I wake up from the sun suddenly beaming through Sam's shutters directly into my eyes. I squint but it's too bright so I cover my face with my pillow.

"Oh no, you don't."  Sam laughs and pulls the pillow from my eyes.

I groan and pull the blanket over my head but he pulls that away too.  The sudden air on my ass makes me rush to pull his shirt down over my underwear. 

"It's one in the afternoon and you promised me a date today." he says right before he gives me a hard smack in the ass.

I yelp still keeping my eyes closed searching the bed for anything at all to hide under.  I forgot I told him we could have a day out together but I thought he'd cut me some slack considering yesterday's events.

"I can't. I need more sleep." I mumble.

"Absolutely not!  You have been in bed for over 24 hours and you're stinking up my sheets.  Get your ass in the shower or I'm going to give you a sponge bath." Sam's voice rings out exuding confidence.

I open one eye to read his face and decide he's bluffing.  He's too respectful, too innocent to strip my clothes off and bathe me, unlike Jackson. I cringe as an empty feeling taunts my heart with just the simple thought of his name. I examine Sam's face then decide to take my chances and close my eyes again.

Suddenly I feel his hands on my ankles as he slides me to the edge of the bed.  My eyes are wide open now and he flips me so that I'm staring at his face.

"You wouldn't." I say through grit teeth, challenging him.

"You underestimate my sense of smell and honey, you stink." He says right before he throws me over his shoulder.

I scream and start wriggling and punching his ass since that's the only body part directly in my line of sight.

"Put me down!" I yell, and he does.  He lays me in his bathtub and turns on the shower then backs out leaving me soaked in his t-shirt and my only pair of underwear.

Damn it.

I throw the wet t-shirt in the sink and toss my underwear on top then get back in the hot water.

I look for shampoo and conditioner because my hair is a greasy mess and definitely needs a wash but all he has is a Dove Fresh bottle which is a hair and body wash all in one. 

Damn it again.

I've never understood these things.  Your hair and body need two different washes, there's no way this is going to work for me.  But I make it work.  And despite my disappointment in the all in one, I absolutely love the citrusy smell. 

After washing, I exit the shower and find a towel neatly folded in one of the cabinets.  I dry off and use his comb for my hair and remember I don't have any of my stuff here. When I showered at Jackson's after our intimate moments he'd always have his clothes waiting for me outside the shower. Instantly I think of everything I've left at Jack's and close my eyes as a pain in my chest appears.

I slide to the floor and cover my face with my hands.  Breathe in, breathe out.

It feels like I have this empty hole in my chest, eating me away from the inside.  This desperate ache hasn't let up since I walked away from Jack and I find myself wondering if anyone will be able to fill this void.

I hear a quiet knock on the door and I know Sam's checking on me since the shower has been off for a while.  I'm thankful for him, he's attempting to keep my mind off of Jack but if I never deal with this I'll never heal. Part of me wants to be left alone to decay in peace.

"I'm okay."  I assure him but I hear the soft knock once again.

"Jesus, just come in!" I shout and I watch Bethany poke her head through the door.  She looks around for me then suddenly her bright green eyes fall to the floor where I'm leaning crouched against the wall.

"Oh, honey!" She says as she falls to the floor next to me and I instantly start crying again. The slightest bit of concern or sympathy and I break down in tears, I'm pathetic.

"I'm so sorry." She says as her own tears start to fall.

"It's not your fault Beth." I say through a small sob.

"I know but I know exactly what you're feeling.  I've been here before in this messy state of broken-heartedness.  And I wish I could take away your pain."  Bethany sobs.

I pull her into a hug and realize my own tears have stopped and I'm suddenly caring for Bethany who's sobbing uncontrollably. 

"He came to the apartment." She says as she tries to calm herself enough to speak. "At first he burst through the door not telling me what was going on and then after searching the house and calling your name over and over again he finally acknowledged me and asked where you were."

"What did you say?" I ask on the edge of my seat, my tears have dried up and stained my cheeks as curiosity gets the better of me.

"The truth! I hadn't seen you in days! You're with him 90 percent of the time now, I don't have a clue where you are or what's going on in your life." Her eyes glisten from her own words and I suddenly feel a twinge of guilt for neglecting her. 

"He told me what happened and I slapped him." She says then smiles proudly.

I gasp, "What did he do?"

I'm hovering over her now desperate to hear any word about Jackson, the man who ripped my heart out. I shouldn't care, I should be sick of hearing his name. I'm an addict attempting to kick my favorite drug, Jackson. I don't have the strength to dismiss this information.

"Nothing, he said he deserved it." Beth answers with a shrug.

