I burst through the doors, letting it fly as it hit the wall with a loud boom.

"Mom!"

I sprint into the kitchen, very aware that Jace is close behind me. Great all he'll do is spill my glorious (not so much) life to everyone at school who's wiling to listen, and may I remind you, that'd be practically everyone. After all, they feed off gossip, rumors, and anything that'll lead to one's humiliation.

Just perfect.

"Mom!" I yell again, screaming when I see her clutching her wrist. A huge gash now lies there, gushing blood out. A pool of it sits by her feet.

I head over to the counter, grab a rag and immediately soak it up with water. In my peripheral vision, I can see Jace holding a paper towel to my mom's wrist with one hand while the other is busy wiping up the blood from the now reddened tiles.

I rush over to my mom who's breathing is quite calm considering mine is sounding as if I ran 10 miles.

"What happened?" I ask her, my voice filled with concern.

"I-I was trying to," She breaks off, shaking her head as if she's given up.

Jace speaks up. "I called an ambulance, they should be here in-"

Jace never finishishes his statement because just then the paramedics have arrived, wailing their sirens as they woke up the neighborhood. Soon the semi-empty house is being flooded by medics who kicked the door open which I admittedly forgot to close.

I couldn't lose my mom too. She was basically the only true and main family I have left. Sure it's just a cut from the dicing knife on the counter, but it's that and so much more. I stare at the silverware which so much hate I feel as if everyone in this room could feel it. That knife which cut my mom. That knife that's taunting me, almost as if it's laughing at how pathetic my life is.

My breath catches in my throat as I feel my grip tighten around the cloth wrapped around my mom's wrist.

What if that was her intentions? I thought. To rid herself from the world so she doesn't have to grieve for the loss of my father. To not have to deal with the responsibilities.

I don't realize I zoned out until I feel my arm being yanked. I blink my eyes repeateously as I'm pulled into the back of the paramedics by a strong hand helping me up.

I feel the tears start to prickle at the corner of my eyes as my house disappers and the neighborhood with it. My hand covers my mouth to make my hiccups less audible, but my attempts are futile. Horrid noises escape from me as I comprehend them to be cries.

That very same hand wraps around my body for a hug. I lean into the person willingly, my face buried into his chest. The touch feels so welcoming, as if it should be for me and only me. I glance up to his face and then I'm suddenly remembered who this figure is.

Jace Hemington.

Then I remember he shouldn't have ever been here, holding me or even witnessing my mom's accident scene.

I immediately recoil myself from him, like a baby refraining from a stranger's touch.

"You shouldn't have been here. You shouldn't have seen that," my breathing becomes unsteady once more.

"Hey, hey calm down. It's fine," Jace sooths. Much to my distaste, it's actually quite comforting.

"No it's not fine," I say, anger pumping through my veins. "You, the school's hottest, ost attractive athlete will definetly spill this."

"And why would I do that?" Jace asks with a raise of his eyebrows.

Is he serious? Why else wouldn't he? I stare into his hazel eyes and am surprised to find he's being sincere.

"Because you're Jace-"

He cuts me off, sounding just as mad as I am. "What, Jace Hemington? That's literally one of the most cliché thing I've ever heard. People saying how just 'cuz someone's popular automatically mean their intentions ought to make them evil or something, but really, not all are like that." He takes a deep breath.

"Don't pass out," I tease, smiling for the first time after today's scene.

He eases up slightly before regaining control. "Don't get me wrong, some people at school are like that but not all. And Autumn," Jace stares at me contently, which makes me giddy and nervous all at once. "If you bothered to take into consideration of some of us, you'd see we all don't bite.

"And honestly, you'd be astonished to see how many of the guys actually like you."

I take a dramatic gasp and point to myself. "Okay, I thought you were totally trustworthy for that time being, but you just lost me."

"Oh don't tell me you haven't noticed," Jace stares at me dumbfounded.

"Stop staring at me like you think I'm stupid."

"Well-"

"Do not."

He rolls his eyes. "I'm not kidding about what I said though. Just don't judge everyone until you actually talk to us rather than hope glaring at us will turn us into frogs."

I cross my arms over my chest, wondering where that hospital is at. "Are you asking for a kiss?"

"What?"

"Nothing."

The hospital is coming into view, the trees bordering it's borders. It almost looks like a jungle, mysterious and adventurous. They quickly pull the stretch bed my mom is laying on out and the lady whom accompanied us in the back smiled and gestured for us to follow.

We went through the front automatic sliding doors where the same lady who said her name is Michelle, told us to wait in the waiting room. The halls look a pale peach color with gray framed photos of the co-founders of the hospital.

We find the waiting room and I unquestionably fall into a leather couch. I sigh, stretching my arms and legs out before leaning back again and closing my eyes.

