Being short with Tally makes me feel bad, but she made her choice to go train and leave me behind. After her call to me, my resentment grows. How dare she leave after all I've done for her!

Wanting to forget how hurt I feel, I headed to the closest party I know in the neighborhood. It is a quick block to Dylan's house. Everything looks neat and clean on the outside, but I gather the inside won't look so.

Going in through the open garage door towards the rec room, I'm greeted by a crowd of people. I finally spot Dylan and head over.

"Glad you could make it, D," he says while handing me a beer.

"Yeah, needed a night out."

"I bet," he smirks and turns around to greet someone else. There's too many people here to be greatly concerned by his comment.

I look to the room on my left, and it is wall-to-wall people - some dancing, some making out. The beer hasn't made me hazy enough yet to venture into that jungle.

Losing myself in the haze of cold beer and hot bodies, it doesn't take long for the alcohol to affect. I dance and flirt with every available female - until I find just the right one. Not clingy. Just wants to have a little fun. The fact that I know I will regret this later doesn't stop me from having a good time with this little bundle of energy.

After we're finished, I head back towards the makeshift bar to grab another cold beer.

"What's up Danny? Glad you could actually make it to a party this summer," Ryan slurs.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're always so damn tied to Tally all the time, you never make time for us normal folk."

"Normal folk?"

"Sure. Ones that aren't hiding behind a book or you," he draws out.

That's about all I can take, so I rear back and punch him in the face. I must have hit his nose from the crunch and pouring of blood.

Dylan rushes over. "You need to chill, Danny. Take a walk. Come back when you're feeling better."

"Sorry about the mess man. I've probably had my limit anyway. Thanks for the invite."

"Anytime man," he says, as he leads me to the door.

It takes me a while to walk home, but walking is the best option for me to get home in one piece - alive. Slowly walking up the stairs, I stagger into the room I share with Spencer, when he is home from college.

"Where have you been? You smell like a brewery," Spencer asks sleepily.

"Been out having fun," I reply, stumbling over something I left on the floor.

"Aren't you tired of doing this when you are feeling bad?"

"Nah."

"Don't you have anything else to do?"

"I'm hanging with friends. What else is there to do?"

"How about - Plan a future."

"I can do what I want."

"Not completely in this house, you can't."

"And who are you to say that?"

"If dad found out, he would either have you slow down or choose not live here anymore."

"What do I need you people for anyway!"

Upset, I stuff my backpack with clothes, and head to my parent's house - my biological parents.

It doesn't take long for me to realize my mistake. My real home doesn't feel like home anymore. My parents tolerate my presence, but there isn't much communication. The love of family just doesn't reside in this house with these people. I miss the James' house, but how can I go back the way I am?

Days are spent either sleeping or hanging at the lake; nights are spent in a haze of one party after another - usually the same drinks and the same people. It becomes a way to get lost and forget.The haze never gets to being in oblivion; always finding a way to make it home before I get to that point. Some nights when I don't feel like being around people, I sneak bottles from my parents' stash. Come to think of it, I'm not really sneaking when the stash is always restocked.This behavior continued for several weeks with my frequency increasing, and my ability to make it home decreasing.

Spencer is at a party one night to rescue me from my drunken state, before I made a mistake with my words. I am ranting about Tally to one of my friends, when suddenly Spencer is dragging me away.

"What are you doing?" he hisses.

"Having fun?"

"Do you want everyone to know Tally's secret?"

I just shrug.

"You need to sleep this off before you talk anymore," he says before he drags me away.

It doesn't take long to get from the party to home - my real home.

"It's nice to be home," I comment.

"Get some sleep. We'll talk about all of this tomorrow," he replies.

"Okay," I slur sleepily and snuggle into my covers of a familiar bed in a home filled with love.

A massive headache greets me the next day - or I think it's the next day. The light is so bright in the room, I squint to try and block some of the sunlight coming through the windows. The light only intensifies the throbbing in my head. Turning away from the window, I spot a large glass of water and two pills on the bedside table.

Cool air greets me as I throw the covers back to chug the glass of water. Slipping a pair of sleep pants on, I shuffle toward the hallway.As I make it to the bedroom door, the smell of breakfast greets me, and I want to hurl. However, I know eating is better than having an empty stomach.

Going to the kitchen, Spencer is actually cooking. When I looked at the clock, it is no wonder why he is. It's noon and the house is quiet. He immediately tells me to sit down, and he puts a plate with scrambled eggs and toast in front of me, along with a glass of orange juice and another large glass of water.

"Be ready after you eat."

"Be ready for what?" I mumble, around a mouth full of food.

"We are going on a hike."

"Really?" I whine.

"Yes, really. We are going to talk about your future, and your plans for getting yourself cleaned up. Tally wouldn't want to see you this way."

Well, I guess now is as good a time as any to plan and start my future.