As peculiar and unpleasant as it was, Jason did it for her. For her, he would do anything. Climb a mountain, set himself on fire, swim in a pool filled with sharks, cut off his own limbs... There was barely anything Jason wouldn't do for her.

The air is charged with tension and apprehensiveness and scented with strong perfume. Here he is, waiting, his body hyperaware and his heart pounding softly in impatience. It felt wrong to be here, but then again, if none of his people would tell him what happened to him in the past months, then someone else had to do it.

She came trotting out of the bathroom, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder while fluttering her eyelashes, a devious grin curling her lips. She was certainly beautiful—but nowhere near the allure that Alexia displayed. Summer planted herself on one of the chairs in her rooms and exhaled, her eyes fixated on Jason's.

Jason scowled. "About time you came out of the fucking bathroom."

"I had to powder my nose." She retorted, "Besides, you said you had the time. A little patience is appreciated, McCann."

Oh, how he loathed that woman. It was true that his last memory of her was basically them two hidden in a janitor's closet somewhere during lectures, but things were different now. Alexia was here. All of her. Her raven hair, her soft skin, her jetty cilia, her witty remarks and her mesmerizing, welcoming brown orbs. And something had happened between them. And Jason was determined to know.

"Cut it." He lazily shot back, "You had to take a giant shit. It's fine. Now, tell me what I want to know."

Summer rolled her eyes and stopped mid-roll, "Oops, I forgot you hate that."

"Summer," Jason took a deep breath, stay calm, "I am not here to play. Please, just tell me and then I'll leave."

Her eyebrows raised in surprise. She'd never heard Jason beg for anything and this was refreshingly remarkable. "You're really that eager?"

"Yeah." He answered. Jason was too tired to start an argument and looked at her pleadingly, entangling his fingers in his lap. There was one single thing in particular he wanted an elaboration about. A few days ago, Jason woke up from a dream—a very nice one—and realized it wasn't just a 'dream', it was real, and he was remembering.

In the dream, he'd just woken up in a massive bed with the sheets all crumbled underneath his lying posture. He was sweating, though not extremely, and wore nothing but his underwear. The sun had blinded him at first, so it had taken him a while before he could fixate his eyes on the standing figure by the window.

Firstly, he noticed the exotic palm trees and the white sand surrounding the cabin he'd just woken up in, but then he noticed Alexia in only her underwear, and all the images of the trees and the sand instantly faded. She looked enthralling in her white underwear, which hugged the curves of her ass perfectly. He couldn't see much of her until he'd groggily murmured, "'morning."

She'd turned around and given him a cheeky smile he absolutely adored, "Good morning." And to God Jason swore, that in that moment, he felt like she was his whole entire world.

And then he woke up. Over the time span of the past few weeks he'd found the differences between just dreams and memories. He mastered the art of recognizing one out of the two and he was sure that this was a frickin' memory, and not a dream.

"Fine." Summer shrugged carelessly, "What do you want to know?"

"Anything. Just tell me anything." He was reeling in desperation and she had a glint of excitement surging through her eyes, but it passed quickly. Slowly, she clacked her tongue and shrugged again, leaning her back against her desk.

"Okay. I'll tell you what I know, but it's not much."

"Like I said," he clenched his jaw, "Anything."

She nodded and frowned for a mere second as if she was thinking. "Well, I know that she transferred here in October. Some girls were saying she was from Hollywood, others LA, I don't really know. You seemed to know her because you ran out of the classroom when she was introducing herself. Very dramatic, Jay. Anyway, it turned out you knew her. She's your ex-girlfriend or something. You guys weren't talking for a while, then you were, then you weren't... I wasn't keeping up."

Jason breathed deeply, his heart whamming in his ribcage. "Were we... together?"

"You never said you were." She replied, "Not really, at least. Everyone knew there were feelings there, though. It was so clear. And when you guys went on vacation together that just proved it."

"Wait, vacation?"

"Yeah," Summer nodded, "You went to the Maldives during Christmas break with her, Ryan, Chaz, the blondie fucking Chaz and another girl I've never seen. You were pretty close after that, too. She took care of you after you'd left the hospital."

"The hospital?"

"Someone attacked you out of nowhere. You ended up in the hospital with a broken leg and some bruises, you had to wear a cast for a few weeks. I tried hitting on you but you weren't into it." She snickered bitterly, shaking her head.

Jason ignored her last statement and gradually drank in everything she'd told him. As soon as he'd heard 'the Maldives', his heartbeat sped up and his hands turned clammy, and in just a whim, everything was back.

