Blake

We were bombarded with pestering questions with tape recorders shoved in our faces as my family and I burned a hole through the crowd of reporters on my front lawn.

"Goodness gracious, can we get some privacy?!" Mom shouted with aggravation when we made it into the house.

"What can I say? They love me," Blair joked, trying to ease the her aggravation. Mom couldn't help but to crack a small smile with the shake of her head.

I've just been discharged from the hospital. My stab is all stitched up, and surprisingly it wasn't as bad as I thought. The doctors were taken aback at my minimal cries. I just sat there, and took the pain.

My name continues to crowd all headlines. All news channels seem to have something to say about me. It's a very . . . strange feeling.

Stella and Peyton came to visit me over my stay at the hospital. Both in tears, they came in either side my bed and cried into my shoulder. I've missed them so much. Many laughs and more joyful tears were exchanged between the three of us. It almost felt like old times.

On the other hand, Mom has sincerely apologized, tears in all. She's vowed to be a better mother, and told me that she's taking a break so to speak from being a lawyer.

Which is a big sacrifice on her part considering all the schooling that is needed for it. Family is more important, she said. I told her that I needed time. Time to forgive her. Yes, I missed her but that doesn't mean the past has been erased.

"Blake. Oh my god," Blair's eyes were wide as she stared at her phone screen.

"What?" I frowned, walking over to her.

"You're trending on Twiiter!" She squealed. "Celebrities are tweeting you too!"

"What?" I snatched the phone from her grasp.

@Harry_Styles

#BlakesReturn H.

@ninadobrev

she's alive! #BlakesReturn

@AmandaSeyfried

mystery solved! blake lives! #BlakesReturn

I was struck dumbfounded. It amazed me of how much my story, in a my town, was spreading like wild fire. It seemed all unreal.

I don't even have a Twitter. I know, it's abnormal for a girl my age not to have one. But I never was really into tweeting useless thoughts that nobody would even give a second glance.

But I'm sure they'd give it a second glance now.

"I'm gonna go start dinner." Mom got up from her spot on the couch in the front room and looked to Dad with an expectant look.

He smiled and shook his head as he stood from the sofa. Tangling their fingers together, Dad led Mom into the kitchen. Blair and I were too awestruck to gush about the sweet gesture.

When the door bell rang, I rolled my eyes and huffed. "I got it," I shouted so my parents would hear.

Another reporter. I gave Blair's phone back and she shuffled toward the basement with her eyes still hooked on her phone.

When I swung the door open, a strange feeling bubbled in my stomach. The reporters were gone. Drew stood on my porch, taking his shades down from his eyes.

I stepped out on the porch, closing the door quietly behind me.

"Hi, Bl-"

I slapped my hand across his face. Everything from that day came back to me and I realized how angered I am with him.

I crossed my arms. "Continue."

His hand nursed his cheek and he nodded slowly. "Alright. I deserved that."

"Uh huh," My expression was blank. Way to state the obvious.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry," He apologized. "I had no idea Lea was working with that man. And I'm sorry for-"

"Pretending to like me?" I interrupted. It all clicked. The frequent glances, the wink, the little touches that sent sparks through my body. Complete bull.

"How'd you-"

"What do you think I was born yesterday?" I spat.

"Sorry about that," He rubbed the back of his neck.

There was a moment of silence. The more his eyes bored into mine, the more my eyes started to burn from my rising tears.

I blinked several times to prevent them from rolling. It's like I'm staring right at her.

"You alright?" He sensed my uneasiness.

"God you look just like her," I whispered, breaking eye contact.

"Like who?"

". . . Annalise," I faintly whispered, meeting his intense gaze.

"What did you just say?" His voice was dangerously low. I was a little apprehensive to repeat myself.

"Drew. I-I knew your sister. Annalise."

He took a few paces back in pure disbelief. "You're lying. No," He shook his head. "There's no way."

"No I-"

"That's just bull," He muttered, turning around to walk back to his car.

"I'm telling the truth!" I called out to his distancing figure. "Andrew."

I pinned him right in his tracks. He slowly turned back around, his expression was angry and frightful at the same time.

I pulled on the chain around my neck. Revealing the heart shaped charm that hid beneath my sweater.

Annalise's charm.

When he stepped back on to my porch, his tall lean figure towered over me when he took the charm in his hand. Running his thumb over it. Lips parted and face contorted with hurt and disbelief. His closeness was making me a bit uncomfortable.

"How?" He whispered. I bit my lip, trying to choose my words carefully. If I tell him the whole story, it'd be the first time I'd ever talked to anybody about it.

Yeah, no.

"I met her in the woods," I said vaguely, gently tugging the chain out of his hold. Still with minimal space between us.

"She's alive?" There was a certain hope in his voice, which killed me inside. I backed away from him with my lips pressed in a thin line. I felt the hot tears roll down my cheeks as I shook my head.

"What? Then how do you-"

"That man. The same man who took me. He-he kil-" I couldn't finished my sentence when my voice wavered. But Drew caught on to what I was trying to say and ran his hand over his mouth.

His jaw clenched as he combed his fingers through his soft quiff. His other hand balled into a fist and his knuckles whitened.

"I'm sorry," I sniffled, wiping my tears. "Maybe I could've saved her if I just-"

"This is your fault?" Again with the intimidating voice.

"I-"

"Do you have any idea what I've been through?" His shout made me flinch and my heart pound. "She would have been the only family I have! You don't know what I've been through Blake. You don't."

I pushed at his chest forcefully, causing him to stumble back. "What you've been through?!"

"Don't touch me," He barked.

"You have some nerve! Yes, I know you've been through a tough time, but you're not the only alright? I'm sorry that I was too far into shock and didn't shoot him when I had the chance to. But don't come to my house and act like I don't know what it feels like to go through a tough time. I'm the one who seen her shot and killed right in front of my face Andrew!"

His jaw clenched. "Don't you dare call me that."

"You know what?" I unclipped Anna's necklace. "Here!" I threw it at him. "Now get off my porch."

"Gladly," He shot back.

_____________________________

A/N > . . . well. I'm sure you all thought that was gonna go differently loll.

Hope you enjoyed! I really hope you can see the photo in the media box too because I'm so proud of that lol.

I may not be a directioner, but harry styles is bae ✔️ all four of them are tbh haha.

And another thing, Star Wars. I saw it today. Omg I had tears. Not even kidding, it blew my mind lol.

countdown > 4 chapters left + the epilogue 😰

Votes/Comments, are much appreciated xx.

-kya h. ∞