Eden High: Series 1 (Eden High 1-6)

“Oh fuck baby, what the fuck?” Believe it or not, that made me laugh. I looked around when he finally allowed me to lift my head.

“Where are we, what happened?” He just hugged me tighter to his chest and rocked me.

“You were hurt baby, I’m so sorry.” He just kept kissing me all over my face and my mouth that tasted like sawdust.

Finally he laid me back against the pillows, just as a team of nurses and doctors came rushing in.

They tried to get him off the bed and out of the room, but they obviously didn’t know Jace Saunders. He didn’t budge.

“I’m not leaving, do what you have to.” He sat there and held my hand while they poked and prodded.

My parents were soon there and the room got crowded when his joined us. I’m not sure what hospital protocol was, but I was pretty sure we weren’t following it.

It was then I learned the extent of my injuries and little snippets of my dream came back to me.

After the doctors it was time to talk to the police, but I was afraid I wasn’t of much help. I could only remember little bits and pieces, and nothing seemed to fit.

“I was in an alley? But what was I doing there?” I rubbed my head as I tried to remember, but nothing came to me.

“That’s what we’re trying to find out Ms. Claiborne. Now you don’t remember anything after getting on the bus? No phone calls, no one asking you to go somewhere?”

I tried remembering that day, but all I saw was the game and Jace walking me to the bus after.

“Wait, what I saw just before I woke up, if it’s more than just a dream maybe it can help? I couldn’t see his face, but I felt like I knew him.”

“Knew him how, like he’s a friend, someone you hang out with, someone you’re close to.”

“I’m not sure, I just...there was just something familiar about him.” I guess that wasn’t really much help after all.

“You’re new here right, so you don’t know that many people as yet. Why don’t you give your brain a rest, you’ve been through a lot? And we’ll get back to this in a day or so.

The good thing is that you’re awake now and the doctors expect you to make a full recovery. Rest assured that my partner and I are doing everything we can to get to the bottom of this.”

After they left, everyone was all over me making a fuss. “I’m starving.” And I was, I felt like there was a hole in my stomach.

“What do you want baby?” Jace had yet to release my hand or stop touching me in some way.

“First I’d like to brush my teeth, my mouth taste awful, then I want a big old juicy burger.”

“Done.” The crazy guy lifted me from the bed and took me into the bathroom where he sat on the toilet seat while I brushed.

With my mouth full of froth I was finally able to take him in. He looked a mess. “Jace have you been here this whole time?”

“What kind of question is that babe? Of course I was, where else would I be? Come here.”

He barely gave me time to rinse my mouth out before he was covering it with his.

“You scared the fuck outta me babe, that shit’s a no-no. From now on I’m keeping you close.”

His hand played with the new necklace around my neck. I looked down at the infinity diamond pendant as he studied it.

“What’s this?”

“I got it for you, you’re not allowed to take it off ever understand? I have the matching bracelet, see.”

He showed me the thick links that wrapped around his wrist with the same infinity.

“You done in here?” At my nod he picked me back up and took me back out to the room where the others were waiting for us.

“Okay babe you rest while I get someone on that burger and call our friends and let them know you’re awake. I’m sure they’re all dying to see you.” He was gone for five minutes before he came rushing back into the room.

I realized it was delayed reaction and not another crisis that made him do that. I think it was going to take him a while. “So, how soon before I can get out of here?”

“Well, the doctors said everything looked okay, but they’d feel more comfortable keeping you here another day at least.

“Mom, but I’m not sick and I feel fine. The wounds don’t even really hurt and they’ll give me a prescription won’t they? So can I please go please, please, please?

“I don’t think...”

“Sure honey, if you want out of here we’ll make it happen.”

“Thanks dad.” He smoothed mom’s hair in apology for cutting her off, but he would know how being here was making me nuts.

“But what about the plastic surgeon, I thought...”

“He’s already seen her and scheduled her first appointment honey you know that. Besides there’s nothing else for him to do until the wounds at least start to heal.”

“I guess you’re right, I just don’t want there to be any complications. But if you two thinks it’s fine I guess...”

“Actually Mrs. Claiborne, I was thinking of taking Sian home with me. If you’ll remember, she was going to spend last Friday night with me...”

“Yes but that’s before she was hurt.”

It turned into one long discussion and I could see my parents struggling to give me space. And though I understood their position having their daughter almost taken from them, I really wanted to be with my Jace.

By the time my burger and fries with a chocolate shake had arrived, they were no closer to a solution. My money was on Jace though; that boy doesn’t give up for anything.

While they haggled over me, I tried once again to wrack my brain for any scrap of memory of that night.

There was something there, but each time I got close it drifted out of reach again.

There had to be an explanation for me getting off that bus, if I could figure that out, then I could fit the other pieces of the puzzle together.