My mind was racing a million miles per second at what Jack had just said. Tabitha is in the hospital? How is that possible? I had just seen her Friday in Physics, and she was fine.

Although I was dying to know how Tabitha was hospitalized, I knew I had to help Jack first. I had to be strong for him, and getting him to Tabitha was a top priority. Who knows, maybe Jack needed to go to the hospital too, because he was paper-white, and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he started hurling in the next thirty seconds. Whatever happened with Tabitha must have been pretty bad. This evening certainly took an unexpected dark turn.

Knowing all too well that we needed to get to Tabitha, I sprang into action, picking up the blankets from the ground and messily folding them. I then handed the picnic basket to Jack, carrying the blankets myself. We both ran out of the clearing and onto the main path, reaching the minivan in a few minutes.

I took Jack's keys, making him ride in the passenger's seat. Jack was shaking, and I didn't want him behind the wheel until he started feeling a little better.

I began to drive down the road, trying to remember where the hospital was. I could faintly recall driving past it a few times, but I never went too close to it. I had a bad track record with hospitals, and hadn't entered one since I was the one in the hospital bed. I didn't have a fear of hospitals, just an understandable disliking for them. Some think hospitals are a place where people go to get better, but for me, it's as a place where people go to die.

Jack remained scarily silent as I drove, staring at the road without reason. I didn't bother talking to him. All he wanted was to make sure Tabitha was okay, and I was okay with that. I understood his silence. Kind of.

Once we drove back into civilization, the familiar surroundings helped guide me to Curmouth Grace Hospital. I pulled up to the front entrance of the tall, concrete hospital, stopping the car in front of the clear, automatic doors.

"You go in, I'll park the car.", I told Jack, allowing him to get out of the car.

Jack snapped out of his trance, looking up with me, trying to smile, but failing miserably. "Thanks, Ken.", He said weakly, before leaving me and entering the hospital, his face contorted with sadness and fear.

I mechanically found a parking spot and turned off the car, letting my head fall on the steering wheel. I squeezed my eyes shut, and let myself take in a breath. My bad luck never left.

I wanted to stay in the car, but I knew better. I had to be there for Jack if I ever wanted him to be there for me. I lightly brushed my hand over the necklace that Jack had given to me. Stay strong, Ken.

I made myself get out of the car, lock it, and walk toward the hospital. As I approached the hospital, the automatic glass doors slid open, allowing me access. The moment I entered, the familiar scent of antiseptic and lemon-cleaner filled my nostrils, making my throat close. I never did like the smell of hospitals, even before the car accident.

Walking up to the front desk, I smiled at the middle-aged lady behind the counter.

"Can you please give me the room number for Tabitha Rose-Matthews?", I asked her nicely, hoping she wouldn't question me.

The lady looked up, her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose as she studied my face. "Family and relatives only.", She answered, blandly.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to remain smiling. "I'm her cousin.", I lied.

She frowned, studying me, not believing me at all. "Room 352, third floor.", She mumbled, grumpily, returning her vulture-gaze to the paperwork in front of her.

"Thank you.", I told her out of habit, leaving the desk, and walking to the elevators. I got into an elevator, along with an older lady and a little boy who must be her grandson. They pressed the button for floor five, and I pressed the button for floor three, embracing the awkward silence between us.

Once the elevator opened on floor three, I stepped out, counting the numbers on the side of the hallways. Room 348, Room 349, Room 350, Room 351... and Room 352.

I stopped outside the open doorway, staring into the hospital room. It looked like a duplicate of every other room in the hospital, equipped with a hospital bed, a few chairs, and an adjacent bathroom. Tabitha was propped up in the hospital bed with a few pillows, her blonde hair cascading down the side of the bed. Jack was standing to the side of the bed, a hardened look on his face. Next to him, was a worried black-haired lady in her forties, who was holding the hand of a worn man in a business suit. I guessed them to be Jack and Tabitha's parents.

What a bummer situation to meet his parents. I put on my strong face, entering the hospital with a light smile.

Upon my entrance, Jack looked up, and gave me a slight smile. "Hey Kendall.", He said in a soft voice, causing his mother and father to look over at me.

Jack walked over to me, taking my side. "Mom, dad, this is Kendall. Kendall, this is my mom and my dad.", He introduced.

His mom instantly brightened, her round face smiling. "So, this is the famous Kendall?", She asked with a knowing smile.

I let out a light laugh, and Jack reddened. I smiled at her. "Yes, that would be me."

"Oh, Jack has told us all about you.", She said, her kind eyes twinkling.

"Mom, please stop.", Jack complained, embarrassed.

I laughed again. "All good things I hope."

"Oh, yes.", She said with a nod. "Please, call me Kate.", she introduced, shaking my hand.

Jack's father gave me a weak smile, and shook my hand, tiredly saying that his name was Joseph.

Once we all were introduced, we returned our attention to the hospital bed, and I allowed myself to get a good look at Tabitha. She didn't look lifeless at all. In fact, if she wasn't in a hospital, I would have thought that she was just sleeping. She wasn't hooked up to any machines, which was a good thing. So, what did happen then?

