1 year later

"Emilia! You have a few letters in the mail!" My mom yells from downstairs. I drop my pen and head down the stairs. I rush into the living room with excitement seeing my mother looking at the other mail. I grab my letters from the table. Noticing, that they are my college letter.

"Oh my gosh! There letters from college!" I squeal, gripping them tighter in my hand, except the last has scribbled handwriting that resembles...

Dred washes over me instantly as I glance at the letter.

"I'm gonna open these upstairs," I say, trying to hide the fear and distress lacing my voice.

"Okay honey, let me know what they say," She says looking at me with an excited smile then she looks back at the TV.

"I will," I say as I rush up the stairs. I quickly, but quietly, shut my door and sit at my desk. I place the letter down, staring at it. I reluctantly grab it, tearing it open and looking at the letter.

Did you really think you wouldn't see us again? I notice you are living with your whore of a mother again and have been with that boy I see? Well that just can't do know, can it? Meet us at this address tonight at 8:00 or you won't see you precious boyfriend again. Accidents do happen you know? -Greg

I feel tears prick my eyes as I scan the letter, again and again, wishing it was real. The tears stream down my face as I viciously slap the paper down on the desk and groan in irritation. Why couldn't they just leave me alone once I'm finally happy!

I push up from my desk and pace around my room, trying to come up with anything to get around that, but come up with none from the overwhelming feeling flooding through me.

I have to go, I don't want others to be hurting because of me.

I grab my phone stuffing it in my pocket. I step out of my room telling my mother I'm going to Xander's house. I feel quilt wash over me as I blatantly lie to her face. I shake it off and hop into my car my dad bought me and start to put the address in my phone. I start heading that way, following the directions that are spoken through my phone and feel fear wash over me.

No one should be hurt because of me.

----

--Xander's P.O.V.--

I pull up to Emilia's driveway and turn off my engine with a sigh. I get out of my car and head up the steps to the front door. I knock three times and patiently wait for the door to open.

Moments later it opens and I'm greeted with Emilia's mother.

"Hey, Lillian, is Emilia home?" She looks shocked before shaking her head.

"She said she was with you?" She says with a worried expression. Fear flushes through me. I step into her house as she steps out of the way, allowing me in.

"Do you know where she could have gone?" She asks me and I shake my head.

"I have no idea. Did anything happen that could have caused her to be upset?" I ask. I know sometimes she just likes to be alone after something upsetting happens. Sometimes she just goes to the park or the usual diner where we had our first date. She looks taken aback then thinks over it before her eyes widen.

"She got her college letters today. Maybe she didn't get in?" She questions herself. She starts taking fast steps upstairs and I follow close behind her.

She goes through her door and rushes to her desk looking at it in confusion.

"She hasn't opened her college letters yet but wait..." She picks up a letter skimming through it and her eyes widen as tears form in her eyes.

"No, no, no! I hope she didn't do this," I snatch the letter and fear the worst. I quickly skim through it and see it's from Greg.

"We have to go now," I state rushing down the stairs.

"Call the police and tell them to go to that address," I say hopping in my car with her mother and speeding to this address. That's across town, its about 20 minutes, who know when she left.

Hold on Emilia...

--Emilia's P.O.V.--

I pull up to the abandon looking house notice one other car here, seeing it's his. I slowly step out of the car and start walking up to the house. I enter the raggedy house, causing the door to squeak as I slowly push it open. I step in hearing the floor creak under my slow footsteps. Other sets of footsteps echo through the run down house, making me turn around abruptly looking at Greg.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my sweet, sweet daughter of mine," He says as I practically hear his smirk. I grimace seeing Anthony and Cameron on either side of him.

"What do you want and I'm not your daughter," I spit out as I push the anger down that's flowing through me.

"Did you really think that I could let you be happy with my wife and have a better life than me? You deserve all the pain and suffering that you have gotten and will get! You're a worthless little bitch! Your boyfriend will leave you once he has used you. Your fucking ugly and repulsive no one would want you except us," He yells taking steps closer to me, as I take steps back.

"You're wrong! He loves me! They all love me!" I yell at him trying to stand my ground.

"You are so delusional Emilia! Only we can love you," Anthony adds in.

"Love? You never loved me you sick freaks! You tortured me for years over something I had no control over!" I yell back.

"You worthless little bitch!" Greg says as he slaps me across the face. He grips my arm and I tug trying to get it free but his tight grip makes me wince.

"You will listen to me and you will come with us somewhere far, far from this shit town, where we can spend so much time together," He grumbles pulling harder on my arm.

