"So you were the one who slid those envelopes into my mom's hospital room to help pay her bills?" I winced when I saw the look in his eyes but nodded slowly.

"Case, what were you thinking?! You could have died! We could have found another way to pay her bills," I couldn't help myself at that. I tried to bite my tongue so bad that I tasted a slight metallic taste but that was the last straw.

"And then what? Watch her die slowly on that white hospital bed and see you grieve even worse because you feel guilty for not being able to prolong it for a little while until we find enough money to fund for her operation?

I saw an opportunity to at least try to help buy Carla some time and I took it. That winning prize could've funded her whole operation if we just had more time." My last words were accompanied with a sob.

Time; that is our true enemy; It won't stop to let us catch up with it. Every second counts.

I heard Adam sigh before I was engulfed in his arms.

"I just don't want to lose you," he murmured, stroking my hair and back. I hugged him back when I caught what he was saying.

"I know and you won't," I assured him with every ounce of determination in me.

"You understand that even if I want to quit now, I can't. You heard what that man said. I need to come back and fight again," I felt his arms tighten around me and held me in a vice grip.

"He's bluffing, Case. Don't heed it. I won't have you risking your life. You might be one of the best fighters I've ever known but there's no saying that you will survive this kind of obstacle in your life. You heard what that man said too. You can die even before you finally fight against him and even if you survived, you'll be walking into your own death."

I shook my head. It's not going to end. It's never going to end. I'm stuck in this life; running and being caught on a hook that pulls me back to the start.

I shouldn't have jumped into this life in the first place. If only Bryant was here to tell me what to do. I stared at the clock and saw that it was already late. Everyone was sleeping already since today was seriously nerve-wrecking and I guess it drained them to be in such pressing situations.

After we got home from the hospital, they were quick to distribute the bedrooms between themselves. We have two guest bedrooms and the kids were sleeping with Jerry while Adam will be sleeping with Jake in the other guest bedroom and Monic will be sleeping with me like every other time.

Preston was staying in the hospital for tonight. His vitals were fine but it was just a safety precaution in case they missed something. We met the old man who accompanied Preston while he was unconscious on our way back and I thanked him for his help.

It turned out that the man knocked Preston out before Adam got to him and had Adam chase him. It was certainly a wild day for all of us.

Adam took a seat and I followed suit, the tension leaving my body and leaving me to slump my shoulders and let the chair bear my weight.

"Why do you stay by my side?" I asked him curiously. He shrugged in response seeming like he couldn't care less on why. He could've avoided a shit load of trouble if he just broke up with me and moved back to his town.

I wouldn't even go after him or stop him because even I wished I didn't have this life to deal with. But I chose this and I have accepted a long time ago that I have to face the consequences of my decisions and actions.

But Adam didn't choose to be with someone that has a baggage as heavy as I do. He didn't know my secret when he befriended me. He can choose to escape this fate now if he wants to. He can quit anytime.

"Same reason that I told you that day we went to that camping trip together. Do you remember?" I felt my cheeks heat up remembering what happened but the damage was done and soon, I took a walk down memory lane.

"Adam, what are you trying to do?" I shouted at him from afar while squinting to get a better view of him but all I can see was his butt jutting out from the clump of wild flowers.

"Just give me a few more minutes. I'll be with you in a sec," He shouted back and I didn't really want to ruin the surprise so I took a seat under one of the trees and picked on the grasses while playing with the small flowers.

Not a minute later, Adam was in front of me, pulling me to my feet with a hand behind his back. I tried to twist him around to see what he's hiding but he was too quick.

I huffed in frustration, brushing a stray lock of hair out of my eyes. I decided to just stand still and let him do whatever he wants or hide what he wants.

"Cassandra..." He drawled out and I looked the other way childishly, in the mood to mess with him.

"Case..." He tried again but I stood my ground, trying to fight the slight twitch that would give off the small smile that I'm struggling to hide.

Finally, he had enough and grabbed my chin firmly but gently, turning my head to look at him. When I saw what he was handing to me, I heard my conscience aw and trust me when I said I swooned but it was just a mini swoon; just slightly.

He was holding a simple flower crown with different kinds and sizes of flowers weaved together to make a beautiful circle. For such a short notice, I was kind of impressed.

No, forget being 'kind of impressed', I was as impressed as someone can get because let's not kid anyone here; I have no idea how to make those.

I was about to take it from him but he slapped it away with a joking face only to place it on my head himself.

"There. Now you're a princess," He had goofy smile on his smile and I giggle at what he said. It sounded ridiculous. I mean, let's face it. Me? A princess? Who are we trying to fool right now?

"You and I both know that I am nowhere close to a princess, Adam. I don't even do curtsies for God's sake! And besides, I didn't know we simply need a flower crown to be a princess," I joked and gave him a playful shove with my shoulder.

He laughed with me but once he sobered up, he said words that I never thought I would hear from anyone, much less be directed to me.

"I know that you're not a princess in anyone else's eyes but I don't need you to be. You can always be my princess," It was cheesy and it gave me shivers and truth to be told, I have no idea what I was supposed to say to that.

You might be thinking why the hell I wasn't kissing him by then.

I didn't need to - He was already kissing me.

