⭐️

❤️

When I was around 5 years old I used to have really bad nightmares about my parents. I could so clearly remember the feeling of waking up in the early morning crying and thrashing around in what seemed like a pool of sweat.

The worst of all? I could never really tell if it was my parents that was calling out my name or holding me close in my dreams because at that point I couldn't even remember that last time when my father dropped me and Damon off at the record shop for Lenny to watch over us Lenny while he attended more "important" matters.

Now at the age of 18, I felt that I perhaps had the opportunity to give something back to Lenny for all of his kindness. Because to me those days I spent with him in the shop was the happiest days of my childhood. I grabbed my bag from under the bed and unplugged my phone from the charger before heading down the stairs.

Last night I had gotten some good news from my oldest brother when he had come by to get some papers from his home office. He and Axel discussed me being alone at the house so often without someone to drive me to after school activities or anywhere really. I knew very well that they were secretly afraid of me falling back into my old ways, but thankfully I had my friends now that hopefully wouldn't stab me in the back anytime soon.

Anyways they had agreed to give me some more freedom in terms that there was a possibility that I could finally be able to get my drivers license. I did a little happy dance because that meant that I didn't have to completely rely on my friend picking me up anymore. Maybe I could start picking them up, Aaah I was so freaking excited.

Suddenly I heard the familiar sound of a car horn beeping outside and quickly grabbed my sneakers and headed out the door. Outside Cristina, Eli was waiting unpatiently in Elis new car.

It was a nice car, a very nice car I must admit. It was a very sleek black Audi and matched the twins perfectly.

His parent had taken him to pick it up yesterday and I could tell he was super excited to drive it. Honestly, at first, I was kinda taken aback by the fact that his parent would allow their son to drive such an expensive and nice car, but then again Eli was an amazing driver and I was confident that he would take good care of it.

"Wow, the car looks amazing Eli," I said as I slide into the backseat. I leaned forward to grab my notebook from Cristina that sat in the passenger seat.

"Thank you for letting me borrow your notes Alex, I swear you are a lifesaver." She said giving me a big smile showing off her perfect white teeth.

I used to be so jealous of the people that had such perfect smiles and didn't have to wear braces. The relief of finally getting them removed... I can't describe it in words.

"Okay ladies where should we go eat before the concert?" Eli asked.

"Cristi what do you think? I don't mind where we go." Honestly, I didn't have any favourite place to eat here except the diner tho that serves the absolute best English breakfast with fried eggs, delicious bacon and heavenly... Oh wow, I was now really hungry.

"Hmm maybe we can go that place next to the park, Alex you know the place next to that record shop you go to. I can't remember the name but they have the best burgers." She said trying to remember the name which I strangely didn't either.

I did know the place tho, but I hadn't eaten there before I had walked past it a lot of times and it always looked kind of empty and dark in a sense. I was not really sure how Cristina had been there before because it doesn't seem like a place or area she would go to, but who knows maybe they have really good food.

"Ok girls to the restaurant we go." Eli laughed while speeding up a bit making me hold on to the seat in front of me.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Eli asked getting out of the car.

It was quite small but cosy looking. The front door was painted in a faded blue colour and a cute little 'Open' sign hang in the window so at least it was t closed.

I follow Cristina as she is determined to walk up to the restaurant. She pulled the door and entered and the second I stepped inside the smell of fresh bread instantly indulged me.

It didn't look rundown or old like I kind of had imagined it to look like, actually, it looked newly renovated and very welcoming.

The walls were painted in a pretty pastel green colour and one of the walls was covered in bricks. Plants were hanging from the ceiling and I was in complete awe of it. Why hadn't I noticed this place earlier?

"Alex doesn't leave her waiting, come order," Cristina said pulling me up to the register. Only one person was working behind the counter and I was completely taken back by who that person was.

I didn't know Helena worked here. Her hair was tied up in a tight ponytail and she was wearing her glasses instead of her lenses that she had been trying to get used to.

"Helena I didn't know you worked here!" I said. She laughed a little before answering me.

"Well, I'm only working here a bit on the weekend to help my uncle out so it doesn't distract me from school."

"Anyways what can I get you guys?" Helena asked gesturing to the huge sign on the wall above her.

I browsed over the dishes on the wall menu and finally decided on the number 9. Cristina stayed to order while I and Eli went to find a table.

There weren't many people sitting at the tables so we chose the window seat that faced the quiet street. The weather outside was getting colder and the bright colours were slowly fading.

My thin summer jacket wasn't going to keep me warm much longer so I probably had to bring Mason to the mall and get a warm coat soon.

When sitting down and looking at the people walking outside I couldn't help but wonder where he was. If he was still in town like some people had told me or maybe somewhere else. Mostly I wondered if he ever thought of me as I did of him.

I wished he could come back so we could get to know each other again without all that mess. Maybe he would open up to me and let me in. One question had kept me awake the last couple of days. Would I let him in? I didn't know, I was afraid to let people in for two reasons. I was afraid of the damage they could do and the damage they could find.

"Are you okay? you looked so dreamy." Cristina asked coming back and taking the seat next to me.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about something."

"You know It's been a while Alex, and we think that you need to move on and let yourself start to enjoy life again," Eli said smiling softly.

I don't know why that upset me, but it did.

"Don't you two have any kind of understanding of what has happened to me this last month? I was freaking kidnapped from my home where I was finally starting to feel safe. I had so many good friends there that I am afraid to contact because one of my best friends turned out to be a freaking psycho!" I said trying my best not to let any tears escape my eyes.

Nobody said anything after that, but they didn't seem angry at me either. I guess that understood that I just needed to let all that built up anger out.

After some time our food finally arrived and the smell of delicious food entered the air around us. What can be more blessing to the soul than good food?

I took a bit of the bread and my taste buds were screaming with happiness. I took big bites, basically stuffing my mouth, looking like a squirrel. No matter the amount of stomach ache il have to go through after this, it was definitely worth it.

Cristina wasn't sharing her meal today, she was slurping everything like a freaking vacuum cleaner and the look of horror on Eli's face said it all.

After all of us finishing eating, Eli and I went straight inside the car meanwhile Cristina stayed inside to talk with Helena about something.

I sat inside the warm car finally getting to sit in the passenger seat. Then I heard the sound of a phone buzzing from underneath my seat and I leaned over to look for it with my hand.

I finally got a hold of it when the screen light up again. I didn't want to be nosy so I was just going to give it back to her, but then my eyes fell on the name that was on the screen.