WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18TH. 6:35 AM. "We booked our flight those years ago. I said I love you as I left you. Regrets still haunt my hollow head, but I promised you I will see you again, again," he sang softly as we lied on his bed with my head resting on his chest and his arm under me, wrapped around my shoulders. "I sit here and smile dear. I smiled because I think of you, I blush. These bleeding hollow dials, this fuss. A fuss is made of miles and travel when roadways are but stones and gravel. A bleeding heart can conquer every crutch. We booked our flight those years ago. You said you loved me as you left me. Regrets still haunt your saddened head, but I promised you I will see you," he sang as I slipped my hand into his other that rested along his left side, playing with his fingers as I closed my eyes while he started to play with my hair. "We booked our flight those years ago. I said I loved you and I left you. Regrets no longer in my head, but I promised you and now I'm ho—"

I groaned loudly as I felt the sixty pounds of weight that was my baby sister land on my back, waking me up from a wonderful night of sleep. "Wake up, Addison. We need to get ready for school," Melissa Ray said, overly cheerful. Melissa was the third and last child my parents had and she was born on the nineteenth of June in two thousand four, making her six now that it is the year two thousand ten. Unlike my older twin brother and me who were born in Dayton, Ohio which was on November second of ninety-one, Melissa was born here in Cincinnati. Our family had moved from Dayton to Cincinnati when Adam and I were seven years old. Melissa is highly adored by just about everyone who has ever met her and she's shy and quiet, always clinging to me or Adam when around new people.

She also looks up to the both of us and is into a lot of the music, movie types, and TV shows we are which is pretty awesome for being only a six year old girl. Now I'm technically the middle child of the three kids my parents had and they named me Addison Gianna and I couldn't asked for a better pair of parents. I do great in school, I've always been an A student which a lot of people find surprising since I've never paid much attention in class. I'm highly glad that I'm about to start the first day of my last year of High School at the school for Creative and Performing Arts and Education.

I glanced at my sister over my shoulder with one eye open, catching sight of her bright green eyes that were sparkling with her excitement. "And how are you excited about that?" I asked.

"Because I'm going to school with you and Adam," she smiled and I chuckled a bit as I closed my eye. Melissa was finally getting to start school at the school where my brother and I go which was an all grade school in downtown Cincinnati, a twenty minute drive from our house unless there's traffic to slow us down.

"Okay, come on Mel. Let's go wake Adam up now," Mom said from the doorway of my room.

"Okay," she said as she jumped off me and my bed and ran out of my room with Mom following close behind her.

I sighed before I yawned and continued to lie there for a few more minutes, trying to get the full will to pull myself out of bed. I yawned again before I looked at the mural of a black creepy leafless tree I painted on my wall across from my bed about a month ago. I also had photos of me, my family, and friends stuck to some of the branches by tape. Painting, but mainly drawing is one of the things I love to do a lot and playing the guitar.

I took a deep breath and started to sit up in my bed as I heard my sister scream and I looked toward my doorway just as she went running by, giggling. "Get back here, you little tyrant," Adam ran by a few seconds later, chasing our sister and I shook my head as I got out of bed, making it real quick. I walked over to my dresser and my eye caught my brother stopping at my door, so I looked over at him. He was standing there, holding our sister upside down with his arms hugging her legs tightly against his chest.

Adam, middle name Matthew, was technically my parents' first child even though we're twins, but he's fifteen minutes older than me which he likes to point out whenever given the chance. He and I are what you would call fraternal twins which are what you get with two eggs and two very fast little swimmers. The only thing identical about us is our light blue eyes and our tall height, Adam's six one while I'm five ten and a half, which we both got from our father's side of the family. Adam and I are into a lot of the same things, but while I listen to anything from Avenged Sevenfold to Justin Bieber, he'd rather stay within the genre of rock. But what we can agree on within music is we can't stand rap which makes sense considering that rap rhymes with crap. At school, he does pretty well with some help from me and he's a fantastic artist, being great at drawing and even better at playing the guitar and the drums.

Downside of school for him is he's constantly tormented, being called a fag, queer, freak, etc. because he mostly wears dark clothes and likes to wear eyeliner and paint his nails. He tries his best to ignore the assholes that torment him, but it gets hard when they decide to beat him up in a three or more against one fight. I hate when that shit happens to my brother, but those assholes do find out that beating up my brother is bad for their health because I end up beating the shit out of them. I love my family and friends very much and would do just about anything to protect them which does include putting my body in harm's way.

Adam smiled at me as Melissa continued to giggle, "Morning beautiful."

I arched a brow, "isn't that kind of a weird thing to say to your sister?"

"Hmm," he tilted his head a bit, "true, so then," he smiled, "Morning Sasquatch."

My mouth fell open as I scoffed a laugh, "I resent that, I shaved my legs last night," I defended myself while pointing my finger threateningly at him and he laughed, along with our sister.

"Adam, come on! I have to get Melissa ready for her first day of first grade," Mom called for my brother and he turned, looking in the direction our mother was calling from.

"Coming mother," he said in a sing-song tone as he started to walk off, still holding Melissa upside down by her legs.

I shook my head as I started to get ready for my first day of my last year at SCPA. I opened the top drawer of my dresser, pulling out a pair of white socks and my black slouch knit beret. I tossed them both on my bed and started to head over to my closet to pick out something to wear when Dad walked into my room. "Morning honey," he smiled before he kissed the side of my head.

