The hospital wasn't a kind place to me. Once I'd woken up and was well enough to eat on my own, Ember was gone. It was literally like I only got to see her long enough for her to tell Morgan off. Which, might I add, was everything I ever needed. Morgan was a great person, and at some point, I loved her. But not anymore. Now, that small brunette with the almost black eyes had swept me off of my feet.


Thankfully, the day had come for me to leave this dump. Ember and the guys were still at school, which meant my tutor who my mom had hired in my days away from school, would be coming by when I got home. Mom brought me a fresh change of clothes and I was put in a wheel chair. They took me all the way to the car where I slid in behind mom and Carl, feeling sick from the motion.


They didn't speak much as we were on the way home. Mom was mad at me, I knew that much. Because of the accident, I had been given a court date in two months for a DUI. My license was currently revoked and I had a record. Mom, honestly, wanted to kill me. But she was thankful I was alive, just like everyone else.


When we arrived at the house, Carl helped me out of the car. I had most of my weight supported on him, mostl because my ribs still hurt so bad. He helped me into the house and onto the couch. Mom mumbled something about going to get me soup, but when she returned, there was no food in sight. Nope, she came back with a bunch of kids around my age following behind her. My friends, they were all here. I was surprised to find they all still cared.


"Jack!"


Naturally, I would have expected Ember to be the one to jump in my arms and kiss the fuck out of my cheek, but it was Alex. Despite the soreness in my body, he jumped on my lap, wrapped his arms around my neck and kissed my cheek until even I started thinking it was a little gay.


"If you ever fucking do anything like this again-" He stopped long enough to look at my mom, "sorry, I know, mouth. But if you ever do this again, I swear I'll kill you myself."


"You won't have to. I'll off myelf alone."


With that single comment, everyone grew silent. Of course my depression was still something that needed to be addressed. Ember hadn't caused all of this, though she did push me over the edge. Still, it wasn't something I wanted to talk about right now.


"Okay, kids. I made Jack's favorite meal! Whoever is hungry, come on!"


Rian and Cass took off first, followed by Zack, Rian and Carl. Ember stayed in the corner, a small smile on her lips. I leaned across the couch and whispered to her, my insides tingling from the simple fact that she no longer hated me.


"Tell my mom I'm tired and you're taking me to bed."


Ember took off without a second thought. Knowing damn well my mom would buy the story, and how much of a sucker she was for my friends, I forced myself into a standing position. It took all of my energy, but I carried myself to the stairs and managed to pull myself up them and into my room before Ember finished talking to my mom. I fell down on my bed and breathed in the air I missed so deeply.


It was stupid, what I did, but it was real. I'll be paying this for the rest of my teenage years. At least it helped me realize who I really am. I am not my father and I never would be. I can't hurt her the way her hurt my mom, I loved her too much. Honestly, I had something my dad never had. Hope.


"Jack?" Ember knocked on my door, slowly opening it. "How'd you get up here."


"I'd walk a thousand miles in the worst conditions just to be alone with you."


We haven't really had a chance to talk alone, no since Morgan left the hospital. There was still so much between us that needed to be said. Ember took the hint and sat down beside me on the bed, curling up into a ball so that her head was resting on my sore shoulder.


"Ember, I'm sorry. For everything. You're better than Morgan in every way possible. Not only are you the most gorgeous girl I've ever seen, not only do my friends love you almost more than they love me, but you're real. You're perfect. You're everything I've ever wanted and I'm so sorry for making you doubt it."


Guess my words hit a spot, because she sat up enough to kiss me. God, I missed her kisses. I missed everything about her. Even if hurt, I'd break my back for this girl.


"For so long," I mumbled in between kisses, "I thought there was nothing wrong with me. You fixed me, Ember."


"I love you, Jack," she kissed my lips one last time. "That night, I was ready to tell you everything. I was ready to fix us, and then we got the call.."


"I'm sorry."


"Don't be," Ember smiled, kissing my neck. "It was my fault."


"Yeah.. For being so fucking perfect."


Ember giggled, curling up against me once more. She relaxed into my arms, not even caring that our parents were right under us.


"Rian and Cass know."


"What?"


"Alex told them. They support us, Jack."


No words were needed. Apart from our parents, the most importanat people in my life knew. For me, that meant we were real. Ember was mine and I was Ember's. Fuck everything else.
Maybe I still wasn't who I'm supposed to be and maybe I'm still lost, but I'd rather be lost with this girl than on my own.

Notes

A tiny bit of fluff for all you vocal people. <3.