A/N- Hey guys! There's not much to say except enjoy the next chapter! O ya, it looks like this story is going to be around 15 or so chapters just to let you know. So yes, we are coming closer and closer to the end…
tyLer-Lover- Yes they are both blind, but they do have friends ready to make them see what they need to do.
HopelessRomantic44- I'm glad you liked it!
soccergurl382- Yup sorry for the cliffy, but this one doesn't have one so it isn't as bad.
emma134- I'm not mean enough to leave for all that long.
Elfvamp1-13-97- Hm yes, life does suck, but there's always hope of it getting better.
SilentDancer92- I'm glad you think it's interesting. I've had some people who aren't… let's say qualified to say anything, think it's not. I'm not talking about recent reviews, but my now ex-beta as well. Thanks for the reassurance.
BlackCaleb- Dena did win the pool tournament. It didn't really help Reid's mood though…
"I wish none of this would have happened…"
Reid was just about to go when Dena had finally said something. "You wish none of what would have happened?"
"The fight, Chase, everything, I wish my parents hadn't have died. Maybe then I'd be a normal teenager. Maybe Chase wouldn't have been able to get you guys so easy again."
"Chase knew where we were. He could have gotten to us just as easy as he did." Reid replied.
"Look, at all he did though! He's dead and because of him we… people are still hurting. I don't expect you to ever forgive me, in act I hope you don't. Everything that's happened has made me look back on my life. I've been doing the wrong thing the whole time. I have you and the others to thank for that."
"What are you doing now?"
"Tony got me a job at Sports Chalet. Right now I'm thinking about taking a year off. My parents died when I still wanted to be a princess or have some other fantasy come true. My life became what it is today when they died. I don't really know what I'm going to do or what is going to happen."
Reid was quiet for a bit as he absorbed all of the information. "Who are you staying with? That brown haired girl?"
"Ya, that's Lucy. I'm staying with her and Tony."
"Who's Tony? You're boyfriend?"
"No, he's Lucy's brother. I don't think I could ever date again. You did that to me, Reid. I know I'll never find someone as good as you so I don't want to try."
"I'm not that good."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not. Dena since you've left I've pretty much had a new girl every night." Reid mentally winced as Dena's eyes flashed with hurt before she lowered her head. The next time Reid spoke his voice was lower. "I was killing myself. The guys thought I'd die before my dad. Tyler was living with Pogue because he couldn't stand me. No one could stand me."
"Reid-" Dena started, but he put his hand up and she fell silent again.
"That picture you left behind and gave Sarah. I threw it against the wall and splintered it. I've gotten lost after you… I'm… I'm lost now." Dena now had tears that were starting to fall down her cheeks. Reid was standing a few steps off when he was done. Dena got up and ran over to Reid. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his shoulder.
"I tried to stay strong. I tried to move on and live, but I was lost too. Lucy and Tony were so worried about me. Tony forced me to go to work and Lucy would never leave me alone. I went surfing, but never stayed out long. The last time I was out here I would stay out all day with Lucy. I would never really go out at night either, not even for dinner. Tony had to drag me out once for a party, but I stayed in the corner before walking home." The couple was silent for a long time till Reid spoke up.
"What are we supposed to do?"
"I don't know. Where are you guys staying?" Dena asked.
"We're staying with one of Sarah's friends. We haven't been there yet."
"You guys must be tired. Since you might be here for a few days, do you want to hang out at some point? We could just go see a movie or something? I mean, you don't have to, I'll completely understand if you don't want to. I was the one who caused all of this and-" Dena's rambling was cut off by Reid placing a figure over her lips to shut her up.
"I don't see why not. You still have my cell phone number right?" Dena nodded. "Call me tomorrow then. We'll set something up."
"Ok, I think we… or I should be heading in. I need to get back to the house."
"I'll come in with you. I'm sure Caleb and Sarah will be wondering what happened."
"The others will want to know too, including Lucy. Tony's probably called her by now too," Dena said she grabbed her food and threw it into a near by trash can. "So how long are you staying here?"
"For a week or so. School got out for break yesterday and we have two weeks off so we'll be out here till we have to go back."
"You guys will have some fun. It rained last week so it's going to be nice for a while. You guys should go to the beach in a couple days. I wouldn't go right away because the rain washes toxins to the ocean and it can be nasty for a couple days."
"Thanks for the warning, but we are definitely going to go to the beach. We are in Southern California after all." Reid laughed. The pair walked back into Buck's and were greeted by the smiling faces of their friends.
"They assume something has happened. I can see it in their eyes." Dena whispered through gritted teeth.
"Let them assume, just let them assume." Reid responded.
Dena was able to pry the car keys from Lucy after promising to see everyone again before they left. Lucy was going to get a ride home from her new found friends after they were done. Dena dumped the keys into a dish on the kitchen counter that held various keys and other small trinkets. Tony's car was still not in the driveway so Dena guessed he was either at work or out with Anne since practically everyone knew they liked each other. Dena slowly made her way up to her room, turned on her music and got out her acrylic paints. After tonight she was determined to finish the painting. As usual she lost track of time and was just finishing when she heard the front door open and close and multiple people walk in. Dena took off her white painting shirt, or rather her rainbow colored shirt since it had been painted over the years, and replaced it with a blue tank top, put her brushes away and walked down stairs.
"Hey girl!" Kate said when she saw Dena coming down the stairs.
"What are you guys doing here?" Dena asked as she joined everyone.
"We're staying with Sarah's friend… who happens to be you and Lucy." Pogue explained.
"You've been planning this haven't you?" Dena accused Sarah and Lucy.
"Maybe…" Both answered in unison while sharing a smile.
"Did you guys think about where people would sleep?" Dena asked. She leaned on the banister and crossed her arms over her chest. "We only have your small guest room or study room open."
"Tony's staying with some friend from work so we actually have two rooms free. Then there are the couches out here." Lucy explained. "Now, who wants ice cream?"
"I'll be back down for mine. I want to finish cleaning up." Dena said. She walked back up stairs and disappeared into the hallway. The whole time she had been down stairs she had avoided looking at Reid. Was he surprised like her? Confused? Mad? Happy? Dena just shook her head clear of the thoughts and went about her room cleaning up.
"Hey Dena, Lucy told me to bring your ice cream up here." Tyler said as he walked into the room.
"Thanks Tyler, just put it on the table. Tell Lucy I'm almost done. I'm just drying my brushes." Dena called from her conjoined bathroom. Tyler did as he was asked, but as he turned around he caught sight of the finished painting.
When Dena walked out of the room two minutes later she was surprised to see Reid standing there looking at the painting. "When did you come up here?"
"Just now. Tyler told me there was something I should see. When did you start this?"
"I had a rough drawing on regular paper before I left Spencer. I started this though a week after I got here. It gave me something to do and a place to pour my feelings into." Dena whispered.
"Some of the paint looks wet. You just finished it?"
"Um, ya, I just finished your face." Dena tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and shifted her weight nervously. "Do you want to go back downstairs? I'm guessing we're going to watch a movie or something. We usually do on Saturday nights anyways."
"Uh, ya, sure." Reid followed Dena back down the hall and into the living room. The rest of the group was already spread out on the various couches when the pair arrived. They had been kind enough to leave the love seat open for Reid and Dena.