"Morning Dad," I smiled up at him, my brother and I may have both gotten our tallness from our father, but he's still taller than both of us, being six foot four.

"So you nervous for the first day of your senior year?" he asked as I slid open my closet door to look through my pants.

"No, I haven't gotten nervous about the first day back to school since the sixth grade," I said, pulling my black skinny Tripp pants with dangling chain straps off a hanger. Yes, I hang my pants up, otherwise they get wrinkled and I really hate that.

"All right, but let's try not to get suspended this year," he said and I gave him a sideways glance.

"Now Dad, you know I can't promise that." Sure, I like to stay out of trouble most of the time at school, but I won't hesitate to start a fight when it comes to sticking up for my brother and my friends, especially my brother.

"I know, but I like to feel like I made an effort in telling you not too," he said, causing me to laugh a little, "well, I'll leave you to get ready for school."

"Okay," I said as he kissed the side of my head again before leaving my room, closing the door behind him. I tossed my pants onto my bed before I stripped off my tank top and searched through my shirts, pulling my INFAMOUS twisted top off a hanger. I pulled it on, flatting it out before taking off my pajama pants and slipped into the pants I picked out, buttoning and zipping them up. I walked back over to my dresser and pulled my black and silver three row pyramid studded belt out, slipping it through my belt loops after attaching my brass knuckles and guns belt buckle. I walked over to my bed, sitting on the edge and pulled on my socks before getting back up and grabbing my hat. I walked out of my room and down the hall a little bit to the bathroom where my brother was, brushing his teeth. I smiled at him, getting the best one he could give back with a toothbrush in his mouth as I stood beside him and started to brush my own teeth.

When he finished, he kissed the side of my head before he headed out of the bathroom and back to his room to finish getting ready for school. When I was done brushing my teeth, I brushed my hair out and brushed my side bang to the right of my face. I pulled the long part of my hair forward so it rested down my chest before putting my hat on to where the front and part of the sides of my hair weren't covered by it. Once my hair was the way I liked it, I lined my eyes with a little bit of black eyeliner and applied black eye shadow on the top of my eyelids before I headed back to my room. I sat on my bed again after grabbing my thirteen inch tall lace up steel-toe boots that make me from five ten and a half to almost five twelve and pulled them on. I walked over to my dresser for the last time and opened my jewelry box that sat on top, pulling out my black stone and chains bracelet and clipped it around my left wrist. I put my pyramid stud earrings in the first hole of my lobes and my crystal rhinestone studs in my second before I pulled out a small hoop earring, putting it in the third hole in my right ear.

I picked my three keys necklace off my large wire tree stand that stood beside my jewelry box, putting it on before I clipped my vintage music note watch on my right wrist. I changed my tongue jewelry to my zebra print barbell and my belly button jewelry to a crown barbell with dangling chains. I almost closed my jewelry box when my silver knotted heart ring caught my eye, causing me to stop. I stared at it a bit before I pulled it out and held it between my fingers, thinking back to when I got it. It was the ring my first and only boyfriend bought me just before the end of my eighth grade year.

"Here, I want you to have this," said the boy that I fell in love with just over a year ago as he stuck his hand in the pocket of his black skinny jeans. When he pulled his hand out, he held between his index and thumb fingers a silver ring with a heart that twisted into itself to create the band and I smiled as I took it from his hand.

"It's beautiful, where'd you get it?" I asked as I smiled up at him while he stepped closer to me.

"I was with my mom yesterday at the mall and she was looking to buy some earrings and as I stood there waiting for her to decide, I saw the ring sitting on a display that was on the counter. I picked it up and smiled, thinking it was something I knew you would love. When my mom saw me with it, she told me that I should get it for you and plus, it would be my way of telling you that my heart will always be tied to you no matter what could happen in the future," he said as he slipped one of his arms around my waist, pulling me into him and my smile widened even more. "I'm really hoping that it will fit this finger," he said as he lifted up my right hand by grabbing the tip of my ring finger.

"Well there's only one way to find out," I said before I looked down, slipping the ring onto my right ring finger and it fit perfectly.

"Perfect," he whispered softly as he placed his left hand against my right like he was comparing hand size before he entwined our fingers together. He brought his other hand up and cupped the side of my face just under my chin, pressing his lips against mine. I closed my eyes slowly, savoring and enjoying the sensation that his soft and gentle touch sent flowing through my entire body. I'd get so lost in the happiness I felt every time he kissed me, like the entire world was a blur while we moved at our own pace.

"Hey, you done getting ready for school? Because breakfast is ready," Adam said from my doorway, snapping me back into reality.

I glanced at him as I closed my hand around the ring, "yeah, I'm coming. I just want to take my stuff out to my car, so I don't have to when we leave," I said.

He nodded before giving me a weird concerned look, "you okay? You looked a little lost in your thoughts or something."

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little tired," I said, tightening my fist around the ring.

"Okay," he said before he walked away, most likely heading to the dining room to have breakfast.

I sighed as I opened my hand, looking down at the ring again before I slipped it onto my right ring finger where it belonged. I know most people would never want to wear anything that was given to them or reminds them of their ex, but for me, it reminds me of why I don't and won't date. I don't think I could put myself in that situation to eventually have my heart broken again and the ring is a reminder of why. I guess this would be the right time to explain a few things about the boy that has made such an impact on my life. His name is Andrew Dennis Biersack, but would prefer Andy if you don't mind. My family and I had met him when my parents moved from Dayton to Cincinnati when I was seven. His parents, who still live directly across the street, had invited us over for dinner to welcome us to the neighborhood.

