Hmm, somewhat negative comments on the last chapter.

Hope I'm not losing my touch. Haha, just kidding.

Onwards with Chapter 6!

Enjoy!

Emily paled even more. "I, um, don't know what you're talking about," she stammered.

"Emily, I'm not stupid," he took the lid off, revealing almost a month's worth of medication. "Why?"

"Why what?" she asked innocently.

"Why have you been doing this?!" he stood up angrily.

She winced slightly at his tone. "Chad, it's complicated."

"Well, then explain it to me, because right now, I can't think of a single reason…"

"It hurts, okay?" she interrupted him. Her eyes threatened tears.

"W-what?"

"Every time I take it, all I can think about it Michael or Alex or the fact I'm not strong enough to deal with this on my own."

"Emster, how can you say that? You are the strongest person I know," he moved closer to her.

"Then why am I so dependent on a stupid pill?"

"You aren't."

"Yes, Chad, I am. Whether I like it or not, I'm dependent on this stupid medicine."

"Emily, stop this. You have to give yourself time to heal…"

"It's been almost three years! I think I've had time to heal."

"What they did to you was horrible, and they really hurt you. It's going to take some time."

"It's not just that simple," she looked down, tears threatening to stream down her cheeks at any moment.

"Emily," he sighed, "You have to take it."

She shook her head gently and her welled up tears finally sprang from her eyes.

"Don't do this. It's doing more harm than good," he lifted her chin gently, forcing her to look at him.

"And how do you know that?" she sniffed as more tears rolled down her face.

"Look at you. You're exhausted," he bored his concern-filled eyes into her tear-filled ones.

Emily couldn't deny it. She was exhausted. Her nightmares had returned and she wasn't sleeping through the night. She was barely sleeping at all.

"I'm fine," she lied.

"Now where have I heard that one before?" Chad said aggravated.

"Don't be mad…"

"Okay, I'll be happy for you! Congratulations on ruining your life again, Em," he said sarcastically.

"Please, Chad," she whispered as she started a new round of sobs.

"Does Troy know? Or Nat?"

"No," she whispered again.

"They're about to," Chad made his way to the front door.

The car ride was silent. Emily stared out the window as Chad drove. He was too angry to speak.

As they pulled up to Natalie's dad's house, Emily noticed Troy's car already parked in front.

"Come on," Chad said as he pulled the key from the ignition.

Emily didn't move, but remained staring silently out the window.

"Emster, come on," he opened her door and grabbed her hand to help her out.

She pulled away angrily.

"They deserve to know!" he exclaimed.

"Why? So they can treat me like you are?"

"I'm doing this for your own good! Now, get out of the car!"

Chad saw her wince at his words. She looked up with fear in her eyes. "You sound just like him."

"Who?"

"Alex."

Chad's heart plummeted into his stomach. "Em-"

"Don't bother," she brushed past him and into the house.

"EM! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" Troy paced in front her.

"Seriously, Em. This could be dangerous! Look at you! You look horrible!" Natalie shrieked.

"I mean, do you want to stress yourself out so much that you don't eat again? " Troy continued to pace.

"Or completely tune everyone out? Or lose sleep over those nightmares?" Natalie continued, "Or…"

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE HAVING YOUR NORMALITY REGULATED BY A PILL?!" Emily snapped.

Natalie didn't answer.

"Do you know what these are?" Emily pointed to the bottle of pill at her side.

"It's your medicine, Em…" Natalie said quietly.

"NO! It's pain. Do you know what I see when I look at these things?"

Natalie shook her head slowly.

"Every time I look at these, I see Michael or Alex. I see how they won. They won, Nat!"

"Em, they didn't…" Troy started.

"Yes, Troy, they did! My life is based on these," she shook the small bottle. "It takes a pill to make me normal."

Chad continued to look down. He couldn't forgive himself for treating Emily that way. She said he was like Alex! "You guys…"

"That's not excuse for stopping altogether!" Natalie's voice has a hurt tone to it. Emily had never yelled like this.

"You don't understand! No one does!" Emily sobbed.

"Well, make us understand, Em. We just want to help you," Natalie reached out to touch her friend on the shoulder.

Emily took a step back. "Then leave me alone."

Tears filled Natalie's eyes.

"Emily," Troy said in a stern tone.

"What?" she spat.

"Will you get a clue? You're hurting yourself and the people around you!" he yelled.

"Don't look for me," Emily headed towards the door.

"Emily, where are you going?" Chad looked up.

She turned to face them, "Away." She slammed the door shut behind her.

"Emily? EMILY?" Chad called through the Bolton house. They had been looking for a good hour and a half.

He collapsed onto the Bolton's back porch. He couldn't quit replaying what she last said to him in his mind.

"You sound just like him."

"Who?"

"Alex."

Even as he thought of the word, his heart sank again.

"Hey," Troy's voice said behind him.

When he didn't respond, Troy came and sat beside him. "She's going to be fine."

"I wish I could believe that," he shook his head.

"I'm guessing this is something bigger than her just running away?"

Chad remained silent for a moment, then sighed sadly. "She told me…I was acting like Alex." He squinted his eyes shut. This was his fault, he just knew it.

"Chad, it's the PTSD talking…"

"Oh really? Because last time I checked she had that three years ago!"

"The therapist said Em's a different case."

"It doesn't change the fact she called me abusive."

"Chad…"

"I'm surprised you aren't more concerned, Troy. Considering it's your fault."

"WHAT?! How is this my fault?"

"You yelled at her in the first place!"

"And who was the one she said reminded her of Alex?!"

Chad lost it. He grabbed Troy by the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the wall. "Shut up," he said menacingly.

"Dude, maybe Emily was right," Troy pushed Chad off of him.

Chad's eyes widened in realization of what he was doing. He needed Emily more than ever, now. "Sorry, man," he quickly let go.

"What is your problem?"

"I, um, just need some fresh air," Chad quickly left.

He walked quietly and cautiously into the school. 'Thank God they never lock the gym doors,' he thought.

"Who's there?" a girl voice called out.

"Chad Dan-," he turned to the bleachers to see a startled Emily.

Emily immediately started walking down the bleachers. She was trying to get away from him.

"Emily, wait!" he grabbed her arm gently.

"Let go of me!" she yanked away.

Chad looked into her eyes. They were filled to the brim with fear. "Emster," he said softly.

"Go away!"

She was gone. So paranoid, she didn't know who her true friends were.

"Emster, I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."

"Chad, I'm scared," Emily blinked back fresh tears.

"Of what?"

"Michael."

"Baby, Michael's in jail. Forever."

"He's going to get out. I know he is," Emily ranted.

"Emster, just come home and take your medicine and you'll feel better."

"No. No, I'm not going home," she seemed distant.

"Em, you're scaring me."

"I can't go home! He knows where I live!"

"He's not going to hurt you, I promise," Chad pulled her into a hug.

"Don't touch me! You'll hurt me!" she struggled against him.

"Emster, I would never hurt you," he said in a soothing voice.

She finally relaxed into his hug and sobbed into his chest. "What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing, baby. Nothing at all," he held her tight.

"I wanna go home," she sniffed.

Chad smiled slightly. "Let's go home then."

The two set off for the Bolton household. Both hoping things wouldn't go any worse.

Sorry for the longer wait for the update. I got grounded. Blech.

Please review!