A:N: Hey I'm baaaaaaaaaack!

I know it's been a while since I updated my story but I got to say my Twitter was blown up with questions about the last chapter and being the devious person I am :) I had to tease you guys lol

But I know that things may seem random at the moment for our lovely Anubis cast (who are also left in the dark about this mystery) but everything will make sense overtime. Now if the lovely Nathalia Ramos will do the honors of doing the disclaimer for me because I have a date with a volleyball tournament. Ms. Ramos?

*Nathalia approaches the stage and the crowd of her fans begin to cheer loudly*

Nathalia: Hi everybody! FieldOfGoldenRushes does not own any of the characters or the locations used in it, but she does own the plot. Have fun!

When you're broken

In a Million little pieces

And your tryin'

But you can't hold on any more

Every tear falls down for a reason

Don't you stop believin' in your self

When you're broken

~ Broken; Lindsey Haun

Days have passed by ever since that fatal night has happened and Fabian still hasn't showed any signs of waking up anytime soon. Every day, after school hours are done, I'd drive over to the hospital to visit Fabian and sit next to him throughout the remaining hours of the day – occasionally leaving the room to go to the bathroom or the lunchroom – and I would talk to the doctor about his conditions.

His answer is always the same – no change.

I suppose that is kind of a good thing because then Fabian will have a better percentage of chance to live, and I'd be able to see his captivating eyes once again. I couldn't wait for the day when I get to see that flawless crooked smile of his that blinded me, and he'd engulf me in his strong arms once more. But until then, I'll just sit by his side after school, take some extra notes from his class, and do some of his assignments until he is better.

As the month progressed on, I could tell the house was becoming more and more dread without the presence of Fabian. The last week of September had been terrible. It was the worst case-scenario that could have happened, one that no one would ever think of. When the fifteenth day rolled around, that's when I noticed a change.

It started with Alfie.

During the time, he'd make a small talk with me for a few minutes and even asked me how I was managing about the whole situation, but after a while he was drained out of energy. All he wanted is a chip butty by the time he'd lazily stumbled into the house. He'd never leave his room once he goes inside.

Amber isn't any better.

The house felt out of life without her peppy attitude brightening up a spark of positivity around the house like a lighthouse. In the mornings, she'd hardly spend time on her hair or makeup anymore. She just brushes her hair back into a ponytail, adds a light layer of lip gloss, and some mascara, and dressed in her school uniform. She didn't even put on any of her usual accessories. She'd even stay after school with the committee for the Halloween dance – which included both Mara and Joy – and doesn't come back home till a few minutes before seven o' clock.

Patricia hardly speaks; she never does any of her usual snide remarks about the things that irritates her or does a small joke whenever she saw an opportunity to tease a person. In the mornings, she would only come in the dining room to drink a glass of orange juice, and take a croissant from the basket before she left for school early. She never goes to school early.

Jerome hasn't done any pranks and schemes to earn money either. He spends most of his time volunteering in the dance committee with Mara and playing Halo 4 on his PlayStation 3 in the common room. He even does his chores around the house without asking and finishes his assignments afterwards.

I wasn't the only one who is painfully hurt in the heart of the entire conflict; Mick is no longer the same cheerful and lovable jock that the whole student body has known for years now. He has turned bitter and distant of everyone. He would leave the house during breakfast, lunch, and dinner to take a quick run across the fields, and never comes back until nine in the evening.

One night, I nearly had a panic attack. As soon as Mick walked in the foyer he had retched all over the floor. His clothes were rumpled; he was caked in mud and dirt, the back of his hands was a bloody mess. He drank eight glasses of water faster than Trudy could fill them before retching that out, too then finally finding his bed in his room and let himself be deflated.

Dark blood trickled down his limp fingers and onto the wooden floor. I held my breath, avoiding the smell of rust and metal, and dug through the kitchen cabinets for the gauze in the first-aid kit. When I returned to Mick's sleeping form, Joy had come back from her dance committee meeting and was sitting next to his bed with Trudy. I wiped up the dried blood with a wet paper towel, pretending it was ketchup and refusing to breathe, before Trudy started to wrap it up with the gauze.

"I'm just really brassed of this whole thing," I remembered hearing Mick admit. "It just hurts knowing that my best mate is in a coma right now."

I stood behind Joy, horrified. What could Mick possibly be doing out in the woods for this many hours that would put that much physical strain on himself? He was adapted to running. He was used to long hours. He must have been doing something out of the ordinary.

"That is a load of codswallop, Mick, and you know it!" I thought Joy had yelled at him. "I'dd prefer that you clear off and go buy a round at a pub and get bladdered than seeing you like this! You really are as daft as you seem! No wonder Mara left you!" And then she left the room, leaving behind a bewildered and pained Mick, along with a baffled housemother.

