A/N: Whoohoo! Another update! Sorry again for the long wait, I've been crazy busy, and lazy. But now I'm writing again so rejoice! By the way, this chapter is in Ez's POV. And I don't own most of the characters. Also, I know some of the characters are a little different from the original characters in the books, but I think I'm entitled to a little artistic creativity. In other words, I just can't stay with the same thing too long .

Chapter 12

Simon looked to Tori nervously, and Tori just glared at me. When neither of them went to make a move I sighed, "You two leave me with no other choice," and then I attempted to stand up, which, after falling thirty or so feet, is easier said then done. I hissed in pain when I finally got onto my feet and stood there breathing for a moment then stumbled gingerly to the door. I opened the door to find an awaiting Derek.

"Whoa there champ, slow down and get on back to bed, whatever it is it can wait." He said in an almost patronizing voice.

"I have to pee." was my gruff reply, it wasn't a classy thing to say, but sometimes a girls got to do what a girl's got to do.

He laughed, "I don't believe that, so I brought you a little advice, don't go lookin' for trouble, kay? Have fun peeing!" he strode away still chuckling, I had half expected either Simon or Tori to call me out. It was odd Tori didn't say a word at all.

I turned and looked at her, but she was staring right past me, and I heard her mutter, "Well I'll be damned, speak of the devil."

Confused by her words, I turned back around to look at the figure standing in the doorway, and it definitely was not Derek who was now standing in front of me. I turned to Tori once more, and she had the scariest look I'd ever seen her wear, on her face. Simon seemed to have a venomous look too. For the first time, I was worried they would both gang up and do something totally irresponsible.

No one said much for what seemed like a silent eternity, and then Tori broke the silence with a feral growl. "You. Leave. Her. Alone. Right. Now. Or. Else." The deadly look in her eyes was enough to turn Medusa to stone, but the silent stranger didn't seem phased.

"Tori, I understand you're upset. And personally, I love that you're tryin ta protect me, but it's my choice who I wanna to keep around me. And I wanna know why he's decided to have enough balls to come see me. It may be his fault that entire accident happened, but I owe 'em thanks for saving me. And you know you can't deny that." I spoke softly to my cousin. Her stance began to change but not her face, even so I could tell she saw the reason in my words.

Without another word she headed to the door, pausing only to shoot me a meaningful look, and drag Simon with her when he didn't automatically follow her. They both paused to stare at the silent, brooding youth in the doorway. I think Tori whispered something about castrating him with a rusty spoon then feeding him his own balls if he hurt me again, as she walked past, but I'm not really sure.

He sauntered into the room, guiltily, defeated. No one said much for a few minutes. I broke the silence. "I was bein honest earlier when I said I owed you thanks. Thank-you for bringin me back. I don't know how you knew I was out there, or why you brought me back, but thank-you just the same."

He stared at the floor for a minute and then looked at me. In his eyes there was pain, "How can you stand there and talk to me like that? All I've done is annoy you, hurt you, cause you pain, in fact my actions nearly killed you and you can still talk to me civilly!"

He slammed his fists against the wall and leaned his forehead against the cool paint. His shoulders began to droop, and I could tell he was loosing control. All I did was sit down quietly on the floor, and let him take his time. When he finally turned to look back at me, I spoke, "I come from an average town. With an average life, and an average family. But I have had the fortune to meet many people who have taught me everything is not always what it appears to be. I made a promise to try and keep the peace to Andrew, and I intend to keep my promises. Do you know how many people I've met who have nothing left? Who, if they had just been honest with someone, even just themselves, would have had a least a little something now, rather then nothing? Or how many people I've known who have tried their hardest to keep going, when something stands up and blocks their every step? Who have to work a second job so they can afford to buy enough make up to cover the bruises left by beating? Who feel like they have to hurt themselves, to get ride of the pain they have on the inside, because someone like you took every chance they got to give them hell?"

He was silent at my words. Though they had no harsh tone, it seemed that each word was a physical blow to him. "I've met all these people, and what I've learned is that I don't want to end up with nothing left. I could be dirt poor with no material possesions, and still be happy, why? Because I plan on leading my life, so that people know they can hold me to my word, that I'll be responsible. That even if I end up homeless, if they were to take pity on me and give me employment, I would show up to work everyday, and work hard, and work honestly. And if I blow up at you or attack you, what will that do? It would mean breaking a promise, and then, I would have nothing left. Don't consider yourself special."

By now, he was sitting on the bed cradling his head in his hands. His shoulders were shaking now. "You.. sound like.. an.. idealistic.. idiot." he mumbled.

