Two days had passed.

Two agonizingly long days that passed slowly in the depths of my room. My blinds were drawn, my blankets pulled up to my chin, and I had barely left my bed. Lack of sleep, from the nightmares that plagued my mind as soon as my eyes were shut, was causing a throbbing in my head that no amount of pain-relievers could reduce. On top of all that, my mind was in a turmoil. The information that Greg had unloaded on me was something I was constantly thinking about.

If what Greg had promised was true, than I had the chance - the opportunity - to start a new life. I could put the past behind me and forget.

Or try to forget.

But, there was also the chance that his words were a lie. There was a possibility that what he promised me was all a setup, a story fabricated to simply promise that Ricardo Nixon got his revenge on Jace and I was simply just another person who would lose my life over the cause.

On top of my confusion if Greg could be trusted, my brain was swarming with questions, none of which I had answers to. Was Greg telling the truth or was this all just a set up? Who was the mole? What would exactly happen to Stella.

And I only had a week to make a decision.

"Are you listening to me?" Two slender fingers snapped themselves inches away from my face and I dragged my gaze upwards to stare at an annoyed Brooke. She arched a perfect brow in my direction, before crossing her arms, a pose that let me know she was highly irritated. "I've been talking and I don't think you've heard a word I've said."

"Sorry, I've been distracted." I muttered, rolling onto my back to stare up blankly at the ceiling. I hadn't heard a word from Jace. In fact, I hadn't spoken much to anyone. Ashley had yet to make an appearance and all the guys seemed to be avoiding me with their frequent excuses of busy schedules.

Brooke let out a snort, clearly agitated with what I had stated. "You always are lately."

I furrowed my eyebrows at her, unable to understand were the anger behind her words had sprung from. "Is everything okay? A lot has been on my mind lately, if you can understand that."

"Yes, there is something wrong." She snapped back, her lips molding into one angry line. "You're being selfish. The others might want to just tip-toe around you, but I'm definitely not. That night was traumatic for a lot of people, including me. But, it's time to move on. Moping in bed isn't the way to best way to fix things."

My eyes narrowed, my walls rising in defense as I caught a hint of annoyance in her words. I gripped the sheets tightly between my fists, before clearing my throat. Not wanting to fight, I forced myself to relax my shoulders. "You don't know the whole story."

"I know enough." She rolled her eyes, stretching her long legs out in front of her. "This depression thing you have going on right now is just a phase which you'll grow out of. Then things will go back to normal once you look past everything that's happened and see what I'm talking about. Jace will be back soon and everything will be perfect for you again."

I felt the corners of my mouth dip down once more. "I hate to break it to you, Brooke, but nothing about this situation is normal or perfect."

"Well, with that attitude it's not going to be." Brooke sharply stated, lazily lifting a hand in front of her face to inspect her nails. "It's time to stop being so negative, Savannah. Acceptance is key. Build a bridge and get over what happened."

If only she knew what she was asking me to accept.

I pressed my index fingers to my temples, rubbing gently to hopefully ease the throbbing that was wracking my head. My body wasn't dealing well with the things that had happened over the past days. My lack of sleep, appetite, and the stress weighting on my shoulders seemed to be taking a toll on me finally.

"You think I should just accept everything that's happened and move on?" Smoothing my hands along the blankets that covered my legs, I avoided looking in her direction, knowing my tone was clear enough. I forced myself to grit my teeth together, forcing myself not to say something I was sure I would regret later. "I can't just do that."

"This is what I'm talking about." Brooke rolled her eyes. "With the drama and unwillingness - you've changed."

The disappointment in her voice had me sitting up sharply, turning to the girl beside me. "I've changed, Brooke? Look at yourself." My voice was strangely dull, as I shoved aside the blankets to stand up from the bed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She shot back, her voice shrill.

