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You and Me...

Hannah N

(Follows on from Jack and Nina after the play, having admitted their love!)

I

Jack stood in his space costume, watching Nina's slender figure wrap itself round Taj, hugging him happily as if nothing had happened. He tore his eyes away. He didn't want to watch HIS girl with someone else, he couldn't say anything... Walking back stage, he suddenly felt someone wrap their arms around him and spun round to see Nina, smiling. He pulled away and kept walking, determined to keep level headed and not let anything get in the way of him splitting up with Lori. "Jack?" paused Nina. He kept walking. "Jack?!" she repeated. He turned to face her and looked at her confused face. "I have to speak to Lori before I’m with you again. I can't cheat on her like she means nothing to me.." he said quietly. "I understand." she replied, "so I’ll just kiss you. You don’t have to kiss me back." She leaned in to his body and touched his lips with hers, closing her eyes and feeling his body melt into hers. She leaned back and smiled at him. "God you're gorgeous..." he breathed. Nina smiled. Suddenly they were aware of another person, Lori. "Thanks for that, Jack Scully. Thanks for breaking my heart and dragging me along like an old toy."

II

Jack looked up, his usual worried look appearing across his face. Lori turned instantly and ran out of the hall, leaving Nina, still in Jack's arms. She looked up at him and pulled away. "I'm sorry... If I hadn’t done that then she wouldn't have seen." Jack didn’t say anything, he wasn't sure he could. Pulling off his costume and replacing it with a jumper and jeans, he fled out after Lori.

Nina stood silently, then crumpled down against the wall and let the tears fall. She wanted Jack there now, but what for? He wasn't hers. He was with Lori and she was nothing compared to her… They had history. They were meant for each other. Unlike Taj. What was that actually all about? The chance at going out with someone popular, nice looking, maybe. She stood up slowly, trying to brush back the feelings, and changed out of her costume, brushing back her hair into her plain pony-tail and leaving the hall totally alone.

The house was dark and cold. Dropping her keys on the kitchen surface, Nina pulled out her pony-tail and flicked on the living room lights. She sat down on the sofa and looked around, it was too depressing to think that Jack was with her right now, she wanted him here. Standing up, Nina padded through to her bedroom and pulled on her pink pyjamas, she might as well go to bed and feel alone.

Just as she was slipping under the covers she heard a tapping at her front door. A little alarmed, Nina stood up and flicked her bedroom light on again and pulled on a baggy jumper over her head. Peering round her door and then going down the stairs to see who was there, she spotted Jack...

III

Taking a deep breath, Nina stepped forward and pulled back the lock on her front door. Jack was still hot from presumably running over, but Nina looked at him, her face expressionless, trying not to seem pathetic. “Are you alright?” he asked. “Yup. Just fine thanks. Yourself?” she snipped in reply, a sarcastic tone in her voice. “Nina… I’m really sorry about what happened. You know I had to speak to Lori. It shouldn’t have happened that way.” He pleaded. Relaxing her face and letting a smile creep to her mouth, Nina pulled back the door to let him in, watching him go in and then shutting the door. Suddenly she was conscious of how she must look in her pink teddy bear pyjamas and a loose, hooded jumper. “Um, Jack, I’m gonna go pull on some decent clothes,” she smiled, brushing past him just enough for him to reach out and pull her into his arms. Kissing her softly at first, he let her relax, until they melted into each other and were soon locked in a passionate kiss. Jack pulled back first, smiling at her like a schoolboy, “God you’re beautiful,” he whispered. Smiling back, Nina leaned in and stole another kiss before sitting down on the sofa, ready to talk. “Did you talk to Lori then?” she asked. “Yeh…” started Jack, “but there wasn’t really much to say was there? She’d already seen pretty much all she needed to know. I tried to explain though…” “So what did you actually say?” pleaded Nina, trying to realise she would be talking to Taj about it the next day. “What happened? I told her everything… She deserved the truth I guess.” He paused. “…….Everything?” breathed Nina. “Yeh… I told her about leaving school to come and see you when you were off. I told her that’s where I’d been the whole time I wasn’t with her. I told her that I loved you and it was you I wanted…” Nina looked at him deeply. He was telling the truth, but you could tell it had hurt him, “she just screamed at me to get out. That she hated me. That I wouldn’t see her again. That she hoped I died alone. That she never really loved me…” Jack took a deep breath and looked completely broken inside. “I’m so sorry Jack. It’s all my fault..” answered Nina, getting up off the sofa. She needed to get away. This was all so serious and now she’d hurt her friend. “Nina please don’t go… I meant every word of it. I meant it when I said that I loved you and I wanted you.” Nina looked at him seriously, then softened her expression and leapt into his arms into a deep passionate kiss. Jack, slightly taken back, paused for a moment, then kissed her back, holding her slender frame as Taj had earlier and realising that he had made the right decision. He truly loved the woman in his arms…

IV

Jack flicked through the local paper, sitting in the coffee shop and watching people come and go. Looking at his watch again, he put the paper down and took a deep sip from his milkshake, trying to lose the feeling of excitement that he was going to see Nina. ‘Jeese man!’ he told himself silently, ‘its just Nina,’ The shop door opened and Nina stepped into the Coffee shop wearing a red sleeveless top and figure hugging jeans. Spotting Jack, she sat down next to him and smiled as Harold walked past. Reaching across the table to take her hand, Jack smiled and looked at her, trying to work out what was different about her. "Why are you looking at me as if I have another head, babe?" she joked. "You look different.." Replied Jack. "Well I feel different!" she squealed. "Any reason why?" he answered, unsure. "I broke up with Taj..." she whispered quietly, "So now you've got me. I don’t think I can get away!" "I agree with you there. I'm never letting you go anywhere..." he whispered back and leaned in, kissing her gently. Harold walked past and coughed loudly, "I know my play was convincing, but I would have thought you had more respect for your loved ones," he said. Jack winked at Nina and replied, "Well you're looking at my one and only love. Lori and I are history and Nina and I are in love. Thanks Harold." Harold tottered away, a bit in shock, and took orders for coffee, looking out of the corner of his eye at the two young lovers. Nina smiled at Jack then flicked through the menu and went up to order a cake slice. Just as she was doing so, Taj came in and smiled at Jack, then walked over to him and whispered in his ear, "she's a dog, man. Not worth it..." Smiling at Nina, he left Jack feeling slightly bothered. What was Taj on about? Was this his way of getting Nina back?

V

Nina glanced in Taj’s direction then looked at Jack, who seemed a little puzzled. “Did he want anything important?” she asked Jack. “Nah, not really. Just asking how you were.” Replied Jack. “Well he could ask me himself,” said Nina, a little upset that Taj felt he couldn’t talk to her. “He’s still a bit raw I think babe,” answered Jack, turning his attention to the muffin Nina was now eating. He pinched a bit off the corner, smiling at Nina as he placed it in his mouth and chewed. The afternoon passed quickly. After the coffee shop, the pair went round to the Scully’s to see the family and try and get them used to the idea of being a couple. Lyn answered and smiled at Jack, ignoring Nina, “Come in, love, we were just about to have dinner. You staying for some?” Jack took Nina’s hand and nodded to his mother. Lori was sitting at the dining table, talking loudly to Michelle about some fashion show coming up. Nina squeezed Jack’s hand, trying to tell him that she wasn’t happy, but Jack returned the squeeze and pulled up a chair at the table for Nina next to him. She sat quietly, listening to the conversation until Lyn put plates in front of them, filled with Salad and various meats. Nina ate quietly, replying to any questions that Jack asked her, but not making an effort to talk to anyone else or make eye contact, avoiding Lori as much as possible.

Over an hour later Jack suggested that he and Nina should be going. Lori sneered, but smiled at Jack as they left, hand in hand. Nina breathed deeply as soon as they were out the drive. Sensing her relax, Jack smiled and reassured her, “It’ll get easier, babe. Its still really new to everyone.” She nodded a reply, then rested her head on his shoulder as they walked back to her house, on Heather Street. They talked quietly and laughed at Boyd as he attempted various tricks on his skateboard on the street and Jack told him he should be playing with a football. Laughing, Nina felt happy again, well until they started up her drive. A black Volvo was parked in the drive and that meant one thing… Her parents were home.

