"Kaden, stop!" Sasha's giggles echoed throughout the house and I shook my head in disbelief as I continued stirring the pot, waiting for Mason who retrieved the seasoning from the fridge. "Why don't they come help cook like responsible teenagers?"

"Because using responsible and teenagers in one sentence is an abomination," Mason exclaimed as he handed me the now crushed garlic. Before I could reply frantic footsteps tumbled down the stairs and I turned towards Sasha who tumbled into the kitchen, a sheepish look on her face.

"Uhm please don't kill us but we kind of broke something upstairs i-in your room. . ." she trailed off. I set the wooden spoon down and stared back at her calmly, "what room did you break something in?"

"What room?"

"Yours." I let out a shaky breath and trekked past her, not missing the way she flinched as I marched up the stairs and into Deborah's room. When I stumbled inside, for some reason my eyes immediately flickered towards the place I had rested her portrait onto.

But it wasn't there, instead, it was on the bed, the white cloth that covered it scattered beside it. It was broken in half, barely hanging on by the small piece of wood keeping the two sides attached. I dropped onto my knees before my bed and trailed my hand over the portrait, my eyes welling with tears.

"Michelle we're so sorry," Sasha mumbled behind me but I ignored her as I traced her face with my fingers. I forgot for a moment how alike we appeared, if a stranger were to see us they'd think we were twins and not sisters four years apart.

My hands shook as I took the portrait in my grasp, hissing softly when it bent even more as I held it. Anger coursed through my body as I grabbed both ends and finished breaking it off. I stood up with both pieces in my hands and pivoted on my heels to face Sasha who stood in the doorway beside Kaden.

Mason appeared behind them, his eyes softening at the sight of my tear-stained face. "You guys broke her," I croaked out.

"Michelle we're so so sorry, we didn't mean too."

"What the hell were you even doing in this goddamn room!? How do you stumble into a room that isn't yours and go as far as breaking something? I don't get it, I-I really don't!" I scoffed as I tossed the pieces onto the bed.

"We were just fooling around, Michelle. . ." Kaden trailed off. I chuckled loudly until my chuckles bubbled into fits of laughter and I was clutching onto my stomach, doubling over as the knots in my stomach grew.

"Fooling- f-fooling around? Fooling arou- GROW THE HELL UP YOU TWO! This portrait is priceless! This was the only one we had of her and you broke it! If you can't fix this by tomorrow you can pack your shit and get the fuck out!"

Before either of them could reply I stormed out of the room, shoving past them and ignoring Mason's shouts of protest as I marched down the stairs. I wiped away my tears furiously and stumbled back into the kitchen.

I grabbed the knife sitting on the chopping board and slammed it down onto the carrot. It flew across the room and disappeared under the table but I didn't care. I continued slamming the knife down onto the chopping board angrily until a hand grabbed my wrist and pried the knife from my grip.

"Michelle, relax," Mason mumbled into my ear as his arms slipped around me, holding me to his chest. I sobbed loudly as I lowered my head down onto his shoulder and listened to the words escaping his lips, calming me down.

Eventually, I stopped crying. And as angry as I was it still felt great to cry. Not because her portrait was broken but because I've always put off mourning Deborah. I have cried for her, day and night but I haven't even thought about her for the past few weeks so seeing her portrait broken was like reopening my old scars.

"We're gonna get it fixed, okay? Just- relax, please." I nodded my head slowly and turned to face him. I buried my face into his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat and using that as a means for mine to beat at a steady pace.

When I was sure I calmed down I pulled away from his chest and peered up at him, smiling softly at the concerned look in his eyes. "I don't wanna stay here today," I said and he frowned deeply as he swiped away the tear that trickled down my cheek. "Where do you wanna go?"

"I don't know, I just want to have fun, get my mind off of Deborah, get drunk." He chuckled amusedly and by the look on his face, I could tell that he thought I was joking. "Mason, seriously, I want to leave the house and get drunk so let's go do that," I said as I began to pull away.