Feeling fatigue begin to weight on my shoulders, I shut my eyes, facing away from the girl. "You're just different ever since Riley came into the picture. I understand that you're into him-"

"Don't even bring him into this." Brooke snapped, seemingly disgusted as she stood up from her spot on the bed as well. "You're just jealous."

"Excuse me?" I turned to stare at her straight on, anger pulsing through my gut. "I'm jealous?" I spit out, forcing myself to swallow around the growing lump in my throat. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

"If you're not happy, you have to bring everyone else down. Your relationship with Jace isn't working out - get over it. Don't try to bring down others because it isn't working for you." She narrowed her gaze in my direction, straightening her spine.

"We aren't even together." My teeth sank into my lip furiously. "I don't even know where you got that idea from. Why would I want to be with him? He has practically held us here, Brooke. You're delusional if you think otherwise." I choked out, the lie coating my tongue. I could feel the way my body yearned for him, the way the throbbing in my head intensified when I remembered that he didn't seem to like me right now. All those signs pointed towards the fact that I felt something for Jace Kingston that I wasn't ready to admit. "Do you remember how scared you were when they took you here, Brooke? And the things that have happened to me?"

Brooke glanced down at her feet, an emotion I couldn't define crossing her face. "Things change, Savannah. I thought you would have stopped blaming the people around you for what happened already, but you haven't. Instead you continue to put those around you in more danger with your stupid decisions. Riley said-"

"Because they are to blame." I whispered, feeling my throat tighten up. "You've let Riley blindside you from seeing the truth. Obviously he hasn't been sharing everything with you. Do you think that any of them would still let you leave with how much you know? Why do you think that Jace has someone go to class with you everyday? It isn't just to protect you. It's to make sure you keep quiet and don't try to run off. When are you going to realize that?" I shook my head, feeling my chest ache at her expression of fury. "You don't even seem like my best friend anymore."

The silence that followed confirmed that.

"Like I said, things change." She finally echoed her previous words. Footsteps indicated that she was moving towards the door. "Riley and the boys have been nothing but kind to me ever since I've arrived here. I wouldn't even leave now if I had the choice. You're going to lose a lot of people with the way you keep acting. Why do you think everyone's annoyed? Grow up, Savannah, because everyone is getting sick of it."

I distantly heard the door open and then the slam of it as she exited the room. Frustrated tears collected in my eyes, but I refused to let them drop. Instead, I shook my head and straightened my back. I couldn't stop the homesickness that slammed into me. Resisting the urge to sob, I stumbled towards the door, determination filling me. I wished I had never moved to Seattle, I wished I had never tried to pursue my dreams, and most of all - I wished I never met Jace Kingston.

No matter how much my heart ached for him.

Yanking open the door, I held my head high as I passed by Duke who was stationed outside my door. He avoided my gaze as he immediately began to follow the direction I was headed. No words were exchanged, though I think he could clearly read the sadness, wrath, and purpose radiating off of me.

I found the man who I was looking for in Jace's office, a spread of papers laid out in front of him.

Cameron glanced up, surprise taking over his features, as I stormed into the room. I could only imagine how I looked, my hair falling out of the hectic bun it had been shoved into, dark circles underlining my eyes, and the range of bruises and cuts still covering my body from the night of the gala.

"Savannah-"

"Shut up." I forced out, planting my hands on Jace's desk as I maintained eye contact with the blonde. "I have questions that I want answered and I want them answered now."

"You know that-"

"Where's Jace?" I snapped, my throat thick. "Answer me!"

"You know that I can't answer all your questions." Cameron hesitated, looking concerned as he shot a glance at Ash, who I had just noticed was seated in a chair.

"Well, you better fucking try. So, where the fuck is Jace?" I forced out, trying to appear confident even though there was nothing better that I would like than going back to my bedroom and curling up into a pitiful ball. Though, I was on a mission.

"You know where he is, Savannah." Ash finally spoke up, wandering wearily over to where we were position. "He's still in New York, handling in investigation there."

