I was going to meet Scotty. Or he would come over. Will and dad had decided to talk to their mom, my grandmother, about everything. And when they're ready, they would tell me what happened between them, which was okay. It must have been hard for them, they wouldn't just ignore their mom if it wasn't for a good reason. So I knew that they should be alright with it first.

"Hey, baby", Scott smiled at me and kissed me softly before coming in, "Are you feeling a bit better?" "A lot better thanks to you", and my little helper, "I can't thank you enough, Scotty. I was being such a bitch to you."

"It's alright, babe, you weren't that bad. I'm not perfect, too", he smiled while we were cuddling on the couch. "Yes, yes, you are. You're the most amazing person I know", I smiled honestly, "You helped me although I was so mean. You supported although I didn't deserve it. And you're still here. And I don't even understand why."

"Baby, because I love you", he chuckled showing his perfect whitish teeth, "We're a lot better than letting our relationship be destroyed by a small fight. And you should know that I'm always here for you. Take as much time as you need. Even if it takes you years to get over the death of Gordon, I'll still be here with you. I know you would do the same. You and I, baby, you and I."

I almost cried again. But this time not because I was feeling sad. I was blessed and thankful for having a boyfriend like him. I smiled turning his face to me so I could kiss him but as soon as I smiled our dog jumped up on the couch to join us and barked happily. Oh, he knew exactly what this family felt.

"Hey, babe", Scott kissed me on the next day in school, "You seem overly happy." "That's good, isn't it?", I giggled leaning my body against his. "And clingy", he chuckled, "But I'm not complaining." "Hey, my favorite couple", Sheri walked over to us with a smile on her face, "You're extra romantic today, huh?" Scott and I looked at each other and laughed. This is just what we thought.

"I want to go out tonight", I decided spontaneously, "Let's go to a club with the others." "Are you sure you're ready for that?", the boys - Jeff and Monty - asked. "Guys, I'm emotional, I know that. But honestly, it's fine. I just want to have some fun with my friends." I noticed Sheri smiling weirdly at Scott, "Someone didn't like the last party with Charlie."

"You didn't fight, did you?", I asked him alarmed, "Scotty?" "Nah, we just don't talk. I mean I loved to beat him up but you wouldn't like that", he shrugged his shoulder with his typical cute smile. "Ah Scotty the romantic", Monty grinned laying his arms around our shoulders relaxed, "Off to training bitches."

Everyone I've asked had told me that they would come, too. I was just trying to find the right moment to talk to Charlie to see if there was a chance to make Sophia happy for tonight. But luckily, he made the first step. "Hey, Ellie, can we talk for a moment?", he scratched his neck probably feeling uncomfortably. "Sure", I smiled honestly, "Just what I wanted to do."

Scott was talking to the boys from the football team and the other girls were dancing.  "Listen, I'm sorry for overwhelming you like I did. I do like you, I cannot deny that but I'm not going to stand in between you and Scott", he nodded as if he had to make himself believe what he just said.

"Charlie, are you sure about that? I mean, I'm really not a good person. I was addicted to drugs", wow what a lie, "I can be a liar sometimes and I'm definitely not a nice girl. I've picked up enough fights with Leah. By the way, a girl like her suits you better." "You shouldn't talk so bad about yourself", he hook his head now. Man, can't he be mean once? I've told you, he's the porcelain kind of cute guy.

"Els, Monty, Justin and I need a lighter. I'll take yours out of your bag, alright?", Sheri shouted over to us through the loud music. I just gave her a thumbs up. She could do anything with my stuff. I focused on Charlie again but just when he opened his mouth to say something, he was taken back by an angry Justin. Next to him were Sheri, Monty and Scotty who didn't look much happier.

"Guys, what happened to you?", I laughed, "You really need a joint, you look like something's bugging you." "Yeah, a lot. What the fuck is that?", Monty showed me the pills packed in a small plastic bag which I had thrown into my hand bag and forgot about it. Fuck.. 

"Why are we here, Monty?", I bit my lip wondering why I would have to drive behind him for forty minutes just to stand here on an empty road. "Be patient", he just smiled waving at someone who drove here in a black Range Rover. That must be Bryce. It was his car. But why would Montgomery bring me out here just to meet Bryce? Especially after I wouldn't even talk to him.

"Monty, what's going on here?", I sighed. "You can never be patient, huh?" "Just tell me", I threw my head into my neck frustrated, "I swear if Bryce is coming out of that car, I'm going to beat you up." "We both know you wouldn't do that", Monty just laughed it off. "Boy, I'm serious."

"Hey, thanks man", none other than Bryce jumped out of the Range Rover giving Monty a bro hug. "You're dead, Montgomery de la Cruz." "Ellie", Bryce walked over to me shyly, "You probably still hate me. I mean I deserve it. I've done horrible things. But I regret it and I'm trying to become a better person."

"Congratulations, Bryce. I'm leaving now", I rolled my eyes but Monty stopped me by holding my wrist, "Seriously?" "Come on, Els, give him a chance. I would understand it if you hated Bryce forever if we didn't grew up as siblings basically." "Sheri has talked to me, too, a few days ago", Bryce tried it again, "She doesn't hate what I've done any less than you do but I'm really trying to change. And I need friends for that." "We'd never let each other down, Ellie", Monty agreed with him which just made it even harder for me.

It's not like I didn't miss Bryce. I missed him a lot. It sounds crazy, I know. Who misses hanging out with a rapist? But he wasn't a rapist in my eyes. I grew up with him knowing that he would defend me anytime. He was there for me, he helped me multiple times, he offered me a home to stay at, his mom made me feel like I had a mom. You couldn't just throw your family away easily. And Bryce has been my family for the past eighteen years.

"Sheri is really talking to you again?", I asked skeptically. "Yes, well.. She slapped me first. But she gave me another chance." I chuckled, that sounded like a Sheri-move. "Alright, one chance. But if I see that you just play with us and don't even try to become a better person, you're going to be really lonely."

I gave him my hand for starters. Monty explained me why we were here. It was Bryce's idea to come here because this is a old and now unused racing street where we could try racing ourselves. Which was really a good idea because the three of us have always been hotheads who needed to let off steam.