A dull buzz echoes through my ears. Someone is touching my hand. I can feel their warmth. What's going on? I blink my eyes rapidly until they open to a dingy, pop-corn ceiling. Moving my head, I can hear a slow beeping accompanying the dull buzz. That's when I see the heart rate monitor and know where I am—a hospital.

I almost rip out my IV as I sit up. There, sitting beside me, holding my hand, is Jaxson.

"Jaxson, what's...going...on?" I say with a raspy, dry voice.

Where's Jin?! Where's Malcolm?!

"Vel! Calm down! You're in the hospital."

"What? WHY?" The vigor is returning to my voice.

I glance around and notice the darkness outside the window. Holy shit?! What time is it?

"You've been passed out. You have some weird things going on that the doctors are majorly freaked out about. They wanna keep you overnight and run tests."

Overnight?! "No, Jaxson, I can't stay! I need to leave!" I slide to the edge of the bed, trying to pull my gown closed to get up. "What time is it?!"

"Are you insane?!" Jaxson says, startled by my attempt to escape. "Look, it's 7:50, visiting hours end soon," he says, glancing at his phone before pushing my back onto the bed.

Visiting hours. If Jaxson is here...is Maeve?

"Where is she?" I demand, struggling against Jaxson's hands.

"Who?!"

"Maeve, does she know I'm here?"

"Of course, she knows you're here, Vel!"

I collapse back into the bed, too weak to fight Jaxson anymore. Everything hurts. And I'm too exhausted to keep lying, and honestly, I'm running out of time.

"Jaxson," I begin, short of breath. "I need you to trust me, and I need to ask you some questions without you asking me questions back."

"Da hell?" Jaxson says, looking irritated and glancing over his shoulder towards the door.

"Jaxson, is Jin here?"

"Vel, what's going on with—"

"No questions! Just answer!"

"Why the hell would he be here?

"I just need to talk to him."

"Vel," Jaxson says desperately, grabbing my hand again, "Stop playing me like this. You know I got you. Just tell me what's going on."

The sincerity in his voice shoots a pain through my gut. "Maybe in the past, but not lately..."

Jaxson lets go of my hand as he sighs, bringing his hands to a heart over his chest. It's his way of saying sorry. This whole time I've been pushing Jaxson away, not giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe it's time I trust him.

"Jaxson," I begin, my nerves on fire, "You're right, something is going on with me, but it's not something I can explain right now. I just need you to trust me."

Jaxson's face twists in confusion as I ramble. "Okay," he says, quietly standing up. "What do you want me to do?"

"I need to talk to Jin! And bring me that robe." I say, pointing over to the less-than-fabulous white rope hanging over the door.

Jaxson grabs the rope and brings it back to me. I quickly stuff it under the flimsy bedsheets.

"I know you said no questions, but can you just answer one?" Jaxson asks, handing me his cell phone. "Does this have something to do with what happened at HillCrest house today?"

I don't even have to answer, Jaxson can see it in my eyes.

"Here," Jaxson says, handing me his phone.

I happily grab Jaxson's phone, sign in to my Instagram and DM Jin.

I'm ok. What's going on? U okay?

R U OKAY?!

Yes...I just need to get the hell out of here. What r we gonna do?!?!?! Where's Malcolm?

You are about to find out...

What?

U have no idea how happy I am that ur ok. Don't worry we have a plan. See u soon.

"It's time to go Ja—," Maeve's voice echoes into the room, stopping cold once she sees me."Vel, you're awake," she says, surprised. Is it relief or fear? I'm not really sure.

"Visiting hours are over, she needs to rest," a majestic voice booms from under doctor scrubs. I know that voice. Standing in the doorway behind Maeve, all dressed in doctor scrubs is Master Bullshit himself—my dad.

"I'll just be a minute," Maeve says, her eyes unmoved from me.

"Sorry, I must insist." Malcolm continues, with a quick wink in my direction.

Jaxson takes his phone and leans in for a hug, whispering, "What do you want me to do?"

"Meet us at HillCrest house tonight," I whisper before Maeve walks over.

"Vel..." she begins, her eyes red, her hands shaking. "The doctors want you to stay here for more tests," her shaky voice says, grabbing my hand. I look away from her face. I just can't deal with her and her obvious guilt right now. "I think we need—"

"Again, I must insist the patient get her rest, it's imperative for our diagnostic process," the disguised Malcolm insists, trying to divert his eyes away from Maeve.

Maeve turns around, shaking her head at Jaxson. "Let's go," she says, before rushing out the door. Jaxson lingers outside the doorway, giving me one long worried look before following Maeve.

"Ready to blow this popsicle joint?" Malcolm says, shutting the door once Jaxson and Maeve are out of sight.

"Born ready."

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