[b][u]The Chapel[/u][/b]

Matt, half-dead under a bridge. Nathan didn't know how to respond to that and it left a bad taste in his mouth, knowing that he hadn't been there for both Noah and Matt. "It's a good thing Ross found him." That was all he managed to say at the moment. Nate clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. He was a terrible friend and he didn't deserve them.

Audrey was dragged into a hug and it felt nice and comforting, she wanted to pull the both of them into a hug as well, but Nate looked so out of it and Arty was standing behind the pew. The girl held onto Arty's arm and gave it a comforting squeeze, she couldn't help herself and soon Audrey began sniffling. She wiped away at her tears with the back of her hand then smiled when both her friends began talking about eight grade.

The trip to the abandoned house ended with Matt and Nathan on the floor and caked in dust. Arty had given the boys quite a scare, it had been a good night. After all the commotion, they washed up and spent the night playing video games and watching movies at Noah's place. Nate couldn't have said it any better, those were good times.

Then everyone was rising and the priest began to talk.

He blabbered on about how tragic everything was and it almost made Nathan snap. They already knew how messed up this was, they already knew how painful this was. Noah Logan killing himself, it was just unthinkable. The priest began talking about how suicide was horrible and about how unexpected things were and Nate just wanted to punch him right in the face. The man began talking about Noah's life, about how he had been a great example and a good kid. Noah was indeed one of the kindest people he had ever known but the priest was sugarcoating events. If Noah were here-- if he were alive, he'd probably laugh. The priest was calling him a model student, but the four of them knew he was anything but that. He fell asleep in history and asked for their help in Science class, but that was Noah Logan for you. His shortcomings and quirks were what made him Noah and they loved him for it, shortcomings and all. Having events sugarcoated by a guy who didn't even know him, it felt [i]wrong[/i].

How many of these people even wanted to be here? How many of this people weren't thinking about their jobs and other problems. He saw a bunch of kids elbowing each other in the ribs and snickering. Well, damn them. Damn the priest and damn Noah for leaving them.

He felt tears sting his eyes, but before he could do anything there was an audible gasp from the crowd.

"Arty!" Audrey reached out for her friend's hand but before the girl could do anything her friend was stumbling out of the pew. Ross caught her, but she shoved him aside and continued running down the aisle. The girl stared at the scene with wide eyes, Arty had always been the strongest one in their little group. They had never seen her break and just staring at her now, it was painful, and it showed them just how broken they truly were. "Arty," Audrey stumbled past dazed guests and ran down the aisle.

Arty crashed into the coffin then began screaming and slamming her fists onto it. The scene wasn't exactly east to watch. 

Ross tried to get her to calm down, but she didn't and Nathan began scrambling towards them in an attempt to help. "He's dead Artemis!" Nate's voice cracked, "He's dead and he sure as hell isn't coming back!" He repeated, hoping that it would knock some sense into her and stop her from making things more painful than it ought to be. She didn't seem to hear so he rushed forward, gave Ross an apologetic expression and tried to yank her away. However the next thing he saw made him fall flat on his backside--Noah's eyes fluttered open.

Noah's mother screamed and the crowd erupted into confused yells.

"God! Call an ambulance!" Someone had yelled before a guy in a dark suit grabbed a phone and dialed 911. 

The next few minutes were the most chaotic in Nathaniel's life. People swarmed around the coffin, others rejoiced, and the priest, he stared at it all dumbfounded and confused. It was an utter miracle.

"Arty," Audrey had both hands on her friend's shoulder now. Noah's sudden awakening had managed to shock Arty out of her rage. "It'll be okay." She didn't even know if she believed her own words, but she didn't want to see her friends hurting so she pulled Arty into a hug. 

It was the longest fifteen minutes of their lives and soon the sound of sirens filled the air. Paramedics rushed into the chapel and before any of them could do anything, Noah was strapped onto a gurney and rushed out with his family.

---

[b][u]Eaton General Hospital[/u][/b]

After the ambulance took Noah away, the guests began to go home, but not them.

The four of them remained, dumbstruck and confused. It wasn't until awhile later that one of Noah's aunts recognized them. She offered to drive them to the hospital and though the ride had only lasted a few minutes, it felt like years.

Upon arrival they learned that Noah was in the ICU and that he was in critical condition. They weren't allowed to see him, only immediate family members were allowed inside. Even Matt wasn't allowed in, so they were directed to the waiting room. Minutes turned into hours and soon it was dark out, but Doctors still didn't know what was up and Noah didn't get any better. The last thing they were told was that it could go either way. 

The news had been heavy and depressing and the possibility of losing Noah again was very real.

The nurse had been nice enough to hand them blankets and hot chocolate.

Nate pressed the palm of his hands into his eyes. The day had been unbelievable and he was a bundle of emotions. Arty and Audrey and Matt were with him, he had to be strong for all of them but he didn't have anything to say. He sat across from the girls and beside Matt, the cup of chocolate cold and untouched in his hand. There were no words for such a situation, so he placed a hand on Matt's shoulder and hoped it would be enough.

He knew it wasn't, but what else could he do?

Audrey sat beside Artemis, one hand clamped tightly around her friend's arm and the other holding onto the blanket as if it were her lifeline. "He'll be okay." She blurted out. "Noah hasn't stopped fighting and, he isn't going to. He'll be okay." She repeated in an attempt to comfort her friends and herself.