"Why won't anyone answer me?" I huffed, shifting Liam in my arms as I looked back and forth between my parents and a few of their friends. In the hour and a half I'd be here, I had gotten nothing more than the fact my brother had been admitted early this morning out of them. My dad was barely acknowledging my presence, as if he knew exactly where I had been and what I had done while they had been sitting in the waiting room with a growing anxiety.

"Mr. and Mrs. Banner." my parents shot up from their seats. I didn't bother to listen in on the conversation, knowing the doctor would be as quiet as possible for legality reasons.

I dropped my gaze to the baby in my arms and ran my thumb under his eyes, smiling sadly. "Don't worry, baby boy, I'm going to get us out of here soon."

My college plans hadn't been altered too much by the sudden appearance of Liam in my life. I had already secured a dorm at USC and was more than willing to take my baby boy with me. I would be out of this town and away from all the pain and heartache I had forced myself through most of my childhood. I'd have a new beginning and star, one without Marcus and Zane Dryer as a huge road block.

As I rocked Liam back and forth in my arms, I watched in silence as my mom collapsed in my father's arms. He buried his face against her shoulder, shielding all emotion. Despite my guilt toward the whole situation, my heart sunk into my stomach for what felt like the hundredth time in the last couple months.

"Is he okay?" I whispered. I didn't expect a response, but my mom shook her head.

I wanted nothing more than to pack my bags and leave as soon as the next plane took off to California. It seemed everywhere I turned, I was causing some sort of resistance or problem, or was the butt end of some lie or joke.

"He went out looking for you." my dad didn't look at me. "He said you were in trouble since you were at the Dryer's. He had this thought that Marcus was going to hurt you, so he thought sneaking out on his own to protect you."

I thought about laying Liam down in his carrier and covering my ears. I had a pretty good idea what was coming next and I didn't want to hear it.

"Drunk driver veered off and hit him on the sidewalk." mom breathed out shakily. "Because he was looking for you, because you didn't come home when you told him you would."

I set Liam down and stood, shaking my head repeatedly. "You can't blame me for this. I. . . I. . . I know I should have called or come home, but you can't blame me for a drunk driver hitting him. You can't."

They shook their head in unison, my dad sighing.

"We aren't blaming you, Paige. You wanted to know what happened, now you do. He's awake now if you want to go see him."

I stared blankly between my parents for a few seconds before taking Liam's carrier and heading toward the doctor waiting at the end of the corridor. I followed him down the long hall, blinking the tears threatening my eyes before they could escape.

Stepping into the hospital room was quite possibly one of the most heart wrenching moments of my life. My innocent, optimistic little brother was no more than a pale lump under blankets, his leg hoisted up by a sling. A bandage was wrapped securely around his head, light blood stains starting to bleed through the white wrap. Cuts and bruises lined every inch of his face, from his chapped and bloodied lips to under his eyes.

"Peter?" I crept in, gently shutting the door behind me with my free hand. I sat in the chair, rocking Liam's carrier at my feet as my brother stared at me with hazy eyes.

"Paige?" he outstretched his hand, grasping my fingers the same way he had when he was Liam's age.

I leaned forward and brushed my thumb under his cheek. "Hey there, kiddo."

"Mommy and Dad said you weren't gonna be here." he shook his head slowly. "I thought he hurt you."

"I know, buddy." I took his hand and swallowed when I saw the bandages engulfing his arm. "Thank you for being concerned, but you just can't wander off on your own like that."

He looked away. "I told Mommy and Dad that I did stay on the sidewalk. I really did, Pai."

"I know, Petey. It wasn't your fault." I sighed. "It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't wandered off on your own. Most importantly, it wouldn't have happened if I had just called your or come right back home like I promised you. I'm sorry, buddy."

He tried to sit up, crying out when he moved his arm. I felt his nails dig into my arm as he laid himself back against the pillows.

"It's not your fault, Paige. It's not."

I started to shake my head, but he went on before I could say another word.

