18.

Oliver makes a return to the hospital and sees that the chair next to Judy's bed is empty. There could be many reasons for this to be so. Judy's mum may have gone for something to eat or perhaps gone to rest somewhere or something to that effect. Whatever the reason as to why she is not there, it gives Oliver the opportunity to sit next to Judy.

'Hi' he speaks out loud. 'How are you doing in there? You alright? I promise, I will do all I can to make sure you are. I just need to figure out exactly as to how I am going to do that ... I promise ... I promise. Everything will work out ... I promise.'

Oliver lowers his head and stares at the floor. A quiet whisper calls his name. Being momentarily lost in his own thoughts he does not fully hear this whisper. He thought he did and wasn't sure at the same time. The whisper calls him for a second time and this time he definitely hears it. The voice too, he knows it, it belongs to Judy. Oliver is sure of that.

'Judy?'

She is still unconscious in her bed; she has not woken. Besides he sits at her side, at his side and the whisper sounded as if it came from somewhere ahead of him and not beside him. Has she called for Oliver from somewhere else?

Oliver at this moment is not the only one playing witness to a kind of out of body experience moment with Judy for as Oliver sits with Judy, her mum is standing in front of a mirror in one of the hospital rest room facilities.

As you can imagine it is a difficult thing for any mother or parent to deal with having a child, their own child in a coma. Feeling the pain and strain along with a definite sense of helplessness, Judy's mum stares down into a sink questioning why what is happening, is happening. She turns on a tap and scoops water then brings this water to her face. As she does this, she briefly glimpses at the mirror before her.

The reflection she does briefly see is not her own, in actuality her reflection is replaced by the presence of someone else. For that split second, Judy's mum is sure that she could see her own daughter within the mirror, awake and looking right back. Having gathered herself, it is clear to see she is alone in front of the restroom mirrors. There are at least two other visitors to the hospital in here with her and they both are locked within individual cubicles. Looking forward once more, the reflection in the mirror she now sees is her own, only her own and not Judy's.

There is something that feels odd and real about the reflective moment, any attempt to dismiss what she saw as a moment of stress may not be something that can easily be passed.

***

Judy and Ellie are walking a lap of the football field and for at least a few minutes they are doing this in silence. Coming back towards the stand Judy has a question to ask.

'Do you miss your spot up there in the stand? With all that is going on, you are not going to have any time to sit up there by yourself.'

'Nah, I don't miss it. Sure, I haven't been away from it all that long and of course I've had plenty to keep me occupied. Better not to be anywhere alone right now anyway. It is good though to have a place, a go to spot to sit and watch or even just to sit.'

'Yeah, I know how that feels. In an odd way I kinda miss my little spot. I didn't get to spend much time there but still; it was my personal space.'

'Judy, I've been thinking, maybe you should go back, you'd be safer there.'

'What? No, I wouldn't, besides I have only really just got here.'

'You belong there.'

'Oh no, I seriously don't. If you'd been there, you'd know that if I belong anywhere, I belong here and besides, you are here.'

'I worry; it's so crazy here with all that is going on. I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you.'

'Yeah, I feel the same Ellie. I do miss my mum and maybe even Oliver too but you and I, we are sisters, and we are stronger together than apart. We will be fine. There would be no guarantee that I'd be any safer there. Anyway, how is Steve getting on?'

'Don't know to be honest, haven't had a chance to talk to him since before Mike went missing. This is crazy, all of it is crazy. It's ...'

Ellie's eyes begin to open wide as she stares at Judy.

'What? What is it?'

'Judy, your nose ...'

Judy touches the base of her nose to reveal that it is bleeding, nothing major, it is only a trickle, but still.

'Aw crap ...'

'Better get you to the school nurse.'

***

Having been distracted by what it sounded like Judy speaking his name, it takes Oliver a moment or two to see that as Judy lies in her bed, her nose has begun to trickle blood. Upon noticing this, he doesn't waste any time in calling a nurse. He cannot help but panic and wonder as to if Judy is in some kind of danger within that other world of hers. Maybe it is something worse that is happening in this moment. What about that head injury of hers?

Oliver waits outside Judy's room while a nurse attends to her and also while Judy is being attended to, another visitor has come to see how she is. With the dreams Oliver has been having, he does not need information, it comes to him almost telepathically so with the arrival of this visitor, Oliver does not need an introduction, he knows who this visitor is. This arriving visitor sees that Judy is being attended to and finds this situation a little upsetting.

