I awoke in a comfortable bed. My entire body ached, though. My head was pounding, and the slightest sounds set off my nerves and ignited one headache after another. My neck was stiff and sore. I tried sitting up, but then I was hit with such a pain in my head that I immediately lay my head back on the pillow. I blinked a few times before looking around. I was on a small twin bed in an equally small room. The sheets were white and clean, but I wasn't underneath them. A green wool blanket was draped over my torso and legs, and I was grateful that I wasn't beneath the covers, or else I would've woken up in a pool of sweat. The room smelled like wood and oranges; a subtle yet pleasant scent. The walls were of wood painted white, and I noticed a small grey carpet on the floor. There was only a small oak nightstand; and I doubt that anything else would have fit. The only decorations in the room were an aged clock that hung on one side of the room, and a painting of a kitten framed in an old silver frame. A sunflower in a mason jar was placed on the nightstand, right next to my phone. The window was open; and the delicate white curtains billowed in the light wind. I noticed that the sun was starting to set, and the room was gradually darkening.

I recalled what had happened to me. I almost couldn't believe my luck. The moment I decided to pull off my helmet -especially considering that I'd worn it troughout the entire ride- Harley was so spooked that she threw me off her back and bolted. Harley. I jolted out of bed instantly. If anything was going to make me get out of bed, it was the fact that a horse I was responsible for could potentially be in danger.

When I finally managed to slide out from under the blanket and attempt to stand; my legs went weak and I wobbled before grabbing onto the bedframe and regaining my stability. Tears sprung to my eyes as the pain grew as I walked. Although, the more steps I took, the more it seemed to calm down. My eyes briefly glanced at what I was wearing. I was immediately taken aback. My leggings and tee were gone, and in their place was a thin nightgown that was one step away from see-through. I assumed that Mrs. Frederick had changed me, and I could only hope that my assumptions were accurate. My hand was on the handle when the door swung open, nearly smacking me right in the head, which would definitely not help my current situation.

It was Mrs. Frederick. I was at ease for a moment, glad that it wasn't Jay. Mrs. Frederick had been like a second mother figure. She was always so kind and nurturing, and never failed to help me or hear me out.

"Is Harley-" I began, but she cut me off with a steady voice.

"We found Harley, unharmed. Jay explained to us what happened." She said, a warm smile on her face. She adjusted the glasses on her face. "It wasn't your fault. She gets easily spooked, that one, I don't know what Dean was thinking giving you that horse. She's a wild one, just like her mother." She smiled and squeezed my knee. By now, we had managed to make it to the bed and sit down.

"It's still my fault." I said, glancing at the floor.

She looked at me once I fixed my posture and was able to make eye contact again. "Harley is okay, and we wouldn't blame you even if she wasn't." I sighed. "But sweetie, why'd you take the helmet off? Had you kept it on for just a minute longer..."

"I know. It was giving me a headache and I planned to put it back on. Unsightly turn of events, I guess."

She frowned, wrinkles appearing on her face. "Try to get some sleep. You really should stay, at least for tonight."

"Nooo..." I protested, putting my heands up, then on her shoulders. "I can't. Besides, we've already overstayed our welcome, and Jay is here too."

"You both can stay as long as you want. And dinner's at nine, so you definitely shouldn't leave before then. Stay the night." She insisted.

I looked down at my feet, and began toeing the edge of the small grey carpet. "I feel bad."

"You're like the daughter we never had," Mrs. Frederick said, smiling softly. I knew that they'd been trying for a baby for years, with no luck. According to my parents, they were considering adoption, but I wonder when that'll be.

"I don't know," I said. "I'll see. But thank you."

She smiled and insisted I get some more sleep. I doubted that I'd be able to actually fall asleep, but I lay down in bed. The wind began picking up, and soon, a cool breeze drifted into the room, landing right on my skin, past the thin barrier of fabric that the night gown was made of. I looked ridiculous in it, and in the mirror in the nightstand drawer, I looked like a ghost; a pale girl reminiscent of a day centuries ago. All color was drained of my face, the only contrast being the pop of blue that was my eyes, and the red of my swollen lips. I reached behind, and felt the back of my head, where I recalled landing. I was relieved to find nothing more than a small bump.

