A/N : welcome back guyyys :))) I hope you'll like this new chapter ! I love you all xx

Blanche
~

I rang the doorbell of my child house, waiting for one of my parents to open the door. I was holding my suitcase in one hand and looking around at the same time. I noticed that the neighborhood hasn't changed at all. The same houses were here, including my parents' one. Its grey bricks were dirtier than last time I saw them, but I still managed to love them, just like when I was a little girl. The windows were still covered by the same curtains that I recognized from outside. 

Suddenly, the door opened wide and I turned my head to see my Mom, already tearing up as she saw me. 

"My babygirl," she breathed, immediately taking me in her arms. I was taken aback by her sudden moves, but soon, I relaxed in my mother's arms, closing my eyes and breathing her sweet scent. "Oh God, I missed you so much," she cried in my hair, rubbing my back. I smiled softly and kissed her cheek.

"I missed you too, Mom." I replied, feeling emotional. She smiled and caressed my cheek with her soft hand.

"You're so pretty." she complimented me and I blushed. I looked at her and noticed that small wrinkles were appearing of her face. Her hair was grayer than before, but she was still a beautiful woman. 

My Mom was continuing to stare at me when I heard noise coming from inside the house. She looked behind her and smiled. 

"Look at our daughter," she said, and my father came out of the shadow, smiling genuinely at me. I hugged him and heard my mother cry next to us. 

"My princess," my father said, using the old nickname that I had when I was a child. "You've grown up so much." he told me, studying my new face. I smiled and kissed his cheek just like I did with my Mom.

When we finished to greet each other, my father took my suitcase and carried it to my old bedroom while I stayed with my mother in the living room.

"I'm so happy you're back here !" she exclaimed, obvious happiness on her face. I smiled at her shyly and looked around the house. Like from the outside, it hasn't changed at all. The same furniture were here, disposed in the same way. "I invited all the family tomorrow night ! Your cousins are so excited to see you !" she exclaimed, bringing some food in the living room. I chuckled and tried to remember my family.

I saw them on rare occasions, as they all lived pretty much everywhere around the country, and it was hard to see everyone at once. Last time I saw my cousins, they were still babbling, strolling around the house. They must be twenty-and-something years old now.

"Eat, honey ! You must be starving." my Mom said, pointing to the biscuits she brought. I started to eat and my Dad soon joined us in the living room. My parents asked me questions about my life in California, avoiding any questions dealing with Michael, which I was glad for. I also questioned them about my old friends and family. We laughed a lot and I was happy to be back with my parents.

The next day
~

"Blanche, would you help me with those ?" my Mom called as she struggled to take all the glasses to the dining room. I hurried and took some from her hands that were ready to fall down the floor and put them on the long table. My parents prepared a huge dinner for my return, inviting all my family that I haven't seen in a very long time. "What do you think ?" she asked me, looking proudly at the beautiful table. 

"It's beautiful !" I told her, kissing her cheek lovingly. "I should probably get ready." I said, looking at the clock hung on the wall. My mother nodded and I climbed the stairs to my bedroom. I searched in my suitcase for an appropriate outfit and smiled when I found the unique dress I brought with me. It was a mid-thigh dark navy dress which hugged my curves perfectly. I put some heels on and decided to tie my hair in a high ponytail. I looked at myself and grimaced ; I wasn't used anymore to see myself in a dress. For the last two years, I hadn't had the occasion to wear one. 

"You ready ?" I heard light knocks against my door and recognized my Dad's voice. I opened the door and he looked at me up and down. "You're gorgeous." he said, smiling at me. I blushed and thanked him. We started to go down the stairs when right at that moment, my Mom opened the front door to reveal my family. My mother greeted them genuinely and we joined her. 

"Oh my God, is that you ?! Blanche Kells ?" my aunt, Diane, exclaimed, looking at me with surprised eyes. I giggled and nodded, giving her a hug. 

