Adrian Hayes

August 24th, 2018

I had just finished putting the last box on the kitchen counter before finally sitting down. Today was the day Riley and I moved into our apartment and it hasn't been anything but stressful. First, we had to get checked out of rehab which took forever. Then, we had to go to Riley's old place and get all of her stuff. After all that we still had to go to a storage unit that had all of my old stuff in it. Atleast my parents provided us with furniture or else this would've been an even bigger pain in the ass. I looked around at the apartment and took a sigh of relief. This was gonna be great, I just knew it.

Quinn was supposed to come over today so I should probably put that shower to good use. I stood up and made my way to my room and unpacked the box full of my old clothes. Finally I got to wear something other than the ugly fucking uniforms. I laid out my outfit on my bed before stripping naked and grabbing a towel from the hallway closet. I took the time to take off my necklace and place it on my nightstand, it was the only time I took it off. I made my way into the bathroom before hanging my towel up and turning the shower on. After waiting for the water to heat up I stepped into and let the water fall over me.

The showers at the rehabilitation center never got anywhere near this hot. I almost forgot how a hot shower felt. I had my eyes closed so I didn't even notice when the shower curtain was pulled back. It was only when I felt someone's presence behind me that I spun around and was met with Riley's bright blue eyes. I jumped back a bit, I wasn't that caught off guard though. I mean I had seen Riley naked before and we've taken showers together before. I just thought that was gonna end with the new apartment.

"What are you doing?"

"If we're going to pay the bills in this place then we're going to need to save on water." She said.

I kept my eyes locked on to hers. "I don't think this shower is big enough for both of us."

"We'll make it work." She said grabbing the shampoo of the rack that hung around the shower hand.

I squinted at her. "Just keep your eyes where I can see them."

"What are we supposed to stare at eachother the whole time? Suit yourself, I actually need a shower." She said pouring shampoo into her palm before lathering it into her hair.

I took the shampoo out of her hand. "I do too."

"This water is so much better than the fucking rehab center." She said.

I poured some shampoo into my palm and lathered it into my hair. ""Loads better."

"Washing your hair must be hard." She ran her hand through it. "So damn curly."

"Why do you think I used to cut most of it off?" I grinned. "My hair used to hang just above my shoulders."

"I remember. You had short hair in that picture of you and your boyfriend." She said.

I turned my gaze back to her. "He's not my boyfriend...anymore atleast."

"He's a cute one. You're missing out by not shooting your shot at him." She said washing the soap out of hair.

I stepped forward to get underneath the showerhead. "That's not how it works."

"Of course it does. Y'all already dated and had sex, you already have a foot in the door. I'm sorry Adrian but you could use a good fuck if you know what I'm saying." She said grabbing the bar of soap.

"A good fuck?" I scoffed. "The hell are you talking about?"

"Be honest, this boy of yours....is he hung?" She asked scrubbing her body with the bar of soap.

"Hung?"

"What? You never heard that before? Ok fine is his cock big?" She asked.

I burst into laughter and covered my mouth. "You did not just say cock."

"What? What do you say?" She asked.

"Dick, like everyone else in America."

"Ok fine is his dick big?" She asked tilting her head.

I avoided eye contact with her. "I don't know it was a long time ago."

"Come onnn, a woman never forgets her first cock." She said.

I rolled my eyes. "Will you stop saying that word!"

"Sorry, dick." She corrected.

I shrugged. "I mean I guess it's big."

"You guess?" She reached over and tapped me on my forehead. "Details woman! Details!"

"Why do you care?"

"Because if you're not gonna fuck that boy then someone has to." She said smirking at me.

I smiled and rolled my eyes again. "You're ridiculous."

"He is single right?" She asked.

I grabbed the bar of soap from her. "Yes he is."

"Well what the fuck Adrian? You seriously gonna let a cute boy like that stay single?" She asked with her mouth agape.