The Maldives. Every kiss, every hug, flashed through his mind, his whole head starting to ache. His body tightens at the memories, a myriad of emotions burning inside of him while he pressed his fingers against his temple, forcefully trying to get rid of the piercing pain.

It was like the world had done an 180 and he saw everything from a different perspective. Suddenly he felt stupid. Suddenly he felt betrayed by Alexia—why was she still with Damian? After everything they'd been through in the Maldives, why?

The tattoo. The necklace he'd given her. The tattoo was a gift from her to him, the necklace was a gift from him to her. They'd been inseparable, touching and feeling the other like they hadn't in years. Which was true, they hadn't. They swam, they snorkelled, they tanned, they ate, they got drunk, they went sightseeing in Malé with Ryan, Chaz, Chloe and Sienna... Sienna. Ryan's girlfriend. Chloe. She'd been there. He felt different towards Chloe now, more open.

And what did Summer mean with 'someone attacked you out of nowhere'? There were faint recollections of a hill and his leg hurting, but it was unclear. Why would anyone attack him? Didn't they know who the hell he was? Why didn't he fight back?

So many questions.

"What else?" Jason urged, fully captivated. Remembering all the occurrences of the Maldives was freakishly amazing and he rejoiced in it, holding back the smile that threatened to break out on his face whenever he recalled the innumerable memories he had with Alexia.

"That's all. You disappeared not long after that, like a month or two. No one knew where you went." Summer finished, a permanent look of shock on her face. Jason nodded. It wasn't much, but it was definitely more than his best friends had told him.

"Do you know anything about my disappearance?" he queried, already knowing the answer. If Chaz and Ryan were clueless during, then why would Summer know anything? As expected, she shook her head, "No one knew."

The fact that Summer had even bothered to help him out was astonishing. He'd looked for her first thing when he arrived at campus yesterday, still shaken to the core by his little masturbation session in Alexia's car. He promised her to find out, and somehow it was really kicking in. So, he sought Summer and asked her about what she knew. She said she was busy but could make the time tomorrow. Jason thought she'd try to hit on him, make a move, but so far she was being okay.

"Thanks." He quietly mumbled, "You've helped me more than you think you have."

"Only because I feel like we belong together."

Yikes. It was too good to be true.

Jason rolled his eyes sardonically and pushed himself off the bed, ambling over to the door. "Whatever, Summer."

Back in his own dorm room, Jason was greeted excitedly by Sola. Her choppy tail wiggled cheerfully and to be quite fair, Jason was just as pleased to see her. He hadn't had her for long yet, but he felt a connection to Sola he couldn't explain. Besides, the puppy was as obedient as what. She did everything Jason ordered her to do.

"Hi baby." He crouched down to his knees and laughed as she licked and barked, jumping on her back legs the same way she'd done when Alexia first brought her to him. After she'd calmed down, he scooped her up in his arms and left the room again. He assumed the others were in the library to study for their finals. After all, it was June, and finals were in two and a half weeks.

People were aware of Jason inhabiting a dog, but no one dared to utter a word. Whatever happened, he was still Jason McCann and getting on his bad side was a no-go. He knew he hadn't put a leash on Sola but he didn't have to. She wouldn't run away from him.

Jason made it to the library in no time, passing the librarian with his back faced to him so the man wouldn't notice Sola. Ryan, Chaz, Chloe and Alexia were all huddled around a round table in the corner, their eyes down and their hands writing. For a brief moment, Jason felt jealousy gnaw at him, but he pushed it away and proceeded to amble over to the table, plopping down on one of the chairs.

"Hey guys." He smiled, keeping Sola tightly on his lap. Everyone looked up shortly and then returned to their previous stances, a rumble of greetings erupting their throats. Alexia was the only one who held his gaze, "Hey."

He ignored the fluttering in his stomach—her brown eyes were so warm—and the faint remainders of the Maldives in his head, his lips curling upwards. "How's the studying going?"

"Marvellous." She retorted sarcastically, her eyes dropping to the dog on his lap. "Jason! I can't believe you fucking brought Sola to the library."

"Shh!" he hissed, pressing a finger against his lips. She mumbled an apology and lowered her voice, "What if you get caught?"

"I won't."

"You can't be sure."

"Alexia," Jason repeated, "I won't."

She nodded stoically but her eyes never left his. He exhaled deeply, trying to comprehend the stare she was giving him. She was seated on the chair across the table, her hair bound in a messy bun and her body covered with shorts and a white tank top. She clearly hadn't made much effort, but then again, she didn't have to. She was like a goddess.

But she looked upset. Stressed. Angry. "Are you okay?" Jason lifted an eyebrow. Alexia nodded again, but it wasn't convincing. "I have a lot to study."

