The alarm went off as Kerry reached up and sleepily swatted at it, until she hit the snooze button before pulling the blanket over her head and drifting back to sleep. Not long after as footsteps were heard climbing up the stairs as their mom slowly turned the knob.

'Kerry, sweetie it's time to get up' her mom gently coaxed as she lightly shook her. She yawned and just pulled the covers back over her head. 'Kerry, I mean it' her mother said.

Cate left the room as Kerry rubbed the sleep from her eyes and noticed that Bridgett was already awake. 'Did you sleep any last night' her sister asked.

She just shook her head and replied 'No, not really'. Kerry quickly changed and said 'Are you going to school today'.

Bridgett shrugged and said 'I don't know. Mom said I didn't have to and suggested I take a few days off'.

Kerry asked about the Student Council meeting, which her sister was President of, reminding her of a Council Meeting that afternoon.

'Oh crap, I forgot all about that', Bridgett exclaimed

At that moment, their mom came in and said 'Don't worry about that, right now. Let's just focus on one thing at a time, ok'?

She instructed Kerry to go downstairs for breakfast and her grandfather would drive her to school. She left and went downstairs as her mom turned to her and said 'Are you hungry, Bridge'? She shook her head and said 'No, not right now' as her mom nodded and said 'Ok, but please promise me you will eat something'.

Cate said she had to go to work and will be back later and said she wanted Bridgett to talk with somebody , and at that moment CJ entered. 'I'll take care of it, Aunt Cate' he said as she left for work

He sat down on an empty chair next to her and after a few moments of silence he said 'You know I may not be the most responsible person in the world, and you can say I've lived a somewhat questionable life'. He paused and added 'But I am somebody you can talk to, about anything that may be going on'

She didn't respond and he cleared his throat and said 'So is there anything you want to talk about? You can ask me anything'

She looked at him and said 'I know this sounds weird but it seems like you are the only person here who really knows me'.

He smiled and said 'Your mom sister and grandpa love you, and you know that'. She replied 'Yeah I know they love me, but it seems that you're the only person who really understands me'

'We've both walked down the same road, and I am here to tell you that you don't have to walk it alone', CJ said. After a few moments he added 'You feel like going for a ride'? She thought about it and nodded. CJ smiled and said 'OK get dressed and meet me at the van'.

She quickly dressed and went to the driveway to find CJ patiently waiting at the van, and got inside.

'So where are we going', she asked as her cousin revved the engine, before putting the van in reverse and carefully backing out.

'I thought we'd go out for breakfast. How does pancakes sound' he replied.

'So can I ask you a question' she asked

'Fire away, that's what I'm here for' he stated

'You've done drugs, right'?

He thought and said 'Yeah. I mean it's not something I'm proud of, but to answer your question, I have done drugs'

'What kind of drugs'

'Mostly marijuana, and a little speed and some coke'

'Is that why your parents kicked you out', she asked, amazed he was being honest and candid with her.

'That was the biggest reason'

'What did you do' Bridgett asked

'I traveled around a lot, doing a lot of odd-jobs. Nothing big or fancy, just enough to where I could make enough money to eat and keep the van filled up'

'And you joined the Army, right'? she asked

'Yeah, and here is something nobody knows... not even your mom and I would appreciate if we could keep it this way, but I wasn't really 'all I could be'. I would get drunk and high on the base and eventually got booted out'

'You were court-martialed', she asked

'We prefer to call it dishonorably discharged' he joked as he carefully pulled into a diner

'I'm not asking too many questions or questions that may be too personal, am I' she asked as they were eating pancakes.

He shook his head and said 'Not at all and to be honest, it feels really good to get some of this out in the open'

'So are you clean now', she asked.

'Yeah I'm proud to say that I have been clean for about 2 years now'

'How did you manage to do that, all by yourself'

'I had some help, actually. This is not the kind of thing you can handle all by yourself'

'Will it be ok if I asked you who helped you'? She questioned

'Actually your dad deserves a lot of the credit', he answered.

'Really? I mean he never told me anything about this'

'I asked him not too. You see I was ashamed that I let myself get so far off track and he promised not to say anything'

'How did he help you'

'He got me to admit to myself that I had a problem and needed help. And I can do the same thing for you' he said with a smile

'I do have a problem CJ and I don't know how to fix it', she said with her voice cracking

'Admitting you need help is half the battle. You've just done the hard part'

After they finish eating they get back in the van and Bridgett asked 'Where are we going

'Field trip' he said with a sly smile as he pulled back onto the road.

Not a word was spoken during the entire trip and eventually pulled into a building

He motioned for her to follow him as they made their way down a long corridor hearing voice from one of the rooms.

CJ quietly opens the door as there is a group of about 8 people, all Bridgett's age, sitting in a circle

'My name is Christine and I'm an addict' one of the girls says

'Hello Christine' everybody says

Another person stands up and said 'My name is Mike and I'm an addict

'Hello Mike' everybody said.

CJ stepped forward and said 'My name is CJ and I'm an addict'

'Hello CJ' everybody said