Some Say This Can't Be Real.

A few days passed with no real change in Karlee's condition. She was still in a coma, but the doctors were saying she was slowly recovering and stabilizing from the injuries. I knew I couldn't spend too much longer out here, and that I needed to get home soon. I was missing Zack a lot, as well as my brother and my friends. I told myself I wouldn't stay longer than three more days and hope for the best.

A usual morning routine brought us to the hospital around noon, walking through the same hallways and stairwells, into the ICU unit. Just like the past few days, the doctor was doing his rounds on the patients and Amy asked if there were any changes. He seemed different today as he told us to step in. I followed Amy in, and both of our jaws dropped as Karlee laid there, eyes open and on us, trying to smile. The tube was no longer down her throat, but she wore a breathing mask. Amy ran to her bed with a smile while I turned to the doctor.

“Can she talk? When did she wake up?”

“Very weakly, and she woke up during the night. One of the night nurses that was on shift was making her semi-hour rounds and discovered her awake.”

I nodded as I joined Amy at the bedside. “Hey, Kar,” I greeted, smiling.

“Lis...you're...here,” she said through labored breaths.

“I am. I came as soon as I heard about the accident. How are you feeling?”

“Been...better. Glad...you're...here though.”

“We're glad you're awake,” Amy said. “I was scared for a while there that you weren't gonna wake up.”

“I'm a...fighter.”

“Damn right,” I said.

“So what's going...on with you?”

“She's got a boyfriend,” Amy said, wiggling her eyebrows. “And once you recover, we're going on vacation there to visit and to meet him officially.”

“Oh jeez. Don't act like Zacky's an alien,” I laughed, rolling my eyes before turning my attention to Karlee. “Yeah, before you ask, I am in fact, dating Zacky V.”

Karlee smiled as wide as she could. “That's good. He better...treat you right.”

I smiled back. “He does. He's a great guy, and I love him to death. Now enough about that. Everything has gotten back to normal out there. I'm glad I went back, even though I still miss you guys a lot.”

“Maybe...we'll come out...to live there.”

“That wouldn't be a bad idea,” Amy said. "If that happened, we could get the band back together and maybe even open for them...” She paused, making a face like she was drooling. “Oh God that would be amazing.”

I laughed. “Hey, who knows what”ll happen. That would be kinda cool. I turned to Amy. “What about your brother?” I asked.

“It's whatever. He just doesn't fit in with our style that much. He loves drumming, but he ended up going back to the old band that he was in.”

“Fucking musical band members here,” I laughed. “I swear they're out there doing the new record and trying to get me to eventually drum for them.”

Amy's jaw dropped. “Dude! Just...DUDE! DO IT!” She squealed.

“Well if you guys come out here and get me back, then I can't. I haven't thought about it that much, but I don't know. It just doesn't seem like a great idea. They're popular as fuck, and all the fans are still grieving over Jimmy's death. I'm afraid of getting shit from people saying that I'm trying to replace him.”

“True, but still. This would be the opportunity of a lifetime. Right, Kar?”

“Just let her do...what she wants,” Karlee said, trying to laugh a little.

“Thanks, Kar. I always knew you were my favorite,” I said with a laugh, gaining a punch to the arm from Amy.

The three of us talked for a long time, while Amy and I noted how Karlee appeared to be getting better with each passing hour. She went from taking a breath between each word to almost speaking clearly by the time visiting hours ended. Amy and I left, going to get dinner and back to the apartment. I stated that I'd be going back in two days before going to get a plane ticket. I had an idea to surprise Zack, as well as a plan to go to the mall tomorrow to pick something up. After I ordered the ticket, I called my brother.

“How's everything going?” he answered.

“Great. She was in a coma, but came out of it overnight. She was talking rough this afternoon, but as the day went on, she was almost talking normal.”

“That's great. So when you coming back?”

“Few days probably. Just don't say anything to Zacky, because I wanna surprise him, so don't let him know that I'm coming home soon. I'm gonna tell him like next week sometime.”

