After days of convincing, Mara has finally relented on Alec's qualms. To see her psychiatrist again for a whole month. Alec assured us both that this might help Mara with some of the things that she doesn't want to tell us. At least with her psychiatrist, she can trust her based on her past experience with the very same doctor.

Alec has also arranged for someone to come by and discuss the wedding plans with us. He took it upon himself to hire us a wedding planner despite my rejections of his offer. Apparently, ignoring me has become his new thing.

I haven't been able to talk to Mara or ask her in depth about what happened to her or how it happened. It's been a constant flow of visits from our friends, mostly to see Mara. It's been crazy but I'm glad that she's at least interacting with a close circle of people that she knows. Honestly, I'm just happy that she is still smiling. It's a relief to just see her smile of let out a chuckle after what happened.

Aside from that, Alec still hasn't released any information about Amelia or her involvement with what happened and what is happening to Mara right now. Both him and Emil still have a tight lip over the matter. It's crazy to get anything out from either of them.

However, it seemed that keeping Amelia away from Tamara has become a futile attempt on our part as she is now standing in my living room, looking as unpleasant as always. She arrived with Jack who is at ends wits with worry for his youngest child.

"Jack, how have you been?" I asked him politely, ignoring the witch that is standing beside him. I am quick to offer him a seat. Alec might find him untrustworthy, but I still would like to give Jack the benefit of the doubt until concrete evidence about him betraying his children showed up.

He takes a seat, Amelia following his actions closely. She's like an eyesore, following Jack everywhere she can. "Where's Mara?"

I give Jack a smile before pointing to my bedroom door. "She's sleeping in my room right now."

Unlike his son, Jack is not the stalking type. I doubt he knows anything about Mara and I except that we're really close and he's hoping that this arrange marriage goes better than he's expecting.

"You mean you share a bed?" Amelia's annoying voice asked. She flips her hair and rolls her eyes. "What a slut."

"Amelia!" Jack shouted in a mortified voice. "I did not let you come with me just to talk bad about my daughter." He hissed at her.

Amelia carelessly shrugs her shoulders. Almost like a kid, she slumps a little on her seat, ignoring Jack deliberately.

"We don't. I got a new bed delivered to the other room. Although, it isn't as furnished as my room." I said to Jack, ignoring Amelia's attitude towards him. If Jack is embarrassaed at her attitude, I'm mortified. Such a woman lived with Mara? Damn. I'm glad she didn't pick up the attitude or her awful taste of clothing. Or whatever it is she calls what she's wearing.

I have a vogue memory of Jack's first wife, May. She was a lovely person. She never talked to Jack this way in front of other people. Frankly, I have never heard her say something bad or curse. She always dressed fashionably but still making sure she doesn't show too much skin. She wasn't one to wear too much make-up either.

Still, it bewilders me that Jack would settle for someone who is clearly on the lowest of lowest of level.

After May died, Jack spent most of his time with his kids. With a barely walking toddler and Alec, Jack didn't see it fit that he leave them under a supervision of a nanny.

I remember all of these because whenever Jack had work that cannot be done in his house, he would leave Tamara and Alec at my house under my Dad's supervision. Of course, Mom was always against it and they always end up having a fight inside Dad's office.

Jack only started doing out of the country work when Alec and I entered Grade Eight.

Jack sighs. "I'll take Mara back to the house."

"Mara is staying here until I get us an apartment of our own. Preferably somewhere quiet." Alec said dismissively. His eyes glancing at Amelia who sat beside his Dad. "Do you even own anything decent?"

I hold down my laughter at Alec's words. Honestly, the woman wears clothing that reveals too much of her skin. As if people are still interested in her in that way. It's just an eye sore and I don't know how Jack could stand to be around her so much.

"Alec, please." Jack pleads to his son tiredly.

Alec ignores his Dad and gets on Amelia's case. "Do people your age dress like that? Man, I'm scared. If Mara ever starts to wear those things you call clothes, I'd be mortified." He continues his monologue. "I mean, to think that you even had the guts to show your face again to us after what you were wearing when Dustyn stopped by the house last year. Oh! Let's not forget your little brave act when you thought Mara was alone in our quarters." Alec continues on sarcastically.

