The Pandora Rehabilitation Centre was a four hour drive from the gates of Caldwell and we had left super early. So early that I was still half-asleep, pulled my comforter off my single bed and wrapped myself in it. I sat in the passenger seat of Chase's car, snuggled up in that and one of his numerous hoodies that have slowly migrated from his closet and into mine.

The structure itself was beautiful. It sat on large lake and was surrounded by dark greenery and manicured lawns. It was white with an overload of glass and looked very clean and clinical. It sprawled out over the land and separated buildings surrounded it. Chase was right, this was fancy as fuck.

Chase pulls his car into an empty parking space and soon we were standing out side the doors, side by side and staring up at the large building. In a shiny metallic placard above the double glass doors was the name of the centre. My neck turns slowly and my gaze drifts to Chase.

"Are you ready?" I question as Chase continues to stare up at the building as if that's the only thing he could do.

"What do you think?" Chase gives me a dead look, "You dragged me here."

"Don't be such a drama queen." I snort as I step closer to him and intertwine my fingers with his. I place my other hand on his bicep and rest my cheek on his shoulder. "Do you think we should have a code word?"

Chase hums, "A code word?"

"You know, when you want to leave." I explain as my cheeks squishes against his shoulder, "What about Capsicum?"

"Right, because that's not fucking suspicious at all." Chase scoffs as he turns and holds my head between his two hands. He smiles down at me, "God, I love you. I don't think I'll ever get use to saying that."

"I don't think I'll ever get use to hearing that." I grin as Chase quickly pecks my lips. "Let's go."

I grab Chase by the hand again and lead him inside. It was big and spacious and so...white. It looked too clean to touch.

"Uh, can I help you?" A voice question as Chase and I glance to our left instantly. A woman in a white nurse's dress stood behind a desk that was—yup—white as well. I smile softly at her as I strut towards her.

"Yes you can." I reply smoothly as I lean my forearm on the elevated reception desk, "We were hoping to visit Cassandra Everett."

"And what is your relationship to Ms Everett?" The lady questions as she takes a seat and begins typing aggressively on the large iMac in front of her. She then glances up at us when there was a slight pause of silence.

"Her son." Chase answers simply and I glance up at him with a supportive smile.

The lady stands from her chair and it's wheels slide along the smooth surface of the ground. She then retrieves an iPad and stylist and places it in front of us. Does apple sponsor this place or something?

"I will need you each to sign in. Fill in your full name, date of birth and sign here using the pen." The lady explains quickly as if she's done it a million times before. I step forward and pick up the stylist in my right hand. "You will also need to sign out when you leave."

I quickly jot down my details onto the screen and press save. A blank document then pops up and awaits Chase's details. I extend the pen to him and he takes it with his left hand.

"You may take a seat and a doctor will be with you shortly." The lady gestures to the large room of modern white sofas behind us. The two of us slowly take a seat on one and glance around the brightly lit place. It was so quiet and calm in here.

"Everything is so clean." I mumble as I fold one leg over the other and lean into Chase's body. "There not gonna make us take steriliser showers or something, right?"

"You've been watching too many movies, Jones." Chase chuckles as he places a hand to the back of my neck and kisses my forehead. He was nervous, I could feel it basically oozing out of him. I mean, it wasn't surprising but it did make my heart squeeze in sorrow. It hurt to know that he was nervous to see his own mother.

Soon, a doctor walks into the room. He was the only one not in white and instead he wore brown khaki pants and a maroon crew neck sweater. He looked to be in his late fifties with his greying hair and gold framed glasses.

"Chase Everett?" He questions as he reaches us. We both stand instantly. "We've talked a couple times over the phone. I'm your mother's psychiatrist, Doctor Brookes."

Psychiatrist? I thought this was a rehabilitation centre?"

Chase nods as he shakes the doctor's extended hand, "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Doctor Brookes smiles at him, "Well, are you ready to see your mother?"

After the reception lady hands us our visitors passes which we clip onto our clothes, Doctor Brookes takes us to an elevator. We all climb inside the reflective box and I watch as he pushes the level 2 button. Above it had a printed sticker with letters VW; visiting ward.

"How is she?" Chase questions, his arms folded across his chest to stop himself from fiddling. He fiddled when he was anxious.

