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Fighter

Han Sheahan

Background: Jack broke it off with Nina, consumed with guilt. He then told Lori about the whole thing and ended it saying she was the one for him. Lori wasn't quite sure she believed him, but decided to give Jack another go, seeing as she was still in love with him. What she didn't know, was that Jack was still harbouring feelings for Nina. He broke it off with Nina in the first place, because when he had thought it over for days, he wondered whether their feelings for each other where real, or just them being caught up with the moment. He picked the first excuse. But deep down, and I mean really deep down, he knew he was totally in love with Nina and Nina only. BTW, Taj and Nina have split up, and the accident with Lori never happened. Nina, now thinking Jack didn't really love her, is extremely cross at Jack, and at herself for being cross at him, and then at him again for making her feel like this. She's very confused and (like Jack) isn't quite sure of her feelings. No one apart from Jack, Nina and Lori know of the affair and plan to keep it a secret.

Part 1

This is set 2 months into the future.

BEEP! That was the alarm clock. I (It's from Nina's point of view, if it's not it will be obvious) stretched out her arm and hit it onto the floor. Why was it set for so early? It's Saturday, for god's sake. I need my sleep! Then I remembered! The gig! Today. Which means rehearsals from 10. Great. I dragged myself out of my lovely, warm bed and literally hurled myself into the shower. I flicked on the shower radio and Kylie came on. "Can't get you out of my head." She sang, the song faintly echoing in the shower. Why does that song always come on when I want to forget about him? I thought as the water trickled down my face. He's ruled my head for so long now, and I just have to get over him. He chose Lori not you. Get over yourself, girl. It's not like you meant anything to him. We just got caught up in the moment, right? That was one of my unanswerable questions. But today, I just had to forget about him and get on with my life. I mean, it's been 2 months! Anyway, I thought as I pulled on my clothes, tonight should be great and I'm sure there's gonna be some cute guys there. Especially those people on stage before me.....I mused as I shot out of the door, grabbing my bag off the floor.

Argh....I never thought rehearsals could be so boring! All you do is sit and wait for people to finish practising their bit. This girl is taking forever. Maybe I should explain this gig. They’ve just got a lot of local talent and bunged them all together in a club. I suppose it's a gig at least. Thank god, that girl’s finished! Oh, still another band till me. My phone began to ring. Someone to talk to! It was Michelle ringing to see if I've finished yet.

Me: Hey Shelle.

Michelle: Hiya! Finished yet?

Me: No.....still another lot to go before I can go on. Actually, they're a pretty cute lot. (I said eyeing them up. What? I have to get over Jack somehow!)

Michelle: (Laughs) Completely got over Taj then?

Me: What? (Completely confused, then it dawned on me. I used to go out with him didn't I? I feel so bad for forgetting that!) Oh, oh yeah. Completely over!

Michelle: I never thought you two would break up. You seemed to get on great. (I noticed what seemed to be the lead singer of the band before me walking over to me) Why did you break up again?

Me: Erm....it just wasn't going right. (The guy was standing in front of me by now. I looked up at him, and he had the most gorgeous startling blue eyes.) Y'know Shelle. Can I call you back? I need to talk to someone.

Michelle: Yeah sure hun. I'll see you tonight then!

Me: Bye!

I got up from my previous position of being crossed legged, and coolly (Or so I thought, I could be completely red in the face) said "Hey. Did you want something?" He replied which was good! "Yeah, I'm really sorry to interrupt your phone call, but me and my band were wondering...."

