(written by Lacy) "Come on Jess, show me that He-Man strength I always knew you had..." Jade said as she sat beside Jess' hospital bed rocking back and forth. A little over a year ago when Jade had overdosed on Marijuana, Jess had been at her bedside just like Jade was at that very minute. The doctors didn't think Jade would pull through, and they told Jess and everyone else to say their final good-bye's. But Jess didn't believe a word of it. She knew that if Jade had something to fight for, she would never give up. Especially not on life. Knowing the true bond of friendship, Jess gave Jade her Indian Tigers Eye necklace that her grandmother had given her before she died. Jade miraculously survived and never took that necklace off. Her and Jess knew what had pulled her through that... and it wasn't medicine.
"It's gotta work again, it has to!" Jade mumbled, never taking her eyes off from the rising and falling of Jess' chest. "I've never believed in anything before, but please, please let this work... I'd die if I didn't have Jess by my side," Jade mumbled to no one imparticular as she prayed that the power of friendship would let Jess pull though. Jade knew it was a long shot, but it worked for her so why shouldn't it work for Jess? Besides, Jess was so much better than her... Jess was pure and honest and totally trusting; where Jade never trusted anyone, never believed in anything, and never got close to anyone. Jess made up for all of Jade's faults.
"Come on sis, I need you by my side," Jess whispered, squeezing Jess' hand. Her eyes flew open when she felt that squeeze come back. "Jess?" Jade asked, not sure if she was really starting to go crazy. "Hey, sis," Jess whispered back. Jade choked on a sob as she looked down and saw her best friend's clear blue eyes looking back at her. "Oh my God, Jess, you're okay!" Jade cried, jumping up and throwing her arms around Jess' neck. "Calm down girl, you're gonna kill me," Jess said, laughing. "No, Jess... I'm so sorry... I... it's my fault... it's... all my fault," Jade stuttered, tears falling inconsesently down her cheeks.
"Jade, don't say that! It's not your fault," Jess said. "No, you don't understand, it is, it's all my fault," Jade kept repeating. "Jade, stop. Look, I'm fine. All healthy and stuff," Jess said, smiling. "Jess, those pills you took from me... they... they weren't Aspirin. They were my energy pills... I just took them so I could shop with you without getting all grouchy and stuff... but you weren't supposed to take them! I shouldn't of even brought them, I'm so sorry Jess!" Jade said, the words spilling from her mouth without her even realizing it.
"Energy pills? Jade, why are you taking energy pills?" Jess asked. "I'm only taking them when I have something to do... like if I have to stay up and write a paper or something. But you're only supposed to take one unless you're used to them, and you took two, thinking they were Aspirin," Jade said quickly, not meating Jess' eyes. "Jade, I want you to stop taking those, okay? If they can do this to me, I don't want to take the chance of them doing it to you, too," Jess said. "Ummm... I'm gonna go get the doctor," Jade said, standing up and walking out of the room.
As she turned the corner to the nurses station, she ran into Jess' doctor, who was carrying a clipboard. "Whoa, slow down, miss. You'll hurt yourself taking corners like that," he said, smiling down at her. "She's awake," Jade said, ignoring his flirting. "Who's awake?" he asked, crinkling his forehead. "Jessica Patterson... she's awake! Come on," Jade said, grabbing his arm and pulling him into Jess' room. "Miss Patterson! Oh my, you are awake!" the doctor said, pulling out his stethascope and listening to her heart beat. "We though you weren't going to be with us much longer," he said. "Never underestimate the power of true friendship," Jess said, smiling at Jade.
Jade smiled back and uneasily stepped back to let the doctor look Jess over. She doesn't get it, she could of died. I could of lost my best friend... the world could of lost a great person... and it would of been all my fault, Jade thought to herself. "Well, it looks to me as if we've made a mistake. Miss Patterson is going to be just fine," the doctor said, walking over to the door. "I just have one question, though. What did you take to shut down your system like that?" he asked Jess.
"She accidentely took two of my energy pills, thinking they were Aspirin," Jade interrupted, not wanting anyone to think that Jess would ever take anything to hurt herself. "Oh, I see. Those things can be very dangerous. I'll write up the dismisal papers. Miss Patterson can go home tomorrow after staying a night for observation," he said, walking out of the room and closing the door behind him. "I'd better go tell the others," Jess said, giving Jess a hug and following the doctor out of the room.
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