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Dedication: Toxiccandy18 for the awesome cover. Thanks heaps, it's great. :-)

Recap:

"Wait!" he said, as I flung the door open and struck my leg out. I paused, looking back. "Goodbye kiss?"

I lent forward and pressed mine to his briefly, before scrambling out of the car. I made sure I walked to the porch and waved. He did a U-Turn and exited my street. I roughly ran my hands over my face, as I walked towards Carter's house.

My body slipped inside the door and crept up the stairs as quiet as I could. I tip-toed through the hall, hardly breathing. I silently went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and emerged into my room, eager to get out of these close and into my nice, toasty pyjamas.

My heart leaped inside my chest as I jumped about two feet in the air. My T.V playing. I registered that it was, in fact, Prison Break. My eyebrows shot up and my eyes swivelled towards my bed, where Carter was sprawled out, dead asleep.

I just watched him for a moment, shaking my head. Quietly, I walked over and switched the T.V off, the room instantly returning to its dark state. I stripped down and changed my clothes, before doing the worst possible thing.

I crawled into bed beside him.

***

Being in his embrace felt amazing. His arm was securely draped around my waist, his face nuzzled into the crook of my neck. I could feel his warm breath, fanning across my skin, making my stomach flip flop every time he exhaled.

I really had missed this. Just being with him. I know how stupid it was of me to have done this. I know it went by everything I stood for about our friendship, but I had had a lapse. He has always been and would always be my weakness. I moved slightly, trying to slither out from his capture, although my whole body screamed at me to stay where I was.

I already knew that when I get out of his vicinity, my brain will defog, causing my hatred and anger to come flooding back and I will be normal, once again.

Or, so I hoped.

"Morning gorgeous." he mumbled into my skin, his thumb rubbing circular patterns into my arm, making me tilt my head back and close my eyes, loving the rippling sensation my body was experiencing.

My breath hitched in my throat. All I wanted to do was wrap myself further around him and grab him, not letting go again. The desperation to be with him again was gnawing under my skin to the extent I was almost cringing.

Why was I so stubborn? Why couldn't I just let myself be happy with him? Even at the best times of my life, I am never quite as happy as I was, when Carter had been my best friend. He was the missing part of me and without him, I would never be right.

Before I had time to realise what he was doing, he moved his head, his lips pressing against the corner of my mouth. Every single muscle in my body protested at me to lean forward. Kiss him back with all I had, but no. I couldn't.

Thoughts of Aiden bombarded my mind and it was like a trigger inside me. I gasped, shoving him roughly from me. He let out a cry of surprise and I toppled backwards. My head slamming against my bedside cupboard, the side of my face piercing with pain. A scream escaped my lips at the sudden impact. I laid there, sprawled painfully on the hard, wooden floorboards, winded. I felt hot blood trickle down the side of my face. I closed my eyes, my entire face stinging.

"What the hell Lacey?" he demanded, maneuvering over the side of the bed so that he could see me. "You're bleeding!"

I clambered to my feet and staggered backwards, the world spinning slightly. I blinked, trying to steady my vision, but my body kept swaying. He leapt to his feet and steadied me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I blinked, my eyes rolling back slightly.

There was so much blood. I didn't think a cut would be able to have this much blood flow.

"Jesus," he muttered, swooping me up bridal style into his arms. He used to always do this to me. My stomach swooped at the gesture. I let my fingers run over his bare chest for a moment, loving the feel of his defined muscles underneath them.

"Usually go by the name Lacey." I muttered.

"Okay, I think you need to go to the hospital. Looks like you're going to need stitches." he informed me as we made our way down the hall. "Hold on, stay here for a moment. Hold on to the rails, I'm just going to get mum."

He gently lowered me down and made sure I was holding the rails, before he rushed off, in search of Miranda. My head throbbed painfully. I raised my head, and gingerly touched where it was aching. Upon removing my hand, a fresh coat of blood stained my skin.

My stomach clenched and my mouth watered. I was going to be sick. I needed to sit down immediately, before I puke everywhere. Slowly, I moved towards the stairs. Somehow, my feet got tangled and everything else after that was a blur.

One minute, I was just walking, the next, I was rolling down the stairs, bouncing down them painfully. I gritted my teeth as my head copped another blow, before I fell into a heap at the bottom, gasping for breath. Black dots danced across my vision and my entire body ached.

Well, this was one way to start the morning.

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We had been in the waiting room for over two hours and I was getting pretty over it. I sat there rigidly, arms folded across my chest, determinedly looking the other way. Carter was positioned beside me, texting someone on his phone. He hadn't spoken another word to me since my falling down the stairs, due to me blatantly ignoring him.

Since Carter's father was a doctor here at the hospital, he had made regular checks on me, to make sure I hadn't bled to death. Okay, that was a bit dramatic, but you should see the blood. My head was like a broken tap. I hadn't had my stitches put in yet, but he made sure they saw me and that I was okay. I was light headed and my vision was fuzzy, but I was alright.

My phone buzzed yet again and I didn't bother trying to fish it out of my pocket. I felt Carter's gaze flicker towards me. "Are you going to check your phone? This is like the seventh time it has gone off."

"I don't want to talk to anyone."

"Suit yourself." he sighed, resuming back to his phone.

"You don't have to stay and baby sit me." I snapped, closing my eyes tiredly. The urge to just curl up in fetal position and cry myself to sleep, was growing stronger with every minute. "You don't have to miss out on school because I fell over."

