I glanced out the window and watched the scenery pass by. I wasn't exactly looking forward to spending a month in a cabin with my mom and her friend that I didn't know, but I did need a break from things. At least that's what mom thought.

"Are you doing okay?" She looked at me with worry in her eyes. When I didn't answer, she continued, "Kathy said she is bringing one of her sons with her. He's got some time off work and wanted to relax. Plus, Dr. Stephens thinks it would be good for you to meet new people."

I still didn't answer. I didn't want to meet new people and I didn't want to listen to what Dr. Stephens had to say. I had been seeing her regularly for the past three years, ever since my aunt died. At first I was completely reluctant. Only people with serious issues go to shrinks, not girls dealing with depression. I tried as hard as I could to smile. "Sounds like fun, Mom."

She knew I was lying. "Honey, look. I know this isn't exactly how you wanted to spend the first month of summer vacation, but I need my daughter back. We have to find a way to move past this. I never want to lose you, or come that close again."

I changed the subject. I didn't like it when she brought up my weakness. "So Kathy is your friend from high school right? Back in Kansas?"

Mom nodded. "Yep, we graduated together. She was around for a while after graduation, and we were inseparable. Us and Aunt Tess. But anyway, now she's married and has three boys, and is bringing the youngest with her. He's about your age, and well, I'm pretty sure you know who he is."

I was confused. "Mom, I think I've only met Kathy once. How could I possibly know her son?"

We finally pulled up to my family's cabin. Mom got out of the car and pulled out our suitcases. We were in the house before she finally answered me. "Her son is Kendall Schmidt."

My heart did a flip. Of course I knew who Kendall was. He was one fourth of my favorite band Big Time Rush. He was completely gorgeous, to be honest, all of them were. But when the depression got really bad six months ago, my heart wasn't in anything. Music used to be the only thing that I thought could save me. It didn't; it had failed me. "Wow. I had no idea that your friend Kathy was his mom."

"At first this was just going to be a weekend for me and her. We've been planning this for some time now. But when everything happened with you, I just couldn't leave you at home alone. Kathy didn't mind at all, and suggested that she bring Kendall since he has some time off before his next tour. I ran it by Dr. Stephens before we left. I just think it would be a breath of fresh air for you to spend some time with someone that doesn't know our history."

As mad as I wanted to be, and as much as I still didn't want to be here, she was right. I was tired of people looking at me as the poor little girl who lost her way. I was slowly coming back, why couldn't they see that?

"Now, your room is still all put together and I figured Kendall could use your brothers room, Kathy will take your sisters, and I will be in Nana's room. Sound good?"

I nodded and grabbed my suitcase. "I'll be on the balcony."

"Do you mean the balcony or the roof?" My mom yelled after me.

"If you're worried I'll jump, I'm not that stupid. I start out on the balcony, and if I need to clear my head I hop on the roof. But I'll be careful, I promise."

Mom looked at her watch. "Kathy and Kendall should be here shortly, I'm going to start dinner. Take my bag upstairs, please."
I did as I was told and took mom's bag to her room. I opened the door to my room, trying to remember the last time I was here. I was probably thirteen and angry with my parents for making me come stay with them when my best friend Sadie had invited me to go to a concert with her. Not that I can remember who was playing, but at the time, I would much rather have spent spring break rocking out to loud music than in a room full of stuffed animals. Could it really have been eight years since I've been here? No, that can't be right. I shook the thought off and laughed as I glanced at my bed. My trusty stuffed dog Patches was laying on the left side of my bed, right where I left him. I grabbed him and walked out onto the balcony. I debated sitting down in my chair and decided against it. Jumping up on the railing, I hopped up on the roof and took in the scenery. Mom always used to hate it when I did this, and she probably still does. But I've needed this more than anything these last couple of months. I laid down and let my mind wander, trying to remember when I was truly happy. After Aunt Tess died, it was hard. But I finally started to move on, and Charlie was a big part of that. We dated for a year and a half, and I ended it after he started hitting me. I hadn't told anyone that but I hadn't stayed around long enough for him to become super abusive. I always wanted to tell Sadie, but she had never really liked him. It was because of Charlie that my depression started to sink. After we broke up, he started telling me I was worthless and that no one would ever love me. The thing that hurt most was when he told me the world would be better off without me, and I started to believe it.

I quickly sat up. No, I can't do this now. Not here. I haven't thought about him in so long and I'm not going to start now. I pulled out my phone to text Sadie as I heard a car come up the driveway.

Hey! Made it to the cabin okay! No crazy psycho killers yet!

Lol well good. I can't believe your mom drove the entire way! Was it horrid?

Not as bad as you'd think. I got a good nap out of it!

Hahaha of COURSE you did.

Oh my gosh you'll NEVER guess who is staying here.

Who?

I was about to answer when I heard my door open. Knowing that Mom would have been outside already, I jumped down and walked inside. There, standing ten feet away from me, was Kendall Schmidt.

A sheepish grin crossed his face. "Oh, hey. Sorry. Our mom's were busy talking and weren't exactly clear which room I should be in. I'm Kendall."

"Sophie. Sorry about my mom, she talks nonstop. But I can show you to your room, it's just right down the hall." I led him out of my room, showed him the bathroom, then walked him into my brothers room. "Here you go. It has a balcony just like mine, with a great view of the lake." Of course Mom would put him in your brother Eli's room. She knew I'd spend most of my time on the balcony, and just in case, now Kendall would have one too.

"Anyway, my mom said she was making dinner and it will probably be done in about an hour or so. I'll let you get some rest."

"Actually, if you don't mind, I've been on a plane for the last couple of hours and could really use a walk. Care to join me?" He was standing there with his hands in his pockets, a huge grin plastered on his face. I were trying to think of a polite way to turn him down when he said, "Oh come on, I don't bite. Besides, how else am I supposed to get to know the pretty girl I'll be living with for the next month?" and then winked at you.

Was this really happening? Did Kendall just call me pretty? Is he… flirting with me? I looked up into his sparkling green eyes and couldn't help being drawn in. A smile crept across my face, and I couldn't remember the last time I had felt like this, let alone, genuinely smiled. "I'd love to."