My heavy eyelids crack open slightly and I try to focus my vision. My head feels light and fuzzy; my body aches. After a few corresponding blinks, I'm finally able to adjust to the brilliant early morning sun rays. I first notice the room, a hospital room. This leads me to notice the tubes running through me and the large, framed bed I'm in. Thirdly, and most happily, I notice Damon resting against my bed, sound asleep. He's sitting in a chair that he must've pulled up next to me; he has his arms crossed and his head lying on top of them, face down. I can't see his face, but I would recognize that mop of hair anywhere. His body moves peacefully up and down, following the rhythm of his heavy breathing. After noticing him, I finally notice everyone else in the room, all sound asleep as well. It must be very early. I look at the clock on the wall in front of me: 6:15. My mom is snuggled up onto a plush chair to my left, full-on fetal position. On the couch next to her, Rachel and Quentin are lying on opposite ends attempting to share one blanket. It looks as though there had been a struggle last night, but Rachel won per her whole body being covered by fabric and only half of Quentin's is. I giggle but stop almost immediately; the pain is a little overbearing.

I hear a door silently slide open to my right. I watch as Damon's parents creep inside, trying to be as quiet as they can. Derrick is busy balancing a carton holding four coffee cups while trying to shut the door; Cassie is laying her purse down on a table near the wall. Derrick walks to her side and pinches her waist. She lets out an "Ow!" while he shushes her with his pointer finger to his lips. He's obviously messing with her, and he cracks a smile to prove it; Cassie simply smacks him across his shoulder and starts walking towards me. Her smile fades as fast as mine grows when she sees me. She's standing still while her mouth morphs from an "o" to a cheery smile.

"You're awake, Scarlett!" she yells.

Damon is the first to react. The top-half of his body shoots up so fast I hardly catch it happen. His eyes are alert and staring straight into mine, but he doesn't say anything. He just watches me intently, as if trying to soak in as much of me as he can.

Damon: the human sponge.

I giggle at that too, but once again I wince and stop from the resounding pain. Damon notices and drops his gaze to my body. His eyes fill with emotion-remorse, possibly-before his gaze trails back to mine. He swiftly rises to his feet, still not saying a word, and places his hands against the matress on either side of my body. He waists no time leaning in and placing a needing kiss against my mouth. My eyes are wide and refuse to close; this is not the reaction I expected after seeing me for the first time since our last encounter. That reminds me, I need to make things right. Damon breaks the kiss but hovers his lips over mine.

"Damon, I'm sorry. I can explain-,"

"Shut up. Just promise you'll never scare me like that again," he says, cutting me off.

I crack a smile, "Pinky."

I watch his lips curl into a smile as well, but then I meet his gleaming green eyes and melt. They've always had such an effect on me, ever since the start. He grabs my hand and begins to soothingly rub his thumb across my fingers.

My mom starts to uncurl next to me. Her motions are lethargic and tired, and I'm not completely sure she even knows I'm awake; but when she sees me she leaps to her feet and runs to my side. She squishes my face between both of her hands and starts to plant kisses all over my face.

"You're up! Oh honey, I'm so glad! You've been out for over a day; you had me so worried!" she says between kisses.

"I'm fine mom, don't worry," I respond, not bothered one bit by the excessive affection. There was a moment where I thought I wouldn't be able to receive it ever again, so I don't mind at all.

That reminds me, "Where's Jessica? Is she okay?"

My mom lets go of me and opens her mouth to reply when a loud voice takes over.

"What's all the fuss about? It's only a few bumps and bruises."

I recognize Rachel's snarky tone and smirk as she strolls over to my bedside, raising her eyebrows sarcastically towards me.

"Oh yeah, that and just a huge stab wound, no big deal," I joke alongside her.

"Rub some dirt in it," she suggests.

"Unfortunately, I did."

She laughs and I follow, but mine is, as expected, cut short with a cringe. She stops and puts a hand on my shoulder, looking down at me with worry.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. It just hurts to laugh," I reassure her and everybody else watching me.

I hear a grunt to my left; Quentin pushes himself up into a sitting position while rubbing his eyes.

"Is she awake yet?" he asks to nobody in particular.

"She is," I respond.

His eyes shoot open, and he bounds to his feet, "You made me sick with fear, Beautiful! You know that?"

"I know, and I'm sorry for scaring all of you guys," I look into each person's eyes, lingering on Damon's just a tad bit longer.

"There's nothing to apologize for sweetie," my mom says.

"Yeah, it wasn't your fault. You just gave us all a fright," Derrick adds.

"From what we were told by the man who found you, you tried to climb up that cliff all by yourself to get help, and that's after having just yanked a shank out of your freaking leg. That's pretty badass," Rachel brags.

I blush a little, although I have no idea why, "Yeah, well, there wasn't any other way. Jessica was bleeding out and I...wait, Jessica! Has anybody heard anything about her?"

"She lost a lot of blood," my mom explains, "But they expect her to make a full recovery."