Adam and I made quick friends with him and we hung out all the time, before school when we'd carpool with either one of his parents or one of ours and of course after school. The carpooling with our parents only lasted until Andy turned sixteen and finally got his license and his own car. We couldn't really hang out during school since Andy was in a higher grade than us, being in second grade. In Ohio, no child was allowed to start Kindergarten until they were at least five and being four turning five wasn't good enough. Only our parents started Adam and me in Kindergarten a whole other year late, so we were six turning seven when we were finally enrolled. We were about halfway through Kindergarten when our parents moved us from Dayton and registered us at Andy's Elementary school.

Andy and I were especially close, he became my best friend is just a short time and it was like we were attached at the hip as cliché as that might sound. We had a lot in common when it came to music, even though he only liked music within the rock genre and his favorite band was Alkaline Trio. He had big dreams of having an awesome and successful band of his own one day. I knew that he would definitely pull that off eventually because he is very talented and could do anything he set his mind to.

His parents were always supportive in anything their son wanted to do like when he decided he didn't want to follow along with the Roman Catholic beliefs he grew up with. They supported him when he decided he wanted to start wearing eyeliner and wanted tattoos and piercings. They just told him that he can look however he wanted but to understand people outside his family and friends may not have such kind words to say about his appearance. He chose not to care what other people thought about him and that is why I admired him so much.

Our friendship was a very strong bond, but that was until I was fourteen and he was fifteen due to be sixteen in nine months on the twenty-six of December. It's got to kind of suck having a birthday the day after Christmas especially when most of your Christmas presents were also your birthday presents. Although he never complained since he's an only child. Anyway, back to the point I was trying to make.

When I was fourteen, Andy and I had turned our friendship into a relationship of the more romantic kind. He had become my boyfriend the day after we spent time with some friends and my brother in my room after school playing Truth or Dare to kill some of our boredom. He was dared to kiss me by our friend Izzy and Andy and I both highly protested, not wanting too, but our friends wouldn't take no for an answer. So we kissed against our will and I'm not sure how to explain it but when he kissed me, it was such an amazing feeling and I knew it was going to change our relationship forever. And it did, the next day before school while he and I were waiting out by his mom's car for his mom and my brother.

I sighed as I leaned against the side of the car, glancing at Andy as he yawned and like a chain reaction, caused me to yawn as well. "Don't do that," I whined as I was coming down from it and he chuckled a little as a small half smile displayed on his lips.

"Sorry, it sucks how that happens," he said as he leaned against the side of the car beside me and I nodded. It got quiet between us as we waited, but I could see him glancing at me several times without saying anything from the corner of my eye.

Finally I looked at him to catch him looking at me, "what?" I asked.

"Huh?" he said confused.

"You keep looking me. Is there something on my face?"

"Oh, sorry, but no, y-your face is perfect," he said before he looked away from me, shaking his head as he mumbled to himself, but I couldn't quite make out what he said.

"Then what's up with you?" I asked.

He sighed before looking at me again, "I've just been thinking about yesterday," he said and I arched a brow, "you know when Izzy dared me to kiss you." I nodded slowly as I could feel the heat rise up in my cheeks as he glanced at the ground and shifted from one foot to the other. He was acting nervous which was strange for him since he's always been so outspoken about anything on his mind.

"W-What about it?" I stuttered a bit as I turned my whole body toward him to give him my full attention.

"W-Well I um," he started before he sighed and continued, "I kind of liked it—No, I really liked it, I loved it actually. I thought it would just be weird and awkward since you're my best friend and all, but I loved the way it felt. Kissing you just felt like something so incredible. Like a thousand times better than getting a new Batman toy."

I laughed a little at his reference. If there's one thing he loved a lot in life, it would be anything Batman. "It was that great, huh?" I asked and he smiled, his pale cheeks reddening a little as he chuckled.

"Y-Yeah," he nodded, "and I was thinking about how much I loved it and was wondering if maybe… you'd be my g-girlfriend? So I can kiss you whenever I want to," he said as he finally looked at me. I smiled and bit the inside of my lip before I nodded my head and his eyes widened with excitement, "Really?!"

I nodded again, "yeah, I would love to be your girlfriend because then you'd be my boyfriend and… I can kiss you whenever I want."

He smiled at me before his smile faltered, "can I… can I kiss you? Right now?" he asked and I smiled before I nodded my head. He took a small breath, making me chuckle a little before he stepped closer to me causing me to look up at him. He brought a hand up and swept my side bang to the side of my face before using it to cup my cheek and placed his lips gently against mine. I kissed him back for a few seconds before he pulled way and I slowly opened my eyes to lock them with his. We both smiled, letting out a small chuckle as well before he pressed his lips back against mine while I slipped my arms around his waist.

He slipped his arms around my shoulders as we kissed before we were interrupted by his mom, "Oh my god," we heard her gasp. It caused us to pull from the kiss and we turned our heads to see her standing there with her mouth agape. She turned around and started to run back into her house while yelling, "Chris!! I think your son just got his first kiss! And his first girlfriend!!"

"Mom!" Andy yelled in protest and embarrassment since I'm pretty sure the whole street could hear her. Andy groaned while my face turned probably a scarlet red and I hid it in the crook of his neck. "I'm sorry," he said and I shook my head as I chuckled a little.

