U Remind Me Chapter 7

One Month later

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Emily had gotten out of swim practice and she was hanging out with the girls at the mall.

"Oh My God!" Hanna screamed. The whole mass of people around them gasps as they saw what Hanna was screaming about. Emily's eyes burned with tears as Aria hugged her. Spencer had a hand covering her mouth.

The pictures were plasters all over the usually white empty wall. Most of them were of a beaten girl with blood and bruises all over her body. The pictures were the same girl just at different ages. Then in the middle of the pictures was a huge poster of Veronica taken when she was in barn unconscious and bloody. A message was written under it.

'Angel's been hurt before. What I did was nothing.

-A'

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Veronica was waiting for Emily to come over. She sat on her porch steps with her knee bent. The physical therapy was working and she was now only using a knee brace. Her bullet wound was heeled and so was her thigh. Now she merely limped barely. Maybe it was she has strong leg muscles that she was healing so quickly or, maybe it was Emily's motivation and help at home she was getting better.

Veronica smiled as she thought of Emily and played with strands of her hair. Veronica knew she was living a lie and she wanted to tell the truth to everyone. Her family was very understanding. They knew that it would happen eventually. They had gotten her named changed back to what it was when she was born. Veronica knew she had to tell Emily but, she just didn't know how to tell her.

She was broken out of her thoughts as Emily's car pulled into the drive way. Emily had tears running down her cheeks and she was sniffling. She slowly walked over to Veronica who was now standing up and limping towards her. Emily enveloped her into a tight hug. Veronica wrapped her arms around her friend.

"What's wrong?" Veronica asked and she softly brushed her hand through Emily's hair. She saw Emily pull something out of her pocket. She handed it to Veronica and wiped her tears away. Veronica opened it and saw the picture of the little girl and stilled in shock.

-Veronica's P.O.V.-

No it can't be no one was supposed to ever know about this. I can't believe this. They actually knew something. I can't handle this now. I looked up at Emily who was fighting off tears.

"Where'd you get this?" My voice cracked.

"I was at the mall and there were pictures of this little girl all over and a picture of you after you were shot. What is this?"

I started to slowly realize my world was now crumbling.

"I have to go…" I said as a tear fell. I ran inside and locked the door and ran to my room not caring how much my knee hurt.

I lay in my bed crying for hours until I heard the front door open. I quickly wiped my tears and sat up and took shuddery breaths calming myself down. I hid the picture in the dresser. I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in…" I looked to see Emily standing at the door.

"Your mom let me in. I waited for hours for you to open the door but, you never came. What's wrong?"

I took a deep breath. "Sit down," I said and Emily came over and sat on my bed. "That little girl is me…My name isn't really Veronica Soto. It's Angel Santiago. The Soto's adopted me when I was 12. My biological parent gave me up when I was a baby. I was born with a mental disorder that has affected me ever since. They said 'They tried but I was too much to handle.' I was born with Nightmare Disorder. I have vivid nightmares and they gave me up. I refused to sleep to avoid the nightmares and it only made me an Insomniac. "

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes and I felt Emily take my hand in hers.

"I was beaten by my other foster families. This gave me Separation Anxiety Disorder as well. The Soto's came along and adopted me and made me better. They made me Veronica Soto. I like thinking I had a normal life but I knew it was all a lie. I could live a lie knowing it was going to haunt me as long as I live. I knew I was going to end up being exposed on day. I just didn't know it was going to be now. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. You mean so much to me, Emily. I just wasn't ready and I know you're always honest with me and I feel terrible for keeping this from you. I care about you. You're my best friend but, I always felt something more for you. I feel like you could fix me but I know it's just wishful thinking. You could never be with someone as screwed up as me. I'm damaged goods and you're perfect. I know you're going to say that you aren't but, to me your imperfections only make you more perfect." I looked down to the floor.

Emily used her index finger to lift my face. She leaned forward and kissed me softly.

"You are never going to be damaged goods. I will fix you because I love you."