He grabbed my hand and tugged me back into his arms, "Michelle you're upset-"

"Exactly! And I want to party, I didn't come here to sit and eat food in the living room, I came here to have fun so let's go do that. There's a party at this bar that I go to with my parents Downtown whenever we visit, we should check it out." I said frantically as I manoeuvred past him.

He sighed heavily behind me and fell into step beside me as I climbed up the stairs. I could see him flashing me concerned glances but I ignored him as I made my way into the room to retrieve my towel. He slumped down onto the bed and watched me silently as I slipped out of my clothes and wrapped the towel around my body.

"You wanna join me?" I taunted and he shook his head slowly, a small smile climbing onto his face as our eyes interlock. "Go ahead," he mumbled as he motioned to the door. With a sigh, I tumbled out of the room and made my way into the washroom.

I really wanted this, I just wanted to forget that I broke down in Mason's arms moments ago because it'll be like admitting to myself that I'll never fully get over Deborah's death. And I'll never forgive Kaleb for killing her or running away to not get caught as he said.

Whichever one is true, he's still la conniving evil bastard and he'll never get my forgiveness, not even if I had a gun pressed to my head.

I climbed into the shower and turned the knob, ignoring the fact that the water was ice cold. Coldwater snapped me back to reality, it didn't soothe me, nor did it relax any tensed muscles. It awoken my senses, made me see things sharper if that made sense.

A cold bath was like my personal defibrillator.

After showering I dried myself off and made my way back into the room but Mason was no longer on the bed. I shut the door behind me and retrieved a simple outfit from my closet. A white bodycon dress, a pair of white sneakers because I didn't feel like wearing heels and a simple necklace.

I pulled my hair into a neat ponytail and grabbed my phone off the bed before sauntering down the stairs and into the family room where I suspected Mason was.

He was leaned against the glass, his eyes fixated on the pool beneath it. He was already dressed and I suspected he took a bath in my parent's room because that's the only other bathroom in the house. "Hey, you ready?" I inquired as I sauntered towards him.

He tilted his head towards me and smiled, "yeah I am, you look great, let's just hope no one else thinks you look great because I'll make sure they can't look at anything ever again." He exclaimed as his arms encircled my waist and he pulled me by his side.

"You're so violent."

He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and tugged me out of the house and down the stairs. "You like it," he winked. I rolled my eyes and slipped into the passenger seat as Mason climbed in beside me. He started the car and pulled out of the driveway and onto the streets.

The car ride to the bar was silent. I didn't have much to say seeing as my mind was cluttered with thoughts, not knowing how to process them all at once as I gazed out the window silently until we arrived downtown.

All I wanted to do was get drunk, drown my sorrows and fall asleep on my way back home. This is our first night here and I already wanna go back to DC. "We're here," Mason exclaimed as he pulled up into the parking lot.

I unbuckled my seat belt and climbed out. This bar is owned by one of my father's friends, we would come here whenever we came on vacation or to just simply visit so I doubt I'd need to show ID if I wanted to get a drink.

Well, that kind of all depends on the bartender.

"Is this a club or a bar?" Mason inquired. I slipped my hand into his and peered up at him, smiling softly, "whatever you wanna call it babe." He rolled his eyes and scoffed as we sauntered into the bar. This was more of a bar slash restaurant but people barely ate here, it was mostly for the kids who weren't allowed to sit with their parents at the bar.

The place was bigger than I remembered and tonight it was crowded with more people than usual seeing as there was a party for the boss's son. My father gave him a heads up that I would probably stop by and I wasn't going too but seeing as I was in the mood to party to get my mind off my troubles I decided where else could I go?

"Michelle!?" Before I could reply a pair of hands enveloped me in a tight hug and I let out a startled gasp as my arms enclosed around them hesitantly. "You came! God, I haven't seen you in so long, how are you?" I pulled away from the hug and peered up at Neil; the boss's son.

He was a bit older than me, twenty to be exact. I always had a crush on him, I mean the man was everything I use to want in a guy before I met Kaleb. He was the normal that I was seeking, now he was nothing more than a pretty face.

