Chapter 7

            Jen awoke slowly.  She had no idea how long she had been asleep.  A soft hand brushed down her cheek and her eyes opened to find Drew sitting next to her.

            "Hey, sweetie.  I'm here," he said, then gave her a kiss on the forehead.

            Jen shifted her neck to look Drew straight in the eye.  This was the first time in weeks that the neck brace was gone and she could move freely.

            "You've been asleep for quite a long time, or so I've heard.  How are you feeling?"  Drew asked.

            "A little out of it, but I'm okay," Jen answered.

            "The doctor said you could go home today.  It's been two weeks since I left, and I've missed you so much."

            "I've missed you too," she replied.  Jen was beginning to suspect that Drew didn't know about her episode and why she had been sleeping so much.  She wasn't about to ask him, fearing he would leave if she told him.

            Dr. Ravens walked in.  "Hello, Jen.  It's nice to see you awake this wonderful Monday morning."

            "Yes, it is," she said.  "Drew, could you leave for a few minutes?  I need to talk to Dr. Ravens privately."

            "Are you sure you don't want me here?"  Drew asked.

            "I'm sure.  This is some really personal stuff," Jen replied.

            "What's so important that you had to ask your boyfriend to leave?"  Dr. Ravens asked once Drew was gone.

            "What happened to me two weeks ago?"  Jen began.

            "You had an epileptic seizure.  We weren't anticipating it, but we immediately put you on a medication," he explained.

            "How did it happen?"

            "It was probably cause by that blow you received when you fell.  You hit your head hard enough and. . . ," Dr. Ravens cut himself short remembering Jen wouldn't understand him if he kept rambling off medical terms.

            "I understand.  Have you told my family?" she questioned.

            "Yes, and only you immediate family knows.  You may tell anyone about this, if you want," he said.

            "So, Drew doesn't know?  Good.  I want it to stay that way.  I don't want him to break up with me because of this," Jen almost began to cry.  It was at that moment when Drew finally decided to enter the room.

            "Jen, your parents wanted me to tell you that I'm taking you home.  What's wrong, honey?" he asked, noticing Jen become tense and two tears drip down her face.

            "It's nothing.  A sad story, that's all," she lied.  She let Drew brush the tears away and kiss her cheek.  Whatever was wrong, he wasn't about to make it worse.

            "You wanna go home now?" he asked, changing the subject.

            "Yeah, but I need to get dressed," Jen answered.  Dr. Ravens left the room before being asked to.  "Drew, could you help me?"

            "Of course.  It would be my pleasure."

            "Oh, I don't think so, you sick little boy.  Get those nasty thoughts out of your head right now," she ordered.

            "How would you know I was thinking something nasty?  Well, I wasn't," Drew defended himself.  Jen was turned around and trying to unbutton the back of he hospital gown with one hand.  He helped her out until she stopped him, but not before he deposited a tender kiss on the back of her neck.

            "It's taken me a long time to realize that I don't like you," Jen began.

            "What?  You don't like me?" he retorted.

            "No, I don't like you," she boldly declared.  "I love you."

            Drew was overwhelmed with what Jen was telling him.  Before she could utter another word, he bent down and gave her a long awaited kiss on the lips.  Jen's hand reached around his neck to pull him closer and never want to let go.

            Their lips parted and Drew said, "I love you, too."  They stared into each other's eyes for a few more moments before realizing that Jen needed to get ready.

            "I want to get the hell out of here and spend the rest of the day with you," Jen broke the silence.  She began to slip off her gown without thinking.  "DREW!!  Turn around!"

            Jen quickly put on her clothes and began to slide off the bed.  Her feet landed on the floor, and just as she was about to stand up, her whole body fell beneath her.  Drew hurriedly caught her before she hit the floor.  "That was smart," he said.

            "I know, my legs fell asleep," she replied.  Jen held on to his arm for support.

            "Would you rather have me carry you to the car?"  Drew asked.  He didn't wait for Jen to answer, so he picked her up anyway.

            "You are so strong," she commented, giving him a kiss on the neck.

            "And you're so light.  What have they been feeding you, a piece of bread and water?"

            "They've been feeding me, but I guess I have lost some weight," Jen confessed.  "Come on, I wanna leave.  Can't we just go?"

            "Yes, we're leaving now," Drew said.  He began walking down the hall with Jen in his arms.