A/N: So sorry about how long this took... I had major writer's block but I think I got through it. :) 

Alexis

Aiden makes easy small-talk on the drive from the venue to the theater, asking me about school and life on tour, and answers when I divert back to him each time. It's not a long drive, but we've both relaxed a little by the time we get there.

He hops out quickly and opens the door for me before I can get it myself.

I can't tell if it's cause he's that kind of a guy, or because he's on edge after Luke's lecture. Maybe a bit of both, I guess. Fitting, since we're going to a Marvel movie.

We walk inside in silence, and I reach for my purse as we slip into line at the ticket booth.

"That's not gonna happen, Lex," Aiden says, grinning. "I'll pay."

"No, you won't," I protest. "I can..."

He cuts me off. "It's not an option. That's the way it's gonna be."

I roll my eyes, muttering my annoyance just loud enough for him to hear.

"Hey, do you want Joel and Luke to kill me?" he retorts.

I can't help but smile slightly. "I guess not."

He orders our tickets, and we slip into the main part of the theater. He offers to buy me food, but doesn't push after I give him an instant no, and doesn't get anything himself, though I tell him he can.

We're about to head in, when I see a face that makes me stop breathing. I've seen it in a profile picture online more times than I'd like to count.

I turn to Aiden frantically. "I thought you said she wouldn't be here!"

He frowns in confusion. "Who?"

"Jessica!" I hiss, pointing with a trembling hand to where she and another girl seem to be waiting for someone.

The blood drains from his cheeks when he sees her.

"She... she's not supposed to be," he says, and I can tell he's not lying. "Mom and dad said she was going to a friend's house... a friend who lives here in Denver... they must have come here from there. I... I don't know what to do."

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Just pretend like we don't see them and let's get into the movie."

He nods slowly, reaching down and taking my hand in his.

He doesn't do it in a romantic kind of way, though, and it doesn't even make me flinch. Because he's doing it to protect me.

He sets his shoulders, I attempt to do the same, and he leads me towards the entrance into the hall where the individual theaters are. Jessica and her friend are standing right there, but neither of us so much as glance their way, focusing on the dude who'll take our tickets.

We're almost there when a sickly-sweet voice cuts us off.

"There you guys are! I knew you wouldn't stand us up."

"Jess, get lost," Aiden says coldly without even looking at her. "You're not supposed to be here."

"Bro, it's a free country," she snaps, "and Mom and Dad gave me permission to go to a movie with Liliana."

He rolls his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. I don't care what you do as long as you stay away from us."

"Yeah?" she taunts. "We're seeing the same movie, so I'd like to see you make me."

"Jess..." She ignores the warning note in his tone.

"We can sit with you if we want to, and there's nothing you can do to stop us."

"We can leave," he replies icily.

"And let us win?" she laughs. "I'll take it."

"Aiden, let's just go in," I whisper, not daring to look up from the floor.

He sighs. "You sure?"

I nod wordlessly, and, without another word to his younger sister, he leads me up to hand over our tickets, and down to the right theatre. Jessica and Liliana are barely a step behind us. We find our seats, good ones since we're early, and the two devil-children sit right next to us. Right next to me.

Without saying anything to plan it, Aiden and I switch seats. And Jessica switches to my now-unprotected side.

I swear under my breath, turning to take a seat on the edge.

As if on cue, a couple enters and sits down right where I'm looking. That's what we get for choosing the best row. Liliana has already taken the other end, sitting there with her feet up and a smirk on her face.

Still without saying anything to each other, Aiden and I step down to the next row, and I seat myself on one end, as he takes his place beside me.

Jessica follows, a confident smile on her face. And she proceeds to sit down on the floor at my side, smirking up at me.

"Hey, Lexi."

I look away, hating myself for being so afraid of a thirteen-year-old.

"Jessica, I swear," Aiden begins, getting to his feet to take her.

I hold up a hand to stop him. "Aiden, it's no use," I say quietly. "Just ignore them. Let's take our seats back."

With a seething look at Jess, he follows me back up to where we were before, and we claim our seats again. Jessica plops down beside me.

I grit my teeth and pull out my phone to silence it, refusing to even acknowledge the face that she's there.

I can feel her eyes on the screen, watching me as I unlock it and silence it. Just ignore her. There's nothing to see anyway.

Once I'm done, I set my purse down on the ground and look to the movie screen. Jessica puts her own bag down, right next to mine, along with the huge bag of popcorn in her hand.

She offers me a fake smile, even though I won't meet her gaze.

"Want some?" It's just the slightest whisper, and, especially with the noise of the commercials, I know I'm the only one who can hear her.

I don't answer. Pretend like she doesn't exist. Just pretend like she doesn't exist.

