RILEY'S P.O.V

"You're not supposed to leave us alone." I talked to both of them when Connor parked the car in our garage.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Connor replied.

"I don't know. Maybe stop forcing things?" I looked away.

"Says the same person who begged to have a time for two in Hawaii." He also looked away. We froze. Toby only listened but didn't want to jump in.

"Maybe. But it was Hawaii."

"And what's that supposed to mean again?"

Connor and I still had our strong argument session even after we're home. And again, Toby chose to lock himself right after, while Connor and I were still stuck in front of our rooms with apparently so much to talk about.

"Meaning, I will get my time for two when I want it, not when I'm forced to have it."

"If we didn't leave you two, she would've been sad again. She wishes you to talk, you know that?"

"And I just hurt her again." I sighed.

"Because you didn't plan on doing otherwise."

Connor slapped me with the words. Yeah, maybe I didn't plan on taking it nicely with her. I could've saved it. But not really tried to.

"I just can't... For whatever reason."

"Ri, if there's one thing I could tell you about Cat, she's a wonderful girl. I don't like to see her get hurt by anyone, especially by you. So you better mind it, whatever you think you're doing."

He softly slammed the door behind him. And I was statued in front of everybody's locked room. Connor's right. There's nothing wrong with Catherine. She's an amazing girl. I was just stupid myself but still couldn't help but being one.

***

I think I was awake at 10 or something. Sun did fully shine. Hot day in LA.

I looked over the window and saw some people with their board and iced coffee in their hands enjoying the breeze.

Tuesday; she's on her second exam day.

I took a quick was in the bathroom only to make this tired face looked fresh. Grabbed the sweatshirt and slipped on the sport shoes, I walked outside with earphones on.

This neighborhood we were living in was nice. I nodded to some people who nicely said hi to me as I walked across them. I didn't know where I was about to go. Just to clear my mind though from this uncertain self-doubts.

Suddenly I felt my body was hit by something hard.

I woke up on a park bench somewhere still near my block. It was too bright because lying straight down and directly faced the sunshine. But I slowly realized there were couple of hands taking care of my head. I saw alcohol. I saw bandaid. I saw long hair.

"Cathe...rine?"

"Ssh." She calmly replied. "You need some stitches. I'll drive you there."

"What stitch..." I felt my forehead where she last swapped me with the alcohol. "Ouch."

"Let's go." Catherine helped me climb into her car.

"I..."

"You got hit by a car when I passed by." She drove away. "You're bleeding and I got first aid kit at the back of my car. But that needs some stitches."

"I walked on the path..."

"No, Riley, you walked crossing the street while the light's still green."

I didn't ask more. She's too focus on driving and not even looked at me in the eye while answered to my questions. Guess that's just how bad I've hurt her. But now she's still willing to help drive me to the hospital. God, what have I done.

"Nurse? Hi, uhm, he needs help. Car crash."

I heard her speak to a woman in blue uniform by the Emergency room while I waited in the car. Soon a bunch of people took care of me. They had the wheelchair because honestly I could barely walk, and one of them was talking to her.

The curtain's closed. I got first responders working on me; checking my blood pressure, my eyes, my dirty hands which also got light impact from holding my weight when I fell off, even my feet that's also hurt. I finally closed my eyes. Every part of my body started to ache.

Thank you, Cat.

CATHERINE'S P.O.V

Forget about the exam. Riley's bleeding pretty badly and got injured on several parts of his body too. He's now being taken care of by the team, while I was waiting for the administration staff to register him.

"Connor?" I dialed him.

"Too early." He groaned and hung me up.

I called again and this time talked fast. "Dude, listen to me. Riley just got hit by car. We're at the hospital."

"What?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

That one didn't need an answer. I just kept quite and heard him trying to get off his bed. He screamed for Toby. I also heard the young man answered. Basically Connor took his phone everywhere with me waiting across the line, until he hung up.

"For Mr. McDonough?" The staf called me.

"I am." I walked to her. "You need signature?"

"Yes, on here and right here." She showed me the bills.

"Guaranteed. He didn't bring his wallet with him."

We finished all the paper and I walked back to the Emergency room. The curtain's still closed. I overheard the doctor talking about stitching his wounds. The worst one was on his forehead. And I guess he also got a smaller ones on knees and elbow.

"Nurse, will he be okay?"

"He will. The stitches will not be too many but it's necessary. He'll be awake in couple of hours."

I looked at my watch. "Good to know. And uhm, can I leave him with you here? I need to catch up on something. But I've called his family too-"

"It's okay. He'll be safe with us."

"Thank you."

I slowly walked away. There's a battle in my head about whether or not I should wait for Toby and Connor. But apparently to get interviewed by them wasn't much a great thing. So I chose to leave.

My part's done here anyway.