The first to be bitten

Chapter 4

~Derek~

The last two classes went by slowly. I bolted up out of my seat when the bell rang.

I walked to my locker and put my home work into my back pack and waited for Amanda.

"Ready?" I asked when I spotted her.

"Yup!" She said cheerfully.

We walked to my car in a comfortable silence. She turned up the radio and sang along to a Justin Beiber song.

When we reached Shadows room Amanda grabbed my arm making me stop.

I raised an eyebrow at her in question.

"I'm scared." Her voice was a soft whisper and my expression softened. Amanda hasn't seen Shadow since the accident.

"It'll be fine, she just looks like she's sleeping." I reassured her. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and we walked in together. I always hope to see that when I walk around the corner I see her bright smile and she's laughing about something. But like always. She's still sleeping.

Amanda squeaked out a hello then broke down into tears. She buried her face into my chest and sobbed.

"Shhh. She'll be ok. She'll wake up" I wrapped an arm around her waist and my other hand stroked her hair. I let her cry into my shoulder for as long as she needed. Once the hiccups had subsided I put her at arms length and looked at her,

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Ill be fine." She hiccuped. I handed her a tissue and lead her to a chair.

"Talk to her like you normally would. Doc says it helps." I grabbed a chair for myself and listened to Amanda talk. She had news to tell Shadow that I never could. A faint smile played on my lips as I watched her.

It was always like that. Amanda would talk and Shadow would listen, but deep down I knew she had a voice, a strong one. She has a voice that could carry a mile and make anyone stop and listen. She uses it all the time on her younger siblings.

Amanda and I sat their talking to Shadow and each other until visiting hours were over.

A young nurse came in with a gentle smile.

"I'm afraid visiting hours are over. But you can come tomorrow morning at 8" her smile was friendly and knowing. We gathered out stuff and walked out to my car.

"Would you like to stop and get something to eat?" I asked.

"Sure." Amanda wasn't paying attention. Her gaze was far out the window the glassy look in her eyes.

"You alright?" My voice soft.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." She looked down at her lap and I saw a tear slide down.

"Hey. Don't worry. She'll wake up. Both you and I know she's a strong girl." I gave her a small smile and drove towards a Tim Hortons.

"What would you like?"

"A double double and a beagle please."

We got to the drive thew and I ordered for the both of us and drove Amanda home.

"Thanks for letting me tag along Derek. Ill see you tomorrow at school." She paused "hopefully." A small smile played at her lips.

"Maybe" I said with a shrug. We said our final goodbyes and I drove off towards my house.

"How's she doing today?" My mom asked when I walked passed the living room.

"Same as always." I sighed.

"She'll get better" mom said. I nodded and walked up to my room. I stripped to my boxers and got into bed. I reached over to my nightstand and grabbed a picture of Shadow and I when we went fishing. We had caught a salmon. we both had huge grins on our faces.

I kissed the picture and whispered out to the night "Please Shay.. Wake up." I placed the picture back in its spot and drifted off into a deep sleep.