Jordyn's pov.
I hate hospitals. It's a new fact about me that I just learned about myself. The doctor came out and smiled, "he's out of surgery but he's in a coma." "Can we see him?" Taylor asked and the doctor nodded, "just one person." Taylor stood up but Carter practically bulldozed over her and ran through the double doors.
The next morning I was debating whether or not to text Ofe when I heard the latest Taylor vs. Carter drama starting in the kitchen. "I'm sorry Tay, I shouldn't have gone to see Max. I wasn't thinking. I promise he didn't even know that I was there," I heard Carter apologize. "But I know." Taylor said stiffly. "Look I know that you love him and he's your boyfriend but he's also my best and oldest friend." Carter said and I ended up walking into their conversation, not being able to hold myself back anymore. "If you care about Max so much, why don't you find your deranged boyfriend and lock him up for shooting Max?" Taylor snarked. "Carter, a minute?" I asked, cutting Taylor off. I pulled Carter into the other room and she looked at me strangely and I showed her a text on my phone.
Crash: tell Carter I'm sorry. How's Max?
She stared at me. "What do you want me to do?" I asked her and she searched my eyes for the correct answer. "Call him." She said and I dialed it, he immediately picked up. "Jordyn? What's wrong? Where's Carter? Is Max.." Crash said frantically over the line.
Carter: I'm here. You can't call Jordyn again. I don't want her involved in this.
Crash: I'm sorry I didn't know how else to talk to you.
Carter: I have my phone back.
Crash: I'm sorry. How's Max?
Carter: He's in a coma. Crash you have to.. You have to turn yourself in.
Crash: no. I'll go to jail but it wasn't my fault you saw the safety was on. It shouldn't have gone off.
Carter: You shouldn't have had it in the first place.
Crash: I know. I'm so sorry. I love you. Will you please see me?
Carter: I don't know.
Crash: Please? You're the only thing on this planet that matters to me. I need to see you.
Crash: Carter?
Carter: I don't know. Maybe.
She clicked the phone off and I stared at her. "You can't meet up with him, Car, he's dangerous." I warned her and she shook her head, "I know what I'm doing." We walked back into the kitchen where Elizabeth sighed, "there's something else I need to tell you, this morning I went back to the station and talked to my captain and.. I'm on the task force to apprehend Crash." Carter's face fell. "Now.. If Max dies.." Elizabeth continued. "Oh my god I can't even think about that," Carter said and I put my hand over hers. "If Max dies, that's felony murder." Elizabeth said. "It was an accident." Carter defended. "He left you with your best friend dying in your arms," I said and Carter cried a bit, the realization hitting her.
Later, Bird showed up looking upset. "I know that you're mad at me but Crash keeps calling me, looking for you." Bird said. I looked over at the pair of them from the desk, "Hey Bird." She looked up at me, "Hey Jordyn.." I suppose she was still weary after my mild death threat. "Now he's harassing you? This has got to stop, I can't.." Carter trailed off. Bird looked at her confused. "He's been blowing up my phone too," I said. "She shouldn't see him, he's dangerous." Bird said confidently. "No shit birdbrain." I snarked back. "Enough you two," Carter scolded and I put my hands up in mock surrender for the thousandth time since I'd been in this house it would seem. Bird left again and I tried to convince myself that everything was going to be okay. A task that was getting harder and harder.
I ended up texting Ofe anyways.
Jordyn: Ik I can't use you but can I at least see you?
Ofe: time & place?
Jordyn: now & forever?
Ofe: That's not a place.
Jordyn: Stanley's pizzeria, in 30 min?
Ofe: next to the hospital?
Jordyn: yep.
Ofe: I'll be the guy without bells on.
Jordyn: way to be inconspicuous.
Ofe: Is it big word day?
Jordyn: Taylor's rubbing off on me.
I met Ofe at the pizza place but found that I was too worried about Max to eat anything. "Worried about Max?" Ofe asked and I nodded. "It doesn't help that my phone is blowing up." I added. "From?" Ofe asked and I passed him my phone.
