"Nick?" Erica woke up searching for him. "NICK!" she began to get scared.
"What’s wrong?" Nick came running to her side.
"Where were you?" she threw her arms around his neck, she was sobbing.
"I was packing, why are you crying?"
"We were in an accident. You died Nick! You died." She said between sobs.
"Oh baby, it’s ok I’m here. I won’t leave." He pulled her up into his arms and carried her to his bed. She had a fever. "You’re sick, rest. I’ll go get a thermometer."
"102. Your burning up." He brushed the hair off her forehead and kissed it before placing a cold rag on it.
"Please don’t leave me Nick,” she whispered.
He grasped her hand in his, "I won’t I promise."
"I love you," she said right before she fell asleep.
"I love you too." Nick whispered and picked up the phone.
"Hello? Is Mom home Aaron?" Nick said when his brother picked up the phone.
"Nick are you ok? You sound upset." Aaron asked before he gave the phone to his mom.
"My girlfriend is really sick." Nick said.
"Oh ok I’ll get mom."
"Nick? What’s wrong with her?" Jane said picking up the phone.
"Oh god, mom she’s burning up. She’s delirious and really pale. I’m so scared." "Don’t be scared Nick. Keep her comfortable and if it gets really bad call a doctor. It’ll probably just pass."
Nick was crying softly, "Can I talk to dad?"
"Yes here he is."
Nick wasn’t sure why he had even called his mom, but he had so he figured he had better say hi to everyone. "Hi Dad."
"Hey Nick are you gonna be ok?"
"I will when she gets better."
"Poor Jess."
"JESS!"
"Aren’t you with Jess?"
"No, I’m with Erica!"
"I’m sorry Nick, I thought you and her breaking up was just rumor."
"It’s ok dad, is B.J. there?"
"No she’s out somewhere, so is Leslie, Angels here though."
"Ok I wanna talk to her."
Nick held back his tears while he talked to his sister. Before he hung up he talked to Aaron again. "Aaron I was told to ask you if you wanted to open for us again, we already arranged everything you just have to come here."
"Of course I’ll open for you! I’d love it."
"Good, be here by next week." Nick then said goodbye and hung up.
He turned to Erica, "I’m so lucky to have you." He crawled into the bed and pulled her into his arms. He undressed her and put her in one of his shirts then kissed her goodnight.
She woke up in the middle of the night sweating and crying, "Nick, I’m so scared." She whispered as he held her. He took her temperature and it had gone up to 104. "I’m taking you to the hospital."
He lifted her into his arms and carried her to his car. "You’re gonna be alright." He said buckling her in. As he drove he held her hand. He wanted to hold her but he couldn’t.
When they got to the hospital he carried her in. As they waited a girl came over to him, "Nick? Hi my name is, Viola, I’m B.J.’s old friend. We were neighbors.
"Oh hi Viola I remember you. You used to come over a lot. How are you?"
"Oh I’m great. My friend is going into labor."
"Erica is sick." Nick looked down at Erica. He kissed her forehead. Viola looked at Erica when Nick wasn’t looking and shot her a ‘look’. "Erica!" a nurse called.
The doctor gave her some antibiotics and sent her home. "Nick!" called Viola before they left.
"Yup?"
"Here’s my number. Call me sometime."
Erica was asleep in Nick’s arms already and Viola slipped her card in Nick’s back pocket.
Within a few days Erica was almost back to normal and Nick decided to throw a party. He invited all the guys; their girls, a few friends and he even invited Viola. "Erica we’re having a party on Saturday." He said when he went in to check on her. "Even A.J. and Elise are coming." He said as he gave her hug.
"Good, I can’t wait." Erica sat down on the bed and brushed her hair.
Nick kissed her cheek and walked out of the room.