'Hi, my name is Oliver, you are Suzie, right?' He asks in an attempt to ease emotion.

'Yeah, how did you know that?'

'Oh, Judy told me, before you know ...'

Of course, Judy had done no such thing and Suzie can't help but wonder as to how it is that this Oliver person really does know her name, her instinct tells her something is a little odd here. He can hardly tell her that the information he is aware of has come to him within a dream of sorts.

'Yeah, right, how is she?'

'The nurse is treating a nosebleed; a doctor will check on her shortly. I'm sure she will be alright. What about you? I heard about your friends. Are you doing alright?'

'Nah, not really to be honest, all will be fine soon, or as good a can be, I'll get by. Anyway, I better be getting back, bye.'

'Yeah, see you.'

19.

Ellie is escorted down the town, having heard that this is where Steve has come to be. They may be in the midst of an unpleasant time though coming through the coffee shop doors on this occasion, Ellie is not greeted by the stares the likes of which she received the last time she had come here.

Steve is sitting in corner alone, lost in his thoughts and definitely not looking himself.

'Hey' Ellie says as she gets close. 'You shouldn't really be on your own.'

Having been so lost in himself, he had not seen Ellie's arrival, he only is only aware of her presence once she had spoken. 'I know ...' he says softly, half feeling down from all that is going on and half wanting to smile with the sight of who has come to him, '... but what am I supposed to do? There are plenty of people here, so I guess it is as safe a place as any right now.'

'You haven't slept, have you?'

'Nope, sure how could I with what has happened to Mike?'

'He will turn up. Sure, we don't even know if anything bad has happened at all. I bet he has just fallen asleep somewhere.'

'He wouldn't have just run off, then again, he is Mike. He is a bit of a joker. None of this is funny and Mike wouldn't try on a joke like this. Until he does turn up alive and well, I won't be able to rest.'

Deciding to sit in a seat right next to Steve, Ellie soon moves a hand outward, and Steve takes it for a moment. Steve's other two buddies arrive into the shop.

'We are gonna head back' says one of them.

Steve stands.

'Wanna lift back?' Steve asks of Ellie.

'Nah, I am going to hang on in here for a bit' replies Ellie having spied someone somewhat familiar. 'Like you say, plenty of people here.'

'You sure? I thought you didn't like this place.'

'I don't. I'll be fine. Catch you later.'

'Yeah.'

That somewhat familiar person Ellie has spied within the coffee shop soon approaches and she brings two coffees, she also just so happens to be the girl whom Ellie prevented from accidentally stepping out in front of a car.

'Mind if I sit?' Alison asks.

'Not at all ... please' responds Ellie gesturing to an unoccupied seat next her.

'Nice that we can actually sit together in here this time.'

'That, it is.'

Since her nose bleed, Judy has been resting in her dorm room. She is feeling fine, and she is feeling good. She is also feeling that she hasn't come to this world just to rest in a room so despite the fact no one is supposed to go anywhere alone, she leaves that room by herself and goes wandering.

At this moment everything seems well, everything is well. From the looks on the faces of those who pass her by, you couldn't tell that anything was or is wrong at all. Her walk takes her to a position to where she can see Steve arrive back to the school in a car with his buddies. She doesn't let it be known to Steve that she is near-by.

Once out of the car, Steve parts company with his friends and moves into the school. He is soon joined by a girl, and they move away together, to be away from all others. Judy follows, still not letting it be known that she is near.

She is close enough to hear Steve say ... 'it's fine, it's all going to be alright', then she sees the two hug. Judy soon moves away to ensure she is not seen. Maybe Steve is hiding something? This could be a harmless moment. Judy can't help but think the worst. She may have been coming round somewhat but still, she doesn't really like Steve, she never really had and now she feels justified in her dislike of him. If this is just a friendly moment, then why did Steve and this girl go somewhere out of the way?

It does seem as if he does not want to be seen. How convenient it is that Ellie is not around. Having left her at the coffee shop Steve knows Ellie is not around but can this really only be a friendly moment? Or is there something more going on? This girl he had just been with, she is not just any girl. She is someone who has become known as Queen Bee.