We've remained in the same position for some time now. We've both calmed down now that's for sure.

" I'm a bad person." I sigh, pulling back from him.

I look up at him again. "Not once did I treat you right, from the moment you came. I never gave you a chance to speak, I was...." I sigh yet again, my head hanging low in shame. " They were right to think of me as someone who plays with peoples feelings, someone who won't leave things be."

" And this is why it was best you didn't know, because of this, you would start blaming yourself." He says to himself. " Hazel-," he tries take my hands but I snatch them out of reach.

" Why couldn't I see it, I mean Colt said it in my face that - ,"

" Excuse me, Colt said what?!" My head snaps up when he asks through gritted teeth.

I gulp when his eyes narrow.

"It's nothing." I shake my head, rising to my feet.

"You are not going anywhere until you tell me what he said to you." He pulls me back down and I meet his eyes again.

" It's nothing."

" Hazel." He says in that warning tone of his.

"It's their opinion Roman leave it be!" I huff, closing my eyes for a few seconds as I try calm myself.

"Well they should have kept their opinions to themselves, not voice them out to you!!" He snaps.

"They have the right to defend their friend, who was hurting because of me!.....I kept on hurting you one way or the other, I deserve what they said to me and thought. I should have never come back, then you wouldn't hu -"

" Don't you dare finish that sentence!" He scolds as he cradles my face.

All I do is stare tiredly at him.

"What am I suppose to do, everyone's right." I whisper.

"Everyone's wrong." He shakes his head in disagreement. "They don't know shit, they don't know a precious soul when they see it. They don't know my Sweet the way I know my Sweet." Looking at him, I start to cry.

He pulls me to him yet again and I welcome the embrace, the comfort I'd longed for many years to receive from my best friend.

" What did I say back then huh? - didn't I tell you that whoever speaks or even utters a bad word at you knows nothing. My words should trample over any of their bad words."

When we were kids and at times I'd come across a mean child, and they said something bad to me, trying to hurt me, Roman would tell me this.

He'd tell me that they might try to hurt me but I should shake it off, because his words wouldn't hurt me but build me up. He knew how hurtful words could be, he'd been at the receiving end of those bad words, name calling and more. He didn't want the same for me.

When I'd tell him what people said to me, he'd write down in a note pad, the opposite of what that person said, then stuck it all around my room.

My room was filled with pieces of paper with all colours, though it was alot, it meant the world to me and kept my spirits up.

He pulls away after some time and looks at me yet again.

"Now no more crying. No more." He shakes his head. "No more will I allow anyone to bring tears in your eyes. I'm here now. I'm back. And I dare anyone try hurt my Sweet, they'll know my name. They will feel my wrath. They'll start to have nightmares because of my name, they'll never ever question who's in your corner."

" Roman -"

"For too long they've left you exposed for just anyone to try trample on you, but no more." He looks down for a second, closing his eyes and taking a breath before locking eyes with me again. " I came back for you, only you Sweet and no other." He wipes away my tears.

" I'll set everything right again, do you hear me?" He asks, wanting me to take in his words and store them in my heart.

I nod, holding onto his wrists.

"This I promise." He says with promise in both his eyes and voice.

We hear the door being unlocked and someone entering. I pull away from his hold, rising to my feet, followed by him.

"Okay okay!.... Kill me later and I'll let you with free will but please tell me there's a positive out of this." Sam calls out, coming in, with his hands held up in surrender.

We both don't say anything but I head over to Sam, who gives me a weary look as I get closer. At first I give him a good look before wrapping my arms around his neck.

" I should murder you." I murmur.

"You are, you're choking me right now." I pinch him on his back, making him jump and chuckle.

"Thank you."

" I couldn't watch you suffer like this anymore." He says in my ear, before kissing my temple.

I pull back.

"You knew?" I ask, glancing between him and an occupied Roman, who's busy collecting the scattered letters and pictures.

" I didn't want to interfere, but after your last argument, all thoughts were thrown out of the window."

" Sam, you're so sneaky. Do you know that?"

He shrugs, with a confident smile on his face. " I had to do something though."

I nod, closing my eyes for a moment when I feel slight tension in my head. I rub at the spot.

" Are you -" I place a finger against my mouth, signalling for him to not shout.

