I step over the threshold of the automatic doors, breathing in the thick, salty air, listening to the waves crash against the shore in the distance. I never thought I could ever enjoy the feeling of standing in the humid outdoors of Daytona Beach for long periods of time, but right now, I never want to go back inside anywhere ever again. I've been trapped inside of a small hospital room for nearing a week and a half now, and I'm sure I'm not the first to admit that it's dreadful; depressing, even.

I slowly guide myself with my crutches to Ryder's car, dreading leaving the sweet outdoors. "We're at least putting the windows down," I demand, balancing on my right foot, both crutches in my left hand. For most people, this wouldn't be so difficult, but here I am- Corina the klutz. I attempt to open the car door, nearly falling as I do so. I thankfully am able to catch myself, but I only do so by planting my left foot down. I wince as pain shoots all throughout my body.

"Please, let me help." Ryder's hand reaches for the handle, but I shoo it away. "Corina, I don't want you to hurt yourself," he says sternly, reaching for the handle again. I mutter a thank you, and slowly lower myself onto the seat.

We sit in silence for most of the ride back to my apartment, where my mom is waiting for us. I'm still unsure of my dad's whereabouts, but he has texted me a few times to check in. I didn't respond.

"Hey," Ryder says, placing his hand on my thigh. I look up to see his expression laced with concern, but he tried to cover it up with a smile. "Are you sure you're ready to go back?"

I smile softly back to him, placing my hand on top of his. "Ready as I'll ever be," I mumble out. "Are you sure Mr. Shapiro isn't there? You've double and triple checked?"

He squeezes my thigh then quickly glances to me and back to the road in front of us. "I quadruple checked, and I'm sure your mom has done the same." I smile gratefully at him, then lean my head against the window that he refused to roll down. I take in the scenery, the blur of the trees zooming by, birds flying high in the sky. Oh, how I wish I was out there, not in this stuffy car.

Soon, we're pulling into the familiar front gates to the complex. My heart starts racing, my breathing rapid. My vision starts to go foggy, and I know just what's happening: I'm having my first panic attack in years. I soon start to hyperventilate, and we drive up Ryder's driveway.

"Shh," he says, toying with the ends of my hair, his usual go-to move when he's trying to calm me down. He moves the car into the garage, immediately pushing the button to close the door. "We can stay right here as long as you need." My breathing slowly reaches its normal rhythm, as well as my heart. I close my eyes, forcing out hot tears, and open them. I repeat this until my vision clears.

"Thank you," I grin, looking to Ryder. "You really have no idea how much all of this means to me."

He reaches over and unbuckles my seatbelt, guiding it back to ensure it doesn't end up hitting my face. "Please, don't thank me. It's what a boyfriend is supposed to do." He lightly kisses my cheek, then gets out of the car, retrieving my crutches from the trunk. Making his way to my side, he opens the door and slips an arm under mine, gently lifting me up. I grab my crutches and slowly make my way inside of his still cold and dark apartment.

Once we get inside, I'm greeted by my mom, and I'm taken aback. What is she doing here? I thought for sure she would go to my apartment to rest.

Reading my confused expression, she says, "I figured Ryder would bring you here, so I stopped in to make sure you didn't need anything else before I showered and sat down for a few. The boy doesn't hide his key very well." I laugh at my mom before realization hits me. If my mom was able to find his spare key, then anyone could- anyone being Mr. Shapiro. My eyes widen, and tears start to fall, yet again. How in the hell do I have any tears left to cry?

"Don't worry, I took it back from her," my boyfriend's deep voice says behind me, reading me like a book. "It's now safe on your key ring."

My mom's eyes widen, mimicking mine from moments ago, then returns to the happy smile she had when I told her that I loved Ryder when I was high. It takes me a few moments longer to realize what he said.

He gave me his apartment key? Ryder gave me his apartment key!

If I wasn't on crutches, already struggling to walk, I would run up and hug him as tight as I possibly could, even though my strength is nothing compared to his, unable to phase him in the slightest. However, I'm unable to do that, for obvious reasons, so I motion him over instead. He walks over with a smile plastered on his face, and he leans down. "Thank you," I whisper into his ear, to which he returns with a kiss on my cheek. "Now, I'm tired. Will you carry me to bed?" I stick my bottom lip out.

"Whatever, idiot," he chuckles before whisking me into his arms with ease, carrying me down the short hallway and into his bedroom. He places me easily onto his soft bed, placing the blanket over me. I snuggle into the blanket, making myself warm and cozy. "I'm going to see if your mom needs any help with anything."

"No!" I yell. "Please, stay," I whimper after I get his attention. "I don't think I can handle being left alone right now."

"Okay," he says with a smile, falling into bed next to me. He starts tugging on the blanket to cover himself, but I tug back. "It's my bed you're sleeping in. The least you can do is share."

"Nah, I'm good," I laugh evilly. Eventually I give in and allow him under the blanket, cuddling up to him as soon as he gets comfortable.

"You good?" He asks, his breath hot on my neck, giving me goosebumps. Oh, if only I wasn't in so much pain, the things I would do to this boy right now.

Get your head out of the gutter, Corina. Now is not the time to be thinking of that.

"Y-yeah," I stammer. "I'm good." With that I drift off to sleep, the warmth of Ryder keeping me safe from my thoughts and fears.

I awake a few hours later to the sounds of things falling to the ground on the other side of the wall. I shoot up in panic, instantly regretting my actions as my left side shoots with pain, forcing me to fall back down onto the soft pillows. Forcing myself back up, I listen closely and hear three men yelling and a woman screaming. I recognize the woman's voice as my mom's, and she's yelling, "Please! Please stop! This won't solve anything!"

