Billie and I remained quiet. I think Billie was pacing back and forth. I had my head in my hands and just remained quiet. Billie kept asking if I was ok and I nodded each time. I think I was still shocked from all of what happened.
I heard yelling near the front desk and looked up. I saw 4 guys standing at the main desk. One was yelling. I heard him ask where Brian was. I got up and walked over to them.
"Excuse me? Are you all Brian’s friends?" I felt stupid, but didn’t care.
"Yeah?"
"Hi, I’m Andi. My sister and I brought him here. He’s still in the ER."
"Oh, thank you. I’m Kevin."
"AJ."
"Howie."
"Nick" I shook all their hands. Billie was standing behind me.
"It’s nice to meet you all. Oh, this is my sister, Billie."
"Hi guys." She smiled a little.
"Hi Billie." Nick smiled at her.
"Do you know how he’s doing?" Howie asked.
"I’m not sure. They haven’t come out yet."
"How’d you meet Brian?" Kevin asked.
"I met him at a bagel shop in Orlando. I didn’t realize who he was at first and then we started talking. My class for the day got canceled, and he asked if I wanted to join him, so I did. But I wasn’t expecting any of this." I had to sit down, because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to stand anymore. I think Billie realized that I didn’t want to tell the rest, because she finished for me.
"They were at Friendly Fisherman on John’s Pass and I saw them there. Andi and I were about to go to the restroom, when suddenly Brian turned really pale and almost fell over. We got him out to my car and on the way to the hospital, he stopped breathing. So Andi started CPR and got him breathing again. When we got to the hospital, Brian’s heart stopped and they revived him again. That’s the last were heard and that was 20 minutes ago."
I was about to start balling, but I didn’t want to. I didn’t think I had the right to. I felt Kevin sit next to me. I just stared off into space. I guess I started rocking back and forth, because I felt Kevin grip my shoulder.
"Andi, are you ok?" He asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I’ll be fine once I get those images out of my head."
I probably sounded like a lunatic.
"What images?" AJ spoke for the first time.
"Of Brian being revived. I saw it, I saw everything." I started to tear up. I then felt Kevin hug me and that got me to start sobbing. Something I didn’t want to do. Especially in front of them.
"It’s ok, Andi. He’ll be ok. You haven’t done anything wrong. You probably saved his life. And I’m so grateful for that."
"But his heart stopped."
"Andi, sweetie. He’s ok. Don’t make yourself crazy over this." Billie kneeled in front of me, grabbing my hands. I didn’t need sympathy; I wasn’t the one in the emergency room.
Finally a nurse came out of the room where they took Brian. She walked over to us.
"Friends & Family of Mr. Littrell?"
"Yes?" Kevin asked back.
"Ok, well he’s in stable condition right now. We put him in a room in ICU. A Doctor will be seeing him within the hour."
"Ok. Do you know what happened?" Nick asked.
"He had what is like a mild heart attack. If she hadn’t started getting him breathing again, it would have been much worse." She pointed to me.
"But his heart stopped." I repeated.
"We know. But it would have been much worse."
"Can we see him?" AJ asked.
I was about to leave, because I didn’t need to be there anymore. It wasn’t right.
"Sure. But he wants to see Andi and Kevin first."
That shocked me. Why would he want to see me?
"Why does he want to see me?"
"I don’t know. But he kept asking for you."
"OK, well we’ll go see him and come get you guys." Kevin said, everyone nodded.
Kevin and I followed the nurse where Brian’s room was. I still felt uncomfortable about being there. I didn’t have the right. I wasn’t even like a friend. And I was confused as to why Brian kept asking for me. We got to Brian’s room and Kevin went in first. I followed slowly behind him. Just listening to the sounds of the heart monitor and the drip of the IV. We walked around the curtain and saw Brian lying on the hospital bed, his eyes were closed.
"Hey Brian. you awake buddy?" Kevin lightly touched his shoulder. Brian’s clear blue eyes slowly opened and he looked up at Kevin.
"Hey, cuz." Brian said, he sounded tired. Actually he looked down right exhausted.
"How are ya doing?"
"Ok, I guess."
"That’s good to hear. You gave all of us a scare. Don’t do that again."
"I know, sorry. I didn’t mean to. I totally wasn’t expecting that to happen."
"We know. But we’re going to get the best doctors out there to help you get better."
"Thanks, man. Hey, can you do me a favor?"
"Yeah, sure. Anything."
"Can you not tell the press about this yet? That is if they haven’t already figured it out."