Part 2

"Yes" I prompted him. What on earth could he want? He actually looked really nervous. " Erm....well, you see, our agent has said our performance it's not, well, interesting enough. And he said we need a girl on stage with us. And, erm, we were wondering would you? Please." He looked really desperate actually. What should I say? "What do you mean by on stage with you. Would I have to do anything much?" At this point, the other 3 members of the band had come over and surrounded me and him. "Nothing, really. What was it he said? Oh yeah, you sort of have to act all flirty with us, like your deciding who of us you want, then eventually choose Danny boy over here." Piped up another guy. So, the lead singer was called Dan. Or Danny boy as he was affectingly referred to. I still wasn't sure if I wanted to do it. They could obviously see I was contemplating not doing it. "You don't have to do it if you don't want, but we'd owe you big time. There is no one else who would really work as well as you would." Said Dan. I was mellowing towards the idea. The poor guys they looked really desperate. "Fine. I'll do it. But what will I wear?" They all sighed a huge sigh of relief. I think they would get in trouble with their agent if I hadn't of agreed. One of the guys, grinned cheekily at me when I asked what I'd wear. I'm not sure what that means but, it doesn't sound too good. I got on with them all really well, especially Dan, and I learned that the line up of the band was Dan as lead singer, Jay and Mark on guitar and Rob on drums. They performed for me, and I could see why their agent said it needed livleing (Is that a word) up. The song was great, but it just needed something....extra. They showed me what I had to do and it was so embarrassing! I had to act really, erm, over confident. Which isn't me. And when they showed me what I had to wear (Jay had a sister the same size. So it was hers) I almost fainted. It was ,like, a belt. Actually, it was one of those skirts those American cheerleaders wear, and well, extremely short. But, they reassured me that I looked great, but god, I was so nervous. It was only half an hour till we went on, and I hadn't really given a thought to my performance. All I knew was that I was singing "Throw It Away" and then, after a break, "My Big Mistake". I'd worry about them after. The band walked on stage, and before the music started Dan flashed me a smile. Oh my god, there’s my cue. Keep cool Nina, keep cool. And I headed on stage.....

Part 3

I was heading on stage, and I had been told to do my "popstar" walk (You put one foot really obviously in front of the other, making sure you don't trip, and swing you arms. Me and my friend, Jess, were doing it at the zoo on our school trip. It was so funny. Anyway...!) I did exactly as I was told which was basically just running my hand along the guy's faces and stuff. Nothing too complex. It was nearly the end of the song when I got to Dan. The song was about the popular girl (Me) having her pick of every single guy in school, then eventually choosing him (Dan). Anyway, when I got to Dan, he was singing to me, and even though I knew we were acting, he really made it seem as if I was the only person with him in the room. The song began to fade out, but Dan didn't take his hands from around my waist and I didn't take my arms from his neck . He was still looking deeply into my eyes at he end of the song, and he bent his face down to mine. He was going to kiss me! I had completely forgotten about everyone else around. We got so close, but I think it was Rob who coughed and we sprang apart. I caught a glimpse of Dan's face and he had a massive grin on his face. I also caught a glimpse of Jack's face, and he looked horrified. Serves him right. We were still all on stage and Mark shouted "Next up...the gorgeous Nina Tucker, singing "In My Own Time". (I know it was "Throw It Away", but I changed it.) I smiled, and took my place at the front. I'd hardly given a thought to my performance, but I was feeling surprisingly confident. The music began to start.....this song meant a lot to me, and I tried to get that across to the audience, even though I don't think they cared. I saw Michelle and Connor slow-dancing to it. They're so in love. It's not fair. Jack and Lori were also dancing, but they seemed different somehow. Jack's eyes met mine, and I gave him a small smile, which he returned. That's probably the first time I've smiled at him in nearly three months. His smile seemed as if it had an element of regret in it, but that was probably just wishful thinking on my part. At the end of my performance I got quite a big applause, but I felt strangely subdued about something. As I walked off the stage, I was greeted by Michelle, Connor, Dan, Jay, Rob, Mark, Jack and Lori, who was sort of tagging on at the back, not really wanting to congratulate me. We've tried to seem as if we're friends, but it's always awkward. I saw her staring at me, but tried to just ignore it, I didn't want to fight.