By now, Amelia is red with embarrassment. She puts on the coat she was wearing before she entered the apartment and shamefully looks in the direction of Jack whose face is etched in anger and irritation. The fun part is, it's not directed at Amelia, his eyes are on Alec the whole time.

"Alec, that's not how you talk to your step mother." Jack said through his gritted teeth.

Alec stubbornly crosses his arms on his chest before addressing his father's words. "I honestly don't know who you're talking about. That tramp has never been part of my family."

Jack is red, not with embarrassment but with anger. "Maybe it is time you move out of the house. Leave Mara in my care." Jack stressed the point of leaving Mara behind.

"Like hell. I won't leave her alone with a trash. I'm taking Mara with me." Then, Alec smiles sarcastically at Jack. "You forget, Dad. Even if I leave that house, it's still my house."

My jaw dropped at his words. That house has been owned by the Ramirez family since I could remember. How the hell does Alec own a house he grew up in? Damn it. My best friend has been hiding a lot of things from me. I doubt Mara knows anything about this.

I watch as Jack marches out of the apartment without asking for Mara. Amelia runs after Jack, stumbling and shouting curses as she tries to catch up to him. I would've laughed at the sight if it weren't for Alec's words.

"Problem solved. Your turn to stay with Mara." Alec said and left with his phone on his ear.

I let him leave still too shock to say something to him.

After her classes today, I would pick her up and drive her to her therapist.

Early this morning, I could already sense her restlessness. Breakfast was quiet and almost suffocating as we both didn't know what to say to each other. It almost felt like sitting in the dining are was a big mistake on my part. But I didn't want to leave Mara alone to her thoughts if she ever gets too deep into them.

These past few days, I experienced her nightmares with her. It wasn't as bad as that night when Alec was there. But it was a continuous torture at night. Every time she wakes up, screaming and shouting for help. Wriggling in bed as if in pain or as if she was cowering from someone.

Those were the first times I have ever seen her like that. We have slept on the same bed for a couple of times but those times, Mara was always sleeping comfortably beside me, barely making any noise as she does so.

Last night was no different. I woke up to her shouting and screaming again. I ran to her room, and woke her up from her nightmare. Her wide gray eyes staring back at me with so much fright was a sight I would never forget.

The bags under her eyes are darker and more prominent as she have started to also lose her appetite no matter how much food we try to make her eat. She's thinner than she was before and it's almost like she's just steadily declining.

When Alec suggested that we put her in contact with her therapist again, I was reluctant. I didn't want Mara to think that we're making her do our bidding again. I wanted her to come to us and tell us that she wants that. Not the other way around. But Alec wasn't having any of my arguments. He pushed on his plans.

We were sitting in the living room when Alec suddenly decided to sprung the idea on Mara who was blankly staring at the show on the television. She has been doing that a lot since that night.

"Mara, I was thinking about contacting you therapist again. You remember Dr. Rose right?" Alec asked her softly, putting a hand on her right knee.

Lazily, Tamara turns her head towards Alec and nods her head, "Do I have to go?"

Alec smiles regretfully at her. "I'm not sure if you want to or not but it is something I highly suggest. It helped last time, remember?"

"Okay." Tamara answers with a soft nod of her head.

"You don't have to if you're not ready, shortcake." I said without thinking. Tamara turns her head to me and smiles. While behind her, Alec looks at me like I'm crazy.

"No. I should go. Will you drive me to my first appointment Dy?" She asked softly.

I am a goner for her smile no matter what the situation is. She's been down and almost ghostly these past few days that I couldn't help but nod at her request. "Of course, shortcake."

If I thought Mara would be better after her classes, I was wrong.

Just as the twins drop her off at my car, they both send a subtle shakes of their head to me. Indicating that Mara has been spaced out the whole day despite their company and support. Both of them cheerfully expressed their support for Mara before leaving with a worried look on their faces.

"How was your day shortcake?" I asked, opening the door of the passenger seat for her.

She looks up at me. "It was okay." She responded and quietly got inside the car.

Despite her resolve to go back to therapy, I could see she's still scared. Of what, I don't know.

