When I woke up the pain wasn't the first thing I felt. It was the warmth. I didn't expect to be warm in the middle of the winter outside on my porch. But there was a warmth and a slight weight on top of me.

I blinked myself into full consciousness and the pain finally hit me in full force as I tried to move. The weight on me was from a pile of blankets. Someone had put the covers from my bed over me. I knew it had been my mom but I didn't have it in me to care. I couldn't care what she'd done because I only cared about what she didn't do. The way she'd stood there and just watched. It broke me more than every hit.

I groaned softly as I tried to move again. I didn't know how long I was out for but it was starting to get dark out. I needed to get out of here before I died on this front porch.

It was a crushing amount of pain as I pushed myself up. When I was finally sitting I saw my suitcase next to me, my phone and keys resting on top. I grabbed the two items and shoved them into the pocket of my hoodie. I held the blankets tightly to my body as the cold started to seep in.

It felt hopeless that I was even going to make it off this stupid porch. I needed to but the way to my car just seemed too far. Maybe it was over, maybe this was it.

I let that thought stir for a second before Jake's face bounced around my head.

No.

I couldn't stay here. I couldn't give up. If I was going to die I would after I got to see that face at least one more time.

It was all determination and a little bit of adrenaline that got me to stand up. I used the fence around the porch to keep me on my feet as I grabbed my bag. Thankfully it had wheels because I didn't have the strength to carry it. I hobbled my way forward using the railing to keep me going. I took it one step at a time. Each time my foot moved I counted it as a win.

I was shaking the whole way to the car. I didn't know if it was the cold or my body fighting against the pain. I used all my strength to push my bag into the backseat. The second it was in my car I collapsed against the seat needing a second to try to get myself up again. I used the time to try to catalog my body.

My side was burning and each breath hurt worse than the last. I had a feeling I had at least one broken rib. My face felt damp and sticky, I didn't know how much of it had blood on it but I probably wasn't great to look at right now. I looked down at myself. It was then that I noticed my hoodie was a bloody mess. Either my face was bleeding a lot more than I thought or I was bleeding someone else too.

I couldn't let myself sit here and think about it for too much longer. I could feel that pull to darkness trying to take me again. I just wanted to shut my eyes and sleep for a little bit longer but I needed to get out of here.

I pushed myself up again, clenching my jaw to stop the pained cry from releasing. Each step was one step closer to where I needed to be.

Those muscular arms, warm brown eyes, that sinful mouth. I wanted to be there more than anything. So I just kept going. I slid into the drivers seat fumbling with my keys as I tried to get the car to start.

Once I heard the roar of the engine I relaxed slightly in the seat. I was leaving, I was getting out of here alive. The next thing I did was pull my phone out of my pocket. It didn't take long to find the address I had programmed into my phone. Well Jake had done that. He'd set everything up because he wanted to make sure I was all set up to make the drive for New Years. All I had to do was press start and the voice started giving out instructions.

My brain was fuzzy and I didn't want to listen, I didn't think I could. I blinked fast a few times trying to get myself to wake the fuck up. I needed to focus.

I put the car in reverse and started the journey. I was going to make it to Jake even if it was the last thing I did.

—

Jake's pov:

"Mom isn't letting me go out and see my friends." Maya marched into my room with a frown on her face.

I had been trying to have some peace and quiet. I'd escaped from the chaos of my family about five minutes ago but somehow it never seemed to last. I was waiting to hear from Evan but it'd been unsettling quiet from him today. I'd gotten one happy text after my doctor appointment and then the rest have been sitting on delivered.

"I don't see how that's my problem." I responded.

Obviously she didn't like that response and she groaned loudly in frustration.

"Can you try to convince her to let me leave? I'm sick of being kept prisoner here."

I had to hold back a laugh at my sisters dramatics. She was far from a prisoner, she'd spent all day yesterday out with friends.

"Did mom say why she didn't want you to go out?" I questioned.

My sister was fifteen now and my parents let her do basically whatever she wanted. I mean as long as she wasn't doing anything crazy my parents never stopped her from hanging out with friends.

"Dads working late tomorrow and so she wants to do family dinner tonight." She shrugged.

"Too cool to have dinner with your family?" I questioned.

"We always have it on Christmas Eve, it's not my fault dad is busy this year." She complained.

"Stop being a little brat, you can not go out for one night."

She let out another annoyed groan before stomping out of my room.

"Real mature Maya." I called out after her.

I was surprised how dramatic she could be. My sister had turned into quite the terror in her teen years but I loved her anyway. I just hoped I hadn't been this bad when I was fifteen.

My focus went back to my phone waiting to see if I'd hear from Evan. I missed him and I really just wanted to hear his voice. I couldn't wait until New Years and he'd actually be here.

It was like he could tell I was thinking about him because it had only been seconds and my phone was ringing. I smiled at his name on my screen excited to talk to him.

"Hey Ev." I greeted that buzz of excitement in my chest.

The line was quiet for a second causing some worry to dampen my excitement. Instead of the usual greeting I could hear his labored breaths through the line. My stomach was twisting in knots.

"Evan?" I questioned trying to get him to tell me if something was wrong.

"J-Jake." His voice was rasp and weak.

I felt like ice had been dumped on my head. Something was wrong and I was rushing around my room to shove my feet into my shoes the second he spoke. I didn't know what was wrong but I needed to see him, I needed to get to him. Id drive all the way to his house if I had to.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" The words tumbled out of my mouth in a rushed mess.

I could feel anxiety filling my body. He didn't sound right and there was a large part of me that was screaming that he needed me. I don't think my worry would go away until I was able to lay my eyes on him.

Evan wasn't one to reach out when he was upset and the fact that he was calling me either meant he was finally opening up to me or something was very very wrong.

"Ja-," his voice trailed off as he tried to speak. "I- I love you."

I should feel amazing hearing these words. It should be one of the best moments of my life but I couldn't swallow the feeling that this felt a lot like he was saying goodbye.

"Where are you?" My voice shook with worry and it didn't help when there was no response on the other side of the line.

I had finally gotten my shoes on and I grabbed my keys rushing out of my room to get to my car. I had no clue what I was doing but I couldn't just sit around and do nothing. I needed to get to him, I needed to make sure he was okay.

"Jake dinner is-," I didn't stop when my mom called out to me I just plowed through the house right outside.

I was in such a mission to get to my car I almost missed it. I almost didn't notice the car stopped in the middle of the road right in front of my house.

I froze for a second staring at Evans car. He hadn't even pulled over, he just stopped right in the middle of the street. I only stood there for a second before I was racing towards him.

He was here.

I was going to see him.

I rounded the side of the car and when I looked through the window I felt like I was going to throw up.

I noticed the blood first. The dark liquid was caked onto his face and ran all the way down his neck towards his hoodie. The second thing I noticed was he wasn't moving. I tugged the door open and the sight only got worse.

I didn't know if I wanted to throw up or cry, probably a bit of both. All I knew was that I hadn't felt pain like this ever. Seeing him slumped in the front seat bloody and bruised, it hurt worse than anything I'd ever felt before.

A/n:

I was going to just wait to post tomorrow but I finished the chapter I was working on and figured I'd treat you all. I'm actually sick right now so I'm planning to hopefully do some resting and some writing today. I am almost finished writing this story. There is about ten chapters left and I'm trying to get them out as quick as I can because I would love to have this story done by the end of the year or early January. I'm really just trying my best but things have been crazy. There will still be a Friday update so I'll see you tomorrow with the next chapter.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
-Cora Leigh