I can't come. I'm going to yoga with Alyssa.

Nine words. It only took those nine, tiny words sent over a text message from her boyfriend of two and a half years for Jade to lose it. Lose her mind.

Jade doesn't like people. She hates being around them even more. She never likes going to parties. She never likes "hanging out" with her friends. She never likes being around anyone if it isn't Beck. So, when the sudden urge to attend Matthew Wyngate's party that weekend, she had expected Beck to agree to go in a heartbeat. After all, he's always the one trying to get her to go out.

And then he just goes and spends time with Alyssa. Alyssa Vaughn. God, I thought we were past this, she thought to herself gloomily. Apparently not. Well, screw that. Screw him. This was the one time in months that she actually felt like going out and she'd be damned if Beck was going to stop her.

There was only one problem: she had no way of getting there. Beck, for obvious reasons, was out. Jade's car was in the shop getting new brakes. Her mom was in Wisconsin for the week visiting her Jade's aunt. Her dad and his new wife were out on a fancy two-month anniversary dinner (and, seeing as Jade and Diana actually got along most of the time, she didn't want to ruin their night.) Andre, Vega, and Robbie weren't options (especially Vega). Maybe Cat could drive her.

Pulling out her PearPhone, she called the bubbly red-head that (despite all of Jade's protests) was her very best friend. After a short five-minute conversation Cat was on her way to drop Jade off at the party but, unfortunately, not stay (something about Matthew Wyngate being a "Meany McMeanerson" and making fun of Cat's velvet cupcake colored hair.)

Shame. It would have been nice to have someone there along-side her.

Four and a half hours. Two-hundred and seventy minutes. Sixteen-thousand, two-hundred seconds.

That's how long it had been since she had texted Beck asking if he would come to the party with her.

Three and one quarter hours. One-Hundred and ninety-five minutes. Eleven-thousand, seven-hundred seconds.

That is how long it had been since Beck's yoga class had been over (yes, she kept track.)

Why hasn't he called? she wondered. Beck always checked up on her, even when they were fighting. And they weren't fighting. They just weren't with each other at that moment. He was at home, she was at a party. No big deal.

It was twelve o'clock midnight. Jade danced in the very center of a crowd of hundreds of teenagers in Matthew Wyngate's spacious mansion living room. The bass was turned up just loud enough that it pulsed through her and helped her lose herself. Or, at least that's what she told herself. She paused slightly every few minutes to make check her phone and make sure she hadn't missed his nightly call.

She hadn't.

Whatever, she thought, forget Beck.

"Can I get you a drink?"

Jade turned to see none other than the party host, Matthew, himself, brandishing a charming smile. Contemplating if he was flirting with her or just being polite, she agreed with a nod. "Diet Coke. I don't drink alcohol." And she didn't. Despite what people at Hollywood Arts thought, Jade wasn't nearly as rebellious as everyone assumed. Sure her face was pierced, she had a tattoo, her hair was different colors, and she had a reputation for being a bitch but, she didn't drink. Ever.

"Sure thing," Matthew replied with a smile before walking off towards the kitchen.

Jade checked her phone again. 12:10 AM. No missed calls. No new test messages. Shoving the phone back into her pocket, she turned at the sound of her name from behind her. Accepting the drink, she took a long sip, grimacing slightly. It tasted funny.

"What the hell is that?"

"Diet Cherry Coke. It was all there was."

"It's disgusting," she retorted plainly, setting the red plastic cup on a near-by table.

"Sorry."

"Whatever."

The pair stood in a semi-awkward silence for a few minutes before Matthew spoke again. "Do you want to go talk somewhere?"

"If by talk you mean make out the answer is no. I have a boyfriend, remember?"

"Right. Burke."

"Beck."

"And where exactly is this precious Beck?"

"Busy."

"Too busy for you, Jade?" He tskked his tongue a few times. "Now that's just sad."

"Well, you know," she said with a shrug. "Fine, you want to talk, let's talk."

"Let's go sit in the office."

"Whatever. Just lead the way." As Matthew walked a few paces down the hall, Jade followed closely behind him. Whoa, she groaned internally as the walls around her started to sway and she got a massive head rush. She shook her head a few times, trying to clear it.

"You okay?"

"Just fine," Jade replied starkly before stepping in front of him and opening the door to a large room that appeared to be an office and library. Her head swirled again and she plopped down in a large, leather desk chair.

"Why do you date that loser anyway?"

"That's none of your business, is it?"

"Answering a question with a question. Nice."

"You know what's really nice? When stupid douche bags like you don't hit on me when I have a boyfriend."

