Anne's PoV

I'd been expecting Amy to come home last night, but when I woke up this morning, there was no sign of her. She never indicated that she would be spending the night at Grace's house. It was logical though, that she may have fallen asleep over there, I'm sure they had a late night. Picking up the phone, I called Amy's phone. She didn't answer on the first few rings, but then, her groggy voice was present in my ear.

"Hello?" I could see her rubbing her eyes to remove as much sleep as she could. This made me smile. It brought me back to the days of when she was only a toddler. I can remember the day when I woke her up for her first day of school. She was so happy then.

"Amy do you know it's 11:30, where are you? I thought you were coming home last night," Going to the buzzing coffee pot, I turned it off and poured me a cup.

"Sorry mom, I fell asleep at Grace's. I'll be home in a minute," Just as I figured. Hearing noise in the background, I heard Amy gasp.

"Okay, well you be careful," Grabbing my purse, I headed for the door. I wound up having to work this weekend, which I really didn't want to do. I'd been planning to spend the day with my girls, but David had called me in for a conference meeting.

"'Kay mom I will," Hearing the phone click, I hung mine up and placed it in the cup holder behind my cup of coffee. Reaching in the glove compartment, I retrieved my pills and took what the doctor ordered me.

I never kept my medicine in the house because I didn't want Ashley or Amy to find it. There was no need for them to be worried about me now, especially Amy. I didn't want her to have any reason to crash down on me. She'd been doing so well so far.

I'd called her last therapist without Amy's knowledge and told him of her progress. We talked for a while and he gave me a few new tips on how to keep her unprovoked. Sure, of myself though, I told him that I probably wouldn't need them. If only George were here to see how well his eldest daughter is progressing.

Tears rolled down my cheeks and I hadn't realized that I hadn't cried over him in a while. Of course, I missed him. I'd told myself that it was okay to cry because a while back I was afraid to cry over him. Thinking I had to keep it together for my family, I'd always tried to keep a straight face, that's when I found myself falling into a depression.

It took me a couple months to pull myself back together, but when I was rapidly crashing down, Amy had been the one who was holding everyone together, even though she didn't think she was. Without her constant narcissism and aggression in our lives, there was less weight on our shoulders.

Arriving at work a few minutes early, I decided that I would go to my office and grab a few things I may need for the conference. I reached an elevator right before it closed and found myself sharing the small space with a very well dressed man who had a look of determination on his face. His face seemed so familiar.

Not realizing that I was staring at him, I was at a loss for words when he smiled and waved uncomfortably. Finally I closed my mouth long enough to find that there were words there.

"I'm sorry for staring, it's just that you look so familiar," Smiling I laughed at myself.

"I could say the same thing about you," He said leaning back on a wall.

"I'm Anne Juergens," Sticking my hand out towards his, he took it hesitantly. A low chuckle left his lips and then it was as if he had seen a ghost.

"Joseph Castel,"

Grace's PoV

Upon entering my house from staying overnight at Adrian's I realized that no one was home. It seemed as though neither Nora nor my dad were home these days. I missed the smell of fresh muffins when I woke up in the morning.

Making my way upstairs to my room, I tripped over shoes that weren't mine that had been sitting neatly on the steps. Sighing, I didn't think twice about the shoes, I was too busy trying to get to Ricky's room to see whom he'd cheated on my best friend with. Quietly, on my toes, I inched towards his bedroom. His door was not wide open, but there was enough of a crack for me to see into his room.

The girl that lay beside him had her face in a pillow so it was hard for me to see her slutty face. Tempted to enter the room, I stopped myself. It hadn't actually looked as though anything had gone on. Both suspects were fully clothed minus shoes. I wouldn't put anything past Ricky though. Beginning to retreat from my post, I heard movement. Peaking back into the room the face that had once been in the pillow was now on the phone.

No Way, I thought in disbelief. Looking a way and then turning back to look at the female, I realized that she was no slut; she was Amy.

I have no intention on dating your brother, or sexing him up, Amy's voice said in my head as I remembered the night she declared that she didn't like my brother. I'd believed her then, but now I wasn't so sure. Wanting a closer look at the two, I had noticed that they were coming my way. Ricky had must've woken up at the sound of Amy's phone; he'd always been a light sleeper. Careful not to make any noise, I dove into the towel closet.

