"How did you find out?" I asked while I played with my hands on the table. "Who told you?"

"No one told me." Blake said. "I knew something was wrong by the way you spoke through the phone so I had to check on you."

"But what about your internship?" I frowned. "Did you just leave it?"

"I told you that's not important to me now." He said in a serious tone. "You're more important."

There wasn't any point in arguing because there's no way I could manage to make him leave. The look in his eyes tells me that he's staying.

I folded my arms. "How'd you know I was here?"

"You weren't at school, or at your dorm, so I knew you'd be here."

I just nodded. "D-do you know about Mom?"

He nodded.

I've no idea how he knows about Mom's condition but I didn't anymore ask.

"You should get some rest." He looked at me.

"No." I shook my head and stood up. "I have still have so much to do and I have to get back to the-"

"Stop it Paige." Blake said firmly. "Have you even seen yourself? You look like you're barely even living."

"Do you think I don't know that?" My eyes watered. "I know I look horrible, and helpless but I didn't want any of this!" I sobbed. "I didn't want any of this...but I'm trying..."

"Yes you're trying." Blake spoke. "Look at me." He held my chin.

I looked up to his eyes.

"You will get through this." He held my hand. "And I will be with you every step of the way." He squeezed my hand. "I promise."

_______________________________

"Bennet why aren't you attending training anymore?" Our track coach asked.

"S-sorry Coach, I just have an emergency." I kept my head down. All I felt while at school was shame, I was ashamed of myself that I couldn't look up to my teachers or anyone. My grades were falling, and I was missing classes, and I didn't have time for even my own friends.

"If you keep on missing trainings then you're going to loose your chance to compete in next season's sports tournament."

"I understand Coach." I kept my head down.

Days went by and my friends stopped minding me. They walked past me in the hallways and they didn't anymore confront me in the cafeteria, neither share eye contact. I guess they gave up. If I was in their place, I would too, they were so persistent but I just wouldn't let them in, it's all my fault. But them not knowing is what's best for now.

"I'm sorry Miss Bennet but with you grades, there's nothing we could do." The Dean sighed in her chair as she went through my student records. "Based on your grading average, it'd be impossible for you to reach the Average grade required at the end of the month."

"Well is there anything I could do?" I looked up to her.

She sighed and took out her glasses. "Sweetie, you failed majority of your exams."

"Then can I at least retake the exams?" I pleaded.

"I'm sorry dear, there's nothing I could do."

I slumped in my chair as my eyes started to water. I massaged the side of my forehead in frustration. "Do I really have no chance in keeping my spot in this school?" I blinked back a tear.

The Dean tapped her pen on her desk. "There is one way." She gathered the papers of my student records. "Reach the required average, but the question is," She took off her glasses. "Can you do it?"

My head went around in circles, thinking about all the possibilities.

"Yes." I stood up. "I can."

On my way out of the Dean's office I bumped into Ned.

"Sorry." I apologized immediately and hurriedly walked away. I still had to take my shift at my part time job.

I tried to go to school as much as possible but some days, I just couldn't. I sometimes had to watch over Mom the whole day, and when Aiden would come back from school he'd take a turn in watching after Mom so I could take some rest but I'd use that time for me to escape and take my part time shift at a near by cafe. I needed to earn money one way or another.

Blake would always come to the Cafe and helping me around, afterwards he'd join me to the hospital to look after Mom.

"My parents and sister knows the best doctors in the country, I'll make sure that they could tend to your Mom." Blake caressed my hand.

"Hear that Paige? Now stop crying, your eyes are about to fall out." Aiden chuckled. He sat on the couch at the corner of the room while reading a novel.

I sighed. I can't remember the last time I got to sit down and relax with a novel in my hand. Everything people to do is relax and calm down. But how on earth could I do that when my Mom's life is on the line?!

"Can I have your library card?" The librarian asked.

I handed it over and continued inside the school library. I've been missing classes so I though about going through some books in the library to catch up.

I got a pile of books and brought them to a table and I started reading. With my Aunt watching over Mom, I started to worry less.

I flipped through the pages and started jotting down notes on my notebook. I gripped my pen as I wrote. Why am I like this now? Always catching up to yesterday's lessons. I'm an achiever, but now I'm all left behind. A mediocre. No. Less than that. I banged my pen on the table and covered my face in my hands. I hate who I am now.

"Ehem."

Shit. I must've disturbed the librarian. I took my hands out of my face. My eyes widened when I didn't see the librarian in front of me.

"Ned?" I said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

He sighed and sat down across me with a big red folder in his hand. He placed it on the table and faced me. "Here." He slid the folder across the table to me.

My forehead scrunched. "What's this for?"

He eyed me waiting for me to open it. I opened the folder and found a bunch of notes, of different lessons, from every one of our subjects.

