I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but I'll make up for it with a really long author's note that no one will read.

So I'm a bit under the weather, probably because of all the weird weather where I am. I've been getting back into writing but I'm sick so it's kind of hard for me to focus or keep my eyes open. So sorry for this chapter, it sucks.

Also, I finished outlining the story, but it won't be as long as ASC or SOS. Reason: those two stories had so many filler chapters/scenes, as well as a chapter goal. The goal had been 55 chapters, and I had that goal for this story up until today. It was going to take a horribly long time for me to outline the story with 55 chapters because so many of the chapters were empty. So I rearranged the whole thing and filled in some gaps and the total chapters for this story will be 29. It's so much shorter than the others, but it'll be so much easier for me to write.

And don't worry, I will continue writing for several of the characters! :D You've got I Swear on My Life, and I have more things in store!


"Hey," Eric greeted Alex, falling into step with him on the sidewalk.

"I talked to Josh," Alex said instantly, keeping his eyes trained on the pavement.

Eric raised his eyebrows, tilting his head to look at Alex, but didn't do anything but hum in acknowledgment.

"I told him the truth."

"And?"

"There's a guy in London."

Eric didn't reply, eyes wandering to the shops on the other side of the street. Alex looked up at Eric's silence and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Eric?"

Eric's face twitched, showing Alex that he was hiding something.

"You knew, didn't you? You knew that there was a guy in London, and you didn't fucking tell me?"

Eric pulled Alex to a stop by the sleeve of his jacket. "Yeah, he told Louisa and the others the other day. Look, mate, I didn't know he was going to come down here and I didn't know that you were going to try and talk him into taking you back. I would've told you, but I didn't want you getting upset."

Alex hung his head again, squeezing his eyes shut.

"I'm sorry," Eric said sincerely.

"Thanks for not telling me. I probably would have fucking whipped up some elaborate scheme to get him back," Alex joked.


"Gracie," Alice hissed into the dark hallway.

Gracie let go of the handle to Jerome and Mara's bedroom door and whipped around to her older sister. "Ally?

"Come here," Alice waved her hand, motioning for Gracie to come closer.

"I had a bad dream," Gracie told her quietly.

"I know, I can't sleep either. Let's go downstairs, okay?" Alice led the way to the first floor and began rearranging the chairs in the dining room without a word. "Get the pillows off the sofas, would you?"

Gracie nodded, rushing into the living room for the throw pillows while Alice unfolded a fresh sheet from a laundry basket. She draped it over the chairs, holding the ends down with books, and then she grabbed the emergency flashlight off the refrigerator. She and Gracie laid down under the sheet and Gracie opened a book she had chosen to listen to Alice read.


"What are you doing up?" Michael asked, laying back on his bed.

"I could ask you the same question, Clarke," Emily replied.

"I asked you first."

Emily groaned a little on the other line. "Essay."

Michael chuckled. "What about?"

"Boring zoology stuff," she said teasingly.

"Oh, well, make sure you're bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when I get home. I'll take you out so you can get your mind off that and back on me."

"You're so full of yourself," Emily laughed, and then her tone became serious. "How's Louisa?"

"She's holding up as well as one would expect a pregnant seventeen year old to. She's got some things to sort out and think about."

"I can imagine," Emily murmured. "Everything will work out, though. Whatever's for the best, right?"

"Yeah, she's part of a family that wouldn't let her go through it alone," Michael sighed.

"Get some sleep—"

"I could tell you the same thing."

"—and come home, alright?"

"Josh and I will be home for lunch, promise."

"I love you."

"I love you, too, darling."


So yeah, fillers like this one. Bleh. :/

"Boom boom boom boom! Gonna shoot you right down, take you in my arms, I'm in love with you. Love that is true, boom boom boom boom. I like the way you walk, I like the way you talk. When you walk that walk, and you talk that talk, you knock me out, right off of my feet." -Boom Boom, The Animals

-Rachel