Chapter 16

Natalia: what the hell is going on???!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!

Standback: it's nothing. Don't worry

Natalia: then how come the heart monitor is beating faster and the brain wave monitor is going slower???

Standback: it's not usual but it's normal

Natalia: well I don't care if it's normal or not. Wake her up now!

Standback: I can't do that. We don't know at what level she is

Natalia: isn't your job to know that?!?!

Standback: I just provide the safe trip but once the patient goes into their unconscious, they are on their own

Natalia: doctor, bring her back now!

Standback: fine

DOCTOR STANDBACK TOOK THE BRAIN WAVE AND HEART MONITOR OFF MARIAM'S HEAD AND CHEST

Standback: listen to me mariam. Wake up in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

MARIAM WOKE UP SURPRISED AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS, SHE REALIZED HER SURROUNDINGS.

Standback: are you ok?

Natalia: hey stranger

Mariam: hey

NATALIA SAT NEXT TO HER FRIEND AND GAVE HER A HUG

Mariam: what happened? Why am I awake?

Standback: your heart monitor was going just a little faster and the brain wave monitor was going slow but it's no big deal. I told that to your friend but you know how she is  so she begged me to wake you up.

Natalia: hello?!! Her heart was going faster and her brain was going slower!!

Standback: and I told you there was nothing to worry about

Mariam: are you sure doctor?

THE DOCTOR SMILED WHILE HE SAT DOWN AHD GAVE MARIAM A GLASS OF WATER

Standback: I assure you mariam that everything was going fine. What happened is the way your brain tells you its tired. Your brain cells had too much activity so they need rest that's all.

Mariam: ok. Then now that it's clear I'm ok bring me back doctor

Natalia: again?

Standback: that is not a good idea. Get some rest. Go home and sleep a lot. Let your brain take a break and then tomorrow morning come back and we'll continue

Natalia: we'll do that

Mariam: thank you doc. I  mean really thank you

Standback: your welcome

THAT NIGHT NATALIA ASKED MARIAM TO STAY WITH HER AND DOMINICK AND AFTER A LOT OF CONVINCING, SHE AGREED. MARIAM WAS SEATING ON THE EDGE OF THE BED BRUSHING HER HAIR WHEN SHE SAW THE ROOM DOOR OPENED AND DOMINICK CAME IN WITH VERONICA IN HIS ARMS AND NATALIA BEHIND HIM

Dominick: hey

Mariam: hi stranger

Dominick: how are you feeling?

Mariam: I'm good. How is my niece?

DOMINICK SAT NEXT TO MARIAM AND GAVE HER VERONICA TO HOLD

Natalia: she is good. I was telling DJ how weird it was to see you with those two things monitoring your body and so deep in sleep

Mariam: what's completely weird its how your mind can take you back. I woke up at our old apartment

Natalia: shut up. Are you serious?

MARIAM SMILED AND CLOSED HER EYES FOR A FEW SECONDS

Mariam: yeah. Back when you and Dominick were still in denial and me and Justin were messing around.

Dominick: it must be so weird

Mariam: but it feels good

Natalia: how about when you saw Justin again?

Mariam: it was surreal

Dominick: anyway you need to rest and we need to go

Natalia: yeah I agree.

NATALIA AND DJ WERE LEAVING THE ROOM AND WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND THEM

Mariam: good night egghead, goodnight bitch

BOTH DJ AND NATALIA LAUGHED

Natalia: goodnight ho

MARIAM SMILED, TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND WENT TO SLEEP. THE FOLLOWING MORNING MARIAM ARRIVED AT STANDBACK'S OFFICE AROUND 9

Natalia: morning doctor

Standback: morning. Are you ready?

Mariam: yes

Standback: there is something you must know

Mariam: what is it?

Standback: the unconscious does not have a pause now and play later button. Wherever you stopped at won't be where you start at today. Still want to do this?

Mariam: yeah doctor

MARIAM LAID DOWN ON THE COUCH WHILE DOCTOR STANDBACK PREPARED THE HEART AND BRAIN WAVE MONITOR

Natalia: I'm here

Mariam: I know

Natalia: see you in a bit ho

Mariam: see you in a bit bitch

Standback: ok mariam. You are going to close your eyes and fall sleep before I get to 1

THE DOCTOR BEGAN COUNTING AND BEFORE HE GOT TO 5 MARIAM WAS ALREADY IN DEEP SLEEP
SHE WOKE UP CONFUSED. MARIAM FELT AN ARM AROUND HER WAIST AND LOOKED TO HER RIGHT TO FIND JUSTIN SLEEPING. SHE WAS BACK IN HER ROOM NEXT TO JT. OK SO IT HAD WORKED AGAIN. BUT SOMETHING WAS SOMEHOW DIFFERENT. THIS WASN'T WHERE SHE HAD LEFT OFF LAST TIME SO MARIAM KNEW THAT JUST LIKE THE DOCTOR HAD SAID SHE WENT BACK TO A DIFFERENT TIME.

