Wooyoung paced around his apartment chewing on his nails. The magazine had already hit the stands and he now had paparazzi camped out at the front of his building, making it impossible for him to leave.

But that wasn't want was bothering him.

No, the thing that was making him destroy his own fingers was the fact that Lila wasn't answering her phone.

He had been calling her non-stop since he left his manager's office last night, but she never answered.

It made him sick with worry as all the horrible scenarios ran through his head. What if something happened to her on the way home? What if she and San had been jumped and were now injured and needed him?

No, that was ridiculous.

But... What if she saw the magazine already and was furious with him? What if she never wanted to see him again?

The thought of that broke his heart.

With shaking hands, Wooyoung dialed Lila's phone number again and tried to control his breathing as it kept ringing.

'Hi, you've reached Lila. I'm sorry I couldn't take your call, but please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.'

Wooyoung's voice caught in his throat at the sound of her voice. When had he become so addicted to the sound?

"Hey, Lila... It's me again. I really need to know that you're ok. Please call me, or even just text me. There's something I need to talk to you about too, but I really just need to know you're ok. Please..." He pressed the end button and pressed his phone against his forehead.

Then he just when it vibrated and he nearly dropped it as he fumbled to see the screen.

He was slightly disappointed when he saw Yeosang's name flash on the screen, but he answered it immediately. "Hey."

"Are you ok?" His friend asked, making Wooyoung feel a little better.

"Not really." He could feel his lower lip trembling.

"I'm outside, unlock the back door for me?"

Wooyoung hung up and ran down the stairs of his apartment complex to the back entrance. As soon as he opened it Yeosang brought him into a powerful hug.

The younger clung to his friend as he started to shake. They stood there for a moment before Yeosang led him back up to his apartment. "What happened? I saw the magazine article... But why do I get the feeling that there is something more?"

"I haven't been able to get ahold of Lila..." Wooyoung whispered, staring down at the carpet as he sat on his couch. "She hasn't responded to any of my messages or voicemails."

"Do you think she saw the article and freaked out?"

"I don't know!" Wooyoung fisted his hair, pulling on it so it hurt. "I don't know... I mean, we've discussed the possibility of this happening, and she knew the risk. But you don't even know she's associated with it. All it shows is her apartment complex."

Yeosang hummed and grabbed his chin. Then he snapped and pulled out his phone. "San? It's Yeosang."

Wooyoung lifted his head up and saw a small smile cross his friends face, but it was quickly replaced by a frown. "Yeah, he knows. Listen... Have you spoken with Lila today? She's not answering any of Wooyoung's calls." The older's forehead creased with concern and he glanced at Wooyoung. "What?..... But, she..... No..... I don't think he can, his apartment building is surrounded by fools with cameras. I had a hard enough time sneaking past them..... Ok, please keep us updated." Yeosang hung up and ran a hand over his face.

"What is it?" Wooyoung asked, hearing his voice crack.

"San stayed the night with her and said she is in bad shape. She hasn't been answering his calls either. He just got off work so he's going to check on her."

"Bad shape? What does that mean?"

"I don't know, San said it wasn't his place to say..." Yeosang said quietly as he pulled Wooyoung into another hug. "We are going to figure this out. It'll be ok."

Wooyoung nodded into his hug, but he felt the doubt rising as he stared at his empty phone screen.

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San hurried up the stairs, holding onto the grocery bag in his hand as he pulled out the key to Lila's apartment.

He had spoken the truth to Yeosang, he too had several unanswered texts and voicemails.

It terrified him.

He prayed that she was still just in bed and she hadn't found where he had hidden her sharp objects. Please, please, please let her still be in bed.

San forced the door open and set the bag on her kitchen counter before running to her bedroom.

He nearly collapsed in relief when he saw her still bundled under her comforter in almost the same exact position he had left her in.

Knowing he had a few minutes, San went back to the kitchen and put away the food he had bought. It wasn't much, just a rotisserie chicken, bread, and ice cream, but he knew she needed to eat. He set her oven on the warm setting and put the chicken inside to keep it warm before trudging back to her room.

Her phone buzzed on her nightstand and he went to check it to make sure it was nothing important.

There were twenty six missed calls from him and thirty texts. Twenty eight missed calls from Wooyoung and forty two messages. And ten missed calls from someone named Nathaniel, as well as twenty one texts.

Who was Nathaniel? The name sounded familiar, but San couldn't quite place it. The newest text had been from him.

Setting her phone down carefully and plugging it in, San went to sit next to her on the bed. "Lila? Are you awake?" he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

She let out a soft moan and rocked her head back and forth. She really was asleep, unlike this morning.

San had known she was pretending, but he accepted that she needed some time.

He rubbed her shoulder and back for a couple of minutes before getting up to go sit in the living room. He mindlessly flipped through the tv stations and eventually settled on a cooking competition show. It was the perfect thing for him to zone out to while watching.

Keeping his promise, he sent a quick text to Yeosang, letting him know that he was at Lila's place and she was sleeping right now. He promised to text as soon as he had an update.

Now all he had to do was wait.

Which didn't end up being for long, although he wasn't expecting a knock on the door to be what interrupted the quiet.

San turned down the volume on the tv and stared at her front door, hoping whoever it was would go away.

