Begin Again {Sequel to Sleepless Nights}

Chapter Ten

     "Baby." Mark lightly shook me awake.
"Yeah?" I said sleepily.
"Come on, we just landed."
I sleepily nodded and unwrapped myself from the blanket, Lauren overly happy to take it from me.
"Have a nice day."
"You too." Mark and I said in sync as we walked out of the plane. I searched the crowd of faces to see my brother standing by the luggage, a gray beanie on his head, his long sleeve flannel was unbuttoned, revealing his white tee shirt.
"Felix!" I squealed as I wrapped him in the tightest hug I could.
"I heard what happened. I'm so sorry."
"Let's not talk about that right now, okay?" He nodded and threw my bag over his shoulder.
"I'm surprised you still have this thing."
"You bought it for me and I love it." He smirked and Mark and him started making small talk as we walked to the car.
"How's my nephew?"
"He's with Shane." Felix chuckled. Maybe he's thinking about them watching cupcake wars together.
"Anna?"
"Yeah?"
"Why are you crying?"
"I didn't know I was?" I touched my cheek and saw a tear glistening on my finger. "Oh." Felix put his hand on my back and told Mark something.
"Anna, hey. You're okay." He said in a soft voice, reminding me of us being younger and him comforting me.
"I didn't even know I was crying."
"You're okay. How about we go see Marzia?" He smiled when he said her name. I nodded and he patted my back as we all piled into his car.

                            ~~•••~~
  "Anna!" Marzia squealed as she placed the pan on the oven, taking off the oven nuts covering her hands. She pulled me into a tight hug and squeezed me.
"I'm so sorry." Her words made my heart heavy, I just nodded and gave her a small smile, hearing those three words didn't make me feel better, it only made me realize how much I missed Joey. I shook the thought away because I didn't want to cry again. Mark rubbed my back to soothe me, taking notice to my slouched posture.
"Anna. Come up stairs with me. I have a surprise for you."
"Surprise?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Felix knew surprises weren't my kinda thing, but it's been awhile since I've seen him, so I'll act excited.
"I wonder what it could be." I chimed. He rolled his eyes and grabbed my hand, pulling me up the stairs of his home.
"Don't open your eyes!" He shouted. "Follow my voice." I took a step forward and my leg hit a box, almost causing me to fall over.
"Felix what the fuck ?" He snorted and pulled me by my jacket sleeve into a room and shut the door.
"Open your eyes." I sighed and opened my eyes to see Felix's recording room.
"Okay so you redesigned your recording room?"
"No you're not looking hard enough."
"Felix." I whined. I was getting agitated as each second passed, frustrated with the fact I couldn't find the surprise.
"There's nothing here." I turned on my heels to leave when my arm was grabbed and Felix smirked.
"Look! I bought this so we could make a video together! Won't that be fun?"
I glared at the box Felix was holding.
"What is that?"
"It's one of those machines where you can make anything like soda."
"Jesus Felix."
"Look, you and Mark didn't let us know ahead of time. I'm sorry but this is all I have."
"It's fine. I just don't want to be in any more YouTube videos."
"Can I ask why?"
"I don't want to show my face anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Felix, I quit my job, I'm not in anymore YouTube videos, I don't post on Instagram."
"So basically, you've dropped off the face of the earth."
"Pretty much yeah."
"Felix!" Marzia called up the stairs.
"Yeah?" He shouted in his thick accent.
"Mark and I are going to the store. Figured we'd give you and Anna some time to talk."
"Alright honey!"
"I love you." She said in her soft voice up the stairs, making Felix grin. I smiled to myself at his happiness, he's always  been a happy guy, so full of light, and he's had a lot of  girlfriends through high school, but with Marzia he acts different. He's just different.

