A/N: I'm glad you're still enjoying the story. And thanks for the suggestions. I have a pretty good idea how I want this story to go and I'll certainly keep the suggestions in mind. Well anyway, here's is chapter 3. Let me know what you think, I love the reviews!

Helping out

Chapter 3

I wake when I feel the sun shine through the curtains. It feels warm on my face. I like it and I don't feel like opening my eyes just yet. I just had the greatest night sleep and I'm not ready to give that up, so I turn to my other side. I now feel the sun shining on my hair, making it feel warm. This feels great. I breathe in deeply and I can feel my thoughts starting to drift of once again. They seem to be doing that a lot lately. At first they used to drift of to Luka, but lately I find myself thinking about Carter more often. But now that's not the case. I find myself thinking about… Maggie. Maggie? Yeah, Maggie. I had the weirdest dream last night. I heard her say all those sweet things I'd wanted her to say to me when I was little. How she loved me, and how beautiful I am. Actually, it was a really great dream. It's nice to have a mother who really is a mother, only if it's just in a dream. Maybe she really can be a good mother. Maybe I should give her another chance. I now open my eyes and look at her sleeping form. Yeah, maybe I should. Then I feel my eyes closing again, and once again, I'm asleep.

I wake for the second time that morning because I hear a knock on the door. I look at my watch and find that it's already 10.30. I really should get up. I stand up to open the door for whoever is now knocking very persistently and see to my surprise that I'm still in he clothes I had on yesterday. Why the hell did I sleep with my clothes on? Before I can think about it I hear my name being called.

'Abby, are you awake? Can you open the door please? It's John'

I roll my eyes at that. Who else would it be? I open the door and see Carter. I put on my best fake-surprised-face and try to sound surprised as well.

'Oh Carter! It IS you! You know, I found it a little weird how Maggie had gotten a male voice just over night'. I smile at him and step aside to let him in. He's carrying a Styrofoam cup of coffee and a brown back with something in it that, I must say, smells really good.

'Ha ha, very funny Abby. Why did it take you so long to open the door?'

'I've only just woken up. In fact, you'd just woken me up'

'Well, I'm sorry about that. But you needed to get up anyway because we have to hit the road soon if we want to make it to Chicago today. Unless you want to spend another night with your mum and me in a hotel'

I can see him smile. He meant it as a joke, but the fact is I'd really like to spend another night with him in a hotel. Oh no, I shouldn't be thinking about that. Not now, and not ever.

'Abby?'

'Huh? Oh, I'm sorry, what'd you say?'

'You okay? You were just staring in the space.'

Oops, are my cheeks getting red already?

'Sorry, still a little tired I guess.' Quick Abby, change the subject! 'That coffee smells great Carter, and what've you got in that bag?'

He looks at me and then at his hand, realizing that, there is in fact a bag in them. 'Owh yeah, it's coffee and bagels. I thought you might be hungry. And if you're not, I'm still going to make you eat these. You haven't eaten since yesterday you know'

'Yes Carter, I'm well aware of that. My stomach was telling me that already, but thanks for pointing it out'

I'm making this into a joke, but truth to be told, I think it's really sweet of him. Helping me and also making sure I'm eating alright. What did I do to deserve him? Oh yeah, that's right, having a bipolar mum, I guess. Speaking of Maggie, where is she?

'Have you seen Maggie anywhere? I haven't seen her this morning.'

'She went downstairs to get something to eat herself. I bumped into her in the hallway. I offered to get some food for her too, but she wanted to get out of the hotel for a little while. I told her to be back in this room by 11'

'Thanks John, really' I say, sitting down on the bed with the coffee and the bagels. 'Have you already eaten or do you want one?' I hold up a bagel.

'No thanks, these are all just for you, so start eating!' He says, looking at me mocking-seriously. I just smile back and start eating the bagels. Wow, these are really good.

'I'm going downstairs to pay the hotel, I'll be right back' he says. I just nod and drink my coffee. Hmm, that tastes good. No wonder, I haven't had something to eat or drink for almost 24 hours, I'm famished. After I'm done eating I walk into the bathroom to make myself a little more presentable. I still haven't figured out why I'm still in my clothes. Now that I think of it, I can't even remember going to bed. I must have been really tired last night, or – oh my God, I remember now! The balcony, the chair, the massage, John. He must've put me to bed. So I must've fallen asleep. In his arms I might add. Oh my God, it all comes back to me now.

It felt so great lying in his arms that I fell asleep. What must he have thought? Ah, so what, I fell asleep in the arms of my best friend, who cares? Well, I know someone who cares. Luka. But he really shouldn't care. It meant nothing. But if it meant nothing, why do I feel... guilty? Yes, I feel guilty. Guilty for falling asleep in the arms of a guy who isn't my boyfriend. I knew this whole trip was a bad idea, but it wasn't like I really had a choice, did I?

Before I get a chance to answer that question for myself I hear a door open and close again. I quickly splash some more water in my face hoping that'll help. I look in the mirror. Well, it'll have to do. I walk into my room again and see no one. Carter must've gone to his own room. I open the door leading to his bedroom and walk in. He's packing his stuff and doesn't seem to notice me. I can hear him humming. I stand in the doorway for a little longer, looking at him a little longer. I don't know why, but I can't take my eyes away from him. I'm trying to figure out what song it is that he's humming, but I then hear a door behind me open and I see Maggie walking in to our room. I don't want to get caught looking at Carter by either one of them, so I quickly close Carters door and turn to Maggie.

'Hey mum, are you almost ready to go?' I ask, trying to sound as normal as possible and not as if I was almost caught by staring at someone I really shouldn't be staring at.

'Yeah, I packed my stuff. I just need to go to the bathroom. Are you ready yourself?'

'Jep. I'll just go tell Carter we're ready to go then.'

'Yeah, you do that' Maggie says smiling, before disappearing in the bathroom. I look at her weird. Why was she smiling at that? It was not like I was being funny or something like that. Well, mothers… what are you gonna do about them? I smile at myself of thinking of Maggie as my mother. Maybe this trip wasn't so bad after all. I take a deep breath in and then turn around to get Carter, so we can finally go back to Chicago.