*Trisha*

Today was meeting after meeting and as the day went on, Nate got moodier. I can't blame him but his bad mood carried on through the final meeting and I was done dealing with it. We're all tired and stressed out and by the time we get back to the apartment we've had it with each other.

"I'm calling my lawyer. This day went from bad to worse." Nate snaps again once we are home.

"You good over there, Nate?" Casey looks up from her book while lounging on the couch.

"Don't mind him. He's just cranky." I roll my eyes and head to my room to change.

"Cranky!? I was fucking ambushed in that meeting!" I hear Nate yell through the apartment and smirk. Once in a pair of pajama pants and tank top I throw myself on my bed ready to call it a night. I text Paul but he ignores me. He's probably busy trying to tame Julia or something. Now is one of the times I wish James could text. He's so easy to talk to and great company.

A good twenty minutes go by of me scrolling on my phone when there is a knock on my bedroom door. Good. Nate is coming to apologize for snapping at me all day long and taking his bad mood out on me.

"Come in."

To my surprise, it's not Nate. It's Evan and he's holding a plate of leftover lasagna and a water bottle.

"Thought you could use dinner??"

I sit up and smile. The was very thoughtful of the guy and now that the aroma of the Lasagna fills my room I remember I haven't eaten much at all today. I'm starving!

Evan is now dressed in a pair of grey Nike joggers and a plain white t-shirt. I try to keep my eyes on my food as he hands me the plate and not on his bulging biceps.

"Thanks!" I smile and have no issues inhaling my food. "Is he still out there bitchin' and complaining?"

"Yep."

I roll my eyes and shove in another mouthful of food.

"You never got to tell him how you drove today." The bodyguard stands near the doorway with his arms crossed and laughs a little watching me eat. "Jeeze, guess you were hungry after all."

I nod, not taking it as an insult in any way. I know I'm a pig and have no issues with food like Moretti does. To be honest, I don't even know how she can go so long without food. I go two hours and I'm hangry!

"No, I'll tell him tomorrow or something." I downplay it but I'm still really proud of myself. "I know it's nothing to everyone else, but I haven't been able to get behind the wheel without needing to pull over from a panic attack since the accident. This was a big deal to me."

"You SHOULD be proud. It's a HUGE deal. Trying to overcome something big like a car accident that almost killed you guys is not easy. I can't stay I'd want to get behind the wheel after something like that either. I saw some shitty stuff happen while in the Military that I still can't seem to recover from so I get it."

That's right. I had forgotten Evan was once in the Army. That explains the muscles.

"We can do a little more tomorrow. And the next day... you'll see. It will get easier every day." Evan flashes his perfect smile my way before saying goodnight and closing the door behind him.

Driving, even that small distance, was the highlight of my day.

******

*James*

Today was a good day coordination wise and I didn't need much help from Julia. I went to all the sessions and even popped in to visit Cara for a little while. Like Mike, Cara is still struggling with detox but improving every day. I may have been her only visitor today which is sad. Her brother should have popped in to say hi. He was here visiting Julia but never came down to see Cara. I can't pass judgement though. He's a busy guy and I know him and his sister butt heads. I'm sure more now that she is dealing with withdrawal symptoms.

Cara let me pray for her again and this time, the girl started to cry halfway through. I wonder if the Hollan's EVER had any church experience growing up. Maybe someday I could bring Cara to church with me... after this home confinement crap. I don't know if the Avalon would let her leave but maybe they would if she had a nurse come with her. I think she'd benefit from having a little faith and believing in SOMETHING.

Mike is now on Ativan to help with his detox so when he comes back to the apartment after receiving his final dose, he falls asleep quickly. I study the man, remembering what they said in this morning's session.

"I bet he will never touch that shit again." I say softly to not wake him.

"You say that... but it's not that easy." Julia chimes in while feeding Maggie for me.

"Well, if he slips up again, it could be his last time. Today, in one of the sessions, the speaker touched base on addiction. Apparently, the death rate for heroin is high. It was just this morning's opening session but geared more to the detox patients here. An-anyway-" I stammer. "They said the most dangerous substance to detox from is alcohol. The second is Benzos, like your Ativan addiction. The third is heroin, then opioids, meth and cocaine."

"You really pay attention in those sessions, huh?" Julia teases me but I take pride in my commitment. I'm grateful to be here and not in jail so will take advantage of all the Avalon has to offer. I wish Julia felt the same way.

"Sure do. The lady said 40-60% of heroin addicts will relapse within the first-year post-rehab. 80% fall off the wagon at least once after full recovery. And a lot of em die from overdose."

"Jesus." Paul mutters and puts down the newspaper he was previously reading.

"Well, this discussion was wonderful and all." Julia sighs. "I'm gonna go do the dishes."

"I'll dry and put away." Paul offers which I think is nice of him to do.

I head to the hallway and workout a little more like I do every night. Sit ups, push-ups, lunges, squats, anything to keep my body moving. Because I believe I WILL heal fully. So I'm not giving up. I want to stay strong and get healthy because when I'm out of here, I'll still have to deal with asshole Joe. My stomach tightens just thinking about my last encounter with Joe who punched me right in the gut, sending me to my knees. Father of the year right there.

Halfway through my workout, Julia catches my attention. Is she having an argument with Paul?

"Uh- uh.. No. Something is up. Let me see your phone." Julia says.

"Yeah, right. Moretti." Paul walks into the living room where I can see him and Julia follows.

"Paul. Tell me." She tries to get ahold of Paul's phone with no luck.

"Julia, stop." Paul pushes her hand away.

"Then tell me!"

He doesn't budge.

"Fine." Julia grabs the TV remote. What the hell is happening in there? I stop my workout and head to the living room.

"Julia, no. Hold on." Paul tries to grab the remote control, but she quickly steps away from him and turns up the volume.

"What's going on?" I look at Julia who stares at the TV.

Oh no.

On the news, a reporter is announcing some leaked information on Nate and who will star alongside him in his next music video. I watch Julia's face contort and the remote slide out of her hand when she sees who we see. Nate walking out of Modern Studio with Mila Giovanni.

*****