Warning... before you read...this story contains subjects of abuse and loss. But on top of that, there is strength, love, perseverance, and the will to live !

Greya's POV... Five Years Later...

You know the saying, " When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?" Well, sometimes the lemons are so rotted that there's no possible way to get any good lemonade out of them.

Don't get me wrong, I've been able to produce a few satisfying tablespoons here and there, but nothing compared to what's already spoiled. That is my life. Something always goes wrong, or someone close to me dies. Life's always a struggle, and on the off chance something does go right and could possibly make me happy, it never lasts very long and the ounce of lemonade I've managed to produce, trickles down to only a drop.

"Greya! I can't find the clothes you want me to wear," my brother Chase yells from his room.

"They're at the end of your bed, feel around until you find them," I shout back from the bathroom. If I don't finish getting myself ready, I'll never have time to help Chase and get us both to school on time.

I quickly throw on a white blouse before pulling up my dark jean shorts. I never wear any make-up, the most I've ever applied was a little lip gloss and eye liner. Ari tells me I'm one of the few lucky people in this world that doesn't need to hide behind a painted face. Fortunately, I was blessed with a pair of big light green eyes and long, thick wavy brown hair. I can thank my mother for that, well I can't thank her anymore, but she was the most beautiful woman I ever knew, inside and out.

"Grey! Please I need your help, I still can't find them," Chase starts yelling again.

"Don't worry sweetheart, I'll help him, you finish getting ready."

"Thanks Gram, I'm almost done in here." I smile at my selfless grandmother. She tries to help as much as she can but she's a month past ninety years old and there's only so much she can do anymore. She's taken care of us when we had no one else and now it's my turn to take care of her.

I finish putting my hair into a long French braid and trot back to my room to pack my bags. I have a big game today and I can't forget to pack everything. I have no time to commute back here before field time and if I do forget something, my soccer coach would have my head. I'm fortunate that my coach understands my situation.

I make it down to the kitchen and throw some waffles in the toaster just in time to catch Chase as he slides with his socks across the kitchen floor and almost slams into the counter.

"Chase, you can't come flying through the kitchen like that. What if I had a hot pan in my hand or a cup of coffee and you bumped into me? You could get hurt."

"But you don't, and I didn't get hurt," he shrugs his shoulders at me like it's no big deal and jumps up onto the stool.

He's a typical ten-year old boy, full of energy. He just doesn't realize he needs to be more careful than other boys his age. I can't take the chance of him getting hurt under our Grams care. Child Services are already concerned that my grandmother is getting too old to take care of a ten-year old with challenges. I know I'll be old enough to take over as his legal guardian when the time comes; I've practically raised him on my own since he was three anyway. But our grandmother was selfless enough to move in and claim responsibility of us after our parents passed away and I'm not going to take that honor away from her before I need too.

"Come on Chase, eat up, we can't be late for school," I hand him his waffle and glass of milk.

He carefully glides his hand over the counter and finds his fork and uses his other hand to locate his plate. The movements he makes are so natural to him and I can't help but smile at the way he handles life.

"I'm finished eating, can we go? " He asks me.

" Ok, your shoes and backpack are by the door, I'll be ready in a sec," I say to him.

He effortlessly makes his way to the door. He knows every inch of this house and can easily get around as long as we don't move any of the furniture around...ever.

I deliver Gram her morning pills and make sure she's all set before we leave. " Hey Gram, we're leaving now, Fynn will bring Chase home after school. I have a game today, so I'll be home late. There are leftovers for dinner in the fridge."

"Ok Sweety, have a good day, I love you."

" Love you too Grams."

Chase grabs my arm, and we make our way to the car. The car rides to school are always fun. Chase blasts the music and belts out every song on the radio. It amazes me how this kid knows every word to every song. I keep the windows down as I drive my dad's Rousch Mustang through our quiet neighborhood. The fall air feels nice, and Chase hangs his arm out the window as he does the wave with his hand.

I pull up to Chase's school and hand him his white cane. "I'll see you tonight buddy, Fynn's picking you up after school since I have a game today."

"Ok Grey, score lots of goals for me!" He smiles and happily skips up to school not even using his cane and stops exactly where his teacher is waiting for him. I look at him in awe and think, now this kid knows how to make lemonade.

I drive off feeling thankful that he goes to such a great school. He's been going to the Dana Rockford School for The Blind since he was four, and it's been a life saver for all of us. The teachers and staff are so nice and treat us like family. In between soccer and my classes, they let me work in their braille program teaching blind kids and teenagers how to read. It's very fulfilling to me, and I make a decent enough paycheck to help pay some of the bills. The money left to us from my mom's life insurance was enough to cover the mortgage and Chase's tuition, but my dad's life insurance ... well that's a story for another time.