"It's got nothing to do with me Riley." I ran the bar of soap over my chest and down my sides. "Quinn's staying single because his last girlfriend died."

"Oh.....how long ago?" She asked.

"Over a year ago."

"Oh well that's not that bad." She said waving it off.

My eyes shot up to her. "Riley!"

"Adrian! The boy's gotta move on. No since on dwelling on past relationships." She said shrugging her shoulders. "You're certainly not."

"Are you done here?"

"Almost, can you get my back?" She asked turning around.

I sighed. "Fine."

"You think I couldn't change his mind? It's been over a year." She asked.

I scrubbed down her back. "Drop it Riley!"

"Or do you not me want? Because maybe....you want to?" She asked.

I turned her around to face me. "I said drop it!"

"Oh you do want to." She said gasping.

"You're clean now....you can leave."

"You could change his mind Adrian. The boy seems lonely, he's got that look in his eyes." She said.

"And how do you know what that looks like?"

"Its the same look I had in my eyes for three years....until I met you." She stepped out of the shower. "The first piece of the puzzle."

"Puzzle?"

"You know?" She looked back for a moment. "The puzzle of my life. I've been trying to put it back together for a while now."

I pointed at myself. "And I'm the first piece?"

"The most important piece." She exclaimed before leaving me confused in the shower.

I stood there for a moment, deciding to just finish cleaning myself up. After that I turned the shower off and stepped out of it. I grabbed my towel and dried myself off as I left the bathroom. I walked to my room and started changing into the outfit I had laid out beforehand. I threw on a pair of boy shorts before putting a bra on. I took another look at my outfit and laughed when I held up my shirt. It was a button up shirt with a stupid Hawaiian design on it.

The reason I still kept it was because it was the one thing Quinn got me that I actually liked. I don't think he ever understood my style but I couldn't blame him. Maybe wearing this would be too forward but maybe it might make him smile. I threw it on and buttoned it up before putting on a pair of skinny jeans to go with it. Midway through me putting on my socks is when Riley came to my doorway wearing nothing but the towel wrapped around head.

"Can you put some damn clothes on? Quinn will be here any minute."

"I think your boyfriend would like me better like this." She said swaying her hips.

My eyes fell to her crotch. "Not with that shit."

"Are you making fun of my pubes?" She asked covering her crotch with her hand.

"If you're gonna walk around like that you might as well look presentable."

"Or maybe I'll grow it out just to piss you off." She said.

I laughed and shook my head. "You're fucking crazy."

"No but seriously I just came to ask you for some hangers." She said.

"You don't have any?"

"Not enough no." She said.

I pointed over towards my closet. "Alright sure."

"Nice shirt." She said opening my closet.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh haha very funny."

"Seriously, I like it." She said grabbing a few hangers out of the closet.

"Now can you please put some clothes on?"

"Fine, but I must warn you. I like walking around naked." She said before leaving.

"Then shave that bush!" I shouted.

"Fuck off!" I heard her shout from her room.

I shook my head and finished putting on my socks before putting on the only shoes I seemed to wear, a pair of black & white high top converse. I looked over at my nightstand and picked the silver heart necklace up. I hooked it behind my neck before tucking it into my shirt collar. I walked out into my living room where I examined the boring set up we had. My living room was literally just a couch, an old coffee table, and a small flatscreen tv. I didn't even have cable so the fact that I had a tv was pointless. I went into my kitchen and opened up my fridge. I don't know why I expected anything to be in there. Looks like Riley and I had a bit of shopping to do.

Somehow we had to make it work with the money my parents gave me for groceries. I shut the fridge and went over to my apartment's balcony. I pulled back the blinds before opening the sliding glass door and walking out on to my balcony. I leaned against the railing and took in the view of the building right across from me. Yeah the view wasn't good but I'd probably would hardly ever use this anyway.

"Nice view ain't it?"

