'I think friendship is one of the most beautiful things in the world. The way we can fall in with people that once were total strangers is the best experience we will ever have.

They might be the people who will never listen to our advice, but most of the time, they are the only one who knows what is best for us.

Because even though you and your friend are the most different people in the world, he will stick by your side no matter what happens. He will be with you in your darkest moments.

Friends are the people who prevent us to drown, even if all we want is to be left alone.

That's what a friend is, a piece of ourselves.'

The doorbell rings again, but my parents don't make a move. They are staring at me, still shocked from what I said. My father is now standing behind my mother, his hands resting on her shaky shoulders. She is silently crying, the tears rolling down her cheeks as she slowly stands up.

"Go open the door, it's for you," my mom sighs, starting to clear the table.

I frown, glancing at the window and seeing no car in the driveway. I walk towards the front door as the bell rings one more time. I can hear my parents whispering in the kitchen. I know they are talking about me, about my behavior. But they can't prevent me from seeing the only person who cares about me.

I open the large door and see a blond girl standing in front of me. She's about the same height as me, maybe a few inches shorter. Her green eyes twinkle from the excitement. Her make up is perfectly done, from the eye liner to the red lipstick.

I can barely recognize her though it has been only three months since we saw each other for the last time. She has changed a lot. Her hair is shorter, reaching her shoulders. And she wears a lot more make up than she used to. It makes her look older, she seems to be at least twenty.

Hannah is standing in front of me with her luggage next to her. I haven't talked to her since the argument with Nathan, a month and a half ago.

"Oh Jade, I missed you so much!" She almost screams, running towards me.

She wraps her arms around me, tightening her grip. I stiffen, not used to physical contact, but also because I'm taken aback. I wasn't expecting her at all. She quickly lets me go, probably because of my reaction. She looks at me with confusion before taking a step back.

"Are you okay? Are you not happy to see me? I mean I was supposed to arrive for your birthday but I thought it would be better if I came a few days before so we can catch up on what we missed," she says, frowning.

"I... No, I'm happy to see you! It's just that I wasn't expecting you to come here. I mean you traveled all the way to Oregon !" I retort smiling. "How long are you staying?"

I'm really happy to see her. I missed her so much, but seeing her brings back so many memories.

"A week and a half! I'll take a flight back to Florida on the 3rd of January," she exclaims.

"Wow, you've changed so much! Where are your glasses? And what have you done to your hair?" I ask her, surprised by her new look.

She used to be the typical cliché of the nerd without the shyness. She wore big glasses and the braces, her long blond hair always gathered in a ponytail. She was pretty, she still is. It's just a big metamorphosis.

"Well, I needed change. And Lissa helped me with the new look and everything," she answers, smiling brightly.

"Oh... Lissa... Are you friends with her?" I ask though I know the answer.

Lissa and her friends are the most popular students in my old school. I guess that since I left, things have changed, Hannah has changed.

"Yeah, she's so nice !" She squeals, taking her luggage and entering the house.

Yeah... I'm not sure about that...

"Well, welcome! Let's take your luggage upstairs," I say, taking the suitcase.

She follows me into the kitchen where my parents warmly greet her, avoiding to look at me.

"Nice to see you, Hannah. I hope you'll have a great time here and maybe your presence will help Jade to make the right choices. She-" he begins, glancing at my mother.

"Dad. We'll talk about that later," I interrupt him a little harshly, looking at Hannah.

I can tell she is confused by the glacial atmosphere and by my father's words. Without waiting for her to react, I climb the stairs. She quickly follows me, probably already planning to ask me what is happening.

When we finally reach my room, I leave the suitcase next to the door and throw my self on the bed.

"Spit it out," I sigh, closing my eyes and waiting for the torrent of questions.

I hear Hannah as she comes closer and sits next to me. But she doesn't say a word. I open one eye and glance at her. She is on her phone, texting and giggling like a little girl. I clear my throat, making her snap back to reality.

"Oh sorry, I was texting Luke. I broke up with him two days ago but he doesn't seem to understand," she states like if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Luke. Like the Luke who was dating Lissa? The Luke who's the most popular boy in your school?" I say, looking at her with disbelief.

"Yeah, who else could it be?", she shrugs, finally putting her phone away. "Anyways, how is the life here? And the boys, did you met someone? What happened with your parents? And-" she delivers.