VI

Jack looked at Nina a little uncertainly, but she had already released his hand and was walking up the drive double time. She looked back at him for a second and asked him to wait outside for a bit, her parents could be a little irrational at times. Jack sat down on the wall and waited. Nina walked in and immediately saw the five or six suitcases lined up against the wall. “She’s got a damn boy staying over here!!!!” yelled her father. Nina flinched. “She’s 17 for god’s sake!! Its legal.” Replied her mother. “Oh, its legal is it?! Like I give a damn. My daughter is not staying here with some teenage boy while we are away. Behind our backs! Jeese, when she gets home she is getting it.” Nina stepped forward and cleared her throat. Her mother looked over at her father, who was looking at Nina as if she was a piece of dirt, “hi sweetheart,” he mother cooed. Nina smiled at her, then went into the kitchen to get a drink, the dirty plates from breakfast were still in the sink and the dishwasher hadn’t been emptied, but it wasn’t a tip. Her father followed her into the kitchen and began his lecture, “Well I guess you heard some of that, Miss Tucker.” Nina didn’t say anything, “Well my feelings are perfectly clear. You are far too young to get pregnant.” Nina looked at him stupidly- “You think I’m going to get pregnant?” she stammered. “There is always that possibility when you let some teenage boy sleep with you!” yelled her father. Nina grunted then replied, “Well, Jack isn’t a teenager and he is not sleeping with me.” She stepped past him and avoided her mother’s eyes. Walking out of the house, she closed the door and pelted over to Jack, who hugged her until she stopped trembling like a scared rabbit. “Jack, -“ she started, but her father was already coming down the drive. “Are you this Jack man then?” he called at Jack. “Yes sir, that’s me!” chirped Jack. “Don’t be cheeky with me!” yelled Nina’s father, “I want you out of my house tonight and I want you to stay away from my daughter. Whatever is going on cannot be good for her.” Jack nodded and then looked over at Nina, who surprisingly was standing up to her dad, “If Jack goes then I go, dad. A lot has happened that you have no idea about and Jack was there for me, so I’m standing by him. If Jack can stay then I’ll stay and talk to you. If not, don’t expect me to ever talk to you again…”

VII

 
Nina looked at Jack, not quite seeking reassurance, but checking he was still there. Jack returned her smile and she took his hand and spun on her heel. “I guess I’ll be back later to pick up some of my stuff, I’ll try to avoid you.” She spat at her father. Nina seemed oblivious to Jack beside her, she just kept walking, set on getting somewhere she felt safe and not caring what went on around her. Jack kept up easily, but was worried by his girlfriend’s reaction to her parents. He had no idea what went on within the Tucker house, but it can’t have been good for Nina to be in such a state. She kept walking until she reached the lake outside Lassiter’s, then she stopped suddenly, tears streaming down her face and collapsed on the grass. Jack eased her onto his lap and stroked her hair softly until her tears slowed to muffled sobs. He watched, unsure what to say to make her feel better but she stopped after a while and looked at him. “What now?” she asked. Jack paused then replied, “I have my room at my house and you’re welcome there.” Nina was a little unsure of the situation as Lori, who was now in the garage as Connor had left, was staying at the house and would be aware that they slept next to each other. She nodded slowly, thankful of the opportunity to be with Jack and stood up, feeling shaky and unsure on her legs. Jack slipped his arm around her waist, supporting her, and they walked slowly past Lassiter’s which was now lit as it was getting dark, and up to Ramsay Street. Nina stiffened as number 26 came into view. “It’ll be fine, they don’t need to know anything. I live there remember?” said Jack comfortingly. Nina nodded and followed him up the few steps to the front door.

Without knocking, Jack opened the front door and walked in, his hand still holding Nina’s. The whole family was sitting in the living room, munching on popcorn and watching tv, but Jack just said hello and led Nina past them to his bedroom at the end of the hall. Joe was obviously not too happy and Lori walked out immediately, but Nina was happy to see that Jack wasn’t paying any attention to them and that he was focused getting them to his room. Shutting the door, Nina lay down quickly on Jack’s bed and closed her eyes. They stung from the tears she had cried earlier, but she felt Jack’s body lie next to her and his lips kiss her tenderly. Feeling familiar again, she pushed herself up and returned the kiss with all the passion that had erupted from her insecurity. Jack almost smiled as the kiss developed, but they soon broke away after hearing a tap at the door. Lyn’s head peered round the door, obviously unsure of what she might see, but smiled as she saw the pair sitting at the end of Jack’s bed, as if they had been chatting about the weather.

Later that night Nina suddenly realised she had no pyjamas. Much to her amusement, Jack had suggested she might not need any, but she soon found a pair of his old training bottoms and a t-shirt to wear while she slept. Coming out of the bathroom, she returned to Jack’s bedroom without seeing anyone else and peered round the door, feeling surprisingly attractive. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders and as she crawled into bed next to Jack, his arms wrapped around her slender frame and held her as she slept.

It was well past three o’clock in the morning when Nina woke suddenly. This was so wrong. Lori had slept here. What was she doing? She suddenly felt trapped and sick. She crawled out of the bed, leaving Jack on the other side of the bed, and fled along to the bathroom. Flinging herself at the toilet, she threw up suddenly. A rush of blood went to her head and suddenly she felt faint and sick. Her arms and legs gave way beneath her and she fell hard onto the bathroom floor, smacking her head of the sink as she went down…

VIII

 
The sun streamed in through Jack’s window and stung his eyes as they opened slowly. He rolled over, hoping to be able to wrap his arms around Nina and fall asleep again, but instead he woke with a jolt. He sat up quickly, hoping she had just gotten up, but saw his room empty, the door slightly open and no sign of Nina. He pushed back the covers and got up quickly, beginning to wonder where she was. He went through to the living room, where Lori was sitting in her pyjamas, munching on a bowl of cereal. “Lori, have you seen Nina?” he asked. Lori gave him a hard look then replied in a snippy tone, “Well she’s been in the bathroom all morning, presumably trying to make that sickly face of hers look remotely nice.” Jack was already heading towards the bathroom, Nina had never been one to spend hours in the bathroom. He knocked quietly on the door, listening intently, but there was no reply, nothing. He knocked again and waited for a reply. Nothing. He called out her name, in a bit of a worried tone, but still there was no reply. Absolutely nothing. He tried the handle, and surprisingly the door opened a bit, but then got jammed on something. He looked round and suddenly felt sick as he saw his girlfriend’s body lying limp on the floor. He stepped over her leg and sat down next to her, touching her shoulder and trying to wake her up. “DAD!” he yelled “Help, dad! Nina won’t wake up. Call an ambulance! For god’s sake don’t let her die….” He shook her body a little, noticing it was still warm and then his mother appeared in her dressing gown and began to take over. She put Nina in the recovering position while Jack ran and brought his duvet to put over her body and his pillow to keep her head up off the cold floor.

The hospital was hot and Jack couldn’t stop pacing the corridor, waiting whilst the doctor’s examined Nina, who was still unconscious. The whole Scully family was sitting in the A&E department and even Taj was there, looking at least a little worried. Jack looked up to Nina’s room and the doctor finally came out, talking with the nurse and heading in Jack’s direction. “Um, hi there,” the doctor started, “I’m doctor Mitchell, I’m looking after Nina for the moment. Are you her brother?” “No, sorry. I’m her boyfriend.” Replied Jack. The doctor paused for a minute, then looked at Lyn and Joe, “are you her parents?” he asked. Joe shook his head, “no, we’re his parents.” The doctor then looked passed them to Lori. “So Nina’s parents aren’t here yet?” he asked. Jack shook his head, no-one had called them. Lyn took the cue and went to the payphone whilst Jack was allowed to go and sit with Nina.

She looked pale and lonely. Her face was almost white and she didn’t look like the happy Nina that Jack knew. A monitor by her bedside bleeped in time with her heartbeat, but Jack focused on her face, which was still and had no expression to show how Nina was feeling. “Oh god, Nina…” cooed Jack, “Please wake up, babe. I need you here, baby. I’ll do anything for you to just wake up. Please Nina…. What the heck happened last night? I wish I’d been there for you, I might have been able to help… It’s all my fault. How can I sleep while my girlfriend is passing out in the bathroom next door. God… I’m so useless. Nina, just wake up, hun. I’ll love you forever…..”

