Here's the first part since I've been back. It's more of a sort of catch up chapter, since sometime has passed in the story. I hope you all enjoy it, and I'll be back in two weeks with another. Thank you all for your support, well wishes, and most of all, your understanding :D

Once you'd broken thought that inadvisable barrier that separates one person from another, you were connected forever, whether you liked it or not.
- Tom Perrotta, The Abstinence Teacher

Adeline Val felt her feet hit the ground beneath her as she kept running. Her normal morning run. Then, she has a few hours to kill before she has a meeting. The music screamed in her ears as she pauses a moment for the walk light to change. She watches as people move all around her, seeing how the world, while some of it has changed, it has mostly stayed the same.

College was an experience. It flew by, her second year. She won many awards, some she couldn't remember the name of, nor does it really mattered to her. What really matters, is soon she'll be starting her career... again. While in college, U.S. soccer wasn't able to pay her. It was against the law, or something... which Kyoya saw as his job to remind her every time she'd complain. (To which she responded with a soft kick to his shin. Not enough to hurt, of course.) Because she couldn't be paid, she had to get a job waiting tables, so she'd have enough money to survive. Kyoya would offer her money, but Andy was too stubborn to take it.

Kyoya was almost done with his schooling, since he decided to take the super fast track... or as Andy called it, the 'In-fucking-sane lane'. Andy was amazed at how hard he worked, even though she often thought it was too much, seeing as how he almost never took a break.

Andy felt someone bump her shoulder. She looked, seeing the walk light on, and she sprinted, running while dodging people left and right as if it was an artform. People seemed to not recognise her, since she's been out the public eye for so long. It was welcoming, to have privacy. She understood why it happened. She was a tad taller, and her body was a tad more curvy, but mostly, her muscles were stronger than before. More toned, more than anything. Over all, she looked like a woman who was... well, a professional athlete.

Though, her face seemed the same. Her eyes held a bit more emotion in them, not letting them get ot her face, in the case of sadness. They were still the same shade of green, which Mrs. Hitachiin seemed keen to keep reminding her. She just looked more... worldly. More experienced.

Andy looked like a woman who's been to hell and back, and never let the fires burn her. Though, she knows the truth. It's always affected her, on the inside. The walls were still there, now, they were miles high, and if you weren't already over them, you wouldn't stand a chance.

Something never changed about her, though. She still loves caramel. Soccer is still her life. She still has that same attitude. The same sarcasm. The same puns and witty remarks. She still thinks she's not beautiful. She still loves the host club like family. She still watches every Barcelona and Manchester United games. Andy still sings off key to songs, and loves Disney movies, and sometimes will wish on a star at night.

She still loves Kyoya Ootori more than life itself.

Andy turns, running back towards her new apartment... her and Kyoya's new apartment. When she moved, she was looking for a place to stay, but with not really enough money for her car and a place, she was stressed. Kyoya came up with the idea of them moving into an apartment together, that way, he'll pay for the first month, and then, when she starts playing and get's a regular income again, she'll pay the second month and from there, they'd split it and the bills. He knew her well enough that it was futile to convince her to let him pay for it all.

She dashed in, quickly getting into the shower. She washes the dirt and sweat off herself, shaves, washes her hair, all the while singing in the shower to the radio. Stepping out, she get's dressed in some shorts and a tank top. She braids her hair, stepping out and looking around the living room. The furniture was sent from Mrs. Hitachiin, who was getting new ones anyways. They were black, and fit into the more modern style Kyoya was a fan of. Though, while Andy couldn't be bothered to style a room around a focal theme, there were splashes of her around.

Such as all her medals were hanging on the wall. Adeline found this huge sticker like thing for the wall in the shape of a tree. She then took nails, put them at the branches, and hung her medals there, since Kyoya wasn't going to take no for an answer when he said they were going to make it so her medals and trophies finally rest someplace other than a box. The trophies were on shelves on the other side of the room. Andy also had the signed U.S. flag on the wall, as well as a picture of herself, Kyoya, the hosts, Mrs. Hitachiin, and her mother.

Because she couldn't be bothered, on the wall outside of their bedroom, was a list written on the wall. A list of things they wanted to do, be it alone or together. Most of Kyoya's were things like travel to different places. Andy's are more of the 'Go and see every U.S. men's game at a world cup', 'Visit and see exactly what is goin' on at Area 51 and if there are aliens there' (Kyoya wrote 'there are no aliens, Adeline', next to that one.) and 'watch a UEFA Champions league game live'.

The kitchen was almost never used. She couldn't cook anything unless it was grilled cheese and eggs, and Kyoya was even more hopeless in the kitchen than she was. "On the bright side," Andy says, talking to herself as she got a bottle of water, "At least it stays clean."

She took a few sips of it, looking around. It's almost unbelievable how much her life changed from just a year ago. She was at college, studying even though she didn't really want to. She made a promise, though.

Andy bit her lip. She was thinking about her, again. She had to stop, as she feels her eyes prickles a bit. She kicked a small tennis ball, hitting the wall with enough force so it would come back to her. She didn't want to break any of the lamps or anything, after all.

The doors open, and she sees Kyoya come in, a few books in his hands as he sets them down on the table beside the door. He pushes his glasses up, looking and seeing her. Andy smiles, walking over and hugging him. The feeling of being safe and secure, while it was hard to find when she was alone in North Carolina, was always here, in his arms. No matter if she was angry at him, or if she was upset at him for anything, the feeling was always here. She feels him kiss the top of her head. She smiled up at him, "Welcome home."

He smiles at her. Though his day was a bit stressful, he could always come home and relax with Andy. It was hard, for her, to cope with the loss of her mother thought all the time they were gone, and she still has trouble with it. It was hard for him to forgive himself for holding what he knew from her. though, once she told him she'd forgiven him... how could he not forgive himself? After all, what matter is how she feels about it. If she forgave him, who was he to not forgive himself too?

She stood on her tip toes, giving him a kiss. He had another class in about an hour. She had to leave in about ten minutes. But time time they had, together... it was really all they needed in the world.