I'm sorry it took me so long to update! I had final exams and had to study so I wouldn't fail...and yeah. But school is OVER! WOOHOO! Now I can update a lot quicker now. :D So anyways here's your chapter!

-THG-

I wake up with a headache. I groan and bury my face into my pillow. I'm glad it's Saturday, I don't have to face the humiliation of facing my classmates today. How am I going to explain that anyways?

I lie there for a moment then decide to get up. I might as well get ready for the day. I take a shower and change into casual clothes. I pull my hair back and start downstairs to the kitchen.

"And entering now is the rare 'Rose Mellark' she is rarely seen outside of her cave and when she is seen, don't make the creature mad or she'll snap your neck right IN HALF." Caleb says in a fake accent they used to call "Australian".

I smack him lightly on the head and laugh. You can always count on Caleb to lighten the mood. I sit down across the table from him. Mom and dad are already there eating cheese buns that dad made.

"So dad I was wondering if I could come help in the bakery today." I say reaching for a cheese bun. I bite into one and smile. They're probably my favorite that dad makes. Just like they're mom's favorite too.

"Sure!" he says looking surprised. "I could use all the help I could get." he smiles and takes a sip of his coffee. Mom smiles too. I think we're all glad that our family is growing together, even if it's taking a long time. But little by little, we are.

After everyone's done eating and we clean off the table dad and I head off towards the bakery. "So what am I helping with today?" I ask.

"Well you can either work at the register or help bake the cookies." he says.

"I'll help at the register." I say. I like taking people's orders and talking to everyone.

We walk into the bakery and I'm greeted by James. He's one of the workers dad hired to keep the bakery up and running. He's tall with dark brown hair and a long nose, and hes probably in his late 20's. He's very friendly and I'm glad to see him.

"Hey! Rose!" he says smiling and giving me a small hug. "Glad to see you back!"

"Good to see you too James." I say smiling. He hands me a white apron with "Mellark bakery" printed on the front and I tie it around my waist. "And it's good to be back." I slip behind the counter and dad and James head back into the kitchen. I start wiping of the counters to clean them.

I sell three boxes of cookies in the morning and two more boxes of cheese buns. I smile while I put the money in the cash register. Dad will be so proud of me.

I sit down on the stool behind the counter and relax for a moment. The store is now empty and I'm alone now. I tilt my head back and close my eyes. Finally peace. The door rings as a new customer enters. I open my eyes and look forwards. My breath catches in my throat when I see three men dressed head to toe in black walk in the store. Robbers.

I try to scream for help but I can't. I can't even breathe. They walk up to the counter and the three men stare at me. "Just...Take...The...Money." I say in between breaths. I can't try to stop them and if I leave to get dad it'll be too late and they'll be gone with the money.

"Oh we don't want the money." One of them hisses and he jumps over the counter and tries to grab me. I scream so loud that nothing comes out. It's a silent scream. I back up against the wall and kick him away. But my foot misses and I kick the chair over instead. The chair falls with a crash and I close my eyes and close my fists over my face, defending myself. I shut my eyes.

"Rose are you okay in there?" I open my eyes to nothing. No men. No robbers. Nobody trying to kidnap me. I'm confused for a moment but then I realize. It was a hallucination. I take short stabbing breaths.

"I'm fine." I manage to get out. "I just...tipped the stool over." I lie. I pick the stool up and set it back. I rest my hand on the top of the stool and bend over catching my breath. "I'm fine." I say again.

Once I calm down I sit on the stool again, my eyes wide open this time. I've had two flashbacks in two days. What if this continues? What if I have to deal with these every single day for the rest of my life? I groan. I could not be able to handle that.

The door opens and a real customer walks in this time. "Welcome to..." My voice trails off when I look at who just entered. Roy.

"We need to talk." he says. I stand there stunned for a moment then nod my head. Is there any point in arguing with him right now? "Hold on a minute." I say. I walk back into the kitchen and say "Dad I'm going to take a break."

"Okay Rose. Just be back in ten minutes." He says without looking up.

"I will" I reply then walk out to the counter. I take of my apron and go around the counter. Roy and I stand there for a moment and then I start to lead the way. "Follow me." I say as I walk outside. I walk to the side of the bakery and pull him into the alley separating the bakery from the shoe store next to it.

I cross my arms. "So you need to tell me something?"

"More like ask." He says sighing and leaning against a wall. "I just wanted to know, what happened to us?"

I throw my hands up and groan. "You know what happened Roy."

"No. I really don't."

"What about Erica? Does that ring a bell to you Roy?" I say annoyed. "I already told you that's why."

"And I already told you that I didn't kiss her. She kissed me." He says just as annoyed with me as I am with him.

"Well why'd you take her to the dance?" I ask raising my voice now.

"Rose you can't be one to complain about that! You took Drew to the dance! Why'd you take him, huh? You're just as guilty as I am in that situation!" He says raising his voice too.

I run a hand down my face. He's right. And I know why he did it too. I had already gotten a date to make him jealous. So he did the same back to me. I don't know why either of us did it. But we both did and I can't blame him for everything.

"Roy." I say bringing my voice to almost a whisper. "You came after me that night." I look straight into his eyes. "Why?"

He steps towards me. "Rose, I still care about you believe it or not. Even if you hated me I would've followed you. In fact, I never left you. You left me."

I stand there stunned. He's right. He never left. I walked away from him. He tried to come back. I turned him away. He never left.

I feel something wet on my head and look up. It's raining. But neither of us move. We stand there looking at each other, not knowing what to say. We're both tired of fighting and we know it. I can't believe how foolish I was to believe he'd stop caring about me.

"Roy. I'm sorry." I say "You're right. And I never should've left."

"Don't be sorry." he says. "It's just as much my fault as it is yours, as I said. I'm sorry too. "

He steps towards me and kisses me right there. I forget that it's raining. I forget all the problems. I forget the hallucinations. I kiss him back like I used to, and just forget.

-THG-

I hope you guys liked that chapter! Anyways, It's sad to say this story is almost over. There'll probably be about 7 or 8 chapters left and then it'll be over. BUT DON'T WORRY. There will probably be a sequel, but only if you guys want one. :D SO if you want a sequel when this is over tell me. And if you have anything you want to see in the sequel go ahead and tell me now so I can start working on what'll be happening in the next chapter. :D So anyways, Review! I love you guys! Thanks for sticking with me this long!