IX

Jack’s head rested on the bed, his body almost slipping off the chair he was sitting on. Nina lay motionless in her hospital bed and only the regular beeping of her heart monitor disturbed the silence. Nina’s parents had been called but they had left around 9pm the previous night, not worried about Nina and leaving the Scully’s in charge for a bit. Lyn, being the caring person she was, had let them go back to their precious music tour, but was sick with worry about the responsibility of Nina. Jack had stayed next to her all night. She was in a coma. The longer it went on, the less likely it was that she would wake up, but the coma was her only illness. She had fallen because when she was sick all the blood had rushed to her stomach and made her feel light headed. The doctor’s weren’t too sure why she had been so sick in the first place, they presumed it was a mixture of emotional feelings and something she had eaten, but Jack would not leave until she woke.

His eyes twitched and his hand automatically reached out for Nina, momentarily forgetting where they were. As soon as he was more awake, he sat up and rubbed his eyes, looking at Nina intently for any sign that she might wake up, but there was nothing to see. Her body lay still. She was still so perfect, her hair fell to her shoulders and her hands lay delicately by her sides, her eyes were shut softly and her lips remained rosy. Jack sighed, it was as if she was simply sleeping…

The doctor came in a little while after Jack had woken up and asked Jack politely to leave, as they had to check Nina over and adjust the drip she was on. Stepping back politely, Jack flinched as he saw the doctor preparing injections of vitamins for his girlfriend, and left before he had to watch them touch her. His mother was sipping a cup of coffee but the rest of the family had gone home. He smiled at her, then continued down the hall to the bathroom for relatives.

The mirror showed the bags under his eyes clearly. He splashed his face with water and brushed his teeth, not bothering to brush his hair or wash his face properly, just wanting to get back to Nina. He left the bathroom and walked briskly along the corridor to Nina’s room, which was now empty of doctors, only Nina lay in the room. Jack pulled up the chair next to her bed and began talking to her again, hoping it might help her wake up, “Hey sweetie. Did you sleep well? I was a bit uncomfortable to be honest… Sleeping upright doesn’t really do it for me! When you wake up you’re gonna have to move over a bit, then maybe I can sleep properly!” he watched for a reaction. Nothing… “well I guess you don’t really feel like talking. Okay, I can talk for both of us. I can’t wait till you wake up. Lori and Taj were even here yesterday. It was quite funny ‘cause mum was talking to you about the weather.” Jack studied her figure. She looked so small and alone in the hospital bed, her hand was bruised from the IV needle and her head now had a swollen lump where she had hit the sink as she fell. “This isn’t happening…” said Jack quietly.

X

The next day started in relatively the same way. The sun woke Jack through the curtains and he opened his eyes slowly, instantly looking up at Nina. His neck hurt from the awkward position that he had slept in, but he reached his hand forward and took Nina’s, rubbing it gently with his thumb. There was no response so Jack kissed her forehead lightly and went along to the toilet. By the time he got back there were doctors around Nina’s bed, administering the usual amount of drugs that Nina needed to stay healthy while she was in her coma. For once, Jack stayed whilst they did their work and listened as they explained the overnight developments. “Well, her stats are up a bit. Her blood pressure is better, so she should wake up relatively soon. I’m afraid there isn’t much we can do medically, just wait.” Jack nodded then asked, “Can she even hear me talking to her?” The doctor nodded, then he and the other doctors left. “Oh, so you can hear can you Miss Tucker?” he said to Nina’s sleeping figure. “You’re just too lazy to wake up and answer me, eh?” he smiled and looked up as his parents came in. They talked for a while, then Lyn convinced Jack to go back to number 26 for a while. He kissed Nina as he left, his mother stayed with her.

The Scully house seemed cold and quiet compared to the hospital. Jack opened the door and immediately headed for his room, not wanting to talk to Lori or Michelle who were sitting in the living room. His room still had the curtains drawn from the previous morning, and Nina’s clothes lay in a neat folded pile where she had left them. Jack walked along to the bathroom and jumped in the shower, allowing the hot, steamy water to run all over his exhausted body. He got out after ten or so minutes, anxious to get back to Nina in case she woke, and dried himself with a clean towel then headed back along to his room. He pulled on a clean t-shirt and jeans, replaced his socks with clean ones and ruffled his hair into a respectable mass. He almost smiled as he noticed Nina’s ring on his desk, but instead picked it up and felt the smooth, cold silver, trying to find some comfort from it. Taking a deep breath, he opened his curtains and headed back down the hall to the living room. Michelle and Lori had left, so Joe was sitting alone, reading the newspaper. “Dad, will you drive me back to the hospital now?” he asked. Joe smiled and put down his paper, grabbing his car keys and heading out the door before Jack got the chance to ask again or get frustrated.

The now familiar hospital corridor was lined with patients, nurses and doctors. Jack smiled at the familiar ones and headed directly for Nina’s room, where he found his mother sitting chatting away to Nina, about the weather. He smiled cheekily and took up his post at Nina’s bedside, ready for another day of waiting and watching…

Taking a sip from his hot coffee, Jack read through the paper, absently talking to Nina about what was going on and making himself laugh. His parents had now gone home and Nina’s parents had called briefly to ask after their daughter, but didn’t seem overly worried. Feeling suddenly tired, Jack put down the paper and leaned back in his chair, placing a protective hand on Nina’s hand as he relaxed into sleep.

He woke suddenly. Something had twitched on his hand. Something had moved. Something had woken him. Something was wrong.

XI

Jack sat bolt upright. He looked at Nina’s face, which was no longer soft and serene, but tight with fear and pain. Her fingers, which had been lying softly on the bed, now gripped Jack’s hand with such a force it was a little alarming. Her legs folded up to her chest and her head curled in, making a tiny figure wrapped in bed sheets. “Nina?!” called out Jack, “Babe? What’s wrong Nina?” Nina replied with a small yelp then she rolled onto her side, facing away from Jack, and threw up violently. Alarmed, Jack ran out of the small room and called for help then, equally as fast, returned to his girlfriend’s side. She was still facing away from him, curled up in pain and the doctors soon surrounded her. Jack tried to take her hand, but his hold was broken by a young doctor who was supporting Nina whilst she was sick again. The doctors made brief comments to each other, but Suddenly Jack realised that his girlfriend was actually vomiting blood.

XII

Jack reached forward to Nina, ignoring the doctors for a second, “Babe, I’m here. Its ok… Try to relax, I’m here and I love you, Nina.” He heard Nina take a deep breath, as if preparing to be sick, then she held it, and breathed out slowly. She groaned a little, but the painkillers were taking affect and she seemed to be in less of a panic. Jack held her hand firmly, to reassure her, and watched as her eyes closed softly and then re-opened, as if testing the light. His hold then relaxed as he saw Nina’s blood stained mouth, crease upwards into a tiny smile. Her face was pale and yet looked wet from the sweat, but her legs finally relaxed back down the bed so she looked in less pain. Jack sat on the side of the bed, softly rubbing her hair and talking quietly to her. “You had me so worried, hun. God, I’ve been here every night with you, in case you woke up and was scared. I hope you’re not scared now, babe. You’ll get better soon.” Nina’s eyes closed softly and her hand slid away from Jack, but he relaxed as he realised that instead of falling back into a coma, his girl was simply falling asleep. He sat down onto his chair and watched as her breathing returned to normal and she finally seemed more like her old self.

It was a couple of hours until she woke again. Jack had watched her the whole time, but she woke slowly and seemed calm and relatively happy. He stood up, so she wouldn’t have to stretch to see him, and smiled down at her as she looked at him. “Jack…” she whispered, but her face contorted with pain as she spoke. Jack looked concerned, but he kissed her softly on her head and was too relieved to think about ever loosing her again. She stretched her slender legs, as if testing them and then looked around calmly. She looked at the clock on the wall, at the machinery monitoring her heartbeat, the bedsheets lying over her body and finally at Jack, who was smiling down at her, watching as if he had never seen her before. “I love you so much.” He whispered, “You’ll never know how beautiful you are to me.” Nina smiled, then tried to speak again, whispering a few words, “I want to get up,” Jack nodded, a little unsure if it was a good idea, but not wanting to disappoint Nina. He got a wheelchair for her and then she sat up herself, seeking only a little help from Jack before lowering herself into the wheelchair. Jack smiled at her teddy pyjamas but watched her intently, not wanting her to fall again and hurt herself. She smiled at him, still a little tired, but not wanting to show it, and took his hand for a second, kissing it delicately before they moved off down the hall.

