Chapter 4

 

One week later

 

Olivia slammed down the phone with a huff.   “Critical condition,” she muttered, mimicking the receptionist she had just spoken to at the hospital.   She had been calling Tampa General daily, asking about Nick, and each day, they had told her the same thing:  “He’s in critical condition.”  Nothing more.

 

Olivia was sick of waiting and worrying about him.   She wanted to see for herself how he was doing.   And so, she decided to do just that.

 

***

 

Olivia followed a group of people out of the elevator and found herself on the ICU floor.  

 

Just blend in.  Act like you belong here, Olivia told herself, taking a deep breath.   She casually ran a hand through her shoulder length black hair and continued on her way down the hall.   She wasn’t even sure which room Nick was in, and even if she found it, she doubted she’d actually be able to see him – surely with his celebrity status, there would be security protecting his room.   But at that point, Olivia didn’t care.   She could at least try.

 

As Olivia neared a waiting area, she noticed a boy walking up the hall towards her.   Narrowing her eyes, Olivia studied him as he came closer to her.   He looked about thirteen or so and was tall, with tousled blonde hair and big brown eyes.   He had seemed very familiar to her, and suddenly, Olivia knew why.   It was Aaron Carter, Nick’s younger brother.   Olivia didn’t know much about him, but she had seen a few of his videos on TV.   Enough to recognize him now.

 

As he started to pass her, Olivia cleared her throat and said, “Excuse me, but are you Aaron Carter?”

 

Aaron stopped and nodded, giving her a little half smile, which looked identical to the smile Nick always made on TV appearances and such.   It made Olivia suddenly feel like crying.   But she did not.

 

Composing herself, Olivia continued, “My name’s Olivia Caisson.  I, uh, live next door to Nick.”

 

Aaron looked at her with more interest.   “Were… were you the one who… you know… found him?”

 

She nodded, pressing her lips together grimly.   “How’s he doing?” she asked hesitantly.

 

Aaron shrugged.   “Not too good,” he said sadly.  “He’s in a coma.”

 

“I’m sorry,” Olivia said.  “I’ve been calling the hospital, trying to find out how he is, but they never tell me much.  I thought maybe I would come and try to find out for myself.   I’m sorry to bother you though.”

 

“It’s okay,” Aaron said.   “Do you want to see him?”

 

Olivia’s eyes widened.   She hadn’t at all expected to be invited in to see Nick, especially with him in such a serious condition.   But, knowing she could not turn away, she nodded slowly.

 

“Come with me,” Aaron said, beckoning to her as he started back down the hall in the direction he had come.   Olivia tagged along behind him.   They walked down a long, white hallway, passing many different cubicles with big glass windows.   At the end of the hall there was one last window, but its blinds were closed.   A security guard stood in front of the door, and Olivia knew right away that this was Nick’s room.

 

The guard nodded in greeting at Aaron and looked curiously at Olivia.

 

“She’s a friend of the family,” Aaron briefly explained to the guard, motioning to Olivia, and the guard smiled and nodded, stepping back so they could enter.

 

Olivia timidly followed Aaron into the room.   It was dim inside, but Olivia could make out Nick’s still form lying flat on the bed in the center of the small room.   She had tried to prepare herself for the sight of him, but nothing could get her ready for it.  

 

She could hardly believe that the man on the bed was actually Nick Carter, the blonde heartthrob of the Backstreet Boys.   His skin was the color of death, his blonde hair stringy and matted to his head.   There were tubes everywhere, up his nose, down his throat, out of his arms, and snaking out from under his hospital gown.   Machines and monitors surrounding the head of the bed beeped and hissed rhythmically, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the room. 

 

Olivia felt a wave of nausea wash over her, as it became to much to take in.   She took deep breaths, trying to keep her cool, but she felt lightheaded and dizzy, and the room began to spin around her.

 

Aaron glanced at her worriedly.  “Hey, you okay?” he asked, studying her.

 

“I… I just need to sit down,” Olivia stammered, staggering over to a chair pushed up against one wall.   She slumped down into it and lowered her head to her knees, taking rapid, shallow breaths.

 

“Do you want me to get someone?” Aaron asked.   Olivia glanced up and saw that he was standing beside her, looking down on her, wide-eyed.

 

She shook her head quickly.  “I’ll be okay,” she managed to say.   In fact, she was already starting to feel a little better.   The room had stopped spinning, at least.

 

“I’m sorry,” Olivia mumbled apologetically, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment. 

 

“That’s okay,” Aaron replied.   “Are you alright?”

 

She nodded and slowly climbed to her feet.   She stumbled a little at first, but quickly regained her balance, as her dizziness faded.   “It was all just a little much for me, I guess,” she said, glancing sheepishly at Aaron.

 

“I know what you mean,” he replied, offering her a sympathetic smile.   She managed to smile back.   “You wanna get out of here?” Aaron asked.

 

Olivia nodded, gratefully.   Aaron smiled again and led her to the door.   He glanced back once at his brother and then opened the door.   Olivia studied him sadly for a moment and then followed him out of the room.

 

***

 

 

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