- Wednesday, June 8th, 2016 -

I feel really weird once I wake up again, feeling a bit cold, but laying in a very comfortable bed with my head slightly elevated. There's a calming beep beside my head and some zooming of a machine to my other side. I need to blink a couple of times before I regain some sort of sharp vision, noticing I'm in a poorly lit hospital room. The only light coming from small orange dots of lights on the wall and the sign of an emergency exit above the door. I have no idea how I got here, what time it is or even which freaking hospital I'm in. But all I care about is the fact I'm in a hospital and someone must have helped me to get here.

I try to remember what happened, only coming up with blurry visions and weird uncollected thoughts. I remember having a large meal at some sort of dinner, vaguely aware Liam was there with me. Some flashes of a crying Finnley, a sad Stan and a worried Nathan, but none of those memories making any sense or seem to connect with one another. I mean, I haven't heard from Stan since a day before they took me to that godawful apartment. I haven't seen Nathan since the day they took me. Why was Finnley crying?

My heart is skipping a couple of beats as soon as I notice a hooded figure on a chair next to my bed, his head covered with a hood, resting beside my chest; blonde hair peeking out in some places.

Finnley seems to be peacefully asleep, although I can't imagine the position he's in is very comfortable. I move my hand to pull the hood back a bit, uncovering his face. A new formed bruise is visible on his cheekbone, but other than that, he seems pretty unharmed. Besides, if he got hurt badly, he wouldn't be seated right here next to me, would he? Wait, he shouldn't be seated here at all, unless the cops got involved, right?

What the hell happened?

I push aside some of his messy hair, jumping slightly when he sits up out of the blue, slapping away my hand, staring at me with wide eyes.

"God damn it Cris, you're giving me a heart attack. Don't wake me up like that."

"Who's giving who a heart attack?" I smirk and after a couple of seconds he grins right back at me.

"You're awake..."

"I am, why?"

"You've been out for three days."

"Three days!?"

"Shh. It's like two in the morning or something." He chuckles. "People are in a hospital to rest. I suggest you keep your voice down a bit."

"What happened?"

"What do you remember?"

"Having dinner with Liam."

"Oh, right, well... Stan and Nathan showed up. But since they kept an eye on Nathan, they followed them. Fucking idiot for tagging along with Stan. Anyway, they beat me up, they wanted to beat Nathan up but then you came barging out. They knocked you out instantly and Stan went fucking crazy. It was really awesome to be honest. He kicked their fucking asses. But I think he only managed to do so because Liam showed up, saw what happened and started helping. They were beating the shit out of them."

"You curse a lot these days."

"Yeah, mom told me to go wash my mouth about a hundred times today already." He chuckles.

"So, you're living at home again? Everything is going to be okay now?"

He shrugs, avoiding my eyes by looking down. It's when I notice he's wearing a cast around his wrist.

"You broke your wrist?"

"I even had surgery." He smirks. "Got a nice big scar once this gets off." He knocks the cast. "Some stitches here and there." He shrugs. "But I'll be okay, eventually."

I try to suppress a yawn, but fail miserably since I feel really sleepy all of the sudden.

"You should get some sleep. The police still want to talk to you, your parents are dying to talk to you again..." He sighs. "Stan's been waiting impatiently for you to wake up."

"Will you stay with me?"

"I'm right here, right?" He smiles. "They tried to send me out but they gave up a while ago."

I fiddle my fingers nervously, before I scoot over to the side of the bed, lifting the blanket and petting the spot next to me invitingly.

"Want me to sleep next to you?"

"I kinda got used to sharing a bed..." I smirk, he snorts, before he kicks off his shoes, climbing in bed with me.

"You're an idiot." He chuckles. "But a fairly cute, oblivious idiot."

"Shut it, pretty boy."

"Don't start with me." He chuckles, before taking in a contently deep breath, pulling me in his arms. "Good night, kiddo."

I nudge him, my eyes widening when I hear him groan in pain. "Shit, sorry. Just don't call me kiddo."

"Noted." He mutters past clenched teeth. "No kiddo."

"Fool."

"Idiot."

- Thursday, June 9th, 2016 -

"Finnley Christoffer Lund! Get out of that bed, now!" His moms snappy voice isn't one I missed in the past few weeks. Her demanding tone making me cringe and groan, grabbing my head to protest her sharp tone of voice. "Do you have any idea how worried your dad and I are? You can't just stay out all night!" She forcefully pulled him off the bed.

"Mom, shut it. Cris is asleep."

"Young man I warn you once more about those words..." She hisses in a hushed tone. "What are you doing in bed with another boy anyway!?"

"It's Cris..." Finnley's entire being changes right in front of me. I think neither of them noticed the fact I woke up already. "I haven't seen him in a while..."

