Roses.

Red roses sit on that windowsill, staring straight at me. I feel numb. I feel nauseous. I don't want those roses in this room.

Josh hasn't been allowed back into the room since I cried out for him to leave. Those roses, sent from him, shouldn't be here, either. Everyone wants to know why I don't want him around. The questions come, but I can't find it in me to answer. They already knew we had broken up, or my family already knew because I told them that before staying with Mia. I'm sure Jason mentioned it to Hannah at this point.

My entire body hurts. I'm beyond tired. I can't catch a break.

"Megan," a voice cracks, taking my attention off those damn roses. Her voice makes my head throb, but I try not to show it. My eyes find Mia walking in with a solemn look. Behind her is Jace, with his hands in his front pockets and a frown on his lips. "God, I've been worried sick," Mia breathes out, rushing to my bedside. She tucks her hair behind her ear before touching the bed's side rail.

Behind them is Louis, and my breathing falters. He looks just as tired as the others, as if me being here has worn him down too. His blue eyes are laced with concern, and his hair is a beautiful, twisted mess. He was here last night, but I don't believe he realises I saw him. He almost looks hesitant, as if I'm about to kick him out. I swallow the lump in my throat, and my eyes begin to strain.

I can't comprehend it.

I instantly begin to fall apart.

"Megan," he whispers, his voice wavering. My tears blur my vision. He grabs my hand, kissing the top of my head before trailing a couple down my cheek and to my lips. My heart aches. His arm carefully wraps around me, and my head dips down as I curl into his chest. I haven't cried since Derek and Shane were here. Now I'm in his hold, and I'm just falling to pieces. His arms tighten, just enough for security but not hard enough to hurt me. "I was so scared I lost you too," his words hit me deep in my gut. It's not a wave of guilt that strikes me. It's a tsunami. He is already so torn up over his first love. My decision to leave with Josh got me in such a crappy position. I'm sure it messed with Louis' head.

My body is shivering. My throat aches, but it's not terrible compared to my sore body.

"I'm sorry," I apologise.

"Why are you sorry? You didn't do anything wrong?" he lets me go.

"Because I left with Josh and ended up here," I whimper, my hands covering my face. I can't stop trembling.

"Why would you go back to him," Mia sounds off. My breathing stifles, and I feel guilty as sin. Louis stays silent. I can't look at him.

"I don't know how he found me. He forced me to leave," my voice gives out as I wipe my cheeks frantically. "And you were supposed to get back home soon. He was drunk and pissed. I was scared something would happen to you, so I didn't even think twice about it. I'm sorry."

"Megan, stop apologising. Hell, it wasn't the best decision, but you were scared and trying to protect Mia. How could any of us be mad about that?" Jace scoffs, his hand touching the foot of the bed.

"He was drunk. I don't know how drunk, but enough to smell the alcohol on him. He sped so fast. I swore we were about to crash," I choke out, speaking the words into existence for the first time. Why do I trust them more than the others? Why haven't I told anyone else this?

"What?" Louis breathes out, his tone dark.

"We almost did, and I got out, and it was a stupid mistake. I didn't know a car was coming. I needed out of that car. I was so scared, and he was freaking out, not caring. I had to. I didn't know I'd be hit. Then he showed up here and tried to act like everything was okay between us. Those flowers...those roses he sent are giving me anxiety. I can't look at them. I can't think straight. He's not even here, and it feels like he is smothering me. I'm so scared he's going to come back in."

"I'm going to fucking kill him," Louis seethes out, interrupting my garbled rant. Only now do I realise his eyes are dark, much darker than they get when filled with lust. His face is red, and his muscles are rigid beneath that black shirt he has on.

"Louis," my voice cracks, trying to stop him. Jace stops him for me, grabbing onto his arm. Jace mumbles something under his breath with a shake of his head. Louis moves his hand through his hair and breathes out heavily. He faces me once more with a deep frown. My body won't stop shivering. I'm on the verge of hyperventilating, more anxiety creeping on.

"What if I throw out the roses?" Mia asks softly. I gulp before nodding, my hands attempting to dry my cheeks. She nods and doesn't hesitate to toss them into the trash.

"God," Louis sighs. He comes back to me, taking my hand into his. He uses the chair beside my bed before kissing the inside of my wrist. "It's alright," he tries to reassure me quietly, his voice now weak. His arm wraps behind me, and he pulls me close. My hands fist up the front of his shirt, desperately needing his touch. I cling to him like today could be my last.

The other day should have been my last; I don't know how it wasn't. Josh fisted his hand in my hair as he forced me to leave. I'm confident his car would have crashed or at least flipped over. My fate, scarily enough, felt like it would end similar to Elena's, yet I got out of that car the moment he stopped. That car hitting me cemented in stone that I was doomed regardless.

I don't know how I survived.

I don't know why I survived when the girl Louis first loved didn't.

These intrusive thoughts are screwing with my mind. Everything aches, and it isn't just because of that damn car. Emotionally, I'm worn out. I've been worn out for far too long. The whiplash of the good days and the bad days spent with Josh have beaten me to a pulp before he physically could.

I don't know if the twisted, gut-wrenching feeling in the pit of my stomach is because my body has been wrecked or if it's because of the rollercoaster of emotions. I've lost control of everything in the last few years. The only sense of control or happiness I've had in so long has been with this person, holding me in his arms.

That week without him hurt. It hurt more than ending that screwed-up, three-year relationship. The sad part is, it's all been some secret swept under the rug. My closest friends have no idea. My family is oblivious. It's just the two others here that know about the two of us, whatever we even are to each other.

