I groan as I try coming to my senses. Where am I? My head is pounding, and I go to soothe my aching head, but feel something on the top of my hand. I open my eyes, instantly blinded by the lights. I blink a few times beginning to take note of my surroundings. An IV is in my hand. This isn't my room. Am I in a hospital? NO! My dad is going to literally kill me. I need to leave now! I hear a rapid beep, noticing the monitor next to me going crazy. A lady quickly walks in giving me a warm smile, dressed in light blue scrubs.

"Honey, I'm going to have to ask you to stay calm," She says softly, eyes filled with concern, "I think you had a panic attack. Can you tell me what happened?" She asked.

"N-No," I say instantly.

"It's okay now honey. You can tell me."

I don't know this woman and I can't tell her anything or my dad will be furious.

"I was just...stressed. I promise," I half-lie.

"Okay," she replies.

'I can't trust anyone,'

"You also have a visitor," she says and I instantly tense. What are they going to do this time? I know I can never escape them. She gives me a smile before exiting the room, closing the door softly behind her. I sign enjoying this moment of peace, even if it's for a few seconds, it's still better than none.

I hear and knock on the door, feeling anxious once again.

"Come in," I say ready to get a lecture about my behavior. The door opens revealing Xander. What is he...? Then the memories instantly flood back, like a title wave. Oh god, I had a panic attack in front of him. Why him of all people?

"Hey Emilia," he says sitting in the visibly uncomfortable chair, next to the bed.

"Hi," I breath, barely audible. Did he bring me here? Why does he care this much?

"Uh...I didn't...didn't make you pass out, did I? I called my mom because she is a nurse here and she told me to bring you here. I...I uh...did I make you have a panic attack, Emilia? If I did I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, so please don't lie to me," he says, his face etched in worry with a pleading look in his eyes. I turn away from him, my gaze fixated on the sheets on top of me.

"No, it wasn't your fault. Sometimes I stress too much over the smallest of things," I partially lie. It's not his fault. It's my family's fault. "Wait...What time is it?" I say in a slight panic.

"Woah, um, it's 8:45 at night. We can call your parents if you want to. It might be a good idea for them to know you here," he says, beginning to stand up. It's almost 9?!

"I need to get home, now," I say, gripping my hair. What are they gonna do now? They might think I'm sneaking out or rain away again.

"Emilia? What's that on your arm?" He pauses, taking in a breath, "Did you do that to yourself?"

I look and notice my sweater rolled up a bit to expose my ugly scars. I quickly push it down, before crossing my arms.

"It's nothing."

"Really? Am I supposed to believe that? Stop lying and let us help you!" He fires back, his voice rising slightly in an angered tone.

I instantly cower in fear, clinging to the sheets. I didn't mean to upset him, the thoughts of my father coming back to me. "I'm s...sorry. Please don't hurt me," I tremble in fear, knowing this might make it worse. I wait for a blow but it never comes. I hear him sign, but remain the way I am.

"Emilia, I would never hurt you..." he trails off. I feel his hand touch my arm but I yank it away. "Emilia let us help you!"

I feel my anger and frustration boil over. "There is nothing you can do! No one can help me! Just...GET OUT! Get out, get out, get out!" I scream as my head starts shaking violently. The door slams open and the same woman walks in, with a couple more people. It's too overwhelming. It's too much again...I can't handle this. I start looking around frantically for an exit, but they are surrounding me while coming closer.

"Emilia. Emilia, it's okay. It's okay, calm down," she says softly and reaches out for me but I flinch away from her. I curl into a ball with my head on my knees. No one cares about you. No one cares about you. No one cares about you. His voice plays on replay in my head, like a pounding headache.

"Alexander! What did you do?! I leave you in here for one second and you freak her out!"

"I didn't do anything! I just want to help her! Did you see her? I can't let this happen again!" He says, before storming out, with a swift slam of the door. I did this...I caused people to be angry. I caused the chaos. I cause problems everywhere I go. It's all my fault. It's always my fault. Wait, what did he mean by again?

"Emilia? Sweetie everything is going to be alright. I'll call your parents okay?" she says. No, she can't. He would have to get off work early to come to pick me up.

"No, no. It's fine. Don't call him. I'm fine really, just let me go home,"

"I really think you should stay here," she advices, but I instantly decline.

"No, I just really need to get home," I say once again. If I get home before my father, then he won't know any of this happened but I have to hurry. She sighs in defeat.

"Alright, if that's what you want. I'll have Alexander take you home if that's okay with you," she says, beginning to back away. I nod my head. Any way to get home. She walks out the door before shutting it softly behind her. I swing my legs off the side, noticing I don't have shoes on. I gently place my feet on the floor, flinching from the cold tile. I look up and notice Xander in the doorway, staring at me with regret evident on his face.

"I'm sorry Emilia. I didn't mean to make you upset. I do care. I just don't want to lose you," he says. I know he's lying. My mother lefts me, my own father and brother beat me for their pleasure. What makes him any different from them?

'He probably wants to get close to you, make you think he cares, then beat you down and laugh at you like the rest. You can't let that happen, not again!

"Why do you even care? You don't even know me..." I say in a defeated tone. I can't deal with these lies anymore.

"I don't know. I can't explain it but I want to get to know you. That's the reason I came to your house earlier. I wanted to ask if you wanted to hang out but then you...you scared me, Emilia," he says, his voice cracking with tears pricking the corner of his eyes.

I'm like a deer caught in headlights. I don't know what to do. No one has ever cried over me. I'm truly baffled. It has to be fake right? I just stand there looking down at my feet. He has to be lying. I can't open up, it always turns out bad for me.

I hear shuffling then look up to see Xander right in front of me.

"I might not know you yet and you might not trust me, but I want to get to know you and I want for you to trust me..." he says. He engulfs me in a hug and I tense. He seems to notice beginning to pull away but I lift my arms and give in and hug him back. He smells so good and I find some sort of comfort in it. I feel relaxed in his hold and I think this is the most comfortable I felt in ages. Right here in his arms.

He finally pulls away with a smile on his face.

"Let's get you home," he says, before placing a kiss on my forehead. I feel a blush creep up my cheeks. We head out the Hospital to his car. I walk slowly, in hopes of not damaging my feet against the rough pavement, because I don't have any shoes. He looks back at me and chuckles. He walks over to me, picking me up bridal style. Making my blush deepen a darker shade of red.

"You're cute when you blush," He says under his breath. I don't say anything but contain the smile.

He sets me in his car and I notice the time is 9:15. I start to panic once again. My father gets home at 9:30 from work. Xander gets in the car and notices my uneasiness.

"What's wrong?"

"Uh, my dad gets home at 9:30 from work and I don't want him to come home and worry, you know?" I say half-truthfully. He will freak out but in the worst way possible.

"Okay," He says, beginning his drive. It's completely silent but not awkward. Why am I so comfortable? What is wrong with me?

We arrive at home and it's 9:28. We made it just in time. I just hope my brother is at a friends house or something, like usual.

"Okay, uh, thanks for the ride, bye," I say, before quickly hopping out.

"You're welcome, Emilia. See you at school," he says before I shut the door and start heading for the house. I enter and sigh in relief.

Nobody is home. Thank goodness. I head up to my room and jump into my bed, instantly falling asleep.

Another chapter. I hope you enjoyed. Have a great day.

Ba-bye :)

Edit: Thanks for reading!