"It's okay," I said as I lifted my head to look up at him, "you know how moms can be." He chuckled a little, nodding his head and he pecked me on the lips before I rested my head down on his shoulder. I sighed contently, being happy that I had gotten my first boyfriend who happens to be someone that I already deeply care about.

I sighed before I picked up my black and white checkered backpack and headed out of my room after grabbing my car keys off my dresser. I headed down the stairs to the front door, "I'll be right back, I'm just going to put my backpack in my car," I said loud enough for them to hear me in the dining room before I walked out. I walked down the lawn to my black two-thousand-ten GMC Yukon Denali that was parked alongside the sidewalk. I had just bought it toward the middle of my junior year when I saved up enough for the down payment and I had some help from my father who paid four months in advance on it. He's now paying the payments for me since I had lost my job at Bigg's grocery store just before my junior year ended. I had gotten in a fight with a co-worker after she said some not so nice things about my brother's appearance because he wears eyeliner and paints his nails.

I walked around to the back of my car, unlocking it with the little remote that hung on my key ring and pulled open the hatchback, tossing my backpack inside before closing it. "Morning Addison," I heard from across the street and I looked over to see Chris Biersack, Andy's dad.

---

CHRIS BIERSACK.
I walked out into the living room and yawned while scratching the back of my head, still dressed in my pajama pants and a plain white t-shirt. I looked up and saw my son awake and looking out the window toward the front of the house, wearing the same clothes from yesterday. He and his band mates just got back in town last night after being on tour all summer for their band Black Veil Brides, promoting their first album that was released at the end of last month. He had come over to visit last night and became too tired to drive home or move and fell asleep on the couch. "Morning son," I said as I approached him while hearing his mother in the kitchen downstairs, probably making breakfast.

Andy glanced at me, giving me a small tired smile, "morning Dad," he said before taking a sip from the cup of what smelled like coffee he was holding.

"You know, you really shouldn't drink that. It can stent your growth," I said and he chuckled.

"Like I need to grow anymore," he said and I chuckled as well. The boy was already six two and was taller than me and his mother, especially his mother so growing anymore in height was something he didn't need.

"So what are you doing?" I asked as he looked back out the window.

"Oh, I'm just—" he hesitated as he kept his eyes on the window, "watching the scenery… and it is beautiful," he said the last part quietly.

I gave him a weird look, tilting my head a bit before it dawned on me, "did Addy just come out of her house?" I asked using the nickname he had given the girl who lives across the street four years ago as I stood beside him. Sure enough, there she was walking out of her house and heading for her car. The girl that Andy had fallen in love with when he was fifteen and she was his first girlfriend. Addison Gianna Kauzer is her name and she' a very smart girl, I can't recall ever hearing her getting a grade that was lower than an A plus. She's what you could call a genius I suppose, but she'd rather you not make a fuss and point it out to everyone since she likes keep to herself. Her and Andy use to be very close, they were the best of friends and had just about the cutest romantic relationship that lasted two and a half years. Something bad had happen almost two years ago that ruined their relationship and made Andy make a mistake by starting a relationship with his second now ex-girlfriend Scout the day after he broke it off with Addison.

I know he still loves and cares deeply for Addison and it hurts him knowing that he hurt her so badly by overacting to something that was out of her control. He would do just about anything to take back what he did, but unfortunately the world just doesn't work like that.

"Addison, dad," he said and I smiled, "only I'm allowed to call her Addy."

"I know. I just wanted to hear you correct me. It just comes to show that you still care about her," I said. Andy just sighed before taking another small sip of his coffee and I shook my head, "why don't you just go talk to her instead of standing here, staring at her through the window? This would be considered kind of stalkerish, Andy."

"I can't," he shook his head, "she doesn't want to see me, let alone talk to me. She hates me."

"She does not," I said and he shrugged his shoulders, making me sigh, "Well if you're not going to talk to her, then I will," I said before I started to jog down the stairs.

"Please don't talk about me," Andy called after me.

"Can't promise anything," I said before I walked out the front door. I guess getting the newspaper would be a good excuse to be outside, I thought as I headed down the driveway. "Morning Addison," I said loud enough for her to hear me and she looked over, letting me know I got her attention.

She smiled at me as she walked across the street, her eyes glancing at the black Cadillac Eldorado that belonged to my son parked alongside the curb, "morning Mr. Biersack," she said as she was going to give me a hug.

I stopped her by placing my hands on her shoulders and held her at arm's length, "what did you call me?" I asked with a sideways glance.

She shook her head, "sorry, I mean Papa Chris," she said with another smile.

I chuckled, "that will do," I pulled her into a hug, "just none of that Mr. and Mrs. Biersack crap. You're basically like family and always will be. Plus, you are my godchild."

She nodded as we pulled out of the hug, "yeah, I know. I guess I just forget because of what happened between me and…" she trailed off as her eyes glanced down at my son's car that we were standing in front of before looking back at me. I gave her a weak smile and she shook her head before she smiled at me, "so I take it Andy's back in town," she said as she knocked twice on the hood of the Eldorado with a bent pointer finger.

"Yeah, he and the band just got in last night and he came over to visit and wound up crashing on the couch in the living room."

"What? Did you turn his room into something else?"

I chuckled before shaking my head, "no, he was just too tired to move and fell asleep on the couch."

She smiled while nodding her head, "is he still sleeping?"