"They found you together!" She hisses angrily. "Your father and I haven't seen you in over four months!"

"I'm sorry..." His shoulders slump down, his face hanging down in shame. "I was worried..."

"You know you aren't allowed to see him, let's go."

"Finn, no, wait!" I call out. "Don't go yet..."

"Finnley is coming home with us. We have a lot to discuss and to work on." His mother tells me coldly. "He was missing for four months and we'd like to spend some time alone with him."

"At least let me say bye..." Finnley starts, his mother's hand squeezing his neck pretty tightly.

"Let's go, Finnley." She pushes him towards the door, making me frown at the whole scene. Why didn't Finnley open his mouth? Why did he let her command him around like that?

Just last night he was all confident, full of jokes. None of it was there just a minute ago. He acted insecure and obeying, apologizing for visiting me in hospital, even if he stayed during the night. I'm sure he told them he was going to visit me. I'm sure they knew exactly where to find him. I understand they're worried and maybe even scared for him to go missing again. But with the way his mother treated him, that felt off. He seemed... submissive.

"Cristian!" My mom's voice is filled with happiness and relieve. "You're awake! Oh, look at you!" She's crying happy tears before she even reached me to hug me. "I missed you so much."

"Maria, calm down. Give him some space." My dad sounds amused. "Good to see you awake again." His smile is filled with guilt and sadness.

"Good to be awake again." I grin widely, trying to comfort him by letting him know I am indeed fine. All of this could have ended way worse.

"How is your head, sweety? Are you in pain? Do you need more painkillers?" My mom pushes back some of my hair, observing my face from up close.

"I'm really fine, mom. I think I get enough painkillers." I smile at her, leaning into her hold, taking in her scent and warmth. "I missed both of you though."

"And we missed you." She whispers, taking a seat on the bed, holding me close to her again. "I've never been so worried in my life. To think we let this happen to you..."

"Don't feel guilty mom." I whisper. "I'm fine. I had people taking care of me..."

"But still." She sighs deeply. "We're so sorry for not protecting you."

"Mom, It's fine, okay? I don't want to think about that. I just want to enjoy being home again. Finnley being home again..." What about Jason and Liam? Are they with their parents too? I wonder what happened to them and I curse myself for not asking Finnley about them. But maybe Stan could tell me.

"Is Stan coming to visit me? Did you have contact with him?"

"Sure did, sweety." My dad smiles, this time it's a real smile. "Stan has been visiting you every possible moment of the day, kind of protective in a way. But he really cares about you."

"Good. I want to see him." I nod.

"He's talking to the police right now. There's a lot to investigate and to explain. They will want to talk to you too."

"I know, but I feel too tired right now."

"The sooner you tell them everything you know, the sooner they can put an end to all of this."

"What do you mean? Didn't they arrest people yet?"

"Oh, they did. But they're still trying to find out who did what." My dad takes a seat in the chair I found Finnley in this night, which already feels like a dream, even if it was only minutes ago he got dragged out by his mother.

"I still have a lot of questions myself..." I mutter tiredly. "Mostly about Finnley's situation though."

"This might sound cruel, but you have to focus on your own part." Mom is soothingly rubbing my back with her hand while I still lean my head against her, happy and content to be back in my mother's arms. Oh man, how much I missed her, andmy dad.

To think I couldn't wait to go off to college, living on my own instead of in their house with their rules. I don't mind staying home a little while longer.

"But I'm worried about him..."

"He's receiving help, Cris. So will you. But when you talk to the police, you'll have to tell them whatever you know. The more all of you tell them, the completer the story will be and the more questions will be answered. For you too."

"Wise words, old man." I mumble, smiling at my dad cheekily.

"Hey, I'm not that old. Although I feel like I've aged a lot in the past two weeks."

"You look old too." I jokingly tease him. "Do I see a grey hair?" I grab a strain of his hair, watching his eyes widen.

"Cristian!" My mom calls out, holding back a laugh.

"Pff, we raised a brutally honest kid, Maria." My dad jokes, chuckling softly. "Good to have you back to making those stupid jokes."

"Hey, my jokes aren't stupid!" I call out, regretting the loudness once my head starts protesting again.

"Enough with the jokes." My mom still chuckles. "You need to rest. You're really lucky there isn't any major damage to your head. But the doctor will want to run some tests today. They agreed on letting us see you first."

"Mom, I got one question I really want to be answered, right now."

"What is it, sweety?"

"There were two more guys staying in that apartment..." I drawl, shuffling in the bed nervously. "Liam and Jason. What happened to them? Are they safe too?"

"Oh yes, sweety." My mom nods and smiles widely. "Liam sure is a polite guy. They're really worried about you."

