STORM'S POV

1:30 in the afternoon, I roll around in the bed and check my phone. One text from Jason asking me how I am. I slug myself out of bed in the clothes that I've been wearing for the past week. I look to myself in the mirror and decide that it is time to take a shower. I run myself a bath and spend the next hour laying in the suds. I eventually stand up and wash my hair and step out. I throw on a new pair of pants and shirt and head to the kitchen. I look in the fridge, nothing. I look in all the cupboards, nothing. I make a pot of coffee instead and head to my computer desk. I open up my social media for the first time in weeks. I go through most of my mentions of people asking where I am, rumours that I am dead or that Jason has said that I'm fine. Drama going on with Mitch's viewers… I read a lot of nasty tweets and exit out right away.

That is when I hear a knock at the door. I swear, if it's Jason come to surprise me… I check my phone once more. Still one text. I open the door and surprisingly see Alex…. my old friend from high school.

"Whoa, what are you doing here?" I sort of ask abruptly and rude.

"Well Hi to you too," she states, allowing herself in. She looks around and takes in the aroma of my apartment. "My god, what died in here?"

I didn't say anything, I instead opened Jason's text and headed to the couch. Once Alex has her view around the house she joins me back in the main room.

"But seriously, how are you?" she asks.

I stare at her and can't figure out why she or how she even found me. "Who sent you? How did you know where I live?" I ask ignoring her question.

"Nobody sent me… you texted me a week ago and it was really worrying… So being the old good friend that I am… I came to see you… help with your parents of course. Even they are worried about you. Apparently they haven't heard from you in three weeks. They were sighing with relief when I talked to them."

"You asked what died when you walked in…. my baby did."

"Oh my god Storm, I am so sorry. Do you mind me asking how?"

"It was all my fault… I got fed up with the pressure Mitch was putting on me for being like the perfect girlfriend he could ever have… crap like that and I couldn't take it so I took off with Jason to Los Vegas where… I got drunk and well… I guess you can figure out the rest."

"That would make so much sense as to why you have dropped off the face of the planet like four month ago…" Alex sort of mindlessly says.

I scold her but resume my conversation with Jason. I tell him what's up and how much this situation is really bothering me but he begs to differ. I get annoyed and shut my phone off.

"Do you wanna come grocery shopping with me? I'm sort of entirely out of food and I barely have the… the motivation to leave my home."

"Well of course, let's make a grocery list. Whatever you need Storm.. I'll be here for you… for you know like three days since I must head back to Toronto. Nobody is really around are they?"

"Nope."

"Have you thought about telling your parents and or maybe possibly going home?" she asks.

"Yeah… but I haven't figured it out. I guess I could at least give them an explanation…" I trail off into thought as to what I could possibly say for not talking to them for three months.

"Well I'm sure if you tell them what happened, they will be understanding of you," she exclaims.

"No they won't… they never wanted me to do this whole Youtube thing. I remember being in the UK and I finally told my mom what was going on and that I didn't want to continue with school. What was I thinking? … I should've gone back to school as soon as my Youtube career hit the gutter after Riley's death. My fan base has never been the same and then Mitch basically came to my rescue. I swear… I never understood why he even liked me."

"I see… and you haven't had anyone else to really talk to I assume…"

"No I have… his name is Jason… he likes me and I like him but it just doesn't feel right so I'm afraid it will never be," I say laying down on he couch. "I never thought that my life would end up like this."

"You got that right," Alex agrees with me.

"So then what are you up to?"

"I quit school… my mom had gotten really sick last year and I needed to take care of her as my dad passed away months before."

"I am so sorry… see, not only am I shitty girlfriend, I am a shitty friend as well. I'm sorry for not being there for you Alex."

"I appreciate your apology but there really wasn't much you could've done… or even I. We grew a part Storm… it was sort of inevitable with you being here in Ottawa and or LA."

"Yeah I guess you're right… So are you working at all?"

"Hmmm well yeah, I'm a math teacher at… guess where."

"Please tell me it's not our high school."

"It is…" she states.

"Dang… who knew you would end up as a teacher. Life really has it's way of testing us, chose this path and outcome would be inevitable… get side tracked and your whole life changes."

"So have you given any thought as to what you might want to do?" she asks and I trail off into thought of this question.

JADE'S POV

Great. I think to myself as I wake up to a brand new day… I lay in silence, staring at the ceiling. I glance to my side out of habit, which I should really stop doing.

Him and I…. it seriously felt like forever. Four months ago, today, we found out the news which was all my fault… I just wasn't ready. He was pressuring me, told me this would be great and everything will play out smoothly. I only wanted to make him happy and now he's gone for good.

"Morning Storm," a voice peers in from the doorway. I look over and smile.

"Good morning to you too," I exclaim and motion him to come join me in bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"I don't know yet," I say nuzzling into his arms.

"Okay well let's not talk about it… we'll do everything today to keep your mind off of it," he explains with fairly big hand motions. I chuckle and he does too. I look up to him, and for the first time in a long time - our lips meet for a brief moment before I pull away.

"Sorry… it's just," I trail off.

"It's what? When are you ever going to tell the truth? … You've been living with this burden for too long and you need to let it go."

"Oh really? So I'm suppose to call Mitch up and say 'oh hey sorry, forgot to mention to you four months back….' yeah, I don't think so," I say angrily as I hop out of bed.

"Common Storm," he complains.

"No Jason…. No," I run my hands through my hair frustrated and head for the washroom. "And it's Jade to you."

My past will not bring me down again, I am starting over and I will make a life for myself. If Mitch doesn't want to talk to me, then so be it. I obviously feel deep remorse but I will no longer be brought down by guys anymore. Time to prove them all wrong. No more complications, nothing more holding me down. This is my time.

The name is Jade and I am nearly twenty-four years old.

[What a long and on-going story... like crap. I said I was going to cut the story short with the other story titled like a new beginning or something ... i really tried as I read a comment saying keep the story going! but I no longer feel motivated to write. I have matured :P Its shocking that my first story has over 3000 views... never thought it would reach that number. Welp, with that being said... I hope you enjoyed this story if you stuck around for this long. *warning, shameless plug ahead* if you want to follow my social media feel free. I might end up writing some fantasy like fanfic cus I ONE HUNDRED AND TEN PERCENT ship Vikklan. Twitter and Instagram rawritsgen_ (I also follow back ;D) Take care :* and hopefully this will not be the end of genizzle ahahah.]