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A/N: Wow, 11 pages, I'm pretty sure that this is the longest chapter of Back to Reality so far! I hope you all enjoy it! Oh, and thanks to Ash Riley who reviewed the last chapter, I really appreciate it! =)

Chapter 10:

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After a few hours of being alone with Callie at her house, Bradin had began racking his brains for an excuse to leave without hurting her feelings, and was thankful when she caught sight of the clock and told him he'd have to leave before her mother got home. He kissed her goodbye and promised to text her later. He sighed when he got back home and sat on his bed, thinking of the past few hours he had spent with his girlfriend. He didn't know if she'd noticed, but something was definitely off. He didn't know what could be so different that it would bother him like this, though. This was something he and Callie had did countless times, sex was something they were good at… Bradin laughed at himself for thinking that, but knew what he meant. Sex was something neither of them ever had a problem with, it was never boring for either of them, they had both always enjoyed it. And there was nothing exactly wrong earlier… No, he was sure Callie hadn't noticed, because he realised that there was something off with him. His thoughts were torn, as they had been earlier, and he angrily tried to shut up the part of him that was screaming the answer he knew was probably right, the part of him that was telling him it was only different because he wasn't with the person he loved. He buried his face in his pillow and groaned, then, without even thinking about what he was doing, opened the bottom drawer of his bedside table, rummaging past socks until he found what he wanted, hidden at the back. The memory of that day came flooding back to him.

"Well, maybe you should do something nice for her, y'know, take her mind of his death, at least for a little while." Bradin thought about this for a moment.

"Yeah, thanks Callie."

"It's ok. Anyway, I'll see you later, I gotta go and meet some friends down at the beach." And with that she was gone, leaving Bradin alone. He looked around, not even realising where they had walked to. He was stood outside the mall, a place he guessed Demi had been earlier that day, before all the drama. He walked inside, deciding he needed a drink. After slotting a coin into the drinks machine and getting a bottle of coke, he turned around, looking up at the shop. 'Of course!' He thought. How could he not have thought of that. He finally knew what he could do for Demi.

He looked at it for a long moment. It was so small and harmless, yet it suddenly frightened him. He put it down to bringing back the memories of the days before she left.

He still thought Callie deserved more than the last few hours they'd spent together to excuse his behaviour recently. His mind seemed at war with itself. One side screaming that he should give it to Callie, and the other wanting it to go to Demi. He sighed and put it back in its hiding place, at the back of his drawer. He knew he wouldn't give it to either girl anyway, not for a long time. He wasn't ready, and knew they weren't, so tried to push the matter out of his mind. But if only he could make up his mind and pick which girl he actually loved, then his life would be a hell of a lot easier.

"Brae?" Bradin kinked his neck from turning so fast towards the voice.

"Dammit!" He muttered under his breath, rubbing his neck with one hand. At least Demi thought it was funny.

"Dinner's on the table." She said, pressing her lips into a hard line to stop another giggle from escaping.

"I'll be there in a sec." He told her, standing and stretching, circling his head to make sure it no longer hurt.

"Okay." Demi said, still smiling as she left. 'Damn, she looks cute like that.' Bradin thought reluctantly and followed her to dinner. Typically, the only chair left on the table was next to hers. It seemed someone upstairs had it in for him. Why were they trying to make it so hard to be faithful to his girlfriend?!

"Bradin, have you packed yet?" Ava asked from the head of the table.

"Not yet."

"Well, start packing straight after dinner. We're setting off bright and early so I want everything ready and packed in the car tonight."

"Okay." He muttered, shoving another forkful of food into his mouth and chewing slowly, clearly thinking hard over something. Of course Ava noticed, but she knew better than to bring it up in front of everyone. She'd talk to him as soon as she got him alone, she decided, and joined in with the conversations going on around her.

