I'm back!

I know that next week is going to be really busy for me, so I wanted to put this update before then. I was originally going to only put up two chapters, but I want the next update to leave on a cliff hanger...so you're welcome. Again, thanks for your continued support. I also wanted to give a shout out to Cozy Shadow, Raquel the Writer, Angelinx, MistyVoid48, and Lady Miioh for your reviews on the last couple of chapters. Really appreciate it.

In any case, here are the new chaps. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 9

A picture spoke a thousand words. And I knew that by default at least a few of them had to contradict what I saw. I mean, it could have been anything. Just because there were other tables and waiters in the dim background, didn't mean they were having a romantic dinner. Just because that box—that small box that could totally house an engagement ring—was on the table didn't mean it was for Mina. But what if it was an engagement ring?

My eyes widened. What if they were already married?

What if Rouge had been lying in a more horrible extreme?

I took in a deep breath, forced my attention on my work. Yes, I still had to go to work in the morning. The stupid snow cleaners decided to be efficient today of all days. I blinked my bloodshot eyes alert before stopping. I saw them when I closed my eyes.

"You look horrible." I spun over my shoulder, saw Mr. Ferret come into view. He had a slightly bemused look on his face. "How's Clarissa?"

"Okay," I replied, placing a file in the DONE pile. It wasn't done. But I didn't want to look like I wasn't working. "She should be released in a day or two."

Parker told me that she was still sleeping, should be waking up in a matter of hours. But it was already past noon, which made me fear she actually was in a coma or something. Weren't people with head injuries not supposed to sleep? I shook my head, forced myself to dismiss these destructive thoughts.

"That's good to hear." He nodded. "I mean, with it being so close to Christmas, I wouldn't want there to be any tragedies. Clarissa's very important to the firm."

"You can stop by to see her," I offered, not entirely sure why. I hope I wasn't edging him on. I had no idea if Clarissa liked him. But she tended to like all things that were male and attractive. And rich. "Um, she would probably like that."

"Really?" He couldn't hide the joy in his eyes. But I think he realized it, and spun over his shoulder. Coughed into his fist. "Well, unfortunately I have some meetings to go to. But if you could get her something on my behalf I would appreciate it."

Before I could respond he slid me a couple of bills. Big bills.

"Um, what do you want me to do? Buy her a car?"

Mr. Ferret shrugged. "Whatever you think she'd want," he said, motioning to the door. " Hurry back. You still have work to do."

Oh goodie.

It was nice to see my law degree being put to work.

I shouldn't have been complaining. It was actually nice to get out of the office. It just wasn't nice fending off the tundra that was the outside, with no idea of what to look for. Or why I was actually out here.

I guess I wasn't the only one who had issues talking to people that I liked. But his situation was different—Clarissa would probably give him the time of day (and some other things he'd enjoy) if he fessed up. If I tried talking to Shadow?

He already had a significant other.

If only I could call Cream (if she didn't annoy me), or Rouge (if she didn't tease me), or Sally (if I didn't feel like she was judging me) for help. They would know. They would have also come to my rescue for something as trivial as finding a gift.

But gone were those times. Times that I wish I didn't throw away so carelessly. My only real friend was out of commission and I couldn't even find a gift for her.

"The money would make her happier." I decided as I walked into the hospital. If I slipped it into her purse there would be no questions. However, Mr. Thirsty would probably want to know where his money went, so...

"To the gift shop I go."

It was probably because it was the afternoon, because the space had cleared gastronomically since last night. However, it wasn't any more comforting. I had nothing against the ill; I just couldn't shake off the shame of indirectly putting someone in here.

With a cheep teddy bear in hand and slightly more relaxed spirits, I continued toward Clarissa's room. But each step only roped me back into this self-imposed madness. I mean, why couldn't Clarissa just encourage me to date Parker or something? Why did I let her let me do this to her?

I got lost in my mind (or the hospital, now that everyone had either left or died, it was like a maze) for a while. But another glimpse of the past was enough to bring me back to reality.

I saw him before he saw me—Silver. Time stopped until he turned, disappeared into another hallway. Then I could breathe again.

Did he see me? A thousand questions began to storm violently through my brain, as nausea consumed me. Hell, I guess this was the place for it. But I couldn't remain stagnant. If Silver was here, and looking very unhappy at that, there was a strong possibility that—

I didn't have to tell my feet to start moving.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. SHIT.