"Are you gonna leave?" he asked.

I stared. "What do you mean, Pete?"

"I mean, I heard my friends talking about their brothers and sisters going off to college. Are you going to go too?" he wasn't looking at me anymore, but at Liam squirming in the carrier. I shifted my weight onto one side before smiling weakly at my little brother.

"Buddy, I promise I'll c-"

"So you are going to go?" my brother's usual lively brown eyes melted as tears welled up in them.

I took his hand and kissed the top of it. "Peter, sometimes things in life have to change. I know it's scary, but I'll only be a few hours away. I'll visit as much as I can and maybe Mom and Dad can bring you to see me a couple times. It'll be okay."

"The doctor said I might not be able to walk normal again." my little brother whispered, "Do you think everyone will make fun of me?"

"Make fun of you? No, Little Man. They'll think you're some sort of badass!" our heads whipped simultaneously toward the door at the sound of the familiar voice.

Marcus stood in the doorway, a playful smirk dancing across his lips as he stared between my brother and me.

"What do you want?" I snapped at the same type Peter said, "Get out of my room."

Mark held his hands up in surrender. "I'm just here to talk to you for a few minutes, Paige."

"I don't want to talk right now, Marcus. Especially not to you."

He rocked forward on his feet. "Two minutes, Paige. That's all I'm asking for, then I'll stay out of your guys' life."

I knew, without glancing in his direction, that he was staring at my hand as I gently nudged Liam. Picking him up, I cradled him against me and started toward the door, hoping Liam would start to get fussy and it would scare Marcus off.

"Paige, don't let him hurt you again." my brother insisted from his bed, anger clear in his eyes.

I slipped under Marcus' arm and nodded. "I won't buddy, don't worry."

Mark shut the door and leaned against the hallway wall, running a hand through his messy black locks.

"What do you want, Marcus?" I averted my eyes to Liam in my arms. Mark stared at the scene before him for a few seconds before straightening himself out.

"I need you to forgive Zane." he got straight to the point.

"It's not like forgiving someone is that easy."

He bit his lip. "I understand that, Paige. I'm not asking you to forgive me or excuse me for any of my actions. I'm asking you to try to find it in your heart to forgive my brother. He really didn't do anything wrong."

"He lied to me." I pointed out.

Marcus stepped forward, clasping his hands together.

"He lied to protect you, Paige. He loves you." he held his hand up when I opened my mouth, "He never had any intention of hurting your or manipulating you the way I did. He just didn't want you to have to go through all the pain, the anger and bitterness, alone."

"He could have told me he knew, that you knew. He could have said something instead of playing me for a fool, Marcus. Stop excusing him." I tried to keep my voice down, afraid I might startle Liam.

I watched desperation fill Marcus Dryer's eyes. "Please, Paige. I know you care about him, hell, I'm sure you love him too. Don't push him out of your life for a mistake I made."

"You're here to tell me to forgive your brother. The kid you've treated like shit our entire lives. Why?" I snapped.

Marcus stayed quiet for a while, so long that I was about to turn around and head back into my brother's hospital room. When he finally spoke, there was something about his voice that made me reconsider exactly what I knew about the Dryer brother's relationship.

"Because it's the first time I've truly seen him fight for something, love someone. And as much as you might hate to hear it and probably don't believe it, I still love and care about you. I want to see you both happy, I want to see my son have the life he deserves." he breathed, stretching his arms behind his head.

I started to back away, shaking my head. "The life my son deserves is one without you in it."

Marcus bowed his head shamefully.

"I get that, Paige. Please just consider my brother being a part of your life." with that, star linebacker and my ex-best friend brushed passed me and down the hall without as much a look at Liam slowly stirring in my arms. 

***AN***

Hope you guys enjoyed! 

What do you guys think of Marcus' demand? Do you think Paige should forgive Zane or leave and forget about him forever? 

Let me know what you guys thought/think!

~ChasingMadness24