Part 4

"You were amazing! Fantastically amazing! Brilliantly amazing! Really good." Said Dan, raising a smile from everyone. "And you weren't half bad yourself." I replied. "Yeah, and that you were in that skirt had nothing to do with the fact that we got such a big applause." Claimed Rob. "I'm sure it didn't. You were excellent. I'm going to go get a drink, coming Chelle?" I said, grabbing her hand, so she had no choice in the matter. We got over to the bar, and ordered the drinks and sat down and chatted for a bit. "So...you and Dan?" She questioned me, grinning cheekily. "What about us?" "What's going on with you two." " I have no idea! I mean, we were getting on great and everything, and yeah, there might have been a bit of flirting, but him nearly kissing me, it came out of the blue." "And you just got caught up in the moment?" "Erm..yeah!" "Well, I don't blame you for going for him. He's very nice." "Michelle! Connor." "I love Connor and he knows that." She paused. "What are those two talking about?" I turned round, and saw Jack and Dan talking. Jack didn't look exactly happy, and Dan looked quite uncomfortable. I took my drink, and with Michelle, went over to see what, if anything, was the matter. I came up behind Jack, Dan saw me but Jack carried on talking at him. I could tell instantly they were talking about me. " Look, she's just a great girl, and she doesn’t deserve to be messed around." I could feel anger spreading through my body. I couldn't believe he was interfering in my life. What I did was my business and had nothing to do with him. "She's been hurt enough, and I don't want to see her hurt again." That really did it. All of my negative feelings towards him felt like bursting out. I didn't know what I was going to say, but I know I had to say something. "Because you'd never hurt me, would you Jack?" I questioned him. He spun around, obviously having had no idea I'd be there.

"Oh. Nina." He said, startled. "I -I was" "Just sticking your nose into my life?" "No..." "I don't believe you Jack. You have no right to interfere with my life. You forfeited that right when you chose Lori." He looked at the floor. "Nina, I haven't just stopped caring. You know that." He looked straight at me, with his eyes which just make my heart melt. I couldn't just give in though. I couldn't. "Well, that's what it feels like." "I never meant to hurt you, Nina. You know I never would" He whispered, touching my arm gently. I pulled my arm back, and looked over my shoulder, biting my lip, willing myself not to break down in tears. I took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. "You obviously don't know how much you meant to me then. 2 months ago, the thought of you never holding me again, would break my heart. And that's what it did." He was still looking me straight into my eyes, with a look you could have mistaken for love, if you didn't know any better. He looked as if he was willing me to carry on even though it was hurting him so. "You caused me so much pain, and you just said it "meant nothing". You told me you loved me, I completely believed you and I said it back. I would have never done anything to hurt you, and if you loved me as much you said you did, you wouldn't have ever thought of leaving me. But, I guess you didn't. You did the worst thing anyone could do to me. And now, I see you every day with Lori, and what you don't understand that is whenever you two are together, everytime I glance at you, it feels like some one's stabbing me. You never knew how much you really meant to me, how hurt I was, but now, I guess, you do." I waited for him to say something, that he really did love me, and he was just confused, but no, nothing. "I've gotta go sing now" I whispered to them all. Michelle and Connor were in, what appeared to be shock. It had been so hard keeping it all from Michelle. Especially those weeks where I just sat and cried and I couldn't tell her why. I'd been sworn to secrecy. Lori didn't want anyone to know that I'd managed to "take her man". But she's got him back now. I knew she was still wary about me. But then, who wouldn't? I also knew that she liked hurting me, and she always acted all lovey-dovey with Jack whenever I was near. As I walked on stage, I quickly wiped my tearful eyes, took a deep breath and walked over to the mike. Oh god, this song is partly about Jack. And he'll know it. Most of it actually isn't, but my feelings are real. How I felt when I lost him......

