A/N. Hello people of FanFiction!

Announcement (Again): It seems I may not be able to post the last All-Week-Update before I leave for Disney World. I seriously just got on the computer at 12 PM, and I'm leaving in like an hour. So you can guess how much I'm rushing this.

Song:

Bad by The Cab

It feels just like it was yesterday. We were in love. Why's it falling apart? I've never been one to walk away, But I've had enough, and it's breaking my heart. Cause you love me just the way that you should. It's nothing that you do, no, it's nothing you say. Yeah, baby, I know that you're good, But I don't want a good girl, no, not today…

Story:

In 27 Days by HonorInTheRain

Hadley Jamison doesn't know what to think when she hears that her classmate, Archer Morales, committed suicide. She didn't exactly know him, but that doesn't stop her from feeling like there was something she could have done to help him. So to Hadley's surprise, on the very night of Archer's funeral, she has a run in with Death himself and is offered the chance to go back in time to stop Archer from ending his life. The catch? She only has twenty-seven days to do it. And if Hadley doesn't succeed? Well, she doesn't want to think about that.

Now to the story…Did Matt really beat up Jackson? Is Jackson telling the truth? What is Daphne's reaction to Jackson's statement?

Dun, dun, dun…

Enjoy!

Chapter 36: Apologies

I burst out laughing, causing Jackson to frown. "Matt?" I cried through my laughter, holding my gut. "Oh, that's a good one, Jackson. Oh, ow…"

"What's so funny?" he demanded. "It's the truth!"

"You really think I'll believe that?" I deadpanned, putting an abrupt halt to my laughter. "I may be unfairly nice to you- and by unfairly, I mean I should hate your guts but I don't- but you're still a liar."

He set his jaw. "I'm not."

"Matt was with me all night. Didn't you hear me earlier?"

"So you're telling me you didn't sleep at all?"

Crossing my arms, I leaned back in my chair. "Yeah, I slept. I'm not some superhuman that can run perfectly on no sleep."

"Since you're no superhuman you wouldn't be able to tell if Mr. Firay left while you were asleep, now would you?"

That threw me a ball. It was possible that Matt had left while I was asleep. However, it didn't convince me. He wouldn't attack Jackson. He was smarter than that. He would've told me if he did. "He didn't attack you, Jackson."

"Yes, he did!"

I shook my head. "Drop it. I won't believe you."

He narrowed his eyes. "Why not? I've seen Mr. Firay angry. He's not exactly the charmer. Remember that time I posted those pictures? Maybe he's still pissed about that and wanted to take revenge on me—"

"And lose his job?" I interjected skeptically. "Jackson, Matt wouldn't risk his job like that."

"Why do you call him Matt?"

"He's a family friend."

Jackson didn't look convinced. "Funny. You can come up with excuses for everything, can't you? Just so you know, I knew two of those pictures were not Daphne. They were you. I know the difference. I use to see Daphne nearly every day."

"If you knew, how come you didn't say anything?"

His mouth opened to respond, but his eyebrows furrowed, and he shut it again, seemingly unsure of what he wanted to say. "I… I didn't say anything because they wouldn't believe me."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Really?"

"R-really," he muttered, dropping his gaze.

"Or was it because you felt bad about what happened?" I guessed, scrutinizing him for his reaction.

It wasn't completely unexpected. His eyes widened and he immediately got defensive. "No! You still deserve it! But Daphne… Daphne, she yelled at me for it. Of course I couldn't tell. Besides, I was pissed at Bryant for lying to me— I still am, as you know. It was one of those little things I could do to defy him."

I suppressed a smile. He still listened to his old babysitter? Maybe that would come in handy later… "Wait," I said, my eyes snapping to his. "Defy Bryant?"

"Yeah, he wanted you in trouble so I figured if I just let that bit slide than it would be defying him."

"I don't get it. Why would you want to defy him after all that trouble you went through for him? Now everyone in school in the administration thinks you're a lying troublemaker."

Jackson stared at me almost pityingly. Like I was the stupidest person on Earth. "I'm not sure how many times I need to say this, but I was angry at Bryant. He lied to me. I had to get back at him somehow."

I furrowed my eyebrows together. "Then why are you still trying to ruin my life? Why waste your time?"

"I'm not wasting my time."