"How's it going, honestly?"

"Like shit." She sighed, her head dropping into her hands. Ryan, Chaz and Chloe continued studying and didn't bother to look up. "I'm way too behind. I don't know what I was thinking. I will never pass."

"Maybe you were distracted by the homicidal person going after your boyfriend." Chloe snapped back, though Jason realized Chloe again wasn't supposed to say that.

Everyone's heads shot up, their eyes piercingly fixated on Jason. He didn't understand, he didn't feel addressed when Chloe had said that. Was he supposed to? Was he the 'boyfriend' Chloe was talking about? Was someone trying to kill him? He didn't get it, but he did get that he didn't feel a single twinge of acknowledgement. There was no flashback, no realization. He didn't feel connected.

"For fuck's sake, Chlo." Chaz spat, his eyes wide—but still on Jason. Jason raised his eyebrows again.

"I'm sorry!" Chloe grovelled, her eyes actually filled with tears. "God, I didn't mean to, I swear. I'm sorry!" her voice was panicky, her hands latching on to Chaz' bicep. Chaz wildly shrugged her off, "Fuck off."

Chloe's face paled, her hands immediately folding in her lap. Her gaze dropped. Alexia narrowed her eyes at Chaz, "This again?"

"Don't." he replied, "She never knows when to shut up."

Chloe whimpered. Jason felt bad for her. He knew Chaz wasn't a one-woman man, but he had truly believed that he loved Chloe and was happy about her pregnancy. He didn't like seeing his best friend treating a woman like that, especially one that had his baby in her belly.

"Chaz," Ryan snapped impatiently, "Don't fucking speak about her like that. You don't know what you're saying."

Chaz made a growly noise, pushing back his chair and getting up. "I have to go." And with that, he turned around and waltzed out of the library, his shoulders slumped.

Everyone now looked at Chloe, who looked small. She brushed away the tear that had slipped out of her eye. "Chlo..." Alexia whispered, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "It's okay. He's a dick."

Chloe shook her head, "No. He's right. God, I'm so sorry. I can't help that I'm emotional and stupid, I swear that it's the pregnancy." Her eyes were on Jason's, but he still didn't get it.

"It's fine." He said, somehow he felt like he had to say that. "I don't know what you're talking about. Seriously. Chaz didn't have the right to talk to you that way."

Apparently he'd taken everyone by surprise by saying that. Alexia eyed him almost lovingly as she shushed Chloe, scrutinizing him with a side-eye. Jason just shrugged, letting her know that he felt nothing other than confusion.

But that was a lie. Whoever the boyfriend was—he guessed Damian, her fiancé, though it was weird to call him her 'boyfriend'—was being chased down by someone trying to kill him, and that was scary as hell. Knowing that Alexia had to deal with that disturbed him. Nothing about murder was normal. Not now, not ever.

"He's in a mood." Ryan tried defending his best friend, "You know he loves you, Chlo."

"I know."

"That doesn't mean he can just treat her like shit whenever he desires!" Alexia screeched, "I love Chaz! He's my best friend! But fuck me, I thought we were over this!"

"Alex, calm down." Ryan mumbled. Alexia glared at him.

"Hey," Jason joined the conversation, "I know Chaz. He's not like that, he's probably just stressed out." He looked at Chloe, who just nodded again. "He gets like this." She murmured, "It's him having to deal with exams, the baby and... some other things. I don't blame him."

"But you'll definitely make him pay for shit-talking you again, right?" Alexia queried. Chloe let out a laugh, which relieved everyone. "Yeah."

"Good."

There was a silence.

Jason felt like they were about to gauge his reaction to what Chloe had just said. As expected, they all observed him again. As if he would burst out in tears any second. "Don't fucking look at me like that. It's scary."

Ryan and Chloe averted their gazed, but Alexia kept her eyes on his. It was almost like she was trying to tell him something without actually telling him, but Jason wasn't good in reading people, especially if they just stared at him like he was supposed to know. What was he supposed to know?

"I know about the Maldives." He didn't know why he said it.

Chloe let out a strangled sound, peering at Alexia. Alexia looked perplexed and Ryan started running his hand through his hair.

"What do you mean?" he asked, but obviously he already knew.

"What I said." Jason responded, "I know about the Maldives. I remember everything up till the last day." Sola started moving on his lap and he held her steady. He wanted to leave too, anyway.

"Everything?" Alexia frowned.

Jason nodded. Alexia's eyes lit up and in return that made Jason's heart skip a beat. "Everything." He whispered. She sighed but smiled, "Any questions?"

"A ton."

"Hit me."

