"What on Earth happened between you? Were you training for the WWE?" Madeline exclaimed.

Paige rolled her eyes and smiled. She picked a cube of cheese on her plate and munched on it. "I took a tumble in the bushes after the Hawton plant sampling. I am fine."

Madeline shook her head and laughed with her mouth full of lettuce. "What part of your pharmacology research involves 'tumbling in the bushes?' I wonder what Daddy Adesanya will think of that."

Paige raised both eyebrows. "He would be livid. I am definitely not going to tell him," she chuckled.

They settled into a thoughtful silence as they continued their meal. Paige and Madeline were eating salad and chatting shortly after Paige arrived in London. She hailed a cab straight from the station, and was glad to meet her roommate at home. They were sitting side by side in their living room, after squealing excitedly about how much they missed each other. Suffice to say, Madeline was shocked by Paige's injuries.

Paige set her bowl aside and turned to lie down facing Madeline. "Do you want to know all the details?"

Madeline's eyes widened. She dashed from the bed to the kitchen. "Bollocks! You have got to be joking. Wait right there while I get some popcorn."

"It is not what you think, Madeline," Paige groaned.

"I don't care, it is juicy gossip. Salad won't cut it," Madeline called back from the kitchen.

Paige could hear her rummaging through the cupboard and muttering something about forgetting to buy snacks.

"Get back here right now or I won't tell you," Paige said firmly.

Madeline walked into the room with a knowing smile on her face and a glass of orange juice in her hand. "Stern and assertive Paige is a new development. Methinks I can guess who you learnt it from." She straightened her side of the bed and sat down.

Paige giggled and bit her lip.

Madeline folded her arms. "I am all ears, babe. This had better be good."

Paige told Madeline everything about what happened in Dover. Right from the train ride, to the hot air balloon experience, and how they ended up in hospital. She talked in details, excluding the heart to heart life confessions and regrets that were shared between her and Brian.

Madeline looked tearful, and eventually pulled a tissue from the box on her drawer. She dabbed at her eyes gently before she broke into uncontrollable sobs.

"Hey, stop crying Mads," Paige said softly. She pulled her into a hug, and felt her own eyes become hot with tears.

"Stop crying, damn it. Now I am crying," Paige sobbed.

They held each other for a while and wept. Silent as they reflected upon how the accident could have been fatal.

"I could have lost you, Paige," Madeline cried. "What would life be like without you? We have been friends since we were in diapers."

Paige wept and brushed hair away from Madeline's face. "I am here. That's what matters. I thank God I am alive."

"Who would eat all my stir fried noodles and dumplings during Chinese New Year celebrations?" Madeline joked as tears streamed down her face.

Paige elbowed her in the gut. "Uncle Wong would do a great job of that," she retorted, as she blew her nose on a handkerchief.

"Uncle Wong is still in love with you," Madeline joked. Her sobs had quietened, but not ceased.

"He should take the 'L' like a man. I dumped him for Cousin Zhang. He makes better spring rolls," Paige replied.

Both of them burst into a fit of giggles. They snorted as they laughed, rolling around on the bed. Madeline rolled off the bed and landed on the carpet with a thump.

"Quiet Mads!" Paige whisper yelled. "Mrs Bennett's ears will be steaming."

"Look at us crying like babies one minute and laughing like hyenas the next," Madeline joked. She sat up and wagged her finger at Paige. "By the way, stop playing games with my uncles heart's. It is not fair."

Paige fluffed her hair and shrugged, "I did not make any promises. Is it my fault that I am beautiful?"

Madeline shook her head and smiled, "How are you going to cope with lab work with your sprained ankle?" she asked.

"Mr Rochester said he will appeal for two weeks off from Professor Rawlings. Apparently, a medical report is all he will need."

"That is nice. At least you will-"

"Two weeks is too long. I don't mind using crutches and getting back to work," Paige interjected. "I am keen to see what medicinal properties Hawton flowers may have. I can sense this is going to be big," she concluded with starry eyes.

Madeline gasped. "Are you trying to tell me you are going to reject an opportunity to binge watch La Mujer and eye candy Jason Rodriguez?"

Paige nodded silently.

Madeline folded her arms and raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"What is that look supposed to mean?" Paige asked. She got up and hooked her crutches under her arms, inched towards her cupboard and started packing her bag in preparation for the following day. She restarted her mini laptop and glanced at the botanical journals she would be using for references.

Madeline's mouth gaped in absolute shock. "You are packing your things and putting your school items in order the night before."

"Bingo," Paige said, and interlocked her fingers. "Are you done with the funny faces, I want to sleep early," she said. She changed out of her clothes and wrapped a towel around her body.

"So you can wake up early?" Madeline asked softly.

"Yep."

"You are in love with him," Madeline concluded.

Paige tsked as she adjusted her shower cap. "Who are you talking about?"

Madeline deadpanned, "Do not act like you are clueless."

Paige put her hands on her hips defensively and huffed.

Madeline walked up to her. "I am your sister from another mother, remember?" she said quietly.

"It is ridiculous, Mads."

"How you feel is not ridiculous, PG."

"I don't even know how I feel. I am so confused," Paige said, gently resting her forehead on the doorpost. "I hated his guts, later we became friends, and now...I just don't know."

Madeline rubbed her shoulder gently and nodded.

"He motivates and encourages me to do better and be better. Even when we argue, he makes me feel like I am the only girl in the world."

Paige closed her eyes and sighed. "I am scared, Mads. When he looks into my eyes, it is like he can see my heart."

"PG, he is probably as anxious as you are."

"Sure," Paige scoffed.

"Wait a minute. What's that sound?" Madeline asked.

"Which sound?"

"Listen, PG."

The dull buzzing got louder.

"Oh, fiddlesticks! It is my phone. I forgot to change the vibration setting. Could you get it for me, please?"

Madeline went to Paige's bag and fished it out before it stopped buzzing.

"Who is it, Mads?"

"I don't know. It is an unknown number," Madeline replied. She gave it to Paige. "Answer it."

"Hello?" Paige quipped when she picked the call.

"Good evening. Are you Paige Adesanya?" the person inquired.

"Who is asking?"

"I am Sherryl. Calling from Kensington Hospital, Leeds. Your mum's workplace."

"Yes?"

"Please come to the hospital as soon as you can. Your mother has been admitted."

"What?" Paige cried. She wiped her eyes as she sobbed.

"Please calm down, love and come as soon as you can. Thank you."

The call ended and Paige crumpled to the floor.