Tori:

When I regained conscious again, I was lying on a bed in a white room with the smell of antiseptic. There was a familiar warm palm gripping on tightly to my hand. I propped myself up slightly to see both my arms covered in bandages, and looked down to see a tangle of messy raven hair near my hips, its owner hunched over on a chair.

I can't believe Jade came for me. I thought I would never see her again. Does this means she doesn't hate me anymore?

She stirred as she felt my fingers move. "Tori? How are you feeling?"

"Ok? I don't feel much pain, surprisingly."

She pointed to the couple of needles stuck in my hand, connected to various bags hanging on a metal pole. "That's because they've given you something for it."

I looked up at the face I had so longed to see. She had huge eye bags under both bloodshot eyes, and her usual makeup were smudged all over. But she is still so beautiful, so alluring. Reaching out as best as I could, I laid my palm on the cool skin of her face. "I'm sorry, Jade. The text was not sent by me, and I don't want to break up with you. Please forgive me."

She clasped my hand, bringing my knuckles to her lips. "I know, Vega. You don't need to explain anything."

"You know? How long have I been out?"

"Two days after we found you."

I gasped. "You've been here all this while? What about school?"

Her browns furrowed. "I'm never letting you out of my sight again, Tori. I can't handle any more 'surprises' like this."

I huffed out a puff of air. "I just wanted to get you some black roses before our date, and didn't expect things to end up like this."

Jade just sighed, and looked into my eyes. "You were missing for forty eight hours, Vega. Those forty eight hours were pure anguish I have never felt before in my life. It made me realize how afraid I am of losing you. I can't go through anything like that again."

She looked down, hesitating for a moment before looking back at me. "I love you, Tori. I'm not good at verbalizing any of these feelings, but I really want you to know that."

My heart jolted. Jade West just told me she loves me.

"I love you, Jade."

The next few days passed in a blur of visits from my family and friends. To my surprise, even Beck came. He apologized for his behavior and actions, and it makes me really happy to have him back as a friend again.

I kept trying to get Jade to go home, and she only relented after Trina agreed to stay the whole afternoon in the ward. My sister recounted the entire story of how they found me in Ryder's basement, tortured to within an inch of my life.

Something feels missing. I lifted up the covers, and noticed my fake leg was not there. "Trina? When you and Jade were there, did either of you see my prosthetic?"

"No, I don't think so. But don't worry about it. There's already a new one being made for you."

"But dad barely paid off the previous one! How could we afford another?"

Trina rubbed her chin, and walked over to open a drawer by the bed, pulling out an envelope. "Actually, someone sponsored it anonymously. And they got you not one, but five different pairs of feet."

"Five?!" I snatched the card from her hand to read it.

Dear Tori,

You don't know me yet, but it's not important for now. I hope this gift helps you return to your best self.

Regards,

CEO

TPC

"What's TPC?" I asked Trina, confused.

"I'm not sure? Jade said it was hand delivered and left it at your bedside table while you were sleeping yesterday."

I scratched my head, wondering who would sponsor me such expensive things. "Stop thinking, Tori. Just lie back down and sleep. Jade would throw a fit if she sees you trying to get off the bed."

Sighing, I rest my head back on the pillow and let myself drift off to sleep, hoping to solve this mystery someday.