Jack POV
"How's she doing?" Ma asks me, she's holding two paper cups of steaming coffee from the hospital cafeteria. Sarah's in intensive care and I'm not allowed in until she wakes up.
"I'm not sure Ma, they won't tell me anything." I whisper.
"All in good time Jackie." Ma replies.
"Ma, I know I've only met this girl once but it feels like we have some kind o connection, you know?"
"Jackie, you've both been through hard times. You need to help each other.
Sarah POV
Beep... beep... beep... beep...
I wake up to the strange sound of a machine, I can feel things prodding into my arms. This doesn't feel like my room. I open my eyes and see a clean, white ceiling with bright lights glaring down at me and have to squint.
"Ah, good you're awake." I look over to see a middle-aged man with a clipboard standing at the end of my bed. "I'm Doctor Rasnad, do you remember what happened?"
"Um, well I tripped and fell down my stairs and I was holding a glass bottle and when I tried to stop myself with my hands it smashed on the floor and I cut my stomach and then I passed out." I lie, fingering the pale blue sheet on the bed.
"So this had nothing to do with your mother?" Doctor Rasnad asks me.
I plaster a shocked expression onto my face and glance up at the Doctor.
"No, why would you say that?" I asks innocently.
"It's just a question I had to ask. You've had 6 stitches in your stomach and 2 on your face. You have a concussion and we were afraid you might go into a coma so we put you in intensive care."
"How long have I been out?"
"3 days."
"Damn... is there anybody here?"
"Yes, Miss Evelyn Mercer and her son Jack Mercer are outside. Your mother is in the hospital being treated for depression so you will be going to stay with the Mercer's for a while. They'll explain about... everything..." Doctor Rasnad says.
After he's left a nurse comes in and helps me change into some sweat pants and a tank top before handing me my bag and walking me outside. I see the boy, Jack, that I ran into a few days ago and Miss Evie sitting in some chairs down the hallway.
As I walk out of the room Jack stands and walks to my side. His hair is still ultra messy and he's wearing ripped jeans.
"Let me take that." He says, taking my bag and leading me back to Miss Evie.
"Hello dear, how are you feeling?" Miss Evie asks me.
"Not too bad, it's all a blur really." I lie, not wanting to worry anyone.
Jack POV
When we get home I show Sarah to her room. It's right next door mine and only just fits a bed and small wardrobe inside it.
"Sorry it's so small, I'll swap if you want more room." I suggest to Sarah.
"No, no it's perfect. Thank you." I smile at the tall boy with the grey/blue eyes that are so full of past pain.
"Well, i'll be in my room if you need anything. It's right next door." I say, leaving Sarah to unpack her things.
About 2 hours after I showed Sarah to her room she appears in my doorway. I put down my guitar and look up at the beautiful girl standing in my room.
"You okay?" I ask.
"I- do you know where Andrew and my dad are?" She asks me, sitting down on the edge of my bed.
"When we got to your house it was only your mum and you there..." I start
"Where's Andrew?" She asks, her pink lips quivering.
"He, he left Sarah. The police found a note from him saying he'd left and he was going far away. He said he would think about you every day and that you were the best little sister anyone could have and he was sorry that he ignored you." I whisper, taking her small hand in mine.
A tear slides down her cheek and I pull her against my side.
"Don't cry Sarah, please don't cry." I murmur into her hair. She wraps her arms around my neck and cries.
"What about my Dad?" She asks.
"He, he um-"
"He killed himself didn't he? He left me and Andrew?" Sarah finishes for me. I slowly nod my head but her expression doesn't change.
"Sarah? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why did you defend your mother? She was going to kill you!"
"I- she's my mum!"
"Sarah" I groan.
"Promise me something? If you have to go back and live with her, you come to me if she ever lays a finger on you okay?"
"It was just a one time thing Jack, she was drunk-"
"Promise me Sarah?"
"Okay, I promise."
"Good."
Sarah POV
I've stayed with the Mercer's for two weeks now, I've gotten to know Bobby, Angel, Jeremiah and Miss Evie really well over the time I've been here. The boys are like brothers to me, well all of them apart from Jack.
Every time I'm around Jack I get butterflies in my stomach and I'm constantly blushing. Bobby keeps teasing me about it.
The nightmares have come every night since the hospital and I've put off going to see Jack. He told me to come see him about anything but I just feel so weak. I can hear Bobby, Angel and Jeremiah snoring down the hall as I slowly drift off to sleep.
Some time later I wake with a scream after a vivid memory of the night my mother attacked me. I quickly clap a hand over my mouth and attempt to stifle the sobs that rack my body.
Less that 30 seconds go by before Jack cracks open my door and slips into my room.
"Sarah? Sarah it's only me, it's Jack." He whispers sitting on the edge of my bed and rubbing my back.
"J-Jack, she was there and, and..." another violent sob attacks my body and Jack pulls me into his arms.
"Shh, shh I know. I know." He whispers into my hair, kissing the top of my head.
After a while I've stopped crying and Jack and I just sit there; me playing with his messy hair and him rubbing circles on the exposed skin at my waist.
"Jack?"
"Hmm." He replies, burying his face in my neck. I feel my pulse spike and I struggle to control my breathing.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" I sheepishly ask, looking down at my legs.
Jacks reply is to lie me down on my bed and curl up next to me, covering us both with the blanket.
"Thank you Jack." I whisper.
"Anytime"