Crash: why isn't Carter answering me?
Crash: Jordyn. Where's Carter?
Crash: shit Elizabeth almost caught me at the warehouse. Call me.
Crash: tell Carter to call me.
Crash: Jordyn I need to see Carter.
Crash: why are you ignoring me?
Crash: Jordyn please.
Ofe read them over before looking back at me concerned, "Crash is harassing you?" "I'd block him if I wasn't so scared of what he's gonna do next." I said. "It's so typical it's almost sad really, Carter does something and everyone around her feels the pain of it. I mean Max quite literally took a bullet for her so.. Guess that means he gets a promotion from best friend to possibly dead hero? Not exactly an incentive for anyone to get involved in our lives, is it?" I said sarcastically.
"You're not your sister," Ofe said softly and I sighed, "yeah but I'm not exactly not like her either." Ofe motioned to my now cold slice, "wanna get ice cream?" "Sorry I don't think I could keep it down. I'm just gonna go back to the hospital." I said and he stood up, "I'll walk you." "No. It's okay. Thanks though." I said and left the restaurant to walk back to the hospital. I was nearly there when a hand pulled my arm aside and I yelped but my mouth was quickly covered. I turned myself around fully expecting to see my mother but I was surprised to see Crash instead.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" I scolded him and he shushed me, "Where's Carter?" "You're deranged if you think I'm letting you anywhere near her after what you did." I said angrily. "Tell Carter to meet me at the water tower tonight. I'm leaving town tonight and I need to see her in person before I go." Crash said. "No. I'm not telling her shit," I started but he grabbed my arm and shoved me into his car, "Then you leave me no choice."
And that's how I got kidnapped.. Again.
Carter's pov.
I was waiting at the hospital with everyone when my phone rang. Crash.
Crash: I need to see you. Elizabeth almost caught me today. I feel like she's lurking around every corner.
Carter: She's not. She's at the hospital with me waiting to see if Max wakes up.
Crash: meet me at the water tower tonight. I'm leaving at midnight and I need to see you before I leave.
Carter: Crash I'm not coming. I can't.
Crash: I have Jordyn.
Carter: What? What are you talking about??
Jordyn: Carter! Don't come! He's lost it-
Carter: Crash! Crash what the hell are you doing?
Crash: I won't hurt her, I know you'd never forgive me. I just want you to see me. Please.
Carter: kidnapping my sister is not a good way to get me to talk to you Crash.
Crash: it was my last hope. Please just come.
Carter: And if I don't?
Crash: then I'll let Jordyn go and I'll disappear and you'll never see me again.
Carter: How am I supposed to just believe that?
Crash: because I would never do anything to hurt you. I love you Carter.
The phone hung up and I walked back into the lobby and looked around at all the people in the waiting room. We waited for what felt like an eternity. I sat by Karen and tried to mend the bridge between Karen's expectation of my previous reality as Max's girlfriend with his new reality with Taylor. I'd say it worked pretty well. The group was chiming in how much they had grown to love Max in the short time they'd known him. But Grant's words hit hardest, his brother. Grant needed Max.
.....a few hours later.....
I had just talked to Bird, resolving a bit of our fight, she left and I didn't stop myself from dialing Crash up.
Crash: Carter? Is that you?
Carter: yeah it's me.
Crash: why haven't you texted me back? Why didn't you call me?
Carter: I told you, I'm at the hospital waiting to see if Max wakes up.
Crash: So Max is more important to you than Jordyn?
Carter: What? No of course not, why would that matter? You said that you wouldn't hurt her. Are you.. Are you threatening to..
Crash: No. I just.. I need to see you and I thought that this would make you come.
Crash: I'm leaving tonight at midnight. If you don't come.. Maybe I'll just take Jordyn with me.
Crash: Carter?
Carter: Okay fine.
I hung up the phone and headed for my car just as Gabe, Ofe, and Bird ran out into the parking lot. "Carter, wait!" Gabe called and I stopped in my tracks. "Guys I just need a break, I'm getting a burger and fries." I lied. Bird narrowed her eyes, "Oh I could go for a burger and fries right now." "Is she really going for a burger and fries?" Ofe asked but Bird cut him off, "No she's not going for a burger and fries."
