*Krystal’s POV*

“Surprise!”

Well that was certainly one way of waking me up. I looked up to see two very relieved parents; my dad carrying in a bunch of flowers, a huuuuge teddy and chocolates; whilst my mum is guiding in a bundle of helium balloons and a giant Get Well Soon card.
Oh - and I can also see a beaming Ashley, grinning like he was so chuffed with himself. Wait... Had I fallen asleep on him earlier, or was that just wishful thinking? Hm.
CC was still sitting on one of the chairs next to me. He shook my father’s hand and greeted my mother.

“Mum! Dad!” I held my arms out, signalling that I wanted lots of cuddles. It was so nice to see them again!

“I was worried sick. Craig called us and told us what was going on and then this lovely gentleman organised for us to fly out here.” Mum was gesturing to Ash. He looked a bit bashful.

“Well thanks, ma’am. But I felt it was my duty to get you here to your daughter. She needs you.” And with that he smiled at me and then accompanied CC outside.

“Mum...” I looked at my mother and broke down. “I’m so sorry” I sobbed.

She embraced me in a hug that only your mother can give. “You have nothing to be sorry for my love. You did nothing wrong. You cannot blame yourself.”

“But I-“

“No, Krystal. Listen to me. You did absolutely nothing wrong. You were scared so you let someone hurt you. Anyone else would have done the same. I am proud of you no matter what you think. We almost lost you. But you fought through, just like your father did and you’re still here. Your friends have already said they do not want you facing this alone so they have put up a room for you at their house.”

“But I already have my own room”

“No, no, no. At your other friends’ house. Y’know, the band you are all friends with. Dan has told me all about it. It’s a nice house and you’ll be looked after.”

“How do you know? Have you seen the hous-“

“No more questions baby, me and your father are going to go and talk to Dr Brennan and see when you can go home with Ashley and Christian. We love you, petal.”

“Oh. I- ok.”

Mum and Dad were way too calm. That was weird. Maybe the boys told them how worried I was and they were a little easier on me. Oh I wish Ash would come back.
Wait- What?
I need to stop this. He’s Ashley Purdy – womaniser.
He is most definitely not going to be interested in someone like me. I’m not complaining though. I get to go home with and be watched over by my boys and the lads from Black Veil Brides... Maybe this is it. My life is going to turn around now, I just know it. Excuse me for being cliché, but in the words off CC:
‘Everything happens for a reason and although it may not seem like it sometimes, you are exactly where you should be. Make the best of it.’
Maybe this is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me; but also the best. My mum returned to the room with Dr Brennan, my father and CC.

“Great news, Krystal. You can go back home now, we just have to fill out the discharge papers and I want you to take this drip with you. Stay on this until this bag is completely empty. Then start drinking fluids again as normal. When the bag is empty, just follow these instructions.” He handed me a sheet of paper. A nurse then walked in pushing a wheelchair and CC and my father helped me get into it.

“You ready?” CC looked at me with a massive grin.

“Ready for what? CC?”

Before I could ask again, CC pushed me out of the room and began speed wheeling me around the hospital wing, round corners, swerving around doctors, twisting me 180 degrees and then reversing me through double doors until we got to an elevator. It hurt to laugh, but it was so worth it. I knew CC was going to be a lot of fun.

“I’ll let you have the honours of pressing the button my lady.” CC said in a British accent. “Why thank you, kind sir.” I laughed and pressed the ground floor button.
“This music is shit.” CC was not impressed.

“It’s all super imposed stuff. Not actually real music.”

“They should play some of your stuff. Nice cover of Never Give In by the way. Ashley showed me.” I blushed slightly.

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. He fell asleep listening to your band. It was quite cute actually” CC chuckled.

“Um – CC can I ask you a question? I feel like I’ve known you for so long already”

“Of course babycakes; what’s wrong?”

“Did me and Ash share the bed and fall asleep together or was that just me being a silly fangirl and dreaming?”
The elevator let off a ding as the doors opened and I felt the cool air surround me.

“Haha. Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

I looked up and Ash was waving at us from just outside the entrance to the hospital. He was standing in front of a private ambulance with the door open waiting for me to get there. He jogged over and said he could take it from here. He scooped me up and I giggled and clung on around his neck. He smelt so nice; it was really comforting. He carried me bridal style to the car and placed me in. I put my seatbelt on and then we waited for my parents.

“Right honey, we have to leave now. We have to get back to your sister, with her school and all.” I wasn’t upset at them having to leave so soon. I had spent a good few hours with them and my sister was only 12, so she needed them more than I did right now. I was safe, healthy, on the road to recovery and I had 9 people that I would now be close to and were going to help me.

“Okay mum, I love you so much.” She leant into the car and kissed me on the forehead. My dad did the same. His cancer had affected him massively. He fought it and won, but he was still very weak. He would have gone and hunted my boss down if he was well enough. I could tell it hurt him. The fact he couldn’t do anything. “I love you dad, I’ll see you soon.”

As the ambulance pulled away I tried my best to turn and wave at my parents. Tears built up in my eyes and I just let them fall. I wasn’t sobbing, but I was very teary.

“Hey, chin up darlin’” Ashley had sat next to me, CC in the front. “You’ll be okay. I have another surprise for you when we get home” He smiled.

“What? No! Why are you doing all this? I’m just some girl you hardly know. I appreciate what you did, bringing my parents out here, but why? I’m no one special.”

“Because I care, Krystal. You’re a good friend of Myah and that makes you a good friend of ours. Right CC?”

“Right! And you are special. Right Ash?”

“Right! Now c’mere” he tapped his shoulder and I leant on it. Do I push my luck? As I was contemplating hugging him properly, he put his arm around me and hugged me first. Wow! Maybe he- No. Stop it. He’s just being nice. I would be so naive to believe he was doing it for any other reason.


“Krystal? Krystal wake up.” I heard a soft voice calling to me. “Come on beautiful, wake up.” Beautiful? Did he just-? I shook it off. “That’s it, c’mon” I opened my eyes and we had stopped. Ashley was outside the car helping me out. CC had gone ahead and opened the door to this massive house. It was so – majestic.

I insisted I was fine and when Ash let go of me so I could walk by myself, I almost collapsed so he assisted me through the door, along a corridor and then it opened up into a big living space where I was greeted by hugs and more teddies. I sat down on the soft brown sofa and was handed cards one at a time. The first was from Craig, Dan and Paul. The second from Jinxx, Jake, and Sammi; the third from Myah; fourth from Andy and CC, and the fifth from Ashley.

“Aww, thank you guys. I really appreciate all this.” I couldn’t wipe this silly smile off my face. Then Ashley handed me one last card.

“Who is this one from?”

“Just open it and see. It’s my other surprise I was talking about.” He looked over at CC and he was getting all excited. Andy was smiling uncontrollably and Jinxx and Jake were nudging each other. Craig, Paul and Dan had disappeared. I gently tore open the seal of the card. I pulled it out and read the front.

To the best friend in the world. Get well soon!

I opened up the card and it read:

Dear Krystal.
I’m sorry our plans didn’t work out the way we planned, but it’s not too late to start now. I miss you so much and it’s about time we spent more time together, what do you think?

I look up at Ash and he calls out “Okay, now.”

Craig, Dan and Paul all come through the doorway and then a friendly face appears.

“SURPRISE!” everyone shouted in sync as Abi walks through the doorway and runs to my side.