Disclaimer: This story will have very harsh at points. There will be heart wrenching moments… I warn you now. You may hate a character or two but I promise no matter how bad it gets … there will be an HEA…. I believe everyone deserves a second chance and so this will be a journey of growth, humility, and finding the simple joys in life… the things that truly matter.

I need to thank my team… Stephanie, Kyla, Rachel, Bev, and Cheryl. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know I hit you all with so many chapters last week. You never once complained, you just guys held my hand as I poured my heart out with this… I couldn't do this without all the love and helpful, encouraging words you always have for me… I truly love you all!

Also, if you want a sneak peek at future chapters and juicy pics that go with the story, join me on Face Book…My name is Reyes Fanfiction and the group is called Massy's Minions… come join my craziness and get you're extra fix of...It Isn't Over Yet and my other story.

Twilight isn't mine you know this … I know this… soooo moving on

Chapter 7

Song for chapter

Jason Walker – Down

Three years gone by…

I don't know where I'm at
I'm standing at the back
And I'mtiredof waiting
Waiting here in line, hoping that I'll find what I've been chasing.

I shot for the sky
I'm stuck on the ground
So why do I try, I know I'm going to fall down
I thought I could fly, so why did I drown?
Never know why it's coming down, down, down.

The night we arrived in Orlando I was a total mess. My heart was lodged in my throat without any chance of returning to its rightful place.

Why oh why did he have to come back?

Wasn't the damage done on his last goodbye enough?

Before the severity of his words did their damage, I had hope in me once again. Lauren had claimed that he was searching through the crowds. To her, he seemed almost desperate and filled with hope to see something...someone.

And I prayed to the almighty upstairs that he was searching for me.

Once again I was fooled into believing he had found the error of his ways.

But just like the last couple of years have taught me…I am a fool.

Here I, yet again thought salvation had finally come. I felt as if I was a starving man lost at sea, waiting, searching, for that plane to take me home. Back to where everything in my life was right and he was by my side.

The only difference between then and now is that he was, is, and will always be my home.

Just as I am sure he will never return to me.

It was extremely late when we walked through the door to our new apartment. Lauren was exhausted and I was literally drained, but neither of us felt as if sleep was the answer. We had so much anger, frustration and hurt inside.

Before we left, I had raided my father's liquor cabinet and brought a bottle of Vodka with me. I had a feeling drinking and toasting to our misery would be needed.

Some would say this was wrong, we're underage, and that it's irresponsible of us.

To those that would dare judge me, I say a big ol' fuck you!

You're not the ones living with the black hole in your chest, preventing you from breathing, laughing…living.

Opening a bag of plastic cups we picked up along the way, we settled on the floor, and toasted to our misery. We toasted to the memories that haunt, the feelings that won't let go, and the years lost, never to be seen again.

I would be lying if I said it was a pretty sight…us laughing, crying, and screaming. But it was what we needed. Call it our own special type of therapy.

The hours passed as we lost ourselves in that bottle, soon the dark sky turned bright and our liquid refuge was gone.

Calling it a night, we both settled on the air mattress in the living room that we had set up during our weekend trips.

We both laid there completely quiet as tears ran down our cheeks. We had made a pact earlier on to have this one last night in mourning; one more moment to remember. Because come morning they would no longer matter anymore.

We were moving forward and finally letting go.

The betrayals and lack of sympathy we received from these men ate away at our souls. I expressed myself through my writing and singing, but Lauren, she held it in for my benefit most of the time.

This time though, she let go.

To say she was furious over his last torture…would be putting it mildly.

She ranted and raved.

And I understood.

She has watched me struggle to get a semblance of my life back, to let her in and begin to live again. But here he shows up and with a couple of words he brings back all those memories.

Memories that reminded me of what we had and what I had lost.

Moments filled with laughter and sweet caresses as we walked along the beach. We would talk about our future and what changes to expect as he went off to medical school. We vowed to stick together no matter what life tossed our way, to never let the distance between us change our relationship.

But most importantly, we enjoyed the love that poured from our hearts and souls as they meshed and became one.

But now those memories are tainted with reminders of his harsh words and the nightmares that plague me both awake and while asleep.

I can still see and recall every thought and feeling that coursed through my veins that day, behind my house, in those woods.

I knew she was dealing with her own pain by focusing on mine and neglecting hers. That was her way of coping. Was it wrong of me to let her? Maybe, but who was I to make her face hers, when I wanted to find a way to bury mine.

"It'll get better, Bella," she said, bringing me back to the present. "You're so much stronger now, we will get through this. I can't believe the nerve of that prick, on your graduation! What the fuck was he thinking?" I could feel the hate emanating from her pores as it surrounded the small space.

She was never one for mincing words. She had so much anger towards him and even as she spoke of Edward, I couldn't help but feel that her words were also directed at her own tormentor.

"Fuck him, Bella! You deserve the world, a good man, and a happy life. I'll be damned if I let him take that away from us, not now, not ever." I heard her own slip, but kept quiet. It was her moment to release that anguish. Her tears flowed like a raging river, harsh and with complete and wild abandon.

That speech was just as much for her as it was for me.

"We have each other and we will get through this together." She hugged me as our souls poured from our eyes.

We both loved with everything we had, and more. Both had been betrayed and broken by those we gave everything to.

And now, united we will stand to mend the damage done.

Looking at the woman that had become my sister, I found my strength. Her words helped me see that light at the end of the tunnel. I just hoped that with my friendship she could receive the solace she needed too.

I gave her a watery smile and whispered a small "thanks" with a promise that "tomorrow would indeed be a new day."

The time had come for us to let them go, even if it tore us in half and crucified what was left of our hearts…it had to be done.

And so that's what we did.