I dont want his questioning to reach Roman's ears. He'll get worried for no reason.

I open my eyes and look at him.

" Sam, thank you for this."

A small smile makes its way onto my face.

"Thank y-" I don't get to finish my sentence when a sudden dizziness hits me at one go, not giving me time to react. I feel my body give way and I land in a pair of arms.

" Hazel!" That's the last I hear before I fall into nothingness.

******

I feel fingers combing through my hair, waking me up. My eyes flutter open and the first I see is the face of my father.

I feel like it's been so long since we've seen each other and now that he's in front of me, it feels like a dream.

" Should I scold you for keeping me worried or can I tell you how much I missed you?"

"Scold me later."

"Okay." He nods. "I missed you terribly and I can't help but feel guilty for not listening. I should have listened to you."

"Dad." I sigh, sitting upright.

"Careful, careful." He says, helping me up.

"You've never done me wrong and you actually did me a favour, because now -" I stop mid sentence when the last events start coming back to me.

Everything leading up till now.

" Sweet, don't you dare do this to me now." I hear Roman say at a distance, while I feel like we are moving.

"She'll be okay and when she wakes up, I'll kill her." I hear Sam.

"Let me be the first. Gosh, this was too much for her, I should have -"

"Don't say it." Sam warns.

I hear them speak yet can't open my heavy eyes to see them both.

" I knew that this would hit her hard, and if she gets like this now. What about the rest?" Roman sighs.

"Don't think about it. Think about her now and her well being. When we get to the hospital and -"

A small gasp leaves my lips when pain starts at my head.

"Here, drink this." My dad hands me a glass of water with a yellow pill.

I take it without hesitation, just wanting the pain to go away already. I don't know what kind of pills these are but they help immensely and I start feeling sleepy.

"Get some rest sweetheart. We'll talk some more later." He promises.

I nod, laying back down

" I don't want you stressing yourself over anything. Not anymore." He says and I don't know why he says this.

One thought comes to mind as I let sleep take over.

"Where's Roman?" That's the last thing I let slip before falling asleep again.

Waking up yet again, I find my father seated in the same position that I last saw him. Noticing me awake, his lips curve into a smile.

"So I'm not dreaming, I'm really at the hospital?" I say, sitting up, my father right there to help me.

He doesn't say anything but just stares at me. The far away look in his eyes tells me where his mind has gone to.

"Dad." I cover his hand with mine, pulling him back to the present." Im fine."

"This is not the first time you've been here and I dont know how to feel about that."

" I'm fine and that's all that matters, right?"

" Hazel." He sighs.

The door suddenly opens where the doctor enters.

" Miss Lovett, hello, I'm doctor Johnson." He nods my way as he comes closer.

"Hello." I nod, not tearing my gaze away from my dad for long, since he still has that look of concern on his face.

"You look much better, considering the last time." I gulp when he says this.

Everything clicks in mind when I remember him a bit, he's one of the doctors who'd come to check on me after that club incident. He'd advised me to stay a little longer at the hospital but I refused. Im not a big fan of hospitals, especially having to worry everyone.

"Um, can I go home now?" I say.

"Well...." He glances between dad and me.

" I mean I'm fine now and dont need to stay any longer."

" Hazel, let the doctor speak." Dad says in a warning tone.

'Dad, dont you know that I'm trying to protect you from learning the full truth about that night?' I say in mind.

"Right, Miss Lovett, I know that you are eager to go home, but I'd like you to stay another day." My eyes go wide.

What? "No."

" Hazel - "

"Dad, come on. You know how I feel about hospitals and I'm fine, I'm perfectly - "

"You're not fine!" He snaps, shutting me up. He sighs right after, rubbing at his forehead. "Lets just hear the doctor out, mhm?" He tries take my hand in his but I pull back, looking at the doctor.

He sighs due to my little action.

"What could possibly keep me here doctor?" I finally ask.

"Stress." My brows scrunch together." Miss Lovett - "

" Hazel." I corect him.

" Hazel, through some observation, it's clear to say that both body and mind have been under alot of stress. You've experienced a head injury some time back and not just any injury, a possible severe one that may have left you vulnerable when under stress or worry."

All I can do is blink up at the doctor, truly not understanding his words.

"Doctor, what are you trying to say?" I ask worriedly.