But when the knock happened again, and a little louder, San cautiously made his way to the door and looked out the peephole.

A boy and a girl stood out there that he didn't recognize, but they were holding flowers and bags of food. It also looked like they had badges on that were similar to Lila's.

Keeping the chain in the door, San opened it so he could peek out. "May I help you?"

The boy's eyes narrowed as he looked at San, but the girl's widened in surprise. "Oh! I'm so sorry, we must have the wrong apartment. Do you know where Lila James lives?"

"Who wants to know?" San asked, not liking the way the tall boy was looking at him. He seemed like he had a kind face with his ruffled dirty blonde hair and laugh lines around his eyes, but he was looking at San like he was an enemy or something.

"My name Abigail, this is Nathaniel. We work with Lila and we were worried when she didn't come to work today." She hesitated. "May we come in?"

"I don't think that's the best idea. She's sleeping right now." San said softly. He eyed their badges and saw her company name on them, so they were telling the truth there.

"We don't mind waiting. It's not like her to miss work and we just want to make sure she's ok..."

San sighed and looked over his shoulder at Lila's room. Maybe seeing some work friends would help. He closed the door and undid the chain before opening it wider.

Abigail beamed at him and walked into the apartment, Nathaniel close on her heels. "Oh! You brought her food, I can smell the chicken." She beamed and set her bag of food down on the counter. "I got her some of her favorite munchies, especially popcorn. That always seems to make her feel better."

"Yes it does." San smiled and helped her put the food away.

"How long have you known Lila? And, who are you?" She asked, chuckling a little.

"Are you her boyfriend?" Nathaniel asked, his voice getting a little deeper. Abigail didn't seem to notice, but San sure did.

"No. But I've known Lila since we were kids." He arched an eyebrow when he saw a flash of relief cross the other's eyes. "My name is San."

Abigail let out a little squeal. "Oh my gosh, we've heard so much about you! Lila talks about you aaaaallllll the time!" She suddenly hugged San and hopped up and down a little. "So what's it like, doing makeup and hair for celebrities?" She batted her long eyelashes at him as she stepped back.

"Um..." San blinked several times, not sure how to react right now. He was starting to feel a little overwhelmed.

Then Lila's bedroom door opened and she stepped out, rubbing her eyes.

Before San could move, Nathaniel rushed to her side and pulled her into a hug.

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Lila froze when she felt the large arms wrap around her.

"Are you ok? We were worried sick so Abigail and I brought you some food and I got you some flowers."

"N-Nathaniel?" Lila pushed against his chest so he would step back. "What... How did you get in my apartment?"

"San let us in!" Abigail said from her kitchen.

Lila groaned inwardly as she glanced at where San was standing off to the side. He looked worried about her, but also nervous about the whole situation.

"It was really sweet of you guys to stop by, but I..."

"You look pale, have you eaten anything today?" Nate asked, placing his wrist on her forehead. "You're warm. Let's get you back into bed." He spun her around and ushered her back into her room.

"Nate, please. I-"

"San has a chicken in the oven.  Abigail, will you start preparing it?" He called behind him.

Lila continued to protest, but Nathaniel just forced her into her bed and pulled the covers up on her lap.

The last thing she wanted right now was for people to be around. She had honestly just wanted to get some water for her dry mouth before returning to her hovel she had created in her bed. She didn't even want to see San right now...

Her eyes felt so heavy as Nate moved to sit next to her. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to him so she was leaning into his chest.

Lila was too tired to protest, especially once he started rubbing her head. "You'll be ok. We will get some food in you and that will help. I'll let boss know that you probably won't be in tomorrow too. You never take time off work so you deserve a long weekend." He whispered into the top of her head.

She just hummed in response.

Footsteps sounded from her door and she cracked her eyes open to see Abigail walking in with a plate of food. San stayed in the doorway, wringing his wrists as his nerves set in.

Then he moved faster than the speed of light when her phone started to vibrate. Nathaniel had tried reaching for it too, but San snatched it up and silenced it. His eyes were wide as he glanced in Lila's direction.

Nate tightened his grip on her.

Her heart sank a little when she realized it was Wooyoung. At least San had thought quickly, if the other two had seen it was him...

Now she really didn't want to be around anyone.

"Listen guys, it was nice of you to come and all..."

"Oh! Of course, we will get out of your hair. We just wanted to make sure you were ok." Abigail said with a sweet smile. "Get some rest, ok? And we will see you on Monday!" She stood and walked out of the room.

Nathaniel seemed to hesitate. "You'll call me if you need anything, right?"

"Sure." Lila lied. She closed her eyes when he gave her a side hug before standing to leave.

The front door opened and closed. Lila counted to ten before opening her eyes.

"You too San." She said, when she saw him still standing there.

His lower lip trembled a little at the rejection. "Lila... Please. I know what's going on in your head. I'm not going to leave you alone if I don't have to." He paused. "Wooyoung is worried sick... You should call him."

Lila just pushed her plate aside and threw her covers over her head. The tears of her demons were coming again as she felt her anxiety rising.

San was at her side in an instant, climbing under the covers with her and pulling her to his chest. "It's going to be ok. I'm here." He whispered into the top of her head as she slowly sank into darkness again.