"I'm so glad to see you again, aunt Diane." I told her before releasing her. Then came my grandfather, Eric. "Hello, granddad !" I exclaimed, giving him a tight embrace.

I loved my grandfather ; he was always there for me when I was a child. He was really funny, always making jokes here and there. But, he was old, and he seemed weak, walking very slowly and painfully. It broke my heart, but I tried to hide it.

" Oh, Blanche." he said quietly, with a broken voice. "You've grown so much." I smiled and hugged him again, closing my eyes and enjoying his wise aura. 

"I missed you." I whispered to him. 

After that, I saw a handsome man, blue eyes, just like my aunt Diane, short black hair and a smile than I immediately recognized.

"Jeff ?" I exclaimed with surprise. He laughed and nodded. 

"How are you, cousin ?" he asked and took me in his arms.

"I'm fine !" I responded, studying his face. "Wow ! I can't believe it ! You've changed so much !" I chuckled and a young pretty woman appeared from behind his back. She was smiling shyly at me and I smiled back.

"Blanche, this is Tina, my fiancée." Jeff said, wrapping his arm around Tina's waist. 

"It's very nice to meet you, Blanche." she said softly and I greeted her back. She was beautiful, just like my cousin. "Jeff has talked so much about you." she admitted and I chuckled. 

"At least, he didn't forget me." I chuckled and continued to greet the rest of my family. I kissed, hugged and talked briefly with my grandmother, my mother's aunt and her husband. After that, everybody went to the living room, relaxing on the couches. I stayed in the kitchen with my Mom but then, a thought rushed to my mind ; I'd noticed that my second cousin, Jeff's sister, wasn't there. I searched for Jeff in the living room and found him talking with my Dad. I tried to approach him without interrupting their discussion. When my father saw that I wanted to talk to my cousin, he politely let us speak.

"Hey, hum... Isn't Emily here ?" I asked Jeff as he looked at me with his sparkling blue eyes.

"No. She had a problem with work and couldn't come with us." he asked, an apologetic look on his face. I nodded and opened my mouth in an understanding "o".

"Jeff, Blanche ; it's time to have dinner." my aunt told us as everybody sat on the dining table. We nodded and joined the others.

My mother brought the food and we ate together, joking, talking, as in one big family.

I realized that Jeff has grown a big passion for painting and that he met his fiancée, Tina, in an art museum, which I thought was super cute. My mother's aunt and her husband couldn't stop arguing during the whole dinner, but it was actually funny as they quareled for stupid things like the way my great aunt cut her roasted potatoes. They both really were something.

"So, Blanche," my grandmother asked and everyone whisted. "How's life in California ?" she asked me. She was a bit of a nosy woman but I liked her, anyway.

"It's great," I answered, swallowing my vegetables. "The weather's really great and I became quite used to it, now." I told her and she nodded.

"Is Michael alright ?" she questioned, leaning on her elbow that was supported by the table, looking at me with interested eyes. I could feel my father tense on the other side of the table. Her question surprised me a lot but I tried not to show it, keeping my expressions neutral.

"I'm sure he's fine." I said back, looking down at my plate with the slightest smile.

"Have you seen him since your break-up ?"

"Rosa," my father warned her but my mother put her hand on his arm. He wasn't really fond of his mother-in-law, and honestly, I couldn't blame him.

"What, James ? I'm sure the girl has no problem talking about it," my grandmother told him as if I weren't in the room. I blushed and hoped I could disappear right at that moment. "It's been two years, now." she finished, turning back to me and ignoring my father's strong glare. She was waiting for an answer.

"Huh, no." I mumbled, playing with my fingers under the table.

"What ?" she asked loudly, turning her ear to me. "Blanche, you know your grandma is old and can't hear a thing." she laughed and gave me an encouraging look. I sighed and repeated.

"No, I haven't seen him."

My family was embarrassed. I was too. But I couldn't change my grandmother. She'll always be like that. Gossiping and everything. 

