Falling, I wouldn't mind if it were you

He was walking around the small, white room which was a bit cold and smelt of anesthetics. His arms were crossed around his chest and he was anxious. His eyebrows furrowed together and his cheeks were marked with a red hue. His nostrils flared as he attempted to control his breathing. My eyes cautiously looked at his impatient physique continue walking around the room. He was furious. That was all I can say. As much as I wanted to know what was going on inside his head, I was a bit afraid to see his jumbled thoughts. Because he was fuming and I'm slightly regretting of telling Eddie about what Adrianna did to me.

"It's going to be fine, Eddie. I'm going to be alright…" I sighed and he suddenly stood still in the middle of the room. "It's not like it's the first time I've broken ribs." I muttered and I noticed how Eddie's body went completely rigid. His fists clenched and he stared at me. My eyes casted down to the blue and white tiles. "Yeah?" He said. I heard him suspire and I held tight on the frigid cushion beneath me. "Nice to know, Loren. That really makes all of this better." He stated, but I sense the hint of sarcasm in his tone. I bit my bottom lip and Eddie began walking towards me. He placed his hands on each side of my body and nonchalantly leaned in to me. His forehead pressed against my head and he exhaled. "I'm sorry." He whispered. I continued staring at the floor and I felt Eddie's hand take a hold of my mine. With his other hand, he lifted my chin up and my eyes landed on his. He smiled warmly and gently leaned in. His lips touched the bridge of my nose. We stayed like that for a few moments, his kiss lingered and when he pulled away, a small smile tugged my lips.

"Alright, Kiddos." The door slammed opened and we both instantly turned to look at the tall, dark skin, curly hair woman with a pleasant face walk in. "Sorry for interrupting whatever you guys were having." She stated whilst looking at the blue clipboard she had in her hands. Eddie reluctantly pulled away, he glanced at me and I shrugged, reassuring him I was going to be okay. "Okay Duran, wipe that tragic face off. I don't need your negativity to rub off on me. So you and your tragedy walk out right now, or you smile real big for your girl." She still wasn't looking at us. Regardless, Eddie shifted his gaze towards me and smiled softly.

"How is she, Tina?"

"Well," I waited patiently as she looked over on her clipboard of my x-ray results. "If you're worrying over broken ribs, there's none. Whoever harassed you didn't have an iron fist to break bones. Anyways," She walked over to me and motioned for Eddie to move aside. She carefully helped me lay down on the beige cushion. I cringed at the pain and she smiled in sympathy. And when I felt her hand give my stomach the slightest touch, I flinched at the pain coming to surface. She nodded, "With that being said, did you get hit constantly on the stomach?"

"Yeah," I responded while sitting back up, my back slouching and I held my gut. Eddie stood close to me and concern was written all over his face. I shook my head, I'm okay. "The person didn't hit you too hard to break your ribs but your stomach is soar due to the amount of constant hits."

"How long will it hurt?"

"A couple of weeks, two max." She began writing on a piece of paper, and I distinguished her messy handwriting. "I'll prescribe you an ointment and you must use it twice a day. After you wake up and before you go to bed. If you follow the directions, the pain will gradually subside and it'll eventually heal."

She handed me the paper. "I recommend not doing anything strenuous. I'd prefer if you stay in bed for a couple days and in due time, you can go back to your regular routine." She wrote something on the clipboard before looking at me. "If the pain gets worse, don't hide it. It's best if you pay me another visit." She warned and I nodded. "Well, that's about it. Get better, and remember don't force yourself too much. And you-" She looked at Eddie. "Take her care of her, will ya." Eddie let out a light chuckle. "Will do." He said. She looked at us for mere seconds before turning around and exiting out the room. There was a pregnant silence. All I heard was my steady breathing. "See," I began, "I told you everything was okay."

"It's not really a time to be joking."

"Hm, yeah." Silence captivated us again. I watched as Eddie sighed. "So Adrianna Masters." He stated. I gulped and nodded. He crossed his arms and I saw his eyes turn into pits of vengeance. "She's full of it if she thinks she'll get away for hurting you." I cautiously got down from the hospital bed. Eddie saw my failed attempt of planting both feet on the ground when I hissed, and he quickly took charge. He took me by surprise as my feet were no longer on the floor. Eddie picked me up in his arms and carefully held me. "What are you doing?" I clutched his shirt and I felt my cheeks burn. "You can't walk, and I really can't take it when watching you try to either." He sighed, "I told your mom."

"You did." I whispered.

"She had to know, Loren."

I soughed. He began walking towards the door. And I pressed my head against his beating chest. Of course, it doesn't matter anymore. She was prone to find out either way. "Okay." I heaved a shaky laugh. "Loren…" I waited for him to continue. "Everything will be different now."