"Not here." Jason ignored Ryan's eyes burning holes into his skin. He wanted to talk to Alexia and Alexia alone.

"I guess it will have to wait then." She muttered, and he almost thought he saw disappointment cross her face. "I have to study."

"I'll stop by your room when you finish then."

"No!" she burst out. Jason furrowed his eyebrows together.

"I mean," she recovered herself, lowering her voice, "I can't. I'm going home when I finish studying."

"You can also not go." He opted, but Alexia seemed set on the decision. "No, I have to. I promised Damian I'd go."

"Fine." Jason sneered, admittedly annoyed by her mention of Damian. It seemed that, Maldives or not, she really was still engaged to that man, and it pissed him off beyond belief. "I'll talk to you later then."

-

Albeit it was June, the weather had already become blazing and intolerable. By the time Jason made it to his parents' house, his shirt was sticking to his chest greasily and he realized that wearing jeans wasn't smart on his part. He was in a bad mood, but it slightly lifted when he heard the precious laughing and giggling coming from the backyard. Jason put Sola on the ground—who took it upon her to run into the house as fast as possible—and followed her inside.

No one was inside, so he ambled over to the backdoors and slid through them, a small smile tugging at his lips. Jazzy and Jaxon were both dressed in their swimsuits, throwing water balloons at each other and playing with the water hose. Pattie and Jeremy were seated at the sidelines, contently drinking whatever the hell they were drinking and having a conversation of their own.

They looked happy. All four of them. What was it that they wouldn't tell him?

Jason pushed away the thought and joined his parents, sitting down on the ground. His eyes were fixated on his two siblings and the puppy that had added to their water-fest.

"Jason, what a lovely surprise! Did you finish class early?" Pattie smiled widely, pecking the top of his head. Jason nodded, "Yeah. I didn't want to stay there, they were all studying anyway."

"Ah, final exams. Understandable." Jeremy nodded.

Jason stayed silent.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Pattie asked, and Jason immediately nodded again. Pattie got up to go inside, and he quickly did the same, hot on her heels. She glanced at him strangely before entering the kitchen. When they were both standing in the little space of the kitchen, Jason opened his mouth to speak.

"I need to know, mom. What do you know about my disappearance?"

Pattie stopped midst opening the fridge, a sigh escaping her lips. "Jason... it's over. There's no use in dwelling on it. You have to focus on ge—"

"No!" Jason snapped, annoyance washing over him. He wanted to know and he wanted to know now. "I am so done with everyone telling me it's not important because it's 'over'. It's not over! Not to me! I want to fucking know."

Pattie frowned, seemingly offended. "Language!"

"I don't give a single fuck, ma'." He hissed, his heart thumping against his chest. By now, Jason was far beyond the 'lax' part. He was fuming, his fists trembling and his eyes seeing red. He didn't understand how anyone could find justice in the way they'd been keeping things from him. He deserved to know! It infuriated him that they easily kept thing from him—about his own life—but then talked about it openly, expecting him to get it.

Fuck you, Alexia. Her in particular. With the way she'd looked at him a couple of hours ago, it was almost like she expected him to comprehend whatever Chloe had blabbed, but he didn't. He didn't understand anything.

"Jason, I don't want to do this." Pattie mumbled in defeat, but Jason gave her no response. "Fine. But you have to promise me that you'll stay safe."

Jason agreed, though he, once again, didn't understand why he wouldn't stay safe.

Pattie sucked in her lips and sat down on the kitchen table, Jason eagerly pulling back a chair and sitting down as well. She got down to it pretty quickly, not wasting any time.

"You were gone, Jason. Jeremy and I came home to the living room burned down and Alexia's brothers running all over the place. They explained to us that she was rushed to the hospital because she had been in the fire, but... I was certain that if she was, you must've been as well. After all, it's our living room. But her brothers assured me that you weren't."

Scorching from the heat, Jason listened to his mother's story, terror-stricken.

"But then, after that day, you disappeared. You didn't come home, and you weren't on or around campus. Ryan and Chaz didn't know where you were and Maria hadn't seen you in weeks. We thought... well it doesn't matter what we thought. You're legally an adult, so basically we couldn't do anything. One month later, you came back. You were hurt. Very hurt. Physically aside, I could just see that there was something crushing you. You looked horrible, sweetheart, pale and tense... I don't want to think about it. And then you told me that you were hiding from someone, that someone was after you, but you wouldn't tell me who or why."

Pattie's voice cut off by the door sweeping open, but Jason knew enough.

It was in that moment that all hell broke loose in his head. 

-

a/n: Awww poor jason :( I just wanted to say THANK YOU for showing me so much love these past few days!!! Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, don't forget to vote and comment hunties!