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"Wake up." It was the repeating of those two words and the constant shaking of her shoulder that woke Demi up. She groaned and groggily blinked her eyes open, to see Bradin staring down at her and taking his hand back, now sure that she was completely awoken. Demi knew she'd end up sleeping on the journey to Kansas. Sean had barely let her sleep a wink and Ava wasn't kidding when she said they were setting off early. They all had to be showered, ready and packed into the car for 8 on the dot and Ava was like a troop leader on a mission, which meant no slacking whatsoever. Demi had climbed into the car last after securing Sean in his car seat and couldn't remember any of the journey after Johnny had suggested they play I-spy. It had taken a full day to get from California to Kansas including stops for food, etc, and Demi was happy she had slept on-off through most of the journey, compared to Susannah who simply couldn't sleep with everyone talking and in 'a car', as she'd said, disgusted when they'd stopped for food. She was very cranky throughout the trip, but Ava said it was most likely her pregnancy hormones, much to her annoyance.

"You snore like a bear." Bradin laughed at her. "And you drool like, well, Sean." He teased further as Demi noticed the damp patch on Bradin's shoulder.

"Oh, God, sorry." Demi said, cringing. She was embarrassed enough that she had drooled all over him but she hadn't even realised she'd slept on his shoulder. But Bradin wasn't looking at her, he was looking at his childhood home. Demi followed his gaze to the house. It had wooden walls and a front porch running the length of the house with 5 pillars and a couple of chairs and plants here and there. The roof was huge, covering the entire second story and sheltering the porch, too. Although it was quite bitterly cold where Demi stood right now, the house just looked so warm and home-y.

"It's amazing." Demi said after a few moments of admiration. Bradin nodded with a faint smile.

"Yeah." He half-whispered. Bradin stayed planted where he was and just looked at his old house for a little while longer. Demi really didn't want to interrupt him or anything, it seemed like he was having a real sentimental moment or something, but she was freezing.

"Sorry to bother you, Brae, but I like having ten toes. Could you help with all this?" She joked. Bradin finally came out of his little trance and pulled bags and suitcases out of the car boot while Demi rushed Sean inside where she hoped it would be at least a little warmer. She rushed back to the car to help Bradin with the remaining bags and suitcases before shutting the door behind her in the hope of finding some warmth. Of course, there was no warm in the house that had been vacant for a couple of years up until 5 minutes ago.

"Is there heating in here somewhere?" Said the born-and-bred California girl Susannah, shivering.

"I'll go turn it on." Bradin offered and rushed up the stairs.

"I can't believe we're home." Derrick said, walking around the room and picking things up randomly and looking at them, often smiling.

"I'm gonna go and put my stuff in my old room." Nikki announced as she grabbed her bags.

"I'm guessing Nikki's getting her old room and Bradin and Derrick will be sharing their old room, but where will the rest of us sleep?" Demi asked curiously.

"Well, Johnny and I are going to take the master bedroom, Susannah will get the guest bedroom and Demi, you'll have to sleep down here, but the sofa pulls out into a double bed." Ava told them with a smile. "So everyone, get your stuff put away before we decide what we want to do today." And with that everyone dispersed from the living room, leaving Demi and Sean alone. Since there was no real storage for Demi to use in the living room, she put the bags of clothes she'd packed for herself and Sean under the table behind the sofa and then set up the travel cot in the corner of the room a couple of inches away from the radiator and then waited for everyone else to finish unpacking and come back downstairs.

"So, what does everyone want to do?" Johnny asked as they all filed down the stairs. Their voices all came in a buzz together. Demi didn't catch all of it. She could hear Nikki saying something about friends, Derrick on about mom and dad, Bradin saying something about hitting the shops, and then something about clothes for Sean. She smiled at this suggestion, she hadn't thought he'd necessarily put his son first when he'd just arrived back in his home town, which she wouldn't be able to blame him for, but was glad to here he had his priorities in good order. Susannah moaned about not really wanting to go outside just yet seeing how cold it was. Ava and Johnny simply looked at each other with slightly wide eyes.

