I sat on the bed for a minute, too surprised to do anything else. A wave of emotions hit me, and I was on Kendall's chest again. "Thank God you're okay!" I was sobbing again, and didn't care. Kendall was awake, he was going to be fine.

He ran his hands through my hair. "Shh, it's okay. Everything's going to be okay." Here he was, lying in the hospital, and he was consoling me.

I sat up and wiped a tear from my eye. "I didn't think you were ever going to wake up."

"I had to. Somebody missed me."

"You could really hear me?"

"On and off. You weren't the only one telling me that, though. Mom and Dad told me, Kev and Kenneth told me, even Sadie and the guys. I figured it'd be a good time to come back."

I placed a light kiss on his forehead. "I should go get the doctor."

Kendall grabbed my arm. "No, stay with me. Just for a minute." He was staring at me with those green eyes I had been dying to see all week, so I obeyed.

"Kendall, do you remember what happened at all?"

I could see him searching for the answer in his eyes. "Not really. I was on my way to rehearsal when I realized I needed to see you. I was headed back to your apartment, and this car came out of no where. I faded in and out of consciousness on the way here. Next thing I know, I'm waking up to the most beautiful girl in the world."

Damn him. I was smiling again. "Why did you need to see me? Couldn't it have waited until after rehearsal?"

He shook his head. "No, it couldn't. I had to tell you something, face to face. I had a gift for you, but it's probably long gone by now."

I took the ring box off the bedside table. "Did it have something to do with this?"

"Where did you get that?'

"Kevin had it. When he got here, they gave him all of your clothes and everything that was in the car. It fell out of your pocket." He seemed upset so I continued. "Look, we both knew you wanted to give it to me. He just thought I deserved to know. It was the only thing that kept my hope alive. Plus, I didn't look at it. I know you wanted to see my reaction, so I waited."

Kendall looked relieved. "I wanted to show you how much you mean to me, and this was the only way I could think of." He grabbed my hand. "I don't know what you want this to mean to you, but for me, it means that one day, you're going to promise me that you are going to be with me forever. Promise that no matter how many times I fail, that you'll love me. Promise me that I'll get all your love, even when I don't deserve it."

I was nodding along like an idiot, and smiling like one too, I'm sure. He placed the ring box back in my hand, and opened it for me. It took my breath away. It was a single diamond on a silver band; the diamond wasn't huge, but it was beautiful. "It's so perfect. I love it." He gestured for me to put it on, and I shook my head. "If I'm going to wear this, we're going to do it right." I held out my hand to him. "I'll wear it, only if you place it on my finger."

He mustered a smile, pulled the ring out of its place, and slipped it on. It fit perfectly. "I love you so much, Sophie. I'm so thankful that you're mine."

I bent down and kissed him. "While I've enjoyed this alone time, I really should go get the doctor." He nodded and I kissed him again. I ran out and grabbed Dr. Gerels, just in time for Kathy to walk through the door. I turned to her, tears in my eyes. "He's awake!"

She nearly dropped what she was carrying. "Thank heavens! I was getting so worried." She glanced down at my hand. "I see he gave you the ring."

I glanced down at my hand. I still couldn't believe how lucky I was. I text Sadie and the guys to let them know he was awake, and they all promised to drop by later. The doctor finished up, and it was Kathy's turn to see her son. Everyone was in and out of the hospital all day visiting, and in that moment, I had never been so thankful. I had an amazing boyfriend, amazing friends, and was being told that Kendall would be released in two days. Life was good, nothing could bring me down.

The two days came and went, and before I knew it, I was at home with Kendall. We decided it wouldn't be a good idea for him to say alone while he was recuperating, so he stayed with me and Sadie. I was thankful that our apartment was on the larger side, since Carlos, Logan, and James were over just about every day. Kevin was coming over quite a bit too, and I was glad I got to spend more time with Kendall's family.

I was surprised when my family came to visit. They didn't want me to miss out on anything back home when Christmas came around, so they came out to celebrate early. It was everyone's first time in Cali, and while I wanted to take them out, I also needed to take care of Kendall. He reassured me every time I left that he was fine and that he'd call if he needed anything, but he never did.

Kevin had brought over what the hospital gave him after the accident, and I was still leery about it. I didn't want any remembrance of that horrid day. It had only been two weeks, and I still wasn't ready to deal with it yet. When Kendall finally forced me to, the first thing we did was head over to look at the car.

It was a wreck. Kendall was hoping there'd be a way to save it, but there wasn't. The entire drivers side door was crushed, and the impact had caused the car to flip. I was standing there with tears in my eyes, and Kendall placed his arm around my shoulder. "It's okay, babe. We can get a new car."

I shook my head. "It's not just that, Kendall. It's a miracle you're alive. Look at this thing!" The body shop owner came over and told us to get whatever we needed out of the car before we had to junk it. When we walked over and I saw the inside for the first time, I almost threw up. I could see blood from where Kendall had gotten hurt, and that was the last thing I wanted to think about. He put me on backseat duty so I wouldn't have to see it. I was gathering stuff out of the back when I heard Kendall take a sharp breath.

Worried that it was his lung, I ran over to him. "Are you alright?"

He nodded. "I'm fine." He was hiding something.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

He bowed his head for a moment before answering. When he spoke, I could barely hear him. "I don't think this was a random hit and run. I don't think this was an accident at all." He handed me a yellow slip of paper.

I was thoroughly confused until I unfolded the note. Scribbled across the paper, in handwriting I couldn't place, was the worst thing I could ever imagine.

Hope I don't ruin your time together. C

I was seething. At first, I couldn't place what Kendall was thinking. Then, as if reading my mind, my phone rang.

Hey, sweet thing. Heard you can't come home for the holidays. Maybe I should come out and give you some time away from that pretty boy. Sound like a date? C

My legs buckled underneath me.