPPY

you didn't get the required votes- only one away- but I'm feeling generous..and bored. so here! love you guys! 

5 votes for the next chapter, how about thattt.