"How long will he be gone for?" I continued to push, narrowing my eyes at the two men in front of me. "A day more? Two? A week? Month? Year?" I had only had five days left to figure out what the hell I as going to do.

"A day, maybe two." Ash sighed, resting his hands on his hips. "Didn't I tell you that you should be resting? Your body-"

"What about the mole?" I demanded, interrupting the man. "Why haven't you guys figured out who the damned mole is? And what is the plan now? Heck, you haven't even really questioned me on what happened that night. I'd like to know what I'm being left out on and I'd like to know now."

"Mole? Savannah, I think you really need to lay down." Cameron shook his head, pressing his fingers to his temples and massaging them lightly. "I know that these past few days have been traumatizing for you, especially what Trevor and Jeremy have put you through, but Jace has taken care of them and everything else is being taken care of. Don't worry about it."

"Don't worry about it?" I let out a strangled laugh, not carrying that every person in the room was staring at me like I was nuts. "You want to tell me to not worry about it after what happened the other night?" Another dry laugh left my lips and I shook my head.

When I received no response, I continued. "What happened to Trevor and Jeremy? And what's happening to Greg?"

A blank mask slipped over Cameron's face. "Jeremy and Trevor have been given a punishment and suspension because of their actions regarding you. And Greg is being... held... currently for information."

"Held?" My gut churned when I realized what that exactly meant. I shot him a disgusted expression. "You mean..."

His gaze was unfaltering as he stared back at me, not giving anything away.

"Okay." I released a breath, feeling my hands begin to grow clammy. "Okay. I need a phone."

His eyes immediately narrowed into two tiny slits. "Savannah-"

"You'd think you would at least trust me a little more than you do." I scoffed, crossing my arm defensively over my chest. "It's to call my parents."

"I don't think so." He stubbornly resisted arching a brow at me. "Jace wouldn't like it and honestly you could be calling anyone."

"You can supervise the stupid call, Cameron." I rolled my eyes, shifting nervously from one foot to the other. "I just want to call my parents. It's been awhile since I've last talked to them. Can't you understand that?"

"I don't know if Jace would be okay with that." Cameron insisted, looking increasingly more uncomfortable.

"Then call him." I demanded, resisting the urge to stamp my foot like a child. Arguing was making my headache grow more painful with every passing moment. "It's an innocent call. It's not going to hurt anybody."

Cameron reluctantly pried his cellphone from his pocket, looking conflicted as he pressed something on his phone before placing it on his ear. He didn't move his gaze from mine as he waited for whoever it was to answer.

"Hey, Boss, this isn't an emergency. Savannah has just put in a request to phone her parents and I wanted to know if you want her too." Cameron rattled off, his gaze narrowing as he spoke. My chest tightened at that fact that Jace was the person on the other line, I sunk my teeth into my lip.

He paused, listening to whatever Jace was saying, before nodding to himself. "Sure thing, she's right here."

Cameron pulled the phone from his ear, moving towards my frozen figure as I watched him with wide eyes. "He wants to talk to you." Cameron informed me, reaching out to hand me the phone, which I numbly took. "Clear the room. Jace wants to speak to her alone."

Ash sent me a warning glance, before following Cameron and Duke out the door of the office. I inhaled shakily, ignoring the churning in my gut from the nervousness beginning to spread through me, before reaching up to press the phone against my ear.

"Yes?"

"Savannah."

His voice saying my name was enough to make my knees weak and I quickly seated myself in one of the chairs behind me. I had missed hearing the huskiness of it, the way the sound of it made my heartbeat quicken almost immediately. For once, he wasn't masking anything in his tone. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to remind myself that I was most likely just a pawn in his games.

"You wanted to talk to me? I just want to call my parents if that's why. I can have Cameron or someone supervise the call if that's what you're worried about." I rushed out, wanting to get this call over with as soon as possible. I had no idea why he had acted the way he had and that fact made me uncomfortable.

I was prepared for him to answer my question, not for him to ask one.

