Sorry about the delay...life is lifing me right now. Love ya and your thoughts about these two :3

I haven't been able to reply to reviews either, but here are some questions I've been asked:

- Where's Charlie? Bella mentioned him like a million chapters ago lol. He's not really "involved" but we will see/read more of him soon-ish.

- Did I get inspiration from Britney's whole conservatorship thing? Yes and no. Bella's relationship with Phil and Renee is mostly based on the portrayal of Gabi Butler's parents on the show Cheer. Lots of inspiration from there. But also from the Amy Winehouse documentary, and yes from Britney as well. So just shitty parents all around hahaha

Some of you had asked about Uncle Masen as well, a lot more of him on this chapter.

Thanks so much for reading!

Chapter 28.

Sunday morning goes by quickly and then our weekend getaway is over. Bella wakes me early, so we get some time to ourselves—not enough, never enough—before we have to go.

"It's just two weeks," I whisper against her forehead, for her sake as well as mine. Her eyes are watery as she looks up at me, and I swallow through the knot in my throat.

"Just two weeks," she repeats through a sad smile.

"Say you'll be okay." I pull her for a last kiss and she closes her arms around my neck.

"I'll be okay." When she pulls back, I reluctantly let her go.

I fucking hate that she's going back home, but I breathe away my worries as she walks with Vicky through security.

One final wave, and then she's gone.

I drive Emmett's Jeep all the way to Fort Collins while he sleeps, so it's just me, my thoughts, and his snores.

Bella promised to try and stay in her parents' good graces so that she doesn't get cut off again. That this time she'll keep her phone, her computer, that we'll be in touch.

I have stayed out of it for the most part and kept my thoughts about the situation with her parents to myself. I don't want to make things worse for her. A part of me is worried, of course, that they'll keep her away from me, that whatever she agreed to so that we could be together is going to come and bite us in the ass.

I send her a text as soon as we make a pit stop, just outside of Fort Collins, knowing she's landed in Florida already.

miss you~E

miss you too 3~B

Her reply is instant, which gives me hope that she'll keep her phone this time.

Emmett drives the rest of the way, and when he drops me off at home, I'm surprised to not find Mom in the apartment since her car was parked out front.

I unpack in my room then roam the apartment a bit, tempted to crash on the couch. I turn on the TV, but the cable is off, which is odd. A dreary feeling envelops me. The fridge is nearly empty, bills are piled up on the counter, and my stomach drops as I sort through them.

Past due. Past due. Past due.

"Fuck…" My voice comes out in a whisper, while I pull on my neck, just as I hear the keys outside.

"Oh, honey!" my mom says as she walks in, shaking off her coat. "You made it in good time. I didn't think you'd be here already." She is in her diner uniform and carries a bag with what looks like leftovers as she walks to me.

"Hey, Ma," I say, hugging her. "Did you take the bus? What's wrong with the car?"

"Something about the transmission." She waves me off, setting the bag on the counter, and then turns to me and wraps both hands on my cheeks. "How are you? Did you eat yet?"

"I'm good." I give her a smile, but my brain is going a thousand miles a minute, worrying about her. "What about the transmission though? Did Uncle Masen take a look?"

"Not yet," she says dismissively. "But he will." She grabs my hand and pulls me to one of the stools by the kitchen counter, taking the one next to it for herself. "Honey, c'mon, tell me everything!"

I sit with a sigh, looking at her, taking in all her features. The deep, dark bags under her eyes. Her frizzled hair. The mascara that looks a little smudged. She looks exhausted.

"Ma, are you okay?"

"I'm fiiine…" She pats a hand on my thigh, dismissing me again. "C'mon, tell me about school. Is it everything you dreamed it would be? How was the end of the semester? How is Bella?"

"School's good," I say vaguely, my eyes still inspecting her. "I passed all my classes."

She smiles broadly, running a hand on my arm.

"Bella's good, too. She's home, in Florida, with her parents."

"I can't wait to meet her!" She pulls her phone out of her pocket and sets it on the counter, the screen cracked in a million pieces. "That last video of you two at that mountain was gorgeous."

I stare at her, knowing very well she's deflecting. "Ma, where's Uncle Masen?"

She sighs, clasping her hands over her legs and then looking up at me. "You're not going to let it go, are you?"

"Well, what do you want me to think? There's no food. No cable. Bills piling on the counter. You look like you're struggling, and he's nowhere to be found. Is he locked up again?"

She looks down, and I just know it.

