One Step Forward [ON HOLD]

Chapter 7

I woke slowing, my eyes fluttering. A sharp pain came from my side and head, and I brought a hand to my forehead. The skin was tender and bruised. I winced, my eyes squeezing shut against the pain. I stood slowly, my balance unstable. Alice ran in, her eyes wide with concern.

"Oh my gawd! Thank heavens you're alive!" the girl squealed, running over and pulling me into an intense hug. I stayed limp in her arms, too tired to react.

"I'm fine," I mumbled. "Please let me go now." My head ached, and I just wanted a cup of New England's Own Home brewed Coffee.

I was release by my roommate, and she ducked her head low shyly. "Sorry, Amb, but you've been out for three days!" She cried, looking back up.

My eyes widened. "What?! Why didn't you say so!" I struggled to get to the kitchen, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. I stifled coughs and held back sneezes. I collapsed on the couch. "Alice!" I called, unable to hold back my cough. "Can you get my coffee?"

The door opened and the fall wind blew through, along with some rain, followed by three people. Kai, Bailey, and Daniel all walked in. Their faces were sad and worried, but they moment they saw me, they all smiled.

"Amber!"

"Amhber!"

"Amber!"

Their cries of happiness was soon followed by me being made into a sandwich between hugs and the couch. I coughed, yet smiled. "Choking!" I yelled, unable to breathe.

They all got off and I fell into a coughing attack. Their faces were worried as they watched me. Kai and Daniel looked at each other nervously. The looks on their faces read 'did we kill her?' I rolled my eyes.

"ALICE!" I yelled again. She rushed in, bringing me some coffee. She placed it in my hands gingerly.

I inhaled the scent. I still wasn't a big fan, but this was something I needed. I took a sip. Huh. It wasn't that bad.

I leaned back on the couch cushions, my friends sitting around me. We were like a family, because none of us ever really had one, all of us being foreign scholarship students. Except for Bailey. She's the only Scottish on among us.

Generally, I would have just sat there as we all made small talk. I could tell I made several of them late for their flights home. And that was the only thing that made guilt blossom in my chest. And after about an hour or so after everyone left, including Alice, who had to work, I just... broke. Tears of grief became too hard to bear.

I laid curled up on the couch. Now with no connection to my half brother, since he was my step mom's son, I can't really call him my family. My grandma's gone. Am I really just an orphan now?

The doorbell rang. I groaned. Who was coming at this time. "It's open!" I yelled, not caring for whom it was. I sat in silence on the couch, hearing the person walk over. Before my sick mind could process what was happening, or even recognize the voice that said "Hey Amber," I was pinned against the couch by my obsessive ex.

"JUSTIN!!" I yelled, my voice cracking from the strain. "Get the hell out of my house."

He chuckled. "Why, Amber?" he asked, his knees pinning the sides of my thighs so that I couldn't move. "You invited me in."

I glared at him in silence. Water from his wet hair dripped onto my face, and trailed lines down my cheeks.

His hands cupped the side of my face, while his other hand kept my wrists pinned above my head. This wasn't very comfortable, so I couldn't help but try to move away from him. And knowing him, his grip only grew tighter. "Oi-" I said through clenched teeth "-let me go you obsessive freak!"

He only chuckled at my attempt to throw him off. "I'm flattered," he said, leaning his face towards mine. "Let let's stop all this chatter, shall we?"

My eyes widened, and I turned my face to the side, away from him. I won't let this guy kiss me. I'd rather die than know that feeling again.

Somehow, I felt his weight off of me, and I heard it thud onto the floor. I dared not to open my eyes, but my body relaxed with relief. I felt someone else lift my body off the couch, while planting a kick in my ex's side. And when I opened my eyes, I saw the one person I never expected to see.

"Jasper..." I gasped, as he placed me down on my bed.

But when I met his gaze, I was surprised to see the hard look in his eyes. "Stay. Here." He said, giving my shoulders a light squeeze. My eyes were filled with surprise as I watched him go to the door. I didn't quite see what happened, but I heard arguing, one of them fall, and then one of their cars drive away.

And who was the boy to walk back into my room?

None other than Jasper.

[I AM SO SO SO SOOOOOOORRY GUYS LIFE HAS BEEN SO BUSY //tableflips//]