I hesitated a little, "yes," I lied. I didn't necessarily want to tell her that he was standing at the window watching her.

She nodded again, "so how's his band been doing?"

"They're doing great!" I smiled proudly, "they just released their debut album near the end of last month."

She smiled with a small nod, "cool, maybe after school, I'll go pick up a copy just to show my support and I bet it's awesome," she said and I nodded eagerly, "what's it called?"

"Black Veil Brides, We Stitch These Wounds," I said and she nodded, "Andy's on the cover of the album."

"Of course he is," she said with a small smile and I chuckled a little.

"So are you looking forward to what your final year at that old building?" I asked, not positive if she was a senior or not.

"Yeah, but actually the school moved to a bigger and better building they just had built."

"Oh really?" I furrowed my brows as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Yeah, it's now on West Central Parkway near Washington Park, about four blocks from the old school."

"That's cool, have you seen it yet?"

"Uh-huh, during orientation and once we got our class schedules, we walked through the entire building to find our classrooms, so we're good in the whole not getting lost department."

I smiled while nodding before she tucked some hair behind her ear, my eyes catching sight of the ring I recognized as the one Andy got her on her finger. "Isn't that the ring Andy got you?" I slightly pointed and she quickly brought her hand down, hiding her arms behind her back.

She gave me a nervous smile, "umm… yeah," she said, rubbing the back of her neck.

"You don't need to be embarrassed that you still wear it, but out of curiosity, why do you still wear it?"

"It just reminds me of why I don't and won't date again. I don't think I could put myself through another relationship where I love the guy so much only for it to end badly."

"Oh," I said before giving her a weak smile, "you know I can't really speak for Andy when it comes to why he broke your heart, but what I can tell you is that he regrets ever hurting you and even though he won't admit it, he still loves you more than anything on this planet, maybe even more than me and his mother and that's really saying something."

She chuckled as she smiled, shaking her head and I smiled back, "well, I don't think he could ever love me more than you and Amy and I'm not afraid to admit that I still love him. I think even my friends and family know I still love him too, but we've been over for almost two years and I don't think that's going to change."

"Well you never know, maybe it can change," I said and she shook her head.

"Addison," came the voice of her twin brother Adam and we both turned to see him and their baby sister Melissa walking out of their house. Adam was carrying his backpack and Melissa's child booster seat with Melissa walking beside him, carrying her backpack and something in her hands. "You missed breakfast and it's time to go since we're picking up Izzy and Alex."

"Why didn't you tell me I was keeping you from breakfast?" I asked Addison and she shrugged.

"I don't mind, I don't really like eating in the morning, but my mom likes to make me," she said.

"Which is why Mom made you this," Melissa said as she walked over to us and held up a toasted bagel lightly coated in cream cheese on a napkin to her sister.

"Thanks Munchkin," Addison said as she took the bagel off her hands, "well I better go, so we aren't late."

"Okay, well you kids have fun at school," I said as I gave Addison and Melissa a quick hug.

"Yeah, sure we will," Adam smiled over at me as he finished putting Melissa's booster seat and his backpack in Addison's car, "see ya later, Chris."

"Bye, Chris," Melissa waved before her brother lifted her into the back of the car and helped pull the seatbelt over her, buckling her in.

"Bye, Chris. Say hi to Amy for me," Addison said before taking a bite out of her bagel as she walked over to her car.

I waved at them as the twins got in Addison's car and headed off to pick up their friends before heading to school. I grabbed the paper off the ground and headed back inside and up the stairs to where my son was now sitting on the couch. "Did you talk about me?" he asked as I tossed the newspaper down on the coffee table.

"Yeah, but she was the one that brought you into the conversation," I said, taking a seat next to him.

"What'd she say?" he asked nervously as if he thinks she said something about wishing death upon him.

"She just asked how you been and how the bands been doing. I told her that you've been good and the band just released a debut album, which she said she'd go pick up after school," I said and he smiled as he nodded his head. "She also said that she still loves you and I said that I know you regret hurting her and that you still love her, but won't admit it."

"Dad," he grumbled sitting up straight as he creased his forehead and stared at me with slightly narrowed eyes, "you didn't seriously tell her that?!"

"Yeah," I said and he groaned while flopping back on the couch, "why? What's wrong with that?"

"I really don't need you telling my ex-girlfriend that I'm still in love with her," he said as he rubbed along his brow ridge before sighing out of frustration.

"Why? It's the truth and I'm pretty sure everyone would know it," I said and he let out a deep breath, "Andy, you need to admit that you still love her and try and fix what you messed up. You and she were the cutest couple I had ever seen and I would really like to see you as happy as you used to be when you were with her. She told me that she still loves you and she still wears that ring you got her."

He snapped his head to look at me, astounded, "she does?"

"Yeah, she's wearing it right now and she says she wears it as a reminder of why she doesn't date, but I think there's more to it than that."

He sighed, looking away from me, "maybe I'll go visit my old high school today," he said as he got up from the couch, changing the subject.

"Well if you do, you should know they moved it to a new building on West Central Parkway near Washington Park," I said and he looked down at me.

"Really?" he asked and I nodded, "okay, well I'm going to head home, take a shower, and change before I head over there to check it out."

"Breakfast!" Amy hollered from downstairs in the kitchen.

"Maybe you should have breakfast with me and your mother before you go."

"Yeah," he said and headed for the stairs as I got up from the couch and followed behind him.