They passed a couple of doctors and nurses who seemed happy to see Nina out of her bed, and then they went out of the ward and out to a little garden area where there were a few trees and flowers, there for the use of patients and relatives. Nina smiled and took a deep breath, seemingly slightly overwhelmed. “Are you ok, hun?” asked Jack, a little concerned, but Nina replied “Yes.” Confidently. They sat for a while and hugged and talked quietly and kissed each other as if both were relieved to see the other again. Jack could not take his eyes off her and was amazed at how she could seem so gorgeous even when she was so ill, but soon she seemed exhausted with just sitting so they went back inside. She almost seemed to enjoy the ride in the wheelchair but when they got back to her room, which had been cleaned with new bed linen, she fell asleep quickly, holding Jack’s hand and sleeping with a content expression on her face.

XIII

It was the next morning before Jack woke. He was so happy now it looked as if Nina would be ok that he had slept like a log and felt much better as he stretched out and looked at her again. His heart jumped a little as he saw a trickle of blood coming from her mouth, but he quickly realised that the blood wasn’t fresh, it was still from last night’s vomiting. Stepping out of the small side room, Jack walked up to the nurse’s station and began asking a few questions. “So what made her so sick then?” he asked.

“Sir, I’m not sure we can tell you. You’re not a relative, I’m sorry.” Answered the nurse.

“I’m her boyfriend though,” replied Jack calmly. The nurse nodded and then flicked through the notes, picking out Nina’s. “Well, she had a haematoma in her throat, which burst and cause all the bleeding that you saw. Because of where it was, all the blood travelled down her throat and into her stomach and made her feel so ill. When she woke from her coma, it was the first time she had the reflexes to actually throw-up, which she did! She should be okay now, she’s on painkillers and we can’t see another haematoma so there shouldn’t be another problem.” Jack nodded, “So why was she so ill in the first place. I mean, what made her get up in the middle of the night and throw up all over my bathroom?!”

“Well I’m afraid that was emotional stress. Nina probably felt overwhelmed by something that had happened during the day and she only relaxed after she was sick. By being sick and having gotten up so quickly, all the blood rushed to her stomach and she fainted and burst her haematoma.” Jack nodded, beginning to understand what had happened. Just then, Nina’s slender figure appeared in the doorway of her room and Nina said, “Yo, loverboy!! What’s a girl got to do to get a morning kiss around here?!” She was obviously feeling better and Jack ran over and scooped her up, kissing her and holding her tight. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she smiled as he kissed her neck and let her down to the ground softly. “How are you feeling babe?” he asked.

“Good. My throat is still sore, but I’ve taken something for that and I’ll be fine with a few more kisses from my Jack,” she replied. Suddenly feeling a little strange again, she leaned into Jack and rested her head on his shoulder, trying not to seem too ill. She wrapped her arms around him then released him and stepped back into her room to sit down. She pulled on one of his jumpers and sat in the chair, which Jack had been sleeping on, trying to ease the feeling of discomfort from her stomach. Jack knew something wasn’t quite right, but he let her try to deal with it herself and just sat next to her, hugging her and whispering that he loved her into her ear.

XIV

It was a few days before Nina was discharged from the hospital. The doctors gave Jack lots of things to look out for, in case she became ill again, but they were confident that she would be fine. Holding Jack’s hand, Nina smiled but was silent as they left, trying to concentrate on making it to the car and not giving in to the rising feeling of pain in her stomach. Jack noticed her discomfort, but he kept walking and held her softly, just wanting to get her home safely where he could hold her until she was better.

Pulling up in Heather Street, the pair noticed that Nina’s parents had left, there was no car in the drive, but Jack knew he had better get home for a shower and a decent meal. He offered to stay or for Nina to come over to number 26, but she also wanted to have a bath and relax for a while. Unlocking her front door, she dropped her keys on the table and breathed a deep breath in, trying to relax and stop the pain in her side. She looked at her watch, checking how long it was until she was allowed meds, and, noticing it was another hour, she went along to the bathroom and ran a hot, steamy bath. She tested it with her toe and then got in, submerging herself for a while until she needed to come up and take a breath. The water was relaxing, cleansing and made her whole body shudder with the heat. Her legs turned red, but she stayed in the water until it went lukewarm, and only then did she get out and, wrapping herself in a huge towel, she sat on the bathroom floor and thought deeply about everything that had happened.

Jack had arrived home and was in the shower. Like Nina, he had the water too hot, but was finding the heat relaxing. The hospital had been tiring, especially worrying about his girlfriend, but finally he felt himself relax and his breathing slow. Michelle knocked on the door, signalling that Jack’s bathroom time was over, and he jumped out of the shower, just in time as Michelle barged the door open and grinned cheekily. Jack returned her smile, finally feeling like he could relax. He had Nina. His friends were happy and his girlfriend was finally his girlfriend…

XV

Nina stood up from the sofa where she had been sitting and answered the phone which was ringing in the hall. Although she still felt a little ‘wobbly’ on her legs, she was happy to walk to the phone and discover that it was Jack phoning her. “Hey, babe,” he said.

“Hi,” replied Nina a little softly.

“Are you ok?” asked Jack.

“Yeh, just tired. I had a long bath and I feel pretty good actually. Probably look a bit better too!” she giggled.

Jack smiled, answering, “You always look beautiful, Nina… Anyway, do you want anything?”

Now it was Nina’s turn to smile, “Well….”

“Ha ha ha, Nina! I meant like food or toilet rolls or something, not that I’d have a problem just bringing myself over!”

“Just you would be brill, Jack” she answered. They said their goodbyes and Nina went along to her room to sort herself out before he arrived. Her hair lay across her shoulders, but she brushed it and pulled it up into a pony-tail on the back of her head before reaching for her lip gloss, which always made her feel better. Looking at her reflection, she was actually quite pleased, but she didn’t have much time to admire herself as the doorbell rang and she heard Jack come into the house. She ran down to the kitchen and wrapped herself around him, smiling like a schoolgirl. Jack spun round and returned her smile and then kissed her softly, letting himself feel completely happy.

Sitting on the sofa stuffing herself with chicken and rice, Nina felt the familiar and comforting feeling of her stomach actually having food in it. Jack watched her carefully, in case she couldn’t manage it, but Nina chomped on happily, hardly bothering to chew. “Jeese, Nina, slow down, you’ll choke!” said Jack, half joking and half being serious. Nina gave him a smirking look and continued munching through her food, ignoring Jack’s warnings. After she had finished, Nina stood up confidently and took her plate through to the kitchen, Jack followed her, as if waiting for her to fall over, but Nina kept going and came back out of the kitchen, heading for the front door. “Feel like going for a walk?” she asked Jack cheekily. Jack looked a little unsure, but Nina was already opening the front door and heading out of the house and down the drive. Jack followed, closing the door behind him and he wrapped his arms around Nina’s waist, just making sure she knew he was there.

They walked all the way to the side of Lassiter’s lake and there Nina seemed to get tired and she sat down. Her legs felt fine, she was just tired from being in hospital and she was happy to sit with Jack’s arms around her and watch the world go by. Darcy passed and smiled, obviously happy to see Nina out and about, but Nina went into a world of her own and was imagining her and Jack’s wedding….

‘It’ll be small, with only our family and friends. Michelle will be a bridesmaid, and maybe even Connor as best man. But that’s up to Jack. A white dress, really plain. I’d hate people to be staring at me. I’m not going to walk up an isle like most brides. No, me and Jack will just get married with the two of us and then have a party here afterwards as long as the weather is good. Oh, but it will be. It’ll be sunny, with white puffy clouds and no chance of rain. Warm, but not too hot. Oh god, that would be so perfect.’

“Nina!” yelled Jack. Nina snapped back to reality and looked at Jack, who looked a little worried. “Hun, I think we’d better get home. Taj and Lori just went into the coffee shop and I don’t think they’re ready for us being totally with each other yet” Nina nodded and smiled. “I’m ready though…” Jack looked at her, double checking her meaning and Nina smiled, she was definitely feeling better!