We lay down on that air mattress for hours, without moving a single muscle. The light morning sky soon became the sweltering heat of a Florida afternoon. We never attempted to close our eyes and sleep nor did we hide our sobs and curses towards the heavens.

I yelled at God and demanded to know why…why?

It was sometime later in the afternoon when our basic human needs won out. We rose from our mourning state to enter the world of the living.

Our parents had been calling us constantly and we had to let them know at some point that we were okay.

Lauren knew I had no desire to speak to either of mine, so she took it upon herself to let both sets know we were alive.

My mother demanded that I answer my phone and tell her what my sudden departure was all about. According to her, Edward was back and wanted to speak to me.

She didn't understand. According to her, if all I wanted was him to come back, why would I leave just as he returned?

Lauren, God bless her soul, made up excuse after excuse and said I couldn't talk. I wasn't ready to deal with her or any of the ramifications of what occurred last night.

Once all calls were made and we both promised to not shed another tear over both those losers, we took a shower and ordered a pizza.

It was just after seven when there was a knock on our door. We were starving and incredibly happy with how prompt our food had arrived, so without looking through our peep hole, we rushed and opened the door.

But what met us on the other side instead of food, was our cute semi dorky neighbor, Peter.

He said he had noticed my car downstairs and wanted to check on us. He didn't know the reasons why we were here; to him we probably decided to move in earlier than we had told him. But with one look at our faces, he left.

We were shocked by his actions and closed the door. We had walked back into our kitchen, looking around and making plans on the things we would need. We had just decided on the color scheme we wanted when there was another knock.

We had no words as there stood Peter with a bottle of Cuervo' on the other side of the threshold and what looked like our pizzas. Opening the door, he rushed in and smiled, offering with that simple gesture…a new friend.

He knew we weren't of age to drink and as such only offered us coke; we shared a look and pointed over to our empty bottle on the floor. His eyes bugged, but he understood that it was needed, without us saying a single word.

He claimed he had a feeling that our stories would drive him to drink and he would be absolutely right.

We all took a seat on the floor and ate our food in silence; surprisingly it wasn't an uncomfortable silence.

No one spoke a word for ten minutes; no one knew what to say or where to start.

But, bless his loving soul, he waited patiently until Lauren broke first and spilled her guts out. I have been friends with this woman for over a year and had yet to have seen or heard her say more than what was needed in the past.

Like me, she is afraid. But this man has brought all our walls down and made us feel safe.

Not because of an attraction or touch, no, this is based purely on the easy going friendship he gave us…in our time of need.

I watched his face turn various shades of red and purple as she laid out her pain and soul before his eyes.

His fists clenched several times as he swallowed the bitter pill she was serving. Once done with her story he looked over at me and nodded, waiting for me to start before he spoke.

I have no idea how long I sat there and stared off into space, looking, searching for those right words to explain and let him see the real me.

Sensing my blockage, Lauren grabbed my hand and gave it a firm squeeze, causing me to turn and look her way. I had missed how the food and plates were now being picked up by Peter. He was giving me the time I needed to get myself in the right state of mind; he truly was a special man.

"Bells, you need to let go and open up," she whispered so only I heard. "I don't know why he cares B, but he does. I promise, no matter what, I'm here beside you. We promised each other that we would try and open up, try new things, and let others in. This is our chance Bella, please take it with me?"

Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks and I knew she was right; she had broken down all the barriers that had once tried to push her away. But she was persistent, never giving up, when I pushed back and look at where that led us.

I have a sister and I wouldn't change that for the world.

Maybe, just maybe, he could be part of our little family.

Peter came back with three small bowls of ice cream and some tissues to dry our tears. That small gesture broke my final reservation towards him and his intentions.

I was so nervous, I had yet to tell anyone but Lauren the complete story of what happened to me that day. I prayed he too would understand and not judge me based on other's opinions of my worth.

So with my hands trembling and my voice cracking, I spoke. I spoke of how we met as children and all the crazy things we did as kids with his siblings. I told of how we grew closer as the years passed. How I fell in complete head over heels love with him at the tender age of twelve.

How he was my first everything, just as I was his.

The air was filled with my voice recalling days, weeks, months and the years we spent exploring our love.

To then tell how he pulled the rug from under my feet and broke me in two. Telling him of that day wasn't as painful as I thought it would be.

Sure I cried, but it felt therapeutic to let all that out.

Lauren, as always, cried and held my hand as I bared my soul, but to see the tears rolling down Peter's cheeks floored me.

His fists clenched and unclenched as he tried to calm himself. You could see the fury coming off of him in waves as he heard of how I was treated by the man I loved, and how alone I felt after he left. But when I told him of his families visit and Alice's total disregard for me, he had enough.

He rose off of that floor at lightning speed and fell to his knees in front of me and Lauren. He reached for us and held us in a tight bone crushing hug and said…

"Those men, if I could even call those douches that, aren't worth a single tear coming from either of you." He kissed both our cheeks and held us tighter as he whispered, "I will be here for the both of you, you two are my family and I'll be damned if I let another loser hurt you again. You girls deserve to be treated as the sweet, beautiful and intelligent women I have before me and I know you are." He took a deep breath as he choked down his own emotion.

I have never seen a grown man cry before, but his understanding and complete acceptance made him my brother that day.

"I promise you with all that I am, that no man will never, ever dare to hurt you two again. I will tear them limb from limb first. I will protect you, this I vow to you both." We all wiped our faces and smiled. This was just the beginning; we needed to move forward…to live again.

*hides behind wall* I warned you all on top that this would be harsh…didn't I? To me this chapter was her turn around in a lot of ways and we will have new characters coming in to leave their mark on her life.

Okay I would like to take this moment and wish you all a safe and HAPPY THANKSGIVING! This has been an incredible year and we all have so much to be thankful for… love you all and see you in two weeks.