"You're going to see Crash." Gabe blurted out. "He's a dangerous guy, you can't go see him alone." Gabe reminded me. "I have to go." I said and they all looked at me like I was crazy. "Why?" Bird asked. Ofe looked around the group of us, "where'd Jordyn go? She left the pizza place at the same time as me.. But she should have been here by now.." I stared at him hoping he wouldn't figure it out. "Carter.. Where's Jordyn?" Gabe asked. "With Crash.." I answered honestly. "He grabbed her on her way here and told me to please come meet him or.." I continued. Gabe stepped forward, "or what? He'll hurt Jordyn?" "No! Of course not I just.. I don't believe him that she's fine." I said. Ofe looked pissed, "He took Jordyn." "Carter, just don't do anything stupid, please." Bird said. "For once I won't." I answered and left.
Jordyn's pov.
"You must be pretty desperate if you think kidnapping is a good way to get Carter's attention." I remarked in the front seat of the car. My hand was zip tied to the seatbelt. "You know that you're safe with me. Carter knows that too." Crash said and I stared at him, "I can't tell if you're being serious or not." He turned on the radio but I reached over and turned it off. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Crash apologized and I sighed, "you shot my ex boyfriend, emotionally scarred my twin sister, and kidnapped me. As far as trifecta's go, this is pretty golden." Crash looked over at me, "I saw you and Ofe earlier." "Changing the subject won't get you out of this one," I reminded him but he shook his head, "he's a good kid." "I know that stupid." I chortled. Crash chuckled, "right I guess you don't need me to tell you that." "I know you love her, but you're gonna have to let her go. You understand that right?" I said looking at him head on for the first time tonight. "I know." He said but I wasn't sure if I believed him yet.
I saw a car pull up and Carter got out. "Hey maybe I'm wrong and she'll be thrilled to see you," I said sarcastically just as she slammed her car door and marched over to him, "What the hell is wrong with you?!" "Or not.." I trailed off. Crash was standing on the side of the car that I was tied to, and I opened my door and stood up, my hand keeping me closer to the vehicle than I had wanted. "You kidnapped my sister to get me to talk to you? After abandoning me in the gas station with my best friend bleeding to death?!" Carter kept hitting him with the truth and I honestly felt bad for the guy. Being on the receiving end of one of Carter Stevens' lectures was never a good time.
"Listen I didn't mean to shoot Max but I can't.. I can't say that it was entirely an accident." Crash said and I looked at him strangely. "I know that I didn't want to but I saw you and him in the gas station through the window, you were hugging and touching and I just.. I know you used to date and I know how much he cares about you-" Crash started explaining. "Wait.. you were jealous of Max and so you shot him?! That's just how we are, he's my best friend." Carter yelled at him.
"And untie her Crash! Now!" Carter yelled at him motioning to me. Crash took out a pocket knife and walked towards me, cutting the plastic that kept me sequestered to the car but before I could walk away and towards Carter, he held my arm, the pocket knife still open in his other hand.
"Crash.. What are you doing? Let her go." Carter said slowly. I looked up at him, his hand was shaking. "They told me in juvie that I had these impulse control triggers.. And when I get pissed off it's like I don't see right.." Crash explained. "You should have told me about that," Carter said carefully. "I just.. I love you and I let myself fall for you and now I'm never gonna see you again.. And it's entirely my own fault." Crash said, his arm holding me tighter. "You don't know what the future holds.. But you have let her go Crash. She's not part of this.." Carter pleaded.
I could see that Crash was in his head too much for this. His world was Carter and he was losing her. Carter walked to him, calmly this time. "You want everyone to believe that you're a bad person but I.. I don't buy it. You can change. I believe in you." Carter told him. I watched them talk and forced myself not to see them as this epic endgame couple. He was a messed up kid.. But so was Carter.. And I guess.. So was I. Crash's hand was still holding the knife loosely and I was standing next to them, watching them like the entire world didn't exist. I wanted so badly for that reality to be for them. But fate had a knack for ruining things, especially lately.
