-Chapter 61- Alex-

-Alex pov-

I'm sitting in the library waiting. Santana is supposed to come by and do books. After a few more minutes I get up and look out the door. There's not the normal kids walking around. How odd...after all the time I've been here they have never been so empty here.

I walk out and look around. There's no laughing or footsteps in the halls. What is going on? I walk to the Blazer's room and open the door. The room is filled with smoke and I step in.

When the smoke fades I see the old apartment. All of the drugs and beer bottles. I look around the room and see the bongs strewn across the bed. I walk toward the kitchen and see all of the torn bands with spoons.

Soon gunshots fill the air and I drop. When I stand up and look around I smile. I'm outside the courthouse in Lima. There's a woman that gives me some money. She didn't look at me when she did it either. She just gave.

Everything shifts again and I frown. I'm in the library's back room. I'm holding a small bag with a white substance. I walk toward myself slowly.

"Stop" I turn around and see the tired eyes "Why try? I always go back...I never can just stay clean!"

"Because we have a reason now" I watch her turn and empty the bag on the table "What are you doing?"

"I can't sleep in the guest room" I make a few lines "I just need release"

I go to push her away but it's too late. I step back and look at the calendar. It's today...I did this today.

"ALEXANDRIA!" I jolt awake and go to wipe my nose "Stop"

I look up "Oh" Maribel leans down with a paper towel "I'm bleeding aren't I?"

"Office now" She holds the towel to my nose and helps me up "We will talk about this"

"What about the table?" I try to turn but get stopped by her "What?"

"It's already been cleaned up" We walk out and I see police tape "Let's just go to the office"

"They are there aren't they?" Maribel doesn't answer "You're gonna bail me out aren't you?"

"I failed protecting you" We reach the main office and I see the police "We will get you soon"

"Don't" I sigh and step on my own to the officers "I've had this happen before...Let's just take me"

I get my rights read and handcuffed. I get lead out of the school and notice all of the student's aren't out. They made sure no one saw me. It doesn't matter though. I'm sure they will know by tomorrow.

I get put into a car and then driven to jail. I look at my feet the whole drive. I can't believe I got so weak.

-Time skip-Maribel pov-

The girls are making sure the school stays unaware. We just want to be able to get everything in order first. I pull into my destination and stop. I get out of my car and walk into the place.

There's so many busy people around. I find where I need to go and start on my way. I walk to the room and knock. I hear a mumble and go inside the room.

"Hey?" Frank looks at me confused as I walk to the chair beside his bed "What's wrong?"

"I failed" I sit down and let the tears slowly fall "She snorted three lines in the library...She's been put in jail"

He sighs "It isn't your fault" He looks directly at me "I do have one question though...how often is she alone?"

"How often?" I try to recall how often she is with us or someone and frown "Most of the time"

"That's what happened" I look up at him confused "She gets in her head when she's alone...I think she wanted something but wouldn't explain..has she told you what happened a few years ago?"

I shake my head no "She hasn't yet" He nods and sighs "What happened?"

"It was a bad night a few years back" He shakes his head remembering what happened "It was a very bad night"

-4 Years back-Frank pov-

"Alex what are you doing here?" I look at my niece that just came into my restaurant "Aren't you supposed to be with your father and boyfriend?"

"T-There was a accident" I finally see the blood on her hands as the tears fall "I had no where else to go"

"Le~"

A man burst into the restaurant "There you are!" I step in front of my niece "Move old man!"

"We can talk this out kid" The man growls and stalks toward us "Don't think about it"

"You won't be the first man I've killed tonight" He brings out a gun "Move!"

-Present- Maribel pov-

"I don't remember what happened next" Frank looks at me "Just remember waking up in the hospital"

"She lost everything that day" He nods and I sigh "Why didn't she ever just join in?"

"She's socially inept" Frank lets out a light chuckle before coughing "It's getting harder and harder to fight...I don't know if I'll make it tonight"

"Don't talk like that" I grab his hand "Don't ever talk like that Franky!"

He gives me a sad smile "Take care of her Mari" He put's his other hand on mine "I know you all will protect her"

"Frank stop" His heart monitor starts going off and I feel my heart fall "FRANK!"

"Get her out!" I get picked up and brought out of the room "CLEAR!"

The last sound I hear as I'm taken away is the flatline of his monitor.

-Time skip-Alex pov-

"You've been paid for" A officer opens the door and uncuffs me "So sorry mam"

I look at him confused as we go to the main door. I get pity looks as we go to the front. When I get there I feel dread when I see Maribel. She has tears down her face while her eyes are red and puffy.

"What happened?" Maribel walks slowly toward me "What?"

"Frank's cancer overtook him" I feel my heart shatter "He told me everything and I'm so sorry I never tried to include you! I didn't try to learn what all happened and I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry all of this has happened"

"He's really dead?" She nods and I pull her into me "It'll be ok...It'll all be ok"

She starts sobbing and I cry too. My last relative is gone. All I have left is my girlfriends and the girls. That's my family now. I will get better for them...I won't lose any family to drugs again.

"Let's go home" I Put my arm around her "Let's go"

-Time skip-

"Is she ok?" I look at Shelby who is walking out of the bedroom "Is she hungry or thirsty?"

"She asked the same about you" Shelby walks over and sits down beside me "She told us about everything so we'd know you better...I know there is a girl in there that is fighting to get out...a girl that's fightin to be free and get away from all of that"

"There is" I sniffle and look at her with tears falling "I wanna be better for all of you!"

"Don't push yourself" Shelby pulls me close to her "We will help you with anything and everything"

"C-can we sing?" Shelby looks at with a confused smile "It's what the family does right?"

"Yes it is" Shelby chuckles "I got a good one for that girl in you"

Shelby helps me up and leads me to the piano. We sit down and she starts playing on the piano.

-Shelby-Alex-Both-

You with the sad eyes

Don't be discouraged

Oh I realize

It's hard to take courage

In a world full of people

You can lose sight of it all

And the darkness inside you

Can make you feel so small

Show me a smile then

Don't be unhappy

Can't remember when

I last saw you laughing

If this world makes you crazy

And you've taken all you can bear

You call me up

Because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful

I'll see your true colors

Shining through

(True colors)

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful

Like a rainbow

Like a rainbow

Can't remember when

I last saw you laugh

If this world makes you crazy

And you've taken all you can bear

Just call me up

Because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid

(Don't be afraid)

To let them show

Your true colors

True colorsare beautiful

Like a rainbow

Like a rainbow

"We love you" Shelby gives me a cheek peck "We'll be here with you"

I don't respond back. I love them but I just let everything soak in. I wanna be better for them and I know they will help me be better. I'll get clean for my dad, for my mom, for my new family.

For Frank.