Well, here comes another chapter! This one is a little more personal & just between William & Nia. It took me a while to write cuz I had to do it by pieces. Also, I'm gonna be posting the songs I listen to when I'm writing. They have nothing to do with the story, although some songs might seem to fit. Its just that I can't write, or do anything for that matter, in silence. Anyway, Read & Review! And hopefully you'll enjoy it!

Chapter 8

William's POV

I walked, more like ran, to that little abandoned park that was a couple of block away from the club. I knew Estefania was gonna be there… she had to! She used to always go there when she wanted to be alone & I knew that's what she needed right now. I remembered she always used to hide there with every fuck up thing that happened in her house. I remember she telling me that she was sharing this 'special place' with me cause I was her 'special someone'. And I think that was the first time I ever saw the real Estefania. She let her guard down and just opened up to me. Told me everything she feared, how she wanted a normal family, how she wanted everything to be okay for her and Cass and how she just wanted to be happy, no matter what. And that was the first time she told me she loved me… and I told her I loved her too. Now it just seems like cursed words cause, soon after, she left, without saying goodbye. I can't help but wonder if it was so easy for her to escape, to escape from everything and everyone… even me. I didn't notice I was so lost in my thoughts that I was already standing by the little dirty swings. I looked around but I couldn't see her… I didn't see anyone. After dusting a little of dirt from one of the 3 set swings, I sat down and waited… that was all I could do now. I mean, I've been waiting for her all these years that a couple of minutes couldn't hurt. Maybe she was just running a little late. Maybe she just headed home again. No, she couldn't. I know her, she HAD to come here. Well… after all this years, I don't know if I know her that well. I started to swing and to think about all the things I wanted to ask her. All those thing I missed. Like, how's her life now, is she okay, is she seeing someone, if she thought about me, if she missed me… hell, if she missed anyone. But, most of all… if she is happy. I hope she isn't. I know that's fucked up for me to think that way, but, I just hope, want, for her to not be happy cause I want to be the one to make her happy. I want to be that piece that's missing for her to be happy… completely happy. I just want her to need me. I just want her to need me like I need her. Cause if one thing I've always need is her. Just her presence, her smile, the way she tends to bit her inner lower lip when she was thinking, the way she always got whiny when she was sleep deprived or how she always woke up moody. God, how I miss all those mood swings. They used to drive me crazy but now, now that I don't get all that, I realize that I miss it. I just miss her. All this thoughts bring a smile to my face cause that's the effect she has on me. She just makes me want to smile. I look at my watch and realize I've been sitting here, lost in my thoughts of her, for over 45 minutes. "She's not coming" I say to myself before standing up dusting my behind. I let out a sigh and a groan cause I was wrong. She didn't come here. And that made me realize… maybe I'm wrong about her. Maybe she did change. Maybe what she needed before, she doesn't need them anymore. That means… she doesn't need me either. I start to walk back to the street with my head hung low in defeat.

"William?" I hear someone call me. I turn around and see Estefania standing there, gorgeous as always with small purse and a little bag in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

"Hey" I reply, taking my hands out from my front pockets and walking slowly towards her. I don't want her running away again.

"What are you doing here?" She says, walking towards me too.

"Well, I was looking for you. Gabe told me you left and I wanted to talk to you so I just figured you would come here like you always used to" I say, feeling a little stalkerish. "I was just heading home cause I thought you weren't gonna show up" I say standing in front of her. She gives me the smallest, yet the most delicate smile I've ever seen.

"I stopped by a pharmacy to buy a toothbrush. I forgot mine" She said lifting her hand up to show me the little white bag.

"Oh" I say, feeling a little embarrassed, and I don't even know why. "Well, it's a little late. I don't know if you want to stay here or if you want me to walk you home?" WHAT?!?!?! I can't believe I just offered myself to walk her home. She's gonna think I don't need to talk to her badly, cause I do.

"Well, we can stay here for a little while and then you can walk me home. How does that sounds?" She said, starting to walk to her 'spot'. I just nod and walk behind her. We get to the swings and I just stare at her. I watch every detail and facial expression she's making, just eyeing everything, almost like it is the first time she sees it. "Wow, I missed this" She said, placing her purse & bag on the floor and putting out her cigarette. She walked towards the swings and sat on one, the dirt not even bothering her.

"I didn't know you smoke" I say, taking my seat on the previous swing. At least I know this one isn't dirtier like the other.

"There's a lot about me you don't know" She said, not even bothering swinging, just sitting there, staring ahead of her. And it was in that moment that I knew… I knew I never stopped loving her.

Nia's POV

Wow, I can't believe I'm here… right here with William. It feels like old times, like all these past years never happened and we are still those crazy kids that would just come here to talk, to hang out and to enjoy each other. "So… how are you?" I ask him, starting to make small talk cause I hate silence. Not that this was uncomfortable, but I just hate silence. That's one of the reasons, I think, I live in New York. It's never quiet there.

"I'm fine" He says, swinging a little. I laugh cause the swings are too little for him. He's just too damn tall. I fit fine, cause I don't think I've grown so much… not like he has. "How are you?" He asks, lifting his legs a lot so he won't hit the floor with them.

"I'm… fine" I say. Not the most believable way I could've said that but, it's just… this place… it affects me a lot.

"Yeah… right" He says in a sarcastic tone but doesn't push me. "What have you been up to all this years?" He says, slowing from the force he is creating.

