- 1.7

IT WAS DARK. I can see that it was dark. I can hear my blood flowing so calmly in my veins. I can hear people talking everywhere and even the beepings and machines.

I was on fire. Am I okay? Am I still alive? Am I dead? Where am I? My thoughts shut down. I can feel my throat smoldering as I wake up.

"Where-"

"Lavender!" I look to my right, it was Daniel.

"Daniel?" "Shh! It's okay. You're okay." I try to sit up but he didn't let me. "The doctor said that you should lay down for a while." I frown as I look to the corner, to see a sleepy Zach. I point at him as Daniel looks at him.

"He's been here since he put you in the wheelchair. He didn't leave. Heck, he doesn't want to leave you even if we tried to tell him to leave."

"H-How long?"

"Almost a day.." He said as I frown, I look at the table next to Daniel to see a glass of water. He looks at it as he gives it to me, he lifts me a little to helps me drink it.

"Thanks," I said as he put it down on the table and I lay down. "How are you feeling?" He said as I shrug. "Is it.. okay?" He looks down as he holds my hand. "It's okay... but you have to do surgery." He kisses my hands as he plays with them.

We're trying not to say things in front of Zach, he doesn't know and he doesn't need to know.

"I-Is it l-low on-" He nods as he hugs me.

"Lavender?" I pull away and I look at Zach who's finally awake.

I give him a weak smile as he stands up from the couch and comes towards us. "Are you okay?" I nod, "Are you sure?" "Yes, Z." I grab his hand and pull him closer to me as Daniel moves out the way and I hug Zach.

Right when I pull away from the hug, a doctor came in as Daniel stands up and walk away with them.

As soon as he closes the door, Zach sits down where Daniel was sitting. He looks at me and smiles. He cups my face with his left hand as he holds my hand with the other.

"I was scared, I thought I lost you there for a second." He said as I smile as I pull his hand that's holding my hand closer. "You're not losing me, Avery," I said as the door opens to reveal the whole squad.

"Lav!" Thomas calls as he shows me the headless Prince Chad doll, as I laugh and shake my head. "How are you feeling?" Nate gently pushes Zach away as I look at Zach and mouthed a 'sorry' as he smiles and nods.

"I'm okay, Nate. Calm down." He quickly hugs me as I hug him back. "Daniel told us. I thought I told you that you need to tell us if something like this happens, we talked about this, Lavender." I pull away as I frown and look down.

"I don't know- I-It just happened out of nowhere..." I play with my fingers as he made me look at him. "Is it possible that something triggered it?" He said as I shrug.

He looks at Zach and back to me as I look at him confused. "What?" He smiles, what is he up to now?

"Did the kiss triggered it?"

"I-I I don't know what you're t-talking about.." I look down embarrassed.

"Your face is a little red. So it is?"

"Fuck off!" I playfully slap him on his shoulder as he laughs.

"I'm just asking questions, chill!" He raises his hands up in defense.

"I just- I like him, Nathan. I really do." He put his hands down and listens.

"Are you sure about that?" He said as I look at Zach, he's talking to Kristoffer and Thomas is trying to get him to see the headless doll.

"Your time is numbered, Lavender." I close my eyes as I sigh and look at him, "Then I guess I have to live with it, Nate." I start to tear up, I don't care what's gonna happen. As long as I'm happy, then everything is okay.

I look back at Zach as he looks at me and smiles. He stands up from the couch and walks towards us. "Is Carlos bothering you, my queen?" He said as I giggle. I look at Nathan, who's looking at us confused.

"Did Mrs. Mendoza put you both to a play that we don't know about?" Nate said as I laugh. I grab Zach's hands and play with his rings. He pulls himself closer as I hug him and he did the same.

Daniel comes in with the doctor from earlier as everyone went into silence. "Good afternoon, Ms. Dimistrescu. I'm Dra. Winters, how are you feeling?" I pull away quickly as I'm still holding his hand. "I'm okay, I'm just-" I look at Zach as he smiles at me, how do I say it without him knowing what's really happening?

I look back to the doctor, "I'm okay, just shaken... I guess." She nods as she writes something to her pad.

"Okay, so um, you're aware of having the surgery today, yes?" She said as I nod and slightly grip on Zach's hand. I feel someone's hand rubbing my back and it was him.

"We've started preparing for the surgery, so I'll be back with a wheelchair for you." With that, she left as I deeply sigh and let go of Zach's hand. "Hey, don't think anything shit, Lav. It's not good for you." Nate said

Something was put on my neck as I look what it is, and it was this padlock necklace Zach always wears. I look at him as he kisses my forehead. "If you're afraid, just hold on to that." He said as he smiles.

Dra. Winters comes back with a wheelchair as he helps me get out of the hospital bed, once I sit down from the wheelchair, I hold on to Zach. "Can he come?"

"I'm sorry, sweetie. He can't. You'll see him once you're out of surgery." She said and smile, I look at Zach one last time before leaving the room. "I'll be here when you wake up, precious." He said as I hesitantly remove my hands on his as we leave the room.

I play with the necklace he gave me earlier as I smile. I love him.