A brisk power-walk transformed into a full on sprint. I know; running through a hospital was dangerous and stupid. But then again, this was literally the place for it. I was almost at Clarissa's room when—like the nature of every encounter in my life—I clashed into someone. Hard.

No charming doctor could save me from toppling over. Until one did.

"Amy?" Parker said, pulling me up from my pathetic fall.

"Hello, again," I replied, dusting myself off. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

"Do you have any word on—"

"Clarissa?" Parker said. "I checked on her earlier. Her vital signs are fine." I nodded. I didn't speak doctor, but I could read the implication; she was still asleep. So no answers for me. I didn't deserve them anyway.

"You can still see her," Parker said, probably reading my expression. He flipped through the filed in his hands. "In any case, I have to go. Take care."

"You too." I was half tempted to watch him leave—to take further note of what a person who had their shit together looked like—but I had to deliver a teddy bear. Priorities.

When I entered the room, however, I was met with a fully conscious Clarissa. Okay, so she still looked like death—matted hair and fur, a bag of bags under her eyes, and an overall pasty complexion to top it all off—but she was alive.

"THEY WON'T LET ME OUT OF HERE," Clarissa said as I approached her side. She turned to me. "I hate hospitals."

"Everyone does."

"And right when I was so close." She shook her head; I feared she'd unravel the bandage.

"What happened?" I said, feeling dread and panic and more dread consume me. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have—"

"Save it." She held up her IV hand. "Nothing major. When I was leaving the restaurant—"

"Why where you at a restaurant?"

"Because when I was going to Shadow's house he was already in his driveway. So I followed."

"And?"

"You should probably stop interrupting me if you want a taste of the good stuff." She ironically reached for her pudding cup just then, took a bite. She grimaced. "Wow, it takes a lot to fuck up pudding."

"CLARISSA."

"FINE." She folded her arms, looked at the ceiling as she searched for her brain. In what felt like an eternity she turned to me. "I went after him. He met up with what's-her-face at Olive Oil. I didn't get to sit close enough to actually hear their conversation, but I did get a picture. Shadow had to leave early for some emergency. I waited for the waiter to give her change. She left. I left. Slipped on ice. Woke up here." She sighed. "Concise enough for you?"

"What was the picture of?" I had already seen it, but I didn't want her skimping on any on-the-scene details.

"The two of them," Clarissa said, confirming the obvious. She closed her eyes in a hard squint, hopefully to search for more details. I could kill her for almost killing herself, especially if her efforts were in vain. "He gave her a box. She looked...happy? I thought it was an engagement ring, but he didn't propose. But Shadow's not a flashy person. So I can't really say if I got any relevant info."

My stomach twisted with contempt. However, I didn't know who to direct it toward. Shadow for moving on. Mina for allowing him to move on with her. Clarissa for encouraging me to move on by moving on with the man who called us off in the first place. There was so much movement, but it seemed like my life was going nowhere.

"Alright." I took a seat, tried to calm my restless mind. "Thanks for trying anyway. Again, I'm sorry—"

"You have to learn to stop being so apologetic, Amy." Clarissa said, taking a hearty bite of her sandwich. "And who said anything's over yet?"

"I did," I replied, brushing a hand through my quills. "Maybe they're not getting married. Maybe they're not even dating. But they have their own lives. We do too when we're not stalking people. And now you're hurt." I shook my head. "Maybe this is just proof that—"

"Proof that what?" Clarissa's hazel eyes pressed against mine. "All we know is that Shadow and Mina know each other. Rumors from your very awesome friends—which you should talk to more—say that they're dating. And as much as I want to be Rouge, I don't completely trust her about this."

I could only sigh as I considered her words. Words that was just as subjective as they were true. I didn't know anything. Secrets had a way of revealing themselves over time, but this wasn't one I could wait for. I needed to know. Now. And as pathetic as that sounded, I was finally okay with this idea.

A small smile found its way on my face. "I don't either." I tossed Clarissa the teddy bear. "From your secret admirer."

Clarissa rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide the blush breaking out on her face. "I hate stuffed animals."

"Then here's ninety bucks."

"Yay!" she said, cuddling the money. "You know me so well—"

Just then, the catchy chime of a phone seized the air. I looked down. Saw Clarissa's phone glow on the table.

"Check it." The same dread from earlier consumed me. When it took too long for Clarissa to rise from her bed, I snatched it from the table. I'd like to say I was surprised.

But I wasn't.