"Dil!" Layne half way carries me halfway drags me into the her house.

"Jesus," I hear gasps at my appearance, "Layne what the fuck happened?"

"It's a long story," Layne replies, dropping me into a kitchen chair.

Apparently to say "my girlfriend who's not my girlfriend got fucked up defending my honor in what was basically a hate crime" is too long.

"She needs to go to a hospital, Layne," I assume it's Dil talking, as I come in and out of consciousness.

"Can't you fix her?" I hear Layne's voice, but it's sort of detached, like I'm not hearing it at all. I don't hear the garbled response, as everything goes black again.

***

"Kaylie Jane Parker!"

I jolt awake at the sound of my full government name being shouted at me.

"What in God's name happened to your face?" I groan, recognizing the sound of my father's voice.

"I got mugged," I attempt to formulate a good lie, "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," he gingerly touches my face, "I've told you about being out at night as a woman. You have to be more careful."

"I know," I mumble.

He fusses over me for a couple seconds longer before exiting the room. Then a few moments later I hear his car leave for work.

I open my eyes, the light coming in from my window burning. I flinch, my head throbbing. I'm in my room, but I don't remember every making it home.

"Are you okay?" I jump, just noticing Layne, seated on the edge of my bed, "Kaylie Jane?"

"Are you real?" I reach for her, my voice raspy. She's been here so many times in my dreams... I don't know if this is real or not...

"I don't know," She thumps my forehead, "Did that hurt, dumbass?"

"howlonghaveyoubeenhere?" I garble, my throat dry. She gets me a glass of cold water and some pain meds, "What are you doing here?" I try again. 

She shrugs, "I figured you took a cutting board to the face in my honor the least I can do is make sure you don't die of from complications of you being a complete idiot the other night."

The other night? I panick, "Woah, when was New Years?"

"Three days ago," she replies, "You've been in and out of consciousness since."

"Fuck," I lay back down, "And you didn't take me to the hospital?"

She laughs, "Cause you can afford a hospital?"

I reach up to touch my face,"How bad is it?"

She chuckles, "I wouldn't look in any mirrors in the near future. They may crack."

"Haha," I roll my eye, singular, since one side of my face isn't working, "You're so fucking funny."

"I don't need you sass," she replies, "It's your own fault this happened."

"I was protecting my girlfriend's honor," I smirk, my face crying out in protest.

"Ex-girlfriend," she corrects me, "We aren't back together yet. Also, I didn't kiss you last night. That was the Cuervo."

"Did the Cuervo want to fuck me on that couch, too?" I mock her voice, "Oh, KJ! I want all of you!"

"Shut up."

"Did the Cuervo fuck me last week, too?" I tease, referring to the hoodie incident, "Not that I was mad about it. Best Christmas gift I received, hands down."

She blushes, her body flashing red for a few seconds, and hits my chest, "This is exactly why we aren't back together yet! You're an asshole."

I smirk, "If I suck then why did you come over?"

"I figured the least I could do is make sure you didn't die," She shrugs, "Since you called yourself defending my honor and everything."

I continue to tease her, "How sweet of you."

"Stop smiling like that," she turns away, "I can't even look at you, you smug bastard."

"You love me," I can't help but cheese at the sight of her, even though my face cries out in protest.

"No I don't," she responds, "Why are you smiling like that?"

"You keep saying 'yet'," I keep up the shit eating grin, knowing she won't slap me in the condition I'm in, "We aren't back together 'yet'."

"Oh you're such an optimist," She kisses my cheek that isn't wrecked, "Don't think I won't slap you when you're healed."

"So you'll still be talking to me?" I tease. She rolls her eyes again, "You're back to being an asshole, so I'm going to assume you're fine now."

I reach for her hand and she puts them both in the air, "I'm not falling for your trap," she steps away, "You're gonna lay in this bed, by your damn self. You're gonna think about what the fuck you want. You're going to heal, you're going to get some rest. You're gonna do all this shit. And then you're gonna earn me back. AND then--- Only fucking then--- can you hold my hand. Are we clear?"

"Yes ma'am," I agree, having no other apparent choice. She turns to leave and I wonder aloud, "Is this because I took too fucking long to apologize?"

"Yes. Yes, the hell it is," she leans back into my bedroom, causing me to jump, "You coulda had all this," she gestures to herself, "but you decided to be a bitch for three weeks. So now, I'm gonna be in a bitch too dammit."

