Chapter 24
Whoop! We reached 200! Thanks so much guys!

We were walking along the broadwalk of the Pier, staring down at the shimmering blue water below. The edges of the cliff pointed out at odd angles, making a suicide attempt clear and unmistakable. I smiled as the wind brushed against my face, silencing the emotion, yet outlining the pride.

I almost forgot what it felt like being me. I had been so hung up on grieving over my mother that I had no time for myself. Truth be told, nobody in the world is or was normal. Normal is just another word for "fitting in"; It's just a shortened addition for people who are too scared to express themselves; like me. I wasn't ever normal. I never wilkl be.

Being normal, in every way possible, is boring.

I sat patiently on the sand, knees tucked up to my chest. Instead of weeping into my legs, I was smiling at the blue horizon that towered above me. The sun was bright and welcoming, and the waves lapped the edges of the sand gently. I watched as Chase surfed on a wave, arms in the air, hair damp with sea water. I giggled as he gave me a thumbs up and grinned.

He was a natural. He had been there for me even when the whole world wasn't.

"Candice? Is that you?"

I turned around, my eyes settling on a boy with blondish-brownish hair and sea green eyes. For a minute I thought he was Chase, until my vision focused properly and I saw who it really was. My heart dropped and my knees buckled. What was he doing here?!

"...Nate?" I whispered. It was him. There was no doubt about it.

He grinned. I felt a sickening feeling in my gut. "That's me."

"What are you doing here?" I asked, hurt clear in my voice. I crossed my arms and glared at him. He sighed.

"I came alone. I heard about your dad. Are you okay?"

I just continued glaring at him. I didn't want his sympathy, pity or any other feeling he had left for me. "Look," he groaned, frustrated. "I know that what I did was wrong. And I'm sorry. I didn't mean to change... It all just happened."

I shook my head and collected my stuff. "People change because they want to, Nate. Not because they had to." I brushed the sand off of my shorts and barged past him, eyes clouded over with fury. He took hold of my wrist, squeezing it slightly. I grit my teeth and tried pulling away, but he wouldn't budge.

"Can't we just talk?!" he rasped, tightening his grip. I squirmed and let a small squeel escape my lips. "Look, Candice! I'm sorry!"

"Paws off the lady, bird brain."

All hope of getting out alive plummeted down to oblivion as I heard Spike's voice behind Nate. I complained inwardly to myself, cursing the wrong timing.

When he didn't budge, Spike walked closer with a menacing glare in his eyes. If looks could kill, Nate would have been brutally murdered and left in a pool of scarlett thick blood. He gulped in fear as a ring of people crowded around us three, eyes bulging and begging for a fight.

"I said, don't touch my girlfriend!" Spike roared, lunging at Nate with his fist in the air. I tried to get him to dodge, but Nate was too stubborn to move. However, I did manage to break their little brawl up just as Spike was about to snap Nate's neck.

"Chase! Stop!" I yelled.

"Who's Chase?!" He growled, his own vicious eyes finding their way to me.

"Stop it, Chase. Spike. I don't care! Just calm down!"

"Out of my way," he muttered, looking uncertain of himself.

I didn't know what to do. Of course I wasn't about to let him murder Nate, even if that bastard did do something to me a while back. So I did the only thing that would bring Chase back.

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him.

For a second Spike still sparked up some kind of recognition in the kiss; but other then that, it was Chase. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close, leaning his forehead against mine. He smiled and pulled away. "What was that for?"

"You were about to kill someone," I whispered. He sighed and linked our hands together.

"I'm sorry. When I saw you and him... I don't know. It made me feel angry inside. I really don't know why. I'm sorry." Chase rambled. I giggled and shook my head.

"It's okay. We all have our moments."

"I hate you for making me do this. This dress is too short!"

"So is life! So live it!"

I cursed silently to myself. I was in the middle of Bree's bedroom, which looked like a hurricane and earthquake all rolled up into one chaotic mess. Shoes and bags littered the floor, and dresses and hangers filled every available wall space needed.

"I shouldn't even be going..." I mumbled. Bree laughed.

"You have to! It's a double date, remember?"

Right. A double date, that consisted of her, Ethan, me, and Chase. "I know, I know."

"Look, everything's looking up for you now! Your dads gone, Nate's gone, Michael's gone - you can live a normal life now!" Normal's boring. "No, scratch that. A happy life." Thats more like it.

"Still, this dress is too short." I pulled at the hem, biting my lip. Bree swatted my hand away, a dissaproving look on her face.

"You look stunning!"

"Thanks, but no I don't. You do, because dresses actually suit you," I sighed. "And we're not even going anywhere fancy, Ethan said! We're going bowling!" I emphasized on the "bowling" part, making sure that Bree got the message.

Thankfully, she did. Instead of fancy, 'Cinderella' type gowns, (wasn't my choice of clothing. Trust me.) we wore jeans and comfortable tops instead. We met the boys at the bowling alley, after countless debates on whether we should run back and change.

My heart stopped when Chase slung an arm around my shoulder and we turned the corner. The lights blinded me but they were the least of my troubles.

There, leaning against the counter with a devious smile, was none other then Nate Colbat.

Ooft, seems like nobody really has their happy endings yet :D
Thanks so much for reviwing! I love ya'll :)