*Author's note*

So sorry that this is late, the next chapter will be posted tomorrow. Was going to post another tonight but it is quite late.

Hope you all like this one, it is not a happy one and I'm not completely happy with it. But never fear happier times will be ahead! Let me know what you think and any suggestions. Thanks :D

Although the relationship between the three eldest Braxton brother's slowly improved, as one completely did not exist between Casey and Kyle, meant tensions were high within the Braxton household.

All Kyle had ever wanted was a relationship with his family, he wanted a place with his brothers- as much as he put on a brave face and pretended it didn't matter.

It did.

It was everything.

And somehow his friendship with Sasha was starting to put a strain on things with Casey, even more-so on top of the 'incident', as they had taken to calling it.

Casey seems to have this feeling that even though he didn't want Sash, no one could have her either. Really, Kyle just thinks he is jealous over the fact that she won't talk to him, and has found a comfort in him that she usually went to Casey for.

All in all, it was a big mess. Leading to some complicated thoughts and feelings as to how he was going to deal with the endless marathon of thoughts.

On one hand Sasha had become one of the best friends he had ever had. She was an amazing listen and had a penchant for putting others needs before her own, a downfall and an enviable trait she had fallen victim to many times before.

But on the other, it was a chance at family. Family.

It was as if as soon as these thoughts started entering in his head, he began to pull away from his friendship with Sasha, it was hard.

But not as hard as having these thoughts running through his head as he spent time with her, watching her laugh,- have fun, while he was contemplating ending their friendship.

It was horrible.

Therefore he tried to distance himself.

Poor Sasha must have been wondering what the hell was going on with him.

Sasha was at the diner when she got a text, and she got excited when she saw who it was from;

Kyle;

Hey, are you free?,

I really need to talk...

Sash;

Yeahh sure, beach, 10?

Through her joy at hearing from him she could sense something, and the feeling wasn't good. But she decided to look on the bright side, and go and see her friend, with whom she had really missed as of late.

"Well hello there stranger" called Sasha to a pensive looking Kyle, as she walked up to him.

"Hey." he said almost bluntly, very unlike his usually sarcastic/ fun retorts.

It was when Sasha sat right next to him, close enough that their sides were touching and he moved away that she knew that something was really wrong.

"Hey what's up?", she asked concerned. "I I I... there's something I need to talk to you about" he stuttered back at her.

"Shoot", she replied almost immediately, eager to find out what was bothering him so much.

"Things were going so good with Brax and Heath, but lately it's going back to how they were before" he started.

"Casey." Sasha deadpanned.

"Casey", agreed Kyle.

"It's not just about what happened anymore. There is more to it, he doesn't like me being around you and it's causing more and more tension at home" he started to say, trying to find the right words.

"I don't know, but I think that maybe some distance..." he stumbled on the words, unable to find the right way to express exactly what he wanted to say.

"What are you trying to say Kyle?", asked Sasha bluntly- already sensing where this conversation was going.

"I don't know what to do, you have been possibly the best person I have ever had in a friend. You have. But things are still bad between Casey and I. I don't see them ever getting better..." he answered

"... Unless I'm not in the picture anymore right." finished Sasha.

"It's not like that Sash. I don't want it to be like this, but I don't know what to do. It's not you." he struggled.

"But it really is, isn't it" she replied dryly.

Then Sasha did something completely out of the blue. She stood up and with the bravest of all faces she calmly said, "He's your family, I get it. You have to do what you have to do".

Kyle looked at her in utter disbelief. He knew she was hurting, even after only having known her for a few months, he could see that pain in her eyes. He was letting her down, just another guy to add to the list.

"Sash.." he called, but the sentence died on his lips, because what was he going to say. He couldn't take it back. He had to make an effort with his brothers. Even if it meant losing Sasha, he just hoped it wasn't forever.

But she was strong and she didn't need him, she would be just fine.

These were the words he tried to repeat to himself over and over, if only to make himself believe it.

It made him feel so low. But he didn't know what else to do.

A family was all he ever wanted.

But in the pit of his stomach he had a horrible feeling he had just made a terrible mistake.

Sasha got home to the farm, and it wasn't until she was in the safety of her room that she allowed herself to finally break down.

The more she thought and dwelled over what happened. She was the reason he couldn't connect with his brothers, she was the reason Casey chose Tamara over her. There must be something wrong with her if no one wanted to stay.

And it was these thoughts that lingered as she cried herself to sleep.

Once again, no one noticed her cries.

It was in the morning that she woke up to find a single text message with the words.

Im sorry.

It didn't take a genius to figure out who it was from.

The words only served to make her feel worse. Who was she to become brokenhearted over someone trying to mend their family. She didn't want to be selfish.

She just didn't have the energy to reply, it was taking all her energy to just keep herself together. But she mustered up three words;

It's all okay

Because she wanted it to be okay. For him.

And it was in this moment that she realised that maybe she liked Kyle as more than a friend. But it was a realisation she would only allow for herself.

After all, the best way to deal with another piece of your heart being torn away, is to bottle it all up isn't it?

Unfortunely it would only be so long until that over-filled bottle exploded and all her hidden feelings lay out to bare.

There would be only so much one girl could take.