A loud banging reverberated in my sleepy mind. Heavy eyes and immense fatigue prevented me from moving and the banging I thought I heard drifted away. I could hardly move and nestled further into my sofa.

After Kova and the evil doctor leisurely took their time working on my foot together, I was taped up and sent home to ice my leg. There was no way I could have practiced today. Dr. Hart had said the first few treatments would be the worst, and he was right.

Just as I was about to fall back into a deep slumber, the banging started up again, this time much louder. Someone was at my door.

With a groan, I sat up and leaned forward. I planted my elbows on my knees and rubbed my swollen eyes with the heel of my palms. Damn, I was exhausted.

"Coming!" I shouted and stood, and walked toward the door. I didn't bother looking through the peep hole, it could only be one of two people who ever stopped by.

Unbolting the lock, I opened the door to Hayden standing there, a concerned look crossed his face.

"Hey," I said softly. My face scrunched up. "What time is it?"

He titled his head to the side. "It's close to nine. Are you okay?"

My brows pinched together. Nine at night? Where had the time gone? I'd slept for roughly five hours but it felt more like a handful of minutes. I waved my friend inside.

"Of course I'm fine. I'm just tired. What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing after your first blading session, but I couldn't get ahold of you."

"I broke my phone earlier, but I should have a new one in a day or so."

"Oh." Hayden scratched the back of his head. "I was worried about you. I brought dinner," he said in a hopeful tone and lifted his other hand. I hadn't even noticed the bag in his hand.

A thankful smile formed on my face and I ushered him into the kitchen. "That was sweet of you, Hayden. What did you bring?"

He lifted the plastic containers from the brown paper bag. "I brought a few different dinners, I wasn't sure what you wanted and figured we could split it all." My stomach growled embarrassingly loud at the scents that wafted into the air. He paused and looked at me. "When was the last time you ate?"

I puckered my lips. "You know…I don't know?" I glanced up at the ceiling trying to remember what I ate today and when I had my last meal. "I think I ate lunch around noon. Then I picked up one of those cold pressed juices from that Hurricane Café before the session with Kova and Ethan, and that was it." I was suddenly ravished with hunger.

"Aid, you need to eat more." He slid a container toward me.

I lifted one shoulder and opened the lid. It wasn't a big deal to me. It wasn't the first meal I had ever skipped and it sure as hell wouldn't be the last.

"I lost track of time."

"But your body is burning way more than what you're taking in. It's probably why you're so tired and why you need those vitamin injections. You need to be fueling your body properly."

"Okay, Dad… Mom… Kova," I said sarcastically.

"I'm serious. Have you done blood work to make sure there's nothing else wrong? Maybe you're anemic."

I ignored him. I did have blood work done, but I was still waiting on the results. There was nothing wrong with me except for my drive to succeed.

Laid out before the two of us was a smorgasbord of food: quinoa, jasmine rice, fish, chicken, green veggies. So many items, enough to feed a family of six…at least.

"Jeez, Hayden. Have enough food here?" He shrugged like he had no other answer.

"So, how’d you break your phone?"

I told him about my conversation with Avery while we spooned food onto our plates. We sat on the barstools and dug in. Hayden, of course, had double the amount than me.

"I mean, I feel like I would've told you, but you did imply that nothing was going on, so I see her point too."

I grimaced. I wanted him to only see my point.

"But don't you feel that’s her duty? That she still should have anyway?"

He looked at me, perplexed. "Her duty? I'm sorry, but I don't understand girl code."

"What would you have done?"

"Not thrown my phone, that's for sure."

I laughed. "I'm serious, Hayden."

He slowly chewed his food and looked straight ahead. I stared at the way his jaw shifted back and forth, contracting and loosening, as he thought about my question.

"Given the nature of the situation, I probably would have told you regardless, because even though you insist there's nothing going on, there's always something going on."

I stared at him, my jaw dropping and all.

"When it comes to Kova, I don't trust you." He angled the tip of his fork toward me as he continued to stare straight ahead. "Well, I don't trust him, really, but I don't trust you either. It's like you guys thrive on the excitement of getting caught or something, I don’t know. The whole thing is just weird, but either way, I would've told you."