I wasn't used to kissing. It was way out of my comfort zone but it felt like it was just the both of us in this whole world. It was a foreign feeling. The kiss was soft, like we would both crumble down into nothing if we weren't careful.

When we finally ran out of air, our lips finally let the other go and he rested his forehead against mine. "Cassandra Rylie Johnson, you're definitely something."

A small smile grew and danced on my lips at his words. My eyes were still closed and we stayed like that for a few more minutes until he finally broke the silence. He was finally growing some balls to ask me out...

"Cassandra..." The way he said my name sent shivers down my spine ignited a sense of impatience within me and soon enough, I snapped.

"Yes Adam, I'll be your freaking girlfriend. That wasn't hard was it?" I teased. He shook his head, chuckling. I started laughing at him but it instantly stopped when I heard his next words.

"I was about to tell you that there was a spider on your shoulder," He was full out laughing by then when what he said finally dawned on me and caused me to let out an abnormally high pitched shriek.

I didn't even hesitate to jump into Adam's awaiting arms, "Get it off me! Get it off me! Get it off me!" I begged him, burying my face into his chest and feeling a hand brushing my right shoulder.

"Oh thank sweet baby Jesus!" I exhaled in relief while Adam's chest vibrated in a deep chuckle.

"So are you feeling safe now, girlfriend?" He stressed out the girlfriend part and I lifted my head just to glare at him, feeling my cheeks heat up.

I decided to not face him in the end and continue burying my head on his chest while sniffing his cologne.

What? A girl's gotta do what she's gotta do.

"Are you sniffing me?" He asked in amusement and I nodded shamelessly. Sue me.

"Well, now that we're dating..." He teased which earned a good slap on his back from me to reply to that sentence.

He laughed again and it didn't seem to be dying down anytime soon.

*-*-*-*

"So what do you think about that one?" Adam pointed and I tried following his finger that was pointing to the stars.

"Which one?" I asked again, unable to comprehend which one he's pointing to.

"The one I'm pointing to," He tried clarifying it but I gave out an exasperated sigh, already in the brink of giving up.

"Adam, the sky is practically decorated with stars like they're Christmas ornaments. You have got to be more specific!" I rambled and he rolled his eyes while grabbing my arm and yanking me to lay half of my body on top of his.

I gave out a yelp as my head rested on the crook of his neck. I was still facing the stars and since I was almost aligned with his head now, I can distinguish which group of stars he was pointing at.

"That one looks like a bird shitting at someone," I answered truthfully and had him laughing for a minute straight. He couldn't clutch his stomach because my back was covering it so he kept on hitting the ground while his chest heaved heavily, fighting to get some air in.

"Oh that was gold," He said, still chuckling.

"You know, you're technically my girlfriend now," he sighed with humor. I can hear the smile behind his words and my cheeks flamed with embarrassment.

"Shut up," I lamely snapped and a chuckle filled the air before silence finally engulfed us again. It wasn't the awkward or comfortable silence. For me at least, since I was too caught up with my own thoughts.

"Why? Why do you pick me out of everyone? After knowing my secret, my past? Why aren't you running the other way?" I asked him in a low voice. It's what everyone did when they finally found out. Why isn't he doing the same thing?

"Because you're different, there's something about you that makes you stand out even if your normal attire at school are baggy clothes and jeans. You act as if you couldn't give three flying fucks about others but truth is; you care more than you'd admit and that's why you shut them out.

I choose you because I understand; because I know how scared you can get when it comes to being left all alone in this world. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. You're stronger than what you give yourself credit for. I want to help you see that.

But besides that, I also love you too much to let you go," he confessed into the night and this time, I was stunned. I wanted to say the words back but the words died in the back of my throat.

He sighed and forced me to seat up and stand, holding me in place.

"Alright, let's do this the right way then," He went down on one knee, took the flower crown that I laid down on the ground and let our eyes meet once again and I never let my eyes stray from any of his movements.

"Cassandra Rylie Johnson, be my girlfriend?" He gave the extra effect of pulling out the puppy eyes. God, please give me a camera right now, it'd be greatly appreciated because damn, those eyes.

I rolled my eyes but squatted in front of him and for the second time that day, our lips met and I felt something being placed on my head.

'Now, you're a princess'

"I love you too, you idiot," I whispered onto his lips and I could feel him smile through the kiss.

I felt the tears before it sprung into my eyes. It wasn't exactly sadness, it was when the memory was so sweet that you couldn't help but let a few tears leak out.

I stood up to hug him and he caught me, holding me close to him. I don't ever want to let go. Even if he's not always there for me, he's the only one who I can feel the most comfortable with.

I feel like I can tell him anything and I didn't want to that to change; ever.

I wanted to stay that way for the rest of the night but the clock was ticking and it was late so we said our goodnights and retired to our respective bedrooms.

Pushing the door open and closing it slowly with a soft click, I turned my back against it and slid down the wooden door.

"God, what am I going to do with that boy?"

~•~•~

Well that was long. I hope you guys like the chapter and as I promised, the surprise would be the next part. (IT IS NOT AN UPDATE) hehe just to make sure.

I'm going to post bonus chapters but I can't decide what to base it off on. Please leave a comment or pm me if you have any requests 😊

I love you all, stay strong and stay awesome. God bless 💕-J