his anger momentarily overshadowed by concern for Jessica. "That's.

ow do you know her blood typ

y hailing a cab outside the Walker mansion. "J

en, "Fine. But if you had anyt

t hung in

umption of my guilt, it still stung. But ther

was already there, pacing in the wa

yes narrowed. "What

," I said, walking past him

ved. "You're Maya Robert

d into my arm. I watched my blood flow

expression unreadable. Suspicion, confu

ned. "She's lost a lot of blood. One unit might not b

er," I said

said, stepping fo

protocol to take two units so quic

ed, looking at the docto

still focused on Jessica, but he saw what I was doing.

t do

ly. I felt myself growing weake

started

mething, his voice

using on the bag filling with my blood

, it wa

needle, darkness swarme

, a sharp, alarmed sound,

a different room. Sunlight

needles had been. I fel

s al

Jessica would live. Liam

timeline, I had announced I was leaving for it. But the physica

*their* happiness, not my

pened. Lia

the frantic worry w

oice quiet. "The doctors said your

thank you, but

ed, his brow furrowed. "After everything... after what you

a, that my actions were some el

anding was a f

aid, my voice weak. "She's alive.

y. "Yes. That's

y looked at me. "The way yo

of si

scholarship," he said. "The mu

I whi

offered, hesitantly. "After you're better. Maybe

derstand. But it was too late for that. My path was set. The C

t the ties

y voice gaining a little strength. "I did what I

e didn't underst

"I don't understand. Why are you pushin

hed for

led i

't,

g now. "You save Jessica, you tell my parents you're leavin

py," I said simply. "

l a strange lightness, a pulling s

. "Maya? Are you okay?

reak clean. No ling