I looked at my father and saw his clenched jaw. He wasn't happy.

"Nath, could you bring the dessert, please ?" he asked my mother and she nodded, excusing herself from the table.

Right at that moment, there was a strange silence, where nobody knew what to say.

I felt a tap against my arm and looked at my right.

"I'm sorry," Jeff muttered under his breath, giving me an apologetic look and I simply smiled at him softly.

There always was something unwanted at family dinners.

Michael
~

I felt someone touch my skin and I groaned, turning my head to push it completely against the pillow.

"Good morning, baby," I heard Lisa's morning voice and I just wanted to scream in disgust.

Each morning, when I woke up next to her, it felt wrong. So wrong.

"You okay ?" she asked in concern, rubbing my back. I didn't answer and decided that I couldn't bear her touch anymore. At once, I got out of bed and Lisa let out a surprised squeal.

I entered the bathroom and washed my face with water. I sighed and looked at my reflection in the mirror.

"You're so stupid," I said to myself.

Days had passed, and I still didn't "get rid of Lisa" like my sister told me to do. I wanted to so bad but it was harder than I thought. Even though I didn't like Lisa, I couldn't talk to her and tell her to leave. I knew she loved me, and that it would break her heart if I were to break up with her. I don't want to break anybody's heart, I already did it with Blanche's, and nobody deserves this sort of pain. Even Lisa.

After Janet told me that mother was trying to reach for me, I decided to call her and tell her everything that was going on. The fact that I still loved Blanche, that I missed her and that I would do anything to have her back. She told me that she knew I was going to feel that way. And she was happy that I admitted it. After that, I promised her that I'll come to Hayvenhurst and see her and my family very soon. I needed it.

I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. I didn't remember closing them. I stared again at my reflection and saw determination and hope in my eyes.

I had to do it. I had to tell Lisa. I had to do it for Blanche. For me.

"Sooner or later, Mike," I muttered at myself, gripping the counter with such force that my knuckles turned white. "C'mon." I finally said before going back to the bedroom.

Lisa was still laying messily on the bed, her red hair everywhere. She seemed to be deep in her thoughts.

Maybe she knew what I was going to do.

"Lisa," I called her, her name leaving my mouth in an unwanted whisper. I cleared my throat and called her again. "Lisa." This time, it came out louder, my voice serious.

Lisa's head turned to me softly and I relaxed, seeing her pretty eyes look directly at me, confusion written on her face.

If I had to do it, I'd prefer being calm and soft. I didn't want her to think that I was mean, and maybe... maybe she'd understand.

"Lisa, we need to talk." I said, sitting on the bed. She blushed and looked down, lifting her body to lean against the headboard.

I don't know why, but she looked cute like that.

"Go on, Michael," she said, crossing her arms in front of her chest, studying my face. I sighed and started.

"Lately, I've been thinking about us. And... you know I want the both of us to be happy ?" I raised my brow and she nodded slowly. "So, I think that... I think it's best if we stay away from each other." I admitted, my voice slow. I looked at her to see her reaction.

Her lips were parted, and she was looking at me with surprised eyes. I bit my lip nervously, my heart beating faster than usual. Then came confusion on her face and she furrowed her brows, looking down at her lap.

"You mean..." she started, her voice low. She didn't want to say the word.

"To divorce. Yes." I said. She nodded calmly and seemed to think.

I approached her slowly and lied my hand on her leg.

"I'm really sorry. But I can't do it anymore." I whispered with pleading eyes. She lifted her head and looked at me.

"I knew it wouldn't have worked, anyway." she confessed, sighing. She was sad. I could see that. "You love someone else. I get it." she mumbled and stood up. I watched her walk to the door. "We'll talk with our lawyers." she said before leaving the room.

I nodded even though she wasn't in the room anymore and sighed. It was a relieved sigh.

It felt good. 

A/N : finally Lisa's gooooone... for now. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'm really excited to publish the next one ! :)))