---

ADDISON KAUZER.
I pulled away from my house after saying bye to Andy's dad, turning right off Clarevalley onto Riverwatch and headed to Alex's house, eating my bagel on the way. Alex didn't live too far from us. The drive there only took a couple of minutes unless we were stuck behind someone slow. From my house, the drive was only two rights, the second being onto Anderson Ferry, a left onto Whitmore, and one more right onto Kinsman and it's the second house on the left.

When I got to Alex's house, I pulled into his driveway and saw him standing in front of his garage, smoking a cigarette. He smiled at us before dropping what was left of his smoke on the ground, stomping it out and picked up his backpack.

Alexander Gregory Hart, who prefers Alex, was the second to last person to join our little group of close friends. I had met him in my homeroom when my brother and I first started attending the SCPA for the eighth grade. He had finally turned eighteen last month on the sixth and is starting his senior year along with us, but unlike us, he's been attending SCPA since Kindergarten. He absolutely loves my baby sister Melissa and likes to joke saying if she was only ten years older, he would totally date her which makes Adam hold Melissa away protectively. He likes to refer to Melissa as his little honey bun sugar pie which makes her giggle all the time. He, like my brother, is six one and an excellent artist and very good at the guitar, he and I like to jam all the time. He also has an older brother named Todd who lives out in Southern California where he's attending college.

Alex also had his share of torments in the past, going back to when he was in sixth grade up until he was in the eighth grade and he usually just laughed their comments off. That was until one day when someone finally crossed the line and was seriously injured and sent to the hospital by calling him a cutter and saying his mother should've smothered him as an infant. Ever since that day, no one had ever talked shit to him again in fear that if they did, he would send them to the hospital like the last kid. It's always a good thing having Alex around when Adam's tormentors start in on him seeing as how he gets them to back off real quick with just a small glare.

Alex made his way to my car and got in, sitting on Melissa's right since she was placed in the middle. "Morning beautiful," he smiled at my sister before kissing her cheek.

She smiled back at him, "morning Alex," she replied before Alex leaned his cheek down, getting a kiss back from her.

"Hey, hey, don't make me come back there, Alex," Adam playfully threatened as I backed out of Alex's driveway, heading down to make a left back onto Whitmore.

"You know what, Adam? You can't keep me and my girlfriend apart, no matter how hard you try," Alex retorted over dramatically, causing Melissa and me to laugh as he pulled on his seatbelt.

"Just watch me," Adam narrowed his eyes a little while I stopped at the stop sign before making a left back onto Anderson Ferry, making my way toward Izzy's house on Halidonhill. Adam turned on my stereo, taking out my Kesha CD and replaced it with Escape the Fate's second album This War is Ours. He changed the song to "The Flood" as I made a right onto Briarhill, driving a small distance before making a left on Glen Oaks. I took the third right onto Mount Alverno before taking the first right onto Halidonhill and it didn't take long before I was pulling into Izzy's driveway. I didn't even have to honk before the front door of Izzy's house opened, but it was her mother that walked out, making her way over to my car. I rolled down my window as she approached my side of the car and she smiled at us.

"Morning kids," she said and we all chorused a morning back to her, "well Izzy laid down on the couch, falling slightly asleep and now refuses to get up."

I chuckled before I heard my brother taking off his seatbelt, "don't worry, I got her," he said before getting out of the car. Adam headed to the front door of Izzy's house with her mother and went inside to get our lovely stubborn friend. He came back out only a few minutes later, carrying a very tired Izzy bridal style with her arms wrapped around his neck and her head resting on his shoulder. I couldn't help but smile a little, Izzy must be really enjoying Adam holding her like that, but sad since she can't call Adam hers. I had recently noticed that Iz has just about the biggest crush on my brother and has for almost four years now, but of course he is completely oblivious to it. Whether anyone else has noticed, I'm not very sure. I wish she would just get up the courage to ask him out or tell him how she feels, but like I already said, she's stubborn.

Izzy, full name Elizabeth James Harper, was the second friend Adam and I made when we moved to Cincinnati. She was in our Kindergarten class and she was very shy and distant, fearing that people wouldn't like her. Although she couldn't be happier when Adam and I asked her if she wanted to sit and eat lunch with us and like Andy, it was an instant friendship. Izzy didn't open up completely till about the seventh grade. Once she did, she turned into a hyperactive firecracker that didn't give a fuck what people thought about her. All she needed to be a happy camper was approval from her friends and fuck everyone else. She's turning eighteen on the thirtieth of September and she's on the small side she says being only five foot five and a half. She's also a great artist, the best at drawing people, and thanks to my brother, a very great drummer.

Izzy's mom followed behind Adam, carrying her backpack and I got out of my car after removing my seatbelt. I opened up the back passenger door on my side of the car and Adam set her down on the seat, causing her to release him. Izzy rubbed her face, being careful not to mess up her eyeliner and yawned as her mom set her backpack in her lap. "Thanks Mom. Thanks Adam," she said as she pulled on her seatbelt while I got back in the car.

"No problem," Adam said before he walked around my car and got back in the front passenger seat.

"Have a good day at school," Izzy's mother said before kissing her daughter on the temple.

"Oh, I'm going to have so much fun!" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, causing all of us to laugh.

"Just think, it's your last year and then you're done with school unless you decide to go to college," her mom said hopefully.

"I'm still thinking about that," Izzy said, looking at her mom, "I'll see you after school."