"She's excellent and in a very good mood today." Doctor Brookes grins happily, "She's been excited all week after receiving your reply. Cassandra really wants to see you, Chase."

Chase remains silent as I glance at him and offer him a small smile. The elevator doors open on the second floor and Doctor Brookes leads us out. We follow him into a large open room with sofas and tables and an entire wall was taken out and replaced with glass over looking the lake. The doctor gestures towards a single lady sitting at a table, gazing out of the window.

Her back was to us but her long black hair flowed down the back of her cream dressing gown.

"Cassandra." Doctor Brookes calls as the woman who glances over her shoulder at her name. Her eyes widen as Chase comes to a stop beside me. She stands from her chair, the sound echoing through the quiet room.

Chase mumbles, "Mom."

The woman looked like she was going to cry and honestly; same energy lady. She moves away from the table and walks over to Chase before quickly wrapping her arms around him. She looked tiny and fragile next to him. It took a few seconds for Chase to adjust and slowly but surely he hugged her back.

"Let me get a good look at you, Chase." Cassandra says as she stands back and stares up at Chase. She grabs his cheeks between two hands as she observe him, "My god, you've mature so much my baby boy. And your eyes; the Everett hazel gene. They look so much like your sisters."

"I'll be sitting over here if you need me." Doctor Brookes interrupts quickly as he gestures to another table in the room. We all nod at him as he departs from the small group.

Chase then glances at me and remembers something, "Oh, Mom. This is Hayden, my girlfriend."

"Hi, it's nice to meet you, Ms Everett." I smile at her as I hold out my hand. She completely ignores my handshake and goes in for a tight hug.

"Call me Cassandra, Hayden." She mumbles into my ear before stepping back. "I knew something had to be different for Chase to finally come and visit me."

Chase can only smile at the tense subject.

Shortly after, we all take a seat at the table. Chase faces his mother and I sit next to him. Chase takes my hand and holds it in both of his palm, keeping it on his lap. I've noticed that when he gets really nervous, he'll touch me in some way. Even if it's just a brush, he'll do it. I think it's him reminding himself that I'm here; that he's not alone.

"How are you?" Chase manages to ask.

"Better. I've still got a long road ahead of me until I can say I'm good. But for now, I'll just go with better." Cassandra smiles and I realised how beautiful she was. It was a natural beauty and she had the same hazel eyes as Chase, except hers were more of a faded green. She had a beauty mark just above the top left corner of her lip and her cheekbones were so prominent. "It was terrible at the start and the withdrawal was just horrendous. I didn't want you or Sofia to see me like that."

They were also different in the sense of over-sharing. Where Cassandra shares too much, Chase shares absolutely nothing.

"I eventually got through it. I have pictures of you and your sister in my room to remind myself when it gets really hard." Cassandra smiles as she plays with the sleeves of her dressing gown. "So, your grandfather tells me your interested in architecture?"

"Yup, I've been visiting his offices quite often. He wants me to get a job there when I finish at University." Chase explains and I fold one leg over the other and rest further back into my chair. Chase was nervously fiddling with my fingers but I let him. I glance out our interwoven hands, noticing how small mine were compared to his.

"That's really great Chase. Your aunt tells me that Sofia is really interested in politics. She's even captain of her school's debating team." She explains, beaming like a proud mother. Chase doesn't talk much about Sofia but the smile that lights up on his face at the mention of her tells me he still cares deeply.

He laughs, "Of course she is. She loved to argue over anything."

We all laugh lightly before the table falls silent again. I could tell both of them wanted to say something but couldn't find the right words. Then, Cassandra speaks up.

"Can I ask you something?" She questions as she glances up from her lap, "Why now? Why haven't you visited me before Chase?"

"I thought you didn't want me to." Chase answers honestly as I squeeze his hands softly. He had to get everything out now. But then again, this is coming from the girl who bottles literally everything up until she looses it over a pair of mismatched socks. Chase continues, "Don't you blame me...for everything?"

"Blame you?" Cassandra splutters in shock. Her eyes then round and her eyebrows slope, "My baby boy, of course not, how could you ever think that? I blame myself more than anything."

I honestly felt like crying so fucking hard right now. But I was here as support and what good is support when it's a damn sobbing ball of mess?

