Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Okay, first, sorry for the long wait, it's been hard to write lately. Second, after you've read - and reviewed - this chapter, check out MiaandOak's Paradise, it's her friend's life story.

Nina's POV

"Nina, why won't you tell me? I know something's wrong, so what's the point in hiding it?"

I started searching my mind for an excuse. I knew somewhere, there was something I could say. "Um..." I started, buying a few more seconds. Come on, think Nina! Think!,I thought.

"Well?" he said.

I gave in. "She...she threatened me," I said, knowing what his reaction would be.

"What?" he whisper-yelled. Yep, I was right. "She threatened you?"

"Well, not in so many words. All she said was for me to watch my back," I told him. It wasn't a lie, she did tell me that, I just left out the part about the apartment conversation.

"She is such a bitch," he said. I was suddenly transported back to the first day we saw each other again. I know he apologized, and I excepted it, but I don't think I'll ever get over the sting it left, and I'll probably relive it everytime he says it.

Then I was transported back to reality. He just called her a bitch. I don't know if he just now has started to dislike her, or if he's always hated her, but it was weird either way. When he noticed my expresssion, he said, "What?"

"How long have you thought she was a bitch?" I asked.

"For a while..." he said.

"How long?" I asked again.

"A few...months."

"Months?" I whisper-yelled. "Then why didn't you break up with her?" I asked.

"Because I...I didn't want...I didn't want her to...I didn't want her to kill me, too," he said.

My jaw fell open. "You too?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"

"I know that she killed that girl. I just had a feeling. I was weak - devastated. Patricia told me that she thought it too, and I yelled at her because Ann was in the room. I've been trying to come up with a plan to break up with her, but I couldn't. And then I saw you again, and I realized what I was doing and asked myself, 'Why am I still with her? I could do so much better'," he explained. "And now I'm worried that I put you in danger. Nina, please tell me if she said anything else. I couldn't stand it if something happened to you."

There was worry in his deep-blue eyes. I couldn't lie. "She told me to stay away from you," I said. "To back off, or else."

"Nina, I'm so sorry if I put you in danger, but I will never let her touch you. I promise." I stared deep into his eyes. I saw all of it - pain, sorrow, anger - I saw everything. I put my hand behing his head and pulled his lips to mine. It was a short - but sweet - kiss.

"Don't worry about it. Not right now," I said. He leaned in for another kiss. I pulled away because we were on a plane where anyone - a.k.a, Ann - could see us. I laced my fingers through his and sat back. He did the same.

It wasn't long before I was falling asleep. I let my head slip down onto Fabian's shoulder, and then drifted off into dreamland.

I was sitting in a field somewhere. The wind was blowing gently, the grass swaying. I stood up and walked, barefoot, to the small hill where the green grass turned into sand.

I walked along the beach until I saw a family. Two parents and a small girl. I stepped a little closer; this seemed so familiar. And that's when I realized that it was me. Before my parents died, we used to go to the beach every summer. I would play in the water with my dad while my mom sat and watched us. We always got her in the water, whether my dad had to carry her or she came in on her own.

I smiled. I stepped closer so that it looked like I was with them. Then I realized they couldn't see me. I was just exploring a memory. I watched my parents and I splash and laugh. This was probably one of the only memories I had left of them. Then my mom looked at me.

"Nina!" she called. The little me disappeared. "Nina!" my mom called again. I realized she wanted me to come over to her. I ran towards the water. As soon as the salty water touched my skin, I woke up.

"Nina," Fabian was saying. "Nina, we're here." I lifted my head and rubbed my eyes.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"8:20," he responded. "You have a good dream?"

"Yeah, I did. Of my parents," I said. He put his arm around me and kissed my forehead.

"Okay, come on. We have to get through baggage claim and get back to my house," he said, standing up. I stood up and he handed me my carry-on bag. I slipped it over my shoulder and followed the line of passengers getting off.

It took a while to get through baggage claim, and it was weird yet so familiar hearing all those accents. I never realized how much I really missed England. When I stepped out into the fresh air, I remembered all those familiar feelings. How I was so nervous my first day here. How it felt stepping out of that taxi cab, and seeing so many new faces. Then running into Patricia - good times.

"You miss England?" Fabian asked, a hint of joking in his voice as he walked passed me.

"Yes, a little," I said sheepishly. He smiled at me.

"Come on. Amber's picking us up." He pointed to a girl in a pink top, blue jeans, and high heels leaning next to a blue Convertible. "There she is." We walked over to her.

When she saw us, she ran up and hugged me. "Nina! It's so good to see you again!" she squealed.

"You too, Amber," I said, smiling. She pulled back and smiled at me. Then she hugged Fabian.

"Come on! You guys have to tell me what it was like seeing each other again. How did you react?" she asked. I glanced at Fabian, who had a sad expression on his face. Amber looked back at us. "Well? Are you going to tell me or not?"

We didn't answer. Instead, we put our bags in the trunk. Fabian got in the back seat and let me take the front next to Amber.

When Amber shut her door, she said, "We're not leaving until you guys tell me what happened." I smiled to myself. You always want answers, don't you Amber, I thought. Then I remembered that I was to balme for that.

"Nothing...very exciting," I said. She looked suspicious.

"Nothing? Are you serious? Surely something happened. I mean, come on. I know you two. You might not have said much, but you had to say something," she said. I wish she would drop it.

I gave her a look that said Just drop it for now, please. She shook her head, but drove away. It took about an hour to get to Fabian's house. It was really big - not huge, but big. Bigger than I've ever lived in, anyway.

"Wow. And you didn't tell me you owned a huge house because...?" I said to Fabian.

"Because I don't like to brag," he responded. I smiled and went over to get my bags out of Amber's trunk. Amber helped a little bit.

She grabbed one of my suitcases and wheeled it up the walk. I grabbed the other two after I slung my carry-on bag over my shoulder. Fabian had his one bag and was walking right behind me.

Well, we still have a little way to go before the end of this story. I would love to hear you're thoughts, so please review.

*~apples~*