Okay. It's taking me so long to write. I know...Kill me now. Ugh...

But, on a completely other note, thanks for the support. :) It means a lot and I'm hoping that I get to fit in more chapters soon. :) Also, check out my new story ***That Fire of Fire***(which I'm actually spending time on to attempt to write decently) and I do hope you guys like it.

And, check out Jillessa Heronstairs' Tess, the Writer, Tessa, the Musician and her other older stories Love me, Hate me, Believe In Me and A Real Life Movie. I've beta'd a few of the later chapters and, as someone who gets the inside scoop of her stories, they're fun quick reads for both Jessas and Wessas. :)

Also, I'm super duper sorry for being such a procrastinator and forgive me for this short chapter.

It's so short. Screw my life.

Love, love,
The freaking writer of this...this...whatever the hell this thing is called.

He's different.

He's just not...my Jem anymore.

But I tell myself that beggars can't be choosers.

Even so, the words we exchange on his good days are equally comforting and I can't help but visit every night though Will tells me otherwise. However, even he hasn't been out and about lately, always holed away in his studies or in meetings that he never takes the time to explain. Then again, he never explains anything and I'm used to being left in the dark. About everything.

"Tessa. Are you alright?" Jem asks, his paling eyes cautious. "You seem lost today."

I glance over at him, and shake my head. "No. I'm quite fine...Just a little...distracted...You know how my thoughts run away from me sometimes." I say, trying to ignore the look he gives me; the kind of look that he always gives me when he knows that I'm not telling the entire truth or hiding something from him. "Trust me." I reassure him. "I'm fine. If there was something truly wrong, I would have told you already."

"I...Okay." He offers a weak smile. "I trust you." He says, standing up from his chair to shut the window. I shift in my own chair so I can see him better, trying to think of something to say. He beats me to it, though, glancing back as he fastens the latch closed. "Are you cold? I didn't know if you were but it's quite brisk outside."

"Oh, I'm fine...I'm a little cool, but I'm okay." Reaching up, I push a stray curl behind my ear, biting my lip. "I'm surprised you haven't tried to escape yet. Most people would be out of here the second they arrived if they could."

He laughs softly, if a little bit reservedly. "But Tessa, I'm not a prisoner here. I could leave if I wanted to."

"But Will-"

"Has told me that he means no harm and that he is working to improve the current...situation. Besides, what bad could come from staying here for a while. He did, no matter how unkindly, save me from getting Convicted even if it was what I deserved. I am indebted if it means that I get to speak to you, see you, and even recognize you-" his hand goes up to touch the injection site subconsciously, "-for the time I have left."

"Don't say that." I say, fighting the scowl that creeps onto my features. "He's a liar. You'd be better off away from here."

"I trust him." Jem says calmly, turning around towards me. "I don't know why, but I do. I trust him."

"You don't know what he's done." I snap, suddenly angry. "He doesn't deserve your trust. He doesn't deserve anyone's trust."

"Tessa." He says softly, taking my hands in his. "Everyone needs second chances. In my mind, I know he isn't a good person. I know that he has done less than honorable things, but in my heart, I cannot help but feel that he can help us. Help me...help you...help himself."

"And now you're on his side?" I say incredulously. "He's an Aristocrat."

"He is a human being. I've had my second chances." Jem says and his breathing shallows slightly, pulling one of his hands from mine to cover a cough that, thankfully, never comes. "He should have his as well."

Holding the hand that he still has clasped around mine, I sigh. "I've given out too many second chances to people who waste them. I cannot trust people as you do, James. But if you choose to tolerate this place, I will tolerate him. You have always been right for most things." But after the serum, is he? I cannot trust his word as I once did now that he has the mood swings, the bouts of sickness, the constant episodes where he is not himself...Not Jem.

"Thank you." He says, giving me a small smile that I've always trusted. "I'll help you find a way to get out. I just don't want you to make any decisions that you'll regret in the future."

"I know." I say softly, looking down. "I trust you."

Author's Note: Okay, once again, I'm going to apologize for the shortness of the chapter. Literally, I timed this and I wrote it in fifteen freaking minutes so there might be mistakes and whatever.

I'm also going to remind you guys again to check out my new story That Fire of Fire, which I will hopefully be updating more frequently.

Ciao!