Chapter 4

Jane opened her eyes; she was in a white room. She was wearing a hospital gown; a tube was sticking out of her right wrist and into an IV bag. Once most of her senses returned, she attempted to get up, but her shoulder was in pain. She waited for a few seconds before getting up and removing everything from her arm. She walked out of the room everything was mostly white, the floor the walls. She ignored the nurse who was trying to ask her if she needed something and was searching for an exit. However, she bumped into Jess, she had two water bottles. "You're awake, what are you doing out here? Isn't there a restroom in your room" Jess asked. "Where are we?" Jane was paranoid, she had been in a hospital only once and it wasn't a great experience. "We're in a hospital. What, did you think we were in a lab or something?" Jess asked jokingly as she began to walk back to Jane's room, Jane followed. "We could be anywhere." "Oh, that reminds me. While you were, you know. We found out that you've been taking drugs. I wanted to ask you about it," Jane stopped. "First, I need my clothes. Then I'll tell you," Jess stopped and looked at her puzzled. 

When Harper, Omar, and Xavier walked into the room, Jane was dressed and talking to Jess. They were standing next to the hospital bed. "Where are you going?" Harper jokingly asked. "Out," Jane said thinking she was serious. Harper looked at her confused. "Mom, we need to talk for a second, let's go," Jess said, and walked out. Harper followed even more puzzled. "X can you buy me a water," Omar asked sounding more like a command. Xavier was now as confused as Harper but left anyway. 

"You and I need to talk," Omar told Jane. "Yeah, but not about the same thing." "What?" Omar asked. "Nothing, go on," she let him talk first. "We know about you being an addict." "Guess you're not the only one with secrets," she remarked. "I'm not an addict," he tried defending himself. "Your family doesn't know," she reminded him. " I only drink when I'm stressed okay," there it was another secret he was hiding. Jane was in fact speaking about that secret but she wasn't going to let him know that. Instead, she grabbed an envelope from the pocket of her jacket. Jane was thankful that they respected her privacy enough to not go through her jacket. Everything that was in its place, including the drugs she carried. Jane tossed the envelope onto the bed. He picked it up unsure of what he was about to discover.

Once he opened it and took a look inside, Jane said," For someone who claims to love his wife, you sure are a sorry excuse of a husband." He saw the photos of him and the woman he had an affair with. "It's been over for a while, she won't take no for an answer." "She deserves to know," Jane referred to Harper. "I'll tell her, just give me some time. Don't tell her until I do, please," he handed her the envelope back. Jane placed it in her jacket pocket and said, " If you tell her I won't. She's a good person, she deserves a better man than you." "I know. I am lucky to have her. We both are," he looked at Jane. "Don't be mistaken, I'm not part of your family. I don't have her, I just know her," Jane explained. 

Harper and Jess were walking down the hallway of the hospital. "Jessica what's going on," Harper rarely uses her name, when she does, she means business. "Jane told me, now I'm starting to understand why she will not talk much." Jess began, Harper waited impatiently for her to continue. "She hasn't had the best luck in life, and she wants to share something that happened to her. It explains the drugs in her system and she can only share it with you and me." "Why is that?" Harper asked concerned. " She's not very trusting, and when she told me I was able to convince her to tell you," Jess explained. "Why would she not trust us." "You'll need to listen to her. Just trust her okay?" "Okay, I won't do anything for now. Since the doctor did say she had been pulling back from the drugs herself, I'll let it go for now but I will be watching her. So will you," Harper told her. "I'm okay with that."

They all returned to the room and the doctors had put Jane's arm in an arm sling. "Looks like you're slowly reducing the drug dosage, and it's helping. However, if you would like to quicken the process we can help…" Jane interrupted the doctor, " No thank you." "I understand but you're still a minor and your guardians get the final say," the doctor explained. Jane gave him a death stare, he was visibly scared but waited for Omar and Harper to answer. "I think we're okay for now, thank you," Harper told the doctor. Omar didn't say a word.

When they arrived home, Xavier went up to his room, and Omar and Harper went to the kitchen to make some food. Jess and Jane went to the living room. "This thing is annoying," Jane complained causing Jess to smile. "I'm glad my pain is causing you joy." "No, it's not that. This is the first time I've heard you complain," Jess explained, Jane was puzzled. "JESS!" Harper called from the kitchen.