"Sure. And if they have, I’ll make sure they don’t run any stories just yet."
"Ok, thanks."
"Is that all you wanted me for?"
"Pretty much." I saw the goofy grin on his face. Even in all this seriousness, he could still be silly as hell.
"Boy, I fell so loved. All my cousin wants me for it to not tell press. Thanks. Now I just might."
"Oh hey, there is one more thing?"
"What’s that?"
"My parents. Have you told them yet?"
"Nope, but I’ll let them know right away."
"Ok, thanks Cuz. You rock!"
"Thanks."
I laughed lightly at them. Brian looked up at me. I was standing at the foot of the bed.
"Oh hey, Andi. I didn’t know you were in here. You were so quiet."
"Oh, I was just enjoying watching you and Kevin talk. It was very amusing."
"Thanks, glad we could make you laugh. I’ll leave you two alone. See ya in a few, Cuz. Don’t do anything stupid."
"Don’t worry I won’t." Kevin left, leaving Brian and I alone.
So, how are you doing?" He asked.
"Ok, I guess. Still shocked but I’ll get over it."
"Hey, I’m sorry that I scared you. I didn’t even know that was going to happen."
"It’s ok, I know that. You don’t have to apologize."
"I know, but still. I heard you saved my life."
"Not really. I just got you breathing again, but I don’t think it helped very much. Because your heart stopped."
"Well, they said if you hadn’t gotten me here when you did, I would have been a goner."
"Well, I’m glad I could help."
I was fidgeting with the bottom of my shirt. Nervous and afraid. This was Brian; my new friend and I didn’t want him to die.
"Hey, come here." He patted the side of his bed. I walked over and saw where he wanted me to sit. He grabbed my hand.
"Andi, it’s going to be ok. I’m going to be fine." I looked in his eyes and saw that there was fear in them. I knew he had to be scared about all of this and he was trying to be strong for all of us.
"I know, I just feel weird about being here. I mean, I feel like I shouldn’t even be here. I just met you today and I shouldn’t really be here."
"Hey, you’re one of my friends now. You’re welcome here just like the others. So don’t feel bad. I want you to be here anyway. I’d be very sad if you left."
I smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Ok, I won’t leave. I don’t want you to be all sad because of me. So, I’ll stay."
"Good." He smiled proudly at me. I just shook my head and laughed.
"You are too much, Brian."
"Thanks, I try."
"Yeah, too hard sometimes."
He had a hurt expression on his face.
"Aw, just teasing you."
"I know." He smiled cheekily at me.
"So funny, Brian. So funny."
"Yep, yep I know. So, you met the other guys?"
"Yep, I did. And I now know all y'alls names and faces. So, it’s all good. I don’t have to look like an idiot anymore."
"You never did in the first place."
"Oh c’mon, you can’t honestly say you didn’t think ‘Oh my god, this girl is crazy. She doesn’t even know my name’?"
"I honestly didn’t think that. I was actually relieved that you didn’t know my name and start screaming. Like most people do. That’s one reason why I started talking to you. I could tell you were pondering which one I was and I though that was cute."
"Thanks, I think. You think I’m cute? Wonderful." I said sarcastically.
"Hey, I was giving you a compliment."
"I know and thank you." I smiled at him.
"Oh hey, I was wondering how old you are."
"Why were you wondering that?"
"Because I’m curious. That’s all. I’m 23."
"Well, I’m a year younger. I’m 22."
"That’s cool."
"Sure, whatever you say."
"It is. I just turned 23 in February."
"Cool, I turned 22 in March. March 23rd to be precise."
"Rock on. February 20th to be precise too."
"That rocks! Well, I think Nick and the others might want to see you. Nick is all worried about you. Well, he looked worried and he was also staring at my sister. So."
"Well hey, that might make her day. Her favorite BSB might like her back."
"She would totally flip and be completely happy."
"Then it’s all good."
"Yep. Well, I’ll go get them. I’ll be in the waiting room if you need me or anything."
"Ok, I’ll see you in a while. Thank you for everything."
I smiled at him.
"You’re welcome."
I left the room and walked down the hall to the waiting room the guys and Billie were waiting in. Billie and Nick were talking. AJ was pacing; Howie was reading a magazine. And Kevin was just sitting in a chair, watching AJ.
"Hey guys. Y’all can go see him now. Sorry it took so long."
"It’s all good. Don’t worry about it." Howie said.
"I’ll try not to."
"Well, we’ll be back." Nick said. He, AJ, Howie, and Kevin went down the hall to Brian’s room. Billie ran up to me and hugged me.
