School was out. Nicole had been having a great summer. She couldn't believe she'd lived in The Valley for over a year and how much had changed, how much she had changed. When she first moved there she never thought she'd have a boyfriend. Now she had loved, lost and found love again. She and Hawk were happier then ever. She couldn't imagine leaving him next year if she got into NYU. It was her eighteenth birthday today. She'd just woken up and went downstairs to make breakfast. As she was sitting at the table eating. Tammy came into the kitchen.

"Keys." Tammy said holding out her hand.

"What?"

"You're eighteen now, it's time to go." "Brad and I want our privacy."

Nicole always figured Tammy would do this when she turned eighteen. Now that it was actually happening it hurt Nicole deeply. It was confirming what she had always thought. That her own mother didn't love her at all. "Where am I supposed to go?"

"I don't care."

"I'm your daughter."

"Yes but I legally don't have to take care of you anymore."

"You know what, fine." She stood up. "You've always been a terrible mother." "You should be ashamed of yourself." "When I lost my baby, you didn't even ask me if I was alright." "I hope you and Brad are very happy together." "You can both go to hell."

Nicole packed her things and just drove around for awhile. She didn't know what to do.

A half hour later Hawk heard a knock on his bedroom door. He answered it and saw Nicole standing there with tears in her eyes. She hugged him.

"What's wrong?" Hawk asked.

"My mom through me out." "I have nowhere to live."

"She did what?" He said angry at the situation.

"She said since I'm eighteen legally she doesn't have to take care of me anymore."

"We'll figure this out, I promise."

"I'll probably have to drop out of school."

"No you won't."

Mrs. Moskowitz had said that Nicole could stay there for the night. She and Eli were in his room. He was going out to sleep on the couch.

"Some birthday." She said exhausted at the day she'd had. "Thank god for you and your mom."

"We'll find you a place to stay." They kissed.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too." He went out to the living room.

The next day she went over to Sam's. She was talking to Amanda and Daniel and explaining what happened.

"Could I stay here?" She asked. "I know a year is a long time but I'll pay rent."

"You don't have to pay rent." Daniel said.

"Go get your things." Amanda said.

"Thank you both so much." She hugged them and went to get her stuff.


The next chapter is the last one.