"I'm great, Neil! Uhm h-happy birthday, I'm sorry I didn't get you anything, I only decided to come last minute." I said and he waved his hands in the air, brushing it off with a laugh. "It's okay, seeing your face after so long is enough, you guys didn't come last year. . .I-I mean I know why but it's good to see you again, Michelle, we missed you."

Mason suddenly cleared his throat loudly and I snapped my head towards him before chuckling softly, "Neil this is my boyfriend, Mason. Mason, this is Neil, my childhood friend. . .well sorta." Neil outstretched his hand towards Mason who took it in his grasp, his lips pursed in a thin line.

"Nice to meet you, Mason. Anyways ugh, I have a few friends I need to greet, you guys should help yourself at the bar, drinks are free tonight." He winked before maneuvering past us and towards the entrance where more people flooded.

I turned towards Mason who peered down at me in annoyance. I grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the bar, "relax, Mason. He's just a friend, plus he's too old for me anyway." I said and he rolled his eyes in response as we lowered ourselves down onto the stool.

"Hey bartender guy, can I get a vodka and cola and my boyfriend here would like jealousy on the rocks." Mason flashed me a glare and I giggled loudly as he pinched my waist lightly. I swatted his hand away and turned towards the bartender who peered down at us in annoyance.

A gasp suddenly escaped my lips as our eyes interlocked and I stared up at him in astonishment, my lips hanging low. "Michelle?"

"Olsen?"

Mason froze and dragged his gaze towards Olsen, a low chuckle rumbling in the back of his throat, "so you're the guy who took my girlfriend's virginity, what a coincidence!? Isn't it a coincidence that we were just talking about you. . .well not just, maybe a few hours ago but wow! Just wow, yes- yes I think I need that glass of jealousy on the rocks please!"

I lowered my face into my hands and sighed in frustration as Mason shifted on the stool anxiously beside me. Well shit. . .

"Olsen, what are you doing here?"

He smirked and retrieved a bottle of vodka from behind him. "Well remember when I abruptly moved after we broke up? Well, I came here, the owner is my uncle, I live with him and my cousins. It's a really long story but what are you doing all the way here?"

"Your uncle is a family friend and Neil and I go way back, small world huh?" I chuckled. He flashed me a smile and nodded his head slowly as he handed me my drink, our eyes interlocking intensely as he did so.

"YES, SMALL WORLD!" Mason exclaimed from beside me, his eyes wide and his lips pressed into a wide smile. I lowered my hand down onto his back and caressed it softly, as I flashed Olsen an apologetic smile. This night is getting worse than I thought.

•••

"Another," I slurred as I leaned against the counter, my hands waving frantically at Olsen who peered down at me in concern, his head shaking slowly. "No, Michelle, your boyfriend is already giving me murderous glares, I don't want him to actually kill me for getting his girlfriend drunk!" He exclaimed as he grabbed the empty glass from my hand.

"Booooo, y-you're no fun anymore, Olen."

"It's Olsen and yeah I'd love to see you sober with my very functioning and alive body, thank you very much, plus you already did something that your boyfriend won't approve of tonight and if he finds out he'll kill you and me."

I scrunched up my brows in confusion and leaned back, "wh-what are you talking about?" I asked and he suddenly burst into a fit of laughter as he leaned over the counter, our face only inches away from one another.

"You must really be drunk if you can't remember giving me your phone to see your and I quote 'sexy pictures," He winked. My eyes widened in horror and I drew myself back just as Mason sauntered towards us, his face still hard as a rock.

"Come on, dollface, I'm taking you home."

"Nooooo." I cried as he tugged me off the stool. He threw my hand over his shoulder and grabbed my waist to keep me upright, "thanks for watching her," he said and Olsen nodded his head slowly, his eyes never leaving me.

"Goodnight, Michelle." He exclaimed, a mischievous smirk on his face. Mason pulled me away and we began to trek out of the bar. I tilted my head towards Olsen and gasped as he placed his thumb and pinky to his ear and mouthed ' call me.'

You've got to be shitting me.