  "Agh!" I heard Felix shout from the kitchen followed by his obvious loud laugh. I rolled my eyes as I sat on the couch, my legs crossed and my eyes glued to the tv. I was watching one of Kevin Hart's shows and I couldn't hear the tv. Felix laughed again, causing me not to be able to focus.
"Felix! Shut up." He screamed back, trying to defend his self, causing me to bite my tongue.
"Just shut the fuck up." I growled towards the kitchen. I heard the sound of Felix putting something on the counter and his footsteps echo through the hall, making me regret my words.
"What's gotten into you?"
"I'm trying to watch tv." I said motioning to the screen across from me.
"You're acting like a complete bitch." He snapped as I turned up the tv, trying to drown his voice out. "Real mature Anna." He yelled over the sound of Kevin Hart's voice. I turned down the tv and slammed the remote on the table.
"Don't break my shit."
"Don't tell me what to do."
"Anna seriously. Stop."
"I'm sorry." I ran my hands down my face. What has gotten into me?
"Anna, are you okay?"
"No, I'm not."
"Is it about Joey?"
"It's more than that."
"Like what?"
I pulled up my sleeves of my sweater and revealed the pink scars going up my forearm and wrist. Felix squeezed his eyes shut and didn't say a word, he stood up and walked out of the kitchen. I heard the wood creak as he went up the stairs and into his studio. The front door opened and Marzia's voice filled the silent house.
"Felix!" She shouted.
Silence.
"Honey?"
Nothing.
"Anna?"
Instead of answering her, I sank into the couch, not wanting to speak.
"Anna?" Mark called out, flipping the light switch to the hall on, the light bouncing of the wooden table in front of me.
"Anna? Why didn't you answer me?" Mark asked softly, setting his phone on the coffee table.
"I just dozed off." I lied. He nodded and patted my leg.
"Why don't you go upstairs and go to sleep?"
"I'll leave you a plate in the microwave." Marzia said smiling softly. I nodded and walked up the stairs, noticing Felix's studio door was slightly ajar. I peeked in and it was dark, the only light coming from his computer screen. He was typing something, taking a drink from the cup. The cup Felix would get when he drank. He burped and took another drink of the alcohol, sighing as it slid down his throat. I plopped on my old bed and laid down, wrapping the comforter around me and looking at the scars going up my arm, they glistened in the moonlight. I softly ran my finger over them and winced at the memory.

****************
"Wait." Mark said between clenched teeth, wiping his eyes as tears streamed out of them.
"Sir."
"He said wait!" Felix shouted, his voice cracking. The woman nodded and stepped back from her limp body.
"It's been two months sir. I'm sorry, but if there was any chance of her waking up, it would've happened by now." The doctor said, holding out a clipboard. Felix's hand shook as he reached out for the ballpoint pen.
"Felix." His eyes met Joey's, who were dark and full of tears.
"Please, can we wait just a little longer?" Joey asked, his voice shaking.
"Yeah." Felix said to the doctor and the nurse, who sympathetically nodded and left the room, pulling the door closed.
"Why did this happen?" Joey asked.
"Because of a fucking prank." Felix spit, rubbing his sisters knuckles.
"Bryan won't return my calls." Mark choked out.
"Could you blame the guy?" Felix said.
The three were silent, all staring at her unconscious body.
"I was going to teach her how to swim." Was all Mark could say. Felix looked down and noticed Anna's fingers wrapping into Mark's. They watched as her green eyes opened and darted around the room. The heart monitor started beeping rapidly when she saw Joseph at the foot of her bed.
"Nurse!" Mark shouted down the corridor.

                               Anna
  The nurse pulled the tube out of my dry and scratchy throat. I looked over to Joey and the heart monitor started beeping rapidly.
"Ma'am, I'm going to need you to calm down."
"Joe—"
"What?"
"Joey." I stuttered out, looking over to my best friend. He stepped forward and squeezed my hand. Tears started streaming down my face.
"What happened?" I choked out.
"Do you not remember baby?" Mark said as he pushed my hair from in front of my eyes. "You fell into the pool. You've been asleep for two months."
"Where's Jackson?"
"Who's Jackson?" Mark asked.
"Do you mean Jack?" Felix chimed in.
"No Jackson."
"Baby we don't know who Jackson is."
I squeezed my eyes shut. It was all a dream? The heart attack, the run in with Daniel? None of that happened. Mark and I weren't married, we didn't have a child, we were still in the early stages of our relationship. Most importantly, Joey was alive and well.
"Joey." He smiled and pulled his chair closer to my bed, taking my hand in his. "I missed you." He chucked and ran his thumb over my knuckles. 
"You missed me huh?" I nodded and he smiled.
"Mark." Mark pushed his blue hair back and smiled ear to ear, making my heart skip a beat. I took his face in my hands and kissed him.
"What's that for?" He laughed softly.
"Nothing, I just love you." His cheeks became flushed.
"I love you too Anna. Now, why don't we get you home?"
"Please."
"Any requests?"
"Just one."
"Lemme hear it."
"You're going to teach me how to swim."
"Anything for you."

Hey guys! If you're wondering, yes this is the end of the Sleepless Nights series, and let me say that it was so wonderful getting such positive feedback on my first big Fanfiction. If you're confused on anything, comment below and I will get back to you. As you know, I'm also continuing a TWD fanfic called "Lost", if you're interested in that, check it out. Thank you guys so mug for sticking with me through the time it took to complete this series. In the future, I would like to write another Fanfiction, maybe on Felix or Jack. Let me know in the comments.
- Megan 💕