” Let go of me, Whitney.”, Kay warned.

” No. You…you can’t tell my parents.”

” Why not? Why not tell them WHY Simone’s in a coma. I think they deserve to know.”

Kay pulls away her arm from Whitney’s grasp and briskly walks over to the adults.

“ Coach Russell, Dr. Russell, I think I know the reason WHY Simone is in a coma.”
 
 

TC and Eve looked at Kay curiously.

“ Kay, what are you talking about? Simone is here because of an accident.”, Eve said to her.

” Dr. Russell, Simone qualified for the swim team our freshman year, and was a Junior Lifeguard. You’re telling me that you don’t think she had the skills to survive in the water?”

” It was cold out.”, TC began.

” So what. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but I don’t think it was an accident. I believe Simone probably tried to commit suicide.”

” SUICIDE! Kay, don’t upset TC and Eve like this!”, Grace said with scorn.

” Mother, not ALL parents want to be in the clouds where their families are concerned. I just thought that Simone’s parents would want to know the truth.”

” What truth, Kay? What truth could send Simone into such a state that she would want to commit suicide?”, Eve asked.

” Yeah, why the hell are you saying that my Sugarbear tried to commit suicide?”

Kay turned to Whitney and Chad. “ Do you even have THE GUTS to tell the truth?”

All eyes were on Whitney and Chad.

“ Whitney, is there something you need to tell us?”, Eve asked.

“ Princess?”

Kay began tapping her foot on the floor, and put her hand up, counting down as she curled up her fingers.

Whitney was still standing there when Kay’s hand turned into a fist. “ Since your daughter is not only a horrible sister, but gutless wonder, ‘I’LL’ tell you the truth. I’m sure that Simone is in that hospital room because she was hit with the reality of Chad and Whitney being a couple.”

“ Chad and Whitney aren’t a couple.”, TC said.

” Yes, they are, Coach Russell. And, Simone found out in the worst way tonight, when she walked in on them HAVING SEX!”

Whitney looked at Kay, wondering how she knew that, but couldn’t process anything because before anyone could react, TC’s fist was connecting with Chad’s jaw.
Chad was taken by surprise and was on the floor, but it didn’t stop TC. He jumped on Chad, throwing punch after punch. Chad began to respond back, and an all-out brawl consumed. Sam, coming back with Grace from getting coffee, pulled TC away from Chad.

“ I KNEW you were a no-good bastard punk! How DARE you do that to my daughters!”

” Daddy! I love Chad.”

” Whitney, you don’t know what you’re talking about. How could you love a scum that would string your sister along like a piece of garbage?”

” Daddy, he kept quiet because of me.”

” Whitney, spare me. A REAL MAN would NEVER hurt someone like Chad did Simone. And I know your mother and I raised you better than that. To be with someone who would hurt Simone like that.”

“ Daddy..”

” Whitney, your sister is in there fighting for her life. Do you even care?”

” OF COURSE I CARE!”

“ You do? You’re standing here defending this punk. What am I supposed to think?”

Before Whitney could say anything, TC turned his back to her and walked towards Simone’s room.

Whitney turned to her mother. “ Mom?”

“ Whitney, I love you. But, I’m so disappointed right now. I don’t know if my baby is going to live or die. Any relationship you have with Chad is going to have to wait on my priority list.” Eve turned to Chad. “ Chad, I would prefer it if you left.”

” I don’t mean any disrespect, Dr. Russell,”

“ Then leave, Chad. Leave.”, Whitney  said before her mother could comment.

Chad moved to hold Whitney, but she lowered her head. Chad left.

“ Thank you, Whitney. Our family doesn’t need any distractions. I’m going to be with your sister.”

Whitney stood outside of Simone’s room, looking in the window at her sister. Watching the machines help her breathe.

” What a great sister you are.”, Kay commented sarcastically.

” Haven’t you done enough?”, Whitney hissed.

” Me? I didn’t do this, Whitney. You did.”

” Why are you here?”

” Simone is my best friend. I’m going to be here until she wakes up.”

“ Only FAMILY is allowed to see her right now.”

“ I KNOW you don’t have the nerve to try and be pulling rank, Whitney. What you did to Simone was anything but FAMILIAL.”

“ Shut up, Kay!”

” Truth hurts, don’t it?”

” Kay, the Russells don’t need you upsetting the family. They need to be able to support Simone.”

“ As usual Mother, taking someone else’s side even when I’m right. Whitney is the reason Simone needs ‘ support’. So spare me if I’m not moved by her supposed devotion to Simone. I’m not going ANYWHERE.”

Grace looked sympathetically towards Whitney, but realized that Kay wasn’t going to move.

A little bit after dawn, the doctors told everyone to leave while they did a checkup of Simone. TC and Eve went home for a quick shower and change, and Kay needed to eat. Whitney went to call Chad.

After the doctors examined Simone and left, someone slipped into Simone’s room carrying flowers. Fox sat down next to Simone and held her hand.

“ You are far too beautiful to be in the hospital like this. Why did you do this to yourself? What could have happened to hurt someone so lovely?”

Fox couldn’t help himself as he reached out to touch Simone’s face. His hands drew slowly over Simone’s features, as if he wanted to drink them in.

There was a peace in the room, and he didn’t want to disturb it in the least. He had brought a portable CD player.

“ I find that Etta James is good for whatever ails you.”

Turning on the CD, he softly began to sing along with the CD.

So hypnotic was the CD that Fox didn’t hear the door open and someone come in.

“ Who are you and what the hell are you doing with my daughter?”