My heart has been yearning for better for so long. I found someone that makes me feel better. To think that my life nearly ended in a far too similar way that Elena's had may be one of the worst parts. He's already shut everyone out for so long, according to Jace and Mia. What if things were worse on Saturday and I weren't here now? I couldn't imagine what he would do or how he'd feel.

"I shouldn't have let you go," he whispers into my hair. Those words only crush me further. I don't want him to take any blame.

"We'll leave you two be," Jace clears his throat. Neither of us says a word. I don't want to let him go. I don't want him to let me go. He doesn't care that his shirt is now stained with tears or wrinkled by my hands. Even more gentle kisses are felt in my hair as his fingers soothe small circles onto my back.

One night on the beach, meeting some stranger by some fire was never a mistake. I regret calling that night a mistake. He's exactly what I've needed for so long. Josh broke me in so many ways, and I'm still so scared to be face to face with him again. Louis has been the one I've needed. He's picking up the pieces that Josh shattered over the years, even if he doesn't know it.

His hand moves to my cheek, tilting my head up. His lips find mine, our kiss long and tasting of my tears. His thumb brushes gently over my cheek, and I swallow.

"Oh," another voice breaks him away from me almost instantly—my muscles tense, finding Isabella and Jason at the doorway. Isabella's eyebrows are high on her forehead, and Jason's lips are pressed together in a tight line, his arms crossed over his chest.

"I'm gonna go find Jace and Mia," Louis murmurs. I barely nod, my throat constricting on me. Isabella looks down at the floor, avoiding eye contact with Louis as he gets up and leaves. I don't say a word. He gets out, and Jason scratches the back of his head with his eyes focused on the wall. The silence feels like an eternity.

"Brought you a sandwich from across the street," Isabella finally breaks the silence, moving to set a brown bag on the tray table. Her voice sounds off. Her brown eyes don't meet mine. Her eyes fall on the trash, and her eyebrows furrow. She bends and takes those roses out that Mia tossed in not long before. I swear my stomach turns to rock. Her lips press together as she reads the notecard signed by Josh. She lets out a strange laugh and shakes her head. "No."

"No?" I ask, not understanding.

"Megan, no. I'm sorry, no," she sounds like she's going off the deep end. Her hand flattens on her forehead as if facing some sort of dilemma. "You did not leave that smart, handsome young man with a bright future for him. No. I'm sorry. Are you insane?"

My entire demeanour drops. She sets the roses down on the windowsill and covers her face with her hands.

"You have been with Josh for quite literally years. You suddenly break up with him, without any explanation, and you throw out this beautiful gift from him. You wasted away a steady relationship for some boy covered in tattoos in just one week," her words throw me into a state of shock.

I can't speak.

I'm unable to comprehend what is going on. She has undoubtedly had opinions over people in the past but has never been so blunt.

"I just...how could you throw away such a nice relationship after three years? Josh is great. He's perfect for you. People like that boy, covered in tattoos, are never good news."

I don't think my stomach has ever sunken so deep. Those tears have left me. My blood is ice cold. Why can't I speak?

"I mean, I know all about girls falling for the bad boy with the tattoos and motorcycle, but come on. Three years down the drain, like that," she scoffs.

More silence from me. I don't know how the heart monitor isn't giving my silent rage away.

"I'm sorry, I don't get it either, not after how long you've been with Josh. He's practically family at this point," Jason adds fuel to the fire.

My head is throbbing. The room is spinning. Isabella says something, but her voice starts to fade. I don't know what she's saying anymore. She keeps talking, defending Josh like he's some kind of saint.

"Josh hurt me."

"I mean, a week after you two end it," Isabella scoffs. "Josh had a future. Boys like that, do not."

"What?" Jason looks at me strangely, not hearing what I said.

Isabella keeps going. It's a flash of cold and then heat that runs through me.

"Josh hurt me," I repeat dryly. Isabella stops, eyes fixated on me. The pressure in my chest builds even more. Even Jason is just staring like I have two heads. A pathetic, sarcastic laugh escapes me as these emotions hit me. This rollercoaster is nonstop. "That person you are judging because of his tattoos has been helping me out of an abusive relationship when no one else had any idea. He was the one person I ran to after the boy you're praising hit me multiple times. He was the one that let me stay with him after Josh threatened me. I was hiding from Josh when he found me and forced me to leave with him, leading to this accident. Not that it even matters at this point, but the guy that you believe has no future has a father that is some rich CEO that wants to pass everything to him. You're acting like he's some dirtbag that couldn't afford a thing. The person you are talking down on has more heart and a brighter future than the one you're praising. The worst part is that he never even had to help or be with me after he's already been through so much. I mean, his first serious girlfriend died while she was on the phone with him. He heard her scream, and he heard the damn crash. He never had to help me, yet he has been there for me more than anyone else. Don't you ever... don't ever talk down on him again because you know nothing."

My breathing is rigid. I swear I've never seen Isabella so pale. Jason's hand is in his hair, and his jaw is clenched. Only then do I realise I told them about my relationship. I actually came clean with it, and my body becomes numb.

"Are you fucking serious?" Jason finally snaps, his fist thudding against the tray table. Isabella doesn't say anything. My insides are a wreck. "Who else knew? Hannah? One of the others?" he flips out. My throat is tight. Despite telling them all of that, I'm suddenly at a loss for words. "I'll kill him if I see him. I'm talking to the nurse. He isn't allowed to fucking see you," he storms out of here, his rage filling this room. Isabella is still speechless. Tom walks in, readjusting his glasses while holding a cupholder with four coffees.

"Brought some coffee," he announces before glancing between the two of us. His brown eyes are filled with confusion the moment he senses the energy in this room. I swear I lost my voice at this point. "What happened?"