"Well, I…" I didn't know how to answer that. I mean, I knew that was gonna be the first question he was going to ask… everyone was going to ask. And I practiced my answer ever since I knew I was coming back but I just can't remember it.

"I'm sorry. You're not ready to talk about it" He says after he sees I'm struggling with my answer. "Let's just start over again" He says, finally ending his swinging and just started to look at me. "You met Gabe in a photo shoot. I assume you're a photographer?" He says.

"I'm an artist" I say, not realizing how cocky that sounded.

"I'm an artist too" He says smiling to me… and God, I want to melt.

"I know. A very good one, I might add" I say, looking at him. "I'm not just a photographer. I paint and write too. Among other stuff. Its just that photography is the one paying the bills" I say, this time, I started swinging.

"Impressive" He says, starting to swing again. "So… how's New York?"

"Its great" I say, wanting to keep this conversation short. He suddenly stops, walks towards me and grabs my swing, halting me to a stop too. I look at him. I look at him looking at me like he always used to… fill with love.

"Are we seriously doing this?" He says, giving me enough space for me to stand up.

"Doing what?" I ask, pretending I didn't know what he was talking about.

"This? Acting like nothing happened? Acting like we see each other all the time?" He says… a little too close cause I can feel his breath on my face.

"For now… that's all I'm willing to do" I answer honestly, casting my eyes down.

"Okay" He whispers. "We better start heading home. Its getting late… well, a lot later than before" He says, bending down to pick my stuff and handing them to me.

"Okay?" I thought out loud. I take my stuff and just stared at him. "You're okay with me not wanting to talk to you?"

"No, I'm not. Cause I honestly want to talk to you and just… I don't know. Get to know you again. But you don't want that and its okay. I'm not gonna force you into talking to me" He says with a sad tone but keeping a smile on his face… like he was trying to soften the harsh words he just said to me. He turned around and started walking out of the park. I just stood there in shock. I was shocked because I just realized that he was a grown man. A grown man that wasn't gonna give into my pleasures just because I wanted him to. "Are you coming?" He said, turning around to see me standing there. I just nod and walk towards him and towards my parent's home.

*~*~*

The walk to my parent's house was complete silence except from William humming some song & me just listening to him & staring at the floor. When we arrived, I knew Cass wasn't home, since all the lights were off. William walked me to the door and waited until I opened it. We decided to leave the door open since I didn't have a key & Cass had the only copy left. We live in a ver safe neighborhood. "Well…" He says after a moment of awkwardness from us standing there. "Good night" He says, turning around.

"Good night" I say in a very low voice. I walked inside, but as I was closing the door, I stopped. "William?" I call for him. He turns around and, after seeing me waiting for him, he walks back.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry" I say, not even thinking about the words coming out of my mouth. "I'm sorry I'm not the same person you once knew. I'm sorry I changed so much, and I'm sorry because I don't think you like the person I've become. I'm not even sure I like this new me. I'm sorry I never called you or gave you an explanation of why I left. I'm sorry I'm not ready to forget why I left in the first place" I say, never looking at him, but feeling the tears starting in my eyes. "I'm sorry I upset you tonight. I know you want to talk, to catch up, but… I'm just scared to let you in. Cause I'm gonna leave again and… I don't want to hurt you" I say, finally getting the nerve to look at him. He has this inexplicable expression and the most amazing smile I had ever seen.

"I know, Nia. You didn't have to say all that, cause I know. I know that this is hard for you. But I know that deep inside, you're still the same Nia I knew and loved. You just had to go through tougher paths than everyone else. And all I wanted from you was to…" He stops, wiping a tear that started to run through my cheek. I close my eyes, drowning myself in his touch, in the way he makes me feel. He keeps his hand on my cheek, and stares deeply into my eyes. "All I want from you is to talk to me. And I got that. So stop crying, okay? You're not gonna hurt me, Nia. Cause now, we have all the time in the world to talk. I'm not letting you go again" He says, bending down, kissing my forehad and giving me a very short, yet lovable, hug. "Night" He says, before walking away again. But this time, it was different cause… I think he took my heart with him.

A/N: So... how was it?!?!?! Good, bad, too corny? The next couple of chapters, I'm gonna bring the drama. So it will stop being so boring. I just wanted to leave the notes on where Nia & William stands! The other characters are gonna be making their appereance too! Review!!

Soundtrack:

1. Daughtry - Over you

2. The Academy Is... - Beware! Cougar!

3. The All-American Rejects - The wind blows; Another heart calls

4. Metro Station - Control

5. Panic At the Disco - She had the world

6. Sara Barilles - Bottle it up

7. Elefante - Durmiendo con la luna

8. All Time Low - Dear Maria, count me in

9. Ana Gabriel - Simplemente amigos

10. The Starting Line - Almost there, going nowhere

11. Sum 41 - Pieces

12. Bon Jovi - Lost highway

13. Leona Lewis - Bleeding love

14. Don Tetto - Adicto al dolor (Lagrimas)

15. Michael Jackson - Smooth criminal

16. Keane - Somewhere only we know

17. David Archuleta - Crush

18. Rookie of the Year - What is love?

19. James Morrison - Broken wings (Feat. Nelly Furtado)

20. Nickelback - Photograph

Note: There's songs in spanish cuz I'm from Latin America & thats my main language! Let me know if you liked it & if there is one you didn't know or never listened to, do it! Btw, The All-American Rejects, TAI & Bon Jovi are gonna come a lot cuz I have a sick obsession with them!