I finally, for the first time since the accident, truly relax. I feel my body fall back deeper into the bed while I let out a long breathe of air I had been holding.

"She wasn't the one they were really worried about though; you had major internal injuries and climbing up that hill didn't help. You just barely skated through," Cassie states.

Damon's grip on my hand tightens. I look down at him, but he refuses to look at me. He just stares at a point on my bed. His green eyes glisten as they fill with emotion.

"You crashed," Damon chokes out, "I watched you...you died right in front of me."

The agony in his voice pains me so I give his hand a reassuring squeeze before replying.

"I'm here now though. I'm not going anywhere."

"Damn straight!" Quentin yells from the end of the bed.

The small room fills with laughter. A large smile spreads across my face; this is why I had to come back, for these people. For all the people in my life that have blessed it so dearly. Damon turns towards me, his face alight. He's laughing too, but slowly stops while we both fall into each other's gaze. He scoots forward, leans in, and kisses my forehead. His lips graze the side of my face as he moves his mouth towards my ear.

"I love you," he whispers.

"I love you too," I say back.

He pulls back and places a quick kiss on my lips before sitting back into his chair. My mother and Damon's parents are talking now, and Rachel and Quentin are chatting behind them. Suddenly, the door handle rattles. The door glides open and Carter follows. My mood immediately turns sour and I make it known all across my face. Damon notices. He chuckles and nudges me with his knuckles to get my attention.

"What?"

"Don't make that face."

"But it's-!"

"My brother, I know. That's why I'm telling you that face is unnecessary; we're actually on okay terms right now. I still don't completely forgive him, but after the wreck...I don't know, things have been good. He even apologized."

I look towards Carter. He had walked up to his parents and was talking to them, but once he notices me watching him he strides over to my side.

"I'm sorry this happened to you, Scarlett. I should've came and picked you up that night. And I'm sorry for earlier that day I suppose as well," Carter says.

I shrewdly watch him, trying to decide whether he's being serious. I can tell he's becoming uneasy from my silence, but never once does he break eye contact. I choose to believe him, for Damon's sake.

"It's alright, Carter," I give him a small smile.

He smiles back; I think this is actually the first time I've seen him truly smile.

"Oh yeah!" I hear Rachel pipe in, "Scarlett, Eric told me to Facetime him as soon as you wake up. He's been worried about you too."

Rachel pulls out her phone and calls him. She hands me the phone and I face it in front of me. After a few rings, I hear the scratch of connection and soon after Eric's face pops onto the screen. The California sun has darkened his skin and bleached his hair. His teeth shine against the contrast of his skin with a large smile.

"Red!"

I smile; I've missed hearing him call me that, "Eric! How's Cali been treating you?"

"Oh it's awesome out here! Totally my element, but lets get to what's more important. How are you feeling?"

"Wonderful," I answer with absolute honesty because here and now, life couldn't be better.

* * * * * * * * *

Later that afternoon, and after much pleading with Damon and my mother, I requested to be wheeled to Jessica's room. Damon and my mom didn't want me to be out of bed at all, Damon even more persistent, but I put my foot down about it. I need to see her. I nee to know she is alright.

A nurse wheels me down two corridors before we finally reach her room. Damon had come with me. He says he's being cautious. Damon knocks on the door before pushing it open. Once inside, I see Jessica's mother and as soon as she sees me she jumps to her feet and rushes to my side. Wrapping her arms around my shoulders, she hugs me and starts on a oral rampage.

"Scarlett, darling, I'm so glad you're okay! I was going to come by to see you once Jessica woke up, but she's still unconscious. The doctors say her stats are fine; it's just a matter of waiting now. Jessica was conscious for a little bit before they finished her tests; she wouldn't stop asking about you, making sure you're alright. She also wouldn't stop apologizing; she wanted me to make sure you knew how sorry she is. However, I should be thanking you right now! I heard about how you climbed up that cliff to try and get help, how incredibly brave that was of you! Thanks to you, my daughter is safe; I can't thank you enough!"

She finally finishes and I feel as though I can breathe again. I pat her on the back to let her know I understand.

"It's okay, there's no need to thank me," I pull her back and give her a warm smile.

Damon pushes me over to Jessica's side. Sitting in the wheelchair, I have to reach up to grab her hand. She has a wrapping of white bandage spun around her forehead, causing her uncontrollable curls to squish close together near her cheeks. A large, yellowing bruise surrounds her right eye and eyebrow. She lies motionless besides the moving of her chest following her steady breathes.

"I can't believe this happened," I say to Damon.

"Trust me, me neither."

I think back to right before the wreck, right before we flew off the road. I remember Jessica sobbing and loosing control over herself. And I also remember why: my bastard of a father. This is entirely his fault; if he had acted like a real father for even once in his life we probably wouldn't be in this predicament. Anger and hatred boil inside of me, and for the first time in six years I decide to act upon it.

"Damon?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to go visit my father."