[|]

"Open your mouth," Lucas said.

I grimaced at the food sitting on the spoon he was holding and shook my head. I was too tired and had no appetite to eat. Still, he was forcing me to take a bite of a disgusting vegetable food that looked yucky to me.

It has been a day since we left Redside and Lucas had been pampering me. Alongside Axel and Maddy. It was annoying because I didn't want to feel too dependent on them when I could still do things. The only problem was that I was still having the side effects of the pills.

I was also having nightmares of me losing my baby and seeing Mrs. Kingston's face. I didn't want to tell anyone as they were already too worried about me. The only thing I wanted was to start a new job and try to forget everything that happened. Being bedridden left me with thoughts that took me back to what that witch had done.

"What do I do for you to eat? Listen, I will buy you anything, just mention it if you eat everything on this plate," Lucas said but I rolled my eyes.

"Your money doesn't faze me, boy. I want that food out of my face," I said and turned away from him. I grabbed the remote beside me on the couch and turned on the television.

I smiled at the cartoon on the screen and put my whole attention on it while Lucas sat in silence beside me.

"You're such a baby," he said and dropped the plate.

"I'm your baby, right?" I asked and craned my head sideways, smiling at him.

He smirked. "Of course you are but you're not being the good kind right now."

I stuck my tongue out at him and he scoffed before standing up.

"Hey, I have to go take my motorcycle from one of the racers. Axel will be back any minute. Will you be fine on your own?" He asked.

I inwardly started to plot at his statement. This was my chance to do what I wanted to do. So, I nodded my head and faced the television.

"Alright," Lucas said and walked to the front door. He grabbed his jacket off the hook by the door and winked at me before stepping out of the house.

I waited for five minutes before I stood up and carefully walked up the stairs to the bedroom where I changed into jeans shorts and a sweater. I was feeling a bit nauseous and weak but I had to stay strong because I wanted to take a stroll in the park to get myself.

I took my phone and went downstairs. I looked around the house one last time before leaving, locking the door. With a smile on my face, I made my way toward the elevator at the end of the hallway.

Soon after, I was walking out of the building's yard and onto the sidewalk of the slightly busy street. I shoved my hands into the pockets of my sweatshirt and kept my eyes ahead while taking in the rays of sunlight. I walked further only to pause when I saw Axel ahead. I froze and turned around, the movement making me dizzy. I took deep breaths and hurriedly walked away until I passed the apartment building. I took a turn at the end of the fence and exhaled in relief.

"Ugh, if only they allowed me to just do what I want, maybe I would feel better about myself," I said and continued my walk.

During my walk, I spotted a familiar car across the street. I stopped walking to see if it was who it was. A minute later, I saw Clark get out of his car. He took off his glasses and met my eyes, shock on his face. I looked away and continued to walk away.

"Jackie, wait up!"

I ignored his calls and quickened my steps but before I could get far, he came in front of me. Due to his quick movements, I collided against him and his arms went around my waist, holding me closer to his body. My head spun and I felt like I wanted to throw up, so I shut my eyes and leaned my head against his chest, trying to will myself to stay calm. I took deep breaths and regulated my heartbeat.

"Are you okay?" Clark asked above my head.

I quickly moved away from him and almost staggered backward but held myself back. I smiled and nodded my head.

"I heard what happened to you," he said and I blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"Uh, I had called your phone and Maddy answered it. She told me what happened to you. I'm so sorry."

I got angry at the fact that Maddy would do such a thing without my permission. Not everyone knew that I was pregnant and I wanted to keep it that way.

"It's fine. I'm better now. What are you doing around here?" I asked and Clark pointed to his car.

"I'm here to meet a friend. Are you free now? Maybe we could get coffee or something," he said.

I narrowed my eyes at him out of suspicion. I remembered what he had said when we kissed, so I had to be careful with whatever he was doing or saying because there was a possibility that he was doing all this to try to get with me. Clark was a disrespectful person and he looked manipulative.