This set off my temper which had remained, so quiet till now, "and what right do you have to say that? You asked me a question and I answered it! I could say the same thing to you! Running around purposely making enemies so you don't have to trust anyone. You don't think that you could play that game forever without anyone noticing, did you?"

He looked up at me, with dead eyes. That would later make me curious, as they say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Quietly he said, "I didn't know I was playing a game. I thought I was protecting myself."

I stared at him, "'Protecting yourself'? Now, that is just stupid."

He snorted. I glared.

"You wouldn't know what it's like. Why you need to protect yourself like that. Why would you? It doesn't seem like you've faced a single meaningful hardship in your life." His words had a certain venom to them, that for some reason excited me. They gave me the feeling that he would open up to me soon, maybe, even just a little.

"Then tell me. If I wouldn't know then tell me, I know I have a bad temper and a tendency to keep grudges like they're no body's business, but I'm not delusional and I know life isn't perfect. But if you still don't believe that, why don't you explain it to me." I was purposely taunting him now. With some people, that's just what you had to do to get them to talk, when emotions flared, guards fall. Well, usually.

He stood up and walked to me, carefully he sat in front and me and carefully pulled my injured arm to him, in the gentlest way, so it didn't cause me excessive pain. He started to run his hand up and down the arm, about an inch about the skin. My arm started to tingle in it's make-shift cast. He stared intently at his work, and then started to speak softly, "It all starts the moment you've been betrayed once. You're crushed, but you still go back for more, like the abused girlfriend who still 'loves' her boyfriend, even though the entire world is tellin' her he's no good," he paused for a minute, and the tingling in my arm increased, and started to spread, "You've been broken once, but you still have faith, so you go back and things seem normal for awhile, they begin to build up your trust again. They build your trust back up to it's peak, and then knock it back down in a single moment. Your trust is shattered again, but you still go back. Here's where the story differs a little bit for each person. Some keep going back for ever and the cycle never ends. Others get out as soon as possible and the rest are somewhere in the middle."

His voice trailed off, and his eyes donned a faraway look. He seemed to continue on in a trance, still slowly running his hand over my arm, "For most, the cycle keeps going until someone helps them out, or they get feed up and leave on their own, that is, if they're some of the lucky few that break it. After you get out, you start looking for people to trust, and it seems like everyone of them lets you down. Some of them do, but not all of them actually break your trust, it's just you have set such high standards subconsciously, that it seems like they've broken your trust because they can't meet them. After that, you just stop trying to trust people altogether, you don't force yourself to distrust people, you just avoid giving them trust right out. Eventually there will be people who earn your trust anyway. And they'll fail to meet your standards like those before. And at that point, you start pushing people away, trying to hide from their trust. You learn how to manipulate people into hating you so they don't trust you, and you trick yourself into believing that it's for the best, and that it doesn't hurt."

At this point, it seemed like he couldn't continue. I gently placed my free hand on his knee and he looked straight into my eyes, I nodded to him to keep talking. He sighed and continued to run his hands along my arm, the tingling in my extremities had long since, spread to my entire body and changed from a dull sensation to startling warmth.

"There's nothing much more to add. Once you've convinced yourself if doesn't hurt, you run around playing games, not ever realizing what effect your games have. After awhile they're not even games anymore, it's you only way to survive."

He stopped everything this time and ran his hands through his hair. Then abruptly he said "Your wounds aren't healed but they will heal faster now."

I blinked and looked up at him, "Thank you."

The pain returned to his eyes, "Please don't. Just don't... I don't deserve your thanks."

I sighed, "Can you at least tell me your name?"

He paused, and thought for a second, "Call me Ryan."

"Ryan," I said pensively, and then a little more quietly "Who were they Ryan, the ones who shattered you? I promise I won't shatter you again."

He refused to look me in the eye after that. Looking to the side, at the rug, the ceiling, anywhere but me. Gently I reached out and turned his head to face me, "Ryan, I know you won't trust me, but I honestly want to help."

He held my eye contact, but still wouldn't say anything. I sighed again and gently released his head and he turned away again.

He spoke softly, in a hushed whisper, "I think it's time you got some rest. Maybe once you're healthy, you can tackle my scars." Without waiting for my answer he picked me up delicately, trying to avoid aggravating any injuries, and placed me back down on my bed. After that he left without another word.

A few minutes later, Tor came back into my room. I knew she would want to grill me about what happened, but I didn't feel like talking so I just pretended to be asleep. I'm not sure why, but for some reason, that worked, and she left me alone for the rest of the night.