Clashing Cliques

Jessica's POV

I wake up and all I see is white. A white ceiling. Then my eyes come to focus more and I look around. I see Nick first, then my mom. After them, my eyes land on my favorite person. "Lauren.." My voice is raspy, but she immediately runs to me. Mom and Nick follow behind her.

"Jess. You're awake." Lauren says with tears in her eyes.

"W-what happened? Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital, Jess." Nick speaks up. I rack through my brain, remembering what happened.

"Oh, right. I remember now. I didn't die?"

They all look at each other, then back at me. "No, honey, the doctors saved your life."

Dammit. I need to be gone. I need him to be gone. I wish he would leave me alone. Why can't he just go away?

I cant even save them. What use am I if I'm leading everyone to danger? I notice someone isn't here.

"Where is Joe?"

Everyone looked like they didn't want to answer that question. Some weird awkward silence overtook the room. But its Joe. He's family. My family. It shouldn't be awkward.

"It doesn't matter anymore." Nick says. I sit up to look at him, still feeling weak.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter anymore? Where is he?" I get worried that my stalker got to him too and look at Lauren. "Lauren?"

"We don't know, Jess. That's the truth. He took off to somewhere, but didn't tell anyone where he was going." Lauren tells me.

"It's all my fault." I say. "I should've never done that. Everything just feels like too much."

Lauren puts her hand over mine. "Hey. It is not your fault." She says this while looking deeply into my eyes. I want to reach out and kiss her, but I don't know if that's something she would want. Plus, no one in my family even knows I'm bisexual. Lauren doesn't even know.

"I feel like it is. I shouldn't have attempted suicide like this. I'm so sorry. I just wish he would go away." I wrap my arms around my legs and start crying.

"He?" I hear Nick question. I say nothing because I'm too busy crying. Tears stream down my face.

Lauren gets on the bed beside me and holds me while I cry. My mom and Nick stand there, confused.

I drift off back to sleep in her arms.