Disclaimer: If I seriously owned anything in this story, do you think I'd be writing it? Exactly. I own Charity Burns, her family members, and all the other OCs. Nothing else. Zip. Zero. Nothing. Nada. Notadamnthing. :) Kapeesh? :)

A/N: I know, I know, don't kill me. But I changed the ending twice to this when trying to write it, because I was given new ideas by two different people. Thank you to Expect-the-Unexpected75 for giving me the idea I actually went with. And therefore, Read this, I'm doing a sequel to this story. Yes, a sequel. You'll see why when you finish the chapter. And to go on, I can't believe I've finally finished this story... it's been such a rush and a great thing to be able to write this. I've grown so attached to everyone in this story and I love this story so much. I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've loved writing it. So, here it is, the ending. Please read the A/N after the chapter, at the bottom so you'll know the details of the sequel and such. Thank you guys SOO much for almost 400 reviews... and all the alerts and favoriting... it means the WORLD. I can't believe it. Wow... now, I'm done rambling, enjoy the ending. :)

I drive for a bit around town, after leaving my house. I'll never forget the look on my mother's face while I backed out of the driveway, the way she looked about ten years older, the tear stains making her face, always clean, look dirty. It can't faze me though. There comes a time when you've had enough of something like my father. You can't look back. Maybe I'm referring to Penn's letter or maybe it's been inside me all along, but when my father insulted my friends, something inside me snapped. I hate when people judge others and daddy dearest judging some of the most amazing people on this earth is not fair.

I'm not sure where I'm going. There is no way I have any place to go. I can't go to a hotel around here… they're all roach infested cocaine places. So, instead, I stop at a diner just off the highway, pulling into the open-all-night restaurant. There I sit and eat a burger, though I don't really taste it.

Everyone stares at the young, 'beautiful' girl sitting alone, with her body slumped over the food she eats. My eyes avert their gazes; I can't bare to have someone pity me yet again. As I finish off the last bits of my burger, I sigh and quietly pull out my money. There is enough to get me far, but not far enough. I need to go down to Antarctica to get away from this all.

Sighing, I slip the money back into my bag and look outside at the darkness with late night cars passing by the near-empty diner. Because anyone normal is home sleeping right now. Not me, of course.

"More coffee, ma'am?" my waitress says softly. Looking up to her, I nod meekly, afraid to use my voice. Abby – by her name tag – smiles at me, moving swiftly away in her probably around thirty-year-old glory. She reminds me of a bit older Taylor Swift.

Abby comes back moments later, a hot cup of coffee in her hands. "Here ya go, sugar," she states and walks away. I lay my head on the sticky surface, fighting back tears. Matt called me sugar. I never wanted to leave there and now I'm homeless.

Before more tears slip from my already shattering face, I chug the hot liquid quickly, slap some bills down on the table and rush out of the dinner. Outside, I gasp fretfully while trying to unlock my car.

I see him then. He's hiding back in the darkness, though nothing can disguise those jade eyes. "Your mother told me you'd probably be here. Told me you guys used to go here with ya brother when y'all were younger," he whispers, coming out of the shadows. "She's worried about ya."

I nod swiftly, shaking my key around the lock, getting annoyed now. I can't deal with him right now, yet he hasn't moved. Shannon's eyes are locked on me, making me feel like a deer lost in headlights. "I need to go," I murmur pathetically, looking to him briefly, as if it could actually do something.

"Don't go," he murmurs back. "I've driven way too long to just leave at this."

Shannon takes my chin and makes our eyes lock. I push away anxiously, feeling little butterflies have a field day inside of my stomach. Stupid girl. You're a stupid girl. Yes, that's right, a girl. A baby, even. I had the voice inside of my head. It makes me feel even more stupid.

"I need to go," I mutter again, finally slipping the key into the lock and pulling it open.

"Charity," he states firmly. "I've driven how many miles to New York and you're just going to leave? Don't go…"

Sighing, I close the door and shake my head. "I'm sorry, Shannon." Taking a shaky deep breath, I try to explain my reason for leaving. "It's not you, it's me." Because he's never heard that excuse before. I shake my head again and try once more, "My brother told me something tonight… in a letter. I'm not going to get attached right now. I can't get attached. There are things I need to do before I do any of this. Even before I can talk to Beth, Jeff, or Matt. Even before I talk my mother… or father again. I need to prove I'm stronger than I thought I was. I need to walk away from this all."

Shannon's face crumbles just a bit. "How is this proving you're stronger? Walking away makes you weaker."

"No, it doesn't. You have no idea how badly I want to come with you right now but if I do, I'm not going to do what I need to at the moment. It's about me… to prove I'm strong." I sigh once more and give one last distressing to him before rolling up my window and whispering to the glass. "Goodbye Shannon."

Don't hate me. Don't hate me. Don't hate me. :) Hehe. So, the sequel. It should be up before the new year, but i'm not sure yet. I need to work out some kinks and such, but it should be up soon. Not sure of a title yet, but I'll let you guys know on my profile. Thank you again for all the support... y'all are the best. :)