What Grace, do you think you're an international super spy or something, I said rolling my eyes at myself. It would've been so much easier to run into my room right across from Ricky's. The room would have most definitely given me a better view.

They each stepped out of Ricky's room and headed down the stairs. Making sure they were down there and no one ran back up, I followed them and stopped when I was at a perfect spot to hear. Eavesdropping wasn't really my thing, but right now, it seemed necessary.

"Thanks for everything last night Ricky," I could hear the smile in Amy's voice.

Everything, I thought and mouthed at the same time. I hope not everything meant what I thought it meant.

"It was no problem,"

"I feel different now that I've told someone other than a therapist about my life," She chuckled. "It's like an anvil was lifted off my shoulders or something," Ricky laughed easily. It was actually a whole-hearted laugh that I haven't heard in a while.

"Do you need a ride home? I don't see a car outside and I'm pretty sure it's a long walk; it's still pretty cold outside so…" Was he nervous? Smiling, I took a chance and peeped around the corner to see Ricky rubbing the back of his neck. Yelp, he was nervous. I moved my head back to its hiding place.

"Um… nah, I can walk, plus, I'm sure if Adrian saw your car in my drive way she would probably birth a cow," They both laughed. I snickered silently because it was the truth. If she found out about this, someone would be a victim of a horrible crime, well; I wasn't going to be the one to tell her.

Without a sound, I made my way back towards my room. Quietly I shut the door and hopped on my bed. I thought about Amy and Ricky as an actual couple and had no qualms about it. Knowing it was bad for me to think about them being together I shut the thought out.

Adrian would most likely kill Ricky and Amy both before letting them be together. Shuttering at the thought I rolled over on my bed and prayed that Adrian would never hear of this situation.

Ben's PoV

Is sleeping with your best friend's girlfriend really a bad thing? Sure, it was, but it was nothing I felt guilty about. Adrian had always been mind, and she always will be. I didn't have as much to offer her as Ricky did, but I could offer her something. Many times, I'd begged Adrian to tell Ricky about us, she refused. She didn't want to ruin me and Ricky's friendship that we'd built up for so long. I knew the truth though; she didn't want me as I wanted her. Rapidly, I was falling for her, hell fell for her. She'd told me that Grace was into me and I should try her, but Grace wasn't my type. Grace wasn't willing to take risks as Adrian was. I don't even know how they became friends, they're opposite. Everything about them contradicted the other.

Maybe you could say that's how Ricky and I were also, but we definitely had way more things in common, like Adrian. Days have gone by when I have wanted to tell him, just to let him know that he wasn't the only big man on campus. No, he didn't act like it all the time, but he didn't have to. By the way, all the girls swooned over him, and the way most boys feared him or wanted to be his best friend, you could tell he had the power, well so do I.

Just like his dad, my dad has money. Just like him, I have the hottest girl in school. Just like him, people were jealous of me. I could prove it; the only problem was losing all that I had gained. The best thing for me to do was just be quiet and let fate and destiny take their proper routes.

Driving down the deserted street heading to Adrian's house, I saw that new girl that I hadn't had the pleasure of being acquainted with. Adrian hated her, but everyone else seemed to think she was cool, especially Jesse. He's gaga for her, whipped. I could see why though, she was hot. Slowly, I pulled up beside her. Her small frame turned in my direction.

"Can I help you?" She asked with a small attitude. I was a little frustrated with her because she obviously thinks talk to me any way she wanted.

"I'm Ben, I've seen you around school, but I've never had a chance to introduce myself," I stuck my hand out and she hesitantly shook it. Quickly I put my free hand back on the wheel.

"Okay, I'm Amy. I'm wondering though, Ben, don't you think it's a little weird for us to be meeting like this, on the street… while you're driving," I snickered at her annoyance. It was cute.

"Nah, I don't think it's weird, it's just different. Once you get to know me, you'll realize that I do many different things," A small smile played onto her face. I'd never noticed how pretty she was, I guess its different seeing someone from so far away.

"Okay, it's good to be different… sometimes," she said jokingly. I heard her lively giggle, which made me smile.

"Yeah, yeah, so do you need a ride somewhere or anything?" I asked awkwardly. She looked down the street and scrunched her face up, looking out into the distance.

"Um, I was just on my way home, but its right down the street so I'll be fine," She bit her bottom lip and scratched the top of her head. "Thanks for the offer though," She smiled lightly.