I strode forward to close the window, then tiptoed back into bed and enveloped myself in the soft blanket.

I wondered how Jay was doing. He probably wanted to leave- this house, Texas... He probably wanted me to leave to. I was nothing more than a bother in his house; and I sensed that ever since I got there I'd been nothing but a burden. He was still here though, or else Mrs. Frederick would have mentioned it. I'm sure he felt so out of place, the only teen whose prescence was noted, amongst a middle aged couple. I was still in too much pain to find out. Besides, Jay's outburst directed at me was not something I was in the state of mind to touch back upon.

I was on the verge of managing to actually fall asleep when I heard the door creak open. It wasn't a suble sound, and I winced. I opened my eyes to see Jay, bearing a glass of water and what looked like Advil on a small plate.

I groaned. Not only was I in a dire state, with my hair a tangled mess and my skin a ghastly color, but I was still mad at him. Thank God I had nothing more than a headache, and I figured that the nausea and discoloration would eventually falter.

He set the water and Advil down on the nightstand, before sitting on the edge of the bed. I pulled up the blanket so that he would see as little of the abnoxious gown as possible.

"Alina, I'm sorry." He said, his grey eyes a swirl of a deep, dark grey, and a sorrowful, meloncholy grey that made him look angry yet downcast stimutaneously. The anger was always present, I noted, as if it was permanently embedded into him and his emotions.

I wanted to roll my eyes. Maybe I was obnoxious, but he was so mean to me, constantly. "No you're not." I said.

He raised a brow, but his eyes softened and I noticed a hint of a frown at the corners of his full lips. "I am," He said, gazing intently into my eyes. "It's my fault you got hurt."

I sighed. As much as I wanted him to feel guilty right now, I knew that there was no point in holding back what I was thinking, and easing some of that pain, whether it was actually present, or if this apology was absolutely meaningless. "It's not your fault, and I'm not mad at you for that. It's not like you yanked it off my head."

He chuckled, a dry, hollow sound that formed a lump in my throat. He looked so desolate and concerned, I actually felt bad in the moment. I almost reached for his tanned hand, which was atop the blanket, centimeters away from my thigh. "It is, and had you gotten-"

"All I have is a headache."

He looked up. "Oh." He bit his lip. "I'm glad it's nothing worse."

"Mhm." I said. I realized how sarcastic I sounded as soon as the words left my lips.

"Alina!" he said, his eyes growing watery. "I mean it. And I shouldn't have said all of those things."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Okay?"

I sighed and bit my lip. I was willing to forget all of this. Holding a grudge would do nothing to aid my mood or ease my headache.

"Let's just forget about it."

He nodded before looking at me. After a few seconds had passed, I parted my lips to speak, but he looked away.

He bit his lip and grinned. "So, what are you wearing?"

I rolled my eyes but I felt my cheeks grow hot. "Had you not made me take the hel-"

"Okay, okay." He grinned, putting his hands up in defense. I was smiling too, but I wished I was out of this stupid gown.

His grin eventually turned to a neutral face expression as he regarded me. His brows then furrowed. "Are you okay? I mean, you must've hit your head pretty hard, and-"

I cut him off, not wanting to delve back into that moment. The emotional pain I experienced was worse than the physical one, in a way. "I'm fine. I passed out because of the shock, I guess, but I'm okay."

Somehow we'd reverted back to this awkward small talk. We had just gotten out of an argument, so it wasn't like we'd dive into a deep conversation right off the bat. And it was too raw to begin joking and teasing, so we just sat in this strange silence.

I soon grew sick of this discomfort. We couldn't spend the rest of the time we had here like this, as if we were mere acquaintances; co-workers on a business trip. "Do you want to do something?"

He raised a confused brow, but I could tell that he was curious too. "Like what?" Jay asked.

"You'll see." I replied. I then shoved him off the bed. Or tried to, at least. I was only successful in making him stand up out of surprise. "I'm going to change and then we'll go."