Her mom nodded before closing the car door while Adam and I buckled our seatbelts again, "have a good day, kids."

"Bye Mrs. Harper," we all said in unison while Izzy said "Bye Mom."

I put my car in reverse and backed out of Izzy's driveway as Mrs. Harper headed back inside her home. I backtracked down Halidonhill and Mount Alverno before I made a right onto Glen Oaks and followed that till I had to make a right onto Delhi Avenue. I drove down Delhi for about five minutes before I made a slight right onto Fairbanks, driving a half mile before making a left onto River Road. I followed that for about four minutes as it turned into West Sixth Street before I took the Fifth Street ramp off. I stayed on Fifth Street before making a left onto Elm and it wasn't much longer before I was making a right onto West Central Parkway. I pulled into a parking lot across the street from the school and we all got out once I parked, shutting off my car. I got my backpack out of the back before locking up my car and grabbed Melissa's hand while she grabbed a hold of Alex's.

She held our hands as we headed down the sidewalk a short ways before stopping at the crosswalk where several more students were waiting. The stop lights turned red for cars traveling down Central Parkway and once they stopped and we got the okay to walk, we headed across the street. Getting inside the school, we rounded the corner on the right and we all headed up the stairs to the second floor. That's where Adam and I split up from our friends, telling them we'd see them in Visual Arts class fifth period before we headed off to take Melissa to her First Grade class as they all continued up the stairs to the fourth floor.

When we got to her classroom, we walked her inside and there were only a few kids there since class for them didn't start until nine. Melissa's teacher, Mrs. Gately looked up from her desk and smiled at us as we walked in and Melissa tightened her grip on my hand. I squeezed her hand reassuringly as I smiled down at her while Mrs. Gately got up from her desk and walked over to us. We all had already met Melissa's teacher at orientation, so I know Melissa wouldn't be too shy and quiet around her, but it'll be a whole other story when more students start to file in.

"Hi Melissa," Mrs. Gately said cheerfully, "you ready for your first day of school?"

"Y-yeah," she said nervously and I smiled as Adam rubbed the top of her head, getting her to glance up at him.

Melissa looked back at Mrs. Gately when she placed a hand on her shoulder, "it's okay to be nervous about the first day especially when you're starting at a new school," she said and Melissa nodded. "Want me to show you where you'll be sitting?"

"Sure," Melissa said before Mrs. Gately stood up and grabbed Melissa's hand that released Adam's, pulling her lightly along with me following since Melissa hadn't let go of my hand.

Adam followed as well until Mrs. Gately stopped at a table of four desks pushed back to back and side to side. She placed her hand on the desk that had a nice decorative laminated nametag taped to the top of the desk with Melissa Kauzer printed on it, "this is where you'll sit with four of your classmates."

Melissa nodded and let go of my hand so she could pull her backpack off and hooked the straps on the back of her chair before taking a seat. "Okay, Mel, you going to be okay? Adam and I need to get to class," I said as I glanced at my watch to see that it was eight twenty-two.

Melissa's eyes widened in panic, "can't you just stay until I start class?" she asked, pleadingly.

I shook my head, "sorry sweetie, but you don't start class until nine and our class starts in eight minutes."

"Please, Addison! I don't know any of these kids," she whimpered, clinging onto my arm and pulling me down to her level.

I sighed and was about to tell her I couldn't when Adam spoke up, "you know, Addison, we have the same class and it's with Mrs. Fowler," he said and I looked up at him, "She loves us and I'm pretty sure she'll be fine with you being late if I tell her our sister's really nervous about her first day."

I nodded my head, "yeah, I guess you're right," I said before I looked up at Mrs. Gately, "would it be okay if I stayed with her until you start class?"

"Yeah, that would be fine," she nodded, "and I'll give you a pass before you go."

"Okay, thank you," I said before Melissa released her grip on me.

"Well I'll see you in class," Adam said as he patted me on the shoulder, "and I'll see you after school, okay kiddo?" he smiled at our sister.

"Okay, bye big brother," she smiled up at him before he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Have fun," he said before he headed out of the classroom, heading off to our class so he wasn't late.

I stood up as Mrs. Gately went back to her desk and I sat down in the seat of the desk across from Melissa's, setting my backpack down beside me. I looked down at the desk I was sitting at, reading Raymond Kesler on the nametag, "Raymond Kesler?" I arched a brow, "hey Mel, it looks like little Ray-Ray's in your class," I smiled over at her.

"Tyler's cousin?" she tilted her head and I nodded, "I didn't know he was going here."

"Yeah, he was here for Kindergarten too."

"Cool," she smiled, "at least I'll have one friend."

"I'm pretty sure you'll make more, just stay close to Ray and he'll make sure kids are nice to you." She nodded and we talked a little bit as more and more kids arrived as the minutes passed, getting closer to when their class was supposed to start. It was about eight fifty when Ray walked into the classroom after giving his mom a hug good-bye at the door. "Ray-Ray!" I said happily when I spotted the little squirt.

He looked over and smiled at seeing me and Melissa before he hurried over, "Hi Addison, what are you doing here?"

"I got sent back to the first grade," I shrugged with a saddened expression.

He shook his head, "no, really?"

I smiled, "Mel's nervous, so I'm hanging out till your class starts and I've taken your seat," I said tapping his nametag.

He smiled before looking at my sister, "Hi Melissa," he said as he gave her a hug.

"Hi Ray," she hugged him back.