"I'm sorry, I'm not," I said and flinched when my phone rang. I took it out of my pocket and saw it was a call from Axel. I rolled my eyes and ignored the call. "I have something to do. Excuse me."

I brushed past him and tensed when he called my name again but I ignored him and kept on walking. I didn't have an idea of where I wanted to go but I would just walk aimlessly around. I needed to clear my mind about the issues that recently happened.

The nightmares and why Lucas had been acting weird at the hospital after I woke up bothered me. I knew he was keeping something away from me and I didn't like it one bit. It left me feeling mentally restless. I had to try to get whatever it is out of him later today.

[|]

I got home and the first person I saw was Lucas sitting on the couch, frowning. When he made eye contact with me, he rose to his feet and hissed.

"Where the fuck have you been?!" He asked, voice loud and angry.

I closed the door and walked over to the kitchen. I heard his quick footsteps behind me before he turned me around sharply. I staggered on my feet for a second before steadying myself.

"I asked you a question!"

"I went out," I replied and his frown deepened.

"Do you know how worried I was?! Axel came back and saw that you weren't at home when you were supposed to be! He panicked! Do you know how safe we want you to be after the death of Tony?! You don't fucking walk around without letting one of us know! Why are you so annoying?!"

"I'm annoying?!" I was pissed at the way he was talking. "What's annoying is how you've put me in this house! I can't even get a job without you having a problem, I can't even do simple house chores! You're the annoying one! I went for a walk, that is it! Why are you bothered about it?! I needed to exercise myself and not sit in this house like some princess!"

I pushed him aside and brushed past him, making sure to bump into him. Before I could walk far, he grabbed my arm and forced me to face him.

"You need to stop being stubborn and obey instructions! You are not well for fuck sake! Besides, it is because of your carelessness that you almost lost our baby and you're doing the same thing again when the doctor told you to stay at a place! Why don't you listen to someone?!"

I clenched my hands at the audacity of what he had said. How dare he blame the evilness of another woman on me? I angrily pushed his hand away and took a deep breath.

"Stop babying me, Lucas. I can take care of myself! Besides, I took care of myself way before you came into my life so don't think because we are dating that it's going to stop!"

I hated that we were arguing but he just provoked me. I had wanted to come home with a clear mind and rest but he had to attack me in such a manner. What happened to ask softly? Besides, he saw me come back, he should be relieved about that instead.

"Which reminds me," I said and crossed my arms. "When we were in Redside, at the hospital. You had something on your mind that night, Lucas. What exactly was it?"

Lucas' expression changed from angry to blank. He looked away from my face and blinked a few times while clenching his jaw.

"I asked you a question. What did you not tell me that night, Lucas? I can read your emotions. So, tell me what it is?" I asked in s soft voice.

"It's none of your business," he retorted in a cold tone.

"It's my business when you keep making that face around me! Does this have anything to do with the boys or your sister or even—"

"Not everything has to do with you, Jackie!" He yelled at the top of his voice, startling me.

I stepped back in shock and took in his pissed-off posture. His hands were clenched tight, his face set in a deep frown and his shoulders went up and down.

"Stop asking me questions, please. I have a lot going on in my head, personally. Not everything has to do with you. Don't fucking piss me off more than I already am. Don't even think of deviating this issue by questioning me!" He said angrily before walking away.

I watched with widened eyes as he walked up the stairs leading to the bedroom. I looked away, confused about what was wrong with him. I have never seen him this way before. It was all new to me and I didn't like it.

I exhaled and sat on one of the stools by the kitchen counter, thinking about what had just happened. We had just had our first fight as a couple and I didn't like it. I felt heartache, wondering what had gone wrong.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, and fear spread inside of me. I slowly turned my head toward the bedroom, my heart pounding fast.

"Is Lucas reacting this way because he cheated on me or what?" I whispered to myself.