He rolled his eyes and huffed like a child angry at their parents, but eventually he complied. Jay took sluggish strides towards the door, so without thinking, I got out of bed and pushed him a few feet until he was out of the room.

"I just wanted to see that dress." He said, laughing. "You look like a-"

"Shut up." I said, and closed the door.

My clothes were neatly folded in the corner of the bed where the frame met the wall. I unfolded my leggings and looked them over. They had some dirt and dust on them, but a quick pat-down got rid of a lot of it. Besides, it was already almost nighttime, and nobody would be able to see anything in the dark. This peculiar weather made it almost impossible to breathe during the day due to the heat, but at night the breeze picked up and the temperature dropped, so I knew I'd have to wear the hoodie I'd brought along. I pulled off the gown and folded it neatly, placing it onto the bed, which I had also fixed up. I quickly got dressed, fearing that at any moment someone would barge in on me, as I forgot to lock the door. My head still hurt, and it felt as if my brain was thumping in my skull, and the back of my head still had that painful bump beneath my hair. But I wanted to make the most of our time here, as we'd have to leave soon. I already felt as if we'd overstayed our welcome, but I knew we wouldn't be allowed to leave until we had dinner. Well, it would definitely take a whole lot of insisting that we need to get back, as the Fredericks were keen on us staying longer and eating with them.

I attempted to tame my hair using my fingers, and eventually I got tired of trying to make it work and swept it up into a bun. I pinched my cheeks to give a bit more color to my skin, but I was already beginning to look like my former, tan self.

When I was ready I pulled open the door. I walked down the hall and into the living room, where the Fredericks were sitting. Mr. Frederick sipped on what appeared to be coffee, although I'd never seen a cup so dark. His wife read a novel, ever so often adjusting the glasses, pushing them up the bridge of her slender nose.

They both eventually noticed me walking out and called me over to them.

"How are you feeling?" Mr. Frederick asked, setting his cup down.

"I'm much better now, thank you. For the food, for letting us come and ride horses, for everything." I was feeling a bit shy, and kept shifting my body back and forth.

"It's our pleasure." She smiled. "We need some excitement every once in a while, and what better idea is there than to have two teenagers in the house?"

I smiled. "Exactly."

Mrs. Frederick then stood up. "Dinner will be served soon, make sure you tell your friend Jay." She then grinned. "It's your favorite." She said with a wink, which led me to wonder what she could've prepared. I couldn't think of what was my distinctly favorite food, but I knew I loved everything she made.

A pleasant smell wafted into the room. I couldn't help but revel in the aroma and appeal of Mrs. Frederick's cooking.

Soon enough, I heard a brisk yell come from the kitchen, calling us for dinner.

When I saw the plates at the table it immediately clicked.

Mrs. Friedman had prepared mac and cheese. Even though I ultimately loved everything she made, the cheesy pasta dish remained my favorite.

My eyes widened as I grinned, recalling how when I was younger I'd always beg her to make this.

"You remembered!" I cried, sitting at the table. Jay looked at me with a puzzled expression, his dark brows knit together but his lips pursed in a crooked smile.

"Mac and Cheese has always been my favorite." I turned to him and said.

He nodded and smiled before sitting down.

We ate a quick dinner, as none of us were too hungry. After helping with the dishes, Jay and I thanked the Friedmans before retreating back into our room.

"I'll tell them that we're going out." I said.

"I'll wait here."

I walked back into the living room, where both Mr. and Mrs. Friedman were reading.

"Is it alright if Jay and I head out to walk around?"

They looked at each other before wincing. "It's almost ten o'clock." Mr. Friedman said. "Maybe you guys could go in the morning."

I grinned, but put on a pleading face. "It's more fun at night."

Mrs. Friedman shook her head. "I'm sorry, but we're responsible for you and if something were to happen it'd be our fault."

I sighed and bit my lip. "Alright. It's okay." I smiled before wishing them goodnight.

I walked into the small room where'd I'd previously been sleeping my headache off. "Jay" I said.

He clearly hadn't noticed I was in the room, as he shot up, startled at my presence. "Yeah?"

"We're sneaking out."