Tyler's POV

There my parents were, sitting side by side in the cloud white chair, in their rightful place. My mothers hand interlocks with my dads. This can't be good. Nothing is ever good when my parents sit like this. My dad sucks in a breath, removes his glasses, polishes them on his shirt, and pushes them back on his nose before my mother spoke, "Well…we spoke to Paula again today. And, we have good news and bad news."

I spot Sabree out of the corner of my eye, she pales up in an instant. I reach out for her hand, giving it a light squeeze. My father hesitates before he continues.

"The good news," my father begins, "is that we have scheduled a court date."

Sabree's shoulders slump forward as she releases the breath she's been holding in. I look at my parents, tilting my head to the side. They let the good news absorb into our brains.

"But, the bad news is that if Rick, that's Sabree's father, pays the child support he's been issued before the court date, in two weeks, that terminates that court date. . . and he gets to take Sabree home with him."

I feel my face flush with anger, and Sabree flees the scene. "That's bullshit. That is so unbelievably fucked up!" My anger gets the better off me, it usually does. My mother gives me a surprised look. Her precious Tyler would never speak to her in such a way.

My father is outraged by my language. "Tyler James! Do not raise your voice to your mother, or me! Do you understand that? I know you're upset about this but -"

"Upset? You're damn right I'm upset about this!"

"But, there is nothing your mother, Paula, or I can do about it. Believe me, if there was something more we could do, we would do it," My father explains, calming down slightly. He rubs his temples, removing his glasses as he looks up at me.

I keep my angry gaze on my parents, before I shake my head and run out after Sabree.

….

"Sabree?" I called, the nights' silence my response. Damn it, where could she be? I had checked all of her obvious hide outs. She wasn't there. C'mon Sabe…where are you? I think to myself, placing my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath.

The words she'd thrown at Stacy earlier rung in my ear. She called herself broken. Broken? No, not Sabree. She's stronger than any person I've known, even after all the unlucky hands she's been dealt.

I'm a dead man for what I had said back at home, for just running off like that. Fuck it, though. I don't care, this is Sabree we're talking about.

It's unfair how the world works sometimes. You could say that I've grown attached to Sabree, but that would be an understatement. Sabree's become more than just some kid to me. She's family to me now. I trust her more than I trust Stacy, Sid, Jay or Tony. Hell, I even trust her more than my own parents. She can't be ripped away from us so easily. She's happy here. She's finally in a good environment.

I groan tiredly, my search has got to be useless. After all the times Sabree's run off, you would think I'd learn to stay put, and let her come to me. I stretch, locking my fingers behind my head as I start heading back home, my hopes of her coming back soon high.

Sabree's POV

My arms fold across my body, to barricade myself from the slight chilling breeze. This is California. . .it shouldn't be this cold at night.

I figure I put a fair distance between our house, considering I'm all the way by Jay's apartment. I can hear music, Jimi Hendrix, to be specific, boom from outside the decaying apartment complex. It's one o' clock in the morning. He must be having a party, I can smell the alcohol from here. I shake my head, passing his rowdy sounding apartment.

Tyler didn't follow after me. Okay, maybe he did. In fact, I'm more than positive he did. His Spidey senses must have started tingling right after I bolted from our house. But, assuming he has gone out of his way to find me, he's doing a terrible job of it. Poor Tyler. He must get tired of chasing after me when I up and leave, all sorts of pissed off.

I'm not so much pissed as I am. . .upset. I always knew my father would come after me. But I didn't realize how. . .easily he could. I never thought it was so simple to get ripped away from a good life. Damn it.

I take a look around once more, taking in my surroundings. I close my eyes, and wonder of into a randomly picked direction.

….

I need a better sense of direction. I've been wandering around for about an hour or so and I think I'm lost. I bit down on my lower lip, smoothing down my hair with my hand. I'm pathetic. I'm lost, cold, and I could be going back to my dads for good.

These past eight months have been a blur to me. A blur with some good parts, some bad. Thankfully, my share of good times outweighs the bad since moving in with Tyler. But, I know worse has yet to come. If I know my father, he will get that money. I don't know how he does it, but every time I think I'm safe, every time I think I won't ever have to go back to him again, he finds away to pull me back.

Being taken back by my father was the furthest thing from my mind at the moment, yet it managed to push its way past its way all my other thoughts, and loiter around in the front of my mind. I close my eyes, and lean against the wall behind me trying to push the thought away.