I remained uninfected of Joy's sudden outburst. It was a new low of her to say such hurtful things to Mick when she knew it was close to recovery from his breakup with Mara, but I couldn't blame her either. Mick, being completely unstable and reckless, has us even more worried now that we have to watch over him do he won't do anything as daft as Joy said.

I was eager for the school day to end as soon as I drove into the parking lot, already wanting to turn around to head to the hospital and sit by Fabian's side throughout the day while waiting for him to wake up from his coma.

I can't remember much that particular day because I was mostly in a daze, still grieving over the shocking news. In fact, the moment I entered into the building, memories of Fabian's presence flooded into my mind all at once and I instantly regretted my uncertain decision to come to school today. Everywhere I go, he was there. All around me – his crooked smile, his mesmerizing eyes, his infectious chuckle. Everywhere. It was definitely true that you never know what you have until it's gone.

My heart was yearning to see him nonchalantly leaning against my locker, holding a The Solar System Is Your Friend book in his hands while reading it with a slight smile, and waiting to grab my books for my first few periods of torture. Of course, I felt a lump form in the back of my throat when I turned the corner and reached my locker, the emptiness and loneliness of it mocking me for even hoping to see him there.

The entire day passed in a blur with me writing up extra notes for any class I have with Fabian and the gossip that I had avoided. Everyone who knew about our relationship came to me to see how I was doing, asking if there was anything they could to cheer me up and respected my decision when I declined.

When I returned home from school, I could barely stand not hearing Fabian's remarkable British accent another instant. Although it had only been a few weeks since I last heard him, I was beginning to go crazy. I was so used to talking to him every single day and now that my life lacked his warmth, I was beginning to feel the consequences. I knew I shouldn't try calling his phone especially when I could break down at the sound of his voice, but my hands unconsciously reached for my phone inside my bag.

I unlocked the keypad and almost completed the dialing of his number before my brain finally won the battle against my heart, and I quickly slammed it off almost in tears with my frustration. I couldn't allow myself the pleasure of hearing his accent through his voicemail when I know I am unstable.

That evening, Amber had left the dance committee early to spend the entire dinner with me in our room. Alfie and Patricia even came along with their plates full of delicious meals. We didn't say anything – we didn't have to. We knew what the other was thinking, what the other was feeling, and what the other wanted to say; I miss Fabian. It was too obvious. We are Sibuna and it isn't the same without him therefore we silently mourn over our missing member, friend, and lover.

Even with Amber by my side the entire Thursday night, I laid awake, barely able to get any sleep at all. I couldn't stop thinking about Fabian and how everything suddenly took a turn for the worst. Memories of last year flooded my mind; sitting in the common room while stealing secret shy glances at each other, passing quiet whispers among ourselves, doing homework together, talking about our abnormal housemates – all of which I love. I thought of our walks along the green fields and our trips to the attic.

He had been there for me when no one else was. He'd pulled me out of the worst of my dark times. He was my best friend, my sun, my personal protector. He was willing to accept the broken me – every single unstable, messed up piece.

More memories; Fabian tackling Rufus to the ground when he grabbed me as a hostage during the End-of-Term Prom. Fabian and I going on a secret date in the attic. Fabian taking me on a stroll to the Frobisher library. And our first kiss at the prom.

I really appreciated Amber for staying by my side tonight because I was experiencing another tidal wave of despair as my sniffles and choked whimpers woke her from her slumber and felt a breeze of relief when she had brought me in her arms for a comforting embrace while whispering words of a friend's concern into my ear. She continued to do this until I started to feel drowsy.

That night my dreams were haunted by a very awake Fabian giving me a perfect view of his enhancing smile and the sound of his infectious laughter.

Friday, I was even more miserable – pathetic even. I barely spoke two words to Amber in the morning when I woke up with her still in my bed. I could tell that she sensed my distance and that he was trying to give me the space that I needed, but ultimately it was killing her.

"I told you to stop acting strong around me," she had told me when she saw me gathering my uniform and bathroom toiletries. "If you want to cry again like last night then let me know. I'll be there for you."

All I gave her was a vague smile that probably seemed forced to her before I tossed her uniform at her, told her to get ready or we'd be late for school, and continued on with my morning routine almost in a trance.

The whole house ate breakfast in complete silence, the room feeling dreadful with the emptied chair on my right. I could feel Eddie's eyes on me, scrutinizing my every move. He could feel what I am feeling because of our link and I knew he wanted to say something to fill up the hole that has been formed up deeply in my heart. However, it never came. Instead, the only sounds to be heard were the clanking of our spoons inside our cereal bowls, Mick's loud crunching on his whole grain granola bar, and Trudy's occasional sipping of coffee out of her mug.

When I was finished, I cleared up my dishes and placed them in the sink before I left the home.