"For the record, you really are an interesting person, Autumn. No matter what it is that's happening to you, you are and I just want you to know that," Jace whispers to me as he sits across from me on an opposite couch.

"For the record, since when did you ever care for my concerned being?" I ask, opening my eyes and leaning forward. I search his features to see if they'll give me a clue to what he's trying to get at by flattering me.

"Since forever," Jace rolls his eyes and gives me the 'isn't it obvious?' look.

My answer, I shake my head indicating a no I hope he registers.

"We used to be best friends, Autumn."

"Key word, used to."

Jace sighs, slouching a bit which I already know is parents wouldn't approve of. Jace grew up having everything because his parents could afford it; his mom a successful lawyer while his dad was a powerful businessman.

"Besides, if you wanted to mend our whatever-friendship, you could've talked to me," I give him a pointed look.

"Yeah, but..." He trails off, shifting his gaze to the floor. A part of me wants him to continue, to hear it raw, but when he doesn't I do instead.

"Because you had an act to keep up," I say annoyed, completely dissing how there's a small pang in my heart.

"Something like that," Jace mumbles. His features have now become unreadable and I hate how fast this conversation went downhill, but then this is the first time he has actually talked to me in years.

Then, a thought that left my mind came floating back in, drowning me in dread. "Plus," I start quietly, "you dated my sister."

"Yeah..." He clears his throat, sitting upright. "Stop living your life through closed doors, Autumn. Open your eyes."

I'm stunned into silence, astonished by how vivid and outgoing he is at the moment.

Silence endows us as I scroll through series of words I'm trying to settle on. "Okay, I'll take your cheesy advice as long as we make a deal," I say finally.

He looks back up at me, giving me a mischievous smirk, his eyes sparkling in the process. "And what would that be?"

"I give your crew and basically everyone a chance, if you put how we used to be behind and focus on the now."

"Done."

It isn't until I lay back in my seat, satisfied with our deal, do I feel how tired I am and how much this day took out of me.

I blink slowly, fighting to keep my eyelids open until the doctors come in with news about my mom, but I lose, and am drifting off to sleep.

Before I completely knock out, I see Jace is no longer sitting across from me and have a small panic attack.

Just then I feel lips lightly press against my forehead. I keep my eyes close while I try to focus on keeping my breathing steady and in tact.

"I'm sorry, Autumn. I love you," The voice whispers and I instantly know it's Jace's.

And then, I fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mom, the doctors said you have to take it easy," I tell my mom as she paces the living room with her hands behind her back.

"Yes, I'm aware, sweetie," Mom replies. "But I'm merely walking so I should be fine."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Whatever you say, mom."

I walk into the kitchen, pull open the fridge and take out a peach yogurt. Grabbing a spoon and napkin, I head to my room. I throw myself onto my bed, letting the cushioned bedding and comforters absorb me.

When I reach into my denim shorts back pocket to pull out my phone, it's not there. I think back and remember I left on the kitchen table before I went to get my yogurt. Groaning, I just sit there on my bed, thinking of I can call my mom to get it for me but rethink it and get up.

I safely retrieve my phone I abandoned and hug it to my chest.

"What are you doing, Autumn?" My mom's voice calls with a laugh from the doorway of our kitchen.

"Showing my phone the love it deserves," I reply with a kiss to my baby.

"Oh my gosh, Autumn." My mom sighs with a shake of her head, her wavy hair swishing to the sides.

"Love you too, mom." It isn't until then how I realized I haven't told her that in a while and feel guilt accompanied with the urge to hug my mom.

I walk over to my mom who's still standing by the doorway and hug her.

She must be surprised by my sudden move but doesn't refrain from returning my hug.

"Don't scare me like that again," I say into her shoulder, my eyes suddenly getting filled with tears.

"I'm sorry, dear. Know I don't mean to scare you," mom runs a hand through my hair, a signal that tells me she knows how choked up I'm becoming.

"If you ever need help, or to talk, I'm here," I tell her earnestly.

It's true. We both need each other no doubt.

"Of course, sweetheart," mom says with a kiss to my forehead. "Again, I'm sorry for how horribly I've been acting with the accident and how I completely disregarded your emotions to it all, but I'll make it up to you. We can go out to eat and suchand go over everything I've missed on your life," Mom promises.

I nod my head, a small smile growing on my lips.

My spirits lifted just as my life had. Our relationship definitely needed this, it's been so long since we've been close and I miss it.

Well, I guess we could all come to the conclusions that someone, hint: me, slept soundly that night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So here's Chapter 3!

What do you guys think? Your critiques, follow, and votes would be appreciated, so don't be shy to drop any!

Autumn's and her Mom's relationship was pretty shaken up, but their willing to fix it. As for Jace and Autumn, how will they act when they have to go to school the next day?

Stay tuned (: