"Mom, why are you crying?"

My heart was hammering. Every negative possiblities were flowing through my thoughts.

She was sobbing as I paced around the table, worried.

"Mom, please talk to me. What happened?", I asked her.

Her cries never stopped. She couldn't manage any words apart from my name. It was physically hurting me to not to be next to her when she was crying like that.

Abby was next to me in a moment rubbing my back and looking at me with worried eyes.

"Emily, can you come home soon?", she said between the noises mixed with her sobs.

I figured where she was.

"Yes mom, I am leaving now. I'll be home very soon. I promise. Please tell me what happened? Are you okay? Why are you in the hospital?", I asked completely nervous.

"Its Papi", she hiccuped, "He collapsed, we bought him to ER. I am scared, Emily", she broke down again. All I could hear was my mother's gasps.

"Where's Dad?", I asked as tears flowed down my cheeks.

"Dad is talking with Doctors and doing some errands. He asked me to sit here. I don't want to be alone, baby. What do I do? I should've taken care of him. I was irresponsible"

"Mom, I'll be home in a blink, Okay? And its unfair that you say irresponsible. You are the most caring woman I've ever seen and no doubt Papi will agree. I am gonna drop the call now. I'll be home soon. Love you mom", I reassured for the tenth time before leaving the call.

Abby pulled me into her before I fell on my knees. She held me tight appeasing my tremors.

I had to act quick. My mom needs me and I want to be with her no matter what.

I took my purse from my chair, "I'm leaving", I announce

"You can't leave a date like that", Dustin voiced. He blatantly showed what kind of person he was. Low person. Not that I expected sympathy from him, but I was a bit surprised by his lack of empathy. How he could talk like that when he saw me cry moments before, was beyond my thoughts.

I turned towards Ryder, looked straight into his eyes, "I am leaving"

He slightly nodded and I ran to the elevator pressing the buttons continuously.

Abby was following me as I ran like a mad woman.

The elevator ride was painfully slow. I dashed across the tables and shoved open the doors.

"Emily", Abby shouted as I was heading towards the road searching for cabs.

"Emily, calm down", Abby hollered holding my hands.

"How can I? Papi is in ER, Mom's alone and Dad's probably freaking out", I shouted breaking down.

Abby held me as she called Luke to come here quickly and asked him to prepare to leave immediately after she told him the situation.

Abby was my life support at that point.

If she had never been there, I would've been a crying mess trying to get a cab or walk home before I thought of calling someone.

"He'll come quickly", she consoled me. We were standing inside the gates of the hotel.

It was unnerving as every minute passed. The ten minutes seemed like a long time as I was losing my mind every damn minute.

A strong hands held my hand and pulled me along with him. I was in front of Ryder's car before my mind could catch up what was happening.

"What are you doing, Ryder?", Abby yelled as he held my eyes.

"I'll take you home", he said without taking his eyes off me.

"Luke's coming. I can go home", I said without any emotions.

There were a tornado of emotions swirling inside me and none of them except panic and anxiety but I wouldn't show it. That was how I was. Everytime I had to handle a lot I turn off my emotions.

"I'll take you to your home, wherever it is", he affirmed. There was no hint of doubt in his eyes. He was actually considering taking me home.

"I don't want to go with you. Luke's coming", I repeated.

He held my shoulders and bent to my eye level.

"It'll take two hours before you guys hit the highway. We are an hour away from your apartment. I'll take you home. I'm your quick ride home "

I turned towards Abby. She was silent, contemplating the options as I had.

I couldn't wait for an hour to take a ride and I didn't want to go with Ryder but he was the quick way home.

"Trust me once, Emily", he said and why did it meant so much things?

I took the reasonable choice and agreed to take his ride home.

Abby supported me and said she'll be home with Luke.

She called Luke infront of me and asked him to return to apartment and pack few things.

"How are you going home now?", I asked through Ryder's passenger window.

"Dustin will take her home", Ryder replied from inside the car.

Abby gave me a smile, "Yeah. Take care of your mom. I'll be there with you as soon as I reached. Be strong. I love you", she said.