The school day dragged on in endless hours of torture. I was still a complete wreck, my mind still reminiscing on Fabian and the short time I had spent with him this year. When I turned the corner of the hall I would momentarily imagine him extending his hand out to me, directing me to our next class. At lunch, I basically ate in silence, unable to stop my mind from picturing Fabian on the first day of our second semester last year – sitting next to me with a laptop on his lap and frown creased upon his lovely face as he went through a file of pictures, trying to decide which he should choose as his new profile picture on ChumChatter.

"Nina?" I can still hear the uncertainty in his sweet husky voice an see the desperate look on his face as he waited for my consolation on which picture is the best suited for him, his pleading blue eyes thrilled by my presence so close to him.

I felt a very powerful snap whip across my pitiful heart, forming a deep crack from the hole, and I closed my eyes tight, inhaling a deep breath while trying to push him out of my thoughts.

"Nina," Patricia's soft voice spoke, bringing me out of my contemplations. "Are you alright?" Her concern was evident in the genuine nature of her tone and the automatic softening around her eyes as she spoke.

"I'll be fine," I nearly whispered, trying to find my voice. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than for it to be just her and I sitting in the student's lounge so I could pour out my heart and explain everything that was happening to me. My mind was heading for another breakdown as I held in the events of the past few weeks – Fabian being hospitalized – Mick going through a mental rampage – Joy's outburst at him. I couldn't bear the weight of it all any longer. I felt like I was going to explode into a million pieces.

"You just…haven't been yourself," she confessed and I could tell she instantly felt guilty for prying into my business. "Never mind," she added a second later. "Of course, you're not yourself. You have to be exhausted from driving back and forth from the hospital and writing extras notes in class."

"Yes," I replied, desperately wishing that was the worst of my worries. "I just have a lot on my mind, but thanks for your concern."

I forced a smile, eliciting one from her, and then excused myself, feeling all eyes on me as I grabbed my textbooks from the table before briskly exiting the lounge. I walked down the almost empty corridors in a numb trance until I reached the familiarity of my locker and opened it, trying to busy myself with the changing of my books. When I pulled out my French textbook, a thin strip of white paper dropped out of it and fell to the floor. I bend down to pick it up and as soon as my eyes scanned over the recognizable elegance of the handwriting, I gasped, loosening my grip around my books, forcing them to scatter on the floor with a loud clatter.

Be Safe

I read the single sentence over and over again as tears began to sting my eyes, threatening to break free at any moment. I took in a long shaky breath and felt my knees weaken as I lifted my forearm to rest it against the upper shelf of my locker, burying my face inside it. I couldn't pull myself together. I couldn't accept the fact that Fabian might actually be gone and move on. It is too hard, way too painful. I don't think I – no, I know I won't be able to forget Fabian so easily. His kind is very rare to find and I was very lucky that he wanted me as much as I did to him. Why is he doing this to me?

My body fought against the silent sobs that escaped within me once I managed to stand up straight and wipe the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand. I picked up the books of my morning classes before shoving them in my locker hastily and slamming it shut.

My fumbling hands made it quite a task for me to lock it when I heard a female voice speak to me from behind.

"Excuse me?"

I tensed a little and turned to see a crowd of four girls standing behind me, their grim faces equally matched. The girl, who I assumed to be the one who called me, looked fourteen, fifteen maybe, and had long, glossy black hair pulled back with a rubber band at the nape of her neck. Her skin was beautiful, silky and russet-colored. Her eyes were dark, set deep above the high planes of her cheekbones. She still had just of hint of childish roundness left around her chin. Altogether, a very pretty face. However, my positive opinion of her looks was damaged by the first words that came out of her mouth.

"Is it true about Fabian? Is he really in a coma right now?"

It was like the first week all over again; I am not surprised that the whole school already knew about Fabian. Gossip around here spreads faster than a contagious disease.

"Y-yes," I sighed, struggling to speak out the words.

"I have him for my Calculus class and he used to help me in class." She placed her hand on my shoulder in a friendly gesture. "He told me about you once – I'm so sorry."

"Thank you," I muttered, pulling her hand away. "You're in my Trigonometry class. I probably should remember you."

"I'm Pam Vega – I live in the Isis House from the other side of campus. It's right beside the Merry River."

I nodded, not particularly interested.

"Anyway, I just came to pay my respects to Fabian to you. I heard that you two have been stepping out recently and-"

"We've been going out for five months," I intruded. "And pay your respects to what? You make it sound like Fabian is dead when he's not." My words came out harsher than I intended to be.

She seemed baffled. "I'm…I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just…" she paused for a moment to recollect herself. "It's just that it's the first time that I hear Fabian is dicky and it's also the first time that someone from this school gets hospitalized after getting right potty."

"I get it." I began to step away from her but she took a fistful of the sleeve of my blazer and pulled me back. I sighed, exhaling sharply, and flung myself around to face her.

"I must say, Nina, you are lucky to have a smart and dishy bloke like Fabian as your boyfriend even though I don't see him as boyfriend material. And you just told me you two have been stepping out for five months now so it must be hard for you." Her voice sounded sincere and sweet, but her words were like a thousand stabs to my heart. She didn't know what she was doing to me.

"The school always knew that he fancied you for a while," Pam continued. "I bet he even loved you, too."

I froze. Her words paralyzed me. I couldn't take it anymore. I felt like my knees were going to give out from underneath me. Slowly, I looked up to face the girls, tears burning my eyes. I tried to hold them back. I didn't want to cry in front of them.

"Please," I choked. "I'm asking you really nicely to leave me alone. I don't think I can do this-"

My voice broke off; I could no longer speak. Pam was intently looking at me, her face difficult to read. I watched her eyes gradually softened as she studied my painful expression.

"Okay, Pam, that's enough," a familiar breathtaking voice was heard swearing from my left and I glance to my left to see Willow walking – more like stomping – toward my way with a hard glare appointed to Pam in front of me. She stood by my side, her gaze never wavering, and her hand on her hip while the other gripped on the strap of her bag.

"Can't you see that Nina is having a hard time, right now?" she growled at the four awestruck girls. "Or are you just daft? Or completely mental?"

Sure enough, we seemed to be the center of attention. Everyone was standing around, trying to act as if they weren't interested at the sudden show that was happening. They were most likely aware of the fact that once again I was the one caught in the entire conflict occurring. Willow's loud demanding voice overshadowing Pam is exaggerating.

I glanced around us and noticed that most of the students were beginning a new gossip wave. I can see some of the anxious eyes of my housemates among the crowd, and I peer down at my feet with flushed cheeks. I couldn't believe that all of this attention is cause because Pam was trying to comfort me but was actually harming me in the process.

I turned away from the scene and began to step through the crowd, keeping my head hung low as I pushed through the ignorant students forming the circle. Actually, they didn't seem to notice me because they were too engrossed of the argument, which might turn into a screaming match if Willow continues to insult Pam so inappropriately, and I really appreciate her for standing up for me but this is a ridiculous excuse for unwanted attention.

I was able to leave the crowded spot without causing anymore fuss and ran my fingers through my hair, combing it straight as I made my way down the hallways, trying to block out the cheers of the obnoxious males among the crowd. Willow must be on a roll.

I sniffled, inhaling sharply through my slightly stuffed nose, and I checked my wrist watch with blurred eyes as I trudged across the hard floors. I only have three minutes till lunch was over, and I'd be very early for my next period. I continued to walk as quickly as I could without focusing on the loud commotion of raging students. I reached the corner then and I can see the door to my next period.

As I approached it, in one swift glance from the corner of my eye, a blob of black flashed by my vision for a second before it blurred past me. I instantly stopped dead in my tracks. That blob had eyes – the same ocean blue eyes that I've fallen hard for instantaneously when I first spotted them. I hesitated to turn but being the curious person I am, I whirled around quickly at the same direction and I've immediately turned to stone on the spot.

I wasn't so sure if what I saw was imaginative or real, I knew is that I can see Fabian.

I couldn't believe that my gaze is locked on the same crystal blue eyes that held a twinkle bright than any light, or that he was just standing there, lazily leaning against a locker with a Chemistry textbook in his hands but he wasn't reading it. He was wearing the school uniform with a blue plaid jacket on his shoulders. He didn't have his bag.

"F-Fabian?" I whispered quietly.

He snapped his book shut and tucked it under his arm as he pushed himself off of the locker, his gaze on me never breaking.

He stepped out into the dim lights of the hallway and looked just as I always remembered him to be. His marble skin threw a thousand rainbows in my direction. His dark hair caught the light and made it glisten. His eyes were light and awake, his face healthy. He was alive.

I started to walk to him, literally jogging towards him, my heart accelerating in anticipation, and my mind racing. I couldn't believe it. He is here – he came back!

A smile broke out on my face at that last thought as I neared closer to him, back in his arms, back in my sanctuary.

Sadly, I was brought out of my fantasy when I felt a hard boulder collide with my shoulder, forcing me around from my beautiful view. I saw a tall teenage boy, a senior, glance back at me to send me a hard glare at my way before he turned away and walked farther while muttering under his breath. Rude and obnoxious.

I rolled my eyes with a scoff. Then I turned again with a bright smile on my face again, excited to see his glorious radiance once more, but then it deflated at the sight of…nothing. I no longer see Fabian's appearance there. He was just gone completely. I looked around the hallway frantically, searching for any signs of him through the fleeing students, ignoring the dull stares of the crowd, but I still couldn't find him anywhere. I knew people were most likely staring at me, but I no longer cared about anything else. I had to force my lung to keep inhaling and exhaling.

