Unbearable (Unexpected Sequel)|✔️

72- Closure

"I can't believe we're graduating in two months."

I looked at Jaz and made a face. "Only two months until we'll never see each other again."

"What?! Who said we aren't going to hang out anymore?" She sounded genuinely appalled by the idea.

I grinned. "I was just teasing. Of course we'll hang out. Always. Besides, we'll visit each other all the time in college."

"We better," she muttered before flopping down on my bed.

I checked my watch and sighed. "Hey, I have to leave. I'm going to the hospital."

She shot up and anxiously looked at me. "Again? Why?"

"Because–" I bit my tongue. I wasn't going to tell her that I was visiting Ben. She didn't know about all the gang stuff, only that Dean used to be in one. She believed the reason I got kidnapped was because of one of my dad's enemies. She didn't even know the full story about Ben. "Because I just need to go for a follow-up."

Her gaze softened as she pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry. Do you want me to come with you?"

Damn it! She was an amazing friend. How could I just lie to her?

I shook my head. "No. You'll just be bored." Then, out of guilt, I told her something else. Something that was safe. "While I'm there, I'm thinking to see if they have a good psychologist office on site."

Her brows raised slightly. Hearing the words come out of my mouth was weird, even for me. I hadn't admitted I was going to until just now.

"You're going to therapy?"

"Maybe," I mumbled, embarrassed. "Reece had told me I should... something about too much unprocessed trauma."

She nodded. "First the shooting, then Dean getting shot, now this? I can imagine."

I shrugged. "Yeah..."

"Well, I'm glad. I hope it works out for you." She cupped my cheek before dropping her hand. "Alright, I'll get out of your hair. We should have a sleepover soon."

"Definitely." Maybe then I could confess everything to her. Maybe.

As soon as she left, I slowly snuck out of the house. It wasn't like I was grounded or anything... More like house arrest. The shooting was one thing, but kidnapping? I was screwed. My parents didn't trust me to go anywhere, which sucked. So, I had to sneak out.

I looked at my beautiful car, which was recovered from the coffee shop parking lot after I had frantically begged my parents. My poor baby was just out in the cold, alone and scared. "You're safe now," I whispered as I stepped in.

The drive to the hospital took longer than normal. Since my parents didn't know where I was, I decided to drive extra carefully as to not get into a crash. If I did, I'd never be allowed to leave again.

I didn't need directions to Ben's room, thanks to Skylar. After she had visited me that night, she left back for Chicago. Reece, too. He had come to say his goodbyes, remind me about therapy, and apologized profusely because I'd been kidnapped right after our little meetup. He blamed himself, which I thought was stupid. It would've happened anywhere. We bid our goodbyes for a second time before he left, promising to keep in touch.

Ben's room came into view. I took a deep breath before knocking. I wasn't able to visit him since I was discharged because of my parents. Plus the stress of the police and all the legal jargon drained me. All I wanted to do was sleep. Then after I was rested, they watched me like a hawk. Today was the only day I could be free. My dad had to head into his firm for some paperwork and my mom had a call-in case she couldn't skip. It was pure luck.