And with that she turns to leave. Again.

Why is she so fucking petty?

***

I spend the rest of my break sleeping, and in pain. Mindy, Beck, and even Nat alternate checking in on me, making sure that I don't die. Its the most ghetto nurse shift change, but its sweet that they care just enough to know I have a concussion, but not enough to take me to get real medical help.

Even though she said she wouldn't, I catch Layne sneaking in at night. I pretend to be asleep while she places her head over my chest, listening. It doesn't take me long to realize she's listening for my heart to keep beating.

"I don't even like praying," she whispers, "And I don't even really believe in God. But she does so here I am or whatever... So if KJ's God is real then you aren't allowed to take her. You hear me? She's done too much stupid shit for her to die over a cutting board to the face. She's got so much other stupid shit she needs to do first. Like marry me. Okay? Amen?"

I hold in a chuckle at what is probably the worst prayer ever. I send up my own mental prayer, that He hears hers, not that I need to co-sign her prayers. I listen as her breathing slows, but I'm not sure if she gets any sleep herself. But when the sun rises the next day, she's gone.

***

By the time Monday rolls around and its time to start school again, my face has gone down, a purple and yellow bruise left in its place. I turn down my father's offer to stay home, dragging myself into the shower and driving myself to school as usual. After all, I only have NCT, with Eastern starting the next day.

"Oh my GOD!" I'm late to school since I drive extra slow, hoping that I don't crash and kill myself. This means the entire class gets a good look at my face all at once. My teachers glance at me and I shrug, "You should see the other guy."

"Well alright," Graves tries to go back to teaching, but the class' interest has now shifted.

Jonah perks up, "God, KJ, what did you do? Fight a gorilla or something?"

"I got in a fight and this guy slammed a cutting board into my head to get away from me," I shrug, "He wasn't ready."

I take a seat and the class slams me with more questions. Where was I? Is it on video? Who did I fight? Did I win? Did I go to a hospital? Do I need to go to a hospital?

"I'm fine guys, I swear," I shoot a glance at Layne, who's avoiding my eyes entirely. Or should I say avoiding my eye.

"Okay then..." Graves gives me another odd look, "We know how KJ's break went. How was everyone else's?"

Since it's the first day back, we're given another massive study guide. I knock the whole thing out before break, most of my classmates preferring to stare at me still instead of actually talk to me. Which is fine. I have other homework to do.

"Ten minute break!" Graves announces. The class room empties, aside from Layne and I. I immediately jump at the opportunity to speak with her.

"Are you gonna need a ride home?" I question.

She shakes her head, "Nice try, but that was last year Layne. This year Layne can drive, has a car, and isn't nearly as thirsty."

"But still thirsty?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Tuh, not so fast," she chuckles, "I have means of quenching the thirst. I'm choosing not to though. For the moment."

"Don't play with me, girl," I lower my voice.

"Kaylie Jane?" Wren peeks in, "Can I talk to you?"

"In a minute," I brush her off, "Back to you...."

She gives me a devilish smirk, "You aren't the only one with hoes, baby," she winks, "Mine are just dormant, for when my main thing acts up."

"So I'm your main thing?" I half-joke, but am also dead ass. Throw me a bone here, please...

"KJ!" Wren calls me again.

"Somebody wants you," she smirks. Bitch really?

I head over to her and find she's gone. Are you shitting me?

"KJ," Wren slaps a hand on my shoulder, seemingly having spawned out the air, "Are you really okay?"

"Totally it only hurts all the time."

"I wasn't talking about your eye," she says.

I stop, "Neither was I."

The break ends and I take my seat back at my desk. When class is over, I walk Layne back to her car. And by that, I mean I follow her like a stalker. She arrives at a blue Accord, which is in great condition even though its clearly an older model.

"You aren't parked over here," she comments.

"Facts," she tosses her bag in the backseat and I lean against the driver's side, "But I wanted to make sure you get to your car safely."

"How sweet," she says sarcastically, "Please move."

I do, opening her door for her. She ducks under my arm, sliding into the car. She watches me, clearly suspicious.

"What are you up to, Parker?"

"Nothing," I lie, "I just want you to know, I'm about to get very annoying."

"Maybe I like them annoying," she bites her lip, holding back a smile.

I hold back one of my own, "Good."

I close her door and watch her drive away, before heading back to my own car.