Short chapter, but necessary for progression. Trigger warning for self-harm.


Mara wants to throw up.

Or turn around and run as far away from the room as she can get, because that is not Jerome. That cannot possibly be her boyfriend.

The boy in the hospital bed is extremely pale- skin almost translucent. His left arm and both legs are casted- and there's a piece of gauze on his forehead- obviously covering a cut. However, there's blood seeping through the white gauze, and it makes Mara sick. A hospital gown is covering his thin frame, but he still looks absolutely horrid, and Mara doesn't know if she can do this.

But she doesn't run. She slides into a chair at his bedside, and grabs his uninjured hand. "Jerome…" A tear falls down her cheek and splashes onto his motionless hand, and that just makes her even sadder.

"I love you so much," she cries. "Why did this have to happen?"

"I hate this," Mara whispers. "I need you fully-healed, holding me, and tell me it's going to be okay. Telling me that I'm going to be okay. I don't believe it anymore. I don't believe this. I can't keep pretending, Jerome. I'm going to fall apart."


"It's been two hours," Amber whispers sullenly. "This means bad news."

Patricia sighs. "I just want to know they're alive. Injury wise- it won't be good, but knowing they are alive will be quite reassuring."

"They don't deserve this," Nina whispers. "They don't deserve the agony that's going to come along with all of it."

"Well, it happened," Patricia grumbles. "We can't live in the world of 'they don't deserve it', and 'it never should've happened'. Both statements are true, but it happened, it's over, and we can't do anything to go back in time. All we can do is wait and see if they're okay."

"They have to be," Amber insists, tears filling her eyes once more. "I need Alfie…"

"I know," Nina says gently. "You need him like I need Fabian, Mara needs Jerome, Joy needs Mick, and Patricia needs Eddie. But all we can do now is wait. And hope."

Patricia scoffs. "Hope? When has hope done anything for us? If anything, it's ruined us. All it is, is a delusion. You guys are deluding yourselves into thinking everything will be sunshine and rainbows when we get news on the guys. News flash- it won't. Nothing will ever be the same again, and it's time you two started realizing it."


Patricia sighs, dragging her feet into one of the public restrooms. She didn't mean to snap at Nina and Amber- it just came out of nowhere. She's anxious, stressed, worried, and just plain upset- so there's no telling how her emotions are. It's like they're on a roller coaster, not knowing where to start or end.

She walks into one of the stalls and locks the door, sliding back against the wall. Her razor gleams with release, but she ignores it. She needs to be strong for Eddie, and she knows he wouldn't want her cutting.

He knows she used to cut, but he has no idea she relapsed. She remembers the exact day he found out. He looked heartbroken, as he lifted her wrist to his lips and kissed each cut. Then, he promised to never leave her- to help her through it. And slowly, she did manage to quit. She was clean for six months, but now, she's relapsed.

She needs the comfort Eddie exudes. Sure- she sounds sappy and needy and completely out of character, but this is her inner self coming out. In her eyes, Eddie exudes comfort wherever he goes. She could walk into a room and wrap her arms around him, and he'd pull her to his chest and nuzzle into her neck, silently asking if she's alright.

She just needs him. She can't fall apart on her own.


"Alfie Lewis?"

Amber's eyes widen, and she nods quickly, standing up in a rush. She glances over at Trudy, and her housemother gives her a reassuring smile, motioning toward the doctor. She makes no move to get up, so Amber assumes she can go by herself.

"I'm Alfie's girlfriend," she says shakily. "Is he okay?"

The doctor glances at his clipboard. "He pulled through surgery wonderfully- we're just worried because of the severity of his injuries. He smashed his right knee and ankle- we've put pins in to hold both together- he also fractured his left leg and right wrist, along with breaking three ribs and sustaining a concussion. Recovery's going to be hard and long for him, but we're certain he'll make a full recovery."

Amber blinks once- to make sure she's heard correctly. That is way worse than she even fathomed. Alfie…her precious beau is so broken, so damaged…it breaks her heart and shatters every part of her.

She's given every part of herself to Alfie, so she feels the pain, as she's led to his room. Nodding hazily at whatever crap the doctor says, she waits for him to walk away, before turning and opening the door.


A hand running through her straightened brunette locks is what startles Joy from her doze. Her head snaps up, and her heart stops.

Mick is gazing at her, a happy smile lacing his features. "Mick?!"

He chuckles. "Hey, love. Didn't wanna wake you."

"When did you wake up?!" She can't believe she's talking to him right now. She assumed he'd be unconscious for a lot longer. It's surreal.

"Little less than ten minutes ago, relax, Joy," he soothes.

"Are you in pain?" Joy asks worriedly, as she presses the call button.

Mick shakes his head. "Morphine works wonders. Now, can you come up here and cuddle with me?"

Joy hesitates. "I don't know…you're really banged up…what if I hurt you…?"

Mick's eyes bare an unwavering sense of honesty. "You could never hurt me, Joy. No matter what. Please, come here. This has obviously been high traumatic on you, and to be completely honest- you need this. Let me help you."


Thoughts? You will find out about Eddie and Fabian in the next chapter, I promise. But Mick is awake now, so there's a good thing, I guess, compared to the angst level of this. Anyway- please leave me some reviews, they equal faster updates. :)

-Neha