Chapter When Lydia Rivers wole again , It felt as if her body had been taken apart and put back together wrong A nurse stood by the bed at Hylan Medical Center , speaking to Chase Bylan with her back to Lydia . " Multiple soft - issue contusions , mild concussion . She's also still dealing with the aftereffects of the nut allergy and the previous car accident ... " Chase's face held raw remorse and lear . The second he saw Lydia's eyes open , he stepped forward . " Lydia ! You're awake . I'm sorry I had no idea something like that would happen . If I'd known , I never would've hung up . Don't worry , I already had the guys who touched you hauled in . They won't dare try anything again . " Lydia stared at the ceiling , numb . She parted her lips to speak when the door swung open . Sienna Quinn slipped in , eyes red . " Chase , my dad's test results just came back There are terms 1 don't understand . Can you help me read them ? " Chase faltered , clearly torn . After a long beat , he said quietly , " Lydia , get some rest . I'll be right back . He left with Sienna . He didn't come back for days . When Sienna finally showed up alone , she " Lydia , P'm sorry . We brought in an outlist for my dad , a Chase to help . Since no one's with you , let me take care of you , " Don't bother , " Lydia said , voice cool . a lot of the medical vocabulary is in English . I could only ask " Don't refuse , " Sienna went on , pouring water for herself as if she owned the room . " I owe you . If you hadn't covered my shift , you wouldn't have gotten hurt . " Lydia looked at her , then sliced straight through these " It's just the two of us . Why are you still acting ? " Sienna's smile stalled . Slowly , it faded into something faintly mocking " So you did see my Close Friends posts . I thought you hadn't - that's the only She tipped her head , lashes fluttering . you could've stayed so gracious . " " Since you saw them , you should know your place . Even if Chase still likes you for now , with the way he and I are , he'll be mine sooner or later . Be sinart Bow out on your own and save a little face . " Lydia's mouth twitched into the ghost of a smile . " Are you finished ? Then you can leave . " Sienna's eyes hardened . " So you'd rather take the hard way . " Her voice turned cold . " Don't blame me for what happens next . " She abruptly reeled backward and cracked her forehead on the corner of the spare bed with a dull thud . The door opened at once Chase stopped in . His gaze landed on Sienna crumpled on the floor and on Lydia sitting upright , expressionless . His face changed . " Sienna ! What happened ? " Sienna collapsed into his arms , crying like a rainstorm . " I came to check on Lydia , but I think she's upset you've been helping me ... with my dad ... She pushed me . " Chase's anger flared as he rounded on Lydia . " I explained , didn't I ? Her father's condition is serious . This is my family's hospital - of course I'm going to help . Over something this small , you had to lay hands on her ? " Lydia felt a wave of exhaustion so deep it hollowed her out . " She's lying . I didn't touch her . She fell on purpose . " Chase's voice sharpened . " Lydia ! Since when did you become so unreasonable ? Why would she frame you by hurting herself ? For what ? You hurt her - apologize Now . " " I didn't do anything . I won't apologize . " " Chase , let it go , " Sienna said quickly , saintly through her tears . " We're classmates . No apology needed . " Chase looked at Sienna , then back at Lydia with growing disgust . " See how gracious Sienna is ? And look at you . Lydia , where's your perspective? How did you turn into this ? " it him who changed - or her ? Numbness crawled through Lydia's chest . Was " Either way , I'm not apologizing . " A nurse entered - Amy Walsh , with fresh dressings in a tray . Chase , still seething , snapped at her . " Stop her meds for this room . She can start again when she's ready to apologize . " Then , in a gentler voice to Sienna . " Let's get you patched up . He led Sienna out . " No one came back to change Lydia's bandages for days fle " She had no strength to transfer hospitals , and she refused to alarm her already overworked parents . She did what she could alone . Without proper care , her wounds grew red and swollen , burning until tears slipped down her cheeks at night . In her dreams , Chase was the boy who remembered every allergy , every soft spot , every need . When she woke , only the cold air and unending pain kept her And still , she refused to bend . company On discharge day , she checked herself out alone . As she stepped through the hospital doors , she saw Chase - there to pick up Sienna . Sienna clung to his waist , voice sweet with gratitude . " Chase , thank you . If it weren't for you , my dad wouldn't have recovered this fast . " Chase smiled , easy as breathing . " We're classmates . Don't mention it . " Lydia looked away and headed for the curb . Chapter6 27.27 % Chase spotted her instantly and caught her by the wrist . " Why are you being discharged ? " " She shook him off . " You told the staff to stop my treatment . It I didn't leave , was I supposed to wait here and die ? " He sighed , exasperated . " Why are you so stubborn ? All you had to do was apologize , and none of this would've happened . ' " I didn't do it . I won't apologize . " His expression went cold . " You're sure ? " " Absolutely . " Chapter