I looked over to the balcony next to mine to see a man standing there. He had a cigarette in hanging out of his mouth as dark as the color of his skin. His hair was a mess of braids that were tied back behind his ears with a few loose ones falling over his face. I couldn't see much of what he was wearing other than his baggy t-shirt and what looked like a banana tied around his neck.

"It sucks."

"It may suck but I promise you, there's no where else I'd rather live." He said before lighting the cigarette in his mouth.

I walked over to the side of my balcony facing him. "You got a name?"

"Chris but please just call me CJ." He said taking a hit of whatever he was smoking.

I smirked. "Adrian but please....just call me Adrian."

"You the one who just moved in?" He asked.

"Yeah my friend and I just moved in today."

"Oh you got a friend too? What's their name?" He asked taking the cigarette out of his mouth.

"Riley."

"Is he chill?" He asked.

I laughed a bit. "Riley's a girl."

"Man Riley's a fucking dude's name." He laughed.

"So is Adrian."

"Yeah but you look like an Adrian." He said pointing towards me.

"And she looks like a Riley, trust me."

"You and Riley planning on staying here?" He asked putting his cigarette back in his mouth.

"Why would we not?"

"Eh most folks move into these apartments just to go to the fucking college down the street." He said.

"I actually did just move here just for that fucking college down the street." I sighed. "But I plan on staying here for a while."

"How long is a while to you?" He asked taking another hit.

"Unless this place burns down, I'm staying."

"I like that." He said with a slight grin. "That's some real shit right there. My mom used to always tell me to stay grounded in one place."

"Why'd she say that?"

"Because if I didn't she said I'd lose myself to the world." He waved it off. "She was on her catholic shit at the time."

"Some how I feel like I already lost myself to the world. I mean a few months ago my life was a whole lot different."

"You were an addict weren't you?" He asked pointing towards me again.

I leaned against the railing. "How'd you know that?"

"Lemme guess.....your drug was heroin wasn't it?" He asked.

My mouth fell open. "Ok seriously how did you know that?"

"Lady...you know how many addicts I've seen in my life? A lot....and I can spot an opioid addict from a mile away." He said.

"How?"

"My dad." He said taking another hit. "And my mom were both addicts."

I shook my head. "Well I'm not an addict anymore."

"How long you been sober?" He asked.

"A little over 3 months."

"Whew! That's a fucking long ass time. How you stay sober for that long?" He asked.

"Rehab." I deadpanned.

"Hmm....you don't look like the rehab type." He said.

"It wasn't my choice. It was that or jail."

"Smart choice, choosing rehab I mean." He said.

"Aye CJ! Who the hell you talking to man?"

Just then another man walked out on to the balcony. His hair was seemingly much shorter than CJ's and his skin was also lighter in tone. He also seemed more hipster in style, I mean who the fuck actually wears stripes anymore. Maybe I've been in rehab too long.

"TJ this our new neighbor Adrian." CJ pointed at me then at his friend. "Adrian this is my roommate TJ."

"Oh shit....hey what's up?" TJ asked waving at me.

"Nigga could you be any less smooth if you tried?" CJ asked putting his arm around TJ.

"Aye man fuck off!" TJ whispered under his breath.

I rolled my eyes. "I can still hear you!"

"Bruh peep this, she got a roommate named Riley right? Now I know that's a fucking dude's name." CJ said leaning against him, as if they could be any less subtle.

"It is." TJ nodded.

"But nigga listen! That also sounds like a bad bitch name. You feel me?" CJ asked.

"There's no fucking way these two are real people." I thought.

"Yeah that does lowkey sound like a bad bitch name." TJ agreed stroking his chin. "Bruh but what if she's ugly?"

"She not, look at that beauty right there." CJ said pointing at me.

"Hi!" I waved at them. "I still exist you know!"

"Nigga ain't no way a smoke show like that hangs around ugly people. I mean do you hear that accent of hers. It sounds like if Crocodile Dundee became a hot ass lightskin." CJ said.

