The night Evan had called had been weird. Drew hadn't known how to take it, and just the sound of his voice had shaken her up, but I was worried about her meeting up with him. It had been over five years since she had left Boston, but five years later I was driving her back up for a funeral.

After discussing it with her immensely she had decided to go, revealing that when her mom had gotten sick, Ronnie had claimed her on his insurance. He had basically provided her with the medical assistance she needed, even when it had been too late to save her. Drew felt like she owed respect to him even when his son had damaged her permanently. I agreed to go with her, but I knew we were both on edge about it. We both knew we would be facing Evan, which was something that made me uneasy just thinking about.

The ride to Boston had been mostly silent. We would exchange a few short conversations but I knew Drew was deep in thought. Her worrying was getting to me but I couldn't blame her. The thought of Evan disturbed me, but there were still plenty of things I didn't know about their past relationship. I didn't know the details because she still hadn't told me, and I was basically going into this situation blind. I didn't know what she had experienced, so helping her would be difficult.

We pulled up to the church then, allowing me to glance over at Drew. She was fidgeting with her hands that sat in her lap, her eyes focused solely on the church across the street. The fact that she had agreed to attend the funeral impressed me. She was braver than most.

I reached over and squeezed her hand, "You're not alone you know."

She gave me a slight smile before exiting the car without responding.

I followed her out, grabbing her hand quickly for support. I wanted her to know I was here for her, and she didn't have to face Evan alone.

Walking into the church everything was silent. If there was anything I hated, it was funerals. The mood was somber, and everyone was trying their best not to cry. As we paced through the crowd I couldn't help but eavesdrop on conversations about Ronnie. From what I gathered he wasn't sickly, it had been more of a freak accident than anything. A car wreck had claimed his life, and I knew a death like this would be hard on the family. I didn't know how Drew was going to take it.

Then we were approached by a woman who seemed to be in her late thirties. I heard her soft voice, "Drew... I'm so glad you decided to come..."

Drew went in for a quick hug before pulling away, "Coming felt right. Ronnie had really taken care of my mom whenever the cancer showed up."

The woman turned to me then, "I'm Ronnie's younger sister, Regina."

I shook her hand, "Breanna... I'm Drew's... girlfriend."

It flowed off of my tongue smoothly but I could tell I had caught Regina off guard. She hadn't expected it, but that was probably because she hadn't known Drew all that well.

She nodded, "Nice to meet you. I'm sure Evan would be happy to see that you two came."

My skin went cold at his name, and I felt Drew tense next to me. It was obvious none of his family knew about what had happened, and I'm sure he had gone extensive measures to keep it under wraps. It wasn't something that he could be proud of, and suddenly I was even more furious at the thought of him.

Calm down, we're in a church for a funeral, I thought.

Drew and I followed Regina to the pews filled with Ronnie's family, and suddenly seeing a tall boy with dark brown hair combed to one side of his head. His dark eyes looked up and right into mine, and then switched to Drew. I could feel the tension in the room thicken, my grip on Drew tightening. Everything seemed to stand still, and I suddenly knew that this boy had to be Evan. Except he was no longer a boy, but a man.

He shifted uncomfortably and then turned his gaze elsewhere, as if he couldn't look at her for a long amount of time. My heart was racing, and I knew it had to be a hundred times worse for Drew so I leaned over and asked. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, "Yea."

It was blunt and emotionless, letting me know she was lying. It had to be hard seeing him after all of these years and I could tell it was proving to be one of the most difficult things she had done in a while. Although, I found she was handling it well. Maybe being here was helping her a lot more than I realized, but that couldn't keep the toxic memories out of her head.

The service began, everyone sitting quietly while some cried. I found my eyes glued to Evan, who sat a few pews in front, taking notice to every time his head turned slightly to the side. I knew he was trying to steal a glace back at us, probably because I was staring daggers into his back, but that was beside the point. I hated him and I knew nothing but his name – and his secret.

Paying our final respects the service ended, all of us ending up back in our cars to head over to the cemetery. After following them in silence I realized it was the same cemetery Drew's mom was buried in, which I thought was a good opportunity to stop by and visit. In a weird and painful moment like this Drew could use a little comfort next to her mom.

