Well, I'm successfully screwing up my "update every day" policy, but I think the 4th can be an exception, being I had family over. Here's another chapter, which does get kinda rough towards the end. Just a heads up, there is going to be another time jump after this chapter, just so that the entire story doesn't take place in three days. The next chapter will be jumping to Wade's trial.

I held the phone in my hand, nervous about what was to happen. I didn't expect Alex to actually call.

Incoming call: Alex

I took a deep breath and finally answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"You said you wanted to talk? Well talk, and it better be worth it."

"Alex, I'm sorry. I know I've been a screw up. I can't change what I am or what I've been. All I can do is look to my future and try to make myself better. This is going to help me do that. I know I gave up on music; I remember that day as well as you do. Probably better, being you weren't there because you were doing something to make your own life better. Now it's my turn. You got your life straight, now it's time for me to fix mine. And part of that is trying to repair the bridges I shouldn't have burned." There was a silence on the other end of the line for a minute before Alex spoke.

"Nat, what makes you think that, after years of fighting; years of hating being in the same house as each other, that you can just call and make things right?"

"I don't expect to. I expect you to hang up, call Juanita, and bitch about me. But you called me back. You didn't have to call me back, you could have ignored it and gone on with your life. Whether you know it or not, Alex, part of you wants to fix this, too. It may be way deep down, and you may not want to admit it, but it's there."

"I don't know what I want right now, Nat. Do you know how long I hoped you'd talk to me? How much I wanted you to open up and get all the anger off your chest? When we were kids, when you gave up, I wanted to be there to make everything better, but you pushed me away. Do you know how hard it is for a 6 year old to deal with the fact that his brother hates him because he won't give up?"

"It had to be impossible. Yet you did it. We had to go separate ways for you to do it, but you did it. And I understand if this is the last time you ever want to have a civil conversation with me. But I AM working on reforming my life, and I couldn't move on without talking to you."

"Like I said, I don't know what I want, Nat. Part of me wants to give you a second chance. Part of me wants us to be the brothers we were. But the other part of me can't forget."

"I understand that. Well, I better get going. I've got schoolwork to do and all. Before I go, got a question. You've got years of musical experience on me. Could I send you a piece I've been working on, to see what you think of it?"

"Sure. Can't say when I'll get to it, but I'll get to it eventually."

"Thanks, Alex. Well, bye."

"Bye." I heard him hang up the phone. I slid my phone back into my pocket and looked up at Rosalina.

"Sorry about that."

"No need to apologize. I'm glad you talked to your brother. Sounds like it was beneficial to both of you."

"He didn't make any promises, but he talked until I told him I had to go, which is better than we've been in years."

"It's progress. It'll take some time, but it will get better. I know we've been a little rough, now that we've found out our history and all, but I've been dying to ask. What happened in all of those years, Nat? I know about the Gold Boulders taking over the Silver Boulders tour, but what happened that lead to it? And what did you, Cooper, and Alex do once the Gold Boulders went big?"

"It's a long story."

"I have time." I could see in her eyes that she was determined to know the truth. So I took a deep breath and told her. The full story, unabridged. I started at the day I was at Cooper's and went all the way until orientation.* The funny part is, it didn't feel like a long story. It felt so natural. I had just finished telling her, and she clearly was about to say something, when there was a pounding on my door.

I was confused, but stood up to answer it. As I opened the door, I felt a force slam into my face. It would only be later that I figured out it was a fist. I heard Rosalina say something, but was too stunned to understand her, trying to recover from the shock. Once I got my vision back, and things calmed down, I recognized the person who barged into the room, grabbed me by my shirt, and slammed me into the wall. It was Wade, Rosalina's boyfriend.

"Listen, you punk. I get that you're a loser who's just trying to keep his head above the water, but what makes you think that gives you the right to be spending so much time with my girl?"

"Wade, let him go!"

"Quiet, Rosalina, and let the men, or should I say the man and the boy, handle this." He slammed me into the wall again, sending a painful jar down my spine. "Now, I'm only gonna warn you once. You back off. Rosalina isn't yours and she never will be. Why would she want to be around such a pathetic piece of dirt like you? Hell, I bet she's only being nice to you cause she feels bad for you."

"Wade!"

"I said be quiet, Rosalina!" He turned and yelled at her. I saw her flinch and her arms twitched. It was barely noticeable, but noticeable nonetheless. I had had enough. Using all of my courage and strength, I brought my foot up and gave him a swift kick between the legs. He let me go and crumpled. He wouldn't be moving very fast for a while, yet. I went over to Rosalina and wrapped my arms around her.

"Are you alright?" I heard her ask, her voice muffled in my chest as she wrapped her arms around me, still shaking.

"I'm fine. How long?" She looked up, but I knew she knew what I was asking.

"As long as we've been together. When we first met, he was so sweet. Then we got together, and he got possessive. I tried to leave him, but it only made things worse. He would get angrier, and hit harder." At this point, she started crying. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and call the FIU police. I wasn't letting this guy get away with it. Within minutes, they were in my room and carrying him out, giving me the assurance that he'd be held until his trial, but they needed Rosalina to come with them, so they could take her to the hospital. They needed a doctor's examination, so they could have official records of any severe injuries to her. It was only a formality, as they would still get him on assaulting me. She nodded, but said I had to come with her.

Of course, I went. I scribbled a quick note to Cooper, telling him I didn't know when I would be back, and left the room with Rosalina and the police.

Well there you have it, Rosalina's life isn't as great as it appeared on the outside. Like I said, next chapter will be the trial. A lot more secrets are going to start being revealed within the next couple of chapters. As always, reviews rock as much as you all do!