Slyly, before I can flinch away, she reaches over and pokes my side. I fore myself not to wince.

She's not there. She's not there.

"I can see why not," she says as she retracts her hand, her voice still so quiet that only I can hear. "Chubby."

I feel my cheeks burning red, but I won't even glance her way. I can sense what she's doing anyway, and she seems to shrug, then dips her hand into the bag, and pops a handful into her mouth.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see her hand travel down her side smoothly, gracefully pointing to where her crop-top shows off a near-flat belly.

I feel my jaw clench tighter, a million names I shouldn't be thinking firing through my head.

But she seems to either be satisfied or have given up for the moment, and she stops, reaching down and getting something from her purse, I'm assuming. It's too far down for the corners of my eyes, and I won't look.

When she comes back up again, I think she's holding a phone.

Don't tell me she's one of those obnoxious people.

It appears that she is. All through the previews, she's messing around on it, though she finally puts it back a few minutes into the actual movie.

And I lose myself in it. Aiden doesn't ruin the mood by trying anything. Believe it or not, the dorks I dated in middle school literally did the classic movie trick. And I was stupid enough to let them.

The credits roll, and what I'm assuming is the first of the usual multiple credits scenes plays before I pull my eyes away from the screen.

"So?" Aiden says, looking at me. "What'd you think?"

"It was really good," I tell him honestly. "Seriously."

I dully hear Jessica say something from my other side, but we both ignore her.

"Better than the Andrew Garfield ones?" he prompts.

I nod. "I think so. He's more relatable. And I loved Tony in it."

He grins. "Yeah, seriously. I like Holland better too. I mean the others are good and all, but these are better, you're right."

I don't answer, settling back and turning to the credits once more.

I glance back at Aiden after a long moment, and see a smirk just touching his face.

I glare at him. "Wait... is there another scene?"

He gives me a look that's just the picture of innocence. "What? Of course. This is Marvel."

"Then why are you smirking, Smart Alleck?" I retort.

He shakes his head. "No reason, relax. It's just... the end scene's funny, that's all."

I roll my eyes and look back at the screen.

Aiden's doubled-over laughing as I stock from the theater.

It's actually a whole lot easier to forget about Jessica and Liliana trailing us after that.

I glare at the boy beside me. "You know, it really isn't half that funny."

"But you look so offended," he teases. "Gosh, that was better than I thought it was gonna be."

"That was stupid!" I protest, fighting back a smile. "Idiotic."

"But it was good," he presses, smiling. "You can't say it wasn't."

"Yeah, whatever," I sigh, and pull out my phone to turn it on again and check the time, as we exit the building. The girls actually stay behind, where they'll probably get picked up. Thank goodness.

I see a text from the social worker who handled the adoption process with Colton and Annie, and I frown. There's a missed call from her too. That's weird.

I tap on the text, and feel my blood run cold.

I'm sorry to have to tell you this way, Alexis, but your mother died last night. You know there's a drug problem in the prisons, and she overdosed. I'm sorry.

I can't breathe. I... I don't know how to function right now.

Why am I upset? I shouldn't be upset!

Aiden looks at me, his carefree grin changing to an expression of concern.

"You okay?"

I swallow hard, nodding as I shove my phone back into my purse.

"Um, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Just... one of those Facebook Memories, you know?"

"Oh, yeah," he says uncertainly. "I hate those things."

I can tell he doesn't fully believe me, but he doesn't push.

"So, are you sure you're not hungry? I'll buy you something on the way back."

The very thought makes me feel sick.

"No, I'm good," I say as easily as I can. "Thanks, though."

"Well then, I guess I'll take you back to the venue."

I nod, and we slip into his car, passing the ride discussing the finer points of the movie.

As he pulls to a stop in front of Colton's bus, Aiden looks at me.

"Thanks for coming tonight, Lexi. That was the most fun I've had this whole trip... and in a while. Even if Jessica is a little brat."

I look at the ground. "Yeah, um... I had... I had a good time too. And it's fine. I think we beat her."

"We should hang out again as soon as we can."

"Sure."

"Goodnight."

"Night."

And I slip from the car.

Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Just... just don't. Aiden pulls away, and I find myself sprinting to the bus, unlocking it as swiftly as I can and running straight to the bathroom. I've emptied what little I actually put into my stomach today in a matter of seconds.

I clean myself up and stare into my own eyes through the mirror.

Please don't cry. If you start crying, you'll never be able to stop. Don't. You can't. You can't.

I just wanna die.

Shut up! You're not allowed to think like that anymore!

But it's true.

Just shut up. You shouldn't even care. What did she ever cause you except pain? What did she ever tell you except lies?

But... but... she was my mother.

Only by blood.

I get it... I shouldn't care. But I do. So much.

