Canon

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Please forgive him,"

Katrina's voice seemed to bounce off the walls.

I kept my head down and twiddled my thumbs.

"Jazz, please,"

The sadness in her voice was too much to bear.

"Katrina, what Adrian did was... wrong," I said, still keeping my head down.

"He did it for me," she reasoned.

"But he should have done it in another way. He hurt our friend, Katrina," I reasoned back.

She was silenced. But after a moment, "But you still love him."

I looked up, my eyes wet with tears.

"Yes, I do," I whispered.

"I'm getting better now. Adrian will get better too, won't he?" she asked.

"I guess," I lied.

OK, maybe it wasn't really a lie.

I don't even know what his condition is right now.

I haven't visited him ever since Carter told us - told me - the truth. And that was three days ago.

"Visit him, Jazz. Maybe he'll get better when you do," Katrina flashed a sunny smile.

"But, Katrina..." I started, but she cut me off. "Jazz, please," Katrina pleaded.

"Okay... I'll visit him." I stood up from the chair, and added, "For you,"

I slowly made my way to Adrian's room. No one seemed to be inside, so I went in directly.

He was awake.

"Jazz? Jazz is that you?" he inquired, his voice barely above a whisper, "Jazz, I'm so sorry,"

He sounded so desperate, it hurt so much.

Suddenly tears escaped his eyes, and the pain came on again, stronger.

"I know." I choked, "I know you're sorry."

I held his hand as tight as I could.

"Where were you?" he asked.

"I don't know..." I answered, but even I could hear the doubt in my voice.

"Jazz, I missed you," he sounded so sad, like his voice was made from pain itself.

"Shh," I held a finger to his mouth. "I don't care what you did. You did it for your sister. I still love you. I always will."

A ghost of a smile flickered along his face, and he closed his eyes.

I sat by his bedside, a thousand thoughts invading my mind.

I looked at the face of the man who made me believe in love. The one who made me believe in it so strongly, I was still willing to accept him back despite the fgact that he hurt our friend, cheated and lied to me.

I love Adrian that much.

Suddenly, a knock came on the door.

"Yes?" I asked.

It opened ever so slightly, and then I saw my mom.

"What are you doing here?" I willed myself not to cry or scream at her.