I arrive at my own school ten minutes later, my best friends Fynn and Ari are waiting for me in the courtyard as I make my way over from the parking lot. Ari is sitting on top of a picnic table flipping her long dark hair around in Fynn's face.

"Will you knock that off or tie your Rapunzel hair up or something," Fynn teases while trying to dodge her strands.

Ari pulls her hair up into a ponytail and hops off the table towards me. " Ugh thank God," I hear Fynn tease again.

"Hey Greya, did you hear the soccer party is at Becker Reeves' house tonight? That in itself is a miracle, so you have to come with me."

I chuckle at her. She knows damn well I don't like going to those parties, nor do I have time, but she tries to get me to go anyway.

" Yes Ari, I heard, the entire student body has it plastered on Instagram. And though intriguing as it sounds, my answer is no!"

I'm curious to know why after all this time, Becker's going to allow people into his house. He's kept his life private, only a few people know anything about him other than his sports stats. I am not really one of those people whom he shares his secrets with, although we do share the same friends. Becker and I are around each other all the time. Not in the most conventional way one would think considering we hang out with the same very small group of people. Friends isn't the correct title for Becker and I though, because friends actually have meaningful conversations with each other. We're more like acquaintances who share the same friends, play the same sport, have the same classes. Still, he's frequently in my presence, yet hardly ever talks about anything meaningful with me. Instead, we have a strange, mostly silent connection, is how I'd describe our relationship. The guy is a lost soul, and ever since I've met him I've secretly wished for him to find his way. Maybe going to a party at his house will shed some light on my mysterious acquaintance. This could be a good thing and suddenly I'm a little excited about attending.

I haven't answered Ari yet so she tries to keep convincing me.

"Fynn's going! Right Fynn?"

Fynn looks up from the book he's reading, his round dark brown eyes making him look like a deer caught in headlights. "What?"

"You're coming," Ari glares at him.

Fynn closes his book and shrugs, " Sure why not."

Ari practically leaps over the table and wraps her arms around Fynn's neck then turns to me, giving me an "I told you so" smirk. "See, even Fynn is going," she says.

Fynn towers over Ari and it makes me laugh when she stands on the table to get her arms around him.

" We all know Fynn wouldn't miss one of the guy's parties," I exaggerate.

"Who wouldn't, I mean, what are you not seeing that the rest of the student body sees? Every guy on that soccer team is perfect looking," Fynn blurts out.

" Just because you fancy all of them doesn't mean I do," I laugh.

Fynn pries Ari's arms from around his neck and starts walking next to me towards the building. He nudges my shoulder, " Come with us this once Grey, it'll be fun." He brushes his blond hair back with his long fingers while waiting for my answer.

" Fine I'll go, but I'll have to skip out on watching the guys play after my game so I can go home and check on Chase and Grams. Thanks for bringing Chase home after school for me today."

Fynn throws an arm around my shoulder and gives me a squeeze. " Any time, you know that."

I'm glad I can always count on Fynn. We've been friends since the 2nd grade when Fynn moved into the house across the street from mine. He's like a big brother to Chase and has been around for me through everything. Him and Ari are about the only two people who I trust to help with Chase when I need it.

" Hurry up Ari, we have five minutes to get to the locker room before class begins," I grab her hand and pull her along with me.

"See you in class Fynn," I yell to him as we jog down the hall.

"So, you ready for the game today?" Ari asks me. I shrug my shoulders and stuff my bag into my locker. "Yeah sure," I respond. " It's no different than any other game," I add.

"Of course, it is! That scout from UCLA is coming to watch you play! This is a big deal!" She goes on and on.

I chuckle at her last words, " I know, I just can't think about leaving here right now, I have Chase to think about." I remind her.

"You need to do what's best for you too you know Greya, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and Chase still has your grandmother around for him. What if you make it big? You won't need to worry about school or money."

I grab her arm and escort her out of the locker room. "Let's get to class."

"Fine, but please promise me you will start thinking about all these opportunities."

"I will, now can we try to focus on calculus first, this is only day two and I'm already struggling," I tell her.

All I've ever done is imagine the possibilities, but they're not in the cards for me. Not since the day I stumbled upon my fathers lifeless body and promised myself that I'd always put my little brother first. I'd protect him from all the bad I've already experienced and will always be here for him. He deserves better than what I was given. My dreams haven't been possible for a long time, but Chase's possibilities are endless.