"Alright, alright!" Ava called, and everyone's voices stopped. "Well, we do have a week to do all of the things we're all wanting to do, so what do you wanna do first?" The babble of voices started again, no one agreeing on the same thing. "Ok, new plan!" Ava called, silencing them again. "We can all do what we want, but I don't want you all off on your own. So Derrick, you're with me and Johnny; Nikki, you're with Susannah and Bradin, you stick with Demi and Sean. Ok? Everyone got their phones?" They all nodded silently. "Good, now go and enjoy yourselves." Derrick and Nikki rushed to the adults asking them to take them here and there. Derrick, Ava and Johnny hopped into Ava's car and drove off while Nikki and Susannah drove off in Susannah's car. Which left Demi and Bradin with Johnny's car. This felt like a jinx to Demi. She had stolen and sold Johnny's car when she ran away, and got into and accident and badly injured Nikki in Johnny's new car when she took her to the hospital. The same car now sat in the driveway, fixed now, waiting to take them to wherever they wanted to go. Demi decided she'd let Bradin do all the driving, she was sheer bad luck.

"So… do you wanna go straightaway or hang back here for a while." Demi asked meekly now they were alone in the house. She felt really nervous. They hadn't spoken properly since her catfight with Callie yesterday.

"Um, I'm not sure. God, it feels so weird being back here, I can't even describe it to you." Bradin said with a smile, looking round the room.

"Nope, probably not. If I went back to my childhood home-" Demi shivered, "well it wouldn't be at all sentimental. I'd be wishing my mom was dead." Demi said under her breath, not sure whether Bradin heard or not.

"You're probably right there." Bradin said with a sad smile, watching as she shivered, and not from the cold. "What do you want to do first?"

"I think shopping for warm clothes is first on the list, but we don't have to do it just yet if you wanna stay back here for a while. This house really is beautiful, by the way." Demi added politely.

"Thanks. How about I show you around first and then we go shopping?" He suggested. Demi smiled and nodded, breathing a sigh of relief as he turned around and headed for the stairs. He hadn't mentioned yesterday with Callie at all, so she hoped she wasn't in trouble. Scooping Sean up in her arms, she quickly rushed to follow Bradin.

"This is Nikki's old room." Bradin announced as he led Demi inside. It wasn't your typical, frilly, pink girls bedroom, but Demi had not expected this from Nikki. The walls were a light, pale green and the floors were wooden. A white, wooden single bed frame with a mainly white quilt on top covered in large round circles of several different colours, though some blank. There was a corkboard above the bed with many pictures pinned to it. Nikki featured in the majority of the pictures, never on her own though. There was one with Bradin and Derrick, Bradin looked about 12, Nikki looked 9 and Derrick only looked 3 or 4. Demi smiled, they were all adorable, sat in the garden on the grass, Bradin with his arms around Nikki and Derrick sat next to them, looking at the camera without smiling and reaching out for it. Another picture showed Nikki sat on a mans lap when she was about 6 and giggling, the man looking down on her fondly. One next to it showed Nikki aged about 11 with flour smeared across her cheek mixing the contents of a bowl in front of her with a wooden spoon and a woman leaning over her and talking, apparently telling Nikki what to do. Nikki's mom. The rest looked like they'd been taken at school or when out with friends, because Demi didn't know any of the people Nikki stood with in them but they all looked the same age as Nikki.

"These are your parents, right?" Demi asked, pointing to the two pictures side by side. Bradin nodded. "What were their names? I know your dad was Bob."

"Yeah, Bob and Karen." Demi's eyes widened a little.

"I didn't know our moms had the same name." Demi said, looking back at the kind faced woman in the picture. She looked so mumsy, too, with her short, natural blonde hair and an apron on.

"Huh, I never realised before." Bradin said a little absently, looking at the photo too. Demi drew her eyes away. She was slightly jealous of Bradin's mom, she seemed like such a good mom, something she wished she'd had. There was a desk in the corner the room with a little stack of books on it. Demi was surprised, with the amount of books Nikki had taken to California with her, Demi figured she must have taken every one she had. There was a white rocking chair in other corner of the room a few pick and purple cushions on and a wardrobe built into the wall, but not much else.

"It's really nice." Demi commented. Bradin nodded and led the way out and into the next room.