Leaning toward Jack, I asked him what happened in a hushed whisper. Jack looked over at me with a sympathetic look on his face, probably due to my ignorance in this whole situation.

"She had a panic attack and blacked out.", He informed me, a tight look on his face. "She should be okay, though."

I nodded, returning my gaze to the hospital bed. A few minutes later, Mr. Matthew's phone rang.

"I'm sorry. I have to take this.", He said apologetically, stepping out of the room to answer the call.

Then, Kate excused herself to use the bathroom, leaving Jack, Tabitha, and myself alone in the room.

"I'm sorry I couldn't take you home, first.", Jack told me, taking a seat in one of the fold-up chairs that was provided. I took a seat next to him, shaking my head at his apology.

"It's fine. Really. I understand.", I told him, taking his tense hand in mine. Jack instantly relaxed at my touch.

"If you want I could call a cab.", He asked, watching my face carefully.

I shook my head. "No, I'll stay. Unless you want me to leave?"

"No! No, really, it's not that. I just didn't know if you would want to stay here. We may be here all night.", He explained carefully.

I smiled at his worry, tracing his knuckles with my fingers. "That's okay. I'll stay. For now.", I said lightly, the memory of how he had kissed me somehow returning to my thoughts.

He nodded. "I'm going to get some coffee, do you want some?", He asked, standing up from his chair.

"No thanks.", I replied. I had never grown to like the taste. I was more of a tea girl.

Just seconds after Jack left, I heard a groan from the bed. I instantly shot out of the chair, looking at Tabitha. Her eyelids lightly fluttered open. I sharply inhaled. Tabitha was awake.

Should I get a nurse? Did she need one? Jack had left and I was alone. What was I supposed to do? Ugh, I'm a train wreck.

"Tabitha?", I asked softly, checking to make sure she was awake.

"Kendall?", she asked questioningly, opening her eyes in surprise.

I nodded, relaxing. She seemed normal. Not in pain.

"Hey, Tabitha. Should I get a nurse?", I asked, hoping she could help me out.

"No!", She said immediately, a foreign aggressiveness lacing her tone.

"Okay?"

"Sorry.", She said, sighing. "I just hate the way they look at me."

I nodded, understanding what she meant. The sympathetic look. Like you were some hopeless charity case. I got that look quite a lot after my parent's death.

"So, what are you doing here?", She said, slowly shimming up so she was sitting.

"I was with Jack when we got the call. So, I came along.", I answered nonchalantly.

"I'm sorry I ruined your date.", Tabitha said sincerely, running her hand through her loose blonde hair as if she was upset with herself.

"It's fine. I'm just glad you're alright.", I said understandingly. I really didn't mind.

She shrugged at my comment. "Where's Jack?", She asked, changing the subject.

"Getting coffee. He should be back soon, though.", I told her, leaning against the wall.

She nodded thoughtfully, remaining silent.

"I hate hospitals.", She announced after about ten seconds.

I laughed. "Yeah, me too."

She looked at me, studying me. "I bet you're curious about why I'm in here.", She said quietly, raising an eyebrow at me.

"You don't have to tell me anything.", I told her quickly. If I were her, I wouldn't want anyone to know anything more than the bare minimum. But I knew more than that. I knew what actually happened the night she was raped. I knew about Will and his promise to the druggies. I knew who was behind her pain, and I couldn't tell her anything.

"No. I think I will tell you.", She announced, sitting up straighter. "Sit.", She said, patting the side of the hospital bed. I walked over to her, and took a seat on the end of the hospital bed, looking up at her.

"You know what happened to me, but you don't know what happened afterward.", She began, staring at the wall, lost in thought.

"After they took me to the hospital, I went home. I knew what happened to me, but I couldn't remember it happening, because I was drugged. Stephen had slipped something in my drink. I had been prescribed sleeping pills, because I quickly became a depressed insomniac. I still remember just sitting in my dark bedroom, not being able to escape what happened to me. I was violated. I hated it. So, I took the sleeping pills. I slept alright.", She said, letting out a humorless chuckle.

"But everything turned into a nightmare. And memories came back. Bits and pieces of terror. They came back until they were a complete memory burned into my mind, and being awake and asleep was one, huge nightmare that I couldn't escape. It just kept replying in my mind, and I couldn't press pause. It was driving me insane. It was killing me.", She said angrily, her eyes brimming with tears. I wanted to tell her to stop if she wanted to, but I couldn't. I just had to hear more.

"One day, I had enough. I went to the medicine cabinet, taking all the contents to my room. I locked the door, and put in my headphones, blasting it full volume. I took all the pills. Every last one. And then I laid down on my bed, waiting to die.", She said, tears now falling from her eyes like waterfalls.

"But I didn't die. Jack came home. He wasn't supposed to. He had choir, but it was canceled. And he found me.", She said, shaking.

She looked up to me, her blue eyes filled with pain. "Kendall, I- I, can't do this."

I enveloped Tabitha a hug, stroking her hair soothingly. She was so much more than a pretty girl. She was a sad girl. A ruined girl.