"I put you and Sofia in an unsafe environment. That's completely on me. Your father broke my heart and I went searching for the glue in all the wrong places." Cassandra explains as a stray tear drop falls from her green eyes, "You didn't do anything wrong."

This is what Chase needed. He needed reassurance that he was a good person. That he wasn't as fucked up as the doctors, the judges and the police officers made him up to be. He was Chase Everett; a kind-minded person who would do anything for those he loves.

Here we fucking go.

A tear falls from my eyes and I quickly wipe it away.

"I need to go to the bathroom." I announce as I take my hand from Chase's and stand from my chair. They needed to be alone right now. They needed to be mother and son if only for a few more minutes. I place a hand to Chase's should and smile at Cassandra, "I'll be right back."

I quickly walk away from the table and find the nearest bathroom. I stumble inside, lock it and place two hands on the white vanity bowl. Glancing up, I glance into my crying eyes. You've got this, Hayden. I'm a bad bitch you can't kill me. I'm pretty sure mentally reciting Vines have become a new coping mechanism. Therapists take note.

Wiping the tears from my eyes, I run my hands through my hair and leave the small bathroom. I turn, ready to head back to the visiting ward, when a voice stops me.

"Hey, can you help me?" My head whips around at the voice to see a guy about my age, sitting in a wheel chair and attempting to input a code into a vending machine. But he couldn't reach. "I really want some Sour Patch Kids."

I smile and nod silently as I scurry over to him. He was really good looking with shaggy sandy blonde hair and brown eyes. He grins up at me as I reach him and quickly input the desired code into the vending machine.

"Thanks." He says as reaches down and retrieves the packet from the slot. He then glances back up at me and extends his hand, "I'm Jonah."

"Hayden." I reply as I shake his hand. I glance down, noticing a dark green cast poking out the bottom of his white pajama pants. "What happened?"

"Skateboarding while wired on amphetamines is not the best idea." He chuckles as he lifts his pant leg a little higher, "Now my knee is seventy percent metal."

"Just stick a couple magnets to it and it's your new party trick." I laugh to myself before I could stop myself. Jonah was smiling at me as my eyes widen, "Shit, I'm sorry. That was a very lame joke."

"No, I liked it." Jonah laughs as he places the packet of candy in his lap. "Would you mind pushing me so I can eat these? I'm not allowed food in my room."

I glance over my shoulder in the direction of the visiting ward. Then I turn back to Jonah, "Sure."

I grab onto the handles at the back of Jonah's wheelchair and begin to slowly push him down the hall. It was quiet and the light flooding in from all the glass reflected off the white floor. It was so peaceful.

"So, Hayden, are you new here?" Jonah questions from in front.

"No, I'm visiting with my boyfriend. His mother is a patient here." I explain as I turn a corner. I realised that Jonah hasn't told me where I was taking him but I didn't bother to ask. He probably enjoyed being out of his room.

"Boyfriend." He chuckles to himself, "Of course a pretty girl like yourself would have a boyfriend."

I glance down at me feet at the that, feeling blood rush to my cheeks.

"Are you blushing?" Jonah questions.

"Nope."

"I like you Hayden." Jonah laughs loudly as I glance out of the glass wall at the beautiful grounds the surrounded the building. "Can I ask how old you are?"

"Eighteen." I answer simply. I didn't even feel eighteen; I still felt like a little fourteen year old still obsessed with Bratz dolls and braiding friendship bracelets. "You?"

He replies, "Just turned nineteen last week."

"Well, happy belated birthday then." I say as a nurse and another guy around our age turns the corner. The guy was also fucking gorgeous and I started wondering if they only accepted good looking people into this place.

He was holding onto the nurse and wore a pair of dark glasses over his eyes. His disheveled brown hair that looked so soft fell in front his perfectly sculpted face. He was blind, I could see that much from here.

"Jonah!" The nurse exclaims as she spots us. She hurries over as fast as she could with the other guy holding onto her forearm. She stops in front of us and points down, "You know your not allowed sugar of any kind!"

Jonah holds up the now empty packet, "I—"

"It's mine." I interrupt quickly. The nurse and Jonah all glance at me, "Jonah was just holding it for me while I pushed him." 

"And you are?" The nurse questions as she eyes me suspiciously. I glance down at Jonah who was trying hard to hold back his laughter. My eyes then slowly raise back to the nurse.