Realization among the whole confusion had left me frozen to the spot. What I saw there was not Fabian but a mere illusion to my grieving despair, a figment of my imagination. He wasn't exactly there to begin with; he was there but as his spirit instead.

"Nina, there you are!" Amber's clear bell-like voice chimed in. She appeared suddenly at the end of the hallway, followed by Patricia. I tensed unexpectedly at the sight of them. It came to a shock to me to see them standing in the same spot where I saw – or thought – Fabian was a second ago.

"There is this totty who has gone completely off her trolley, going on about everyone should leave you alone," Patricia remarked in exasperation as they rushed to me, the pronounced relief on both their faces simultaneously changing to surprise when they saw my depressed expression. "Sweetie just finished breaking off the crowd and asking everyone for you. Mara and Joy are distracting him."

"Nina, what's wrong?" Amber's voice was panicked and concern.

I had no reason to hide it. "Guys, I think I'm going crazy," I admitted. "I saw Fabian."

Patricia's eyebrows knitted together, a frown ceased on the middle of her forehead. "What?"

Amber was quicker than Patricia; she pulled me by the arm then drew me into a protective enclosure of her arms. She walked me swiftly toward an empty stairwell, her gray eyes always moving around to make sure no one saw me in this state. Patricia followed closely beside us.

Once we walked half-way up on the stairs, we sat down – I actually slumped – and I broke down, throwing my face in my hands. I couldn't stop the tears from flooding down my face. An arm wrapped around my shoulders and held me close in an attempt to keep me comforted while I bawled my eyes out.

"I'm insane," I mumbled softly when I managed to pull myself together and sat upright as I wiped my tears away with the heel of my hand. "It's official – I've gone insane."

"Nina, stop saying that," Amber whispered softly into my ear. "Why are you saying you're mental?"

I sniffed as I pulled my face from my hands, my cheeks probably flushed from my dehydration of tears and moistured by the five layers of water I've produced, not bothered to wipe them away.

"I saw him, Amber. I saw Fabian standing where you guys were – completely alive and solid – but when I looked away for a minute and…and then I-I looked back…He was gone! He just disappeared out of thin air!" A whimper broke out of my lips.

I felt a hand rub my back in circular motion and I knew it was Patricia. "Nina…Fabian is still in the hospital," she started out slowly. "He is still in a…coma. You couldn't have possibly seen him if he isn't here."

I stared at her. "But I saw him!"

Her face was suddenly wary. "Don't get shirty with me. I was just stating a fact."

My eyes narrowed.

"Besides, haven't you thought that maybe you saw or who you saw was never really there?" Patricia pointed out. "Maybe you wished he was here and that's why you supposedly saw Fabian there."

I thought about that for a second, and then a terrible case-scenario came into my mind. "You got a point," I murmured. "But…what if who I saw was actually Fabian but he wasn't there."

Amber didn't seem to process with me. "I'm confused, Neens. What are you going on about?"

I turned to her. "Think about it, Amber. I can see spirits of people who-" I couldn't force myself to finish the sentence.

Amber's voice and eyebrows shot up. "Nina, don't you dare think like that. You promised me, you wouldn't act so petty of the whole thing. Or were you completely zonked that night that your mind is right wonky?"

"I know, Amber, I just…," I sighed, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees as I rubbed my fingers against my temples and huffed. "It's the only theory I've got. Right now, I'd rather be crazy than concluding that theory too."

Patricia sighed and placed a hand on my forearm. "You're not – and your so-called theory isn't true either. If anything about Fabian changed then the doctor would have given us a ring, too."

"Yeah, Neens," Amber agreed.

"I guess."

From the corner of my eye, I can see Patricia search inside her bag, shoving any books aside until she found her cell phone and took it out to check the time.

"I don't need to rush things but we need to be in our lessons in a minute," she said, rising up to her feet as she spoke. "Let's get going." She gripped me by the arm and pulled me up effortlessly to my feet while Amber took my bag in her arms.

The bell rang for us to go to our fifth period. As we filed out, Amber caught up to me. "Don't worry about Fabian. I'm sure he'll come around eventually." Amber was always so overly perceptive.

"We can only hope," I said. Then I headed to my AP Biology class, preparing my mind for the tedium. It was doubtful Mr. Sweet, a man of no more than courage intellect, would manage to pull out anything in his lecture that would surprise someone holding two graduate degrees in medicine.

In the classroom, I settled into my chair and let my books – props, again they held nothing I didn't already know – spill across the table. I was the only student who had a table to herself. Fabian was my partner.

The room slowly filled as they trickled in from lunch. I leaned back in my chair and stared out of the window as I waited for the time to pass. I saw Joy come through the door from the corner of my eye, searching through the classroom for an available spot – the only chair empty beside me and the one next to Mick behind me. Automatically, I cleared what would be her side of the desk, shoving my books into a pile. I know she would be sitting next to me because of the session they've had that one morning.