I just... I can't believe she's gone. She can't be gone. There's no way... there's just... there's no freaking way.

I'll never see her again? No. No. That's not possible.

You don't want to see her again!

But... but...

And, suddenly, I break, and feel myself hit the floor as the flood of tears rushes out. I curl up where I am, pulling my knees to my chest and crying into them, as I sob uncontrollably.

I can't believe she's gone. I can't believe she's gone. I can't believe she's gone.

I'll never see her again. I'll... I'll... no. Please, no.

I don't know how long I stay just like this, crying almost too hard to breathe, rocking back and forth as if it'll let me escape reality.

Why? I mean... why?

My phone chimes quietly, and I look down at it in apprehension. If it's anything like the last text I got...

I swallow back a fresh wave of tears at the thought and turn to the text instead.

It's from Colton, so I tap on it and unlock my phone with my password "rise" before I read it.

For the second time tonight, I feel like I can't breathe as I read, re-read, and do it again.

Im done dealing with you. I want you out. I don't care where you go. Just go kill yourself for all I care.

I can't... I can't believe... why?

I didn't know I had so many tears left, but they all come out at once.

No. Please, tell me I'm dreaming!

I have to be dreaming. This has to be just another sick movie in my head... all of it. My mom, this text, everything.

How can I tell?

There's only one way. But if it's real...

Then Colton doesn't care and I should do it anyway. That and then just go kill myself.

I open the cupboard in front of me and reach into the bag of disposable razors that I have for my legs. Swiftly, I snap one, sending the pieces flying. I gather one of the blades and take a deep breath.

I haven't done in since Colton found out about Jessica, but I've wanted to so many times. And I want to now.

I slice the blade across my wrist.

Hot pain sears through the area, and blood immediately begins to flow out. I'm so distracted by the horrible yet wonderful feeling of the pain that it takes me a long moment to realize it.

This is real. This is all real.

My tears come anew yet again, as I pick up my phone again, unlocking it straight to the screen where I left it.

Colton's words hit me like a slap in the face.

No. This can't be happening.

I hear footsteps and voices on the gravel outside, and I feel myself panic.

He'll be furious that I'm still here. He'll... he'll... I don't know what he'll do. What if he... no. Please no.

I leap to my feet and sprint for the door, but only to almost run into Colton himself.

I scream before I have time and think, backing away from him frantically.

His smile disappears in an instant. I knew he'd be angry.

"I'm sorry!" I gasp before he can speak. "I'll leave, I promise. Just, please, don't... don't..."

Pain flashes across his face, the same pain I've seen every time I've feared him because of the dreams. But this isn't a dream.

"Lexi, Baby," he says quietly, staying calm. "It's just a dream, okay? I'm right here. I'm not gonna hurt you."

I stare at him, frozen where I stand. Everything about him... from his gentle tone and the pain and concern in his eyes, to the way he's bending down to look me in the eye... it's just like I know him. But I know what I read.

"It's not a dream!" I protest desperately. "I... I saw what you said. I'll leave, I swear. I'll go... I'll go die, like you said."

I can't help the tears streaming down my face, but I'm shocked to see the same leap to his eyes.

"Alexis, no," he murmurs. "No. Please, Baby, what are you talking about? I would never say that to you."

"You just did!" It comes out a panicked scream. "You... right here."

I look at the phone in my shaking hand.

Confusion and concern take over his face, and I see in his eyes that it seems like I'm scaring him.

But he still keeps his calm, holding out his hand slowly, like he's trying not to startle me.

"Sweetheart, show me what you're talking about, please."

I don't know what to do but obey. I unlock the phone and hand it to him.

But he said it. Of course he knows. Why would he pretend any longer?

Colton's breath catches, and his eyes are wide when they snap back up to mine, those tears beginning to come harder.

"Lexi, I don't know what happened, but I swear to you, I did not send you that."

"But..." I stammer. "but, it..."

Tonight has been way too much, and I don't have any idea how to handle it all.

"Lexi, I promise," he tells me without looking away from my gaze, and pulls his own phone from his pocket. "Watch this."

He presses the call button at the top of the screen, and we wait. Mine, on speaker, gives evidence of ringing, but his remains as silent as a rock.

But... how? I... I just don't get it.

It snaps to voicemail, and I wait.

"Hey, this is Jessica. Sorry I missed you, leave me a message and I'll call you back. Bye!"

The realization sinks in slowly at first, then hits me like a rock.

I have a four-letter password that she watched me enter. She was messing with a phone through all of the commercials and basically ignored me after that.

For what seems like the millionth time tonight, I burst into a fresh set of tears.

But this time, it's less than two seconds before Colton's arms are wrapping around me and pulling me into a fierce hug, ignoring the bloodstains my cut leaves on his clothes.

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