JARED'S POV

"Doctor Oliver, I've really got to go, but I'll be back for the operation, okay? I can even come and speak to you tomorrow if there's anything you want to quickly run through with me," I told him, panicking slightly, exiting his office.

I immediately began to call Anna, wanting to get a response from her quicker and ensure she was okay. She was frightening me, and it was scary not knowing the severity of the predicament she was in.

I folded one of my arms over myself as I waited for her to answer, tapping my fingers against the arm rest of my wheelchair, the padding noise filling the deafening silence.

"Come on, Anna," I muttered, grinding my teeth, frustrated, but the ringing suddenly stopped, and I heard shuffling from the other end.

"Jared?" Anna spoke quietly, and I heard her sniffle, indicating that she was or had been crying.

My heart physically hurt at the sound.

"Anna, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Um, it's hard to explain, I'm sorry," Anna told me, sniffling again. "Are you able to meet in person? I just need some advice. If not it's okay. I know it's out of the blue."

"Yes, I can meet you. Are you at home?" I questioned, tilting my head so I could hold my phone between my shoulder and ear, wheeling my chair in the direction of the black iron gates.

I would've preferred to leave with a coat, since the weather had been rather unpredictable lately, but, I didn't want to waste time.

Anna needed me, and I didn't care if I was a little cold. It meant I would get to her quicker.

"I mean, yes but we can just meet-"

"I'll be there soon, Stay there," I told her, hanging up and shoving my phone back into my pocket, pushing my chair faster down the path, avoiding a few pits in the gravel.

I couldn't even count the amount of times I had got a wheel stuck in them.

That was definitely something I would need to bring up to Dylan. Hopefully we could get them filled.

Not that it would matter in a few days, because I would be walking.

Hopefully.

Nodding at one of the guards posted by the gate, I passed through it, pulling out my phone and checking the time.

Would it be quicker to call a cab?

The journey would probably take about twenty minutes by wheelchair.

I decided to wheel myself along the sidewalk while fiddling on my phone, checking when the next cab would be, but the app wasn't working, and I cursed to myself and put my phone away.

No cab.

Luckily, it was easier for me since I was going downhill, gravity on my side and allowing me to race down the street, narrowly avoiding hitting a few people who glared at me with narrow eyes.

I was out of breath, but I managed to reach the school, knowing the walk wasn't too far from it, and I swallowed, my mouth dry from the amount of oxygen I had been breathing in.

My mind was working overdrive as I began to wonder what situation Anna could possible be in? I was concerned that it was something to do with her job. Maybe she wasn't enjoying it anymore and had decided to search for a new one and move away?

I would have to tell her we were mates if she wanted to do that. She deserved to know why she was feeling the way she was before going. However, the decision was still going to be completely hers.

I swallowed harshly at the thought, nausea wavering through me.

Could I really be that unlucky in love?

Sighing, I continued to wheel myself along the sidewalk, rounding the corner and squeezing past a few people, muttering a small 'sorry' to them as I tried to gain their attention so I could get past.

My biceps were burning, and the pain made me realise that I hadn't actually boxed in a little while, suddenly missing it.

I needed to organise another session with Dylan and Dean, but they were probably very busy too, Dylan having a whole lot on his plate right now with the pack.

The sidewalk began to turn crumbly, and that was when I realised I was nearing Anna's apartment.

I was using pure memory to try and work out where I had dropped her off the night of the party, but my sense of direction was pretty good, even though it had been in the dark and thick mist.

There were less people here, and I noticed a few stores dotted around, looking quite run down, selling an array of random bits and bobs, the clerks looking glum and fed up.

Business here seemed slow.

I reached a turning, and I stopped, tapping my chin as I tried to remember whether to turn left or right, hoping that I had chosen the correct turning when wheeling myself down the left path.

It all looked the same here, but, I spotted a row of apartments, the beige coloured bricking looking familiar, the red roofs covered in a thick layer of rust.

Were these Anna's apartments?

I wheeled myself off the sidewalk, turning towards the apartments and taking a look up at them.

They had a set of collapsing stairs leading up to them, and I cursed to myself.

How was I supposed to take a look when I couldn't get up the steps?

Pulling my phone out, I dialled Anna's number, her answering almost instantly.

"Anna, I think I'm outside your apartments, but I'm not sure," I told her, peering up at the building, grimacing at the thin layer of mould that coated the woodwork. "Can you come outside?"

"Yeah, sure," I heard Anna say, sighing heavily, and she seemed nervous, making my anxiety rise.

What was going on?

I heard a door opening, and I gazed up to see Anna appearing out of a splitting red door, the wood juddering as it scraped against the dusty panelling.

She looked at me sadly, and I noticed how red rimmed her eyes, causing me to frown at her, smiling sadly.

I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around her and tell her everything was going to be alright.

"There's a ramp around the side you can use," Anna said, and I nodded, putting my phone away and following my mate as she walked along the patio, pointing down to a thin ramp located on the side of the building.

I huffed, my arms screaming as I pushed myself up it, my chair squeaking and complaining under the pressure.

Who designed this thing?

Reaching the top, I sighed, taking a look at Anna and opening my arms up, looking at her sadly.

"Come here," I told her, causing her to make her way over to me and lean down, engulfing me in a hug, half-sitting on my lap.

She cried into my shoulder, and I traced circles on her back, soothing her as she sniffled, and I felt the wetness of her tears soaking through my shirt, but, I didn't care.

"Let's go inside," I told her, rubbing my hands up and down her arms, noticing how they were covered in goosebumps, the harsh wind blowing her hair into my face. "It's cold out here."

Anna looked reluctant, but eventually nodded, leading me down towards her apartment, gesturing for me to enter first and shutting the door behind us.

She cleared her throat awkwardly, and I gazed around the room, trying to hide my surprise.

This was where she lived?

The place was clean, but, it looked as if it was falling apart, the appliances seeming to be years and years old, rusting and multiple pieces falling off of them. The furniture barely fit in the tiny space, and I noticed the multiple holes in the couch, the stuffing spilling out of the fabric, looking uncomfortable to sit on.

"Please don't say anything," Anna spoke suddenly, and I snapped my head to her, raising a brow. "I know it's horrible."

There was nothing horrible about the apartment. The only thing I didn't like about it was that my mate was living in these conditions.

She deserved the world, and this place was far from it.

"No, it's not, don't be silly," I reassured her, squeezing past the edge of the couch and parking myself next to it, watching as Anna made her way through and took a seat, rubbing at her eyes.

"I'm sorry for my text," she said, and I shook my head, furrowing my brows.

"Anna, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here. Tell me what's going on?"

"It's just...this," Anna told me, sniffling, reaching over to her splintered coffee table and grabbing a piece of paper, passing it to me, our fingers brushing up against one another, a shiver making its way down my spine.

I cocked my brow, quickly scanning the paper, the words 'eviction' coming up multiple times, and I sighed, pursing my lips.

"Anna, I'm sorry," I told her, setting the letter down on the couch.

"I have one week to find somewhere else to live," Anna told me, and I nodded in understanding.

"I would be more than happy to help you find somewhere to rent. We can take a look together," I said, and she shook her head, dropping it in shame.

"I can't...," she muttered, causing me to wheel over to her, hooking my finger under her chin so I could gaze into her eyes, a small gasp leaving her lips at my touch.

"You can't? Why not?"

"I just...I can't afford anything else. This place was the cheapest around here," she admitted, a single tear leaking down her cheek, and I smiled at her, swiping it away quickly.

"Well, I'm sure there's something we can do about that."

•••

I love you Jared.

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