Her gaze must have met Mick's behind me because I saw blood flow in her cheeks as she lowered her head sheepishly then she walked in my direction, never once looking up again. She sat down in the chair next to me, her movements stiff and awkward. I can see her hands shaking a little as she reached inside her long to pull out her notebook and pen.

Even depressed as I was, it was impossible to not find her shy attitude a bit entertaining.

I didn't recall most of the lesson today. I kept my attention out of the window, watching a lone white, puffy cloud that hasn't moved from its spot in the sky for the past seventeen minutes of this period. I have so many questions in my head looking for their answers just like that cloud is searching for a group to blend together with.

"Ms. Martin?" I heard Mr. Sweet call me out, seeking the answer to the question I've heard him ask faintly – what is the name of the cycle that takes place in the mitochondrial matrix?

I sucked in a quick breath as I turned to look at Mr. Sweet. "The Krabs Cycle."

"Brilliant."

I looked away as soon as he began his lecture and continued to stare at the hopeless cloud throughout the whole period.

Mr. Sweet was about to get me to identify the slides of the microscope in front of the whole class, but the bell rang. Saved by the bell – how cliché. At least, I was saved from a possible humiliation waiting to spring out into the open due to my clumsiness. I started to collect my things and left the classroom before anyone from Anubis House could call me.

French passed in a blur. Ms. Valentine never questioned my lack of concentration of today's lesson on airport parts – she knew my French was superior to hers, and she gave me a great deal of latitude – leaving me to think.

I couldn't stop thinking about Fabian. That much was obvious. My illusion back in the hallway was a sign of my mind finally cracked and I needed to get registered in a mental institution. I can only hope that it was all in my head because then I wouldn't have to worry about the fact that Fabian might be de – I couldn't finish the word. Knowing he is at the hospital, in bed, and in a coma seems safer than death.

Finally, the bell rang, ending the school day. I quickly strode out of the classroom to reach the parking lot in a short amount of time. I was in the first of Anubis House to be there. My Audi was at the last row on the far end of the lot. I groaned inwardly at the distance but then stopped short when I remembered I parked it that far to avoid my housemates.

I slowly walked towards it, careful to not slip along the slick water that had frozen into ice on the pavement. A rain shower had happened a few days ago, washing away all the remains of snow piled up during the blizzard and had frozen overnight with the cool evening.

I almost had a stroke when I reached the corner and saw a tall, dark figure leaning against the truck of a Mercedes next to my car. It was not the fact this person was standing by my car, it was because it was Fabian.

This time he wasn't in uniform. He was wearing a pair of dark, well-fitted jeans and a blue button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing the bottom half of his toned arms. He had a pair of Nikes – wet and splattered in mud. His hair seemed disheveled, giving him that suave hairstyle of a gangster from the 1920's. He was talking to a senior girl, but his gaze flickered over to my stiff posture, and smiled cheekily.

My mouth grew dry and I couldn't breathe. I stared back at him, afraid to move an inch, afraid that he might disappear so suddenly like he did back in the hallway. I heard some faint footsteps behind me and I almost stepped on but remained in place – miserably watching the source of my sanity talk to a girl I didn't know, noticing the times he would steal a quick glance at me before he turned away from me and began to walk further with the girl.

"Nina!" Eddie's voice called out but I didn't look back. "NINA!"

I inhaled sharply and went after Fabian, lightly jogging to him. No one was here to stop me; I flitted to him and gripped on his shoulder then turned him around to face me. However, as soon as our eyes met, there was no electric current engulfing me like a wave, no acceleration of the heart, no goose bumps on my skin, and my smile curled down to a frown once I noticed the shade of his eye color. They were brown – deep, honey brown – not light blue.

I blinked a couple of times as if to clear my vision before realization dawned to me. This guy wasn't Fabian; he was a junior from my Trigonometry class. He was still wearing the clothes I saw him in but he made it seem so plain and dull, in contrast with the marble I thought he was.

"Sorry," I mumbled quietly, slipping my hand away from his shoulder. "I thought you were somebody else."

He nodded slowly and then walked away with the girl. I faintly noticed that their hands were laced together. They were a couple – just like Fabian and I were.

"Nina!" Eddie's voice was close by now. I didn't bother to walk away this time. I pictured his backpack flying up behind him and papers scattering as he pushed people aside to reach me. "I've been looking all over for you. You're really hard to get a hold of, you know?" I heard his intake of breath when he saw my face. "Whoa, are you okay?"

I turned to glare at him. "Does it look like I'm okay?"

"No," he answered. "Your face looks like you've been in the sun too long."

"Wow, thanks, girls love hearing they have a red face," I huffed, rolling my eyes. I had no more patience for today. "Of course, I'm not okay, Eddie! If you haven't noticed, Fabian is in a coma right now!"

