I woke up expecting to find myself in a dark dusty closet but instead found myself lying on my own bed in my own room which for one was pretty weird. How exactly did I get back in my room when the only distinct memory I had before passing out was staring blankly into space after I could no longer cry again? I had completely no idea. Still confused as to how I got home, I reached into the inside pocket of my jacket and pulled out my phone to find tons of missed calls from Nellie. Perhaps she'd found me after all. Feeling the need to confirm it, I dialled Nellie's number and waited for her to pick up. As soon as she did, she immediately yelled, "Allison, oh my gosh! You're actually alive! Just where the heck have you been, young lady and why didn't you pick all my calls? I've worried sick." "Wait, you didn't bring me home?" I asked thrown off by her questions. "Bring you home? What do you mean?" was her response over the phone. "

"Gently. Gently," Nellie repeated continuously while carefully assisting me out of Max's car. I rolled my eyes at her but still did as she said.When I was on my feet and Nellie still wouldn't stop holding me, I turned to her and groaned, "For the love of God Nellie! I'm okay. I didn't break any bones and I can walk by myself. Now could you quit coddling me? I'm not an invalid!""I'm just being cautious, Allie. You really scared me today when you blacked out," she admitted soberly. I relaxed and wrapped my arms around her. "I get that, Nellie and I love you for it but I'm okay. Seriously.""I know. I know. You're just so fragile sometimes like a little egg and that makes me just want to cuddle you." She wrapped her arms around me even tighter until I couldn't breathe."Nellie!" I managed to croak, my voice raspy."Oh right. Sorry. I'll be inside if you need me," she winked suggestively at me before heading into my house, leaving me alone with Max.

After being close to having my second kiss and having that be interrupted by Derris Fox of all people, I was really curious to know his reason for calling me up at such an hour."Derris?" I said immediately I picked up. There was a brief silence where I was almost convinced it was an accident and he didn't even know he called me until he eventually answered, voice low, "I'm here. Are you busy?""Um, kinda. I'm on a date." Somehow I found that quite hard to say considering the position Derris had once held in my life."Oh, with who?" Disappointment was clear in his voice as he talked which really caught me off guard."Max. Did you want something?" I inquired, a bit desperate to keep him on the line."Um no. It's nothing. Nothing at all. Bye...Red," he mumbled, the last word coming out a lot more breathy than the rest of his sentence. He sounded sad and I would have wanted to ask him about it but he'd already cut the call.I could have called

[Author's POV]Max stood outside the main school building along with the rest of the students, watching the fire quickly spread through the school. Of course, the firemen had already been called and were already combatting the fire.But Max didn't care about that. He hadn't seen Allison since she left to clean her dress and had no idea if she'd made it out.And not knowing was killing him.He continued looking around and eventually ran into Nellie who also didn't know where Allison was."Could it be that she's still inside?" Nellie wonderful as she glanced at the blazing building. "Could be."Max wanted nothing more than to search for her but as it was, no one was allowed into the school so all they could was wait and hope that Allison got out safely.***Behind Nellie and Max was Derris who got wind of their conversation. He stared at the building that was still on fire and knew that he couldn't just sit around and hope the fi

[Author's POV]As he watched Derris drive away, Max wondered what Aria was up to as he was now getting anxious. Few minutes later, his phone buzzed and on picking the call which happened to be from an unknown number, Aria said over the phone, "You can come in now."Max nodded even though she probably couldn't see him and the call. He wondered whether or not to save Aria's number but decided against it and stepped out of the car.Just before he walked into the hospital, Aria pulled him to the side and whispered, "Allison is in room 6B and remember you're the one who saved her and brought her to the hospital. Got it? Okay. Good luck." Then she pushed him into the reception and Max had to stop to glare at her but she was already running across the street.Taking a deep breath, Max walked right past the receptionist desk, surprised that nobody stopped him. He quickly found room 6B and walked in and true to Aria's words, Allison lay unconscious on the bed with