A/N: Only one more chapter left! I hope you guys are enjoying this story and I hope you will read my other stories as well. :)

"What do you mean? You're not thinking about leaving this world, are you, Bree? You can't do that! We love you far too much. I love you. I know I haven't acted like it the past few months. I'll admit it, I was a jerk and then some. I was a horrible person and I did a really bad thing and I hurt you very much. I know that. I wish i had never lied to you. I wish I had told you the truth from the beginning. Then we wouldn't be in this mess. Then you would trust me. You would know that what I'm saying isn't just words. I know it doesn't mean anything but I'm sorry anyway. I'm sorry that I ruined everything. I know you can never forgive me. And I know you will probably hate me forever, but, Bree, I'm still so sorry for the pain I have caused you. I do love you and I know I don't say it often, but you are my best friend and losing you kills me all over again every day. And Bree, if I had lost you that day in Giselle's lab, I would have died. I would not have been able to live with myself and I know that doesn't make up for it and I know this doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I'm trying and I guess I just wanted you to know that before you do anything drastic, I would die too. I can't live without you. I won't."

I never expected that in a million years. Did he just say that- oh nevermind! "I wasn't planning on doing anything, Chase." I said. His name feels weird in my mouth after not using it for so long. "I know I said some things that day, but I don't mean them anymore. I have to live. If I don't, it will all be for nothing. Everything that we've been through will be for nothing if I give up."

"I'm glad to hear that." he says, his voice small.

"Chase, I don't want to be afraid. I don't want to wake up and live every day afraid of you or anyone else. I want to go out and save the world. I want to go on dates and dress up and look pretty. I want to talk quietly in the middle of the night when you can't sleep. Or watch a movie when you're sad. Or sit around eating popcorn and teasing Adam like we used to. I don't want to be scared, Chase. But then every time I come near you, I shake and my head starts spinning with all of these thoughts. 'Don't trust him.' 'He'll hurt you again.' 'You'll never be safe.' and I can't make them stop. And before I know it, my heart is racing faster than I ever thought possible and I'm sweating and I start breathing funny and suddenly I can't breathe anymore and then the world spins and I'm dizzy and, and, and-"

He looks so helpless, standing there. He is fighting on the inside, I know. Part of him wants to reach out to comfort me like he has a hundred times before, but another part of him knows it would only make things worse. Finally, he opens his mouth and, with a sorrowful expression on his face, he utters, "I'm so sorry." and he crumbles.

He is sobbing now. He looks so much like a child, sitting there on the floor with his face buried in his knees. His hands are trembling and his sobs shake his whole body. I want to reach out and tell him that I'm all right now. That everything is okay. But I cannot bring myself to lie to him. I cannot lie to myself.

Desperation. That is the look I see on his face when he lifts his head. He doesn't know what to do. He is at his mind's end because he has tried everything, and all has failed. And now he is desperate for a sign, for something, that will tell him that there is still hope. But there is none. I wish I could offer hope. With all my heart I do, but I can't. He stands up quickly, wiping away his tears. I jump back, not realizing how close I had become to him while he was crying. Now we are only 10 feet apart; the closest we've been since the accident. This is it, this is facing my fears. But Chase looks at me then, and I know it isn't over.

He stretches out his hand, and I back away from it. "You said you wanted it to end, Bree. This is the only way. Just touch my hand. That is all. I promise you I will stand right here and I will not move. Please, Bree. Try."

I hesitantly lift my hand, but quickly return it to my side. I'm just not ready for this. "You can do it, Bree. I believe in you." he says softly.

My hand is up again and this time it actually moves toward him slightly. He smiles a little at the improvement. He is completely still; not moving toward me at all. It's a good thing too. I don't think I could handle it if he was.

One inch.

Two.

Three!

Now my feet have to move. If I'm really doing this, if I can do this, can it be? If I do this I know I will get better eventually. Before I can even stop to think, my feet are going and then I'm there at three feet away and certainly in reach of Chase's hand. He still holds it out it me, smiling brightly as he does. I frown, still nervous. I raise my arm again and this time it's so close that I almost gasp out loud.

Can I really do this? It has been so long and he hurt me so badly! And I know it's over and done. I know I have forgiven him and I know he is sorry. But am I ready to be friends again with him? Am I ready to talk and laugh and hang out with him like old times? My heart is racing a million miles an hour and my head is spinning and I don't know what to do and I don't know how to make it stop. My breathing becomes quick and shallow and, oh no! I'm losing control!

Then, I hear a calm, quiet voice saying, "Bree, it's okay. I am not going to hurt you. He is not going to hurt you. It's over. Gone forever. You will get better! You will be alright! And you can do this. I know you can. I believe in you. Please, Bree. Just breathe. Come on, in and out. You will be alright."

He keeps repeating those words. In and out. In and out. And then I follow. In and out. Just breathe. I shake my head. Eventually, my breathing slows down enough for me to think clearly. Then I look at Chase. His face shows worry and concern and I can't help but smile. What was I thinking? How could I think that he would hurt me intentionally now? I smile slightly and reach my hand out again. He raises his arm as well, his face showing clear surprise. He didn't expect me to go through with it, I guess.

I take a deep breath and grasp his hand in mine. When our eyes meet, I know that I will be okay. It might not be today, or next week, or even next month, but eventually, I will be okay. And that's enough for me. Someday, somehow, I am going to be alright. And I am not alone. I have my friends, my family, myself. I know I will never be alone with all the love I have here with these people. Chase smiles the biggest smile I have ever seen. And not everything is okay, not everything is better, but I'm getting there. With the help of my family, I will get there. I smile back and he squeezes my hand before dropping it. No pushing today. Just us together, slowly rebuilding our relationship. And we start today. Today, I begin to become myself again.