Finally something reassuring about her metamorphosis, she is still the same curious and eccentric girl that I know.

"Slow down or you're going to die from the lack of oxygen in your lungs," I interrupt her, smiling.

I tell her everything, including the letter from Hashley, Nathan and his kindness, Aaron and his hatred towards me, and the absence of a parental figure.

"Wow, I've missed a lot! Did you read the letter?" She asks, pain clear on her features.

I can't tell her what Hashley wrote, I don't want Hannah to feel guilty for being absent. I am the only person who should be suffering from Hashley's words.

"No, I didn't, it's too hard. I-I really don't want to talk about it right now. I mean you didn't travel all the way here to listen to me complaining," I say, facing her.

"Don't worry about me Jade, it's okay," she gives me a reassuring smile and takes both of my hands. "So about that boy, Nathan, isn't it?" She says, winking at me.

I can't help but laugh. I knew she would ask about him. But unfortunately for her, there is nothing to say, no gossip to tell.

"Well he is just a great friend and-" I begin, feeling my smile growing and my cheeks glowing as I speak of him.

I am interrupted by the vibration of my phone. I quickly stand up and walk towards my desk, where the phone is set. But Hannah grabs it before I can and looks through my texts.

"Hey, give it to me!" I say, trying to snatch it from her hands.

But she rolls on my bed, trying to keep the phone away from me. Just when I am about to reach it, she jumps off of my bed, laughing, and runs towards the bathroom where she locks herself in.

"Oh come on! Is it really necessary? I would have told you who that is," I plead, banging at the door.

"Yeah, sure," she says, probably rolling her eyes. "For a girl who always complains about not having a social life, you sure receive a lot of text," she adds, finally opening the door.

As soon as she walks out of the bathroom, I snatch the phone from her hand and she looks at me with a smirk plastered on her face.

"He is cute," she states, sitting on my bed.

I quickly unlock my phone and see that Nathan sent me three messages.

Nathan : Hey! Wha

Nathan : Sorry I clicked on the send button without paying attention... Would you please forget those two messages? The next one will be better ;)

Nathan : Hey! What's up? Since it's winter break and that we won't see each other at school for the next two weeks, I was wondering if you would like to hang out with me tomorrow. We could grab a hot chocolate or something. So what do you think about it?

"See! I knew you liked him!" Hannah exclaims, jumping in excitement.

I ignore her but come back to reality when I see a flash. Hannah is holding her phone in front of her, smiling widely.

"I just like him as a friend!" I sigh, approaching her. "And what did you do? What was that flash?" I ask, frowning as I sit next to her.

"You do like him a lot! You were biting your lips and smiling at your phone like a teenage girl. And the flash was nothing, just a proof," she retorts, not convinced by my lame attempt to defend myself.

"I was not, okay? And for your record, we are teenage girl," I say, pouting.

"Maybe you, but not me. I'm eighteen !", Hannah laughs and hands me her phone.

"Even though I'll be eighteen in a few days, I'm still the mature one in this room !" I exclaim, taking the phone.

I catch a glimpse of Hannah shaking her head as I look at the picture she took.

It's me, looking at my phone. I can barely recognize myself. My cheeks are a bit red, and like Hannah said, I am smiling and biting my lower lip. This smile is not one of my fake smiles, this one is real. Because he makes me feel real, alive when I thought I was like Hashley, gone. He is the only light I found in the darkness that is surrounding me.
At that moment, I know that I need Nathan. Because if I lose him now, I'll lose myself.

"You can't deny this picture, it's pretty obvious to me," Hannah shrugs as I hand her the phone, looking away.

I don't know what to do, what to think. I need Nathan to surface the pain. But do I deserve to be free from the grief?

"Jade, stop overthinking. You have the right to be happy," Hannah says softly, putting her hands on my shoulders.

This time, I'm the one who hugged her. She is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I owe her so much and I'll never thank her enough.

"Thank you," I whisper, hugging her.

She doesn't say a word, but I know that she felt the among of recognition I put in those two little words.

"Now tell him you're in," she chuckles, winking at me.

I grab my phone and text him the simplest answer.

Jade : Yes :)

~

A/N

Hi !

First of all, I would like to thank you for being so supportive of my story. Broken Until Him reached 1k votes!
Thank you so much, you don't know how much it means to me.

XXX
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