I scoffed. "The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"But what if she's the cute one? You know every girl group gotta have an ugly one." TJ asked.

"Oh great they're just ignoring me now."

"Nigga what did I just say? You see that shirt she got on?" CJ asked pointing at me again. "That shit just screams bad bitch energy nigga ain't no way she hangs around ugly people."

I rolled my eyes and poked my head back inside my apartment. "Riley!"

"Yeah!" Riley shouted from her room.

"Come here!" I shouted back before looking back at CJ and TJ.

"Oh shit! See nigga we about to find out. My money says she's fine." CJ said jumping up and down like a child.

"Like your money means shit. I bet she got a sexy accent." TJ said.

"Bet." CJ said shaking TJ's hand.

"Hey what did you call me for?" Riley asked walking out on to the balcony.

"GAWWDD DAMMNN!"

TJ dramatically fell into CJ's arms as if he was playing dead. I couldn't hold back my laughter, I was one breath short of passing out right there. These two were literally the most exaggerated people I have ever met in my life, and I loved it.

I pointed at them. "That."

"Who are they?" Riley asked looking at them.

"Our neighbors."

"Aye yo wassup Riley?!" TJ said seemingly coming back to life.

"Nigga you owe me money now! Look how dumb you look now! You thought she was the ugly one!" CJ said laughing.

"I also thought she was gonna have a sexy accent just like Adrian." TJ said.

"How do they know our names?" Riley asked looking at me.

"I told them."

"Why?" Riley asked.

I looked at her and sighed. "We could use some new friends."

"Yo Riley! You're friend Adrian told us all about you but she never told us you'd look this fine." CJ said.

"We could." Riley muttered with a smirk.

"Hey so just throwing it out there, I happen to sing and play piano." TJ said.

"Man she don't give a fuck about that!" CJ said shoving him a bit. "Aye so Riley what you doing tonight?"

"Well I was gonna have sex with Adrian's boyfriend but I guess I could come over to your guy's place instead." Riley said looking at them.

"Full disclosure, I'm single!" I pointed at Riley. "She's just crazy!"

"I like crazy." CJ sneered.

"Hey how about you both come over? I was gonna fire up the grill out here and cook some pork chops, you two wanna join us." TJ asked.

"Aye his cooking is pretty fire. I'd come over if I were y'all." CJ said.

"That sounds great, but like Riley said I got company coming over."

"That's alright, what about you Riley?" TJ asked.

"Hmmmm let me think about that." Riley said.

"Don't take too long decide. I gotta know how much meat I'm throwing on the grill." TJ said before heading back into his apartment.

"I like them." Riley said before walking back into our apartment.

"Aye Adrian!" CJ said.

"Yeah?"

"If you're single then why did Riley say you got a boyfriend?" CJ asked.

"It's complicated."

"You either single or you not. Unless you and this boy are just fuck buddies, which in that case fair play to him." He said.

"We're not fuck buddies. I just like him and.....I don't think he likes me the same way anymore."

"Y'all used to date?" He asked.

"Yeah but....that was like five years ago."

"Whew! That's a long time." He said.

"Yeah....a very long time."

"Well look don't be a stranger ok. We're neighbors Adrian, we gotta look after one another." He said before heading back inside his apartment.

I rolled my eyes before turning back and walking back inside my apartment. I closed the sliding glass door behind me and laid down on the couch in my living room. I stared at the tv knowing damn well it wasn't even on. I was just trying to find something to pass the time. My eyes drifted from the tv to a small box right beside it. I stood up and walked over to it to see what was in it. Upon further examination, it was the box of old Polaroids I had back in rehab. I figured today would probably be the perfect time to reminisce. I dug through it and pulled out a couple of photos. I found one from the Halloween of junior year. Quinn and I thought it would be a good idea to dress up as Bonnie and Clyde. It was ironic looking at it now, those two were ride or die for eachother. Quinn and I.....we weren't even in love with eachother anymore. Or at least, he wasn't in love with me.....anymore.

