(Just to let you know. This part goes before the last chapter I wrote. Thanks for the reads!!)

I’d never felt more scared in my entire life. Holding Maisie close to my chest as I run through the streets, hoping that I’m not too late.

If I am then there’s no point, no point in . . . Life.

I pant as the hospital comes into view. Hold on. I think as I glance down at Maisie’s tired, lifeless face. God, please hold on.

My arms start aching as I come up to the hissing doors, I rush into them my eyes stinging with tears as I meet the eyes of a nurse passing by.

“Help,” I sob as she rushes to my side, grabbing hold of Maisie. “Help . . . Her.”

The nurse presses her fingers on the side of Maisie’s neck as more doctors crowd around me. They speak fast, I can barely understand them. It’s like another language, and I wish I knew it.

There’s a small rattling sound as a doctor rolls over a cot. The nurse who came to me reaches out for Maisie, giving me a worried, kind smile.

“What’s happening?” I ask as they take Maisie away from me, my arms relaxing from the pain. “Is she okay?”

The cot rolls away, with all the doctors surrounding it, still speaking those fast words that have no meaning to me.

The nurse wraps her arm around my shoulder, giving me a quick hug. “We’ll do everything . . .” She tells me.

_Everything_ . . . Her words echo through my midn. _We’ll do everything_. What if _everything_ isn’t enough, what if I lose—

I shake my head as the nurse guides me to a waiting room. There’s a young woman pacing the floor, biting at her fingers as she swipes at her tears. And an old man who’s sitting in one of the chairs next to a table with magazines piled up on it. His face is buried into one with the cover of a beautiful, big house. I can tell he’s not actually reading it, he’s just wanting a way to hide his fear, his tears.

“We’ll be out with news as soon as we can,” the nurse comforts me as she brushes a loose strand of her bouncy black hair behind her ear. “Is there anyone we can call . . . Your parents . . . Maybe.”

I almost laugh at that. My parents . . . My parents. The two people I don’t have anymore, the two people who might be meeting Maisie.

I shake my head again for two reasons. I can tell that she’s caught onto one of them. She parts her lips. Suddenly I can feel that she’s put the small pieces together.

“My brother . . .” I blurt out. “Can you call him and tell him where I am?”

The nurse licks her lips, nodding sweetly as she wipes at her dry cheeks. “Of course sweetie. Is there anything you want me to tell him?”

No. Is the first thought that pops into my head but then a million things follow after. Maisie’s aunt . . . She defiantly should know. Maybe Tommy can wait for her at Maisie’s house? Wait Tommy doesn’t even know about Maisie! Gosh I can’t beileve I still haven’t told him! It’s fine . . . We can talk . . . Hopefully all three of us. Me, Tommy and Maisie’s aunt.

“Um . . . Yeah, tell him to go to this address,” I write the address down on a piece of paper that’s sitting on the table next to me. “And tell him to get here as fast as he can . . . After he’s gotten Maisie’s aunt.”

The nurse nods fast, as she takes the paper from me. “I’ll do that.”

“Thank you,” I call softly after her as she walks down the white halls.

I take in a deep, deep breath. Breathing in that stinging smell of alcohol, that always makes me feel clean. The doctor smell, the smell I hope will be in my nose when they save Maisie . . . Not when they lose her.

. . .

“D!” Tommy shouts my name as my eyes shoot open. I wasn’t asleep, at least not yet. Or maybe I was . . . I can’t really remember.

I stand up, as Tommy floods into me. The smell of smoke creeping into my nose. It’s the best thing I’ve smelled all day. Tommy . . .

I peer over his shoulder to see a woman who smiles meekly at me, lifting one of her hands in a gentle wave.

Tommy breaks away from me, turning to the woman as she reaches to the back of her blonde pony tail and tightens it.

“Davian?” She says like a question even though I know she knows. “I’m Trish, Maisie’s . . . Maisie’s aunt.”

I take a step closer, she looks almost just like Maisie. She’s got a small, kind smile, except her eyes don’t light up the same way. I guess I can’t be judging that now, considering everything.

“Hey,” I mumble as Tommy puts his hand on my shoulder.

“Davian,” he whispers in my ear. “You wanna tell us whats going on?”

I nod once, as Tommy leads us over to three black chairs. I’m not sure what to say, do I tell them about . . . The crash. The mistakes I’ve made these past couple of months.

Trish takes a seat next to me, patting my hand as she settles into her seat. “I didn’t know Maisie had you.” She mutters. “She never mentioned anything . . . Anyone.”

I pinch my fingers as I watch my feet, what do I do? _Tell them the truth._ A voice echos in my mind, a voice that I swear is Maisie’s. Or maybe my parents? Or . . . The good side of me.

I tell them everything. All the details, all the things that have happened. The crash, meeting Maisie becoming friends with her. I didn’t exactly mention the part about falling for her, but I’m sure they get the idea. Or they will.

Trish lets out a long sigh when I finish, her blue eyes not at all as shocked as I was expecting. Tommy on the other hand is speechless, his eyes are on my forehead as he scratches his head.

“So you . . . You . . .” Tommy starts, his hazel eyes open so wide they almost seem to be popping out. Which is kind of unsettling and comforting.

My head moves up and down as I look at my folded arms. Dad’s leather coat glints in the dim light of the hospital, and suddenly I’m filled with peace. Telling the truth was right . . . I just wish someone else was here.

“And does Maisie know about . . . This?” Trish asks, her voice calm and collected. Either she’s an actor from Hollywood who’s posing as Maisie’s aunt or she’s just really good at pretending to be okay with this.

I shake my head as guilt washes through me. “I . . . I want to . . . I wanted to . . .” I trail as Trish pats my shoulder.

I look over at her. Tears are sliding down her cheeks as she gives me the weakest smile. “It’s okay . . . I’ve noticed that Maisie has been more happy lately. I’m guessing you’d have something to do with that.”

Happy? If she was happy the why are the three of us here? Was it meant to happen, Maisie getting hurt so badly? Fate . . . Did fate want me to tell the truth?

I shrug as tears begin to blur my vision. I can’t beileve I’m not getting yelled at. I want to . . . I need a punishment, I need to be hit or punched.

“Can you . . . Keep this between us?” I murmur as Tommy and Trish share glance. “I’m not exactly ready for her to hate me.”

“Yeah,” Trish and Tommy say at the same time. I almost smile, why do they trust me so much? I’ve barely even seen Tommy, and the way I acted throughout our whole life . . . And Trish. She just found out I killed her sister, and we just met.

I shut my eyes as I run a hand down my face. I’m so tired of this. It feels good to have everything off my chest, but I still need to tell the most important person in my life.

“Just promise you’ll tell her . . .” Trish whispers into my ear. “When you’re ready.”

And then it happens. I start sobbing. I feel like I’ve walked into a nightmare that’s also a dream.

Still, the only thought that runs through my heart is _Maisie Bowden_. And that’s more than perfect . . . It’s enough to give me hope . . . Hope that I thought I lost when I woke up to find that I was an orphan.