---Sydney Pov---



I rubbed my eyes. I moved out of Branson's arms. Branson was stretching next to me.

Branson yawns "What time is it?"

I pulled out my phone "5:30" I leaned back on Branson. He immediately put his arm around me

"I couldn't believe. We fell asleep." I murmured



"Okay okay...yeah we were suppose to watch all the Twilight series." Branson said getting back on topic "I knew I was going to fall asleep. But you falling a sleep surprised me."

"Guess I'm just tired. I had a long week." I smiled with my eyes closed

"What do you mean?" Branson Adjured

" I was nearly assaulted by Zurie." I wailed. He lifted his brow and titled his head "Wait Alvaro's girl you guys know each other?"

I averted my gaze as I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. "Well.. I dated Alvaro way back than." I mumbled. His fingers nervously tapping, against the table". But they were together for years when?" he Wondered

"Yeah we messed around while they were together." He pulled a look of confusion "don't worry I'm new and reformed."

"I know it's in the past." Branson stated, but he just shuffled in his seat.

"Don't judge me. I know you hurt someone in your past?" I asked



"Yeah.. I have" Branson said while taking a swig of his water.

I was eagerly waiting in anticipation for his answer.



He rubbed his hands eagerly. "So we going to try the movie marathon again."

"Wait not going to tell me. "I sat up straight, to look at him.

He shifted uncomfortably. "Um.. I basically told a girl I love her and dipped when she needed me the most."

I bit my lip and made eye contact "Why did you leave?" I mumbled

He took a sip of his bottle water, he had a bold expressional face "I was a coward. And still am."

My thoughts tumbled over each other. He leaned in for a kiss. As soon as our lips meet sunshine flooded in my soul. He pulled away. He plastered a smile on his face. "I am crazy about you. And I promise I will not bow out."

My joy took hold of me. He wrapped his arms around me. My soul cheered. I put my leg on his lap, and we started. the Twilight series. In this moment happiness bolted through me. And calmness danced on his face. The warmth of his smile gave me comfort and safety. We were leaning into each other in the cozy corner of the couch.

I snuggled closer to Branson "You know I'm not only here to hold your hand. Right?" I expressed to him

I took a breath and added "I want to hold your tears too."

He titled his head "What do you mean?" His voice was laced with confusion.

"Your sister..." I trailed off "You never once told me. How it makes you feel?" I added a bit of base to my voice.

"I'm fine." He brushes me off.

"How can you say you fine. When I constantly see storms in your eyes." I combated

"Look. I am from a place. Where nobody cares about your complaints." he sounded so jaded

I looked at him, my mouth opened, and I spewed my deeper thoughts "Why are we together then?"

He pulled his brows together. But he didn't add his words.

"Because you want nothing from me...Sweet nothing... no emotional support or help." My tone of voice was reminiscent of rocks grinding together.

Branson had dour written all over his face "I thought you wanted that?"

As soon as I felt that tingle it single handedly crushed my heart

GO upstairs there is a USB ON YOUR BED. Take it and plug it into any hospital computer. And leave it there - Fortune Teller

I immediately texted back

Why- I texted back.

I stood up .

"Hey where you going?" Branson scrunched his face in confusion.

I bite my lip to think of an excuse. "Oh I'm going to get .....um ....a...jersey."

I scrunched up my face at this message.



I went upstairs. And as just as predicated, by Fortune Teller it was laying there. Square on my bed.

I wonder what's on it.

I grabbed my Laptop.

Then my phone rang. For the first time ever the fortune teller was calling me. I was shocked. My heart broke like a porcelain vase. I just stared at caller ID.

I promised I didn't answer call.

"Don't put that USB drive. In your laptop." Robotic voice. Then call ended.

I took a breath and went down stairs

"Hey where's your jersey?" Branson stated confused

I shrugged my shoulders "Oh I changed my mind." I said indifferent way.