"No problem," I said prepared to pull off. "Be careful," She nodded as I picked up speed. Through my rearview mirror, I could see her pulling out her cell phone. Amy seemed so innocent, how could Adrian not like her?

Joseph's PoV

When Anne introduced herself to me, it was almost shocking. Who would have thought that George's family would move to California, of all places? It made it easier for me because now I could watch them, keep surveillance. I'm sure they would be no problem though, she never knew about George, as far as I know.

"What is it?" Nora asked sitting beside me with wary written on her face.

"Nothing, do you remember my friend George?" I asked her gently. I hadn't told Nora that we'd killed George, just that he was murdered.

"Yeah, the guy that was killed," She said plainly. I'd always had a feeling that she knew we'd been his assailants, Ricky and I.

"Well, I saw his wife today; I think she and the rest of her family moved down here, from Texas,"

"That's nice… isn't it?" She was unsure of my dilemma.

"Yeah, I guess it is,"

"It doesn't seem nice for you," Nora had always been able to see through me. Maybe it was my fault because I frequently let my guard down around her. "What happened Joseph?" I wasn't sure, if I should tell her or if I should pass it off as nothing.

Amy's PoV

"Ash I'm home," I called out to my sister as I shut the front door. Making my way to the kitchen, I headed towards the refrigerator. Instead of making a full course breakfast, I pulled out a carton of milk and a box of cereal from the top of the fridge. Ashley dragged herself to the table and sat down. Grabbing an extra bowl, I fixed my sister some cereal also. I hummed to myself as I took the bowls to the table.

"Someone had a good night. What, did you get drunk and party all night long? No, couldn't be that, cause you would be horribly hung over," Abruptly I stopped humming and glared at my cereal. After my great night with Ricky, I didn't want to have a horrible morning.

"No Ashley I didn't go to a party last night and I didn't drink, you know I don't do that anymore," I lied to her because I was ashamed that she knew who I really was. "I just had a great night that's all," Putting a smile on my face, I looked up at her. Doubt was written all over her face.

"Sure," She said unbelievingly. I hated that she had no faith in me.

"Anyway," I said after a tense pause. "How was your night?" Knowing she didn't have much of a good one, because she didn't have friends. She shrugged and kept eating. I felt like I hit an uncomfortable spot for her. I missed the old Ashley, the fun, peppy, pretty Ashley. I never knew why she changed and I never wanted to accept her like this. "Ashley, don't think I'm trying to be mean or anything because I'm not, but what happened?" She looked up in confusion.

"What happened to what?" I looked into her eyes and she could barely hold my gaze. Before, she could hold it with no hesitation or flinch.

"To you. You used to be so alive, now you're just here, taking up space," That didn't come out as nice it was supposed to be. I'd always meant to work on the way I phrased things.

"Oh God, how many times do we have to go over this Amy? It seems like you always ask me the same questions only different wording. Nothing happened; change is good, isn't it? You should know since you've changed the most?" She said with hint piercing through her cold eyes. Now I was the one flinching, inwardly anyway.

"Not all change is good Ashley-"

"You wouldn't know what change was if you married it, cause it's something you haven't done. Just a couple weeks ago where did you go? What did you do?" My heart began to pound loudly in my ears and I could see the red forming in my eyes. There were two things that were about to happen, I was either going to black out and lose it or cry and let every emotion tear out of me.

"Nothing," I said quietly still looking at her.

"Like hell. You went to that party, you drank, and you wanted me to lie for you, which I did. You want everyone to think you've changed but you haven't, have you?"

"Ashley you don't know anything, I have changed," My defense was weak and tired. "You don't know how hard it is. Everyone can't just turn from life like you and pretend that their isn't temptation. I love my life, I've always loved my life and sure it's not the best life, but it's mine and I'm going to live it freely," My voice was at its peak. I'd wanted to avoid this; I didn't want to yell at my sister.

"Fine Amy, you live your life and I'll live mine, but don't tell me that I've turned away from life because I haven't. I miss everything about who I used to be, but I can't go back to that person anymore," I hadn't realized that both of us were standing. Turning away from my bitter sister, I began my ascent to the stairs. I heard the kitchen door slam as I slammed my bedroom door. I hated that simple things made me so angry. Ashley was right, I haven't changed, and I know I haven't, that's why I was so angry. I'd been frustrated with myself. It's just so much easier for me to be a bitch because being a bitch meant I wasn't weak.

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