Ray pulled out of the hug before walking over to me and hung his backpack on the back of his chair that I was occupying, "you don't need to be nervous, Melissa. I'll make sure you're okay," he said and she smiled at him with a small nod.

"Do you have any more friends in class with you?" I asked as I picked him up, setting him in my lap.

"Yup, I have three in this class, but two of my other friends are in a different class," he said and I nodded.

"Cool, you're just mister popular, aren't you?" I said and he laughed, "any girlfriends yet?"

"No," he blushed, "I do like someone, but I can't tell you."

I chuckled before shaking my head and we continued to talk as more kids arrived, the three friends Ray has in this class rushed over to greet him and one actually was assigned to the seat beside Melissa. When class was about to start, I noticed Melissa's nervousness seemed to fade away from having Ray to keep her company and making quick friends with his friends. "Mel, are you okay enough so I can head to class now?" I asked, getting her attention.

"Uh-huh," she nodded, smiling at me, "thanks Addison."

"You're welcome," I said before I lifted Ray out of my lap and got up, grabbing my backpack, "I'll see you after school, baby girl," I said before I placed a kiss on her forehead, "you be good and you too, Raymond," I warned before I kissed the top of his head.

"I'm always good," he smiled up at me.

"I'm not so sure about that," I said and he laughed, causing Melissa and his friend, Brianna to laugh as well. I said bye to the kids once more before I got my pass to class from Mrs. Gately and headed out of the classroom while pulling my backpack on. I walked to the staircase that was about eight feet away from Melissa's classroom and jogged up them to the third floor where my classroom was located. As I headed down the hallway toward my class, I unfortunately came across Jamie Farley, the self-proclaimed hottest and most popular girl in school and her two wannabe look-alikes.

She smirked at me and I just rolled my eyes, groaning on the inside, "Well, look who it is, girls. It's the school's freakazoid," she said in a sarcastically cheerful tone.

I smirked, "and look, it's the school's cum guzzler," I mocked her tone.

She gasped as she stopped in her tracks before she glared at me, "fuck you bitch!" she snapped, her glare followed me as I walked passed them.

"No thanks, I'm into guys and God only knows what diseases you're carrying, you fucking Skank," I said and heard her gasp again before storming off, her two sidekicks following quickly. I chuckled to myself as I continued down the hall, rounding the corner and it wasn't long before I was pulling open the door to my classroom. Students looked up from their conversations with each other to glance at me before going back to what they were doing. I walked over to Mrs. Fowler's desk as she smiled at me, "sorry I'm late," I said as I set the pass down on her desk.

"It's quite alright, it can be really scary for a child to start school somewhere new," she said and I smiled before I turned and headed to the back of the room where I could see Adam doodling in his notebook. He smiled up at me as I approached him, walking to the empty desk beside him and he grabbed his backpack, removing it from the seat.

"So what have I missed?" I patted him on the shoulder and he flinched away, hissing a little.

"Nothing, since it's the first day, she's just letting students catch up with each other, but she does want us to write a paper about how our summer went for homework," he said as I sat down in my seat.

I tilted my head as I looked at him, narrowing my eyes a little, "what happened?"

"Nothing, I'm fine," he said.

"Adam," I slightly growled in my throat.

He sighed before shaking his head, "I got pushed into the lockers," he said and I groaned, slumping back in my seat, "but I'm okay, just my shoulder hurts a little," he assured.

"Who did it?" I looked at him.

"One of Chase Harlow's asshole friends, I don't know his name." I growled in my throat again as my eyes narrowed in anger because of the pure disgust and hatred I had for that piece of shit. Chase Harlow, the jackass little brother of the son of a bitch that cost me the relationship I had with Andy that I cherished so much. All I'm willing to tell you at this moment is I will never tutor another person for as long as I live, especially a guy.

Adam grabbed the bar that connected my chair to my desk and pulled, sliding my desk closer to his, "don't get too angry, it's the first day back and I'm fine," he assured. My expression softened as I looked at my brother and sighed before nodding my head. He kissed my forehead and I smiled at him before resting my head down on my desk. I guess he's right, I do need to stay calm before I do something that'll most likely get me suspended and it being the first day back, that won't be good.

When class ended, Adam and I got up from our seats and headed out of the classroom, running into our friend Tyler who just came out of the classroom next to ours. We headed down the hallway to the main staircase together since we all had class up on the fourth floor. As we headed up the stairs, Danny Gail was making his way down and he smirked when his eyes landed on Adam, "hey Fag," he smiled.

Adam groaned as he glared at him and I placed my hand on his shoulder, "you know, I bet he'd love a cigarette, but don't worry, I got him covered," I said before I smiled at Danny. Tyler chuckled as Danny got all confused, looking at me with a frown while trying to understand what I was talking about. Tyler slammed his shoulder into Danny's, breaking his gaze from me and made him stumble into the wall. Adam and I laughed as we continued our way up to the fourth floor and Tyler split up from us, walking into the first classroom on the right. Adam and I continued down the hall till I split up from him, walking into my Geometry class which was the first class around the corner. Adam had continued to his Biology class that was right across the hall.

In Geometry, we did the same thing my last class did which was after Mrs. Gold welcomed everyone back and made sure we had our books, everyone sat around and talked with one another. I kept to myself and watched music videos on YouTube with my iPhone once I put my headphones on, plugging them into my phone. I had a feeling today was going to be a long boring day at school.

Notes

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