Branson just pulled an confused look. And I didn't even care how crazy. I sounded I need to find. A way to get close, to the hospital.

"Sydney!" A British voice boomed through out the house.

"In the theater mom!" I thundered back.

She bolted into the room. Her eyes were a sea of worry. I immediately sat up straight. "What are you doing up mom?"

"GET UP NOW?VIOLET HAS VIOLENTLY BEEN ASSAULTED." My mom exclaimed

"Where is she?" I jumped up as I asked her

She held up her hands, and slowly shook her head. Then my mom answered "in the hospital. Her mom came back, from the prison to find her on the living room floor. Pale on the ground." I fell down on my seat. Imagining her body on the floor.

I shook my head to get out the daze. I jumped out of my seat. and I made my way to the garage.

"Babe, babe.." I heard Branson yell behind me. I just marched faster. I need to know that she is okay. Then he yelled "babe you barefoot." I froze and looked down at my feet

"Honey your dad is waiting outside. Branson you can ride with us. "My mother said. My mother walked out

"Thank you Miss Ventura." Branson spoke behind me. I stopped and turned around. I looked directly at him

"Can you carry me to the car babe?" I cooed. He just chuckled and turned around. I jumped on his back. And he gave me a piggy back ride out the house. The cold air hit my bare feet and my thighs cause I had shorts.

I held tightly on to Branson.

"We are almost their babies. Hold on." He teased.

------------

As soon as the car stopped i jumped out the door. My dad "clam down. And breath. She will probably be fine."

We were all walking through the hospital, barefoot. "I need to see it myself." I plead with my dad.

Then Branson interrupted "Fine at least put on shoes."

I grabbed my shoes out Branson's hand "Fine fine."

I did as they said and bolted. As soon as I saw Dwayne. I made my way to him. While my family protested. But they let me go.

"Do you know what room Violet is in?" I Bleated towards him

"Hello to you to. Yeah she was came out surgery an 1 ago" Dwyne informed me

"Take me too her please?" I begged

He did as I requested. I made my way down the halls shaking.

The door was open. The delicate glow of the night lamp illuminated the disinfecting hospital room, creating shadows on the pale walls. The quiet was punctuated by the heart monitor's steady beeping, which highlighted how serious the situation was. Violet was still on the hospital bed, her eyes closed, her face pale, as though she was dead in her sleep. She had a purple eye, a swollen face and a bruise on her cheek.

"Relation?" His voice was a deep ramble

" She's my sister." I told him



There was a heavy feeling in my stomach. When I saw Violet. A sudden dread that hits at the core.

"Who would do this to her?" I spoke in a shaky soft voice



Dwayne claimed the space next to me, by walking towards me. placed a comforting hand on my shoulder "don't worry she will be okay."

I just took a deep sigh at his words. I know he meant well but...

He placed one arm around me and gave me a half hug. The hug held searing heat. immediately leaned into him. Our bodies melting into each other. I looked into his eyes, I could tell. He enjoyed the a silent exchange of joy

He was gently rubbing my arm, there was a silent promise of reassurance. Which calmed me down.



"Oh, this looks well cozy, doesn't it?" I heard my mom's voice beam from behind us. And jumped from Dwayne.

Branson was standing next to my mom. Branson brows furrowed deeply, creasing into a frown like a storm cloud on his face. I took a stepped back from Dwayne.



"How she doing Doc?" My dad said trying to break up the tension .

"He isn't no doctor. He a nurse." Branson's deep voice sliced through the room. "He wouldn't know."



"Of course I know. She is my patient" Dwayne's voice words bouncing around the room.

Branson crossed his arms in front of his chest "Are you the only employee at this hospital. Shouldn't you be helping my sister?"

"Staff is very limited. Because it is state owned." Dwayne aimed and shot back.

"Okay how is she doing?" My father's voice cut through the tension.