"No! I will never go with you! I will never stop trying to run from you! Never!" I yell pulling harder and try digging my nails into his hand. He releases me with a groan in pain. I make a dash for the door and open it but get pulled back and slammed to the floor. I groan as pain shoots up my back causing a dizzy feeling to wash over me. I try crawling away but Anthony grips my arm pulling me up as Cameron grips my other side.

Greg stands in front of me with a devilish smirk on his face.

"Now where were we?" He states as he raises his hand. I turn my head and a scream erupts from me just as the impact of the door bursting open as I hear the splitting of wood from the door.

"Let go of the girl and put your hand where I can see them now!" Someone screams. They release me, causing me to fall to the ground in a heap as I harshly squeezing my eyes shut.

"Grab them and take them to the police station,"

I feel hands on me and I jump away, trying to get them away from me, but the person squeezes harder.

"Emilia, Emilia. It's me, Xander," he whispers in my ear, whispering soothing words to calm me down.

"Xander? How did y-"

"I saw the letter, why didn't you tell us?" He says sounding slightly hurt.

"I didn't want anyone to fix my problems, they were my problems. Not anyone else's," I say defeated.

"Emilia stop! You know that's not true. We are your family! We will always help you with your problems, as you would do for us," He says. I hear quick footsteps and look up to see my mother and father with relief flooding their expressions when seeing me.

"Emilia! I'm so glad you're alright! Why didn't you say anything?! I was so worried about you," she says as tears form in her eyes. I slowly stand and give her a hug

"Mom, I'm so sorry. I...I wasn't thinking, I'm sorry," A sob wracks through my body as I feel my father give us a hug.

I cry into there embrace. I hear a throat clear and sniffle looking over at the source of the noise. An officer is standing there with a small smile.

"Can you come to the police station and give your statement of what happened?" He asks I look at my parents and Xander, as they give me an encouraging smile.

"We will meet you there?" I say. He nods his head and steps outside. I grab Xander's hand and head outside.

----

I had given my statement to the police office and feel releived finally getting everything off my chest.

I flop on my bed in a defeated tone instantly relaxing into the comfortable bed.

I told the officer everything that had happened to me for the 2 years I had lived with them. Showing them the note they had recently sent to us as evidence and had support from my family and friends.

I hear a light knock on the door and say a soft 'come in' before my mom appears in the doorway with a small smile.

"Hey I just wanted to check on you again and make sure you are okay," she says taking a seat on my bed.

"Yeah, I'm better now. I can finally be at peace knowing they are getting what they finally deserve," I say. She smiles bring me into another hug.

"I'm just glad you're okay dear," She says pulling away placing a soft kiss on my forehead. I slump my shoulders and a yawn escapes my lips as I smile at her.

"Get some rest sweetie. Graduation is tomorrow," she says softly before exiting the room.

"Goodnight mom," I say.

I soon fall asleep finally feeling safe.

----

"Emilia get up! It's your big day today!" My mother exclaims as she pulls the blanket from my body causing me to shiver from the chill in the room.

"Mom! It's cold!" I whine trying to reach for the blanket but can't find it. I sit up and notice it thrown on the floor and a pout forms on my lips.

"Mom!" I whine.

"Guess you have to get up then anyway right?" She says with a triumphant smile.

"Alright get in the shower and hurry so you are not late!" She says before leaving the room. I get up taking a quick shower before heading to my room putting on my flowery dress and black flats. I do my makeup adding mascara and eyeliner making my eyes pop. After I'm done I quickly head down the stairs and get met with my mother and father staring at me with wide smiles on their faces. I smile back.

"You look so beautiful dear," My mother says as she pulls me into a hug.

"Thanks, mama," I say blushing at the compliment.

"Alright everyone ready to go?" My father says as he grabs his keys from the hook by the door. I nod my head and quickly follow him out the door with my mother.

----

We pull into the school and I hop out of the car and see all my friends waiting outside. Xander is in the middle of talking but he turns his head giving me a huge smile. I smile back saying an 'I'll see you later' to my parents before rushing over to them.

"Emilia you look hot girl!" Clara exclaims as she gives me a hug.

"Thank you! You look great Clara! Oh and where's Mathew by the way?" I ask as Xander pull me to his side.

"He's already sitting inside with his parents," He says with a half smile.

"Well, that's good at least right?" I ask. He nods.

"Yeah, they were angry that we have been dating so long before telling them but they soon came around after we talked about it, they still don't completely like it but Mathew says he's never been this happy," Adam says with a pink tinge on his face.

"Alright, students come in and line up in alphabetical order like we practiced, quickly, quickly!" The principal says as everyone shuffles to get in line.

"Alright see you guys later," I say as I step into line.

The music soon starts to play and the lines start moving forward. Everyone starts stepping slowly forwards walking around the gym and finally taking a seat. I see my parents and grandmother in the stand with Xanders family. I smile as Izzy jumps and waves with a gleeful smile on her face. I do a small wave back and smile as they all look at me.