A smile crosses my face but I quickly correct it.

"Yes, he does." I say cruelly.

"I was so worried about you, I called The Palace and they said you left with Sam.  Jackson was beyond furious!" Beth rolls her eyes then continues. "I called Sam and he said you were okay but Jackson kept asking for his address, he would not let up!"

My eyes go wide. "You didn't give it to him did you?"

"No of course not, Sam literally said he would kill me." She says in mock fear.

I let out a soft giggle, thankful for Sam once again.

"I couldn't come to see you, when I told Jackson to get out he literally sat outside the doorstep waiting for you to come home all night."  Beth says as she gages my reaction.

My eyes start to well up but I clear my throat and push them down. 

"What are you going to do Maggie?  You can't just hide here forever." Beth asks as she places a gentle hand on my shoulder.

I cross my arms and lean back against the cabinets so we're facing each other.  "Yes, I can.  I'll just live in one of Sam's spare rooms and never leave the house." I say sarcastically but it's not a bad idea.

She laughs and wipes the smudged eyeliner from under her eyes, calm now.

Sam peeks his head into the bathroom and finds us both on the floor. He analyses the situation before speaking.  I suspect he's making sure we're not still crying.

"Coffees ready.  Beth, are you joining our date now?" Sam asks.

"Date?" Beth asks with one brow raised and a smirk crossing her face.

"It's not a date." I remind them both.

But Sam just laughs and heads to the kitchen.  Bethany and I join him and I realize I'm still in a towel.

"Hey Beth, did you bring any extra clothes by chance?" I ask hopefully. 

"I'm sorry no, I left as soon as our apartment was clear of Jackson and didn't even think about it." She says offering an apologetic smile.

"Damn it." I exclaim.

"Just wear my shirt." Sam offers.

"Its soaked remember? You turned on the shower while I was still dressed." I say scrunching my brows in frustration. 

"What can I say, I was desperate to get you in that shower." He laughs and Beth raises both brows in shock.

"Oh God Beth it's not like that.  He said I stunk and forced me to shower." I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest, still a bit disgruntled.

Bethany and Sam both start laughing and I roll my eyes again.  Despite the fact that it might be a little funny I'm not ready to laugh yet, but at least I'm not suicidal.  Progress, I think.

Sam gives me another one of his shirts and after I get dressed in his giant shirt and the jeans I was wearing yesterday, I decide to power on my phone. 

Instantly I regret it as I swipe through my missed calls.  Beth's name is listed a few times, but the prominent name listed is Jackson.  My voicemail box is full and I foolishly decide to listen to one. 

I scroll through and randomly select a voicemail. 

"Maggie, please answer me.  Please, I have to speak to you.  Please don't end it this way. I-"The pain of hearing his voice tears through my chest and leaves me breathless. 

I exit the voicemail app before I can hear the rest and accidentally accept his call.  I'm completely silent, holding my breath in a mixture of shock and concern. 

"Maggie?" Jackson's voice utters my name in disbelief.

I stay silent, holding my breath so as not to make the slightest sound.

"Maggie, baby please answer me." Jackson pleads.

The void in my heart grows and tears stream down my face from the pain.  My breathing picks up as the tears begin to choke me and he can surely hear me regardless of my attempts to stay quiet.

"Maggie Love, please don't cry.  I'm so sorry, I love you Mags.  I think I loved you the moment I met you, I'm gutted I hadn't told you earlier.  It's all gone to pot, I knew I would fuck up." He's dishing his words quickly as if he's afraid I'll disconnect the call. "I was fucking bricking it, afraid I'd lose you if you found out the truth."

I can't possibly speak, his kind words are killing me.  He's saying things I always wished I could have heard from him.  I so desperately wanted to hear him tell me he loved me and now he is, but it's too late. 

I can't control my sobbing and Sam starts knocking at the bedroom door asking if I'm okay.  I quickly lock it to keep him from entering. I back up and intend to sit on the corner of the bed but miss and slide off and land on the floor.

"Damn it." I shout through tears.

"Maggie, are you okay?" Sam and Jackson both shout in unison. 

I'm such a mess right now, luckily Sam hasn't renovated his room yet and the floor is still carpeted. 

Jackson must hear Sam because he asks, "You're still with Sam?"  His words are a bit louder and slightly on edge but I can tell he's trying to sound calm.

I have to stay strong or I'll give in.  I can't be that girl who keeps coming back just to get hurt over and over again.

"Maggie! Please talk to me!" Jack yells.

Just then Sam bursts through the door, "Maggie why did you lock the door?" He shouts.

"Goodbye Jack." I say through tears and disconnect the call.