He held his hands up in surrender, his eyes widen in astonishment. My eyes soften when I realized I've thrown an unnecessary outburst to him when he was only trying to keep me company in my moment of despair.

"I'm sorry, Eddie," I sighed. "I just had a really rough day."

"I can tell. I was about to tell you something important but I can see that you're not in the mood for anything so I'll just wait. You want me to walk you to your car?"

I nodded. "Thank you."

Eddie gestured his hand to my Audi, and we walked over to my slightly damaged vehicle.

"So, how's he doing anyway?" he asked by the time we reached the side of my car. I tossed my bag on the top of the hood while searching for my keys inside the pocket of my blazer and pulled it out. I unlocked the door and threw my bag in the backseat.

"Still the same," I replied before swiftly climbing inside and slamming the door behind. He was still standing outside of the car, patiently waiting for me to proceed with the conversation, and I rolled the window down. He just bent slightly by the waist and casually leaned against the door with his elbows, his bag hanging loosely from his shoulder.

"Is that good or bad?"

"A little bit of both."

Eddie gave me a light nudge to the shoulder. "Hey, turn that frown upside down." He did a rather comical look – his upper teeth bucked out and his eyes crossed to the middle while his cheeks puffed out – which did make me giggle with a wide smile. "There we go."

I rolled my eyes, the smile still in place.

"I'm sure that Fabian will wake up sooner than you think," he said with a reassuring smile. "It's his first time getting sick, right? So it won't last long."

"That's for flu," I grumbled, and then sighed. "Anyway, thanks for trying to cheer me up, Eddie. But I need to get home and change before I visit Fabian."

"Alright. See you when you get back."

I smiled vaguely at him as I rolled up the window. I turned up the heater to defrost my ice skin, and put on my favorite album by Lindsey Haun. I drove out toward the exit, watching Eddie from my rear view mirror. He still stood at the same spot where I had been previously parked, and I honked my horn a few times as a way of saying farewell, before he was officially out of my sight.

I didn't have the urge to head back home. I wanted to see Fabian sooner than later. I turned to the left of the road that led me to the main street.

My head spun with images of Fabian in silent pain from his unknown disease, but I took a few deep breaths and forced myself to calm down. If Dr. Barnwell said there is no signs of change then Fabian would be okay. There were only a few things that I was sure about in life and one of them was the infelicity of Dr. Barnwell's medical expertise.

I remained silent throughout the whole drive to the hospital as I kept my eyes glued to the busy, bustling streets of Liverpool, England. I can see the wide Mersey River from the corner of my eyes as I crossed it over on a bridge and entered the border of England.

It was a perfect day for the fall season and the town was gorgeous. A million shades of orange extending away in the sky as far as the eye could see. The road was crowded with various vehicles and the endless wide cement of the sidewalk was cut short by scattered, colorful leaves, making it seem like a multi-colored Pacific Ocean. It was truly a breathtaking sight. I had been on this road a couple of times, maybe hundreds of times in my life, but the sight always managed to leave me breathless.

Calderstones Park had been engulfed with families who were taking advantage of the warm sunshine while children ran amuck the grassy fields – kicking leaves, tossing leaves in the air, or simply jumping in a pile of leaves. It was hard to reconcile the sight of such normalcy given everything that had transpired in the last month, but it was the magic of Liverpool. Things could be both ordinary and extraordinary here.

I started to feel uneasy as I parked my car in front of the hospital building and the engine sputtered off. I sucked in a huge breath. Everything is going to be okay," I lied to myself feebly. It's not like the nurses are going to bite me. I finally exhaled and stepped out of the Audi.

I kept my hands stuffed inside the pockets of my blazer as I walked through the front entrance of the building, passing through the automatic door. The lady in the reception desk didn't stop me when she saw me step past her and heading to an available elevator, but only send me an encouraging smile. I can hear her whisper quietly to her coworker sitting beside her.

"There she goes again. I hope it turns out well."

"The young totty never misses a day does she? Poor darling, she seems a bit off color, doesn't she? I don't think she has been eating regularly lately."

"She doesn't even look like she slept either. Her skin looks squidgy and a bit zonked with those bags under her eyes."

Instinctively, I raised a hand to my face to place my fingers beneath my eyes and felt heavy skin. There are bags under my eyes indeed.

"Oh, I think she heard you. Quit being so blatant, Janice!"

"S-sorry."

I breathed in relief to hear the elevator doors slide open and immediately stepped inside before the formed crowd behind me could react. I didn't want to hear any more of the nurse's conversation. I quickly pressed the button for the second floor before I leaned against the metal rail and tilted my head back with a sigh as I waited.

The feeling of the cart moving sparked a lightning storm in my system. I felt like I was taking a path to my own personal hell – heartbreak. It was like an illness that rolled through my body; it was like it drained the strength out from me, leaving me like an old party balloon. Little, spongy, and growing softer overtime.