"Like I'm just going to leave you here." he scoffed, making me re-open my eyes. He was looking at me incredulously. "We may have our differences now Lacey, but despite everything that has happened between us, I obviously still care for you. I'm not going anywhere, whether you like it or not."

My mouth fell open at his little speech. He turned away from me again and continued playing his new app that he was obsessed with.

Silence lapsed between us again and it was another half an hour, before the doors pushed open and Carter's father came rushing towards us. He looked very professional, dressed in his white, pristine uniform. He was tall and tan, just like his son. He had bright, piercing blue eyes and dirty blond hair.

"Lacey, did you want to come on through?"

I nodded and stood up. Automatically, Carter rested his hand on the small of my back and guided me through one of the numerous corridors through the hospital, as if I were made of glass. I ignored the flare of heat underneath my skin. We made our way to a small room. I sighed, not wanting to deal with this right now.

Stitches on my face. How attractive.

"This might sting..." he muttered as I collapsed down on a seat.

'Sting' was an understatement.

***

"What the hell happened to you!?" Mercedes burst the second I walked in the hallway of school. I had been ignoring the rude stares of people all morning. She rushed up to me, waving her arms frantically, examining my swollen and bruised face.

My head looked like a balloon. I had a wicked set of bruises, scattering across the left side of my face. The ugliest stitches I've ever seen was plastered across my skin, the colour too disgusting to describe.

To say I looked nice today, would be erroneous.

"Fell over, hit my head on my bedside table and then fell down the stairs." I explained simply, not pausing my stride.

"What!?"

Luckily, the setting in my house was quite similar to Carter's, so she didn't question my story, because it could have easily happened in my own house. That then reminded me I still hadn't told her about my recent 'moving'.

"Why have you been ignoring mine and Aiden's texts?"

I shrugged. "Didn't want to talk to anyone."

"You're so lame." she said in annoyance. "Did you know Carter missed school too? Aiden was suspicious."

And Mercedes would have absolutely loved that.

"I'm sure he was. And yeah, because he was with me at the hospital."

"WHAT?" her voice echoed down the corridor and a couple people glanced over at us. I frowned at her and she quieted down. Just because I needed more attention today. "You were with Carter yesterday?"

"Well, it did happen at his house..." I trailed off, wanting nothing more then to just turn around and leave.

She planted her feet and ripped my elbow back painfully. I stopped and scowled at her. Her eyes were bulging out of her head. Okay, I could understand her lack of understanding right now, but I was not in the mood to explain it.

"Since when have you been going to Carter's house again?"

"Since I'm living there for a few weeks."

It actually felt good to talk to someone about it, although it was more like an investigation rather than casual chit chat. I know I should have told them both as soon as it happened, but it was as though if I didn't talk about it, it wasn't real. But, unfortunately for me, it was and I just need to deal with it.

"You have got to be joking."

"Does it look like I am?" I questioned, my voice bland.

"Why have you waited to tell me? You're a pretty slack friend."

"Yeah, well, you get that." I said, walking forward again.

"What is wrong with you lately?" she snapped at me, irritation lining her voice. "This isn't the usual Lacey..."

"Thank my recent life style changes for that."

"Okay. Whatever." she said, stepping back from me. "Call me when you're normal again."

"Sure."

Aiden then materialised by my side, grinning from ear to ear upon seeing me. His face soon fell once his eyes landed on my face. Oh, that's comforting. You could probably put me in comparison with Shrek right now.

"Hey babe, why have you been dodging my texts... what did you do to your face?"

"Oh, she is PMSing right now. Don't bother speaking to her." Mercedes said, her voice blunt. I swivelled my eyes to her.

I winced at her voice. I was on pain killers, my head was throbbing painfully, a head ache was accumulating behind my eyes and I had had the worst sleep in history last night. Yes, I was in a bad mood. Yes, I was taking it out on my best friends, but I couldn't stop. I was too riled up and angry to filter my thoughts.

"Umm...?" he trailed off, his eyes switching back and forth between us as though he was watching a tennis match. "What's going on?"

"Lacey, care to explain?"

Mercedes always had a thing for Aiden, so when he asked me out, we had a major falling out. We were normal again, obviously, but I know if I ever broke up with him, it wouldn't be long before she would try and hit on him. Whenever Aiden and I had a fight, I couldn't help notice she'd play on whatever I did, to make me look like the bad guy. I was getting so damn sick of it.

"You and Aiden are so close, why don't you?" I said emotionlessly, shouldering around her. "Adios."

"Lacey, wait!" Aiden called behind me, but I did what I was best at. I ignored him and marched down the hall. I noticed Carter flanking me, in my peripheral vision, and turned to him. He stared at me with concern.

"You okay?" he asked, just as the bell buzzed loudly, signalling the start of school. I turned and kept going, walking straight out the exit.

I needed a cleansing day. I kept going until I was back at Carter's place. I shredded my clothes and slipped into my tights and singlet. I jammed my headphones in my ears and flew down the stairs, just itching to get out of the house again.

Running would be my distraction.

My feet pummelled against the ground as I pushed myself to go harder and faster. My breath was coming out in short, fast pants, my sides burning to the extent I thought I was going to pass out. My head complained the whole way and blackness began edging my vision.

Pushing myself like this wasn't healthy, but I was going to do it anyway. I felt the numbness slither into my veins and through my muscles.

This was my therapy and I sure as hell needed a lot of it.

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Bit of a heavyish chapter haha, thoughts anyway?