"God dammit!" My fist hits the table but she doesn't even flinch. "What for now?"

"Burglary…and assault…I think?"

"How long?"

"I don't know. He's having a rough time in there, so they keep adding to his sentence." She wipes her tears with her hands, so I get up from the chair, wrapping an arm around her.

"It's okay." I shush her. "It's going to be okay." All I can think is that it's better for Uncle Masen to be locked up than crashing here with her, stealing and leeching off of her. "I'll find something these next few weeks, okay? I'll help out."

"None of that." She pushes my arm away, staring up at me. "And your money for next semester is safe. No one's touched that, okay? So, don't worry."

"I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about you. Let me help, please."

I feel like shit, spending a weekend in the mountains while my mom can't pay for food…can't afford to fix her car.

While she warms up the leftovers she brought from the diner, I go on my phone, and for the first time ever, I post a video that actually advertises private lessons in the caption. It's a compilation of my coaching sessions with Sammy.

My DMs start blowing up immediately, and I even get a call from my old gym in Fort Collins. In the next couple hours, my week is fully booked with private lessons and clinics at open gyms.

…

"Hey…" Bella smiles on the screen as I step outside of the apartment and sit on the wooden steps.

"Fuck, it's good to see you." The sky is dark behind her, now being three hours later over there, and her hair is flowing with the breeze. I look at the gray skies over here, snow coming down strong.

"You okay?" Her eyebrows knit, and it looks like she stops walking and sits down on a bench.

"Yeah, where are you?"

"Just out for a walk." She shrugs a little. "So, you're giving lessons over there? On your time off?"

"You know I can't just do nothing for two whole weeks," I joke with a smile. "I'd go crazy."

"I know exactly what you mean." She seems distracted for a second, and I catch a glimpse of sadness in her eyes.

"Everything okay over there?"

Her eyes are back on the screen, and she smiles sweetly, nodding at me. "All's good."

Our exchange is quick, and after we say our goodbyes, I hang up the phone with a sigh. I don't like lying to her, or keeping stuff from her. I wish I could tell her about my mom, about my uncle fucking up again, about how part of me feels responsible for all of it—for ruining my mom's life—but I don't want to burden Bella with my issues.

…

The holidays come and go in a blur. I work my ass off every day except for Christmas and New Year's. Training keeps me busy, coaching keeps me happy, both keep my mind occupied.

I make more money than I ever have before. I don't think I will go back to making sandwiches ever again.

All the money goes to my mom's bills and to get the car looked at, but we're $700 short to get its parts replaced, so taking the last week off is out of the question. I spend Sunday afternoon in my DMs scheduling new sessions for the week, until I get a text from Bella.

Emmett keeps complaining you won't hang out with him~B

I smile and scroll past all of Emmett's texts insisting we get together on our last week off.

I'm so tired~E

Do you have a session tonight?~B

No, had two this morning and two early afternoon~E

How's your shoulder?~B

It's been better~E

You need a break, go have fun with Emmett~B

I sigh and look at the ceiling. Already in bed by seven. Mom's working the night shift at the diner. She's been doing okay, but I know she's sad Uncle Masen missed the holidays. I don't know how much he stole this time, but she's been working non-stop to make up for it so I've barely seen her.

It's also just really depressing here, feeling alone in my own house. Wanting to help my mom, but feeling like I can't do enough.

Maybe I do actually need a break.

I can pick you up~Em

I look at Emmett's last text and type a quick OK in reply, and fifteen minutes later, he's honking his Jeep's horn outside of the apartment complex.

I grab my keys and my coat and step out of the door with a deep breath, actually looking forward to relaxing a little.

"It's about damn time!" Emmett says as I open the door and I smile, getting in.

"I know…it's been crazy."

Emmett is smiling broadly at me, staying atypically still, as if waiting for something.

"What?" I turn to strap my seatbelt, and when I turn back to him again, I almost have a heart attack.

There's a whole other person in the car with us, her body inched between the seats, her face right across from me.

Freckles. Brown eyes. Shea butter scent everywhere.

Bella.

"What the fuck?" I laugh, still in shock, while she beams at me. "What? How?" I turn briefly to Emmett who is smiling proudly at me, then my eyes are back on Bella. "What?"

My hands just close around her face, and I bring her lips to mine. Then I'm climbing over the gear shift, while Emmett complains, making my way to the back seat with her, my lips never leaving hers.

"Told ya he wouldn't suspect..." Emmett laughs and starts driving. I don't care what we do. I don't care where we go. I finally feel home.