5.

CARTER

I went to school just like Collins said I should. Through the night, I'd called, texted and asked for a video of my mum so that I'll be sure that she was doing okay. 

I didn't want my mother to die just because of money. She was already going through so much because we couldn't afford to take her to the hospital. 

My whole being was distracted as I made my way to school. Our first class was chemistry and when I remembered the group project, I felt like ripping my hair out.

As if my day couldn't get any worse. The car ride home had been silent, thankfully, and I mumbled a thank you as I got out of the car.  

Other groups left before us and I looked at the petri dish in front of me, wondering how on earth I was going to start a conversation with him. 

Thankfully, he put me out of my misery. 

“Are we going to leave too or what?”

Without looking at him, I picked up the three dishes and got up. He followed after me and I figured that no one would want to go to the woods so that's where we'd go. 

It was also very quiet and away from everything. I didn't want to go in too deep so after we had walked a distance, I placed all three on the floor in different places and set the timer. 

Then I sat on a log and brought out my phone to text my brother. 

“How’s your mother doing?” 

I didn't look at him even though I wanted to. Why did he care? 

“She’s good.” 

What else did I want to say? She wasn't going to be good if she didn't get the right treatment. 

We stayed there for about an hour in absolute silence. There was nothing to be said. When the timer beeped, I carried my notepad and began writing down my observations. 

There was no use asking him for input because I didn't think he even knew what was going on. I wasn't even in the mood to speak to him. The fact that he could kill me out here and no one would know slowly crept in but I pushed it aside. 

I must have been in such a daze because for the rest of the day, I didn't even focus on anything besides the last bell. When it rang, I picked up my bag and walked out of school, saying goodbye to Sabrina on my way out. 

When I saw my brother's car in the driveway, I was surprised because I thought he'd still be at the hospital. 

“You’re home. What about mum? Is she okay?” 

He nodded. 

“She’s upstairs. She's okay, the doctor said she'll be fine.”

I sat my bag down by the couch and moved closer to him. 

“You found the money.”

“Something like that. Someone paid for it.”

That made me sit down immediately. 

“Really? Who? Who paid for it?” 

I could feel the happiness in my belly. 

“Ramsay. He paid for it.” 

The smile disappeared from my face and I relaxed. 

Ramsay paid for it? Why would he do a thing like that? Was this some sick joke of his? 

No way, I wouldn't take this from him. Collins shouted my name from behind as I walked out of the house but I didn't listen. 

I walked all the way to their house which was just a couple houses from theirs and banged on the door. 

Thankfully he was the one who answered. He was in a tank top and the first thing I saw were his muscles and I tried not to get distracted. 

“Come in.” I stepped into the house and saw that he had been watching a movie. “What do you want?”

“My brother told me you laid my mother's hospital bills. Why does this look like a joke to you?” 

He walked past me and sat on the couch. 

“I have no idea what you're on about. What did I do wrong? I only helped out.” 

“Help?! You call that help?! Or are you trying to hold it over me so you can tell everyone at school that my family is poor?”

He has a frown on his face as he looked at me. 

“Is that what you think of me? I did it because it was the human thing to do.”

I laughed. 

“You of all people shouldn't be talking about saving lives. Especially not after what you did.”

He flew out of his chair and grabbed me by the collar, shoving me into the wall. 

“Don’t you dare bring that up. I am innocent and you know it. I would never do a thing like that. Me helping you was because I knew I could and I did it. So don't push it.”

Did I know he was innocent? 

I tried to remove his hands from my shirt but he wouldn't budge. 

“The least you could say is thank you. Not everyone would do this.”

Was I grateful? Yes. But I didn't like that the favor came from him. 

So what would I do to make it equal? 

“What do you want?”

He looked so confused. 

“What? What do you mean?”

“What do you want in return for what you have done? You can ask me for anything and I'll try my best to keep to it.”

I could smell his strong musky scent mixed with sandalwood cologne. He had just shaved recently, the signs of the razing slightly cutting him lining his jaw and his intense gaze focused on my face. 

I'd never had anyone look at me this up close before and it slightly made me self conscious. 

I snapped out of my thoughts when he spoke. 

“Clear my name. You of all people know what everyone thinks of me right now. I need them to know that I didn't do it.” 

I was the main advocate for him to pay for what I thought he had done. How on earth was I going to turn around now and say that he was innocent? 

But I was in too deep. I couldn't back out now..I owed him this. 

“Okay, I'll do it.”

I'll clear his name and find out who wanted to kill Jet that day.