I heard sirens in the distance and looked at Carter with worried eyes. Crash reached back out and grabbed my arm again. "No. no. Crash looked at me. Let her go okay? Drop the knife. Please!" Carter begged him. I heard the squad cars tires screech as they came to a stop. "Hands on your head now! Do it now, Crash!" I heard Elizabeth's voice call out. She didn't see the knife yet. "Crash, I promise you that she will forgive you. It's time to let this go." I told him in a rush as I reached my hand out and grabbed the knife in his hand, wincing as the dull blade cut the palm of my hand. I pulled myself out of his grasp, just as the cops came and grabbed him. I stumbled backwards until I bumped into Carter and held her tightly, my hand in my pocket still clutching the knife and hiding the blood successfully. "It's okay." I told her but she was staring at Crash, tears in her eyes.
The cops put Carter and I into Elizabeth's car and we waited for her. "I'm sorry you lost him," I said honestly and Carter smiled, looking back at me. "I'm sorry that I almost lost you. Again." She said. "Little old me? Nah, death doesn't want me. Been returned twice now." I joked. "Were you scared? I mean Crash.. Did he.." Carter couldn't even bring herself to ask such a question.
I shook my head, "no. for the record I believe you, I believe that you see some good way way deep down in him. I just don't know if him finding it is realistic." She sighed, "yeah.. Me either." Elizabeth came in and looked between us, "I'm sorry. I know I promised you that I wouldn't be a cop but.." "No. I knew that you'd follow me and arrest him. I was counting on it." Carter said. Elizabeth furrowed her eyebrows, "I don't understand what you're telling me." "Crash needed to get caught and I wanted you to be the one to catch him because I know that you want to help him. Help me. He was losing it.. He.. he took Jordyn. He hurt Max. I will always protect my family.. But I was scared and I didn't know if he still had the gun and I didn't want to do it alone." Carter explained. "You wanted me to be there?" Elizabeth asked and Carter nodded, "I needed you to protect me. Cause you're my mom." Elizabeth teared up. "And I love you," Carter continued. "I love you," Elizabeth cried and held her tightly. I watched from the backseat, my heart wrenching.
Carter went to the hospital to meet up with Taylor but I decided to go back home. David and Grant were in the kitchen and I stared at them awkwardly until Grant noticed me and ran to hug me. "Hey dude, it's okay." I hugged him back and David walked over to me, "are you okay?" I nodded, "long day. Umm Ofe is supposed to drop something off, can you let him up when he comes?" I asked and they nodded. I went up to my room and heard the front door open downstairs.
I had pulled myself into the bathroom and taken the knife out of my pocket and put it in the sink. There was a knock on the bathroom door and I looked up as Ofe slipped inside and stared at me. "I thought the worst when I found out that Crash took you. It's my fault, I should have walked you there." Ofe apologized. "It's not your fault Oscar." I said softly. He looked at the knife in the sink and then at the cut on my hand. "What.. what happened?" he asked, concerned. I looked up at him, "no one can ever know okay? If they find out that Crash had a knife.. He'll get in even more trouble and Carter will never forgive me okay? So this.. This never happened." I said. Ofe looked at me carefully, "if this never happened.. Then neither did this." He grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me like I was dying tomorrow. He pulled away and I smiled, "I thought you said you were too good for me?" He motioned to the knife, "well now your damaged goods." I chuckled and he smiled at me, and grabbed the bandage roll from my other hand. "Mind if I help?" I nodded and he began wrapping my hand up.
Carter's pov.
I was talking with Taylor at the hospital, finally making things right between us. "Mom says that you have a future in hostage negotiating," Taylor commented. "Wow thanks mom," Carter said sarcastically. "First time you've made that mistake," Taylor said, "Oh um.. Not a mistake." Carter said and Taylor smiled. "Wait really? That's huge." We walked into Max's hospital room, with a newfound hope for a better future for us. Our family, however messed up we might be.