"Don't you dare lie to my face, Drew. You think I haven't seen them?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Stop acting clueless, I know what happened."

"What happened?"

"It's exactly what I thought! Exactly! And here you go dragging her into it like you don't even care."

"I'm not dragging her into anything."

"Oh, except a car accident?"

"Okay, that was low. You said yourself I didn't cause that."

"Look, why don't you go home and find Mandy already? You've got some stuff to get done still. We have to send in the article to be edited in four days."

"I'm not taking that chance. She might wake up. I can't leave now."

"I can handle her, Drew. Just go, okay?"

"I... Okay..."

"I'll call you if she wakes up."

"Thanks."

"Lili... I know you can't hear me... But I need to tell you some things. I did something selfish. You don't exactly know the reasons yet, but you're going to find out. And you're going to be sad. But listen, I will be there for you. I'll always be there for you. I just... I need you to wake up. I really do need you. And when I first met you, I never thought I'd see that I would say that. But I do. And I realize that now more than ever."

*•*•*

"You're back already?"

"Yes. We got some pictures and another conversation finished. I gave the stuff to your mom."

"Okay. Hey, you're my best friend you know."

"Yeah...?"

"And everything I say is only said because I don't want Lili hurt. I chose you as a friend because you're a good person. I just find it difficult for that same person to date someone that I..."

"Wait, that you what?"

"Nothing."

"Dude, what's going on?"

"That I don't actually hate."

"I'm glad you don't hate her. I thought you did when we first met her."

"I'm pretty sure I did hate her back then, or at least tried to."

"Anything new on her?"

"No, still unconscious."

"Can I go in there still?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Okay..."

"Don't touch the cords."

"I won't. Hey, Lili. Oh my gosh... I can't do this... I miss you. I feel like I'm talking to a dead person right now. Please don't be dead. Please wake up."

"Hey, Drew, we should go get something to eat. It's been a while."

"Sure, be there in a second Brendan... I need you Lili. Wake up."

*•*•*

"Brendan, I think your mom's calling again. Here."

"Hello? No, I'm still here. Mom! I'm not leaving. Look, some things are more important to me than the stupid article. No. No. Bye, mom."

"Dude, she's going to choke you when you get home."

"I don't care."

"I think Danny said he's on his way over. He finally got his mom to let him come."

"Yeah, look, there he is."

"Hey guys, sorry it took me so freaking long."

"It's fine, man."

"Where is she? In this room?"

"Yeah, right in there."

"Oh gosh, she doesn't look so good."

"Yeah, how do you think you would look after getting hit by a car?"

"I didn't mean it like that, Brendan..."

"Oh."

"Yeah, 'oh' is right. Is she going to be okay?"

"They said they hope so. She just has to wake up."

"My second cousin was in a coma for eight months once then woke up, looked at her parents, and died."

"Thanks for sharing, Danny."

"Sorry."

"Yeah, 'sorry' is right."

"Don't use my phrases against me."

"You don't own the phrase."

"Says who?"

"Says everyone that has ever used it?"

"Right."

*•*•*

"It's been a week already, you think she'll wake up?"

"She has to. Just give it some time, Drew."

"It feels like I've already waited forever. Wait, hang on, Mandy's calling."

"Of course she is..."

"Hello? Yeah. Okay. It's fine. Okay. Sure. See you in a minute."

"What was that?"

"I've got to go."

"Okay, see you later. I'll text you."

"Thanks, Brendan."

"Bye."

•••••

I take deep breaths, feeling confused. My body refuses to work. I feel a bed pressing into my back. I feel a pounding headache. Pain is everywhere. I let out a groan.

"Lili?"

My name must spark something in me because my eyes slowly open. Everything is blurry at first. All I see are shapes. Then, people. Things.

I'm in a hospital bed in a small white room. My mom stands in front of me, holding my hand, tears in her eyes. Brendan stands beside her, watching me with a concentrated look in his eye. There is no sign of Drew.

"Lili, thank goodness you're awake," my mom says, kissing my cheek.

"Mom," I say, my voice hoarse. "What happened?"

"Honey.. You... You were hit by a car. You were brought here... You're okay now. You're okay."

That's when I see the bandages around me, the cast on my arm and wrap on my other wrist. I gasp and try to sit up. My body is stiff and refuses to move. How long was I asleep? My core screams in pain when I move.

"Lili, Lili, calm down. Lay down," my mom says, pressing me gently back against my pillow.

I grab my ribs in pain, tears filling my eyes. My head feels like it's going to burst. My insides feel like they're on fire. My arms won't move inside the cast. I'm trapped within myself. I let out a horrified screech, tears falling down my cheeks.

Through the blurriness, I see Brendan come closer to my side. I thrash against whoever holds me back, only making the pain worse. Someone takes my hand in theirs. Their soft touch calms me. I stop enough to see that it's Brendan, watching me with a worried look.

"It's okay," he says quietly. "You're okay."

After a few minutes I've contained myself, sitting back on the bed, waiting for further information.

The doctor told me I have a severe concussion and I might black out every once in a while for a week or so. I have a broken arm and sprained wrist. My insides are fragile because they were harmed when my body was run over. I'm forced to bed rest for two weeks. But I can go home.

Brendan said Drew left. He didn't show. I can't help myself but feel upset by this. He wasn't there. I would bet money he was with Mandy. Maybe he still is. I don't think I even want to know.

My phone starts vibrating.

Drew.

I press the ignore button.

It rings again.

Ignore.

I get a voicemail.

"Hey, this is Drew. Lili, I am so glad you're awake. I am so sorry I wasn't there. I feel horrible. When can I come see you? Please answer."

I put my phone away and watch through the window as we pull into the driveway of my house.