"Thanks for coming, Jess," I said, opening the door.

"No problem. Are you sure you don't want to come home?" She asked, walking out.

"Yeah…" I said. She walked out the door and pulled it shut.

I took three steps backwards and tripped over the arm of this giant chair that my grandmother gave my aunt (huge thing it is…) and landed hard into it. I pulled myself up so I was curled up in the chair. I only took up about 2 feet of space, and the chair is 4 feet long. Wow. I took a minute to contemplate the fact that this was a really huge chair, more like, a mini-couch, before realizing I was thinking about a chair.

Then, I don't know what happened, but I think Jessica's words finally clicked in my mind, and I started sobbing. Not crying, not feeling bad, but seriously sobbing. It was embarrassing. Especially when I knew I wasn't the only one in the apartment.

I heard a bang (sounded a bit like a saucepan hitting the floor) and I tried hard to suppress my sobs with a pillow. It didn't work. Man, this was really embarrassing.

How Alex does it, I'm not sure. Maybe it was the fact that he's my best friend. Or maybe, just possibly, it was the fact that I was making so much noise. But suddenly, he had his arms around me and I was crying into his shoulder. I owe that guy, I really do.

"Kim," he said in a strangled voice as he hugged me. "What's wrong?"

And it all came out. I should have done this earlier. "I have no family, I didn't really kill my dad but everyone thinks I did, and I completely suck at math and I'm going to fail midterms and there's no way I can go back to school now I mean I'm in Chicago, and who knows how long it will be before Aunt Muriel kicks me out? There's no way she's going to let me stay here and I can't go home because they all hate me and--"

"Shh. Kimmy, no one hates you, I promise. Remember, I was there, and I don't hate you. I mean, three years ago when it happened, I was just another guy sitting in the back of your dad's van playing car-hockey. Which I vow never to do again."

I choked, trying to laugh and cry at the same time.

"Anyway," he continued. "If they do hate you, it's only because you ran away. No matter what you do, I know that if you've ever been a Baker, you'll always be welcome in that house. And how could anyone hate you?"

"Ah. I owe you," I said, sitting up and wiping my face with my sleeve. He gave me a look. "What would I have to do for you to drive me home? I'll do your chores. I'll do your homework. I'll even do MY homework!"

He laughed. "You wouldn't have to do anything. Just promise me that if you ever need help at 5 AM again, you'll--"

"Call someone else, I know."

"—call me. I might actually come. I did this time, right?"

I jumped up and ran into the kitchen grabbing some paper and pencil as I went. I wrote:

Dear Aunt Muriel—

Thanks so much for having me. Alex and Jessica came to talk to me this afternoon while you were at your meeting. They convinced me to go home. Thanks for everything.

Kim

I stuck the note under a magnet on the fridge and grabbed my jacket from the hook inside the door. I ran back into the living room and threw my arms around Alex again.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou—AHH!" I, um, said (tried to say) as I was dragged off my feet and towards the general direction of the door. I unwrapped myself and walked off towards the elevator.

"Three words, Kim. Two hour drive." Alex told me as he shut the car door. I yawned. "Go to sleep," he told me.

God knows I need it.

Apparently, I fell asleep, because around two hours later, I woke up to Alex shaking my shoulder. I looked out the window at my house and visibly gulped.

"Do you want me to walk you in, or…?"

"No, I'm good."

I started up the front walk. About three yards from the front steps, I turned around and ran to the car. Alex got out and ushered me back towards the front door. Once we were there, I didn't even bother knocking. I walked straight in and Alex followed. We stopped at the entrance to the dining room and stared. Every single head was turned towards me. Even Nora was there.

There was a mad rush to get to me, I could tell.

Jessica hurled herself at me, squealing "I knew it! I knew it! I knew you would come!"

I was home.

A/N: OH MY GOD, I AM DONE! SCREAMS! I would like to thank everyone for giving me reviews and making me stay up until 2 AM sometimes just to finish this story… I'm so glad everyone liked it. I really hope you guys liked the ending, and PLEASE tell me what you thought. I owe you guys. For getting me through the hard times, and giving my story so much positive feedback, wow, it was truly amazing. I'm going to be writing another CBTD story – PLEASE give me ideas of what you might want to see. OH MY GOD... I FINISHED A 15 CHAPTER STORY. I'm going to bed.