I had a dream that night.

      I had travelled back in time, to when I was eight-years-old, and Blake was ten. We were in my backyard, having one of our famous Jones and Pierce grill-outs. Our moms were sitting on lawn chairs with cocktails in their hands, laughing about lord knows what. And there was Blake's dad, standing next to mine, who was flipping burgers on the grill with the biggest smile on his face.

      Blake and I were sitting atop my old treehouse, surveying the whole backyard, watching our parents. They were happy, and they were there.

      I watched for what seemed hours, my dad happily chatting to Mr. Pierce. I watched the way his eyes wrinkled when he laughed at something Mr. Pierce said, and the way his crystal blue eyes shone. I listened to his chipper laugh, and how I wished I could listen to it forever.

      But most of all, everyone was actually happy.

      I looked over at Blake, and said, "I know they're not really there."

      It was strange seeing Blake as a ten-year-old again, yet it was so familiar. He too was actually happy, and not so closed off. He still had life inside of him.

      As Blake's soft green eyes looked over at mine, he simply replied, "They're closer than you think."

      And then that was it, and I woke up sweating in Sawyer's twin bed.

~~~

      All I could really do in that moment was cry.

      I hadn't had a dream that clear of my dad since he died, and it honestly startled me, but at the same time, I was grateful to actually see him. It was like an angel had been watching over me.

      A part of me wondered if the reason I had a dream like that was because I relived the story of my dad's death last night when I told Blake. I had never told that story before, and I had never had a dream like that as well.

      As I sat up in the bed, I looked around and sighed. It was only five-thirty in the morning, and I was positive I wasn't going back to sleep after that. So, I thought back to last night, which was, in many instances, extremely surprising.

      I didn't expect Blake to respond the way he did. He actually seemed like he cared about me, which was miles more than he had been acting before. In those moments, I could actually sense the Blake I used to know. I could feel him there.

      I don't even know how long I sat there on the couch, sobbing in Blake's arms, letting him hold me for the first time in ages. All I remember next was waking up in Sawyer's bed. I got butterflies in my stomach thinking that Blake carried me to bed last night.

      Shaking my head, I decided to get up and get dressed. I had been meaning to go to the store to get a few toiletry items I needed, so I thought now would be a decent time to do it since I for sure wasn't going to sleep anytime soon.

      After throwing on a pair of jean shorts and a tee, I threw my rat's nest of hair into a ponytail and headed out. Of course, everyone was still asleep, so I made sure to be as quiet as possible as I shut the door.

      It wasn't until I got into my car that I realized I didn't even know where I was going or what stores were even around, so I pulled out my phone and found a twenty-four hour supermarket. It was only about ten minutes out, which was nice.

      When I arrived, I noticed there weren't a lot of people in the parking lot. (Probably because it was only six o'clock in the morning. Duh.) So I was pretty fast getting in and out. I got basic things I needed, like shampoo, conditioner, razors, tampons, etc.

      When I exited the store though, I heard some commotion to my right, and noticed a big group of guys standing around the edge of the parking lot, completely drunk may I add. I rolled my eyes, and started toward my car, when I heard something that made my blood go cold.

      "Hey, Hadley!" I heard one of the boys yell.

       Immediately red flags were flashing in my head, and I started walking faster to my car, fumbling for my mace. I heard footsteps behind me, and my heart started beating nearly out of my chest. I almost got into my car, when I heard the person say, "Hadley, it's me!"

      I stopped and turned around, hand on the door handle. It was Jason, looking as drunk as the other guys he was with. Still though, I didn't know him all that well, and he was slap-drunk. I didn't trust drunk people. They don't act themselves.

      "Oh, hey Jason. I didn't know that was you." I said, my hand squeezing the door handle.

      He gave me a lazy smile and said in a slur, "What're you doing around here, pretty girl?"

      I immediately got chills. "Oh ya know, just getting a few items I needed." He started looking me up and down, which immediately made me feel uncomfortable. When he didn't say anything, I said, "Well, I better get going now. It was nice to see y-"

      But before I could finish my sentence, he interrupted, "How about you come hang with me and my boys?"

      The red flags in my head were flashing brighter. No, no, no.

      "Um, I've actually got somewhere to be right now." I started to open my door, but he immediately shut it and grabbed my arm.

      "What? With that dickhead, Pierce?" His grip was tight, and my breathing started to become shallow with panic.

      "Get your hand off of me." I demanded shakily. I felt like I was about to cry.

      He then laughed in my face, booze dripping from his breath. "Or what? What are you going to do?"

      I tried to get ahold of my breathing, but it was getting hard. I was getting into a panic.

      "I'm warning you." I said, now getting pissed off. My teeth were gritting in anger.

      When he smiled devilishly and said, "Try me." I immediately raised my other hand and sprayed him straight in the eyes with my mace

      I knew that would come in handy. I thought to myself, as I quickly jumped into my car and flew out of the parking lot, leaving Jason sprawled out on the ground writhing in pain.

~~~

      I started to cry a little bit on the way back, but I was soon able to control my breathing and clean myself up. I was pretty much in shock from what happened. I'd never had a boy handle me like that before.

      When I arrived back at the apartment, I made sure it looked like I hadn't been crying, and went inside with my bags of toiletries.

      Everyone was in the kitchen eating breakfast, since Blake and Mason have work this morning. I stood in the kitchen doorway, watching Mason and Sawyer make silly faces at each other, when I heard Blake say, "Hey."

      I had to do a double-take at first. Did Blake seriously just say hey to me?

      When I was sure it was him, I replied, "Hey."

      He was already dressed and ready to go in his work uniform. And I wasn't sure if I was just hallucinating, but he seemed a bit happier this morning. He actually had somewhat of a smile on his face.

      "You're up early." He said, as Mason and Sawyer looked over at me.

      I replied, "Yeah, I figured I'd get some shopping done." I lifted my bags up to show them.

      After I put my bags in Sawyer's room, I entered the kitchen and made myself a bowl of cereal. I sat down next to Blake, and in front of Sawyer. Just like the other day, she piped up and said, "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

      Expectantly, she looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders. "I haven't thought about it. What do you want to do?"

      She thought for a minute or so, and then she perked up, "Can we go to the park again?"

      I immediately got chills, thinking of how I met Jason there. I suddenly wanted to cry, but I replied, "Sure thing."

      Mason piped up then and said, "Are you going to invite me this time, booger?"

      Sawyer's nose scrunched up and she replied, "No, you dork. You have to go to work."

      Mason smirked and replied, "So, what you're saying, is that if I wasn't working today you'd want me to come with you?"

      Sawyer started to get aggravated, and I was chuckling at their conversation, when I felt someone looking at me. Or by someone I mean Blake.

      But he wasn't staring quite at me. He was staring at my arm.

      I hadn't realized how red and swollen it had gotten from Jason gripping it with all of his freakish strength. It got me nervous that Blake was looking at it with so much perplexity.

      "What happened to your arm?" He asked, not giving me a glance. He was staring at my arm like he was trying to understand it or something.

      I bit my lip, and looked down at it. "I think I slept on it wrong or something."

      By the look he gave me afterwards, we both knew that I was lying, and that it was a crappy excuse. I slept on it wrong? Really?

      He didn't say anything else at the moment, but I knew he'd bring it up sooner or later when Sawyer wasn't around. He looked like he couldn't let it go.

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A/N: Hey guys! Quick update! I know, haha! I'm surprised too! I hope you all like this one<3

See you on chapter 12!

-Ella Rose