"That's my reviewer." He said. "It has all my complete notes from all the past lessons and for all the next lessons to come, so don't worry it's complete."

I scrolled through the pages. "W-why are you giving this to me?"

"That makes my studies easier and besides." He crossed his arms. "You'll need it more than me."

"I-I don't know what to say." I stuttered.

"Then don't say anything." Ned sighed. "Go through that when you're not at school, you'll catch up in no time, before you know it, you'll be ahead of the class."

I kept silent as I turned the pages, each of the lessons and lectures were detailed and easy to understand.

"Well that's all." He abruptly stood up.

"Hey Ned." I called him. He turned to me.

"Thankyou." I smiled. "Thankyou so much."

"It's nothing personal." He turned to me. "Just go through it if you have time, and." He paused. "Don't let yourself be expelled."

I smiled. "I won't."

He nodded and left.

After classes, I rushed out of school and headed for the rocket train station, Blake wasn't with me since he was called by his father. I just hope he isn't in trouble.

When I got back to the hospital, I found My aunt inside my Mom's private room. From the looks of it, she just arrived from Canada, since she had her suitcase at the corner of the room, she was unloading some groceries at the countertop. Mom's room was big, thank to Aiden's father, we got the best hospital in the state and Mom's room had great accommodations.

My aunt looked up at me when she realized my presence. "Oh you're here." She smiled.

I smiled back and let down my bag on the couch. My back hurt from a tiring day.

She approached me and wrapped me in her arms. "Everything will be alright."

I sighed. "I hope."

She then led me to the small dining set and brought out some food. "You must be starving, look at you." She placed a plate in front of me.

"Thank you." I started eating while she just watched me.

"Where've you been? Does your school dismiss you this late?" She wondered.

I shook my head while I chewed. "I've been dismissed hours ago, I've been searching for a part time job."

My Aunt suddenly stopped eating and stared at me. "A part time job?"

I nodded. "I've no choice, I need to pay for Mom's hospital bills and medication."

"But honey, shouldn't you be focusing on school?" She asked. "I'll do my best to handle your Mom's bills, your friend's father is also willing to help, let us be the one to worry about this matter."

"As her daughter I want to do my part in helping her." I gripped my hands. "She wouldn't want to accept charity."

"But do you think she'd want to see you suffering like this?" She raised her brow.

I kept silent.

She reached for my hand. "But there's also another thing you can do."

I faced her. "What?"

"We could contact your-"

"No." I immediately stood up. "We are not asking him for help. Never." I picked up my jacket and wore it over my back and headed for the door. "I can find a way to save Mom on my own."

My eyes widened when Blake appeared the second I opened the door. It looked like he was about to enter when I was about to leave.

"Hey." He smiled.

I looked at his arms and found some grocery bags. "Could I come in?"

"S-sure." I nodded and gave way.

Auntie got shocked when Blake entered.

"You didn't have to." I said to Blake as he unloaded the groceries.

"It's fine." He gave me a small smile and continued helping auntie unload.

While they talked, I positioned myself on the couch and I opened the folder Ned gave me and started reading.

"Paige, why don't you go home and take some rest, I'll watch over you Mom for the night." Auntie suggested.

"No thankyou." I answered without taking my eyes off the folder.

"Come on deary, take a break." She insisted.

I turned a page. "I don't need one."

She sighed. "Son, you have a car right? Do you think you could send her home?" She said to Blake.

My brows furrowed.

"Sure." Blake immediately answered.

"You heard that Paige."

I placed my folder down. "I said I'm staying here."

"Oh what am I going to do with you." She sighed.

I rubbed the sides of my head. "Fine." I stood up. "But I'm coming back here first thing in the morning."

Auntie seemed happy about me giving in but I just felt too exhausted to argue. I followed Blake to the parking lot. I immediately fell asleep in his car, when I woke up we were already at my house.

I immediately felt embarrassed when we entered the house. It was a complete mess, but I didn't have any time to worry about it.

"Have you eaten yet?" I asked Blake, I started rummaging the fridge for food.

He stopped my hand. "Don't worry about me."

"When are you going back to England?" I asked out of the blue.

"Why? Don't you want me here?" He chuckled.

"I was just wondering."

He sighed. "Do I have to go back?"

I frowned. "Of course you do, your internship isn't yet over."

"Do you really want me to leave that badly?" He asked.

I sighed. "If it will do you good, then yes."

"Fine." He crossed his arms. "I'll go back when things get better for you."

I let out a sarcastic laugh. " Mom has cancer, it'll take years of medications, you can't stay for that long."

"I can if I want to." He said firmly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Then what do you want?" He asked.

I thought. "I want you to go back when I don't need you anymore, things will get better and I'm not that miserable."

"Wow." He chuckled. "Why does that sound so painful."