I lie, "His sister."
"You don't have a fucking sister, Jonah." The blind boy scoffs as he folds his arms across his chest. He was really fucking handsome. I'm pretty sure he was my age if not younger.

"Shut the fuck up, Ben." Jonah snaps back quickly. "She use to be my step-sister." 

"And you didn't give him any?" The nurse questions as she narrows her eyes on me. She seemed so intimidating even though she was so tiny. 

"Of course not." I reply and then place a hand to my chest in shock, "Are you implying that I know nothing about my brother?" 

"Oh no, I just—" 

I hold my shoulders back, "He is my brother, Nurse..."

"Justine." Jonah coughs under his breath.

"Justine." I say clearer, hoping she couldn't see the panic on my face. I glance at the blind boy standing very staunch beside her to see a arrogant smirk on his face as he listened to this conversation. "Now, if you would excuse us Jonah is very tired and I should get him back to his room."

And with that, I move the wheelchair around them and continue to push Jonah down the hall. When we had turned another corner, Jonah erupts into a fit of laughter.
"That was fucking gold!" Jonah exclaims as he continues to laugh, "Where the hell did you come from?"

"Most people will say the fiery depths of hell. But San Diego works too." I reply casually as he begins laughing again.

I continued to push Jonah around the second floor of the rehabilitation centre for about another twenty minutes. We just talked and talked about basically anything. He was a more tamed version of Noah.

Soon enough, we run into Chase and Cassandra. 

"Ah, there you are!" Cassandra exclaims as we reach them, "And you've found friend." 

"Is this the boyfriend?" Jonah questions as he points to Chase and glances at me. I nod.

"So what have you two been up to?" Cassandra questions as I glance at Chase. His jaw was clenched shut as he remained quiet. Someone's a little jealous.

"Hayden has just been making my day a thousand times better." Jonah explains as he grins cheekily up at me. I glance a Chase once more. "I honestly haven't laughed so much in a long time. You're a very lucky guy."

Chase remains quiet as he folds his arms and raises an eyebrow at me. Oh yeah, he was jealous.

"Jonah is quite the sweet talker aren't you?" Cassandra chuckles down at him, "He makes all the nurses here swoon." 

Jonah turns in his wheel chair and grins up at me, "Did I make you swoon, Hayden?"

"I think it's time to go." Chase announces before I could reply to Jonah.

Cassandra and I could only laugh at Chase's blatant jealousy.

After a nurse appears and wheels Jonah away, Doctor Brookes, Cassandra, Chase and I all walk back down to the entrance of the building. We hand in our visitors passes and sign our names out on the iPad. Chase and Cassandra hug for a long time and I felt like I was going to start bursting into tears again.

When they were finished Cassandra turns to me and wraps her arms around me.

"Thank you." She whispers into my ear, "Thank you for bringing my son here."

I frown, "How did you—"

"Chase told me." She explains quietly as I gaze over at Chase who was talking to the doctor, "It's so very clear that he loves you, Hayden. And it makes me extremely happy to know that there's someone out there who loves him back." 

"It's my pleasure." I reply before we step back from the hug.

We say our goodbyes and Doctor Brookes takes Cassandra away for her afternoon pills. Chase and I walk in silence back to his car but when we get there, Chase stops me. I lean back against the vehicle as he stands in front of me.

"I wanted to thank you." Chase mutters as he places his hands on my waist. "I wouldn't have come here if you didn't make me." 

"I know. You're a stubborn asshole." I smirk as I wrap my arms around his neck, "But your my stubborn asshole and I'd do anything for you, Everett."

"I can see why that cocky son of bitch in there said I'm so lucky." Chase smirks at me as I roll my eyes.

"I like seeing you jealous." I smirk as I push up onto my toes and kiss him, "It really turns me on." 

Chase hums against me lips, "Really?" 

"Oh yeah." I reply breathlessly, "I think you should show me just how thankful you are, Everett."

"I think I just might, Jones."

And twenty minutes later, we were stumbling into the room of some fancy hotel, ripping the clothes off each other. I think I'm going to be late for curfew again. 

soooooo i know i said i'd update yesterday but ya girl went hard on saturday night at a friend's 21st 

i'm still hungover as fuck while writing this

also the blind boy in this chapter who's name is ben is going to be in a new book that i might bring out soon. 

would you read it?