"I fucking hate you, Victoria!" Ashley yelled angrily at me and stormed into my house through the front door.

I frowned. "What did I do that caused you to hate me?"

She squinted her eyes at me and shoved her index finger at my chest. "Do not pretend like you don't know."

My frown deepened in confusion. What the heck is she talking about?

Today was the day that Nate was leaving for New York. I was just about to leave to the airport until Ashley came, looking furious for who knows what.

"Ash, I have absolutely no idea what you're on about," I told her.

She snorted. "Let me guess, you're going to the airport?"

"How do you know..."

Then it dawned on me. She was mad because I didn't tell her about Jesse leaving.

Oh fuck!

"Look Ash, I'm really sorry for not telling you, it's just that I didn't wanna hurt you. You were so happy with him, what if you had found out he was leaving? You'd be devastated. And I can't stand to see you hurt." I told her truthfully.

"Wow...is that honestly your best excuse?"

"Ashley, it's not an exc-" I started but she cut me off.

"Please keep your pathetic lies to yourself."

"Ash-"

"Save it. I was stupid to have been your best friend for all these years. I should've realised what a two faced bitch you really are." She spat bitterly.

"Oh and not to forget a cheater too. Just ask Gerald." And with that being said she spun on her heel and stormed out the house, slamming the door on her way out.

I ran a hand through my hair. Tears were building up in my eyes and I could feel that familiar, awful lump in my throat.

Ashley's words were circling in my head and I'd be lying if I said that they didn't hurt, because it did. It felt like she had taken a dagger and stabbed it numerous times in my chest.

I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that my best friend, who was pretty much my sister, would hurt me this badly.

I swallowed down the lump in my throat, grabbed my phone and typed out a text to Nate.

Me: I won't be able to make it to the airport, sorry.

I clicked send and tossed my phone aside.

I just felt so angry and frustrated with myself. I was being a selfish bitch by not telling Ashley. She still ended up getting hurt despite my efforts to prevent her from it.

My phone buzzed with the tone of a text but I just ignored it. I really wasn't interested in anything; all I cared about was fixing things up with Ashley. I couldn't lose her, she meant to much to me.

I ran a hand through my hair and let out a frustrated huff.

*****

5 years later

I combed my hair with my hair brush, neatening it, grabbed my phone from the dressing table and opened it to find a text.

I opened the text which said 'I'm outside' and hurried down the staircase, grabbed my coat and out the door, shutting it.

I walked over to the black Mercedes Benz parked in the drive way and spotted a familiar brown haired and brown eyed guy leaning on the car door.

"Hey," he greeted simply and placed a kiss on my cheek.

I gave him a small smile. "Ready to go?" I asked.

"Yeah let's go." He said and I opened the passenger door and jumped in.

He started the ignition and we left my house and drove off.

"Straight to the hospital?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yep."

"Don't you wanna get something to eat first, Victoria?"

"Nope."

We stopped at a traffic light and he turned and looked at me, his light brown eyes looking even lighter in the sun.

"You're sure?" He asked.

"Yeah I'm good."

"If you say so then, sunshine." He said and drove off once the traffic light turned green.

"Don't you dare call me that!" I warned.

"Why do you get so pissed when I call you that?" He asked, his eyes fixed on the road.

"Ethan, I've told you countless times that it's none of your business," I said irritably. "So just drive and shut up."

He just shrugged and continued to drive.

Ever since Michael fell ill and the doctors decided that he couldn't stay home anymore because he was too ill he was hospitalised. The doctors were trying their best of treatments and everything but it just wasn't working; the cancer kept on spreading. Even though I denied it all the time I knew deep down that my time with him was very limited.

After the summer after graduation passed I had went on and pursued the career Michael had wanted me to. After five years of studying I was finally done with my studies and graduated from university a week ago. Now I had a degree in business and soon enough I would by taking over Michael's company, as much as I didn't want to I didn't have much of a choice.

As for Ethan, well he's my 'boyfriend' who I had met during my third year of university and we started 'dating' seven months ago.

He was also pretty tall, muscular and had a perfect jaw along with soft brown hair and light brown eyes. He awfully resembled Nate and I guess that's why I chose him.

"We're here," he announced.

I opened the car door and got out, walked in the hospital where Jackie,  receptionist greeted me.

"How are you today, Miss. Aldaine?" She said with a warm smile.

"I'm fine thanks." I said with a small smile and walked off to Michael's room.

I opened the door and spotted him on his phone. I smiled and walked in.

"Hey," I greeted him.

He put his phone on the table beside him and greeted me back.

"How are you today?" I asked.

"Same really," he said with a shrug.

I walked over and sat on the chair next to his bed.

"Did you come alone?" He asked.

"No, I came with Ethan," I said. "He's in the waiting room I think."

I honestly didn't know or really care where he was.

"I'm glad that he's there for you though. I mean if he weren't there then once I died you-"

I cut him off with a glare. I always hated it when he said the 'D' word. It just seemed impossible that he was going to leave me. All my life he's been there, yeah we had some horrible times, but he was still there; looking after me.

He smiled weakly at me. "You're just gonna have to accept it. From the looks of it I'll probably not even make it to next year."

I looked at him. He looked so weak and sick. His hair was all gone, but his head was covered with a beanie. He lost so much of weight on his face that you could see the bones on his face, which was as pale as chalk alone with the rest of his body. My heart broke every time I seen him like this; I hated it.

Seeing him ill in a hospital bed reminded me of my grandfather all over again. How when he felt ill he sat on the same bed looking as frail and pale as Michael. And just a few months later I remember that horrible phone call I got from Michael telling me how my grandfather died. I remember the pain I felt, how the tears couldn't stop.