I kind of regretted taking a shower before even thinking about doing my exercises. Ever since checking out of rehab thats the only good habit I wanted to keep. The counselors there taught me that exercise was an easy and simple way of fulfilling some sort of self achievement. That it was a good way to start feeling better about myself after ridding my body of all those toxins. Truth was they were right, Riley and I have both made a habit of working out in the rec room back at the rehabilitation center. I was already skinny due to my heroin abuse, but now I was a different type of skinny. Slim as they would call it. I didn't look so worn out and tired as used to, now I looked somewhat fit atleast. It's a shame I couldn't get to work out today.

It didn't matter because only a minute later I heard a knock at my front door. I put the photos back and walked over to the front door. I looked through the peep hole and low and behold it was Quinn waiting outside in the hallway. I unlocked the door and opened it to his smiling face. My face almost melted when I saw that he was wearing an old watch that I gotten him for Christmas.

"You kept that shirt?" He asked.

My mouth fell agape. "You kept that watch?"

"I wasn't just gonna throw it out." He said.

"Yeah....I wasn't just gonna throw out this shirt either."

"I'm surprised it still fits you." He said.

I opened up my door all the way and let him inside. "Well it was a size too big."

"Wow this is nice place you got here." He said looking around.

I closed the door and locked it. "Yep welcome to my humble abode Quinn."

"I like it, it's simple but...I'm sure you could spice it up." He said.

"I want to but not now. I've got other things to worry about besides this place."

"Like school?" He asked.

I snapped my fingers. "Exactly."

"When do you start?" He asked.

"Next week."

"Oh that's not bad." He reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope. "Oh I uh...I got you this."

He handed it to me and when I opened it up and my jaw nearly hit the floor. There was a bunch of twenty dollar bills all bunched up next to eachother. It looked like a lot of money, too much money.

"Quinn......Quinn how much is this?"

"A few hundred bucks." He said.

I held the envelope out towards him. "Quinn I can't take this."

"You can and you will." He said pressing against my chest. "Consider it a house warming gift."

I threw my arms around him and squeezed him. "Thank you."

"Just please don't spend it all in one place." He whispered.

I giggled. "Oh shut up."

"Awww you two look so cute together!" Riley said from the kitchen.

"Oh god." I pulled away from him. "Quinn you remember Riley right?"

"Actually I don't think I ever got to formally meet you." Quinn said walking up to Riley with his hand out.

"Oh please I'm a hugger." Riley said throwing her arms around him.

"Okay! Yeah well it's nice to meet you." Quinn said before pulling away from Riley.

"Adrian's told me so much about you Quinn, it's so nice to actually meet you this time." Riley said.

"Well Riley if you don't mind Quinn and I are probably gonna head out." I looked over at him with an obvious look of insinuation. "Right?"

"I mean yeah but......" Quinn said trailing off.

"But what?"

"If it's ok with you, I actually wanted to stay here." Quinn said.

"But you said we were probably gonna head out to celebrate."

"I know what I said but....trust me. I think it'd be better if we stayed in tonight." Quinn said before reaching out and holding my hand.

I nearly melted against his touch. "Ok."

"Awwwww! Look at you two." Riley said standing right in front of us.

"What?" Quinn asked looking at Riley.

"Oh nothing." Riley said before walking into the living room.

"Some roommate you got there." Quinn said under his breath.

"You get used to her." I placed the envelope full of money on the counter. "She's good company I promise."

"So are you gonna show me your room?" He asked.

I stopped and tilted my head. "Umm....why?"

"I want to see more of your new place." He said.

"Oh yeah pfftt of course." I scratched the back of my head. "Yeah that's why."

"God stop being so fucking awkward!" I screamed internally.

"Well?" He asked.

"What?"

"Are you gonna show me?" He asked laughing.

"Yeah yeah...follow me."