In fear of my mom's safety, I get up and out of bed as fast as my injuries will allow me, grab my crutches, and begin to make the long journey from Ryder's bedroom to my apartment. Okay, that may sound a little dramatic, but I'm no good on crutches. The energy I have to put into this is similar to a normal person hiking five miles.

I make it to my front door in a matter of minutes, and as I swing it open, the sounds of more crashes ring, vibrating the paper-thin walls. I look next door to see Gina and Steve running my way, and I've never been so thankful in my life. Gina engulfs me into a protective hug as Steve runs into the door. I slowly make my way in with my neighbor, and the scene before me is something I've never wanted to see.

Before me lays my dad, knocked out on the floor, a bruised eye and small trickles of blood coming out of his nostrils. Ryder is standing over him, ensuring he's okay, not noticing me standing there. Steve is running after another man, chasing him down the hallway, asking him to stop. Steve is a State Policeman, but currently off duty, so he doesn't have his badge or any of his weapons, but at least he knows how to handle the situation.

Gina settles me onto the couch before going to my mom for support. She's off to the side, whimpering and shaking, afraid for her life, I would assume. Soon she sits beside of me emotionlessly, and stares off into the distance. Gina is rambling on the phone, and Ryder is still with my dad, who is slowly coming to his senses. I hear shouting from my bedroom, then glass breaking and two gunshots.

We all stop everything we're doing. Steve didn't have a gun, and the only other person that we know of back there was the attacker. That could only mean one thing- Steve got shot. The whole apartment is quiet, no sounds of someone groaning in pain, no shouts or screams for help. Assuming the worst, Gina and I begin to cry, holding onto each other for support. My mom still hasn't left her stunned position. My dad, still coming to his senses, feels the tension in the room and keeps his groaning to a minimum, Ryder holding a cloth to his nose to help stop the bleeding.

Time stands still, the hands of the clock on my wall ticking slowly but loudly. What seems like hours pass before we hear shuffling coming from the hallway, and I assume my fate. Cowering down, I put my head into my hands, not wanting to see my murder's gruesome face. Footsteps come closer, and soon I hear them in the living room, right in front of the couch. What surprises me, though, is when Gina stands up, gasping in surprise. I peek my eyes up to see Steve holding onto Gina, completely unharmed.

"What happened back there?" Ryder asks, coming to my side to protect me. "We thought..." he begins, then goes quiet, silently indicating what we all thought.

"Do you all really think I wouldn't have called back up?" Steve says with a light tone. "A sniper was laying in the field behind the complex. As soon as Shapiro got into his line of sight, he took the shot."

"But what about the second shot?" my dad quietly inquiries, taking the rag from Ryder and sitting up slowly.

"Shapiro did get a shot in, but missed and hit the wall." Steve kisses Gina on the head, still holding her protectively. "Everything is fine now."

"So," I manage to mumble out, "is he dead?" Steve nods emotionlessly, but I smile. I realize it seems dark and twisted to smile at the thought of someone being dead, but I think I'm allowed to feel this way in this situation. The man did try to kill me, and didn't seem to be stopping until he succeeded.

Ryder wraps his arm around my shoulder, squeezing with comfort. "You can stay with me," he whispers into my ear, sending me the same feelings as earlier. His hot breath lingers on the side of my face, and my whole body tenses, desperate. I nervously nod, hoping to hide my feelings, but when I look up, I see his famous smirk. I know he sees the way I react to him.

"I definitely know I won't be getting my deposit back now," I mutter, attempting to hide my blush. I look away from Ryder's seductive eyes, and try to focus on everyone else.

Everyone chuckles at my thought, then starts to stand up. "This has been such a long, eventful day," my dad says. "I don't know about you all, but I'm ready to go take a shower and a long, needed nap."

"But first, you're going to the hospital. I think your nose is broken," my mom states and she examines his face. "Let's go." He tries to argue, but it's no use against my mom's newfound stubbornness and determination. He abides, slowly trudging along waving a goodbye as they leave.

"If you need help with anything, call us," Gina says to Ryder and me, then pulls Steve out the door.

"Let's go," I whisper into Ryder's ear, attempting to make him just as flustered as me. I see him blush a little, but he quickly recovers.

"Right this way, m'lady," he laughs, picking me up and carrying me to his apartment, which feels much homier than before. The darkness has become comforting, the cold thermostat a perfect excuse to cuddle close to Ryder. But, however, there's still a few changes I want to make.

"Since I have a key now," I say, tracing my fingers along his collarbones as he carries me to his bed, "and I'll be staying here for the foreseeable future, I plan on some decorative changes." He stares at me in disbelief, but I shrug it off and continue. "Like some new lampshades and curtains. Just to let some natural light in here, you know?"

"Whatever you say, idiot," he replies in a sarcastic tone while rolling his eyes. "Now, scoot over so I can lay down too." I move slightly, and feel comfort and happiness radiate through me as Ryder lays down under the blankets with me, holding me close.

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Guys! We finally passed 100 reads! It really isn't much, but I didn't expect any if I'm being completely honest. This book is so trashy, but I love it, so thank you to everyone who is reading!

It's been just over a week since I started writing this book, and I'm so impressed with how far it's come. I've wrote stories in the past, but was terrible at updating them and inevitably could never finish them because I wasn't as passionate about them.

This book has changed my outlook on writing, and I couldn't be more thankful.

Anyway, I'm done being sappy! If you haven't already, vote if you enjoyed the chapter, and leave a comment about anything really lol. There may be just over 100 reads but there are still no comments! I want to know what you guys think!

I'll see you all again soon!