A/N: Hey guys! I apologize for the long wait this time. 11th grade is even more work than I anticipated...but anyway...no excuses. This is the last chapter (it's more of an epilogue, actually). Thank you to everyone that has showed interest in this story! Oh, and also, the ending might be a bit sappy...but oh well. Sometimes a happy ending is needed.
Alex flung open the door to his room, breathing in the lingering scent of paint tainting the air. A dull light filtered in through the blinds, bathing the room in a strangely muted glow. He flicked the light switch.
His room looked amazing. Well, to him it did, anyway. Sabina still claimed that it could be better, but he was satisfied with the outcome. The color scheme he had finally managed to decide upon consisted of deep blues accented by lighter tones. His furniture was stained in a dark shade of brown – Sabina said that he should have chosen a lighter color, but again, he liked the way it looked.
Alex was not really one for knickknacks or decorations, but the room contained a few framed football posters – he was trying to remember that the sport was called soccer here in America – and some personal mementos scattered across his desk and nightstand.
Things were definitely looking up for him – his talks with Edward's psychologist friend weren't exactly enjoyable, but they seemed to be helping. At least, he thought so. It was nice for him to have a complete stranger to talk to. He found it much easier to express his more vulnerable side to someone he didn't have a personal relationship with.
His interactions with the Pleasures – his family – were becoming much more familiar. They were past the first few stages of awkward acclimation. And he would be starting school again next week. He was looking forward to the experience of going to school in another country, and he hoped that this time there wouldn't be any major distractions from his studies. Finally, he would have a consistent routine.
He tugged open the door to his closet and glanced at himself in the mirror, ruffling his hair and fixing the collar on his shirt. He checked his watch – he should head downstairs. Picking up a small box from his desk, he made his way down the steps, mindful of the loose board in need of repair. To his surprise, there were at least a dozen people crowded into the living room. On second thought, he wasn't actually surprised. Sabina was always friendly and it was only logical that she would have many friends.
He was searching the room for familiar faces when Sabina caught his eye and started toward him. His hand clenched around the box, and suddenly, he was very nervous.
"Hey Sabina," he said casually, masterfully hiding his true emotions.
"Alex!" she said. "You clean up well." He felt heat rise in his cheeks – so much for his casual mask. "But I already knew that."
"So do you," he smiled. "Here," he said, handing her the box. "Happy Birthday."
She took the box from him carefully and untied the ribbon with her slender fingers. Her eyes immediately lit up as she saw what was inside. "It's beautiful!" she exclaimed, pulling an ornate necklace from the box. "Thank you so much!"
"I thought you would like it," he said.
"You were right," she smiled, meeting his eyes. "Would you mind – well, if it's not any trouble –"
"Would you like help putting it on?"
"Yes, thank you."
She lifted her hair as Alex opened the clasp and fastened it around her neck. "There," he said, a nervous smile on his face. She turned around, and before Alex could say anything else, he found himself being pulled into a hug.
At that moment, Alex felt completely at home. He knew that this was where he was supposed to be, and there wasn't anything that would convince him to think differently. It was completely clear to him now that what everyone had been telling him since his arrival in America was true…he would never be alone.