(Mark's P.O.V.)

It's been three days. No improvement. And I've been an absolute mess. I can't stop worrying about him, and feeling guilty. God, the guilt is eating me up. I constantly find myself crying as soon as I get home because I keep thinking that it's my fault. I did this. I caused this. And though I know I had a part in it, it isn't completely my fault. 

No, it's whoever started this. Whoever bullied him in the first place. And I want to find out who that is, I want to find them so I can beat their ass 'till they're sorry. But I have no way in finding out. The rumors have spread around the school like wildfire about Seán being in the hospital. Everyone knows about it, but no one knows if it's true or not. The guys and I have all agreed not to say anything, just because we don't want to make things worse. 

And knowing this school, it can still get worse. It can always get worse. If anything, Seán is proof of that. His life has always just been things getting worse, and worse, and worse. And when I came into his life I guess he thought it'd get better. But no... It never does. It never gets better. Not for him. And he deserves better... 

"Mark." I snap back to reality to see Tom in front of me, looking at me with concern. "Mark, I know you're worried. Trust me, I'm worried too. But you have to snap out of it. You still have school, and your job." He says, speaking softly and calmly. I shake my head a bit, staring at the table. 

"Ann's taking my shifts." I whisper, not used to talking. The last three days I haven't really talked at all. I just can't bring myself to do it. 

"She shouldn't have to do that." He says, and I nod. 

"That's what I said. She said she'd do it anyways." I say a little bit louder, still staring at the worn wooden table beneath my arms. 

"Mark, you heard the doctor. He'll be fine." Tom says then after a bit of silence. He puts his hand on my arm, and I look up to see him smiling softly. And I nod. 

"But whether he wakes up or not it's still my fault." I whisper and he shakes his head immediately, getting up and walking behind me, hugging me tightly. 

"It isn't your fault. He wouldn't want you to think it's your fault. He was just..." 

"Broken." I finish, tears silently spilling down my cheeks. I hug my brother back, just happy for this. He isn't around all the time, and he's busy a lot, but when he is here... God I don't know what I'd do without him at this point. And then... There's a knock at the door. Both Tom and I look at the door, letting go of the hug, and staring at the front door. 

"Are we expecting anyone?" Tom asks, glancing over at me. I shake my head as they knock again, more urgent. 

"Do you think...?" I ask softly, and Tom shrugs, making me rush to the door and open it wide. But who is standing there makes my eyes widen. "Chase?" I ask, not only confused as to how he found out where I live, but the fact that he's here. Wait, that's right. His dad is the VP. He has access to records. That's right... 

"Hi Mark..." He whispers, and I can see his eyes are red, and his bottom lip is raw, as if he's been chewing and biting on his lip to much. 

"What are you doing here?" I ask, all my hope of Seán being okay automatically eliminated. Chase puts his hand to his eyes, inhaling shakily. 

"Um... I have a confession to make." He says, looking at me behind his hand. I narrow my eyes, even more confused. 

"Okay?" I say slowly, waiting for him to continue. He inhales and exhales shakily, before finally taking his hand away from his head and looking at me with red, teary eyes. 

"I was the one that was hurting Jack." He says softly, voice cracking softly. My eyes widen and tears start flowing down his cheeks. "I wanted to get back at him. I wanted him to feel all the pain everyone else felt." He clenches his hands into fists, staring at the ground. "I heard you say his real name, and I thought I'd use it against him. I wrote that on the desk, and some others just joined in. Random people, I swear I don't know who. But I didn't think he'd go as far as to try to... To..." He cries softly, biting his lip. Shaking his head. 

But nothing else is said. Instead, all of my sadness and guilt turns to rage and hate, and I rush up to him. I knock him into the hallway wall, putting one hand up to his neck, the other pressing on his chest. 

"Mark!" I hear Tom yell, but I don't process his words of authority. I just want to hurt Chase, I want to hurt him back. 

"You did this!" I yell at him, tears falling from my cheeks as well. I inhale, shaking my head. "You've fucking killed him!" I scream, taking my hand off his chest and punching his face hard. 

"Mark! Stop!" Tom yells, as I keep punching him, and punching him. Chase however doesn't do anything. He doesn't fight, he doesn't shout, he doesn't plead for forgiveness. He just cries quietly. Eventually Tom manages to pull me away, and as soon as he does I calm down, just standing in front of my brother, crying. Chase stands on the ground, holding his face in his hand. And he chuckles. 

"I deserved that." He whispers, looking up at me with his newly forming black eye. I shake my head, crying harder. 

"How could you have done that to him?!" I yell, looking at him through blurry eyes. He just shrugs, crying still. 

"I don't know! I just... I refused to see him other than that boy that would just hurt someone because of reputation. And, I regret it. I regret it all! And I wish I could take it back! I wish I could help him, and heal him, and then put this all in the past. But I can't. So I won't ask for forgiveness, and I won't ask for you to ever talk to me. I already told my dad and he expelled me, so you don't have to worry about seeing me in school." He sniffs, shaking his head and looking at me through blurry eyes of his own. 

"I'm sorry." He whispers. I shake my head, collapsing to the ground and crying into my hands, not caring about Chase, or Tom, or the fact that I'm in the hallway. I just want Seán to be alright...