Matthew smirked and pushed off from the wall he was leaning against before leaning in and placing his hands on the arms of Jade's chair. His face was uncomfortably close and Jade could smell the alcohol on his breath. "You never answered my question, Jade. Where is your boyfriend? 'Cause I sure don't see him anywhere. Shouldn't he be here, with you? Did he ditch you, Jade? Did he go to be with someone else, leaving you here by yourself for me to find?" He paused. His lips were a mere two inches away from hers but she didn't shy away. Jade West never backs down.

"But, do you want to know what really is nice? When a nice guy invites a girl to his party out of the kindness of his heart and she doesn't act like a total bitch. You know what I mean?"

Jade scoffed, rolled her eyes, and weakly pushed him out of the way, standing up. Her eyes went foggy as she took a step and she was forced to stop to keep her balance. From behind her she heard a menacing growl. Her eyes widened slightly (she was glad her back was to him) and she quickly made to leave the room but, before she could make it to the door, Matthew grabbed her arm and spun her around. "Did you hear me?" he shouted, shoving her harshly. "I said don't be a bitch!" Jade winced as her she finally lost her balance and her head made contact with the door post. Colors exploded behind her eyes, which were now drooping dangerously. The loud bass from the music outside the door dulled and faded from her hearing slightly.

Matthew stood up straight and his scowl vanished, replaced by the same charming smile she had seen earlier. That, more than anything, scared her.

Jade's eyes widened again from their previously half-lidded state, and this time she knew that he could see her fear. With all the strength left in her drained body, she pushed herself up and quickly ran from the room. She could hear Matthew calling her name behind her, but she didn't stop. She only slowed as she ran into people she couldn't quite see. Their complaints sounded as she passed. What is wrong with me? Her mind was reeling as she stumbled out of the house and onto the front porch. She collapsed onto a wicker chair and pulled out her phone, panicking.

12:30 AM. No missed calls. No new test messages?

Where was Beck? Cat was probably asleep already. Who could she call?

Jade groaned as a huge pounding started in her head. Making up her mind, she hastily dialed a number she had never even bothered to memorize. After a few rings she was surprised to hear Diana's tinkling laughter on the other end. Even in her off state, she could tell that her new step-mother and father were slightly tipsy.

"Hi Jade. What going on honey?"

"Diana, please!" She let out a shuttering breath, squeezing her eyes closed, a few tears leaked out. She would never admit it, but she was scared. "I need you to pick me up. I'm at a party and I-I-" she couldn't even finish.

Diana instantly sounded more alert. "Where are you sweetie? We'll come and get you."

Rattling off the address she had saved in her phone, Jade nodded silently as Diana told her that everything would be okay and that they would be there in ten minutes, not realizing she couldn't even see her. She ended the call and hastily wiped her tears. Even when her eyes dried, she still couldn't see. Her stomach lurched and she felt the sudden urge to vomit. She leaned over but nothing happened, the nausea wouldn't go away.

How long she sat like that, she had no idea. The next thing she was aware of was someone putting a hand on her shoulder. She jerked away only to look up and see her father's familiar face.

"Dad," she cried, looking away and squeezing her eyes closed again, more tears falling.

"Jadelyn, what happened?" For once he actually looked and sounded concerned for her.

"There was this guy, he gave me a diet coke and…and-"

"It's alright, honey. It'll be okay." Jade shuddered as her father gently picked her up, stumbling slightly. Partly from not being accustomed to her dead weight, partly from the alcohol he had consumed at dinner.

"Everything will be fine, sweetie," Jade could make out Diana's voice from in front of her as they approached the car. Her step-mother opened the car door and her father softly laid her down in the back seat.

The door closed. Then another and another, the last one sounding rather violent. Jade's stomach lurched as the car moved forward. Her vision remained blurry and her head continued to pound. She felt the car speed up and heard Diana tell her father to calm down and slow down. The car swerved and Diana screeched, as did the wheels.

But Jade was already unconscious when the car crashed into oncoming traffic.

XOXOX

Beck rolled over in his bed for what must have been the fiftieth time in an hour. It was one o'clock in the morning. He hadn't slept a wink. He told himself that it was because he was still so wired after yoga but, he knew that it wasn't true.

He hadn't talked to Jade. He didn't call. He didn't text. What was even stranger though was that Jade hadn't called him. Usually, if he didn't make his nightly phone call right away she would ring him, enraged, demanding to know the reason. When she hadn't he had brushed it off.

He rolled over once again, pressing his face into the pillow next to him. He breathed in, faintly smelling coffee and lavender, Jade's scent. He felt bad. He always called Jade. Even when they were in their worst fights, he called every night. Why hadn't he tonight?

