I'm sorry it took me so long to update ~ enjoy!

Chapter 3: Homecoming isn't always sweet

At seven o'clock, exactly, Kate and a pretty petite blonde (who was apparently Sarah) turned up outside our dorm room. Gabbe and I had spent about an hour and a half getting ready. I was wearing a black playsuit with my purple hoodie, black fingerless gloves (which I stole borrowed from Reid before I left) and purple flats. I was also wearing the amethyst and diamond eternity ring, that Reid gave me when I turned 14, on a chain so that I could hide it from the boys if they were they were there. I had my hair straight like I always do, with my bangs covering half of my face. Apart from a light purple eye shadow and mascara, I didn't have much make-up on. Gabbe was wearing a navy blue dress, with a hot pink cardigan and heels. The pink heart necklace that her parents bought for her 16th birthday was around her neck. In typical Gabbe style she had bright pink lips to match her shoes and cardigan. I swear; that girl didn't know the meaning of blending in – she was all about standing out.

"You guys look... amazing!" Kate announced when she saw our outfits, "Sarah, this is Gabbe and Kayleigh; our new neighbours. Kayleigh and Gabbe, this is Sarah; my new roommate,"

"Hi" We spoke in sync. What? – living with each other 24/7 for over a year does that to you.

"Do you guys wanna go in your own car or catch a ride with us in Sarah's car?" Kate asked.

Gabbe and I looked at each other, knowing that it was an obvious choice, before I answered, "We'll take mine, it that's okay? We'll just follow you there."

"Of course! But come on; the party's already started," Kate said as we followed her down to the parking lot.

"So where's this car of yours then?" Kate asked.

My day was well and truly made when I saw Sarah and Kate's faces when I pointed out my car to them. My dark blue Porsche was my baby and no-one was taking her away from me.

"Wow, that's your car?"

"Yep," My smirked mirrored the one that was constantly on Reid's face before I left.

When we got to the Dells, Kate, Sarah, Gabbe and I were all standing together talking, well they were talking; I was just standing with them taking in everything. It was strange being back home, but it was comforting too.

"So give us the scoop; whose here?" I heard Sarah ask over the noise of the music.

I think that Gabbe was listening to Kate giving us the rundown of Spencer academy's elite, but I just zoned out already recognising most of the faces in the crowd. I hadn't spotted the sons yet so I was hoping that they had decided not to come. How wrong I was...

"They're here!" Kate whispered, with a lot of enthusiasm. Again with the enthusiasm – why must she be so damn enthusiastic about everything?

"Who?" Sarah was genuinely confused, it was almost sweet.

"The sons of Ipswich" Oh joy! – This is not good.

As my once family appeared, Kate threw herself at Pogue, "You're late!" she playfully chastised him.

"Yeah I know, I had a thing with the family,"

They then proceeded to start snogging each other's faces off.

When they finally managed to detach their faces from one another, Pogue asked "Who's this?"

"My new roommate; Sarah, and our new neighbours Leigh and Gabbe." she pointed to us each in turn, "Guys, this is my boyfriend Pogue Parry, Tyler Simms, Reid..." Kate got cut off by a certain, familiar blonde.

"Garwin; Reid Garwin, you know Sarah was my grandmother's name..." That couldn't be the boy that I fell for when I was 13, could it?

My, oh-so-lovely, brother interrupted, "Caleb Danvers and you don't bring my grandmother to mind in any way,"

I don't know which was worse, watching Reid be a completely different person or watching my brother flirt?

Typical Cale, always being so chivalrous, though; makes me sick. I couldn't help but scoff, turning everyone's eyes to me.

"What? Chivalry's overrated." I said while smirking, making direct eye contact with each of the boys in turn.

"Leigh! Be nice!" Gabbe muttered to me.

"Why should I?" I asked her, probably louder than I should've.

Once more, I couldn't care less about the conversation going on around me and only came back to reality when something about the cops was mentioned.

Gabbe grabbed me by the arm and began to haul me back to the car.

"Alright, alright! I'm coming! God Gabbe, no need to dislocate my damn shoulder!" I hissed at my best friend.

I swear I heard Reid mutter something under his breath to Tyler along the lines of; "I like this girl already"

By the time I got back to our dorm, my previously confident mood had made a complete 180o turn. As soon as Gabbe closed and locked the door, there were tears running down my face. The events of the day were catching up to me; seeing my brother for the first time in over a year. Seeing Reid...

Knowing that they, my own family, didn't recognise me, hurt so much. Had I changed that much in the last year? Or did they just forget about me?

"I don't know what to do Gabbe..." I sobbed.

"You don't have to do anything," she soothed me; it wasn't really working.

My dreams were haunted by memories of before I left that night. They weren't bad memories but they were ones that reminded me of everything that I'd left behind. I wasn't able to get more than a few hours of sleep, I don't think that I could have suffered through any longer than that.

Reid and I were sitting on a cliff above the Dells. We'd been coming here since we were allowed to go places on our own. No-one else knew about this place, it was ours.

"Kay?" Reid asked.

I looked at him, his eyes shining blue like the bluest diamond.

"Thank you,"

"For what?"

"For seeing past everything. For seeing me," He said, tears brimming in his eyes.

I didn't know what to say, but as my own tears spilled over my cheeks, I took my best friend of over 10 years in my arms and just sat there. Neither of us needed to say anything, it wasn't often that we did. He pulled away from me gently. His eyes were boring into mine with an emotion that I only saw in my father's eyes when he looks at my mother. Reid slowly leaned into me and pressed his lips against mine...

I awoke with a start the next morning. I could feel the silent tears cascading down my face. I couldn't help but question; why did I ever come back to Ipswich?