This time the doctor glances at dad, who hasn't looked away from me for a moment."Let me ask you this, have you experienced any constant headaches lately?"

Thinking about his question, I realize that at one time I experienced this for days on end, maybe weeks after that terrible and humiliating night. But I didn't think much about it.

"Well yeah and sometimes I'd get easily tired and lazy, but that was when my boyfriend and I seperated." I admit in embarassment, avoiding either eye contact from both of them, especially when something flashes in the doctor's eyes, possibly if I'm correct. Concern.

" Has anything been making you feel a little stressed out lately?"

Well...nothing out of the ordinary, apart from the whole Roman thing, sometimes Danny or school.

I dont answer the doctor immediately, this however has the doctor mention something which makes my head to snap in his direction." Maybe a trigger from a loss of memory will help."

"Excuse me ?" My eyes widen in confusion.

This time it's the doctor who glances between my dad and I again, with a bit of confusion in his eyes." Well the report...."

" Are you trying to say I've lost my memory? - Dad?!" My head whips to dad, my heart starts picking up speed.

" Calm down sweetheart." He quickly rises to his feet and sits infront of me, trying to block my view of the doctor, but I keep glancing at him.

" Look at me Hazel." He says, trying to get my attention but the doctor's words are what I'm focused on.

" But dad he said -"

" Hazel Grace Lovett, calm down!" He raises his voice, now cradling my face and locking eyes with me.

I finally listen to him and breathe out, trying to calm down. He watches me the whole time.

" Okay, I'm calm. Sorry, It's just that the doctor said -"

" I know, I know." He pulls me to him, enveloping me in his warmth.

I sigh, relaxing against him, closing my eyes." It's all going to be okay." He kisses my head. " I'm here now."

His words calm me down completely.

" I think it would be best if we let you see your friends sweetheart. They've been eagerly waiting for you to wake up." He says, pulling back to look at me.

At the mention of my friends, my heart kicks up, with the thought that my dad and Roman might have seen each other already.

"Doctor, lets talk outside." My dad gestures for the doctor to lead the way, while his tone leaves no room for arguments.

"But dad -"

"We'll talk some more later. Relax." He says, kissing my forehead before heading out, leaving me here frowning alone.

The door opens yet again after a short while and a head pokes in. Sam.

All previous thoughts leave my mind and a smile takes over.

" Is it safe to come in?" I chuckle, nodding my head.

I watch as both him and Avery enter but not Roman, who I was eagerly waiting to see, if last night turns out to not have been a dream.

"Oh gosh Hazel, Im glad to see you're okay." Avery says, dropping an overnight bag down, before rushing over to me, almost knocking me off the bed.

" Avery, careful!" Sam scolds her.

" Sorry." She quickly pulls back. " I'm just so glad you're okay. You had us all worried."

"Well I'm not dead. So that's a good enough sign right?" I say, my tone teasing.

"Dont say stuff like that." Sam mumbles, looking a little disturbed.

"It was a joke, lighten up. Besides, werent you the one saying that you wanted me to wake up, so you would kill me?" I arch my brow.

Avery settles down next to my legs, turning to face Sam."You heard that?" He asks in surprise.

"Mhm, and if Im guessing right, last night did happen with Roman, it wasn't a dream?" Both of them nod in agreement.

" Speaking of Roman, where is he?" I ask, looking around as if he'll just pop in anytime.

Instead of an answer, Sam avoids eye contact while Avery sighs. " Well after last night, he thought he should give you some space."

At first I just give them a blank look, thinking I heard wrong, but the longer I look at them, I realize that she's not kidding.

How in the heck did he think that? Is he mad ?

" Sam, call Roman and tell him to get his ass here, I want to see him."

" Hazel, I dont think-"

" Sam." I say in my warning tone.

"Why dont you call him?" He arches his brow.

"Because with what he's just said. He's likely to not answer." I huff, rolling my eyes.

Oh gosh, How could I be stupid to think he would forgive and forget so easily, after how much I hurt him.

"He hasn't forgiven me yet has he?" I say quietly.

" Bullshit."

"With the way I've hurt him, he's bound to think twice before forgiving me. I probably lost him for good."

