Explain yourself!

To Aria's surprise, and a little addition to her anger, Jacob shook his head, indicating he had nothing to say.

"Oh no you don't." Aria burst out, "You better explain yourself right now JACOB WHITE!!!!!!"

Both Jacob and Helen jumped upon hearing such a tone pass Aria's lips. Her voice had also risen and she had practically shouted Jacob's name, which was very unlike Aria.

Seeing that Jacob still refused to say anything, steam practically started to come out of Aria's ears. She could not believe he could be so stubborn, even Joseph had come to his senses after listening to what Helen had gone through while he was acting like an idiot. But this bigger idiot in front of her seemed to need more incentive, Aria thought.

"JACOB!!!" Aria hollered, then checked herself when she saw him visibly wince. Jacob might be acting like an idiot, but he had every right to his opinion. He had also gone through a lot that night, they all had.

She took a few deep breaths to calm herself and when she next spoke, Aria's voice was much controlled. "Jacob." she said, "You refuse to talk to Helen, don't think you will be able to talk to Joseph, but you still do consider me as your friend right?"

Jacob looked up at this change in the direction of the conversation. He nodded, a little vary. "Since you consider me to be your friend, would you please tell me what you are going through?" Jacob's breath hitched upon hearing this. His gaze traveled from Aria, wrapped up in countless bandages and looking too tired for the role of the responsible friend she was still playing. Then he looked at Helen, fingers fidgeting in her lap as she looked at him with a heart-wrenching expression.

The worst part about Helen not being able to see was that her face was an open book. She often forgot to mask her expressions, mostly due to the fact that she could never see anyone's feelings on their faces. And right now, the expression that she had forgot to mask was such sadly expectant that Jacob felt like a physical punch had hit him in the stomach.

Helen was much more shy than Aria and would never have asked such a direct question. But now that the question was there, she seemed to be eager to hear the answer, while at the same time being afraid of what the answer would be.

Jacob's breath quickened as he continued to look from Aria to Helen, back to Aria. He had no idea what to do, and the recovery ward had suddenly began to feel very stuffy. He felt the walls closing in on him and was sure he would suffocate if he did not get out at once.

"I- . . . . I don't feel . . . . so well." Jacob muttered as he stood up. And without another word, and with such speed that none of the girls could get in a word, left the recovery ward.

Aria let out a breath she had no idea that she was holding. She looked at Helen, who seemed like she was about to cry, and cursed under her breath. "Well that was anti-climatic." Helen almost broke her neck turning her head sharply towards the window, from where the voice had come.