By the time Jess returned, Jane had disappeared. "Oh no," Jess said to herself. She called Jane's phone. "Hello?" She heard Jane ask. "Where are you?" "I had to leave, I'm meeting someone," Jane answered. "What? Why didn't you tell me?" "Could you cover for me?" She asked Jess. "What? No, come home right now." "I'm going to send you an address meet me there," Jane told her then hung up. "Wait, hello? She did not just hang up on me," Jess quickly thought of something. "MOM! JANE AND I ARE GOING FOR A WALK, SEE YOU LATER," then left not leaving room for her mother to respond.

"That should keep her busy for a while," Jane said. " So they found out about your 'addiction'?" Evan asked. "Yeah, it won't take long for them to call Albert. He's probably already there," Jane told him. "Why don't you stay with me?" Evan asked. " You know why, but thanks." "You were getting attached, weren't you?" "That obvious?" Jane asked. "Just enough," he told her. " See you soon," She told him, then took a pill and a sip of alcohol. 

Jane finally met up with Jess. "Finally, where were you?" Jess asked. "With a friend," was all Jane gave her. "Do you know how much I've lied for you, and I hate lying," Jess was paranoid and angry. Jane smirked and asked," Then why do it for me?" "I don't know, I just….trust you," Jess told Jane. 

During their walk home, the curiosity was killing Jess. "Why'd you run?" She finally asked. "That's the question you ask?" "Yeah," Jess was puzzled. "I know your mother called Albert already," Jane told her. "What? No, she hasn't. My mother is already too attached to you, and so am I," she confessed. "She doesn't want problems and that's what I bring." "At this point we need things to be shaken up. Things have been the same for too long. For instance, Xavier is the golden child and gets to do whatever he wants. When we return we're going to get in so much trouble but he can leave whenever he wants. My dad is always so busy and is almost never home. My mother just ignores all the bad things that happen until they get too bad. I'm practically invisible unless I do something they don't like," Jess was starting to cry. "We're not a family," Jane puts her hand on her shoulder. Jess has tears streaming down her face, and places her hand on Jane's. 

When they arrived at the house, Harper and Omar were waiting for them. "Hey you two, Jane I understand you still might not know the rules yet but Jess. You know the rules," Harper said. Xavier walked downstairs and to the front door. "Where is he going?" Jane asked about Xavier, both the parents had no clue yet didn't bother asking. "He can go anywhere but we can't?" Jane asked. "Of course not," Harper was about to speak again, however, Omar interrupted. "He's a boy, he can't get pregnant." "Okay, that's too far," Jess finally spoke. "I agree, babe that was…" This time Jane interrupted as she put her elbow on the table and her thumb and pointer finger on her chin. "So all women are sluts, right? And there is no proof otherwise, right?" Everyone was now quiet, they were unsettled, surprised, and confused. Not because of what she said, it was how she said it. Jane said it in a slow calm tone. Even more surprising to everyone was what Omar said next. "You're right I'm sorry. You're free to go." Omar and Jane refused to break eye contact. Harper and Jess stood there puzzled even more. Eventually, Jane and Jess went upstairs to their rooms. 

Later that night Jane had one final thing to finish that day. She took the arm sling off and crawled out the window. She was at the house of the woman that Omar was having an affair with. She waited until the wife left, then knocked on the door. The husband answered the door. "Hello, how can I help you?" He asked politely. "Well the thing,.." "You're the hoodie," he stated. "What?" She was confused. "Come in," he invited her in. She hesitated to walk in but did anyway.

After he shut the door, they sat on the couch. "Listen I know you were in here the other day," he told her. "What?" "I have cameras and I'm a cop." "Oh." "Don't worry I'm not pressing charges. At least not until I hear why?" He saw her tense and was attempting to keep the situation calm. "That's why I'm here…I was searching for something. This," she takes out an envelope. "Once you see what's in here, you can't go back," she handed it to him. He opened it and saw the photos, his expression changed drastically. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way," she apologized. "Thank you, for being honest. You're a good kid," he said as his voice broke. After staying a little longer Jane had to leave. "If you ever need anything," she gave him a piece of paper with her number. "I was just thinking the same thing. You can call me Officer Lenny" he handed her his card. "Jane," then she left.