"You didn't answer my first question. Why don't you give it up? You can't do anything to ruin my life. Like pretending Matt attacked you, why keep up that façade when I know it's not the truth?"

He sunk back into the pillows of his bed. "Because it's still Bryant…"

I gasped. "Bryant! I was right! His followers attacked you, didn't they? Didn't they, Jackson?"

"I told you," he growled, "It was Mr. Firay."

"No," I said slowly, "because I just asked you why you were still lying about it being Matt, and you said because it's still Bryant."

Jackson's eyes narrowed and he sat up swiftly, reaching his arm out to grab me. I leaned away from him, watching as he face contorted with pain. He let out a low groan, his hand dropping to his stomach. "Damn it."

"Are you okay?" I asked, scooting forward in my seat. "Do you want me to get the nurse—"

"No," he replied sharply. "Just leave."

"Not yet."

"Get out."

"No."

"Daphne, leave."

"No."

He glared at me. "You're so stubborn! It's annoying!"

I puffed out my chest. "I'm actually happy being stubborn. If you're not stubborn, then you're a push-over."

"I don't get you," he said with a sigh. "After all the things I've done to you. You should hate me. Like Mr. Firay and Mr. Ross do. I've punched your best friend, Daphne. I've tried to take advantage of you."

"Yeah, and you got what you deserved for that. Everyone makes mistakes, Jackson. You took the wrong path when it came to Bryant, and if there's no one to set you on the right one, you'll just continue down the wrong one. You're just lucky you tried to ruin my life and not someone's who's unforgiving… Although it also has to do with the fact I was kind of in your position before," I added as an afterthought.

He shook his head at me. "You're an idiot."

"Now tell me. Did Bryant's followers attack you?"

For a few moments there was only silence. Trying to be as patient as possible, I rested my hands on my lap, waiting for his response. He finally sighed. "Yes. There were two people I didn't know, but James was there. That's how I found out it was Bryant who set them on me."

"James?" I repeated in surprise. "Isn't he in jail?"

"You know him?"

"He stabbed me," I explained.

Jackson's eyes widened. "What?"

"Don't you ever listen when I talk to you?" I asked, grimacing.

"No," he deadpanned, "but, no, he's not in jail. Obviously. He probably put the blame on someone else."

I furrowed my eyebrows together. That wasn't good. Matt would want to know about that. "So what happened?"

"Bryant wants you and Mr. Firay to break up."

"He what?" I cried, my eyes flying wide open in surprise.

Jackson snorted. "Yeah. Like I'll believe him after the thing with Mr. Ross. So I told James to tell him I wasn't going to do it. I can't exactly afford to be kicked out of school."

My heart was racing in my chest. Jackson didn't believe Matt and I were dating? Was that a good thing or a bad thing? What if he began to trust me and found out about our relationship? Would he be angry? But it wasn't like I could tell him.

"Daphne?"

"Sorry," I apologized quickly. "But do you see what I mean now? Nothing good will come with being on Bryant's side."

Crossing his arms, Jackson turned his nose up at me. "I wasn't on his side. I just do what he asks because I owe him."

"Even though you have nothing against me personally?"

"Well, I still want better grades in home ec and gym class."

I stared at him blankly. He couldn't be serious. Even though Bryant had his followers attack Jackson, Jackson still wanted to try to blackmail me? Maybe he wasn't worth forgiving. Clenching my fists, I opened my mouth to yell at him, but he beat me to it.

Instead of yelling though, he laughed. A genuine laugh. "You should see your face— ow! Shit that hurts!" he groaned, hugging his midsection.

Confused, I continued staring at him. "What—"

"I've given up," Jackson told me, becoming serious again. "I learned Bryant won't be out of jail for at least another twenty years yesterday. He told me he'd be out at the end of this year. It's not worth the wait. Maybe if he hadn't lied so much to me…"

"It's in his nature."

"I know, but it still hurts."

"Jackson…"

He blushed, turning his head away from me. "Shut up. Don't even say anything. I'm giving up on him. So you win. You won't have to deal with me anymore."

"Hey," I said slowly, inching my hand toward him. "It's okay to feel hurt. I've mentioned this before, but the person I loved lied to me. Remember? We talked about it?"

"I wasn't listening."