XVI

Jack opened his eyes and smiled. Nina’s long, delicate hair lay across his chest and she faced him, as if she had been watching him before she herself had fallen asleep. Her eyes lay closed softly and her arm stretched across his chest, holding him softly but lovingly. Jack fingered her hair gently and watched as her figure rose and fell in time with her breathing. Her lips almost curled upwards, nearly into a smile, but her feet poked out of the end of the sheets into little points. Lying on his back, Jack could see out of the window, which was letting the morning sunlight in. The tree which stood in Nina’s garden blew gently in the wind, but Jack let his eyes close again, hearing Nina’s voice run through his head again and again, singing away. His mind wandered through his life and it was only when Nina woke and kissed him that he opened his eyes. Her crystal eyes gleamed at him and he returned the smile and kissed her again, letting his lips linger on hers. Content, she rested her head back on his chest, this time facing away from him. They didn’t say anything for a while but soon Jack realised the time and, reluctantly, stretched and slipped out of the bed. Smiling back at her before going on, Jack pulled off the t-shirt he had slept in and, now only wearing his boxer shorts, walked along the bright hallway to the bathroom.

After a quick shower, Jack pulled on his school clothes and kissed Nina, who was now dozing on the living-room sofa. She smiled, then replaced her head on the cushion and watched him go out of the front door.

Erinsborough High was buzzing with pupils as Jack arrived. He felt strangely mellow and walked confidently to his locker where he sorted his books for his first lesson and met his sister Michelle. She was also getting ready for her morning classes, but she smiled happily as she spotted him, “How’s Nina?” she asked.

Smiling, Jack replied, “Yeah, a lot better. She might be back in school soon, but she’s still not quite right.”

“So you had to stay over just to check, eh?!” teased Michelle. Jack just smiled at her and, shifting his bag, went along the corridor to his register room.

The day dragged on for Jack. He tried to concentrate on his work, but his mind kept drifting back to thoughts of the first time he had woken with Nina in his arms in the community hall. How beautiful she had looked earlier that morning…. “Jack?” ……. “Jack?!?!” cried his English teacher. Turning back to his studies, Jack quickly glanced around the classroom and then at his teacher. She repeated her question, which Jack answered quickly before the bell rang, signalling the end of the day. A smile spreading across his face, Jack lifted his bag and returned to his locker to leave his books and then head home. Taj was also at his locker, which was next to Jack’s, and the pair said a few civil words to each other before Jack left, eager to get home.

Number 26 was empty, so Jack let himself in and dumped his bag by the door before patting Harvey for a bit. The dog lapped up all the attention and Jack had to tear himself away to get a drink from the kitchen and get changed. One of Nina’s hairclips lay on the window sill and Jack picked it up, fingering it gently before placing it back and gulping down his drink.

‘Deep breaths, man! Left, right, left right. Keep pushing. Just to the end- to the end of the road. Go man. Keep pushing. Okay….’ Jack slowed down as he went into the park and shook his legs off, trying to stop the cramp in his left leg getting any worse. He’d been running for a good hour and he desperately needed a drink. The Coffee Shop was bustling with people, but Jack went in and bought a can of juice and drunk it before he had even left the shop, giving himself a brain freeze. Harold was milling about happily, but Jack decided to get home and phone Nina to see how she was feeling. As much as school was never much fun, Nina made everything better, and school was no exception….

Hey guys- for the next bit you’ll need some background info so here you are: Lori found out about Jack and Nina by catching them kissing in Ramsay Street, Taj forgave them (trying to be mature). Lori only stayed so she could graduate from high school, then she plans to leave Aussie for New Zealand. Jack has tried to talk to her but they haven’t spoken since the whole “finding out” incident….

XVII

Nina opened her eyes and looked around. She was still lying on the sofa and her arms were beginning to get cramped from being curled up on the sofa for the whole day. Sitting up, her head spun a little, but she got up and walked along to the bathroom and started to get ready to go out for a while to the Coffee Shop. Her hair was pushed into a bit of an odd shape, so she pulled it back into a pony-tail and put on her usual eye-liner and lip gloss. Looking in the mirror, she already felt much better, so she walked happily along to her room and pulled on some clothes. Her dark blue jeans and navy strappy top looked surprisingly good and she was out the front door quickly.

The Coffee Shop was still buzzing with people but Nina knew a few of them so she was happy to go in and find a table. Getting a milkshake and a piece of cake, she found a table in the corner and began to read the paper. Skimming through the stories, she was reading about a local lost dog when she noticed Taj come in. He spotted her and smiled, walking over a little nervously. “Jack said you were feeling better!” he said.

“Yeh, I am thanks. Still eating quite soft food though, I really feel like some crisps or something, but oh well.” Replied Nina, “You joining me?” Taj smiled and nodded, “If that’s ok? You want anything else?” Nina shook her head and took a sip from her milkshake, watching Taj go over and get a coffee. He had been really good about the whole Jack thing. His initial reaction obviously wasn’t great, he did smash Jack’s face in, but he at least apologised and was now friends with them both. Nina smiled to herself, things were pretty good at the moment, all things considered.

Taj offered to walk Nina home, but she was happy to go alone so they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Nina’s mobile, which was in her back pocket, began buzzing, so she stopped and got it out. Noticing it was Jack, she smiled and answered it happily, “Hey hun!” she said.

“Hey. Where are you?” he asked.

“I’ve been at the coffee shop for a while getting a milkshake. Are you okay?”

“Yeh, just hoping you were okay really….” Answered Jack.

“Awww, that’s sweet, hun. Are you coming over tonight?” said Nina.

“Um, I’ve actually got quite a lot of work to do, what with staying at the hospital. So are you ok if I don’t?”

Although a little disappointed, Nina replied “Sure. I might even come to school tomorrow so I’ll see you soon.” They said their goodbyes, by which time Nina was back at Heather Street.

The house was always cold. This was the only time Nina wished she didn’t live alone. There was no one to talk to, or watch tv with. Just herself. It was only 8.30pm, so she decided to go online and e-mail a few of her friends from when she was on tour with her parents. They were always so happy, they were bound to cheer her up. ‘I can think of better ways to cheer myself up.’ Thought Nina cheekily.

XVIII

The next morning, Nina was up early and felt well enough to go to school. The sunlight was streaming through her open window and she got up quickly. The mail was lying on the mat, so she opened a letter from her parents, in which they apologised in a roundabout way for leaving her alone, and a few bills. She sighed, most teenagers didn’t even have to think about bills, far less keep track of all of them. She had a shower and ate some toast, then decided to try and sort her hair before she left. It was all going in different directions after sleeping, so she straightened it, then pulled it back in a messy bun and smiled at her reflection. Her eyes still had bags under them, but she lined them with make-up and put on her lip-gloss, finally feeling ready to face all the kids at school.

Nina’s schoolbag felt heavy, even though it only had a few books in it, and she was tired by the time she arrived at Erinsborough High. It was still fairly quiet as she was early, but she was happy to have the chance to sort herself out before she met any of her friends, and she walked happily over to the senior building to her locker. Opening the main door to the building, Nina immediately spotted Taj walking hand in hand with some older girl. A pang of jealousy shot involuntary through her body, but she smiled politely and said hello. Now close up, she recognised the girl as Catrina, a girl in Taj’s year, but she didn’t make any eye contact and Nina slipped away without speaking to her.

She waited in her form room until the teacher came to take the register and give the class any messages, but she was already beginning to feel strange and her face was becoming more and more pale. She gripped her palms with her nails, digging them in until they left little black marks, hoping it might ease the strange feeling running through her body. The bell rang, but she sat still, worried in case she stood up and collapsed. There was a pain in her side. There was a pain in her throat. She sat still, waiting. Nothing happened. The feeling didn’t go away, but it didn’t get any worse. She spotted Jack walking along the corridor, clearly looking for her, and she called out his name, almost in a whisper. Amazingly, his head flicked in her direction and he smiled, coming into the classroom. A pain ran through her head. She lifted her arms to hug Jack, and just as they clasped around his neck, her head rested on his chest. “You okay, hun?” asked Jack worriedly. Nina couldn’t speak. Her legs went. Her arms went. She called to Jack and blacked out. 

XIX

Jack looked at Nina with a stunned expression. He lifted her head gently, her eyes were closed, but she didn’t seem distressed, so Jack lay her on the floor and watched her for a second. Undoing the top button of her shirt to make sure she could breath, he layed her arms out so she was comfortable. Her eyes flickered, as if she was scared, but her hands reached out for Jack and then her eyes opened slowly. “It’s ok, babe.” Cooed Jack. Nina looked up at him and smiled, leaning up for a kiss as if she hadn’t just fainted, and kissing him passionately, she sat up into his arms and soon they were inter-twinned on the classroom floor. “EXCUSE ME?!” yelled a sharp voice suddenly, it was a teacher. Jack let Nina go quickly and they both stood up simultaneously, looking at Ms Barkham who was standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips. Jack cleared his throat and was about to explain, but Ms Barkham barked orders for them to go to her office and watched them file out like ten year olds before following them. Nina glanced over at Jack, but his face was concentrated and she could hardly take his hand as Ms Barkham was behind them.

