Nadia's POV

"Hurry and take the picture. Make sure you send it to me,"

Click

"Why didn't you turn off your flash? You're going to wake them up,"

"You do know I'm awake, right?"

A deep vibration sounded from below me and I remembered where I was.

I groaned and turned my face away from my friends and Mateo.

"Why are y'all like this?" I mumbled from Mateo's shoulder before I lifted my head.

Grace and Jess stood in front of Mateo and I while Chris and Joshua stood behind them but clearly involved in this as well. They all sheepishly waved and I gave them a snarl.

I separated myself from Mateo, rolled over and walked to the bathroom. I emptied my bladder, washed my face and brushed my teeth before I returned to the room. Grace and Jess were snickering about something on the phone so I assumed it was the picture.

The boys were talking in the hallway in hushed voices so I ignored them. I walked over to Cass and pulled out some lip balm. She hates when her lips are dry.

"Anything new on her?" Jess asked and I shook my head as I ran my hand down Cass' cheek. She felt so cold under my touch as I pulled my hand away.

I pressed a kiss on her forehead and turned back to Grace and Jess, offering them a small smile.

"We're going downstairs to get breakfast, are you girls coming?" Chris asked and the girls turned to me.

"I'm okay. You guys go ahead," I replied and sat back in the chair next to the hospital bed.

"We'll bring you something," Grace replied and they filed out of the room.

I sat there silently watching the motion of her heartbeat.

"Are you okay?" Mateo's voice broke me out of my trance and I nodded.

"Arent you going to work?" I asked looking back at him.

I noticed that he was still in the outfit from last night. Maybe he has a suit in his car.

He shook his head.

"My dad is handling it for now,"

"Your work needs you, go," I replied and stood to get my phone from my bag.

"You need me more,"

I froze at his words. It's like they triggered something within me.

"Who am I to you, Mateo? I'm your assistant. You're my boss. We aren't a thing and you seem to have forgotten that. We can never be anything more than a boss and an empolyee. So stop acting like I'm not your girlfriend and most importantly stop acting like you're my boyfriend because you aren't!"

I hadn't realised that I was yelling until my chest was heaving.

"Noted Matthews. You can take time off from work. I'll leave now," Mateo spoke and my heart hurt seeing him like this.

But it's for the best.

Is it?

I pushed away the thought as I watched Mateo walk out of the room. He looked back at me so I pulled my eyes away and turned to the side.

The room grew colder once he left. It's like someone turned on the AC. I pulled my knees into my chest and hugged them, trying to mimic warmth.

True to her word, Grace brought me back a breakfast burrito and coffee. I lost my appetite but I forced myself to scarf down more than a third of the burrito.

They left a little before lunch time. The nurse who attended to Cass last night had asked us to limit the number of people in the room until Cass' immune system is stable enough.

Her school had sent a get well package and flowers for Cass and I placed them on the table specifically for gifts.

Her friends popped in after school to greet and talk to Cass while I took a nap.

Well, tried to.

My mind was racing with the words I told Mateo. I had checked my phone multiple times today. Hoping for a text or a call to see if I was okay. I don't even know why I had hope because he hadn't texted once or called.

"Are you okay sugar?" The nurse, who I found out is named Trinity, asked me as she changed the feeding tube.

"Yeah," I answered in a small voice and she hummed in suspicion.

"Where's that handsome husband of yours?"

I nearly choked at the title she gave Mateo.

"He's not my husband. Not even boyfriend. I kinda told him off,"

Trinity looked up at me from the tube and raised her eyebrows in question.

"The way y'all were sleeping last night didn't seem like y'all weren't even dating,"

I blushed as I remember her catching Mateo and I asleep last night.

"Do you like him?" She asked as she wheeled her medicine cart away from the bed.

I nodded and looked down at my hands.

Trinity moved to accompany me on the couch and put her hand on mine.

"Listen sugar, I don't know your life story but it seems like you've had it rough. You need to let that man in, especially in a time like this. It's rare to see someone who genuinely cares for you. I don't know y'all's situation but I can tell you both like each other, a lot. Time is a precise thing, don't regret this later,"

A lone tear slipped out of my eye and Trinity brought me in for a warm hug. A motherly hug. A hug I haven't felt in almost a decade.

Thinking about my mom made me cry into my hands more.

After my crying session, Trinity left. She returned to bring me dinner and collect the plate a little after.

My days after that started blending together. I'd wake up, check my phone, freshen up, socialize with visitors, talk to Cass and talk to Trinity.

Cassandra has been healing nicely. They were just waiting for her to wake up so they could do a kidney transplant.

I'm a match so I'll be giving her my kidney.

I hadn't even realized that it's been a little over a week until I got Cassandra's graduation reminder.

I was supposed to bake her a cake for her graduation. She is supposed to graduate in two weeks.

My heart shattered as a tear fell on my phone screen.

Thankfully I know Trinity wouldn't be back for another two hours so I could talk to Cass in peace.

"Hey Cass. It's me, Dia. I just got the reminder about your graduation. It's in two weeks so I need you to wake up for me. I remember how you talked about wanting to go dress shopping and get your hair done for that day. I saved up so i could make that dream come true. I couldn't wait for you to stand and give your speech. You were so excited about being valedictorian. You even had it on a board in your room when you started highschool. I miss hearing you speak. I miss seeing your work. I miss hearing about your day. I miss you. So much,"

I broke down crying and I placed my head on her bed.

Just then, a brush of fingers against my arm made me shoot up.

I sat up and looked down at Cassandra's hand as it lightly lifted. I placed my hand in hers and it was in fact moving.

"Cass,are you awake?"

I shot out of my chair in excitement and the door opened.

I turned expected to see Trinity but I saw Mateo standing with a bouquet of flowers.

"She's awake. Or is trying to wake up at least," I beamed as I turned back to Cass.

She was trying to say something as her mouth moved.

Suddenly her hand dropped and her mouth closed.

Less than a second later, there was a long beep came from the heart monitor.

She's flatlining.

A group of nurses and doctor Jackson entered.

It all happened so fast.

One second, Mateo moved me to the end of the room so they could try to recitate Cassandra.

The other, doctor Jackson is yelling for equipment and working on Cass.

The next, the long silence filled the room after the final attempt.

"Time of death, 1:11 a.m,"

After that I heard doctor Jackson say "I'm so sorry," as they raised the cover over Cassandra's face.

Just like that, my world crumbled beneath my feet.