I threw my fork down. "Thank you!"

"Calm down," he laughed. "Yes, she should have told you, but there's also no reason to flip the way you did. Maybe you were hangry."

"Hangry?"

"Hungry and angry."

"I'm seeing her in two weeks."

"Who? Avery?"

"Yes. And I bet we don't speak until then. She's been so difficult to get ahold of as it is. I just hope when we do see each other that it's not awkward."

"I doubt it will be."

I nodded my head and polished off the rest of my dish over a light conversation with Hayden until he delved into the injection topic again.

"I'm trying out different injection sites. Okay?"

"What do you mean," he asked, helping me clean up. I had one plate of food. Hayden had three. Lucky bastard.

"I tried my hip, but I either did it in the wrong place or I stabbed myself too hard, because I'm fairly positive I hit my hip bone and now I have a massive bruise. I haven't done it as much because it hurts, which is why I've been so tired. My levels are low."

"So did you plan on just never taking it again because of me and Kova?"

"No. I mean, I would've eventually, but the bruise on my leg was pretty bad, so…"

"Show me."

I lifted my shirt and pushed down my shorts just enough to show Hayden the ugly bruise on my left side. The needle was small, but it left behind hideous shades of deep blues and brownish-yellows.

He bent down so he was level with my waist, his fingers gently stroked my skin. "Damn, that looks pretty painful."

"Yeah, especially when you slam your hips on bars on top of it."

He glanced up. "I imagine so." His words were full of sympathy. He continued to run his finger over the little lump that had formed under my skin. "I don't think the needle is supposed to go there…that could be the reason for the bruise. Want me to call my mom and ask her, and then I can do it for you?"

My brows furrowed. "How would she know?"

"She's a nurse, remember?" Then he held up his palms, both calloused and over dry and peeling, and I noticed the rips.

My face lit up. "I totally forgot about the nipple cream!"

His face dropped, all expression voided. He tilted his head toward me and pointed his finger, his steel blue eyes narrowed. "Hey, don't knock the nipple cream. That shit is magical."

Laughing, I barely got out my next set of words. "Okay. Give your miracle worker a call and see what she has to say."

Ten minutes later, Hayden was poised with a needle and the area of injection rubbed down with alcohol.

"What are you waiting for?" I asked Hayden. When he didn't reply, I glanced over my shoulder and took in his gawking eyes. "What's wrong with you?" When he didn't reply, I said, "You've never injected anyone, have you," I stated more than asked. He shook his head.

"Of course not. When would I have? I don't want to hurt you."

"The first time I had to do it on my own, I was petrified. It took me over an hour to do it and a pep talk from my dad. Your mom's a nurse and gave you a step-by-step, something I didn't have. I have complete faith in you. I know you'll do it right and you won't hurt me." His eyes scanned the small area of skin. He aimed closer. "The first time is always the worst, so stick it in and let's go."

Hayden's flirtatious eyes snapped to mine, and I covered my mouth in realization of what I had said. I laughed behind my hand.

"I've been trying to stick it in," he retorted, grinning from ear to ear, and it only made me laugh harder. Hayden moved to stand behind me. Gripping my opposite hip, he inserted the needle with the utmost care and professionalism.

I screamed obnoxiously loud and jumped.

Hayden stepped in front of me, all worried and guilty. Needle poised in the air. "I'm so sorry!"

"I was just kidding. You didn't hurt me." I grinned.

His face dropped, unimpressed. "You know, you're a real jerk. I honestly thought I hurt you."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You didn't hurt me, I promise. I always gasp and jump because I hate needles, but you didn't hurt me."

Hayden stepped behind me and placed a Band-Aid over the injection site. I purposely wheezed in a loud breath of air.

"That wasn't so bad now, was it?" I asked.

I turned around as Hayden shook his head. He capped the needle and placed it on the countertop.

"No, it wasn't actually."

"I'm not sure what I would do without you, Hayden." I smiled at him, appreciative of his kindness and consideration. He always had my best interest in mind. "Just make sure you're free the next time I need you."

"Anytime you want me to stick something in you, I'm your guy."