"What do you mean?"

He was quiet for a minute. "Never, ever will allow you to get hurt again. You hear me? Over my dead body will they lay a finger on you." He stated with so much hate that I felt shivers crawl down my spine. It was quiet after that. And I opted to ignore all the stares we got, and maybe some pictures were taken off us while we made our way to the car. But at that moment I really didn't care; because as long as Eddie was with me, everything was going to be okay.

I was practically carried all the way to my bed, with my mother and Melissa trailing behind us. Eddie gently laid me on my bed and I found comfort in the cold sheets. My mother instantly sat next to me and pulled me into an embrace. I held the cry of pain that was bound to come out at the sudden contact, and Mother held me tightly. I could hear her muffle cries and felt her body shake. Melissa stood next to Eddie and a strange expression hooded her features. She looked sad, anguish clearly evident. Eddie was no better. He held our gaze for a few moments before turning around and treaded back to the living room where Max was. He too, had come along. Melissa gravelly sat on the bed. "Adrianna." She muttered. She blinked rapidly a couple of times. "Of course. I'm sorry Loren." She whispered.

"It's not your fault."

"I'll give that damn bitch a test of her own medicine."

"Melissa-"

"No, Loren. She will pay for this. No, I will not let her get away."

"Calm down, please."

"When I get my hands on her-Oh, she will regret being born." I sighed as she quickly stood up and kept talking, incoherent thoughts escaping her. My mother still held me. She had stopped sobbing and in an instant, she was standing. She wiped away her tears and looked at me with a pained demeanor. "What did the doctor say to you?" She asked all of the sudden. I slowly told her about my visit to the doctor and she nodded. "You'll stay home for a couple days then."

"Mom, I don't think-"

"And that's final. You'll stay in bed the whole time; I don't want you walking around until get better. And as for Adrianna-" She crossed her arms. "She hurt my baby, and I will damn make sure she gets what she deserves." I casted down my eyes to the sheets sheathing me from the cold. "How many were involved?"

"Two other girls and two boys."

"Where there any witnesses?"

I blinked, Emily. Then I flashed back to the scene. She was screaming, trying desperately to get a hold of me and escape from the boy whom had her locked. I smiled because she was the only one right there and then who truly wanted to help me. Even if her attempts were in vain, she tried. Then Adrianna took her. Will she say anything about the incident? Will she stay quiet? Did Adrianna threaten her? Will she be a bystander?

"Yes," I said. "Emily Velasquez."

My mother nodded apprehensively. "I'm going to your school tomorrow. Since this happened in school grounds, the principal has to know and she better take action. I will not leave that school without consequences for that girl." Her adamantine aura soon faded and she cupped one cheek. "I promise that when you go back to that place, you don't have to worry about Adrianna coming to you, or anyone. And if she does, don't you dare hold quiet about it." She let out a quavering breath. She hugged her arms, roughly stroked them and quickly turned around. I watched her crestfallen back exit out the room. I lay back on my bed and a tear silently betrayed me as it rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away.

This brings back painful memories. It's like back to those days when it was constant affliction with Trent, and my mother would quietly whimper. And I'd be begging her to run away but she wouldn't listen. She'd hang onto that hope that Trent would get better. It must be so caustic for her to watch her daughter crumble in her instigators eyes. The past should be the past. Right? It should all be better. But that's the aftermath of all the pain we had to endure for ten years. My mother was able to surpass it; she was able to get better. Maybe, all she needed was a push, a sudden trigger. And maybe that trigger was waking up in the hospital bed, all bandaged with her daughter next to her, screaming at the top of her lungs because she couldn't stop having nightmares. A cast on her leg, and the never ending tranquilizers being needled to her daughter because she couldn't shut up. That was her trigger of getting better, for her daughter, because she saw how after years of being the strong one, her daughter finally crumbled down into her worst incubus.

Melissa walked up to me. She poked my forehead. "You tried to kill yourself." She stated bluntly.

"Eddie told you?"

"No." She sighed. "I walked into your room, saw the bathroom door broken and then there was your tub filled with water. I put two and two together and you tried to kill yourself."

"Does my mom know that-"

"No. She knows what happened to you in school but not about that. I kinda drained the water and placed the door right up."

"Why didn't you tell her?"

"Do you want me to?"

"No…"

"Then don't argue with it. I don't think Nora could take finding out that her daughter tried committing. It's up to you to tell her."

"Aren't you afraid?"

"Of what?"

"That'll try it again."

"Will you?"

"I don't know."

"You won't." She stated with assurance.

"How do you know?"

"Because you're Loren, and Loren is strong. Take this as a small set back. Use it to refuel whatever you need to refuel to show everyone that they can't hurt you."