"This is mine and Derrick's room. The walls and carpet were blue. Two single beds were on either side of the room, each with matching covers, frame and bedside tables. There was a large dresser on the left side of the room and computer desk on the right side with a rather ancient looking computer sat on it. Demi didn't know whose bed was whose, but there were only comic and pokemon posters above the beds, both making Demi chuckle.

"Nice posters." Demi said, smirking.

"Yeah, laugh all you want but pokemon was cool when I left here." Bradin replied with mock-defensiveness.

"I'm sure it was." Demi joked, nodding. They left the room and went back into the hall.

"That's just the guest bedroom, pretty boring, very white." Bradin explained, pointing to a white door next to them. "And this is- well, was my parents room." Bradin said a little sadly. But he didn't enter the room as he said it. He just stared at the door.

"Did you go in earlier when you came up here?" Demi asked. Bradin shook his head slowly. "Well, we don't have to go in if you don't want to, I don't mind." Demi offered kindly. Bradin took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, sorry, it's just… I don't know, but I really don't wanna go in there." Bradin said, turning away from the door.

"It's ok." Demi soothed, rubbing his shoulder gently. Bradin simply looked down at the floor for a moment.

"So, you wanna go shopping now?" Bradin asked, though he was already heading for the stairs.

"Yeah, I'll just grab my purse and a coat for Sean." Demi said, passing Sean to his father and rushing to get the items. Once Sean had his coat on and was strapped into the car, they were ready to go. Demi hadn't realised this before but it was the first time she and Bradin had ever really went shopping together. Though there weren't many houses nearby it didn't take long before they reached a some shops. After unfolding a pushchair from the boot of the car and strapping Sean in they went to Wal-Mart. Demi pushed Sean while Bradin pushed a trolley. Demi grabbed warm socks, a hat, scarf and glove set, a blanket, a thick coat and several long sleeved tops for Sean and threw them into the trolley. Bradin watched with a faint smile as Demi threw a pair of jeans for Sean into trolley, then took them out, then put them back in, and took them out, before asking Bradin whether he thought Sean had enough warm pairs of trousers at home. He said he thought they had enough and Demi finally put them back on the rack after staring at the for a couple more moments. "Do you need any clothes?" Demi asked. Just as Bradin opened his mouth to answer he heard his name being called and a cute blonde running up to him.

"Oh my God, it's really you! God, you're so tan now." She laughed. Demi had no idea who she was, but Bradin did. It was his ex-girlfriend, Sharon. The last time he'd seen her was when they were making out up in his room, until his mom came in and told him there was a flood and she was going to help out and took Sharon home. It was the last time he'd seen both of them.

"Sharon, hey." Bradin said, a little awkwardly. Of course, Bradin had broken up with her after his parents death and having to move to California, but it wasn't the fact it was his ex that was making it awkward, it was just seeing someone from his past. He thought of it as another life, and merging the two now, what with having Demi and Sean with him, just felt odd.

"What are you doing here?" The blonde asked with a smile.

"My aunt Ava just thought it was time to come back and visit so… here I am." Bradin answered with a smile. It seemed forced to Demi. Sharon eyed Demi for a moment and looked at Bradin expectantly. "Oh, right, sorry." Bradin said with a fake laugh. He'd been hoping that he wouldn't have to introduce them. "This is Demi," He said as they exchanged a quiet 'hi', "and this is my son, Sean." Sharon went bug-eyed at the word 'son'. Bradin suppressed a sigh, he knew that was the reaction she'd have, it was the reaction all his old friends would have.

"Your… son? Wow. Um, I guess California really changed you." Sharon said with an awkward laugh.

"No, it wasn't like that, honest, it was really… well, weird, but nothing to do with California changing me, really." Sharon smiled politely.

"Ok. So you must be Sean's mother, right? Or am I being presumptive?" Sharon said with a slightly nervous laugh.

"No, I am Sean's mother." Demi answered with a slight smile.

"And you two are a couple?"

"No." Bradin and Demi abruptly said in unison, startling Sharon a little. She was wondering why they'd came to Kansas together if they weren't still a couple, but thought it rude to ask and quickly made an excuse to go.