“Oh, God. Another one of your pranks?”

“Not really. It won't result in him getting upset, angry, or hurt.”

“Alright. Just hurry, because he's being annoying about how he misses you, and it's making us sick,” he laughed.

“I'll be home in two days, just...I swear if you say anything to him, I'll stay at home for a week and jump on you all the time.”

“You wouldn't dare, little one.”

“Oh, I would dare.” I grinned at my phone. “I have a few phone calls to make, so I'll talk to you later. Love ya.”

“Love you too, sis. Take care.”

I hung up the phone and sent a few text messages before calling Zack. He didn't answer, so I just left a voice mail and followed it with a text. As I was laying in bed, almost asleep, my phone started ringing from somewhere in the blankets. I followed the noise to my phone and answered after seeing Zack's name on the display.

“Hey, baby,” I answered happily.

“Hey, what's up?”

“Great news. Karlee woke up last night, and she's doing a lot better. They may even release her next week sometime.”

“That's good, so when are you coming home?”

“Well, that's the rough part. Amy asked that if they did release her, if I could help get her home and stay for at least another day or two after she gets home just to make sure things will be okay.”

I could almost hear his face drop through the phone. “Oh...” he mumbled. “Well, that's okay. Your friends there need you, so I can't really argue. I miss you though.”

“Baby, I've only been gone five days. Five or so more won't hurt.” My face fell as I knew it was hurting him.

“True. I went three years without you, so a few days wouldn't hurt.”

Somehow, I thought of the flashback I had a few days ago that Amy brought up, and remembered seeing the blonde next to Zack. “Can I ask you something kinda weird?”

“Sure.”

“While I was gone, did you have another girlfriend?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I remembered right after I turned twenty-one, they brought me to one of your shows out here. We were hanging around to meet you guys-well, they were at least. I remembered seeing you, and there was a girl with you. I was just wondering.”

“It was a short relationship, but yeah, I did have someone. We sort of had a mutual break-up, but I never saw her again after the night we ended the relationship.”

“What happened?”

“Honestly? I missed you. A lot. Remember right before you left when I asked you out? You have no idea how badly I liked you, and how badly I wanted you to be my girlfriend. Well, about a year and a half after you were gone, I met Gena, and we started off pretty good, but I just lost all of what I felt towards her because I couldn't stop thinking about you. I told her about you, and we both agreed that it would be better for the both of us in case you did show back up.”

“You liked me that bad?”

“Babe, I did. I swear it was love at first sight. I just fell for everything about you, but of course I couldn't really ask you out while you were still in high school, because that would just be creepy,” he paused as he laughed. “After you graduated, the band was taking off, so we had a lot going on, that's why it took a while afterwards for me to ask you out that one night.”

“You know, had you asked me out sooner, I wouldn't have minded, and I would've said yes. The more nights I spent with Johnny at his apartment led to more nights of seeing Brian and even though he was an asshole to me, I still was falling for him at the time.”

“I understand, but look where we are now.” I could hear the smile in his face. “You're my girlfriend, and on a best friend term with Brian. No more drama or anything. Oh and don't quote me, but a little birdie has been floating around that Johnny is talking to someone.”

“Oh? Who?”

“No idea, but he's been acting happier lately.”

“Hmm, I need to use my sister-ness on him to figure this out. I'll get it out of him.” I grinned. "I'm gonna go to bed now. I have a few long days ahead to see if Karlee starts getting better.”

“You still like that video I made for you?”

“I listen to it every night on repeat when I go to bed, until I fall asleep. I love it.”

“Alright, go to sleep, babe. I know it's late there.”

“Yeah...” I trailed off as I was attacked by a yawn.

“I love you, baby.”

“Love you too.”

I plugged my phone back onto the charger before grabbing my iPod and earbuds. After fitting the buds into my ears, I laid back with the video on, listening to Zack's soothing voice once again help me relax and fall asleep.