The Head’s office was a small room off the main corridor and Nina had only been inside once, when she first came to Erinsborough High. Jack sat down in a chair opposite the huge teacher’s desk as did Nina, and Ms Barkham gave them a hard look. “Are you going to even try to explain yourselves or should I just suspend you both now and save us the effort?” Nina looked at Jack with a worried expression, but he began talking without looking at her, “Ms, the reason why Nina and I were on the floor is perfectly reasonable. As you will know, Nina has been in hospital recently and this morning she fainted again. Obviously I didn’t want her to fall from a table, so I lay her on the floor. When you came in, she had just woken and we kissed momentarily to reassure each other. It was honestly that innocent.” Finally he looked over at Nina, who looked at him, her face looking worried. “Miss Tucker?” asked Ms Barkham.

“Yes?” replied Nina politely.

“Have you anything to add to Jack’s little speech?”

“That was how it happened, Ms. I felt strange and leaned on Jack to stop myself from falling” Ms Barkham looked amused. Jack looked at Nina. Nina looked at Jack. Ms Barkham looked at them both. “Well……” she began “I’m afraid I like suspending people. Bad move, Miss Tucker. You had a perfect record up till now!”

XX

Jack took Nina’s hand as they approached Heather Street. “At least you parents won’t find out until they get the letter, and even then they probably won’t be able to punish you that badly.” Smiled Jack, trying to comfort an upset Nina.

“Yeh, I suppose.” Replied Nina, “What do you think your parents will do?”

“Probably get really annoyed… Maybe ground me or something, I dunno.” Answered Jack. Nina stopped and looked at him, “Oh god, Jack, if they ground you they’re hardly going to let me come round to visit, are they?” Jack looked up at her and kissed her delicately, trying to help her relax, and she returned the kiss, but then she started walking again towards her house. Jack followed her up to her door, when she turned round and wrapped her arms around him, fiddling with his hair at the back of his neck. He smiled, completely enchanted with the woman in his arms and kissed her softly at first, until the kiss deepened and they were totally intertwined. Nina cupped her hands round Jack’s face and pulled away slowly, “You had seriously better get home to face your punishment, babe.” She cooed. Jack shook his head and leaned forward again, stealing another kiss before breaking away and saying goodbye. He looked back again as he headed down the drive, desperate to stay with her, but Nina was unlocking her front door and waving a sweet little goodbye. She blew him a quick kiss and went in, hoping to get some studying done before dinner.

The words all seemed to be gelling into one another. Nina shut the massive biology textbook and stood up, stretching her legs and looking around the lonely living room. She was about to go and phone Jack for a chat, when she remembered that now might not be the best time, she giggled to herself. She could hardly believe that she’d been suspended for being in a “compromising position with a member of the opposite sex”, it sounded so funny to her. But she doubted whether her parents would agree, they hadn’t even liked Jack in the first place! She walked over to the piano, which her parents had bought her for her last birthday, and lifted the lid gently. Her fingers felt over the keys and she sat down slowly, the familiar feeling of excitement rising inside of her, and pressed a few keys together, making the chord of c major. Then her fingers guided themselves over the notes of “Born to Try” and she was singing happily. The sound filled the living room, which had surprisingly good acoustics, and she sung loudly, feeling relaxed and happy. When the song finished, she sat back for a second, almost stunned by the end of the song, and was silent for well over five minutes.

The phone rang loudly, making her jump. She replaced the piano lid and walked over to the phone, picking it up and saying hello. Jack’s familiar voice filled the line, “Hey babe,”

Nina smiled, replying, “hey, what did your parents say?”

“Well lets just say this is my one phone call for today and its only for five minutes… They have well and truly grounded me. Dad went nuts and was saying how I should be more mature etc!”

“Oh, do they blame me then?” asked Nina.

“No way! My dad tried it but I just yelled at him and told him it was my fault. Mum was really good though, she said she understood but she wasn’t happy. So they agreed that this was my punishment.” Jack replied.

“So how long are you grounded for, hun?” she asked.

“Two weeks.”

“But we’re only suspended for two days!” yelled Nina.

“Yeh well I’m allowed to go to school, but I have to come straight home. No sidetracking or detours,” Jack said in an unhappy tone.

“Oh well, at least I’ll see you at school. We can go out for lunch I suppose,”

“Um, not really… I’ve got to take a packed lunch and eat in school.” Replied Jack. Nina was silent for a second, thinking about eating in that dingy dining hall in school, then she figured they could eat it outside but still on school grounds. “Anyway hun, my dad’s giving me a look to say get off the phone, so I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Said Jack.

“Okay, love ya,” replied Nina.

“Love you too,” said Jack hanging up the phone. He looked at his dad, who was standing watching him, “Do you have to monitor my phone calls?” Joe smiled and nodded, obviously feeling a bit cheeky.

XXI

Nina’s eyes opened slowly, trying to adjust to the bright sunlight which was filtering into her room through a gap in her curtains. She looked around her room, taking in the neatness of it and how she probably knew where everything was. Smiling, she got out of her bed and went along to the bathroom. The mirror on the far wall always seemed to make her look a bit odd at this time of the morning, but she splashed her face with water and then, drying it, went through to the living room. Checking the mail for anything important, Nina made a basic breakfast of cereal and toast and sat down on one of the sofas. She just sat for a while, there was nothing to be done. No schoolwork to catch up on. Nobody to go and see. Nothing.

Jack woke up, looking around his room for a second, then rolling over, expecting to hold Nina in his arms. Instead he rolled right over and squashed his face. Opening his eyes, he realised what had happened the day before, and turned back over, determined to try and go back to sleep, if only to forget not having Nina. His peace was quickly disturbed. Joe knocked loudly on the door and barged in without waiting for a reply, “Get up, Jack!” he yelled, stepping over dirty laundry and books on the floor to make his way over to the windows. He opened the curtains, letting bright sunlight in, and walked over to Jack’s bed, pulling off the duvet and leaving as quickly as he had arrived. Jack curled up into a tiny ball, his feet were shocked by the sudden cold and he reached for the duvet, which obviously wasn’t there. Swearing at his dad, he got up and shut his curtains, the sunlight was stinging his eyes. He sat on the end of his bed for a second, then padded along to the bathroom to have a shower. The hot water calmed him, as usual, but he just wanted to be with Nina, and the want, need, to be with her was beginning to eat him. That empty feeling in the pit of his stomach felt so powerful, he knew he needed to be with her, NOW. Stepping out of the shower without even washing his hair, he dried himself off and pulled on some clean clothes, almost running through to the kitchen. Joe was sitting at the table, calmly munching on some cereal, not paying any attention to Jack. “Are you going out to work today, dad?” he asked, trying to sound normal.

“Yeh… Why?” asked Joe, a look coming across his face.

“Just wondering if I could get some work done in the house without being in the way.” Replied Jack. Joe nodded and stood up, “I should probably get going too. Your mum will be home by about 12 o’clock for lunch. You’d better be here, Jack. You getting suspended isn’t some excuse for a holiday.” Jack nodded and watched him leave the house. He listened intently for the car starting, then it pulled out of the drive and slowly the sound disappeared. Jack smiled to himself and pulled on his trainers. It was 9.30am so he had a while to spend with Nina before his mum came home.

He ran. The need to see Nina was powering him past Lassiter’s, and he barely noticed the various cramps springing up all over his body. His lungs ached, but he ran faster and faster until he could see the sign for Heather Street, when he slowed to a walk, the familiar feeling of happiness and excitement welling up inside.

[For the next part, if you've got it, listen to 'Sixpence none the Richer' and 'Kiss Me' its better that way!!!]

XXII

Nina opened the door, half surprised, half overwhelmed to see her gorgeous boyfriend standing there. She leapt forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly and then pulling back to put her lips to his. He returned the kiss, both now totally immersed in each other’s love. Kissing him harder for a second before pulling back, Nina smiled at him and pulled back the door to let him into the house, hoping he wasn’t planning on leaving anytime soon. She locked the door behind him and spun round, Jack was already kissing her, pressing her back into the door until she could barely breath. “Jeese, Jack!” she said jokingly, pulling back and shoving him off jokingly. Jack pretended to be hurt, but stole another kiss before stepping back and grinning at her. Nina giggled. “What?!” he joked.

