Demi stared back. "for what?"
                          
"the accident."
                          
Demi's mouth fell open. "of course not! why would I?"
                          
"because it's my fault. it's my fault that you had to come and get me from Uniondale and if you hadn't come we wouldn't have been speeding down the highway and we wouldn't have cras-"
                          
"Lea, no. no no no no no. none of this is your fault. I know that you've been online recently - Maddie came and confessed to me all guilty for letting you use her phone - but do they know about what happened? they don't. they're assuming things based on what little information they have. it's not true, Lea. it wasn't your fault. none of this was. did you want to be taken?" I shook my head. "didn't think so. did you want to be involved in a high speed chase down the highway? no. did you want to be in hospital? no! you didn't plan any of it, Lea. that's why it's called an accident - it was accidental."
                          
"but-" 
                          
"no 'but's, sweetie. it's not your fault, and you don't deserve any of this. you don't deserve the injuries you got, and you don't deserve to die."
                          
how did she know? "how d-"
                          
"I know you, Lea. I know you like the back of my hand. I know what you're thinking, and I know that you're upset about this."
                          
"oh." I toyed with the comforter, rubbing the edges of it between my thumb and forefinger. 
                          
it was quiet for a while as I snuggled into Demi's side and closed my eyes.
                          
---
                          
I woke up, feeling more comfortable than I had in a long time. Demi was cuddled next to me, and when she saw that I was awake, she pretended to fall asleep again. [picture on side] 
                          
I touched her nose lightly, and she opened her eyes, smiling widely.
                          
"slept well?" she asked.
                          
I nodded. "much better than I have in a long time."
                          
she reached to touch my head bandage gently. "I've missed you, Lea."
                          
"I've missed you too, Demi."
                          
Demi kissed my cheek lightly. "you're safe now. I'm never letting you go."
                          
"you better not," I joked as Demi laughed.
                          
Nurse Emma opened the door slowly. 
                          
"hello," Demi said. 
                          
"hello, Demi," Nurse Emma replied kindly. "you two have a visitor."
                          
she stepped aside, and a tall, slim figure came into view.
                          
"NAYA!" I shrieked. 
                          
Demi's hand flew to her mouth as she struggled to sit up. I straightened my back and helped Demi up, and Naya came to our bedside.
                          
"LEA!" Naya reciprocated in the same tone I had used, then gave me a gentle hug, making sure that she wasn't squeezing any wounds. then she leant above me to give Demi a kiss, and I ducked under them. 
                          
when they broke the kiss, both Demi and Naya's eyes shone brightly, and all of our faces held the same glow. 
                          
"babe," Demi breathed as she closed her eyes. "oh, god. I've missed the both of you so incredibly much. three days when I was the only one conscious? that was a nightmare."
                          
Naya smiled, a little sadly. "I know, darling. I know."
                          
"y-you're not in hospital clothes," I pointed out. 
                          
Naya winked. "surprise!"
                          
Demi cocked her head to the side, clearly confused. I tried to furrow my brow, then winced when I remembered about my head wound.