"Are you okay?"

I froze, unable to deny the concern and relief I heard radiating from his voice. I hesitated, his question shocking me enough to be unable to speak. I stay frozen, gripping my free hand against the edge of the chair anxiously. "What-"

"I heard what happened and I've taken care of it." Jace promised, sounding frustrated as he spoke. "You won't ever fucking see them again. Trevor and Jeremy are fucking stupid for what they did. They've been punished and relocated." He growled out and I swallowed thickly at the sound of his voice. It was tougher to hear him than I had planned for.

He was a good actor.

I hesitated, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm fine. Did you hear my question? I was wondering if-"

"You can call your parents." Jace interrupted, his voice hard. "I trust you. You don't need to ask."

"Okay, then I'll just go then-"

"Savannah." He stopped me from finishing my sentence and my hands tightened into two fists. I wanted to end this call as quickly as possible, while he apparently didn't wish for that. Knowing that Jace had lied to me felt like a knife to the gut and talking to him just made it continually worse.

"I know what happened that night was-"

"We don't have to do this." I rushed out, moving to stare out the window and into the forest surrounding the house. "I don't want to talk about this and neither do you, so let's not do this right now."

"I want to. I know that was traumatizing for you and I'm-"

"I'm fine." I let out a shaky laugh, wishing I sounded more convincing. "In fact, I'm great."

"Stop, just fucking stop." Jace growled out, the sound of something smashing over the line making me jump. "You can't avoid this forever. I'll be home in two days and then you'll have to talk to me. I know I've made some mis-"

"Okay, I'll see you then!" I unsteadily shouted into the phone, before disconnecting the call, pretending I hadn't heard him just shout my name and order me not to hang up.

With my hands trembling, I dialed my parent's number, not wanting to dwell on the conversation that had just taken place. Jace had enough of an effect on me to leave me rattled and I struggled to take a calming breath and relax before I started a conversation that I knew was going to be a tough one.

Pressing the phone to my ear, I stared blankly at the wall as I listened to it ring. It only took a moment, before the call was answered.

"Hello?"

"Dad?"

"Savannah? Is that really you on the other line? I'm surprised you're actually calling this time." His tone was anything but friendly and I blinked, taken aback.

"It's been crazy these last few weeks, sorry-"

"I hope you didn't call to give us your excuses. Everyone can take a moment to give their parents a call. We got a text, maybe what, once a week? That's no excuse, Savannah." The ferocity in his tone had me stumbling over what to say.

I cleared my throat, running a hand over my face. "I know. It's just that-"

"I don't want to hear it and neither does your mother." He cut me off, sounding cold and detached.

"I missed you guys." My voice cracked and I wished I could explain to them both exactly what had happened, why I hadn't called them.

"That's nice." He dryly laughed. "If you had, you would've called. We're not going to stand for such behavior."

"I haven't had a chance to call." I blurted out, digging my nails into the leather of chairs. "Is mom there? I want to talk to her. It's been so long."

"I'm not letting you talk to her. You'll only do more damage at this point. You've hurt her, believe it or not. We understand you may not like how we discouraged you from moving to Seattle, but you didn't need to cut us out of your life. We're still you're parents." He burst out, his voice hard and unyielding.

"Dad-" I tried, feeling my throat close up.

"No, you listen. Don't bother contacting us anymore. We're done with your behavior and the way you've been acting. We've tried, we really have, but the stress is too much this time."

His words shocked me, cause my jaw to flap open. "Dad, please."

"I'm serious, Savannah. Don't contact us anymore."

And then the line went dead.

The phone slipped from my hand and I covered my mouth with my hands as my breathing increased.

More people out of my life.

Standing up, I shoved away from the chair, not bothering to collect the phone from the floor. I shoved the door open, ignoring their shocked expressions as I blew past the boys with tears on my eyes.

"Savannah!"

I didn't bother listening, continuing on my path to my room.

I had made my decision.

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