"Because that's the truth." I crossed my arms.

"Fine." He sighed. "I'll go back to England when you don't need me anymore, happy?"

I just nodded and sat on the couch in the living room. I still had some projects to accomplish. I got a clear sheet of paper and started drafting. Blake sat beside me and started studying as well. He needed to pass an exam before the school year ends.

"Shit." I mumbled when I made a mistake. I crumpled my paper and tossed it to the ground and started again.

I groaned when I made another mistake. "I'll never get this right." I threw my paper to the floor and covered my face with my hands.

"I'll help you." Blake scooted over to me.

"It's pointless." I placed all my books and folder away. "I'm so sick of it."

"Hey-"

"It's all my fault." I cut him off. "It-it's all my fault." I stuttered as tears formed in my eyes. He went closer and pulled me into his arms. My tears flowed down my face.

"Don't blame yourself." He whispered.

"How can I not?" I sobbed. "If only I checked on Mom... If only I called her everyday, If only I wasn't caught up with my comfortable life, If only..."

I cried. "I should have known something was wrong." I wiped my eyes. "But I was too caught up with my comfortable life that I didn't get to check on her, that I didn't mind her at all, even if she's been suffering for so long." I closed my eyes. "I'm a terrible daughter."

"No." Blake took me out of his arms and held my shoulders. "You are not, you're caring, you're considerate, and you never put yourself before others." He looked me in the eye. "I know this much, so don't blame yourself."

I was speechless.

He sighed and wiped my tears with his thumb. "I hate seeing you like this." He took my loose strands of hair out of my face and behind my ear. "You should rest, I'll tidy up the place."

Rest. The word I hate the most but everyone keeps telling me that. I wanted to protest but I suddenly felt like he was right. My whole body was weak, my head feels heavy.

"Don't you have an exam tomorrow?" The thought just came into my head.

"It doesn't matter." He just smiled at me and kissed my forehead. "Rest."

"Ok." I agreed. Right after that I fell asleep on the couch.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm. It's 4 AM already. I scrunched my forehead when I realized I was in bed in my room. How did I get here? I hurriedly scrambled out of my bed and washed my face ready to study. I opened my phone to see the news.

My brows scrunched at the first headline.

I rolled my eyes and turned off my phone. I didn't bother to finish reading the title nor the article. Why is the media full of crap and fake news? I don't have time to waste for it.

I went downstairs and got shocked to see the whole place neat and clean, there was a takeout breakfast on the table. I got even more shocked to see Blake fast asleep on the couch. He didn't go home?

I went closer to look at his face, he looked so tired. Guilt suddenly took over me. He's also getting exhausted because of me. I sighed and went to get him a blanket. I covered him with it.

I noticed his book on the floor. I picked it up. It was about business. I guess that's what his exam is about. Beside it was his cellphone. I picked it up, I opened it's screen to see if there was a scratch.

My brows scrunched when the name Gia was on his screen. Gia Merrit the supermodel?

She's left him a lot of texts so my curiosity grew. I turned to Blake feeling guilty. I sighed and opened his phone to read the texts.

From: Gia

"Where are you?"

From: Gia

Are you still in England?

From: Gia

Where the hell are you Blake Calvin?!

From: Gia

Your Dad is furious.

My jaw dropped while reading the texts. I looked at Blake. He left England without his Dad knowing? I felt guilty. Is it because of me?

I scrolled up for me to know what other things has he been doing.

From: Gia

Did you get back to the hotel?

From: Gia

I'm sorry about a while ago.

From: Gia

I think the press caught us.

From: Gia

Baby I miss your lips on mine.

From: Gia

When are you going to dump your worthless girlfriend?

From: Gia

You're not serious about that dork right?

From: Gia

I miss you already, answer my call.

From: Gia

Kiss me like this again. I'll wait for you.

My forehead scrunched when I saw the pictures she sent. My hand were shaking when I opened them. The background showed that they were both in London and it was obvious that the picture was from a hiding press.

I almost dropped the phone when I saw the picture of them kissing. Blake's back was facing the camera while Gia had her hands wrapped around his face while her lips was on his.

I immediately closed the phone and placed it down on the side table. My chest tightened. I had no idea what to do, I feel like I'm going crazy with all the thoughts in my head. Just like that, tears fell down from my face. I covered my mouth while I cried to not wake him up while I finished my project.

Do I have to cry like this every day?! When will all of this stop. I'm so tired already, from everything.

I was doing my paper work while wiping my tears with the back of my hand. Tears fell on my paper. It's not true Paige, it's not true. I whispered to myself only to end up tearing again. No matter how much I tried to convince myself. The truth and evidence is already there.

Blake was still asleep when I left the house. I didn't bother to wake him up. I left the house and rode the train to go straight to school.