5 months later...

I bundled myself in an extra layer of clothes as I trudged though the snow to get to school. It had started snowing earlier this year and now, on December 5th, I'd had to take out the thickest jacket from the back of my closet and bring down the fluffy blankets to keep out the bitter cold in the night.

It was exactly five months since that fateful night, five months since I'd last seen her but also five months into recovery. For a month I'd struggled, picking up odd jobs at coffee houses and bookstores, which barely covered the electricity bill, let alone much else. That's when the first miracle had happened. I got my first and only check from Grandpa, a man I hadn't so much as talked to in years. His check tided me over for a month and a half and I couldn't thank him enough. We met up often at the park and kept in touch via letter as well since he refused to own a phone. He mentioned how my mom and grandma were quite upset and mad at me. Bless him for standing up against them and sending me money anyway.

My second miracle occurred in the form of Troy. I'd reached out to him after around two months of no contact. By that time, he'd moved on with a new girl but I no longer felt any hurt. When he'd realized my drastic situation, he took me to his father who'd offered me an opportunity to teach art for kids after school at his rec center. That had been the first and only time I'd burst into tears since my mother's departure and ever since then, Troy and I had mended our friendship, which had blossomed into something more beautiful than our love could've ever been.

But of all these struggles, my health was the biggest one. With little money, I hadn't been able to schedule any appointments at the hospital to recover. I still collapsed from time to time with severe pains in my stomach but they usually faded within a couple of minutes and were happening less and less often. The thought gave me hope that maybe, I could soon be able to stomach normal portions of food and no longer be able to count my ribs against my fingers.

"Roe, Roe, Roe can you hear me," I snapped out of my thoughts like I was coming out of a trance and realized I held my cellphone against my ear, and was on a call with Troy. How had I managed to zone out that much?

"Sorry Troy," I muttered into the phone and he laughed on the other end, no doubt used to me zoning out by now.

"Stop laughing at her Troy," a voice mumbled in the background, which I recognized as Violet, Troy's girlfriend. When Troy had first introduced us, I thought she'd see me as competition of some sort. But to this day, I'd never seen an ounce of jealousy of any kind. About a month after we'd met, she'd even asked if she could refer to me as her little sister and to this day, she protected me with a fierce possessiveness from the whole world, which also included Troy who was currently getting told off.

"Relax V, he meant no harm," I said with a laugh into the phone just as I arrived at the school entrance. I could see the two of them standing there, well actually Troy was nervously hopping from foot to foot, waiting for me to no doubt come and save him in person. I'd adopted a slight evil streak though and let him suffer a bit more before approaching.

"Roe," he said with that same childish glee before looking over me once with a frown. I cocked an eyebrow at that and then glanced to Violet, who was rolling her eyes.

"God you must be freezing," he said, and being the gentleman he was, he took off his coat and wrapped it around me. He knew that I needed about ten layers to survive this cold and not even the thickest winter jacket could keep my teeth from chattering. In the most unromantic way possible, I could safely say he was one of the sweetest boys I'd known and he'd only gotten sweeter over these past few months.

"Thanks," I said, huddling into his coat and giving him a smile. He didn't blush anymore but instead smiled back, and that smile was as bright as ever.

"Wait, so when I ask you for a coat I get a flat out rejection but she gets one," Violet asked. She was by no means jealous. She was just getting him all riled up and over time, I'd gathered that this was their way of flirting. To this day, I didn't really get it but I watched the scene unfold with amusement.

"You already look like an eskimo," said Troy with a snort and then proceeded to run with Violet on his heels, ready to knock him into the snow. I laughed and watched their antics that never got old. My heart warmed at seeing them so carefree and joyful. I may not have gotten my mother's love but I'd gotten theirs. For that, I would always count myself as one of the luckiest people in the world.

School passed by in a blur as always. I paid attention of course but the only classes I really loved were art and music. According to Violet, I turned into a sugar-high five year old. I knew she was probably telling the truth as I had actually seen her five-year-old sister sugar high. It was terrifying to say the least.

"You want a ride home," asked Violet as she headed to her pickup truck, which she called Jonas for goodness knows what reason.

"Nah Violet, I'm dropping her off at Red Roses," Troy said as I piled into his car. We were heading to the rec center where I taught art every other day. I was squirming in my seat with excitement, brainstorming ideas for the kids. They were just six year olds but they were my biggest motivation. Their infectious happiness could put a smile on my face any day of the week.

"I need your advice Roe."

I faced him completely, giving him my undivided attention before gesturing for him to go on. It was very rare that he looked so serious.

"I, god this is so embarrassing, but I want to take the next step with Violet and I don't know how to tell her and I don't know how she'll take it," he said, his cheeks lighting up with a bright blush, his words hurried. Wait; was he trying to ask me what I thought he was asking me?

"Are you talking...physically, " I asked, my own cheeks lighting up at asking such an awkward question. God damn him for putting me in such an odd position. V was like a sister and he was my best friend. Yes I acknowledged them as a couple but I was by no means the person for this conversation.

"God no Roe, I mean like the L word," he said and it took a moment for his words to register before I burst out laughing. My stomach physically hurt and for a second I couldn't breath. Only you Troy, only you, I thought as I laughed myself hoarse. I immediately sobered up when I saw how humiliated Troy looked.

"Troy it doesn't matter where you tell her that you love her. It's your words that'll make the moment magical, not the place," I reasoned but he'd already started shaking his head. How did he not understand? The feeling of being loved is more potent than anything else in the world and he thought something as small as a location could change that?

"Come on Roe, give me a romantic setup she'd like," he begged and I conceded and thought over his request for a moment before replying, a sad smile on my face.

"Perhaps you could take her to a romantic restaurant with a candlelight dinner followed by a walk in the moonlight. Then you could kiss her and profess your love for her as the rain started to pour down on you," I said softly, recalling the last time I'd conjured this scenario. I didn't love him anymore, not like that but I missed the feeling of love. Even after the way that day ended, I'd never forgotten that initial excitement I'd had when I'd gotten into his car for our date. After all, to this day, it was one of the happiest moments of my life.

"That sounds incredible Roe. And it looks like it might rain today as well," he said excitedly as he peered out the window. Sure enough, a storm was brewing and there would surely be rain tonight, a sign from the heavens that they were meant to be together.

I turned away from my serious, borderline crazy thoughts and reached out to take Troy's hand. He didn't look away from the road but smiled lightly and clutched it harder.

"It was all meant to be, wasn't it," he said softly, his hand clutching my own. Our love falling apart, the friendship that came after, the love he'd found, it was all meant to happen exactly as it had. There was certain peace in thinking of it that way.

"Yes it was," I said as I closed my eyes and rested my head on the back of my seat. I still heard his words though.

"You deserve all the love in the world Roe and even though I wasn't able to give it to you, I can promise you now that you'll find that love somewhere else," he vowed, his grip on my hand never faltering until we finally reached our destination.      

Hint: Troy's words will be coming true soon (:

Do you like Violet? I personally think she's great for Troy. She brings out the playful side of him. 

Hope you loved this chapter! Comment and vote down below if you did <3.

Love

-ASH