Landon was guiding Kate in the wheelchair through the hospital gardens.

Kate: Was it you?

Landon: Excuse me?

Kate: Was it you, last night when I was brought in?

Landon: What are you talking about

Kate: Last night when I was on the stretcher, I remember seeing your face, was it really you?

Landon: Oh. yea.

Kate: Do you work here or something? Or are you like a volunteer? Because when I saw you the other day you seemed to be just wondering around.

Landon: No way, I’m just here because my girlfriend, she got hurt. She’s been here for a couple weeks and we don’t know when they’re discharging her, she was hurt pretty badly.

Kate: I’m so sorry, for your girlfriend and you. mind me asking how?

Landon: It was a really bad experience, I really don’t feel like reliving it today.

Kate: Oh ok.

Landon was very nice to Kate and the two were talking about everything 17 year olds could possibly talk about. They were out for more than 30 minutes, but that didn’t matter.

Landon: So how did you get in this mess?

Kate: What? My leg?

Landon: Yea.

Kate: Last night, me and my boyfriend were arguing in the car, and he was driving way too fast. They said he lost control over the car, and we hit a tree. I cant remember all that well, that’s just what I keep hearing.

Landon: Has he been here to see you?

Kate: Jesse, (sigh) no.

Landon: What kind of boyfriend is that? If you were my girlfriend, I’d skip school to see you. I mean, that’s what I’ve done for the past few weeks. I hang around here just incase she needs anything, but I haven’t been in to see her.

Kate: Well it can’t be his fault….I mean I was yelling at him and-

Landon: Stop. Don’t blame yourself for this. He was the driver. He had control. Don’t blame yourself for everything. It’s his fault your hurt like this and if I were you, I wouldn’t want to see him again. Ever.

Kate: Well I guess you have a point, but-

Landon: No buts.

She thought about that for a while. He could have pulled over like I asked. He could have slowed down. He shouldn’t have been driving like that. If it weren't for Jesse, I wouldn’t be in a hospital for two days with leg surgery and a minor concussion. He’s right, I can’t blame myself, if it weren't for Jesse….

Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice behind them.

“I finally found you.”

when Jesse walked into the empty room he started to freak out. Where the heck is she! She couldn’t have gone too far!

They all split up. The twins and matt and Frankie ran down to the desk, Chris and Jen went to the second floor, and Kerry and Greg went to the first. Jesse went outside to the gardens.

When the four got to the nurse, she told them about outside and how a man had come and taken her for a walk. So they met up with Chris, Greg, Jen, and Kerry when they came to the lobby. Jesse was already outside.

He was running through the rows and rows of flowers and bushes until he saw her light brown hair shinning in the sun.

“I finally found you,” he said out of breath. But when a strange guy turned around to look at him, he was shocked, “Oh, I’m sorry, wrong person.”

Kate’s eyes got big and she turned her head around.

“What do you want, Jesse?” she snapped.

“Is this your boyfriend, the one that did this to you?” Landon

“Kate, we’ve been looking all over for you. Who is this? Are you ok?” he bombarded her with questions.

“First of all, why do you even care about looking for me. Because you obviously were the one that did this to me. Yes, you. and am I ok? Does it look like I’m ok? I had surgery last night for 3 hours, a minor concussion, and where were you during all this? Sleeping, in your own bed. YOU did this, and YOU are just fine. Well you know what Jesse, I don’t want to see you. Ever. Just stay out of my life.” She yelled.

“Baby, I am so sorry. I was a jerk last night and crazy.”

“Don’t baby me, Jesse McCartney. Do me a favor and actually listen to me, STAY AWAY. You didn’t chose to listen last night when I was yelling for you to let me out or slow down, and look what happened. Nothing good. So do both of us a favor and leave me alone.”

“Kate I-” he tried to get a word in but Landon interrupted.

“You heard her, leave her alone. Look, I don’t know you, but to hurt a great girl like this, that’s harsh, and then you try to apologize.”

“Who the hell are you, anyways?” Jesse asked Landon.

Just then the other 8 walked up behind Jesse and started talking to Kate all at once. Sparkle and Spencer were asking her if she was ok, Jen looked from Jesse, to Landon, and back to Jesse, then asked what was going on. Kerry started to cry and Greg held her tight. The rest of the guys just stood there looking around.

“Would yall just SHUT UP!” Kate screamed. Everyone got quiet and just looked at her, “All I want to do right now is go back to my room! OK? I’ve had enough of you Jesse, just go away. Landon can you take me up to my room please?”

“Yea, no problem.”

“Um Kate, are you forgetting us?” Kerry asked.

“Oh hey guys, if you wanna come up please do. I just don’t want to be out here when he is.”

Jesse waited outside the hospital, not wanting to make her any madder, while everyone was up in her room. Why can’t she see I’m sorry? Why can’t she see I care? I love her. I wouldn’t have done that I knew. I never meant to hurt her.

20 minutes later everyone came outside, the girls with puffy faces. Everyone went their separate ways and for the next few days no one hung out together.

Kate’s family came twice a day for the remaining two days. She was discharged to go home on Thursday. When she got home her parents told her they didn’t want Kate seeing Jesse for a while, and she was thinking, why would I ever want to be around him again.

She was allowed to walk with crutches but wasn’t up for going to school on Friday. Jesse tried emailing and calling her cell, but she wouldn’t answer. She talked to Landon on the phone for a couple hours, and she was beginning to like him. Meanwhile, she forgot about Erin in the hospital. Erin was the biggest secret Kate had. Not even her best friends knew about her, only family. No one knew she had a half sister, let alone an abused half sister.