The thoughts of my dad are erased and replaced by thoughts of Stacy and what had almost happened. What would have happened if I hadn't have freaked out on him. I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. I know that Stacy is completely serious about what he said, about how he feels and I'm a fool for trying to convince myself otherwise.

If I would have just listened to him and push my thoughts aside, maybe we would have kissed. I sigh, flustered with myself. The nights quite, other than the occasional group of drunks, and crickets chirping.

This went on for a while, the silence is enough to kill me. It was just so loud. That doesn't make any sense, I know, but it's true. Maybe I really have gone crazy, as now silence is loud to me, and I swear that I hear skateboard wheels faintly approach me. I try to shake the feeling away, but I hear the wheels again.

I shift my weight onto both feet and drift away from the wall, listening as the wheels get louder. I still see no one, until my name is called out from behind me. I jump, obviously startled. The voice that called my name chuckles, and I hear foots steps behind me.

"So, tell me, Sabree," I feel a hand clasp over my shoulder, "what the hell are you doing out here so late at night, chicka?"

There is only one guy that calls me, only would guy I allow to call me, chicka. And that's Tony Alva. The one Z-boy I befriended the quickest. I don't know if it was the fact that I smoked, drank, or did whatever I did, but we just clicked.

I fall back against the wall. There's no use lying to him. He was going to find out eventually. Then I remember the party, how Stacy thinks I told him. I might as well. I draw in a breath, "Alright, Tony, I have a lot to tell you, so shut up and listen." I exhaled slowly, and told him all about my dad, and how he could take me back if he paid child support within two weeks, about the party.

He stands, trying to take everything in. About my dad, I mean. He shakes his head and laughs, "The party? Shit, man, I already knew about that."

"W-wait…what? You already knew about that?!" I snap, fighting back the urge to strangle him.

He just nods, "Yeah, I didn't wanna say nothin'."

I bite my tongue, "Okay, so say I didn't remember the party, would you have told me?"

He shrugs, rolling his skateboard back and forth underneath his foot, "Maybe," he shoves his hands deep in his pockets, "I don't know if pissing Stacy off would be worth it. For either reason."

I have to agree with him. Stacy, even though you can barely tell, doesn't de-wait, either reason? My head falls to the side, "…What do you mean 'either reason'?"

"Even if we weren't trashed, I woulda tried to kiss you, anyway. But, forget it now. Anyways, are you, like, okay? You had one hell of a break down the other night. Jayboy even asked if you were okay."

"Ha, right. I have a hard time believing that Jay Adams asked if I was alright. We can hardly stand each other."

"Believe what you wanna believe, chicka," He insists and I fiddle absent mindedly with my hair. Tony's hand flies out to grab my own, yanking my wrist close to his body. Shit. My cuts. I didn't think I was going anywhere, I didn't grab a sweater.

"Sabree….what the fuck?" he looks at me in a stern manner, gesturing to the five cuts presenting themselves almost proudly on my wrist. I try to jerk my wrist back, but Tony's strength over powers my own.

I can't lie my way out this situation, either. Tonight is just not my night. With a heavy sigh Tony's grip lets up. I'm able to slip my wrist away from him, letting if fall limp to my side. I push my bangs back using both hands, "Look, Tony…"

"But you can not tell Stace," He remains quiet, staring down the ground, taking in the story. I pretty much confessed the story of my life to Tony Alva, within twenty minutes.

"Alright chicka. . but you'd best be tellin' Stace yourself."

I nod, "I'll tell him. . .but when the times right."

He shakes his head, unsure of his next actions. He gets ready to leave, but I stop him. I'm lost and I need to get back to the house.

"Um, I'm kind of lost, so…"

He looks back at me and mocks me with laughter, "C'mon."

…

Stacy's POV

It's been almost a week, and we haven't heard anything from Tyler or Sabree. We take this to be a sign of better things to come. We all crowd Tyler's living room, waiting on Sabree to come out.

"Sabree, come on!" Tyler pounds on the door, trying his best to force Sabree out of the bathroom. Sabree responds with a 'Fuck you, Tyler' or she throws a foreign object at him. It's actually very funny to see the way those two bicker. Granted that Tyler always walks away, very frightened by Sabree's sharp tongue and quick temper. She used those well in combination.