"Of course," I muttered dryly. "Anyway, it sucked, but he made up for it. Bryant hasn't tried to make up for it, right? He just is trying to continue using you, right? It's good to let him go. You can find a new love."

Jackson's head snapped toward me. "W-what? Love? No! It's not like that!"

"What's with that reaction? Denial?"

"N-no!"

I smirked. "Sounds like it to me."

He glowered at me for a few moments, setting his jaw. "So what? So what? It's not like I chose to fall in love with him. He's a guy. I know. That makes me a faggot, right? A fag. Go ahead, say it."

"No!" I cried, standing up from my seat. Jackson threw me a surprised glance. "Don't call yourself that, Jackson!"

"Isn't that what I am?"

"No! You're still a normal person. Who cares whether you like males or females? We don't decide those types of things. You fall in love with the person you fall in love with. Don't say such hurtful things. You may not be hurt by those words, but other people are. It's okay to be gay."

"I prefer the term homosexual," he said in a hard tone.

Flustered, I spluttered out an apology. "I-I didn't mean to offend you—"

"It's fine," he cut me off, another laugh escaping from his lips. "Ow…"

My head was beginning to hurt. Was he angry or not? "You're really confusing, you know that?"

"You are too," he retorted. "If you keep being this nice, someone's really going to take advantage of you next time."

"If there weren't people like me in the world, it'd be a horrible place."

First the first time since I met him, he smiled. For a second I was too taken aback to have any reaction. It was an extremely handsome smile. I was star struck. He noticed me staring. "What?"

"You smiled…"

He scowled. "So?"

"You look cute," I told him.

"Don't you have a boyfriend?"

"Yeah, but— wait, how do you know?"

"I listen sometimes."

"B-but then why did you kiss me?"

A mysterious smile slipped onto his face. "Hmm, I don't know. I just thought I might like it."

Now it was my turn to scowl at him. "You're an asshole!"

"Right-o," he said, spinning his finger in a circle. "And Daphne?"

"What?"

"Don't tell anyone I'm, you know, gay," he requested quietly. "You may be understanding, but not a lot of people are."

I nodded. "Okay. Only if you can promise me one thing."

"What?"

"You stop being mean to me."

His face scrunched up as if he was making the biggest decision in his life. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "Fine," he agreed, trying to sound reluctant.

"And you have to apology to Sage next time you see him. And Ariana. And Matt. And Wendell. And your sister."

"Anna?" he repeated.

"She cares about you," I told him, frowning. "You were being a jerk to her too. Don't make her worry like that."

"Okay," he mumbled. "Is that it?"

"Yes. I'm going to make sure everyone gets their apology too."

He waved me off. "I'll do it, I'll do it."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Jackson's eyes snapped to it, a questioning look to them. I hurried toward it, opening it to reveal Matt. "Hey!"

"Are you ready to go?" he asked in a strained voice.

I bit my lip. "I actually have a favor to ask of you."

He gave me a wary look. "What?"

"Come in," I ordered, pulling him in and closing the door behind us. "Jackson has something he wants to say to you."

Jackson gave me the darkest death glare I'd ever received. "Daphne!"

"He might as well be the first."

"First for what?" Matt inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Jackson."

"I'm sorry," Jackson forced through gritted teeth. "For troubling you and stuff. Sorry."

Matt gave him a confused look before turning to me. "What…?"

"Just accept it," I told him.

Still befuddled, he turned back to Jackson. "I don't accept it."

"Huh?" Jackson and I said simultaneously.

"I don't know what went on in here, but I won't accept your apology that easily. You did a lot of shit to Daphne and those close to her. It'll be a while before I'll accept it."

"Matt—"

"It's fine," Jackson interjected. "I understand."

Matt nodded. "Good."

"Matt, Bryant was the one that led the attack on him—"

"Hey!" Jackson protested. "I didn't say you could tell anyone!"

I smiled at him. "Oops. Too late now."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "You…"

"Anyway, Matt, this may seem like a tough request, but do you think it's possible if you keep an eye on Jackson for a little while? Just while he's in the hospital."

"Why?" both boys chorused.

"I'm afraid they might come after him again," I said to Matt, glancing at Jackson. "You know how Bryant is."

Matt ran a hand through his hair, heaving a sigh. "Why, Daphne?"

"Please, Matt," I begged.