"She's very lucky . She was stabbed in the liver, but it was not a vital part. She has a broken nose." A soothing balm over my frayed nerves. When Dwayne spoke

Branson walked towards Violet. "She is a tough cookie. I bet she fought back" He gripped the bed railings "Where are the police?"

"They in the conner? talking to her mom." Dwayne stated. Branson rolled his eyes. I walked towards Branson to hold his shoulder. Branson looked at my hand. So I gently removed my hand.

Branson kissed me on the cheek "I got to go." Without a word Branson walked out.

"If that's all. I will get going then?" Dwayne soon followed out.

Then it was just my parents and I



I was kneeling down on my knees. Our friendship bore a heavy weight, a tangible bond that survived setbacks and ecstatic celebrations. Now it just laid heavy in the air.

I clutched Violet's limp hand, her fingers intertwined with the lifeless stillness of her hand. I couldn't bear to see Violet in this state, my usually dull and aggressive friend now tied down to the cold hospital bed.

I threw my head back and closed my eyes.

"It's unbelievable that this took place," I muttered to the unconscious body in front of me. "You're the toughest person I know, and seeing you like this... it's breaking my heart."

The heart monitor's constant beeping, a mechanical reminder of life's frailty, was the sole reaction. Trying to gather herself, i inhaled deeply, but the situation weighed heavily on my eyes like a leaden load.

I said in an almost audible voice, "I wish I could take away your pain. I can't handle the idea of losing you; we've been through so much together. It's my turn to support you now that you've always been the one to uplift me."

I Felt a soft hand on my back. I turn to look at my mom. Then my dad hugged me " It will be okay honey. We are here for you."

"Mommy daddy she needs to wake up. We have so much MORE life to live." I mumbled. My parents just hugged me tighter. I froze. When I saw my reflection in the metal railing. My eyes were puffy, they were salt streams raining down my cheek and my eyes were blood shot red.



I turned to look at my dad "dad you need to make sure violets case it priority. We need to knows who's behind this ASAP."

My dad looked at Violet's lifeless body somberly. "Of course she's like my daughter."

"I just can't believe they say she's fine. But she hasn't opened her eyes once," My mom muttered in her distinct British accent, a hint of disbelief tingeing his voice.

Violet's mom walked in. There was sad face wore a smile, a fragile façade masking the turmoil within "Oh, thanks for coming." We all mumbled our hellos to her.

"Thank you for coming." She took a breath " I walked in, and she was bleeding on the floor." Her mom started telling her story.

"Oi, where were you?" My mom demanded, a hint of frustration.

"I visited my son." Violet's mom answered in a raspy voice.

"You left your daughter alone to visit that bloody delinquent," My mum judged. Thick with disdain tone.

"That delinquent?.. Is my son" Violet's mom tries to defend "and if I knew this would happen. do you think. I would be out." Violet mom's said

My mom didn't soften up. She just crossed her arms, and looked her dead in the eyes.

I stood there and watched them.

"Honey calm down. I am sure if she had known she would have stayed." My dad tried to defuse.

They both just looked away from each other.



"Hey, I'll be back." I walked out the room I had to find Branson. I pulled out the phone, to call him. On the phone.

No answer

So I made my way to Candy's room. Than saw him on seated in a chair facing his sister. I didn't see his face, but I saw his shoulders shaking. I just stood there watching him. He sat there in silence. And I couldn't bring myself to interrupt this moment.

He was holding Candy's help. His voice cracked, with emotion. "Please wake up. I need you here with me. I hate seeing you like this." His shoulders started to shake uncontrollably, a visible tremor of anguish coursing through his frame.

I peeled myself away from the door. This broke my heart. Without thinking. I was looking for Dwayne.



I just took a breath and continued to look for Dwayne. I saw him and vomited out "hey I need your help?"

"With?" he had pure confusion on his face

I cleared my throat and said, "How can I make payments for Candy Monero?"

"Follow me to the front desk." He gave me a chirpy smile. And I passed him my card.