I laugh silently and shake some blonde hair out of my face. Tyler, by now, is very flustered with Sabree, as he stalks away from the door. "Alright, Peralta. You're up. You try to get her out of there. She's just in a skirt for God sakes."

A thunk sounds behind the door, "You try wearing band-aid sized skirt and see how comfortable you feel in it!" I exhale and approach the door.

Things weren't quite the same between Sabree and I since her break down last week. It was still awkward, to be honest. I softly rap at the door with my knuckle, "Come on, Sabe. I'm sure you look alright." I hear a stamp of her foot, a sign she's given in, and smile lightly to myself.

Within seconds, she scuttles out, with a pouty look on her face. "Why do I listen to you?" she jokes, hitting my stomach gently. Dressed in a white, and, yes, band-aid sized mini skirt, and a black zip-up jacket, she looks good. Well, to me, she always looks good no matter what, but today, I think that even Jay would agree.

"Now, why do you listen to Stacy, and not me?" Tyler asks, curious as to why Sabree yelled and threw things at him, but came right out when I asked.

"'Cause Stacy didn't try getting me out. He complimented me, and that always racks up good karma points on a girl. Really, you should take some lessons from Stacy here."

Tyler huffs, rolling his eyes.

….

Damn it…Sabree's not back yet. What could be so damn important that it has to take Mia and Larry this long to tell her? I catch myself thinking, tapping my fingers on the edge of the pool, as the rest of the guys skate around. I can't move around like that when I'm this deep in thought. I'm more the certain that they're all as anxious as I am for Sabree to come back.

The sandals she wore today let me know she was approaching from behind. I stood up, brushed myself off, and turned in her general direction. She doesn't look so good…

Sabree's POV

As always, Stacy is the first to greet me. Normally, I'm more than happy to see him but today, just the sight of him broke my heart. Well, added to the breaking, anyway. Damn, damn, damn. The heart broken feeling inside of me slowly wells to a strong hatred for not just Stacy, but the other Dogtown skaters. I hate them because I knew that they just make this harder than it already is. I hate them because we've become such a close group, and they've all become brothers to me. Yes, even stupid obnoxious Jay Adams. Okay, okay. It's not them I hate. It's not their fault. It's mine, for becoming so damn attached to them.

I quickly wipe away the tears with the palm of my hand and fake a smile. This is the first time in a long while I've had to put on a charade and make every body believe I'm as happy as ever.

"Sabree. Finally," he sees through my plastic smile, as usual. He reaches out to brush my cheek with his fingertips, as his face falls with concern, "Sabe, what's wrong?"

My eyes close, and I take the feel of his hand against my skin, "I just came to say bye." I stutter, fighting back salty tears, "My dad got the money, guys. I'm going back home." Everyone's crowded around Stacy and I, with looks of disappointment. "But, I don't have to roll my own joints anymore. That's a plus." How morbid of me to be cracking a joke at a time like this.

I see Tyler, anger welling up inside him. Tyler's not the type to blow up in front of everyone in their dog, he's always in control of his anger. He kicks the ground and storms off.

"Tyler!" Sid shouts. Watching Tyler walk away like that. . .my heart broke in half. He seems more upset about this than I am.

Unaware of my own actions, I collapse into Stacy's chest, silent tears creating a river down my face. I feel his arms enclose around me, his warmth. I need that. After everything that's happened. I'm not embarrassed to admit it, for once. I need Stace, right now. And I need Tyler, and Tony and Sid, and. . . Jay. It baffles me though. How could he sit here and comfort me?

After everything I've put him through. All the secrets left untold. All the things he's eventually going to find out about me. But still, here he is, Stacy Peralta, giving everything he has to still see me in the same light.

"Go see if Tyler's okay," is the last thing he says before resting his chin atop my head.

Stacy's POV

I knew it. I expected this. What I didn't expect though was for Sabree to fall into my chest, asking for comfort. Instead of pushing us all away like she would normally do. It's. . .surreal to see Sabree in this state.

I want to kiss her. A real kiss, not an uncertain peck on the cheek. I want to kiss her so bad. Tony would have. But, that's Tony we're talking about. Hell, even Sid, of all people would kiss her. I can't though, it'd feel like I was taking advantage of her. I couldn't stand to feel like that.

So I'll stand here until the time is right, giving her all the time she needs to cry, vent, whatever she needs to do to be okay. The moments seemed to past like a year by the time she had pulled away, and looked up at me with a tear stained face.

"I have to get home and pack."

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