"I'm sorry", I said meaning that I left her alone with Dustin.

She shook her head and smiled again.

"You ready?", Ryder asked.

I turned towards him and nodded. The car reared to life as he swiftly took off onto the road.

The silence filled in the car was killing me. My mind was over driving and everytime I thought about losing Papi my heart constricted. I barely held on.

Its been an hour on the highway, we never uttered a word. I called my mom every half an hour and my dad was still not talking to me.

Ryder parked the car infront of the starbucks. I stayed in the car as he ran in and out.

He handed me the sandwich with a cup of milkshake.

"I'm fine", I rejected as I had a habit of throwing up when I was nervous.

He took my hand and placed the sandwidch.

"Take it"

He pulled into the highway before I could argue. My stomach churned at the food and crying really drained me.

I breathed the food and never wanted to turn towards Ryder after acting all big.

I jumped when my phone rang.
It was my Dad. Its the first call after 3 hours of admitting my grandfather.

"Dad", my throat clogged before he even spoke.

"Emily, dear. Everything's fine. Dad's alright. He is stable. Don't worry, hun. Take your time and come here", his voice was tired.

I've never felt guilty like this before. I was supposed to be with them in tough times.

"I am on my way, Dad. I'll be there in", I turned to see Ryder signalling with two fingers, "two hours"

"Who are you coming with?"

"Just some friend", I said after hesitating a bit.

"Drive safely"

"Can I switch?", I asked Ryder while filling fuel.

His eyes were bloodshot. I was just being careful and I was pretty much awake after dozing a few times.

"It's fine. It's just an hour"

"I'm afraid you will sleep on the wheels. I don't like to take next bed to my grandfather with broken hands and legs. Not a good reunion, you know", I poked.

He smiled shaking his head. The bunk was empty as it was around 2 in the morning.

"I won't sleep on wheels", he reassured chugging water.

"Did you even see your eyes? They are blood shot. Its just an hour. I can manage", I extended my hands waiting for him to hand me the keys.

He threw me the keys and slid into the passenger.

I was fiddling since it was my first expensive car experience.

"Just relax", I said to my self and started the car.

Ryder was fast asleep after he watched me drive. So much for not sleeping on the wheels.

We reached the hospital around 3.15 am.

Ryder was still sleeping. I texted Abby as soon as I reached.

My phone startled me for the nth time. Ryder woke up dazed about the place as he looked around for few minutes.

"We're here?", he asked in a gruff voice. Must say his wake up voice the best.

"Yeah".

My body was aching from sitting for almost 5 hours and stretching relieved a bit of soreness.

We walked along the corridors towards the ER.

I was able to spot my mom in a distance. I ran to her, hugging her and letting her cry on my shoulders.

My dad was also there. He told that Papi had a mini attack and was out of critical state but they didn't allow visitors.

After all enquiries and consoling we sat on the chairs.

"Who's he?", my mom asked me.

I looked up to see Ryder awkwardly standing in a distant looking at us.

"He took me here", I said.

"Boyfriend?", she asked. I contorted my face as if the word disgusted me.

"Just a friend"

She got us off guard by engulfing Ryder in a hug. He gave my mom a weird tap on her shoulder.

"Thank you so much, son", she said patting his shoulder.

My dad brought us all coffee as he asked Ryder some general questions.

"You guys go home. I'll stay here", my dad said.

"No sir, I'll take my leave", Ryder announced but my dad quickly shut him down.

"It's pretty late and you helped my daughter. Consider this as a request", my mom used her lovely eyes that never failed.

Once again, we were back in his car driving to my house. Mom had a little work and said she would be a little late.

I pushed open the front door for Ryder to get in. I put my bag and brought us a glass of water.

He was scanning through the living room with his hands on his pocket.

He snickered looking my grandpa's famous wedding photo.

"She was a mood", I said standing next to him.

"Yeah"

The house was awfully silent. I couldn't seem to find anything to do.

I asked Ryder to sleep in my room hoping it was clean and I was going to sleep with mom.