" Hazel." Sam comes closer. "A positive came out of last night. I saw a spark of light in your eyes again. He longs to be here, to scold you for making him worry but he's just acting crazy, taking everything that happened upon himself."

"Dont worry about it, Sam will talk to him. Now tell us about you, are you really okay?" Avery says, changing the subject.

" Uh yeah, I guess."

" What do you mean by that?" Sam asks.

I sigh. " Well the doctor said something that almost got me panicking for a minute."

" W-what did he say?"

"Something about a trigger from a memory loss. I started panicking because I thought he meant I had lost my memory or something.......It's not what he meant right?" I let out a small laugh, thinking about how reacted.

My smile wavers when I realise that they've gone silent on me, more so, they are avoiding my eye contact.

" Guys, why are you so quiet?"

Avery sighs. " Hazel, the doctor -"

"The doctor must have meant something else, maybe he was trying to mention the effects you could have experienced, but you're okay." Sam speaks up, coming over to sit infront of me.

He places his hand on my shoulder. " You're okay, you're okay." He mumbles as if trying to convince himself, more then me.

" Can we uh change the subject, I think we are getting too serious instead of celebrating that Hazel is okay." Avery says, nudging Sam's shoulder and snapping him out of whatever deep thought, he was sucked into.

I listen to Avery and decide to change the subject and focus on lighter topics like what's been happening at school and stuff. I find myself laughing, being entertained by Avery, who seems to know more then I can tell about the things that happened in school.

" I miss my roommate." Avery eventually says, pouting.

" I was only gone for the night." I say chuckling.

"Well doesn't look like it, with the way she's been acting." Sam mutters.

"Uh excuse me, who was the one who was near tears not so long ago?"

"Aww, you wanted to cry for me?" I tease him.

Sam rolls his eyes then. I open my mouth to say something when the door opens and in enters my father.

"We should probably get going, but we'll come by tomorrow." Sam says, probably wanting to escape.

"Thank you for coming." I say, hugging Avery.

"Take care of yourself." She says, pulling away.

She steps back, making room for Sam to come over and give me a hug. " Dont be mad but we haven't told Danny anything."

I sigh, having guessed it already. He hasn't called or come by and that is proof enough.

I thank them anyway for dropping by, and watch them walk out before turning to my dad, who takes Avery's place.

"So did the doctor say anything else?" I ask.

"Yes, that you should get enough rest and that surely by tomorrow, you'll be out."

"Dad." I groan out, facepalming my forehead.

"No sweetheart, it's for precaution. Don't treat it as if it's a death sentence." I huff in defeat, laying back on the bed.

"Now, what would you like to do?" I give him a ' really ' look.

"Humour me."

" I would like to eat."

" Okay, what?"

I sigh. " Burgers and fries would be nice, add a milkshake please. Oh and some candy too, gummies to be exact."

He arches his brow at that." Okay, scratch the gummies." I say pouting.

" Alright, I'll be right back." He gets off the bed, collecting his keys and phone.

"Dad, you've probably been here for quite a while now. You should go and get some rest. I'll be fine. I can wait -"

"Nope, I'm staying right here." He says walking off. "Oh, tomorrow, I'm taking you home." He leaves without another word, not giving me a chance to say anything.

All I can do is stare at the door with a frown, surely surprised by this sudden decision.

******

True to his word, the moment the doctor told me that I could go home, I was packed and ready to go.

Thank God I had a chance to say goodbye to Sam and Avery who came by again. And again, Roman did not show up and I was surely upset by this. Didn't he know that I wanted to see him and that I didn't hold anything against him?

When I told them that I would be going home, Avery looked surprised while Sam admitted to putting up the suggestion that I needed this. I couldn't be angry with him, knowing that he was simply looking out for me.

When it was time for me to go, the doctor made his instructions clear once again, that I should not think or do anything stressful, because this was important. I doubted that school wouldn't be stressful, with it being my final year and all, glad thing I didnt voice that out though.

After having said my goodbyes, I waited in the car while my dad spoke to my friends. The conversation took a little longer then expected and had me both curious and a little anxious, once I saw them glance to me every now and then, concern etched in their gazes.

I didn't question my dad but had a question in mind as he drove us out of there. What could my dad have possibly said to them, that had them worried?

***********************************

Hey guys, I know that it's been a while since I updated and I'm sorry for the long wait.

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