I refuse to go through that again. Michael cannot die! He just can't! Life cannot possibly hate me that much to take away everyone I love.

I shook my thoughts away and decided to bring up a lighter topic.

"So did Natasha tell you?" I asked him.

He frowned. "Tell me what?"

"The baby's born!" I announced excitedly. It was good to hear some good news in what felt like forever. Sure we didn't get along but it was still exciting to have a new member in the family.

"Wow! That's great!" He said. "Did they name him yet?"

I shook my head. "Not yet, they're still deciding."

"Are you going to see the baby?" He asked me.

"No, I can't make it."

He frowned. "But it's summer, Victoria. And you've graduated. I'm sure you can spare a few days."

"I can't leave you here all alone! I need to look aft-"

"Victoria, I'm not a baby." He said, cutting me off.

I scowled. "I never said you were a baby. All I said was that I can't leave you alone."

"I'm not saying you have to go for like a whole month, just a few days. I mean, don't you wanna see your little nephew?"

I big my lip. I certainly did want to see my little nephew and it was just a few days...what's the worst that could happen?

I sighed. "Okay fine I'll go. But only for a weekend!"

He grinned weakly at me.

****

I waited with all my luggage at the airport for Daniel, Natasha's husband, to pick me up.

It was two weeks since Michael convinced me to come and visit Natasha and I still wasn't very happy to have left him alone but it was just a weekend so nothing could happen; I needed to stop stressing.

I took out my phone and started playing a game on my phone until I heard a familiar voice call my name.

"Hello Daniel," I greeted him.

"Ready to go?" He asked and I nodded.

***

After a rather awkward drive we finally reached Daniel's and Natasha's house. To be honest I was kinda excited to see the baby, I mean it is my nephew I'd be seeing.

I walked in the house, my heels clicking on the porcelain tiles. As soon as I walked into the living room I spotted Natasha carrying the baby in her arms. As soon as she saw me a relieved look took over her face.

"Oh thank goodness you're here, Victoria!"

I frowned. Well that was odd. I don't ever remember her being happy by seeing me. Her being annoyed seemed more likely.

Maybe marriage did change her.

"You have no idea how hard it's been with the baby, I could really use your help around here." She said and realisation dawned on me. Of course she didn't change she just needs my help. Typical.

'Yeah of course, after all you just want to use me and aren't actually happy to see your younger sister in after more than a year.'

I wanted to say that but I held it back; I wasn't that immature anymore. Sometimes it's better to just let things slide instead of causing unnecessary drama.

I just smiled in reply and walked over to her and the baby. 

I sat down next to her and looked at the baby. Her was truly so adorable. His tiny eyes were closed, enjoying his slumber, and his tiny fingers were clenched shut. He had light brown hair, with a similar skin colour to Natasha. I smiled warmly at him.

"Can I hold him?" I asked her. She nodded and handed him to me. I gently took him in my arms and held him; his head resting on my left arms whilst his feet were on my other arm.

"Have you named him yet?" I asked her.

"Yeah, his name is Kyle." She answered.

****

After Natasha put Kyle to sleep she spoke a little to me, mostly asking questions about Michael, so I deciding that I needed some air I went out for a walk to the nearest Starbucks.

I walked inside Starbucks and was greeted by the aroma of coffee. I stood in the queue, barely even noticing who was in front of me, and grabbed my phone out. I sent a text to Michael to ask if everything was okay.

After moving a little in the queue and still having not received a reply from Michael, I locked my phone and looked up. I looked at the menu, decided what to order then looked a little lower and only noticed now who was standing in front of me in the queue.

It didn't feel real but I couldn't miss the back of their head even if I was blind. My jaw nearly fell open and I'm sure people were staring oddly at me for the shocked look on my face; but I really didn't care. It's been five whole years since I've seen them. Five. Whole. Years.

I tapped their shoulder, my hand shaking a little because of shock.

"Victoria?! What are you doing here?"

I raised my brow. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in New York?"

"Am I not allowed in California anymore?" Their said cheekily.

I tried really hard not to grin like a fool. It's been so long since I've heard this voice, and even though they've caused me pain I was still so happy.

"Please don't tell me that you're still mad at me, Ash?" I asked Ashley.

She sighed. "Victoria...no I'm not mad at you anymore, but it's been five years. Things have changed, we're not in high school anymore."

I frowned. "What exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying that," she paused and took a deep breath, "that we can't have what we had before I left."

I was about to respond until I felt a someone loudly clear their throat behind me.

"Do mind going forward so this queue can actually move?" A very angry looking lady said behind me. I just ignored her and grabbed Ashley's arm, dragging her aside so I could speak to her.

"So just wanna abandon our thirteen year old friendship that we had? Over something yo stupid and petty?! Are you that stupid and idiotic?!" I said hotly. I could anger bubbling inside of me.

She glared at me. "You were the one that ruined it, you were the one that lied to me which caused me to lose my trust in you."

I laughed humourlessly. "After five years you're still not over that? You're overreacting! If you loved Jesse so much then where is he now?"

She smirked. "You think we've broken up, don't you?" She laughed. "Think again because we're engaged! Our relationship survived everything unlike yours and Nate's." And with that she walked passed me and out the shop.

________

A/N
Hey loves! I'm so sorry by how much this chapter sucked but I'm just having a hard time getting through the small details before all the real drama starts ;)

And once again sorry for making you guys wait for so long and all I could deliver in return was a crappy chapter :( but I promise it'll get better soon!

Also this chapter is dedicated to my awesome and amazing friend chaoticbliss-  she's one of the best friends! ❤

Lots of love,
Me!