"But they can."

"Because you allow them to. Plus, you show it, too." She was quiet. "Next time, instead of crying, fight back. Even if it's hopeless, try because it would show that you won't give in to them." She smiled, and it was heart breaking for me to watch her distressed emotions. "The worst possible thing you could do in a fight, physical or emotional, is wave the white flag and give up even before all of it is over. If you know you're losing in the end, and then at least lose with dignity. Put up a fight next time. If there is a next time, anyways. From the looks of Eddie and Nora, they'll make sure you never shed a tear again." She sighed and shrugged. "If you're not punching Adrianna next time you see her. Then I'll do the honor of messing up her face." She glanced at me before silently making her way to the door. She smiled, "I'm going to find this Emily chick. Maybe, she's not so bad." And she left.

I pulled the covers up and felt safe with the comfort of the warmth. I battled with my thoughts, and when I was cleared from any, I began closing my eyes. Fatigue finally taking over. Maybe hours passed. Or maybe it was a few minutes, but I felt his presence instantly. I opened my eyes as my bed deviated when he sat down so close to me. He slowly caressed my cheek and I smiled at him. He reciprocated it and sighed. I became aware of his tear stained cheeks and his eyes were red and puffy. He inhaled and I furrowed my eyebrows together. "Eddie-"

"I have to go." He interrupted; there was some sort of disappointment in his tone. He heaved a sigh, "I'll visit you tomorrow." He said. I nodded, "Okay." He bit his lips and I stared at him. And all of the sudden I wanted to ask him, why don't you kiss me? But that'd be so out of place and foolish of me to ask such a question. I became aware of the sudden distance amid us extinguishing. And he leaned in to me, my heart raced. It palpitated so quickly I'm sure it'll beat out of my chest anytime soon. My cheeks turned heated up. The rosiness was fairly evident in his cheeks as well. Perhaps, he will… but he didn't. He surged upwards and kissed my cheek instead. Before completely parting, he whispered, "If I'm going to do this, then I'll do it the right way."

And just like that, he left. So quickly I didn't have time to react. I stared dumbfounded at the door. Completely baffled by his sudden action, but soon I laid down on my bed. I went to sleep with the attempt to decipher what he meant.

Tuesday 4 p.m.

"How are you feeling?"

"Same. My stomach is still soar."

"Did you put on the cream?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I'm going out to the supermarket. I'll be back in an hour or so. Um, Eddie is coming over later." I shifted my gaze from the magazine and nodded at my mother. She smiled and ruffled my hair. A smile tugged my lips as the thought of seeing Eddie crossed my mind. That'd be nice.

"Alright, Honey, behave."

"Will do. Bye."

She soon left and I flipped the page. My mother had gone today to school, with luck; she was able to talk to Ms. Iglesias, my principal. But unfortunately, Adrianna was absent. They called her house, nobody answered. Neither, her father and mother. Melissa told me she couldn't find Emily either. I didn't put much thought of where they could be, and chose to ignore it. They'll appear in time. My mind was more concentrated on the pain throbbing in my abdomen. I could barely move without feeling the instant pain, and going to the bathroom was impenetrable.

My thoughts soon faded when I heard the front door close. I smiled, it must be Eddie. I watched my bedroom door and waited for him to enter. But he didn't. I sighed and went back to the magazine. I twitched as I found me looking at a picture of Eddie and me. It was the day I had gone to MK to see Eddie perform. My head was buried on the crook of his neck, and his arms were wrapped around me, encasing me completely; and he was holding me firmly. "Eddie Duran and his new, hot girl in a rather intimate moment." Read the caption. I sighed and flipped the page.

"Loren." I heard his low, hesitant voice call for me. My eyes detracted away from the paper in hand. I looked up to lock eyes with Eddie. He was smiling and pure determination expressed in his auburn orbs. I smiled and he walked over to me. He gently got down on his knees and took a hold of my hands. I watched with curiosity as he held them tightly.

"Go out with me."

Uneventful chapter. But oh well, I needed to update something. And here it is. HAHAHA They'll kiss in time people. Eddie is a gentleman, k? Do not worry you won't wait so long, and plus there's so many Leddie moments for you. I already know the ending and alllll. Hehe ;o. Aid will get it. Emily is so nice. Cameron is my man.

Thank you all for the reviews, I'll try to respond to all you! You guys are the best! 3 I hope you liked the chapter :D. I'm so cruel to you guys. You've been expecting a kiss for the past chapters and I tease you with having Eddie lean in, or they're about to kiss but he hesitates and/or someone interrupts. I apologize. Nah, not really.

Songs: "Falling" by Secrets in Stereos and "I wouldn't Mind" by He is We :).