"Somebody, do something!" I yelled. A group of nurses who had been eating in the corner rushed over. They quickly checked her pulse and nodded at each other. The tears stung my eyes as they threatened to spill out. Daniel appeared by my side and rubbed my back comfortingly. A man pushing a wheelchair hurried into the canteen and two of the nurses carried Abbie onto it. I tried to follow them as they wheeled her away but one of the nurses took my arm, gently guiding me in the other direction, back to our room.
"N-no please, I have to go with her," I whimpered, but she just looked at me in sympathy.
"She's in good hands," she reassured me as she sat me down on my bed. I shook my head, a single tear scalding my cheek as it rolled down slowly. The nurse spoke in hushed tones to Daniel, frequently looking back at me in concern.
My mind was racing. Was she going to be okay? When would they let me see her?

I was so caught up in my spiralling panic I didn't even notice that the nurse had left and I was now sobbing into Daniel's arms. I looked up, struggling to breathe. His eyes widened when he realised I was hyperventilating and he rubbed my back, trying unsuccessfully to soothe me.
"Laura, breathe," he told me. "Hey, it's going to be okay. Look at me. Breathe with me."
I fixed my eyes onto his, drowning in the surging waves of his deep ocean blue eyes. My breathing gradually returned to normal and the tears on my cheeks dried.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," I mumbled, blushing.
He shook his head. "Don't be sorry. It's not your fault. Are you okay?"
I nodded slowly, resting my head on his shoulder. He stroked my hair, and we stayed like that for what felt like forever.

Suddenly my phone vibrated in my back pocket, shaking both of us out of our daydreams. I took it out.
_skylarhaden_117: just heard about abbie. r u ok?
l_james332: Not really. Can you come over?
_skylarhaden_117: of course, i'll be there in 10
l_james332: Thanks x
_skylarhaden_117: no problem. see u soon xxx
Daniel leant over my shoulder. "Is that Skylar?" he asked curiously. "I didn't realise you two were friends."
I smiled. "Yeah. She's coming over."
"Oh, cool," he replied. He stood up, pushing a hand through his hair nervously.
I raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing," he ventured.
I scoffed. "Sure. That's why you're blushing."
He frowned. "I'm not."
I was just about to open my mouth to reply when the door swung open and a nurse bustled in. I stood up hurriedly, my eyes wide.
"Abbie?"
She smiled warmly. "Yes. She's okay, just slightly dazed. She's asked to see you."
I glanced at Daniel. "Go," he told me. "I should leave anyway."

I followed her through the corridors to a different ward where Abbie was lying in a stark white bed. Her eyes were closed and her mouth slightly parted. She looked delicate and fragile, and yet insurmountably strong at the same time. I took her hand gently, and her eyes flickered open.
"Laura?"
I nodded.
"You're so much taller now," she whispered.
I frowned, confused. "Taller? I don't know what you mean..."
A tear rolled down her cheek. "Don't you remember? You told me you'd never forget."
"Forget what?"
"I love you," she said softly.
I blinked. "You-you do? We've only been going out for a day, Abbie, you don't mean that...do you?"
Her face crumbled in despair. "No, Laura, please. Don't do this."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered. "Look, I like you, I really do, but don't you think this is a little fast?"
"Laura, you have to remember," she pleaded. "Please, you promised! You promised!" She began to sob and a nurse hurried over.
"What's going on?" he asked. I shook my head, staring at Abbie desperately. She rocked back and forth, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I think you should leave," the nurse told me, concern etched on his face.
I took a step back, and fled from the room.

Thoughts crowded my head as I ran, not noticing where I was going. People were looking at me strangely, but I ignored them and continued racing through the hospital.
What the hell was Abbie talking about? She seemed really upset about something, but I couldn't see what I had to do with it. We had only met a few weeks ago, how was it possible that she was in love with me already?
I couldn't believe that it was only this morning that I had gone for breakfast with Skylar - it already seemed like that was days ago. After everything that had happened today, I had completely forgotten that I was going home at 5. I stopped a nurse who was walking past.
"Excuse me, what's the time?"
"It's 5.15," she smiled.
Shit. I needed to get to reception. "Sorry, could you tell me which way it is to reception?" I asked the nurse.
"Sure. It's just down that corridor," she replied.
I thanked her, and dashed down the corridor. I stood in the line at the front desk for what seemed like hours while a mother tried to check in her hyperactive son who had apparently fallen down the stairs and "could have broken his leg, I'll have you know!". Judging by the way the small boy was racing around the reception, I didn't think it was that serious.

At last I reached the front of the queue. The man on the desk gave me a tired smile.
"How can I help?"
"Has a Ms Jennifer James come in? She was supposed to collect me at 5," I asked nervously.
"I'll just check for you," he replied, tapping away at his computer. He frowned.
"I'm sorry, nobody by that name has signed in. Have you checked the relatives' lounge? She might be there."
I nodded bitterly. I knew there was no point checking the stupid relatives' room - she was probably passed out in a pub somewhere.

Just then I felt hands snake around my waist and pull me into a hug. The scent of coffee, laundry detergent and pine wood enveloped me, bringing a smile to my face.
"Skylar."
She turned me around, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," I replied. I could tell she was unconvinced.
"You're such a bad liar," she smirked.
I blushed, biting my lip. "Just - a lot's happened today. I found out you're like this crazy celebrity, there's something seriously wrong with Abbie, and now my mum hasn't come to pick me up. Not that I'm surprised."
She squeezed my hands. "What's wrong with Abbie?"
"She collapsed in the middle of the canteen, and now she's acting weird," I sighed.
"Is she okay?"
"I'm not sure," I admitted. "She told me she loved me."
Skylar's eyes widened. "What?"
Oops. I hadn't meant to tell her that.
"It's a long story," I told her.

She led me over to one of the sofas in the corner of the office. "We've got time."
I sighed. "Well, basically, this morning, she said she liked me. And now we're going out."
She bit her lip. "Wow. So, I was right."
I rolled my eyes. "I guess so."
"But she told you she loved you straight away? Isn't that a bit quick? This isn't a Disney film," Skylar queried.
I nodded. "Precisely. That was after she collapsed. She got really upset and started yelling at me that I promised her something."
"That's really odd. Maybe she banged her head in the fall and got you confused with someone else?"
"But she kept calling me Laura. And she said that I was taller than before."
"Taller?"
"Yeah. What does that mean?"
She shook her head. "I have absolutely no idea."