He felt a prickle in brain right then, a stab of worry that coursed through him. What if something's wrong? He sat up in bed, rubbing his face and smoothing his hair out of his eyes. Looking over at his bedside table, he caught a glance of the photo there, the moonlight reflecting in its shiny, silver frame. He picked it up and placed it in his lap, studying it. It was a picture of the two of them from the autumn time. Beck had taken Jade to the park, a place she secretly loved. They had gone on the swings, walked the trails, and even played Tetherball. Right before they left Jade had hopped on his back and demanded a piggy-back ride. He had smiled, run around with her for a minute, before pulling out his phone and propping it up against the play structure. He set the timer for ten seconds before backing up slightly. "Smile," he had instructed. And, just as the flash went off Jade leaned down and planted a kiss on his cheek. In the photo Jade had her eyes closed and Beck had the biggest smile on his face.

Lying back down on his side, Beck propped the photo up against Jade's pillow before sending her a quick text.

I love you.

With that he closed his eyes and finally fell asleep.

XOXOX

A few hours later, Beck awoke to a loud pounding on his door. Assuming it was his girlfriend, he groggily got out of bed to let her in. "Jade? What time is it?" he asked, his eyes still half-lidded with sleep.

"Dude, come on. Wake up! For real, it's not Jade, it's me." Beck sleepily recognized his best friend's urgent voice and woke up a little more.

"Oh, Andre. Hey, man. What's up? Why're you here?"

"Seriously, man! Snap out of it! You need to wake up, for real. This is important!" he shouted, shaking Beck's shoulders vigorously. "Jade got in a car wreck!"

That woke him up.

"She what?" He was surprised his shout didn't alarm him parents up in the house, or the neighbors. "How did this happen?"

"That party she went to earlier that none of us wanted to go to? She called her dad and her step-mom, freaked out, asking them to pick her up. They'd been drinking and her dad accidently swerved into oncoming traffic. They're all in the hospital. Her dad is okay, but Jade and her step-mom are both pretty roughed up."

Beck didn't need to hear any more. Quickly slipping his feet into his boots, he jumped down the steps of his RV and got in the driver seat of Andre's car. It was still running. Andre quickly got in the passenger seat and Beck took off before he could even close the door. He pressed the gas pedal to the floor, still clutching the photo of him and Jade in his hand, tears forming in his eyes.

XOXOX

"I'm looking for Jade West. Jadelyn West. I need to see her right now. I'm her boyfriend."

The plump, elderly nurse with frizzy blonde hair and glasses sitting behind the desk nodded before typing something into her computer. "I'm sorry dear, but it looks like Miss West is just finishing up surgery. Once she is settled into a room you'll be able to see her. Okay?"

Beck stiffened, his hands balling into fists and his mouth pressed in a straight line. Andre put a hand on his shoulder and he relaxed, sighing, defeated. He nodded before going and sitting down in one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs, Andre next to him.

The pair sat there in silence for ten minutes before Andre got up to call Jade's mom and the rest of their friends.

Ten minutes after that Cat showed up, sobbing hysterically, and clutching at Beck's shirt who was too upset to try and comfort her in any other way besides a hug.

Five minutes after that Tori and Trina arrived, both upset, but neither as much so as Beck and Cat. Tori was able to pry the red-head off of Beck and took over the task of comforting her. Trina placed a comforting hand on Beck's shoulder and gave it a squeeze, delivering silent support.

Three minutes later Andre got a call from Jade's mom saying that she was able to get a ticket on the next flight back to LA. Andre handed Beck the phone and Mrs. West told him in a shaking voice that he had to be strong. For Jade. His lip trembled at that and more tears fell, but he agreed.

Another five minutes passed and Robbie got there, Rex nowhere in sight. He gave Beck a quick hug before sitting down on the opposite side of Trina.

It was four thirty five in the morning. Fifty minutes since Andre had shown up at Beck's door. Thirty-seven minutes since Beck and Andre had reached the hospital. Thirty-five since the nurse had said that Jade was out of surgery.

What the fuck is taking so long?

A few more minutes passed before an older gentleman doctor in navy scrubs came out. "Visitors for Miss Jadelyn West?"

Beck was out of his seat before the doctor had even finished the sentence. "Where is she? Can I see her now? Is she okay?" He fired off a dozen more questions before Cat grabbed his hand, causing him to go silent.

"She's stable. She has three broken ribs and two crack ones. Her eye socket is chipped and she has a severe concussion. She suffered from some internal bleeding but we were able to fix that up in surgery. Are you the boyfriend?" Beck nodded silently, his eyes still red and puffy from crying. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you when she wakes up. We're trying to make her as comfortable as possible. However, there is one thing that greatly concerns us."

"What is it?" Tori asked in a small voice, her eyes watering now.

"We found high levels of GHB in her system."

"GHB?" Cat squeaked out, her voice breaking.

"Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate."

"The date rate drug?" Robbie questioned.

"It's a miracle she was even able to walk let alone think to call her parents."

Beck's blood boiled dangerously as the doctor nodded and Cat started sobbing again.