I walked past Riley on the living room couch into the main hallway. To the left was Riley's room and to the right was my room. Right in the middle, that was the bathroom. Quinn walked up beside me and was too busy looking around to notice me practically shaking.

"This place could definitely use a few framed pictures." He said.

"Tell me about it. Well that door to the left is Riley's room, this door right in front of us is the bathroom, and that door to the right is my room."

"So just one bathroom huh?" He asked.

"Yeah, Riley and I will make it work though."

"Show me your room." He said.

I walked over to my room's door and opened it. "Here you happy? This is where all the magic happens....or will happen."

"Where did you get the furniture from?" He asked.

"My parents. They were gonna throw it all away and instead they gave it to me."

"Helluva hand-me-down." He said.

"Tell me about it. But I didn't have a choice. It was nice enough they found me this place but....I didn't want it to seem like I was relying on them."

"Well hey you got your own place for a while now." He said putting his hand on my shoulder.

I looked at him and sucked my teeth. "I've had my own place before but....that was a lot different."

"Why? Because of your girlfriend?" He asked locking eyes with me.

"Yeah....because of her. You know it's been so long since I've seen her that I almost forgot what she looks like."

"I get that, my biggest fear is looking at a picture of Brianna and forgetting who she is." He said.

My stomach dropped when I remembered. "Oh you're still....nevermind."

"What's wrong?" He asked.

I folded my arms and looked away from him. "Nothing forget it."

"Hey if something's eating at you...you can tell me." He said putting his hand under my chin, turning my head to face him.

I looked up at him. "How long do you think you're gonna hold on to your girlfriend?"

"What? Why does that matter?" He asked.

"Just!" I clenched my fist and closed my eyes. "Just answer the question Quinn."

"I don't know Adrian but....not anytime soon." He said.

I opened my eyes. "Why?"

"Because......because it's not that easy." He said.

"Yes it is! I got over my girlfriend just fine! Why can't you?"

"Adrian we talked about this." He said.

"I don't care!" I shouted before walking over to my bed. "Quinn you know your girlfriend didn't want you to stay single forever.

"If you wanted to stay single for a little bit out of respect then congratulations." I held my arms out. "It's been a year."

"Why do you care about me moving on?" He asked leaning against the wall.

"Because I want nothing more than to throw on this fucking bed!"

"Because I care about your well-being and I know there are probably plenty of girls who are interested you."

"How obvious do I have to be Quinn?"

"And you're just passing them all by because why? Because you're afraid of betraying your dead girlfriend? Come on Quinn grow up!" I rushed over to him.

"We both know you should've read her letter the day she gave it to you. I bet...I bet your biggest fear is actually that damn letter. Because you know exactly what the fuck it's gonna say when you read it." I shoved him against the wall and pointed my finger right in his face. "You're afraid of reading in your girlfriend's own words, that you need to move on from her."

"Why?" He stared daggers right through me. "So I can start dating you again?"

"Fuck I'm an idiot!"

I was being so selfish, only thinking about my feelings. Quinn had every right to turn me down and continue being single. But of course I was trapped in my own head, holding on to the only thing I felt like I needed. The idea of me and Quinn getting back together was a fantasy. I wished there was a way but....it wasn't our time. Our time was over.

I looked away from him. "Quinn I......."

"I'm sorry Adrian....but even if I could move on from Brianna....I don't think you and I would work out." His hand found my shoulder. "I think we could be great friends but....that chapter of our lives is over."

"Fuck don't cry don't dont cry!"

It was too late, tears were now stinging my eyes. I looked back at him to see his face was as sad as mine. I could tell it bummed him out too. Not that we couldn't be together, but that he had to tell me we couldn't.

"D-Do you mean t-that?"

"Adrian...." He tried to caress my cheek before I swatted his hand away.

"Answer me!" I shouted as a tear fell down my cheek.