"It's okay, Tabitha. Shhh, it's okay. You don't have to continue.", I murmured to her, holding her shaking body, her tears staining my shirt.

I knew what she meant about those sleeping pills. When I plummeted into depression after the car accident, I had to take the same sleeping pills. They knocked me out, but they did bring back memories, enhancing them till you could feel, taste, touch, relive it in full detail. The metal rod shattering the windshield, and entering my father's body. The whites of their eyes and the excessive amount of blood. The lyrics of the song that was still playing on the radio as we hit the side of the mountain. It all came back in sleep.

As I held Tabitha, I couldn't help but feel the overwhelming guilt. I knew about the deal Will had made. I knew what she didn't.

"I-I'm not done. I have to continue.", She said, breaking away from my arms and wiping her tears with her hands.

She took a shaky breath before continuing her story, "I went to rehab after that. When I got out, I was alright for a couple of months. But then, I had a panic attack. I was at home alone one night, when I saw someone outside. It was a man. I couldn't see him very well in the dark, but it didn't take me long to be convinced that it was Stephen, and he was going to kill me. I passed out. When my mom found me on the ground, she thought I was dead. The man outside wasn't Stephen, it was our neighbor, but that didn't matter because I was so scared afterwards that I couldn't sleep. They offered me sleeping pills again, but I didn't take them. I didn't want to kill myself. I just wanted to forget. But I couldn't. And I began to cut. Then I relapsed, exactly two years after it happened. I was watching the news, and I saw Stephen on TV. They were marking the two-year anniversary of his imprisonment. They retold my story on television. And it set me off. I locked myself in the bathroom, and slit my wrists. I cut them real, bad. And the next thing I remember, I was in the hospital, staring at the same walls, wearing the same paper-thin gown, reliving it all again. But it wasn't over. It never is. I went to rehab. In Bay Shore, Michigan. Then, when I was free again, we moved back to Curmouth. And I was doing okay for these past weeks. But tonight I had another panic attack...", Tabitha paused.

"What is it?", I asked her in a whisper.

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with terror. "Kendall, Stephen's going on probation in two weeks. He's going to kill me.", She whispered.

My eyes widened. How could that be! He should be in jail for a whole lot longer than three and a half years.

"You have a restraining order, don't you?", I asked her in disbelief.

Tabitha nodded with a scared look still on her face. "Yes, but a restraining order won't stop him, Kendall."

I hugged Tabitha comfortingly. "He won't go close to you. You know Jack won't let him. I won't let him either.", I told her seriously.

She smiled weakly. "Kendall. You don't know who Stephen is. But thank you."

I frowned. "What can I do to help?"

She sighed. "Don't tell Jack."

"What!", I said in surprise. I was already hiding something from Tabitha, I don't know if I could hide something from Jack too.

"I want to tell him myself. I don't want him to hear it from you.", She explained, making me relax. Thank goodness.

"If there's anything you ever need, just ask me.", I told her honestly.

She smiled at me. "Just to warn you, Jack won't leave my side for a month straight. I'm sorry in advance.", She said, giving me a sheepish smile.

I laughed. "Don't sweat it. I can deal."

"I hope I can. God, this is going to be annoying.", She said, cracking a small smile.

Silence took over the air, and I got off her hospital bed, sensing that our conversation was over. I sat in one of the chairs against the wall, waiting for Jack or one of his parents to arrive.

"Hey Kendall.", Tabitha said suddenly from the hospital bed.

"Yeah?", I asked, looking up at her.

"Thank you."

I smiled. "No problem.", I said easily.

Not long after that, Kate returned to the room, followed by Jack. To say that they were overjoyed to see Tabitha was awake, would be an understatement. I think Jack may have even shed a tear.

As I watched Jack and Kate surround Tabitha, I let myself drift off to sleep. Just as I was about to fall into a deep sleep, my phone began to ring. I opened my eyes, and reached for the phone.

It was an unknown number, but I decided to answer it anyway. Pressing the phone up to my ear, I was met with familiar voice.

"Care to tell me why the hell I'm sleeping on your couch?"

I paused. The voice was familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. And what did they mean by sleeping on my couch?

"Who's this?", I asked, sitting up in the chair, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"Who the hell do you think it is, Kenny?", the voice replied back sarcastically.

That's when it hit me. It was Will.

And he had one hell of a hangover.

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Hey guys! Happy #FantabulousFriday ! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you did, please leave a vote, and if you're feeling good, a nice comment as well. I really appreciate it.

We hit 4K READS!! OML THANK YOU SO MUCH. But really, thank you. I think I can finally finish this book (in a few/couple months but definitely in 2017). I can't believe this is the THIRTIETH chapter! You may not know this, but I've been writing "Things Happen" for two, almost three years (started it in May 2015). That's a long time... Anyways, thank you so much for reading!

What team do YOU ship?

•#Khon -Kendall and John

•#Kack -Kendall and Jack

•#Kill -Kendall and Will

Chapter Questions:

•Tabitha's confession?

•Stephen going on probation?

•Tabitha's history of suicide attempts after she has panic attacks?

Thanks for reading, crew!

Love,
Cora❤️