Part 5

amazing fairytale that had come true Mr reliable romantic was you blinded misguided in the arms of love just 'cause it suited the both of us

then it all went wrong i'm the one to blame taking you for granted in so many ways when i look back now how can i ever forget you make me so happy the day we met

how could something so magic become something so tragic right before my eyes two separate lives every second was a precious moment now i'm thinking about the path i've chosen wish i could un-make my big mistake my big mistake

As I sang these lines, I was so worried Jack would catch on parts were about him. Thank god, as I looked out of the corner of my eye, he seemed to be talking to Lori, who didn't look best pleased at my recent out burst. Actually, nobody did. To be honest, I wasn't either. I wish I had just kept my mouth shut. A sharp pain shot through my head. I couldn't stop singing now, though, so I carried on. The last bits coming up.

the days the weeks the months the years that we have wasted i'm sorry i still love you i don't expect a call 'cause my apology's belated i'm sorry and i miss you all my life

At the point where I said "I still love you", Jack looked sharply at me. I could see him trying to catch my eye, but I couldn't admit it, so avoided it the best I could. A weird sensation was filling my head, and the lights stung my eyes. As I walked off stage, I felt dizzy, and things were swimming in and out of focus. Someone was walking towards me, I tried to make out the outline of who it was. It was Dan. He seemed to be darting different places everytime my eye moved a millimeter. I felt as if I'd been stabbed in the stomach, and nearly doubled over in pain. Dan tried to support me and hold me up, but everything seemed to get further and further away until it all went black.......

Part 6

After Nina collapsed, Jack, Connor, Michelle and Lori all came over to where Nina was lying limply in Dan's strong arms. "Phone an ambulance, now" Dan said, urgently. In 10 minutes, Nina was being taken in an ambulance. There was a bit of a fuss deciding who'd go with her. Jack desperately wanted to, but Lori put her foot down. Dan also wanted to, but due to Jack's phenomenal jealousy, it was Michelle who went in the ambulance with her. The rest went in Connor's truck, which was a tight squeeze. Connor etc. arrived soon after Michelle and Nina at the Erinsborough Hospital. Michelle was waiting outside the room where Nina would stay for at least a couple of days, when everyone walked into the hospital. Nina's parents being away, Lynn and Joe were also called in and they arrived not long after everyone else. Darcy emerged from Nina's room, with results on the tests they did on her. His brows were knitted together, and he looked thoroughly confused. "What's the matter with her, then?" Jack said, impatiently. "We honestly have no idea. There's no reason why she fainted, emotional stress is a possibility but that wouldn't really give a reasonable explanation why she fainted and why she's still out cold now." Said a very confused Darcy. Jack rolled his eyes. "So you've been in there doing tests on her for over two hours now, and you have no bloody idea what's wrong with her!" "All tests were necessary, Jack. We had to check if there were possibilities of epilepsy or another related illness." "She'll be ok though, Doctor, won't she?" Said a much calmer Dan. Darcy nodded and said, "She should wake up soon enough, but she'll have a headache when she finally does." Jack glared at Dan. Why did he have to be so calm now?!? And why couldn't I.....Because it's all my fault, that's why, Jack thought. She wouldn't have been "emotionally stressed" if it wasn't for me sticking my nose in. Lori's glaring at me. I should never have gone back to her. She's never gonna ever trust me again. It's Nina I truly love. But now she hates me. Jack sighed. Michelle and Connor emerged from Nina's room. It was Jack's turn. He glanced at Lori who defiantly didn't want to go in. So she didn't. Jack walked slowly in. He was shocked by what he saw. Nina was hooked up to what seemed like dozens of machines. Her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders and her lips were slightly ajar. She looked so pale, so fragile. Just as if she was sleeping. Just like on that night, Jack thought, wistfully. He sat down on the chair beside her, and took her delicate hand in his. He promptly dropped it though as the door opened slowly. It was Joe and Lyn coming to see if Jack was ok. They'd obviously heard what happened between him and Nina, and didn't seem to pleased with him.