The drive to the place was quiet, almost like this morning's breakfast. Mara sat on her seat quietly gazing at the streets of New York as we go. A curtain of her separates us as I try to sneak a glance to see how she's doing.

"We can cancel, shortcake. Do this another time." I said comfortingly to her as I park the car. In front of us is the building where the good doctor's office is. It's a beige colored building in the middle of the city. Its hard to miss as it is the only two-storey building in this street.

"Will that mean I'm running away?" She asked softly. For the first time that day, I understood what she's feeling.

Of course.

People must've looked and treated her differently when they found out she has issues. They must've shunned her away or even walked on eggshells around her. Maybe they've went as fast as giving her fake smiles and fake encouragements, words without meaning to them but did a great impact on Mara's mindset. Maybe she's afraid of going back inside because she's afraid people would leave again.

"Shortcake, we're going to support you all the way."I told her with confidence.

"We?"

"Alec, I, Rory, Vero and Mark. Let's not forget your two friends who would never ever leave you for anything."

She looks away again. Sadly looking at the building in front of her, like hell is waiting for her inside. "They've never seen me like this."

Right. I knew she moved schools after the whole thing happened or at least at that time, I thought she preferred that her new school was nearer to her house. Now that things are becoming clear to me, so is every action and decision her family has made for the past years. It all surrounds the secret that the youngest child of the Ramirez experienced.

"I know. But I don't think Artemis and Apollo are ones to leave when the going is tough." I said, slowly building up her courage to go inside.

Mara knows she needs this, despite her doubts and fears. She knows seeing her old doctor would help her tremendously, just like she did the first time. "Art would probably say I'm crazy for thinking like this." She suddenly said, a smile finally lighting up her face as she thinks about her friends. "And Apollo would smile and give me a shrug."

"See. They won't judge you."

"Thanks, Dy. I think.. I think we should go in." She said, her smile not leaving her face. I could still see in her eyes that she dreads going but I think she's determined to defeat the monster in her nightmares more than anything.

"Let's go."

We walk to the door of the place holding hands. Providing the comfort that Mara seeks for that certain moment. As we enter the place, the smell of fresh lemon enters my nose. The first wall I see is of colour blue. The place is heavily decorated with encouraging quotes from famous authors and actors. There are seats provided for the waiting patients. A TV, a magazine rack and even a player are placed around the room to provide some entertainment.

We head over to the receptionist, an old woman who looks to be in her 60s sits. She takes one look at Tamara and a huge welcoming smile blossoms on her face. Like a grandma, she sweetly talks to Mara who is also smiling at the woman.

"Oh I haven't seen you in so long, sweety. How have you been?" She asks as Mara fills up a sheet of paper she slipped her.

"I've been better, Melba. I didn't think you'd still be working."

"Oh you know me. Always workin' hard." She replies to Mara. "Who's this?"

"Oh!. Dustyn, this is Melba. She's been here since I last came." Mara said, introducing me to the kind woman.

"Hi. How are you?" I asked the woman politely with a smile on my face.

She returns my smile with one of her own. "You sure are good looking. I never thought your brother would let someone else take you here."

"They're best friends. They're the same, Alec's worse." Mara said, snitching the both of us to woman who laughs joyously as Mara does it.

"Isn't that right?" Melba asked. Mara hands her the paper, fully filled up with her personal information. "Thank you, dear. Wait for your name to be called."

"You okay?" I asked her softly as we both take a seat to wait for her turn.

She nods her head. "Doing better than I expected, actually."

I squeezed her hand softly. "Good. I'm glad."

We waited patiently for her name to be called as the other patients are called. We both stayed quiet for most of it, occasionally talking but mostly lost in our own thoughts. Finally, Mara's name is called.

As Mara's name is called by Melba, she looks at me. "You can just come back for me, Dy." She said.

I shook my head at her, looking at her like she's crazy. "I'll wait here for you shortcake."

"Mara, come on dear." Melba called again, as she opens the door to the office of the doctor. Melba looks at Mara patiently waiting for her to be ready.

"Go on, shortcake. I won't leave." I told her with a smile. She simply nods her head and enters the room with slumped shoulders.