"So, they're home too? What about Jason? I was told his parents died..."

"Jason is staying with Finnley right now. The boy insisted Eva and James took him in too. Even threatened to leave again if they didn't..." My dad chuckles again. "Finnley is a feisty one, really. I didn't know he had it in him."

"And Liam is back home?"

"I believe he's staying with Stan right now. But we don't know much details about their situations Cris." My mom sighs deeply. "But they're all safe, okay?"

"Good." I nod happily. "That's good."

* * * * *

"You're awake." Stan smiles widely when he enters the room and notices I'm seated upwards some more, bored as hell, puzzling in a book my mom bought me. At least I have something to do.

"I am." I nod. "But I still feel a bit drowsy."

"I assume that's because of the painkillers?" He nearly skips his way to the bed; he's that happy.

"Yuha." I slowly nod, putting away the book. "I was wondering when you would visit again."

"They told me to come back later because they were running tests."

"I'm completely checked, inside and out." I chuckle, thinking of all the scans, x-rays and tests they did today. "Everything is still present."

"Good." He laughs gently, a cute dimple showing, causing me to grin. I love his smile, I really do. But when he leans in to kiss me on the lips, I turn my head sideways, causing his lips to land on my cheek. "What's wrong?"

"We need to talk, you know." I mutter. "Not just about what happened that night because I lost most details..."

"About us." He's quick with drawing a conclusion while his face is pulled in a frown, eyes sad, lips a thin line. "Are you going to break up with me?"

"I think you might break up with me," I mumble while playing with the sheets, avoiding his eyes. "I need to tell you some things..."

"Okay..." Stan pulls a chair to the side of the bed, readying himself for whatever it is I'm going to tell him.

"I eh..." God, this is pretty awkward, and hard to do. I was never the type to cheat on anyone. I might not have been in a normal situation, but I consider what I did with Liam and Finnley cheating nonetheless. "I cheated." I look up to see his first reaction since those reactions are the most honest. But his face remains completely neutral. Like he was expecting me to say this.

"You cheated." He repeats. "With who? I know they haven't forced you in the time you were there."

I clear my throat, feeling my face heat up. "Finn and I kissed, twice..." Let's start off easy.

He nods, sliding down in the chair a bit, intertwining his hands behind his head. "You kissed Finn, twice. That's it?" He snorts. "You already kissed him in the playground once. So, excuse me if I'm not that surprised."

"You don't mind?" I pull up my eyebrow.

"It's not like I didn't know you're in love with him." He sighs deeply. "So, why do you think I would break up with you over that? Because, honestly? I probably forgive you even if you had sex with him just to get rid of the curiosity."

I'm pretty much in shock because of what he's telling me, knowing I haven't told him everything yet. "Are you serious?"

"I'm crazy about you, fool." He chuckles. "I didn't think I'd ever be stupid enough to fall for a jock. But here we are; I'm head over heels in love with you."

"It's not everything, Stan." I grumble, annoyed because he still is positive about me, or us in general. He deserves someone that is crazy about him the way I'm crazy about Finnley. "I slept with Liam."

Now he seems shocked and I ready myself for him to become angry, to shout, to break up with me. But he's pretty much calm still; clearing his throat.

"You slept with Liam? Why?"

I take in a deep breath. "I was drunk, he was constantly hitting on me. I was angry and frustrated because Finnley wouldn't give me the time of day. I don't know. It just happened."

"You slept with Liam." He repeats in a whispered tone. "You know, I was actually happy that you decided to tell me about you and Finnley right now instead of keeping me in the dark for a while. But I thought it was just Finn. And that I could understand, because you both seem to understand it was wrong..."

"Wait, you knew?"

"Finn told me yesterday. He felt guilty and shitty and he begged me to give you time to see if you would tell me yourself. But I didn't think you would actually sleep with someone completely different." He gets up from his seat, a head in his hair, face full of pain. "It took you less than two weeks to actually willingly cheat on me. And not even because you got in a shit situation. But because you got drunk and felt upset because Finndidn't give you enough attention."

"Stan, I'm really sorry. I didn't know what I was doing..."

"You know, I could have understood if it was Finn, or if you did it because you felt scared and confused. But you just said it was because he hit on you and because Finn didn't. Not even because I wasn't answering your calls." He laughs sarcastically. "It's not even because of me, or the situation at all. It's all because you want Finn."

"It was because I was there too! Stan, I wasn't myself, at all!"

"If that was true, you would have said that in the first place." Stan shakes his head. "I don't want to see you right now."

"So, you are breaking up?" Somehow it upsets me more than I thought it would. But who am I kidding? I do like Stan, a lot. Off course this upset me.

"You did, when you decided to sleep with Liam for all the wrong reasons."