Part 7

Joe sighed. "What did you do it for, son?" Jack glared at him. "I don't want to talk about it, ok?" He said sharply. He took Nina's hand again, not caring if the whole world could see. "Love, you've got to understand that you can't do that to people and get away with it. You were incredibly lucky you got away with it last time, and Lori was so forgiving. It won't happen the next time." Lyn said soothingly. Jack's temper was flaring up. "What if I didn't want to be forgiven?" Both Joe and Lyn were shocked by what he just said. "You've got to sort this out, Jack. You can't keep messing people around." "Mum, Dad. Leave it, ok? You can't just make accusations like that, having not heard my side of the story. I know what I did was wrong. Very wrong. But you don't know what I felt. No one does. Lori doesn't and neither does Nina. I never got the chance to tell her how I really felt, how I feel about her." Love, you've been with Lori for over 2 years, now. Would you throw it all away for something you’re not sure about, or how you're imagining you're feeling?" "Mum," Jack almost shouted, dropping Nina's hand and standing up from the hard hospital chair. "I'm not imagining anything. At first, I thought I might of been. That's why I ended it with Nina and told Lori who forgave me. But now, I'm doubting myself. I should never have let Nina go. I realise that now. And I also realised how much she really cared about me. You don't know what she told me, how hurt she was that one day I was telling her she was the one for me and the next I was telling her we were through. But now she hates me. Because of that stupid guy out there. What do I do, mum? Do I tell her how I feel, and risk her rejecting me or do I stay with Lori, in a unhappy relationship for me anyway, and risk losing Nina forever?" Lyn's face softened, "Poor boy, he's so confused, but what do I say to him? How can I tell him to leave Lori, when Lori's like another child to me?" She thought to herself. "I don't know, sweetie. I'm afraid no one can help you with this, you have to work it out yourself. She said aloud. "Come on, Joe, let's leave him to think." She continued. Joe and Lyn almost walked out of the door, but were stopped by Jack who excitedly said "She moved. I swear she moved!"

Part 8

Things started to swim into focus, and I heard Jack shout "I swear she moved!" to someone. I tried to say "Yes, I'm bloody well moving, what else would I do?" to him. I was still in a bad mood with him, and the growing pain at the back of my head wasn't helping to improve it. As I opened my mouth though, the pain got worse. I let out a small yelp, and loads of people came running to my side. But I didn't want any of them there. I wanted to be on my own and sleep for a bit. Maybe that'll make the pain go away. Nurses came into the room now, "Great" I thought. I was really in a bad mood! I wanted just to sleep is that too much to ask? I flipped myself onto my front, and buried my head in the pillow. The buzz of people around me was making my headache worse, oh no, it wasn't, it started to dull as my eyelids got heavier and heavier. I slipped into a deep, yet peaceful sleep.

When I awoke, no one was in the poorly lit room with me. The pain in my head was gone, and I felt a whole lot better. I rolled back onto my back and stretched myself. My toes felt something hard and head-like at the end of my bed. I pulled them back quickly, and sat up to see who was still with me. Oh, it was Jack. He was fast asleep, with his head on the end of the bed. His body was tipping forward, and his chair looked as if it was going to slip away from underneath him at any minute. I looked at him for a couple of minutes, wondering. Does he really care about me? Would he be here if he didn't care? What on earth did Lori say about him staying here with me? I suppose I'll get my answers when he wakes. A nurse came through the door, startling me. She asked me how I was doing, how I felt and stuff like that. But I was most curious about when I could get out of this dull room, with it's hard bed and itchy dress thing that went with it. " A day or two, I should think." "Another day?" I sighed. I'd only been awake for about half an hour, yet I was already sick of the sight of the room. I asked what was actually wrong with me, and why I fainted. She told me no one was quite sure, that's why I'd have to be kept in for a few days. When she said emotional stress could have been a possibility, my eyes widened, and she twigged I knew why I could of fainted. "Did anything happen before you fainted that could be a reason for it?" "Erm...well, I had an argument with him, and I felt bad about it after." I said pointing at Jack who was still asleep. "Oh, he was really worried about you, is he your boyfriend?" I so almost said yes, but just murmured "I wish" quietly so she couldn't hear. She smiled at me, and said she'd come check on me in an hour or two and bring me some food. I watched the clock tick by slowly and debated with myself whether to wake Jack or not. I decided not to, and that he'd wake in his own time. Soon hopefully, I thought as boredom began to settle in. Jack stirred slightly, and began to wake.....

Part 9

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