Her blond hair formed a halo around pale face. She was so pale. And all he could do was stare. He couldn't do this, he couldn't look at her knowing what he had done. So he'd pretend she wasn't in a coma.

" Hey Blondie, I like your hair shorter like this. You gotta wake up soon. Everyone's waiting for you. And if u don't, Cinder'll actually murder me. And you don't want that, do you?" He watched her still form. His only answer the inconsistent beep of the heart monitor. He wished she would answer, but at least the sound proved she was alive. He took her hand, kneeling beside the small hospital bed. He took her hand.

" Please Cress," he begged, his eyes tearing, " I made the biggest mistake of life. I know, I don't deserve you. And if u woke up, and you wanted to never see me again, that'd be okay. Just please...please wake up." Beep….Beep….Beep.

He broke. And that was when Carswell Thorne cried. For the first time in fifteen years, Captain Carswell Thorne, cried.

She did call him. And they talked. He asked her out. He wanted the night to be perfect. He usually didn't care, but this date had to be perfect. He didn't know why.

" Which shirt," he asked his adopted sister who was sitting on the couch, cuddled up against her boyfriend. Cinder turned and gave him a glare. " Just put on a shirt and go."

" Left," Kai said munching on popcorn.

" Thank you," he said pointedly, " Learn some manners from your boyfriend."

" How about you learn to grow some nuts from my boyfriend. And keep a girl. And be decent to that girl. And not have…"

" Yeah, yeah," he scowled, " I have faults."

" Too many," he heard Cinder mumbled as he fixed his flawless hair in the mirror. Grabbing his keys and jacket he started to walk out.

" No sex on my couch," he called as he opened the front door.

" THORNE," he heard them yell as he shut the door behind him.

She had seemed nervous, but she looked so beautiful. A knee length coral dress that was plain but she looked perfect. And he had planned the perfect date.

She was fidgeting the entire time he drove. He smiled comfortingly and her and her face brightened.

" So Blondie, whaddya do?"

" I'm really good with computers. I just turned eighteen so I'm looking for a job." Thorne smiled. Eighteen? She was four years younger.

" My buddy, Kai, works at Rikan Corp. Maybe I can recommend you." She grinned at him again. She had a nice smile.

" Really, Rikan Corp?" Her excitement made him smile.

" Yeah," Thorne laughed turning back to the road.

Thorne had cried himself to sleep. Cinder had come in to the room and found him asleep, face buried into the bed. Gripping Cress's hand so tight, as if he let go she would leave him. Cinder hadn't said anything when she saw him. He could see the pity in her features. She had merely handed him a sandwich and sat beside him. He didn't need pity. He didn't need food. He needed Cress.

"Eat," she demanded. He glared at her.

" Why are you here Cinder? Why do you always boss me around, you may be the new owner of Lunar Corps, you might be super powerful, but you don't control me." She stared at him. The pity turning to anger and hurt. She stood quickly, giving him a look that would kill.

" I know you're hurting Thorne. But we are all trying to help. Cress isn't gonna get better if you starve yourself. So man up and eat." She stormed out the room slamming the door behind her. He sighed. She was right, Kai was a good boyfriend. Cress deserved someone like Kai. Someone who was actually a hero, someone good. He turned to Cress. Cinder was right. He couldn't be a hero. But he could be decent. He would do that for Cress. He'd do anything for Cress.