Sorry it's taken me so long to update. My school just had exams this week and I've been studying like crazy. Anyway, here's chapter six. A little bit at the treatment center but mostly afterward. Enjoy

Chapter Six: Keep Holding On

Keep holding on

'cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

just stay strong

cause you know i'm here for you, i'm here for you

theres nothing you can say, nothing you can do

theres no other way when it comes to the truth

so keep holding on

cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.

I sat in the therapy circle on the last day of treatment. Carla, the group leader, asked us the same questions she did on the first day.

"How are you all feeling today?" What was first greeted with groans and profanities, was now met with positive replies.

"What were your goals when you began treatment?" More or less, the same response as the first question.

"I wanted to be happy again." A boy about my age, Jason, said.

"I wanted to fell alive." A girl, Sarah, said.

"I wanted to stop using." Chris said.

"I wanted to stop cutting." I said.

"I didn't want to drink anymore" Melissa said.

"And have you accomplished these goals?" Carla asked. We all nodded. "Anyone want to share anything? This is our last day together."

I raised my hand and Carla nodded to me. "Well, I came here with the intent to stop cutting myself. You know, to get over everything that had happened in the past few months and everything. And I feel like I have... Like I am, doing that. I mean, I know I'll always be classified as a cutter, but, I won't let myself fall back into it. You know?"

"That's how I feel too... but about drugs" a boy, Chris, said. "I know that the drugs may have done serious damage to my body, but I'm not going to let that happen anymore."

"Well, I think we're done here." Carla said after a little while. "You all have finished your treatment here at the Bedford Center. I hope I never have to see any of you here again. Goodbye, friends."

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"DADDY!" I screamed as he, Jackson and Lily drove up to the center. They hopped out of Daddy's expensive convertible and all hugged me tightly. "Oh, I've missed you."

"How you feeling, little sister" Jackson asked.

"I'm fine. I'm better than fine." I said, "I really feel like this place worked. I'm cured, or whatever they call it."

"Miley, there is so much I need to fill you in on with the school gossip ring." Lily said, overly excited. "Oliver and Becca got back together, then they broke up, then they got back together. Honestly, they're like... I don't know, but some couple who breaks up all the time." Lily dragged me to the car while Jackson and my dad grabbed my bags.

"Hey, Miley." Jason and Chris approached Lily and me. "We were gonna get some ice cream before we left. You wanna come?"

"Hey guys." I said, "This is my friend, Lily. Jason, Chris. I'd really like to but, my dad's here and we should probably be leaving."

"Well, okay." Jason said. "Well, it was nice getting to know you these past two months."

"Even under the circumstances" Chris added. "Here's my e-mail address. Keep in touch Miley."

"I will." I said. "See you later." I dragged Lily to the car and we both hopped in.

"They are cute." She squealed "Two months here must not have been so bad."

"Lily, when I met them, they were a depressive and a druggie. I was a cutter. Cuteness factor was the farthest thing from my mind. And you have a boyfriend."

"I know, I'm just saying."

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Two weeks and all I can think of is Jake. Miley read here treatment diary over and over again. Carla and the other therapists gave all the patients journals and asked them to write in them daily. They could write about anything, about their day, poetry, letters that they could or could not, give to their loved ones when they returned home. The therapists would not read the journals, but some patients would share during group sessions. I told him I would be thinking about him, but I didn't realize that he'd be the only thing I think on. Gosh, I sound like a stupid little girl with a crush. The thing is, I think I still love him. Once Jake and I broke up, I felt empty, alone. It was defiantly a mistake to break up with him. I hope he feels the same.

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I walked the halls at school, people asking where I was and if I was okay. I was fine, I told them, just taking care of a sick relative in Tennessee. During Lily's social briefing, she didn't mention Jake once. I didn't know if it was there was nothing to tell, or if there was something major to tell, or if she thought it would be too hard for me to hear. Jake didn't know about any of it. All he knew was that I was leaving for a while, and that I asked him to think about his feelings for me. He knew that I'd be doing the same.

I didn't see him at first. He wasn't near the lockers or in homeroom. Jake came in during second period, English. "Sorry, teach. I had a doctor's appointment."

"Well, Mr. Ryan, I trust that everything is in order?" Mrs. Menzo said. Jake nodded. "Then you can go first."

Lily leaned over to me and filled me in our the English assignment. We were doing poetry and everyone had to write a poem and read it in class.

"Alright." Jake said, retrieving a piece of paper from his pocket. His face looked the same as when I saw him in court. Sad. "It's called Her.

She's gone away for a while.

When she's coming back, I don't know.

But it seems like forever since she left.

And I feel like I can't take it

She asked me to think.

Trust me, sweetie, I have.

It hurts me all the same

When all I think of is her.

I miss her smile and her soft blue eyes.

I miss her words and the way she twirls her hair.

I miss her kiss and her hand in mine.

I miss her.

"Well done, Mr. Ryan." Mrs. Menzo marked her paper. "Who's next?"

A few other students read their poems but all I could think if was Jake's. He missed me. He still loved me too. I knew it. The bell rang and I sprang to catch Jake.

"Miss Stewart, please stay a moment." Menzo said. Rats! "Since you've missed so much school, I'm not going to count any of what you missed on your final grade. You will take a special final without that material on it, okay?"

"Yes." I said.

"I would, however, like you to write a poem, because we are in the middle of the unit. It can be about anything, okay? I'll give you till the end of the week."

"Actually, I did a lot of writing while I was away, so I'm ready any time."

"Excellent."

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Soundtrack:

Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne

Sorry it wasn't too much with Jake, but that will be coming soon. So don't worry about that. And Jake's poem was written by me in like 12 seconds so it's not too great, but Miley's will be better.