Night Changes (Soon To Be EDITED)

The Heart Wants What It Wants

"Why won't anyone answer me?" I huffed, shifting Liam in my arms as I looked back and forth between my parents and a few of their friends. In the hour and a half I'd be here, I had gotten nothing more than the fact my brother had been admitted early this morning out of them. My dad was barely acknowledging my presence, as if he knew exactly where I had been and what I had done while they had been sitting in the waiting room with a growing anxiety.

"Mr. and Mrs. Banner." my parents shot up from their seats. I didn't bother to listen in on the conversation, knowing the doctor would be as quiet as possible for legality reasons.

I dropped my gaze to the baby in my arms and ran my thumb under his eyes, smiling sadly. "Don't worry, baby boy, I'm going to get us out of here soon."

My college plans hadn't been altered too much by the sudden appearance of Liam in my life. I had already secured a dorm at USC and was more than willing to take my baby boy with me. I would be out of this town and away from all the pain and heartache I had forced myself through most of my childhood. I'd have a new beginning and star, one without Marcus and Zane Dryer as a huge road block.

As I rocked Liam back and forth in my arms, I watched in silence as my mom collapsed in my father's arms. He buried his face against her shoulder, shielding all emotion. Despite my guilt toward the whole situation, my heart sunk into my stomach for what felt like the hundredth time in the last couple months.

"Is he okay?" I whispered. I didn't expect a response, but my mom shook her head.

I wanted nothing more than to pack my bags and leave as soon as the next plane took off to California. It seemed everywhere I turned, I was causing some sort of resistance or problem, or was the butt end of some lie or joke.

"He went out looking for you." my dad didn't look at me. "He said you were in trouble since you were at the Dryer's. He had this thought that Marcus was going to hurt you, so he thought sneaking out on his own to protect you."

I thought about laying Liam down in his carrier and covering my ears. I had a pretty good idea what was coming next and I didn't want to hear it.

"Drunk driver veered off and hit him on the sidewalk." mom breathed out shakily. "Because he was looking for you, because you didn't come home when you told him you would."

I set Liam down and stood, shaking my head repeatedly. "You can't blame me for this. I. . . I. . . I know I should have called or come home, but you can't blame me for a drunk driver hitting him. You can't."

They shook their head in unison, my dad sighing.

"We aren't blaming you, Paige. You wanted to know what happened, now you do. He's awake now if you want to go see him."

I stared blankly between my parents for a few seconds before taking Liam's carrier and heading toward the doctor waiting at the end of the corridor. I followed him down the long hall, blinking the tears threatening my eyes before they could escape.

Stepping into the hospital room was quite possibly one of the most heart wrenching moments of my life. My innocent, optimistic little brother was no more than a pale lump under blankets, his leg hoisted up by a sling. A bandage was wrapped securely around his head, light blood stains starting to bleed through the white wrap. Cuts and bruises lined every inch of his face, from his chapped and bloodied lips to under his eyes.

"Peter?" I crept in, gently shutting the door behind me with my free hand. I sat in the chair, rocking Liam's carrier at my feet as my brother stared at me with hazy eyes.