Chapter 22

AN: I'm so so so sorry I took so long to update, I'm sure you are all dying to know what happens next, so here it is.

I suddenly came back to consciousness, but I couldn't remember why I hurt so much. What happened? Where am I? I thought back, and I remembered that I went to see Astrid. Why? What happened after? Suddenly it all came flooding back. I remembered it all. Everything until I fell to the floor. What happened after? I realized I couldn't remember. Where was I? My eyes flew open. I was in a blank room. My head whipped around, trying to figure out where I was. I saw Josh sitting beside what I realized was a hospital bed, with his head in hi hands. "Josh!" I said.

"Oh Reed. Reed, I'm so sorry. I can't believe what I did to you." Josh rambled.

"Josh, why are you convinced this is your fault? I don't remember what happened." I admitted.

"Oh, Reed, when you went to talk to Astrid, well…" He trailed off, "I kinda called the police, but when they came in, they knocked you over, but Astrid hadn't fired yet, and she adjusted and the bullet hit your stomach. You lost tons of blood. The police caught her thank God." Josh explained.

"That explains it. Wait, I still don't understand why you think it's your fault." I told Josh.

"Reed, I should've never let you go in there, even if I did call the police. I'm the reason that you're hurt. And on top of that, I betrayed your trust. I promised not to tell anyone, but I did anyway. I'll understand if you hate me, just tell me and I'll leave." Josh, he could be such an idiot.

"Josh, first, you saved me by calling the police, it doesn't matter if I'm hurt, granted I'd rather not be hurt, but I'm alive because of you. Second, yes you betrayed my trust, but I was being stupid, so you did what you had to do. Third, I could never hate you. Even when you moved on so quickly after the legacy, I didn't hate you, I was hurt but I could never, ever hate you." I said. I knew the comment about the legacy would hurt him, but if it would help him figure out I'm not mad at him, it's worth it.

"Thank you." Josh said and pulled my hand up and kissed it. My heart fluttered in my chest. I forgot what Josh could do to me.

"Josh, how long have I been unconscious? I asked, I hoped it wasn't too long, I didn't want to miss much.

"About, eight days." Josh told me.

"Oh God. I've missed so much school; I'm going to be so far behind. And who knows what's happening in Billings right now." I rambled

"Shh, just calm down Reed. All of that isn't important right now. The only important thing is you getting better." Josh said.

"That's not the only important thing Josh, I'll lose my scholarship. I'll have to go home." I told him with tears streaming down my face. I didn't want to lose him again, I just got him back.

"Reed, it's going to be fine." Josh said, wiping the tears from my cheek with his thumb. "Speaking of your home, your family's here. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, I didn't want to put too much on you at once." Josh admitted. He knew me too well. He knows that my family is important, and he knows exactly how to tell me.

"Do you want me to go get them?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you Josh, for everything." I told him.

"I love you Reed. I'll be right back with your family." Josh said as he slipped out.

AN: I know this is short, but I had to get something up today. The next chapter will be up ASAP.

I have been editing my chapters, I didn't take any down. they are just condensed into eight chapters. This is how it works,

Chapters 1+2 are now chapter 1

Chapters 3-6 are chapter 2

Chapters 7-10 are chapter 3

Chapters 11-14 are chapter 4

Chapters 15-17 are chapter 5

Chapters 18-20 are chapter 6

Chapter 21 is chapter 7

and what would've been chapter 22 (this one) is now chapter 8.

Thanks for your patience.