Take A Chance

Only you

We rushed to the hospital and my heart was beating a mile a minute. I couldn't believe it. When we arrived, I ran inside and Zane met me. He led me back to his room.

All I could think was oh thank god. We walked inside and he opened his eyes and looked at me. He gave me a feeble smile, "hey yahoo."

"Hey cheesehead," I said as I walked over to him. I leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. I looked at him.

"I heard you lost your mind."

"Pft, what? Nope," I said nonchalantly.

He arched his eyebrow at me.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I shrugged.

"Uh huh. Don't worry, I'm not checking out any time soon. I still have to stick around and bug you," he softly chuckled.

"I'm counting on it," I smirked.

"Sorry to break this up but, visiting hours are over with. Plus, Mr. Masterson has a very big morning tomorrow," the doctor said looking at him.

"Yeah, nothing says good morning like getting your chest cracked open," he sighed.

"Oh buck up because I will be here tomorrow," I grinned.

"Maybe getting my chest cracked open won't be so bad after all," he retorted.

I gave him a look and rolled my eyes, "you're still a cheesehead."

"Yeah but I'm you're cheesehead," he smiled weakly.

"Yes you are," I smiled.

"I love you Avery," he said to me.

"I love you too Zander," I said back to him.

We left. Tomorrow I was missing school. I wanted to be here when he woke up.

*********
Zander's POV

I woke up and all I wanted was to see Avery. I know she was worried. I didn't even know what happened. I was fine then I woke up feeling tired and sick.

Mom and dad told me that I came down to the kitchen and had no coloring. I was sweating profusely and clinching my chest. Then they said I had some sort of heart defect. Apparently I was born with it but no one knew.

The doctors could correct it but it required open heart surgery. All I wanted to do was feel better. I mean I had become tired lately, but I figured it was because I was dealing with Lance and Roxanne and spending time with Avery.

I had no idea it was because of this.

A nurse came in and put something in my IV to help me sleep. I felt my eyelids get heavy and I was out. They were coming to prep me for surgery around five. I hope this works.

*******
I woke up early and got dressed. I didn't bother to fix my hair or wear anything but a ponytail and sweats. I knew we would be there all day.

As we were getting ready to head to the hospital, they were prepping Zander for surgery. They gave him something to help him to sleep then once he was out, they wheeled him to the O.R.

They brought him in and intubated him, so they could hook him up to a ventilator. The surgical team taped the tube to his mouth and placed a hair cap on him.

They set up a curtain and placed all the surgical instruments out for the doctor and stood by. A few minutes later the surgeon emerged and a nurse placed a mask on him then gloves. He walked over and stood in front of Zander.

"Shall we get to work? Scalpel," he held out his hand. A nurse handed him a scalpel and another nurse marked the area with disinfectant. He placed the scalpel on the chest area and pressed down.

From there he made an incision, opening him up.

"Rib cracker," he instructed. They handed him the instrument and he placed it in his chest cavity opening up Zander's chest. Then he got to work. It was an aorta that needed repaired along with a few arteries. He worked to repair the arteries as the machines beeped. The ventilator kept Zander breathing as the surgeon kept working.

Then he found the part of the heart that was beating irregular. He repaired the heart valve so the heart could beat regular and get the proper electrical pathways to heart. For Zander it was the best solution.

As the surgeon worked on Zander, we stayed in the cardiac waiting room.

"This seems familiar," Zane said.

"What do you mean," I asked furrowing my brows.

"Goldie had a heart transplant when she was seventeen," he explained. I was stunned. "She had a bad heart from when she had Scarlett fever. It weakened her heart. Imagine, almost losing someone you love and feel like your heart is going to shatter," he said. I could hear the pain in his voice.

"That's how I felt knowing there was a possibility of her dying if she didn't receive a heart transplant. Then we had a school shooting. One of the kid's parents had donated their organs to help others. Goldie received a heart because they matched in everything. I just thought, someone wanted her to have that heart," he said quietly. His voice trailed off and he got up and left the waiting room.

I sat there thinking. The way Zane feels about Goldie is the same way I feel about Zander. I feel this ache when I'm not with him. Like I can't breathe and all I want is to be with him. It's like he gives me breath. That's when I knew how deep my love for Zander was. It was deeper than the ocean. Just like it was for my parents.

I sat there, drinking my coffee waiting. Dad walked in and handed me a bag, "here, figure you would be hungry."

"I can't eat. I just want to know he's okay," I said taking a sip.

"Avery, it's going to be a while. Eat something," he said. I nodded taking the bag from him. If I didn't eat, they would make me. I get it. You can't starve yourself because you're apprehensive.

After I ate, we waited. I paced as our parents sat there. Zane and dad played cards while mom and Goldie talked. It had been a long day, waiting. God I hate hospitals.

Then the surgeon emerged into the room. We all stopped and our parents stood up.

"Mr. and Mrs. Masterson?"

"Yes," Zane answered.

"It's about Zander," he said and we stood there waiting.

Welllllllll. Uh, okay then. See you next chapter. Bye. Walks away.