The murmurs from the crowd die down as the principal starts to speak.

"Hello, students! Finally made it, wasn't so bad was it?" He says as laughter erupts from the gym.

"I know it's been a long year but in a few moments, you will be high school graduates and off on your own! Some may go to college, some may already have a career set for them! But I know you all will do great things out there but you guys probably don't want to hear a long speech, so let's just get to calling the names, cause that's what everyone cares about right?" he laughs as does everyone in the room.

He starts at the beginning from the list soon getting to Xander on the long list of students.

"Alexander Michael Jones," everyone starts clapping as Xander stands walking up the stage. He does a little laugh then looks at me and winks. I can here Izzy yell 'That's my brother!' and I look over, seeing people laughing with Izzy.

"Adam Gabriel Olsen," people starts to clap again and as Adam walks up the stage he does a little spin before walking off the stage. I laugh at his giddiness, getting nervous for my turn that is coming up soon.

"Tony Arthur Stevens," He walks up and does a little wave and I hear Clara scream louder than the rest of the people in the room, making everyone laugh.

"Emilia Rene Stone," I slowly stand, trying to get my wobbly legs to cooperate with my brain and start to step up the stage. This is it. This is it. I repeat in my head over and over as I walk across the stage. I walk up to the principal, shaking his hand and grabbing my diploma.

"Congratulations, Emilia," He says with a smile. I turn and smile looking at my parents then all my friends. I look down and walk down the steps with a smile on my face. I take a seat back down and hear a bunch more names before finally getting to Clara, being the last person in our class.

"Clara Elizabeth Wells," I hear her squeal and she rushes up the stage, grabbing her diploma. She turns to the crowd and starts to jump like a little child as she rushes off the stage. I laugh at her as she takes a seat back down.

"Alright class of 2018! You have finally graduated!" Cheers erupt from the room as everyone stands and gives the final applause to our class.

I meet up with everyone and head out the door to get out of the crowded gym.

"Congrats everyone!" Adam says. We all group hug and we meet up with our parents.

"We are having a celebration at our house, everyone is welcome of course!" Adam's parents say to all of us. We look at each other and nod.

"Sounds lovely," my grandmother says. We all get in our cars, trying to get out of the stupid traffic and head for Adams house.

----

Once we finally arrive we enter Adams house to see everyone's here. I look for Xander and see him looking right at me. We walk to each other and he wraps his arms around my waist pulling me into a kiss.

"Congratulations, Emilia," He says giving me quick peck again. I smile against his lip.

"Congratulations to you too, Xander," I say giving him another peck before walking towards the house.

"Lunch will be ready soon, Hope everyone likes hamburgers and hot dogs! I also made my famous homemade potato salad!" Adams mother says as she takes everything out of the fridge.

"We are going upstairs Mom," Adams says.

"Okay, go ahead dear, we will call when it's ready," she says with a wave. We all head up the stairs everyone taking a seat around the game room.

"Clara, I'm surprised you didn't fall on your ass, jumping around like that. It would have been hilarious," Tony jokes as he pulls her closer. She looks over at him with a raised eyebrow. She folds arms and starts to pout.

"Not nice," She mumbles. He shakes her lightly.

"I'm just joking babe," He says as he gives her a peck on the cheek.

They start playing their game and Clara comes and sits next to me with a smile.

"We have finally done it," She sighs.

"Are you going to college?" I ask.

"Yeah, I plan to, I just don't know what I'm going to do yet," she says with a shrugg of her shoulders.

"What about you?" She asks.

"I'm actually gonna go to do graphic design or some type of art degree. I just want to do something I love, you know? I had wanted to be a nurse but now my parents are paying for my college and they want me to do something I love so, that's what I'm gonna be doing," I say.

"Well yeah, since you such a good artist!" She laughs. I shake my head with a smile before we start talking about colleges and other random stuff.

"Alright, kids! Time for lunch!" I hear from downstairs, interrupting our conversation.

I hear the guys groan in protest saying something about 'not being able to pause the game'. Me and Clara beat them downstairs and head outside, just as Adam's father takes the remainder of the food that was cooking on the grill. He set it down on the table that loaded with different foods from potato salad, macaroni salad, pasta salad, mac and cheese, green beans, and just salad. So much food. I chuckle to myself.

Everyone start digging into the food, conversations, and laughter erupting from the table as everyone enjoys there time. I glance around at everyone. Everything is perfect. I never thought this was going to be the way my life would be, happiness and joyous now.

It finally everything I have ever wanted after the long torture of those terrible years.

A true family.

I guess long sleeves were my friend.