I wake up and feel warmth around me. Ashley is still in this small hospital bed with me. I look up to her face and she is looking down smiling at me. Her hand cups my face and she runs her thumb along my bottom lip.

"How are you feeling today?"

"Okay, I can't wait to get out of here though."

As if on cue the doctor walked in right when I said that, "You will be able to leave here in 3 days Miss Carlin," she smiled at me and Ashley and walked to the other side of the bed. She lifted up the side of my gown and looked at my stomach. She lightly traced her finger over the stitches and I flinched. Ashley's hand came and took mine.

"This will take a while to heal, it's going to leave you a scar." She took out her clipboard and started writing stuff down, "You'll have to have physical therapy for your leg, it was broken in 2 places in you ankle and 3 places in your shin. We had to put some screws inside it for you. Are you feeling any better?"

"Yes, a lot," I replied with a smile. I brought my hand up and put it on Ashley's stomach. A smile graced her lips.

3 Days Later

I was in my mother's car on my way home. The doctor said I had to be laying down for about another week until I can actually start to move a lot. This is gonna suck ass. Clay is leaving tomorrow for college. My mom and dad are going with him to help him set up his dorm. They are going to be gone for the weekend, so its just me and glen. Ashley is having a sister day with Kyla since she has been at the hospital with me for the past couple of days. She thought I should have some time with Clay before he leaves too.

When we get home Clay carries me into the house and lays me down on the couch. My dad comes over with a lap tray and gives it to me. I notice everyone else is sitting down with lap trays too. Only theirs had food on them. My dad sat down and had my food and his food on his tray. He put mine on my tray turned on the T.V. my parents never let us eat in the T.V. room before and I know they are going it for me. This brings a smile to my face. We wind up watching 'I Love Lucy' reruns and it makes me feel like an old time family. Once we are all done, it's about 10:30. Clay, once again, picked me up and started carrying me to my room.

"Are you excited about going to Yale?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna miss you though," he said as he laid me down on my bed. He went and grabbed the computer chair and pulled it up to the foot of my bed.

"I'm gonna miss you too, Clay." I said with sadness in my voice. If he is gone no one is going to be here to protect me from Glen. Ashley will but I don't want my girlfriend and my brother fighting.

"I'll come and visit as soon as I can. You and I both need to get some sleep though, I have to leave early tomorrow morning."

"Wake me up if I'm not already. I want to say bye to you."

"Okay Spencer, goodnight." And with that he got up and hit the lights off, softly closing my door behind him.

As my eyes closed, my phone rang, I reached over to my nightstand feeling around for my phone because I'm too lazy to open my eyes.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe"

"Hi Ash," I said slowly.

"Were you sleeping?"

"I was about too."

"Oh, I'm sorry, how about I just come over tomorrow?"

"Okay that's fine."

"I love you."

"Ash"

"Yeah" she said with a hint of fear in her voice. I think she thought that my 'Ash' meant something bad.

"I still want to talk to you, I haven't heard your voice all day."

"Haha okay" I could tell she had a smile on her face.

"So, what did you and Kyla do today?"

"Nothing yet, me and Kyla are going out to clubs tonight."

"Haha don't get too drunk."

"Oh you know I will." My mom came in and opened my door.

"Spencer, you need to get some sleep." She said in her parenting voice.

"Just a sec" She gave me a 'no do it now' look but I ignored it and she closed the door.

"I swear your mom is psychic and knows its me so she is making you get off the phone."

"Yeah" I said as I yawned.

"You know… I still owe you birthday sex." This made me erupt into a fit of giggles and I blushed.

"Spence, I'm serious!" She let out a sigh, "This was suppose to be a surprise, but the time passed already, but I rented out one of those huge suites at the Palms hotel in Vegas for your birthday."

"Aww, Ash thank you so much! I would have loved it."

" Yeah, I just wanted a huge bed." I could tell she had a stupid smirk on her face.

"Ash!"

"What?!" I shook my head.

"You have a huge bed."

"No, I mean like Shaquille O'Neil bed huge."

"Oh jeez"

"A humungous bed is on my list of places I want to have sex."

"Is this a long list?" I said kind of in a tired whine.

"Oh you know it. I'll show it to you tomorrow." We both laughed and I yawned again. She heard me.

"Spence I'll let you go to get some sleep."

"Okay have fun with Kyla. Love you."

"I will, love you too, bye."

"Bye" We hung up and I put my phone back on my nightstand.

I woke up the next morning to light starting to peak in through the blinds. I push myself up and stretch my arms, but I'm careful to not lift them too much to where it hurts my stomach. I've gotten a lot better though. I look at my clock and its 7 a.m. Clay, mom, and dad leave in 30 minutes.

"You been awake long?" I tear my gave away from my clock to my door. Clay is there with a smile on his face.

"No, I just woke up," I said with a smile looking back at him.

"Well you want some breakfast?" He said motioning towards the stairs.

"Yeah" I replied reaching for my crutches.

"You sure you can use those?"

"I don't know. Might as well try." As I pushed myself up, I went straight back don. A jolt of pain going to my stomach. I went and put my hand on the lift side of my stomach over my cut, slouching over a bit. Clay came over.

"All in good time," he said as he carefully picked me up and carried me downstairs. We had muffins and I gave Clay one more hug from the couch.

"Have fun at college."

"I will, I'll call you when I get there." My mom came up to me and patted my head like I was a dog. I hated when my mom did this. It makes me feel like I'm her slave.

"Make sure you don't get hurt, don't stress your body" she walked away as she said this. Not even looking backwards at me. I don't know why but it makes me feel unloved.

----------------

Paula walks up to Glen and whispers in his ear, "Make sure Ashley stays away from Spencer."

He gives her a serious look and simply nods his head.

My dad came over, hugged me and gave me a kiss on the forehead. He turned and smiled at me before he walked out the door behind Clay. Glen closed the door behind him. I turned on the television and saw Glen go upstairs. When he came back down he was holding something behind him making sure I didn't see it as he passed quickly into the kitchen I wondered here Ashley was as I started to fall asleep. I felt Glen pick me up and carry me back to my room. I woke up to a light knock on my door.

"Come in," I said with a slight yawn coming out. Madison poked her head inside the door.

"Hey did I wake you?"

"No it's okay I was just waking up anyway." She smiled and walked in.

"Its 10 a.m.? I was only asleep for two hours."

"Actually a day, you were out cold. We were starting to get worried about you," she replied with a chuckle. It was a nervous chuckle though. My eyes opened wide from the news she just gave me.

"Wow, Ashley didn't come over," I said more to myself.

I saw Madison's face kind of drop. I heard our doorbell ring in the background.

"What's wrong?" Before she could answer I heard Glen's and an all too familiar voice shouting at each other downstairs. I gave Madison a questioning look.

"Well you see, your mom kind of told Glen to keep Ashley away from you." She gave me a weak smile before quickly getting up and turning to go calm the to down.

'How could my mother say that?'

I knew I had to do something. Madison couldn't try to fix this by herself. It's been two whole days and I haven't even been in Ashley's arms. And hearing them shouting makes it feel like I never will be again.