I clutched the rail tighter while I tried to swallow the lungs of acid that is burning the walls of my throat. I think I might throw up.

Luckily – for mine and the occupant's sake – the elevator reached the second floor and I escaped from my possible embarrassment then heading down the corridor to room two-twenty-two.

Fabian was still stuck in a long torturous sleep, as usual, when I entered the room. I went to sit on the empty chair by the side of his bed and gently dropped my bag. I looked at his face – his dark hair tossled and wild around his pale face, his hospital gown unbuttoned at the front to put a pair of wires taped to his torso, an air mask clasped around his mouth, and several needles stuck to his arms. There was a machine on the other side of his bed, the source of many wires.

Could a dead heart break? I know mine did.

"Hey Fabian," I whispered softly as I leaned forward to tke his cold-skinned, calloused hand in mine. "It's me, Nina, obviously."

He remained still, unresponsive to my voice.

"Today had been pretty brutal," I paused. "Actually, it's been really unusual. It may sound cliché to you but everywhere I went I saw you there. I saw you in the halls and I even mistaken you for somebody else – it made me worried because I thought you were-" I coughed and then inhaled sharply. "I just thought it was because of my abilities."

I do my best to keep the tears build up in my eyes from tumbling out onto my face and blinked my eyes rapidly to wipe them away. My thumb rubs over the back of his hand, gliding the boney mountains that are his pale knuckles.

"I really miss you, Fabian," I admitted sincerely, honest. "I really do hope that you get better soon. The house hasn't been the same without you – Mick is on a mental rampage, and Amber isn't so preppy anymore, too."

It pained me to not see any signs of reaction from him.

I swallowed hard. "I really wish you'd wake up now – I really, really miss hearing your accent. In fact, I really miss everything about you, especially your smile. I guess that's why the house is so…dead."

I exhaled shakily while leaning against my knees, my thumb continuing to rub hands tenderly as I hung my head low. I didn't know what to say next, I just kept silent whilst the machine hummed and the heart monitor beeped in a soothing rhythm.

"You…you have to wake up." My voice sounded croaked, broken, as I spoke and I knew I am at my breaking point. "I'm so scared. I'm afraid of you never waking up again. It isn't fair…I don't think I can handle it." I sniffled but I never raised my head. "Please wake up, Fabian – for me."

Once again, there is no answer from him.

For that last hour, when one of the nurses came in the room to do the last checkups on Fabian's condition, she found one person to comfort. A young American teenage girl crying softly next to the boy who has made her fall in love with him than life itself.

I spend the rest of this afternoon alone in Fabian's room with the door partially open and I can see visitors walk by – some strangers, students from other academies or from Liverpool International, and if I concentrated, I can hear them talking about families, jobs, and their vacations. Ordinary conversations, nothing more. The nurse was still scanning the clipboard, so I pulled out my much-abused copy of Wuthering Heights from inside my bag, and tried to lose myself in turn-of-the-century England while I waited for her to finish.

I was just to the part where Heathcliff returns when the nurse cleared her throat and tapped her pen on the clipboard.

"Do you need anything, sweetheart?" she asked kindly.

"No, no," I mumbled. I glanced over at the window; it was late afternoon with red streaks cutting the fall sky and the last remnants of the day were fading, the color slowly turning dark as the sun went down in the horizon.

I shoved the book in my bag. "I need to get going anyway. Everyone is probably wondering where I am."

"Oh, okay. Drive home safe." She smiled.

"I will." I nodded. Then I gingerly brushed Fabian's hair away from his face and leaned down to lightly give him a chaste kiss on the forehead. When I pulled back a bit, my lips brushed over his pale skin as I quietly whispered to him. "Get better soon, Fabian. I love you."

Then I straightened myself, shot a quick smile at the patient nurse, before I turned my heel around and left the room.

As I walked down the hallway, a trail of dropped tears were left behind, each droplet a piece of my heart slowly bleeding out of me and left for Fabian to find if he ever awakes. If I were to trust anyone to put the pieces of my heart back into one whole then it will be the man who stole it in the first place.

A:N: *Bursts through the curtains* Phew! I made it back on time for the end- *Pauses when noticing the audience was bawling in tears and comforting each other* Geez, what I miss?

Burkley: *Climbs up to the stage* They just finished watching what's going on with Anubis House with Fabian being in a coma.

Oh right! Forgot about that! Well...yeah...it is a heartbreaking episode to watch. It was based on a friend of mine who went through this (which luckily his girlfriend woke up!) so it was difficult for me to write it. But don't worry everyone! Things will get better soon, I promise! This is Anubis House and we all know that our Sibuna lovelies always find a way to make it better in the end!

Until then leave your love in the reviews and I'll try to update quick!

Ta-ta!