"So…" Demi began in an attempt to break the tension in the air, but soon started giggling. "That was awkward… Should we finish shopping and get out of here?" Demi suggested. Bradin nodded, feeling the urge to laugh a little himself but he suppressed it. He didn't know why he wanted to laugh, but he guessed seeing Demi giggling like that was probably the cause. A few warmer clothes for both Bradin and Demi went into the trolley and they headed for the check out. Demi had gotten her purse out and started sifting the dollar bills but Bradin refused to let her pay. Even for her own stuff, she noted, but didn't want to make a big deal out of it. It was just a kind gesture, so she didn't freeze her ass off while they were here all week. Deciding they'd gotten enough clothes for all of them in the one shop, they got back into the car and began driving again. Bradin pointed out his old school to her as they passed it, telling her some of the things he got up to and his funnier memories from there, the ice skating rink where he'd broken his arm back when he was 10 and even the river where his parent had died. He seemed to be able to talk about them quite happily without to much hurt, but he was very quiet other than telling her they'd died there upon passing it. Demi had bowed her head a little and let her hair cover her face a little, at a loss for what to say. She stayed like that a little while, fumbling with her hands and looking back to check on Sean in the back seat every now and then. She wasn't looking out of the windscreen when Bradin stopped the car, and when she looked up she froze. Bradin didn't notice and got out of the car, taking Sean out of his car seat and opting to carry him rather than push him in the pushchair.

"Demi? Are you getting out?" Bradin asked when he realised she was still sat in the front passenger seat, not having moved an inch. Demi didn't answer, she barely heard him, and just stared straight ahead. Bradin opened her car door and looked at her more closely, beginning to worry. "Dem?" Demi finally looked at him. It was the shock of being called 'Dem' that had caused her to look. He was the only person who had ever called her Dem, it was his little nickname for her, and he hadn't used it for over a year. "Are you ok? You look pale."

"I- I can't go in there." She whispered. She was far to scared to face a graveyard. She'd never really had a problem with them before, but the thought of seeing Adam being lowered into a grave on the day of his funeral had petrified her, it was a huge part of why she ran away, and now to this day she had a phobia of graveyards. They were just so… creepy.

"Why?" Bradin asked, confused. He watched as her bottom lip began to tremble and wetness formed in her eyes at the corners. The sight was heartbreaking for him to see, he never knew Demi's pain could have such an effect on him.

"I'm… I don't like- No, I… I'm s-scared. Of… them." She said, nodding towards the graveyard. She looked back to Bradin, staring at the thing was too eerie.

"Um, ok. Well, why don't you wait in the car, and I'll go in with Sean. Demi's eyes went wide with fear again. "No, don't worry, it'll only take 5 minutes, I'll be as quick as I can, I promise." Bradin said quickly in an attempt to soothe her.

"Y-you're taking Sean in there!" She cried, her voice raising an octave. Bradin's eyes widened in shock a little at her response. Part of Demi was screaming at her to go in with her son to protect him, but that was smaller, much smaller than the part of her too scared to come with 10 feet of the gates, she admitted to herself shamefully.

"He'll be fine, I wouldn't let anything happen to him, Demi." Demi nodded in agreement. "I promise you I'll be as fast as I can. Think you can wait out here for 5 minutes on your own? I just really want to introduce my parents to Sean." Demi studied him for a moment. She felt really guilty for making him have to rush his visit to his parents' graves, but she hated the thought of being alone in the car with the graveyard straight in front of her.

"5 minutes?" Demi whispered.

"Just 5 minutes, I promise." Bradin said comfortingly.

"Ok." Demi whispered again, even quieter. Seeing the fear still fully present in her eyes, Bradin instinctively leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. He grabbed a small bouquet of flowers that Demi hadn't even seen him buy out of a bag on the back seat and reminded Demi he'd be just 5 minutes. A couple of seconds after he'd began walking towards the graveyard gates he heard a quiet click and turned back around to see Demi pushing down the car lock on the drivers side, locking all of the car doors. He turned again and headed into the graveyard.

So, what dya think? It's quite fun writing about Kansas actually, and it's given me a few ideas for the future chapters that I hope you'll enjoy =) I love reviews so please tell me what you think! =)