He stared at me for a moment before sighing once more. "Okay, fine. I don't really understand why you want to help him, but if you want to so bad I guess I have to help."

I frowned at him. What was with that irritated tone to his voice?

"I don't need protection," Jackson snapped.

"Yes, you do," Matt retorted. "I've known Bryant longer than you have. When his prey is weak is when he likes to attack."

"It's true," I added.

Jackson harrumphed and turned his back on us. "Whatever. I'm going to take a nap. You two, leave."

"I'll be more than happy to," Matt replied, grabbing my upper arm. "Let's go, Daphne."

"Okay," I mumbled, allowing him to lead me to the exit. "See you, Jackson."

"Wait, Daphne."

Matt paused, allowing me to stop. "What?"

"I'm sorry to you too," he apologized using a much more sincere voice than when he was apologizing to Matt. "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay," I told him, surprised. "Yeah, it's totally fine!"

"Sorry."

I waved my hand at him, but realized he couldn't see it and dropped it. "It's fine. Thank you, Jackson."

He grunted an incoherent response. I smiled. Matt tugged on my arm and I followed him out of the room. The doors shut behind us and I expected a barrage of questions. When none came, I glanced up at him. "Matt?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't you have any questions?"

"Nope."

"No?"

He shook his head. "I'd rather not know what happened in there."

"It's nothing bad," I assured him. "It's just… Well, we won't have to worry about him anymore. He's gotten sick of Bryant."

"Which is why you want me to protect him?"

"You don't want to?"

"Not really," he admitted. "I'm not as good of a person as you, Daphne. I can't forgive people that easily. Especially after what he's done to you."

I reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "I understand."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," I scolded him. "You're not the same person as me. That's a good thing. Besides, you're nice enough to at least help him out after all that he's done. That's good enough for me."

Matt flicked my nose. "You're a silly girl."

"Oh! That reminds me! Matt, James isn't in jail."

He froze. His piercing blue eyes met mine. "What?"

"That's who attacked Jackson. Jackson recognized him."

"You believe Jackson?"

"Completely. He definitely wasn't lying this time. Didn't you hear when he apologized to me?"

Matt nodded, clenching his jaw. "I have to admit that was pretty believable. But if that's true, you're in danger too."

I blinked. "Me?"

"James's the one who stabbed you."

"Yeah, but Bryant's doing everything through Jackson—"

"And if Jackson stops obeying like you said he's going to, then they'll come straight after you."

No way… Why hadn't I thought of that? If Jackson stopped doing his bidding, Bryant would go straight to the source…

Straight to the source?

"Matt…"

"What?"

"We need to go see Bryant," I said, grabbing his arms. "We have to go see him!"

His eyes widened. "What? Daphne, no. Absolutely not."

"Together, Matt! If we go see him, we can try to end this! He can't do anything to us because there will be cops all over the place! We might be able to convince him to stop!"

"Daphne, hold on a second. That's not a very smart idea," Matt responded, peeling my hands off him.

"No! It is! Listen—"

"No you listen. Going to see Bryant directly won't help anything."

I clenched my fists. "But…"

Matt gently undid my fists, holding my hands in his. "You're a little worked up right now. Why don't we think it over later? If we can think of a good reason to go see Bryant, we can. But it might be stupid to go blindly."

"You're right," I agreed reluctantly. "You know, I'm lucky to have you. You're a lot more rational than me."

"Sometimes it makes me feel like your father, not your boyfriend," he admitted. "I feel as though I'm too overbearing."

I smiled gently at him. "No, you're perfect. I need someone to overbear on me. Otherwise, I'll do stupid things."

"At least you'll admit it," he commented, kissing me quickly.

I blushed, taking a few steps away from him and glancing around the room. A few nurses with patients were out in the corridor. "M-Matt! Not while everyone's around!" I reprimanded.

"I couldn't help myself," he responded with a smirk. "Come on, we'll go somewhere more private then. Wimp."

A/N. In the wise words of my friend, Sofie: "I'M DYYYINNG."

Not really. But I'm in a super duper rush right now, soooooo...

See you all Monday! (Which is the last all-week-update, by the way; it would actually be tomorrow, but I'm really, really sure I won't be able to get Wi-Fi while in Orlando. :/)

Thanks for the comments and favorites and alerts!

Have a great weekend!

~Lara