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Chapter Seventeen:

Jeff watched as Coral Moore broke down in his car, her entire physique reminding him of a small child. Already small, watching her crumble into a ball only made her seem even minuter. Watching her sob, Jeff attempted to think of something good to say to help. He wasn't sure. Last time he remembered something that seemed to hurt that bad, his father had told him he needed to move on and be strong. He couldn't tell a young girl who seemed raised another way that.

Instead, he grabbed her by the shoulders and held her despite her attempts to scramble away at first. Soon she latched onto him, echoes of her sobs going in one ear and coming through the other even more painfully than the first.

They seemed to sit there for hours; however it was only a few minutes. Finally, Coral sat up, wiped her eyes and looked emotionlessly out at the road, her eyes partially glazed over.

"We need to go to the clinic," she said quietly, as if Jeff had forgotten somehow.

He only nodded, deciding talking wasn't the best thing to do. Instead, he started the engine and began to drive toward the clinic, his head low. Part of Jeff wondered why he even listened to Coral in the first place. If he had said no, been a rational adult like he was supposed to be, Mike would be alive. Maybe Coral wouldn't be speaking to him, but a life wouldn't be gone right then. Then again, who knew what could have happened if Coral hadn't seen Mike. Maybe her life would be the one gone. The truth was, no matter how much he wished to take his decision back, he couldn't and they both had to live with the consequences now.

Would his job find out? Of course they would. If the clinic blamed him for Mike's death, he would be put in jail or something similar. He'd lose his job and then every hater would get to say everything they'd been saying for a long time. All his fans would be confused, wondering who this Coral girl was and how he got involved with someone he didn't even know.

As if she read his mind, Coral whispered, "I'm sorry, Jeff."

He didn't look at her as he replied, "I know."

Silence refilled the car, leaving an uncomfortable ride for both of them until they arrived. And even when they did, they walked in quietly, seeing the nasty face of Jen and her almost gleeful eyes. Ben looked at them sadly, eyes full of sympathy.

"Dr. Benson wants to talk to you both," Ben said, motioning with one of his large arms to follow him. They did sullenly, not looking back.

Coral felt sick to her stomach, wishing she could have prevented Mike's death somehow. She didn't love Mike enough, maybe, didn't support him as much as he needed, even. Why did he have to die? She'd do anything to get him back, even be nice to everyone in North Carolina for the rest of her life. Possibly that was her punishment for acting like such a bitch to everyone. Lose the last person she could seemingly count on. Even that was a joke to her now. Mike went right back to the drugs as soon as he was given any freedom, so could she really have counted on him? A little voice in her head was saying softly, 'you would have never stood a chance over his addiction.' Of course, she knew this was true. She'd read about all of cocaine's effects on the body and its addiction on the mind too. She truly never did stand a chance, but still, she wished somehow she did.

It was agony for them both though, waiting in the dull-looking office of Dr. Benson's. And since neither seemed to want to talk, they sat in torturous silence, staring at the gray walls and numerous notes that filled them.

"Mr. Hardy." The drone-like voice of Dr. Benson said as he came into the room. "Coral."

Coral wondered how he knew her name, not remembering Jeff or herself saying it to the unkind doctor earlier. They both nodded, still unable to speak.

"As you're both aware, Mike is dead."

Like we needed a fuckin' reminder, Jeff thought bitterly, though he nodded again.

"And well… I'm afraid I'm extremely disappointed in myself for letting him outside today, past my better judgment. Look, before you both accuse me of being a heinous man; I understand why you wanted to take him out today. This program we have here, it isn't very fun, but it does work. We pride ourselves on that and it's definitely something we… well… work hard on. Sure, while here, the people inside are cut off from society, but sometimes its just the only thing that can save a person. But, I do see how it can suffocate some patients even further and I do believe Mike was experiencing that, which is why I let him out. If I would have known he would have… I wouldn't have let him out."

Jeff couldn't take the man's rambling much longer. "Listen, Dr. Benson, I'm aware of all of this, not to sound rude. I do know how much it is hurting Coral and how much I wished… I just need to know, how is this going to affect me? I know I'll probably have to go to jail or something for this, because it's well… my fault. I feel like a complete moron right now for trying to go against something a doctor said and—"

"Your fault??" the doctor asked.

"Yes," Jeff said quietly, "My fault."

Dr. Benson shook his head, looking briefly at Coral. "No, it wasn't your fault and that is why I'm not pressing charges. I think you both need to look at this." The doctor went into his desk and pulled out a slip of paper, handing it to Coral first.

She read it slowly, tears falling freely from her eyes again, her shoulders wavering up and down. "What does it say?" Jeff demanded softly as she dropped it on her lap. She looked briefly at Jeff and the doctor, tossed the note at Jeff, and ran from the room.

Deciding not to go after her, he picked up the note from the floor and began to read.

To whoever gets this –

I can't take it anymore. I hate this place and I hate all the people in it. I can't take not seeing her and her words today made me realize what I have done. I have picked a drug over the one I love the most, the one who has always been there for me. I let the short-term good feeling inside me hide the hurt and I just… I can't take it. If she's not going to be here anymore, if she's finally given up on me, well I have no reason to go on. Maybe she's right. I'm an asshole. But I just wish she would have known that I didn't want to live that life anymore. She woke me up… but she doesn't want me anymore. It was too late, I guess. I wanted her to know how much I cared, how I cared more about her than the drugs, but she seems to love him now. Maybe not love him, but she's too pissed at me to care anymore. Maybe this is right. Maybe she's better off without me, since all I've ever caused her is pain. So… this is it. Funny this is how it happens… not even high. Just… well, do one thing for me, find her and call her up… just tell her I love her for me. It's all I ask.

- Mike

"He committed suicide?" Jeff choked out, unable to believe what he had just read. The doctor nodded. "He wasn't high…"

"We found the drugs in his pocket, but I don't think he was going to use them. The powder was wet… diluted somehow, probably with water. He ruined it." Taking the letter back from Jeff who was still wide-eyed, he sighed. "It's a true shame, but I don't think anything could have prevented this, Mr. Hardy. I'm sure taking him out was the last little string that needed to snap… but well… I just—"

Jeff stood up, shaking his head. "If there is nothing for me here to do, I'm gonna leave. I gotta find Coral."

The doctor gave Jeff a small, sad smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hardy. You're free to go. Just… well… take care of that girl, please."

Jeff nodded. "Right." With that, he left the room, feeling stranger than he had felt in a long time. Mike thought Coral wanted Jeff! He thought… oh it was just an entire mess in total.

Jeff found Coral crying behind a big oak tree, her hands tangled in her hair. She didn't respond to Jeff's touch or her name, only held still in her fetal position, crying loudly, her cries like moans, though Jeff could see the soaking on her shirt, alerting him of the tears. "C'mon, Coral. It's time to go home."

She didn't move. Finally, Jeff sighed once and picked up her tiny body, bringing her toward the car, not looking back.

A/N: Think this chapter speaks for itself... Okay, READ AND REVIEW AND UPDATE I SHALL!!