"You ok, sis?" She asked.
"Yeah, I’m better. Brian seems to be doing ok. He’s cracking jokes and being his goofy self."
"That’s good to hear."
"Yeah. Makes me feel better about the whole thing."
"That’s good. Oh hey, I wanna tell you thank you."
"For what?"
"For meeting Brian and all this. I got to meet Nick and he’s so sweet in person. And none of this would have happened without you."
"You’re welcome, I guess. I was totally not expecting any of this to happen."
"Everything happens for a reason, And. Hey, do you think you and Brian will get together?"
"I don’t think so, Bill. Besides, I just broke up with Kyle. I’m not completely over him. You know, I did love him."
"I know you did. But you gotta get over him. He’s an asshole."
"I will. Just give me some time, ok?"
"I will."
"I’m gonna go outside and get some fresh air."
"Ok. You ok?"
"Yeah, I’ll be fine. I just need some air." I started walking out the door.
"Hey while you’re out there, can you move my car? It’s still in the ambulance entrance."
"Sure." She threw me her keys and I caught them. I went outside and got into her Jeep. I moved it to the parking lot, parked and walked back. I just stood outside the emergency doors, pacing back and forth. Thinking.
Billie:
I watched Andi as she paced back and forth. I was worried about her.
I felt someone touch my shoulder. I looked up and saw Nick standing there.
"Hey." I said.
"Hi, how are you doing?"
"Ok."
"That’s good. How’s your sister?"
"She says she’s ok. But I can tell she’s not. Her boyfriend left her a few days ago and now this. I know it’s eating her up inside. She hasn’t really cried and won’t let herself."
"Oh, well I hope she’s ok. We don’t want her to get sick."
I only nodded. I watched her as she got her inhaler out and took a few puffs off it.
"She has asthma?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, but it’s minor. She doesn’t have bad attacks, just little ones."
"Oh, ok. Well, Brian sent me down here to get you and Andi."
"Ok, I’ll go get her."
"Wait, before you do. I wanna tell you something."
"What’s that?"
"I think Brian likes Andi. And I’m not talking about more than just friends."
"Are you serious? They only just met."
"I know. It’s just the way he smiles when we mention her name. It’s crazy, but that’s Brian for you."
"I guess. I’ll go get her." I walked outside and over to her.
"Hey, Brian wants to see you."
"Again?"
"Yeah, well he wants all of us there."
"Ok." She started walking inside and I followed her. I met up with Nick and the 3 of us went up to Brian’s room. Nick and I started walking in, but Andi didn’t follow.
"Andi, are you coming in?"
"Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute. I just need to get something to drink."
"Ok."
She continued to walk down the hall and I went into the room. I looked at everyone, including Brian.
"Hey Billie, how are you?" He asked.
"I’m ok. How about you?"
"Ok. Though I want out of here." He laughed lightly.
"I’m sure you do."
"Where’s Andi?" He asked.
"Getting something to drink. She’ll be here in a few."
Just then, Andi walked in with a bottle of water in her hand, and everyone looked at her. I looked at Brian, and he’s face lit up when she came in. Oh yeah, I think he likes her a lot. Everyone kept staring at her.
"What? Do I have something on me or what?"
"No, you don’t have anything on you." Brian answered.
"Oki, then why were you all staring? It’s just me, no one important."
"We thought you were the doctor." Nick said.
"Oki, whatever y’all say."
She went over by the chair next to Brian’s bed and sat down.
"Hey, that was my seat." Nick whined.
"Sorry dude, it’s mine now." She smiled proudly at him. He just pouted. It was so adorable.
"Here Nick, you can have my chair." I got up from the chair that was on the other side.
"Why thank you, Billie. I like you better than your sister."
"Yeah, she’s a meanie. I’m much more nicer." I looked at Andi and she glared at me jokingly.
"Whatever, brat."
All the guys just laughed, shaking their heads. Then Andi and I laughed. The doctor came in a few minutes after that.
"Hello Brian, I’m Dr. Stone and I’ll be your doctor while you’re here. I have the results of the tests we took on your heart."
"And?"
"And it looks like the hole in your heart got worse, and instead of having your surgery next week, we’re going to have to make it for tomorrow."
We all looked at Brian; he had a scared, shocked expression on his face.
"Ok."
The doctor then went to explain the rest of the procedure and what he was going to go. Shortly later, the doctor left and a nurse came in to give him some Tylenol because he complained of a headache. The rest of us decided to leave him alone. So we left, except for Andi. He wanted her to stay...