Justin: hey you are awake

Mariam: yeah you too

Justin: well who can sleep with those two arguing again

SHE HEARD VOICES COMING FROM THE LIVING ROOM AND REALIZED THEY BELONGED TO NATALIA AND DJ

Justin: they are fighting again. I swear this has become like a every night thing

Mariam: well you know them

NOW SHE KNEW WHERE SHE WAS. IT WAS EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER SHE AND JUSTIN SLEPT TOGETHER AND DJ AND NATALIA FIRST KISSED. ONE YEAR AFTER NATA'S SECOND DATE WITH ETHAN HAPPENED. BY NOW HER RELATIONSHIP WITH JUSTIN WAS OFFICIAL AND ACCORDING TO NATALIA, IT WAS DISGUSTING TO SEE HOW CLOSE THEY WERE AND HOW STRONG THE RELATIONSHIP WAS. BY NOW ETHAN WAS A MAJOR PART OF NATALIA'S LIFE. HE WAS NOW HER FIANCÉ. OF COURSE MARIAM AND JUSTIN AND EVERYBODY ELSE KNEW SHE WAS ENGAGED TO HIM TO SOMEHOW TRY TO GET DJ OUT OF THE PICTURE. WHICH IS WHY THEY WERE FIGHTING NOW. EVER SINCE THEY KISSED DJ REALIZED HIS FEELINGS FOR HER SO TASHA BECAME A THING IN THE PAST BUT FOR SOME REASON NATALIA CLAIMED SHE FELT DIFFERENT. WHICH EVERYBODY KNEW WAS A LIE. THE WHOLE CALIFORNIA STATE KNEW SHE HAD FEELINGS FOR HIM TOO BUT WHAT NOBODY KNEW WAS WHY SHE KEPT DENYING THEM.
SO FOR THE PAST FEW NIGHTS ALL THEY DID WAS ARGUE. SOME NIGHTS DJ WOULD TELL HER TO STOP WITH ALL THAT ENGAGEMENT CRAP AND BE TRUE TO HER FEELINGS AND OTHER NIGHTS HE WOULD CALL HER A LIAR AND A WHORE AND THEN TRY TO KISS HER. SOMETIMES SHE WOULD CLAIM TO LOVE ETHAN AND CALL DOMINICK ALL KINDS OF NAMES FROM EGGHEAD TO SON OF A BITCH AND OTHER NIGHTS SHE WOULD SIMPLY LET HIM KISS HER

Mariam: so what are they arguing about tonight?

Justin: I don't know

MARIAM STOOD UP, WALKED TO THE DOOR AND PUT HER EAR ON THE DOOR

Justin: what are you doing???

Mariam: can you see? I'm trying to hear something.

Justin: I know it's hard for you not to be loud but think you can whisper?

Mariam: sorry

JUSTIN TRIED TO WRAP THE LONG BLANKET AROUND HIS WAIST WHILE MARIAM LOOKED AT HIM CONFUSED

Justin: what??!!?

Mariam: what are you doing?

Justin: I'm cold

HE STOOD UP, WALKED TWO STEPS AND FELL
MARIAM HEARD WHEN SOMETHING HIT THE FLOOR

Mariam: what the hell?!

Justin: I stepped on the blanket

Mariam: real smart baby

Justin: whatever. Now move, I want to hear too

Natalia: I'm sick of it Dominick. I'm tired of everybody telling me to think about what I'm doing. I love Ethan and I'm going to marry him. I have nothing to think about. I know what I'm doing

Dominick: really? Then why this?

Natalia: what do you mean?

Dominick: why do you think we do this almost every night natalia?!!?

Natalia: I don't know DJ because every night you come here and find an excuse to start a fight with me

Dominick: me? Half of the time it's you who starts the fight

NATALIA NOTICED HOW DJ WAS WALKING TOWARDS HER SO SHE STARTED WALKING BACKWARDS

Natalia: you wish

Dominick: come on nata you know I'm right. you always wait until I say goodnight and when you see that I'm leaving you say something and the fight starts

BY NOW NATALIA WAS BETWEEN DJ AND THE WALL. SHE HAD NO PLACE TO GO

Dominick: be honest with me for once nata. Do you do that so I can stay?

Natalia: why do you always stay?

Dominick: I think we both know why

THEY WERE ABOUT TO KISS WHEN HER CELL PHONE STARTED RINGING

Natalia: hello?

Ethan: hi baby

Natalia: hey sweetie. You just got here?

Ethan: yes.

Natalia: how was japan?

Ethan: it was ok. It would have been better if you were there

Natalia: next time baby

Ethan: alright. Just wanted to call and say hi baby. I'm sorry if I woke you up

Natalia: you didn't

Ethan: ok. Goodnight

Natalia: night

Dominick: let me guess, the prince is back from japan

NATALIA WALKED TOWARDS HER ROOM AND OPENED THE DOOR

Natalia: I am going to tell you this one more time. Don't try to kiss me again

Dominick: trying??? I wasn't even trying. You were going to let me. Just like everytime we get to that point

Natalia: you are an arrogant bastard.

Dominick: and you a selfish bitch

NATALIA CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND HER AND DJ TOOK JUSTIN'S CAR KEYS AND LEFT THE APARTMENT

Mariam: and of course the last magical part of the show

Justin: the name calling.

Mariam: why do you think they are acting so damn stupid?

Justin: well don't get mad but it's not him it's her

Mariam: I know. But come on both of them are acting like middle school kids.

Justin: anyway let's go back to bed

NATALIA SAT IN HER BED AND HESITATED BEFORE PICKING UP THE PHONE

Natalia: hey

Ethan: hi. Is there something wrong?

Natalia: no. of course not. Remember that thing that we talked about?

Ethan: of course I do. Have you thought about it?

Natalia: yeah

Ethan: and?

Natalia: let's do it

Ethan: really???

Natalia: yeah

Ethan: are you sure beautiful??

Natalia: yes I'm sure

Ethan: great. You'll see natalia. It's going to be great. You are not gonna regret it

NATALIA CLOSED HER EYES AND HOPED SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TO REGRET IT LATER