“My lips gloss is all over your lips!” squealed Nina, brushing his lips with her fingertips.

“How does it look?!” replied Jack, pursing his lips and joking around. Nina leaned into him and kissed him again, the familiar feeling of pure happiness taking over her body. She flicked her pigtails and skipped through to the kitchen to get a drink, Jack following her like a dog with a bone, and she sipped her coca-cola through a straw and looked up at him with puppy eyes. The blue strappy top and jeans she was wearing made her feel a bit un-cool, but she just looked at Jack, who was looking back at her. Smiling, she gave up her ‘hard to get’ routine, which she’d sustained for about three minutes, and leapt back into his arms, lifting her feet off the ground as Jack spun her round. Landing back on the ground, Nina suddenly felt very mischievous, “Lets go for a swim.” She announced, padding along to her room to get her swimming stuff. Jack followed, a little puzzled, replying “We can’t babe, someone is bound to see us!”

“Harold is at the Coffee Shop, he wouldn’t mind anyway!” answered Nina.

“What? We’re going to Harold’s?!” said Jack.

“Sure, why not?” replied Nina, “I don’t want other people looking at my man, do I?” Jack smiled, giving in happily as he watched her stuff her towel in a bag and pull on her sandals, ready to go. He shook his head went out the door, hand in hand with Nina as they headed for Ramsay Street.

XXIII

Nina smiled back at Jack as she opened the side gate to Harold’s garden and went in. Jack was a little less adventurous than Nina, who was already whipping off her jumper to reveal her pink bikini. Smiling, Nina pulled off her trousers and ran over to Jack, “come on babe!!” and tugged his hand, Jack walked forward and pulled off his t-shirt. Nina was already diving into the cool water and she swan under water for a second before appearing and taking a breath. She smiled back at Jack, her hair now stuck to her body, and went under again, just letting herself sink. ‘Ok, girl, stay cool. Don’t make a prat of yourself!’ she thought to herself, feeling herself touch the bottom and relax. She sat there for a second, before a pain in her lungs told her it was time to surface for air. Jack was now in the pool and was swimming over to her slowly. Nina dived under again and popped up just before Jack, leaning in and kissing him before diving under and pushing off the wall to go back to the deep end. She was still so amazed that Jack truly loved her, but at the moment she felt pretty darn beautiful herself and was really enjoying just being with Jack and having fun. The clear, blue, cool water made her shiver a little as she came above the surface, so she only allowed her head and the tops of her shoulders to poke out, her eyes watching Jack as he swam from side to side confidently. She smiled to herself and pulled herself out of the pool. “Hey, what you doing getting out so quickly?” asked Jack, swimming over. “I’m cold.” Answered Nina, smiling at him. Jack put his hands on her legs and pulled her gently into the pool, making her squeal, and he wrapped his arms around her and held her close, kissing her head softly. Nina leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder, happy and content.

XXIV

Before either of them was ready, it was time for Jack to get back to the Scully house. Nina sat watching him dry himself off, longing for him to stay, but knowing that he couldn’t. Jack looked at her and, walking over, kissed her delicately, the taste of chlorine still lingering on her lips as she kissed him back. Jack smiled as he pulled back, and pulled his t-shirt over his head, ready to go home. Nina smiled back at him, wanting him just to leave everything and stay with her, “I’ll phone you tonight,” said Jack. Nina nodded sadly. He smiled back at her, kissed her softly on her lips, and jogged out of Harold’s garden, leaving her still in her swimming stuff by the side of the pool. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and picked up her towel from the nearby bench, drying herself before pulling her clothes on over her bikini. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders, still damp, but she didn’t bother tying it up before she left Harold’s garden as if they had never been there. She walked the long way round Ramsay Street, just so she could walk past number 26 slowly. She looked up at his house, almost smiling, and then tore herself away to start the walk home. Lynn’s car was just pulling up into Ramsay Street and Jack was safely in the house, so Nina kept walking, but Lynn pulled up at the kerb beside her and rolled down the window, “hello Nina!” she called. Nina smiled and lent down so she could see inside the car, “Hi, Lynn.” She replied quietly.

“You been to see Jack I suppose?” asked Lynn.

“Um, yeh, sorry. I had to drop off some, um, school books he’d lent me.” She replied. Lynn smiled, “Okay, if you say so!” and then drove off quietly to the house. Nina knew that Lynn hadn’t been fooled, but she kept walking and thought about Jack. It was weird how their little group had ended up. Connor and Michelle, who everyone had thought would go all the way, had split up and Lori and Jack had spilt. Not to mention Taj! It was all so mixed up. But Nina knew that things were finally right for her and Jack. Lori didn’t matter and although Taj had been really mature, he didn’t really matter either. Nina approached Heather Street happily and stepped off the kerb onto the road. The sound of a car horn suddenly filled her ears and she spud round, just in time to see the huge, red 4x4 car come flying towards her. 

XXV

Nina dropped her school bag and froze for a second. The red car was plummeting towards her, not seeming to stop or slow at all. She felt almost paralysed. She stood watching the bright red vehicle powering towards her. The driver’s eyes widened. The brakes screeched. Nina took a sharp breath…

And jumped out of the way. Her legs seemed to find themselves and they carried her to the edge of the road were she spun round to see the car skid over where she had been standing and stop ten feet or so later down the road. Her heart pounded. Her palms were sweating from the shock and she sat down slowly on the kerb, amazed that she was alive. The driver of the car had jumped out of his car and was sprinting towards where Nina was now sitting. “Jeese, I’m sorry! Are you okay?” he asked, out of breath and panicky.

“Um… Yeh, I think so!” replied Nina quietly, still in shock. The driver continued speaking to her, oblivious to the fact that Nina hadn’t listened to a single word he had said. She was still in shock. The driver offered her a lift home, but Nina smiled and told him that she could see her house and would be fine. He shrugged and walked away, apologizing again and leaving Nina at the side of the road, her bag crushed in the middle of the road. She looked at the towel that had been forced out of the bag, and standing up, she picked it up and walked slowly towards her house, which was empty as always.

Nina stood in the shower for about half an hour. The water took control of her emotions and it took a while for her to fully relax and for her breathing to return to its usual slow rhythm. Wrapping herself in a huge thick towel, she padded along the corridor to her room, but even then she couldn’t get dressed, so she turned on her stereo full volume and let the slow song calm her. The tune floated through her mind and soon she was resting her head softly on the side of her bed, desperately trying to stay awake as the CD ended and plunged the room into silence. Her eyes felt heavy but she pulled them open and stood up. Her now dry body was soon dressed and she slid happily into her bed, even though it was still mid afternoon.

The phone woke her at about 7.30pm. Pushing back her covers with a groan, she stood up and walked through to the hall where the phone was calling her. “Hello?” she answered.

“Hey babe,” Jack answered, “How are you?”

Smiling, Nina replied, “Yeh good thanks, and you?” she wasn’t going to tell him about the car incident as he would only worry, and she had stressed him enough with the whole recent hospital thing. They chatted away for ten minutes or so, before Jack’s dad cut their chat short. Suspension didn’t mean they could gossip anytime they wanted!

Jack gave his dad a look of death as he hung up the phone. Ignoring it, Joe walked away, and Jack sat down lazily onto the sofa next to his little sister, Michelle. She smiled at him, but was watching a tv programme so she didn’t say much. Drumming his fingers on his legs, Jack was soon bored and stood up, heading for his room to do some school work, which just now seemed like an exciting idea. He was definitely going insane.

XXVI

Drumming her fingers impatiently, Nina sat outside Mrs Barkham’s office, waiting to be told off again before she could return to class. Jack was nowhere to be seen but it was normal for him to be late, so Nina didn’t worry. The school corridor was empty. There was nobody at all around and the classroom opposite the head’s office was empty, so Nina tried amusing herself by humming her latest tune, ‘Butterfly.’ As the melody wound it’s way to the chorus, her humming became louder, but soon her eyes were closed and she was happily humming away to herself. She stopped suddenly when her lips where touched. Opening her eyes, she saw Jack’s familiar cheeky grin and smiled back as he sat down on the seat next to her. They chatted away for a few minutes, until the sound of approaching shoes silenced them and Mrs Barkham appeared. Nina smiled serenely at her, but there was no response so she didn’t say anything and waited until Mrs Barkham asked her inside, leaving Jack by himself outside.