"What we had was nice....for that time in our lives. But Adrian....we're so different now. You went one way and I went the other." He shook his head. "But that doesn't mean we have to be strangers to one another though. It's like I said the last time we spoke, I'm not losing you again."

I felt one of his large hands wrap around one of mine. There was comfort in it, there was always comfort with Quinn. It's why I loved him, it's why I still had this ridiculous hope of being with him again. He made me feel safe, he made me feel like I could get through anything life threw at me. I pushed that away once, I won't push it away again.

"Quinn.....when I saw you back at the rehab center....it was so strange. For a moment it was as if time had stopped. I just remember seeing your face and being reminded of all the good times we had." I interlocked my fingers with his and held his hand up. "How you used to sneak into my house late at night on the weekends. How we used to fall asleep in each others arms. But I guess.....I guess you found someone else.....and I guess she treated you better than I could've."

"Adrian....." He paused.

I let go of his hand. "So if you think we wouldn't work out anymore then.....I can't do anything about that."

"Adrian that's not what I was trying to say." He said shaking his head.

"Really?" I snapped. "Because let's face it Quinn I like you. You know seeing you reminded me of the good old days before drugs consumed me." I wiped away a few of my tears away with my palms. "I thought you'd be my ticket back to who I used to be but....I guess I'm not as appealing as I was back then."

"Adrian that's not-"

I raised a finger to his lips. "It's ok....if being friends is all we'll ever be....then I'm ok with that."

"There won't be day that goes by where I don't care about you Adrian." He moved my hand, rubbing it with his thumb. "I just want you to know that."

"I wish....I wish I had never gotten into drugs Quinn." I stepped towards him and nearly collapsed into his arms. "I wish I had never fucked everything up for us."

"Fuck now I'm really crying!"

"Shhhh it's ok." His hand found itself tangled in my hair as I cried on his shoulder. "The past is the past, everything happens for a reason."

"There's so much you don't know Quinn......s-so much I wish I could take b-back." I cried.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

I pulled away slightly. "I.....I......"

"Ummm....is everything ok in here?" Riley asked poking her head through the doorway.

I pulled away from Quinn entirely and wiped some of my tears away. "Yeah Riley....everything's fine."

"Are you sure?" Riley asked.

"Yes Riley I'm sure!"

"Ok good because some girl is here to see you. She said she's your sister." Riley said.

"What?"

"Did you think there wasn't a reason I wanted to keep you here?" Quinn asked.

I walked out of my room and into the living where low and behold there was girl standing there looking out the sliding glass door. That blonde hair, that familiar energy in the room, it couldn't be her. I took a step closer to her before she turned around and locked eyes with me. Those blue eyes, the ones I haven't seen in years, the ones I've missed so much. Jessica Irene Hayes, it had been years. I didn't know whether to smile or slap her across the face for not visiting me sooner.

"Hey Adrian." She said with a soft smile.

"Jessica?"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I didn't come see you sooner. I should've came to visit you when I heard you overdosed. But I was such a coward I couldn't even face you in person. When Quinn told me how you were doing it gave me hope that maybe....that maybe things could just go back to the way they were." She said pacing back and forth.

"I missed you so much Adrian, you're my big sister I shouldn't have abandoned you like that. I'm probably the worst fucking sister in the world but.....I'm sorry Adrian I'm sor-" She said before I pulled her in for a hug.

I squeezed my arms around her so hard I thought I might break her in half. I never thought I'd see her again. I thought she was so embarrassed of what I became that she'd never want to look me in the face again. I guess I was wrong.

"I'm so happy you're here." I whispered.

"I'm so happy you're Crocodile Dundee accent is gone." She said.

"Shut up." I laughed through my tears. "It's still here."

"Barely." She muttered.

I didn't care that I had every right to be pissed at her. Jessica was my little sister and I never thought I would see her again. So the fact that she was standing in my living room hugging me, well that was good enough. For a moment, with Jessica in my arms and Quinn and Riley standing there watching us, things just felt....like the way they used to be.