AJ felt like he was going to fall over.

�What?� he asked in disbelief.

�Cally�s in a coma,� Nick repeated.

�Holy...�

�No time for that. Get down here, now!�

�What hospital?�

Nick gave him the name, and AJ quickly wrote it down.

�OK, Nick...I�ll be there in a sec.�

�Hurry.�

AJ hung up and glanced at Michelle. Against his better judgement, he shook her awake.

�Michelle?�

�Huh?� she asked, wide awake.

�Could you...I mean...Cally is in a coma. I need to get to the hospital and Nick...�

Michelle closed her eyes briefly. �Oh shit! Alright...let�s go.�

They got in the car and drove in silence.

When they arrived at the hospital, AJ helped Michelle inside. They found Nick sitting on a couch in the waiting room.

He got up and kissed Michelle as they walked in. He was surprised when she pulled away.

�What?�

�Nothing...so...how is she?�

Nick shrugged, sub-dued once more. �No change...they don�t know if she�s going to...she...might not wake up.�

AJ sat down shocked. Michelle glanced at him. She rubbed her eyes. This was her fault. Cally had been so shocked when she had walked in on her and AJ. Oh Lord! She must have been so upset! �Shit! What was I thinking? I KISSED HIM! Oh shit! I�m supposed to have a boyfriend! What am I doing? I�m cheating on a sweet caring guy with another sweet caring guy! Damn! Why do I have to be so fucking stupid???�

Nick looked at her oddly. �What happened to your face?�

Suddenly everything in her mind got clear. She stared at him. �Nick...I think...I mean...nevermind...I�m going home.�

She started out the door, when AJ grabbed her arm. �Where�dya think you�re going?�

�Home.�

AJ rolled his eyes at her. �Yeah, right. I don�t want to be burrying my best friend tomorrow.�

Michelle couldn�t meet his eyes. �You need to be with Cally. What happened between us...it was a mistake. She shouldn�t have had to see that, and I shouldn�t have let you betray her. This ends...now.�

She turned and walked away from him. He walked behind her. �You can�t expect me to believe that that kiss meant nothing to you. And, I�m not letting you go home.�

She glared at him. �It meant nothing!�

AJ stared at her. Hurt, anger and confusion showed in his eyes. �Fine. But, I�m not letting you go home. Here are the keys to my house, and my car. Go there. You can leave when I get back. Do you understand?�

She looked up to meet his gaze. He saw tears glistening in her eyes. She nodded mutely. He handed her the keys and walked back to the waiting room. Every step he took, made the pain inside worse.

~Hours later...~

AJ and Nick were still in the waiting room. Nick was thinking hard. �Alright...today, I kissed Cally and Michelle. Michelle�s supposed to be my girlfriend...but she�s not here when I need her. Cally, on the other hand has always been there for me and oh my Lord! What am I thinking?�

AJ was also thinking. �This is such a bad day! Well...not all of it...� he smiled as he remembered the feel of Michelle�s lips on his. His thoughts clouded as he thought of Calista. �She must hate me! Damn! I�m so fucked up!�

Just then the doctor walked in. �She�s awake...