Mrs Kennedy was very welcoming when Nina was finally allowed to return to class. She did not mention Nina’s absence, but gave her plenty of work to catch up with and Nina was relieved when the bell rang for lunch and she could escape to see the gang.

Michelle was still a little icy towards Nina, but she had accepted that Nina and her brother were in love and she was getting used to it, slowly. Nina said hi and they talked politely for a bit before Jack arrived and then they all walked to the coffee shop where they ordered lunch. Michelle was in a bit of a rush, but Jack and Nina sat for about an hour chatting and holding hands across the table, both not wanting to go back to school, but knowing they would have to. “I’ve got double maths, “ moaned Jack as they stood up to leave.

XVII

XVIII

‘One foot infront of the other. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left’ Nina said to herself. It was late evening and she was out for a run. Jack always seemed so fit, so she had decided to go for a run to make herself feel good. But she had only been running for ten minutes and she was exhausted. Her breath was short and sharp and the pain in her side, a stitch from eating before she ran, was getting worse. She dipped her head and gritted her teeth, approaching the park, moving her feet in a steady rhythm. Her eyes though, could wander and look around. Noticing Connor sitting reading a book, she slowed to a walk, hoping to get her breath back, and went over to where he was sitting. “Hey, Connor!” she called.

Looking up, Connor replied, “Hello gorgeous!” Nina smiled and sat down next to him, still out of breath, “You ok?” he asked.

“Yeh, been running!” she replied happily. Connor shook his head and asked, “So how is it going with you and Jack then?”

“Good. Its all still a bit new, but me being in hospital really brought us closer I think.”

“And what does Lori say to all this?” enquired Connor.

“She hates me… I suppose it was to be expected, but she really hates me. She has been really cold.” Replied Nina sadly.

Connor nodded and looked down at his book. “Anyway, I had better keep running!” said Nina as she stood up, smiling. “Sure, I’ll see you later,” replied Connor returning to his book. Nina jogged quickly out of the park and was soon on her way home. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left.

Jack rolled over on his bed to face the door. Lori’s face peered round and she smiled sweetly at him. “Hey,” she said softly. Jack didn’t reply for a second, Lori hadn’t been in his room since they broke up, “Um, hi… You ok?” he asked.

“Yeh, just wanted to see you.” Replied Lori innocently. She walked forward and sat on the end of his bed, looking deep into his eyes. “You do realise, Jack Scully, that I don’t blame you for what has happened. I know that Nina pushed you into it, and now you feel trapped, but I’m here to help.” Jack sat stunned for a moment, looking at Lori as if she’d gone insane. “Its okay, you don’t need to say anything, just kiss me!” she continued, leaning into Jack’s body and kissing him deeply. Jack was too stunned to answer the kiss or even stop her, but he sat still for a second, wondering what on earth to do. Then, pulling back, he saw Nina in the doorway…

XIX

Lori turned round and smiled slyly at Nina. Nina looked at Jack for a second, then pulled the door shut and walked straight out of the Scully house, completely blanking Lynn and Joe’s goodbyes. The tears came quickly. They stung her eyes as she almost ran down Ramsay Street but she was aware that Jack was now hot on her heels. “Babe!” he yelled after her. Nina stopped suddenly, almost sending Jack flying into her back, but she turned on her heel and replied, “Do NOT EVER call me babe. Just leave me alone, Jack.” She turned back around and kept walking. He, predictably, followed but Nina kept going. She was still hot from her run earlier and her calf muscles were burning with every step, but her sheer determination to be away from Jack kept her going. Heather Street was in sight. Focusing her eyes on her house, Nina managed to dodge Jack, who kept stepping infront of her in a bid to stop her, and made it to her front door. Jack grabbed her wrist with an alarming force, so Nina turned round and spat out one final sentence, “You know Jack Scully? I actually love you, but I am incredibly stupid, aren’t I? You cheated on her, for me, so why not the other way? You just go back to her, I cant do this.” She slid the key in the lock and pushed open the door. Jack tried to get in her way and stop the door from closing, but she managed to get in and shut the door behind her. She felt suddenly very sick and slid down the back of the door, exhausted with all the running and emotions. She could hear Jack on the other side of the door, pleading with her to talk to him, but she sat deadly still and wished he would go away, forcing her nails into the palms of her hands until they left little bruised dents. The tears flowed steadily now, leaving little salty paths down her face, but she sat still. The awful picture of Lori all over Jack was stuck on her mind. Him. Her. ‘Oh god…. I really love him, but he can do this to me.’ Resting her head on her curled up knees, Nina let herself cry and cry until her face stung with pain from the tears and then she sat silently for hours. That smile from Lori was vicious. She was with Jack. Jack was with her. Bitch.

XXX

Jack woke the next morning with a thumping headache. His hand rested on the cordless phone that he had been trying to phone Nina with the previous night, but with no luck. She hadn’t answered at all, then she had obviously taken her phone off the hook because the engaged tone had been on for the rest of the night, right up to half past four, when Jack had finally fallen asleep. Having slept in his clothes, Jack was uncomfortable and he had a quick shower before going through to take some painkillers. His mum was her usual happy self, and Lori sat reading a book in the lounge as if nothing had happened, but Jack couldn’t look at her for more than a second before his rage got the better of him. “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you?” he spat at her. Lori shrugged and look a little amused, replying, “She deserves whatever she gets for breaking us up in the first place. Its okay, I’ve forgiven you, so you’re not alone, everything can go back to normal and Nina will just be a bad memory.”

“Nina is not a damn memory. I am in love with her and you have totally broken her. You should have seen her last night! She could hardly breath with the pain she was feeling! She flinched when I touched her! You have ruined everything!” yelled Jack, causing his mum to come through to investigate.

“Are you two alright, love?” Lynn asked him.

Ignoring her, Jack continued at Lori, “All she ever did was love me! I love her back and you are so god damn petty that you cant accept that! I am not yours anymore, I don’t want to be, ever! I want Nina and you have ripped us apart like we’re in some soap of yours!” Jack stepped back, relief flooding through his body as all the anger had been released. Lori sat, stunned into silence, and Jack ran for the front door, desperate to see Nina and kiss her.

She didn’t answer the door. It was probably Jack and that was over. Wasn’t it? Sitting silently in her room, Nina wished him away and tried to concentrate on her upcoming concert that evening in the town hall. It was just a charity gig, but Nina had written a new song about the way she was feeling and she needed to get it out to feel happy with herself. He thumped on the front door, obviously desperate to get in. Unable to listen to his calls, Nina stood up and walked over to her stereo and turned it up full volume. Waiting till his thumping paused for a moment she pressed play and let ‘Born to Try’ thunder through the house. It silenced Jack and she sat until the song was over, just listening and crying.

XXXI

The town hall was pretty busy, but Nina didn’t see any of the Scully’s. She walked straight down the side of the hall and to the back room where she usually got ready. The little baby grand piano was all set up for her, so she added a few final touches to her make-up and checked her hair. Usually she would be bubbling with pure excitement and nerves, but she felt strangely numb and her hands felt heavy and useless. She looked at herself in the mirror. The long black dress looked stunning and the low neck made her figure look slim and well proportioned. The thin straps touched her shoulders perfectly, not too tight or loose, and the dress ended perfectly at her feet, floaty and light. She smiled as the crew came to get her and she followed them slowly to the side of the stage where the lights had been dimmed. Striding onto the stage she looked out at her audience and instinctively looked for Jack. He was there, as usual, to the left of the front row, but the rest of his family was further back and Lori was nowhere to be seen. He looked tired and upset, but Nina knew that he was there and it was surprisingly comforting. ‘He’s here, at least.’ She sat at the piano and pulled the stool slightly further forward, preparing herself for the burst of energy she was about to let out. Her fingers smoothed over the keys and she pressed out the first single notes of her new song, ‘Lost Without You.’ She forgot the room full of people and began singing to Jack. Wanting him to ease the pain within her, but knowing it was his fault. “Cos I believe that we can work things out.” Her whole body soon rocked forward as the words of the chorus thundered through the hall and she was totally immersed. “All I know is I'm lost without you I'm not gonna lie

How my going to be strong without you I need you by my side

If we ever say we'll never be together and we ended with goodbye don't know what I'd do ...I'm lost without you

I keep trying to find my way but all I know is I'm lost without you

I keep trying to face the day

I'm lost without you…….”

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