"I need to see her."

"I'm afraid you can't just yet. We're running a few tests just to make sure nothing else is wrong. Maybe in another hour or so."

"No!" Beck yelled, causing everyone to jump. "I need to see her now! I have to know she's okay! I have to see her!" His shouting only got louder, attracting the attention of a security guard nearby. Beck made a move to advance towards the doctor menacingly before Andre and Robbie each grabbed one of his shoulders, holding him back.

"Beck, man, calm down. It's okay! She'll be okay!"

"No! I need to see her! I have to see that she's okay!" He was hysterical now, tears streaming down his face, his voice cracking.

"I know dude, but if you don't calm down then you're going to get kicked out of here and you won't be able to see her until she's discharged! Is that what you want?"

Beck took a deep breath, shook his head, and looked up from his gaze on the doors the doctor had come from. Cat, Tori, and Trina were all crying fiercely, clinging to each other at the sight of Beck's breakdown and the thought of Jade's situation. The security guard had slowly crept closer but backed off when he saw that Beck was starting to calm down. The other patient's family members looked at him with sorrowful but understanding expressions. The doctor looked a little frightened but not surprised. He took a few steps closer before meeting Beck's eye.

"Son, I know this is hard. But she is going to be just fine. She'll need time to recover, but I have no doubt that she can come back from this. Especially with a group of friends as loyal as yourselves. You can see her in a little bit but, in the meantime, we need to run just a few tests to make absolutely positive that there is nothing we missed. It's for her own good. Understand?"

Beck nodded his head once more before stepping away from Andre and Robbie's restraints. He collapsed into his chair again, cradling his face in his hands and letting the tears fall.

XOXOX

Forty-nine minutes and twenty-three seconds later the same doctor as before, Doctor Perry, came out and informed the group that Jade was still unconscious but could take visitors one at a time. Not even bothering to ask his friends, Beck took off, following Doctor Perry down the light green hallways.

Right. Left. Right. Door. Right. Left. Left. 1205…1206…1207…1208.

The pair stopped at room 1208 and the doctor motioned for Beck to go in. "Take as long as you need."

With that Beck entered the room, picture frame in hand, and looked up to see the bruised, beautiful face of his girlfriend of two and a half years. There was a strip of gauze taped under her left eye. The blue extensions had been removed from her hair and it hung in its normal black halo around her face. There was an orange, glowing pulse oximeter clipped on her finder. The stead beep, beep, beep of her heart monitor was reassuring. Her face was horribly discolored, the purple and black and blue bruising covering most of it contrasted sharply with the milky white of her complexion. Her bottom lip was split and cracked. More tears fell at the sight of her.

Slowly making his way towards her bed, as if not to disturb her sleep, Beck placed a feather-soft kiss on her forehead before sitting down in the chair by her bed. He placed the picture frame on the side table and took one of her hands in both of her own.

"Hi, baby. How are you? I'm sorry I didn't call. I know you must have been upset that I didn't. I'm so sorry. I should've gone to that party with you like you wanted. If I did this never would have happened. I'm so, so sorry baby. I love you so much and it kills me to see you like this. But, I know you're going to make it through this. You're so tough. But, I don't want you to push yourself. I want you to take your time and get better. You sleep as long as you need to okay? I love you with all my heart, Jade, and when you wake up, I'll be here waiting for you."

Beck rubbed his thumb over Jade's palm and placed one final kiss on her cheek before resting his head on her bed, waiting.

Hi guys! I know, I know. Long time no write. Sorry about that. I know a lot of you have been waiting for me to update my other fics but let me just tell you what's up. Over the summer while I was in the PA, I wrote the next chapters for all of my stories. The problem? My aunt has a MAC and I have a PC. Therefore, I can't open those documents without a MAC computer. So, once I find one I will post those.

Don't give up hope.

Now, as far as Midnight Lullabies goes, some of you have expressed interest in me continuing on with that story. Let me tell you, I just might. I am rather fond of that piece (especially little Henry) and I've been brainstorming where I can take that. So, if you've read it and want me to continue, let me know. If you haven't read it, GO NOW! DO NOT WALK, RUN!

Haha okay, sorry. It's 1:03 AM and I have school tomorrow…or today technically. So, I spent all day writing this and I really wanted to get it up so, it's not BETA'd. My Beta (EMILY I LOVE YOU) doesn't check her email anyway. Haha she's such a dork. So I will probably sometime (when I HAVE time) go back through this and check it for error. I just really wanted to get this up. So, I hope you enjoy the fruits of my labor (haha can you tell I'm slap happy?) and pretty, pretty, PRETTY PLEASE review!

Love, always,

May

P.S. – I'm thinking about dipping my toes into some iCarly writing. What do you think?

LOVE YOU GUYS!