We made it to the cemetery and guided Ronnie's casket over to where he would be lowered, everyone trying their best to stay strong. I felt so out of place because I didn't even know the guy, but I was here supporting of Drew.

Holding her hand we walked over with everyone else, finally arriving at his grave. That's when I got a good glimpse of Evan, who was looking at Drew with an expression I didn't like. He recognized her, and my stare was interrupted when his dark eyes switched to me. I was unflinching, not intimidated by him one bit. It was obvious I didn't like him, and he seemed to know.

He turned his attention away quickly, and I could tell he was confused as to why this tiny brunette he had never seen before was giving him a look to kill. I didn't care, I didn't know the kid personally, but I knew enough.

Then Regina was with us again, "We're all having lunch at my house, and you two are more than welcome to join."

I looked at Drew, who seemed to be hesitant in obliging, "Uh, well, the ride back to New York is far... so I'm not sure..."

My eyes were still on Evan, who wasn't far from where we were. It made me uneasy just looking at him, and he turned his head to the side, his eyes attempting to catch a glance at me.

Regina rubbed Drew's shoulder, "It's up to you, and you don't have to stay long of course. Just know you can eat with us before you go."

Drew nodded then, allowing all of us to join the rest of the family at the burial site. I could tell Drew was torn, she didn't want to come off as a complete bitch, but it was hard. She didn't want to be around Evan longer than she had to, which I understood, but no one else here knew that. No one but me, Drew, and of course Evan.

Ronnie was soon lowered, a prayer was said, and it was over. It was weird being an onlooker at this type of thing but I knew not to take it to heart. Death was always something that was sad, and I was, but it was just different for me.

I leaned over, grabbing Drew's arm softly, "Let's go walk to your mother's grave."

I guided my hand to hers, wishing she wouldn't be so quiet but I knew funerals probably still hurt a lot for her, especially here. I wanted to make her feel better, but from experience you really couldn't do much.

She finally spoke, "Every time he looks at me... I want to crawl out of my skin."

My mood fell even more, but I pushed through and squeezed her hand, "We can leave after... Regina said so herself... I know it's hard."

We were standing in front of her mom's grave then, but Drew turned to me. She shook her head, "I don't think it's a good idea being that close to him. I just... after I just want to go home."

I nodded, "Then we will."

Then she turned towards her mom's grave and knelt, saying a silent prayer as I slowly walked away from her. Privacy was all I could really give her right now, but she would stay in my peripheral.

I turned towards the lake, tugging my thick jacket tighter around me. It was freezing out here, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. Living in New York had given me slightly tougher skin. It didn't feel this cold in Philly, but it was close. Then as I turned I saw a familiar man walking down the path towards us, and my anger flared up. He had a lot of nerve coming down here, and if he thought I was letting him anywhere near Drew he was sadly mistaken.

I began walking towards him then, giving me a few seconds to collect myself before we met. He stopped in front of me and I spoke, "You're not going near her."

He shook his head, attempting to play the innocent card, "Who are you? Besides, I think I have a right to talk to my step-sister after five years."

He tried to walk past but I stepped in front of him, "You lost that right and you know it. So turn around and leave her the hell alone."

My language had caught him off guard, probably because it didn't seem right for someone like me to curse. I was tiny, and he was not, but the anger I felt inside myself was deadly, and he seemed to know that. T

hen the realization hit him, "She told you?"

"Yea she told me, you sick fuck," I countered, not letting his size intimidate me.

I of course didn't know much but I knew enough to fuel my fire, and he knew that by the look in my eyes. I watched as he flexed his jaw, debating whether or not he should even continue talking to me. He knew he wasn't getting past, and I wasn't sure why he wanted to talk to Drew in the first place, but it wasn't happening.

"I just wanted to invite her over to my aunt's," he lied, I could tell just by the way he was acting.

I tilted my head, "We got the invite already, thanks."

And with that he gave Drew one last glance and turned around, heading back towards his family. The rage I was feeling was more than I had ever felt in my life. More than when I had caught Ashley cheating. I had never felt so... livid.

Is this was Drew felt? The intimidation Evan had over her a long time ago had to have been strong, and I was realizing that now. I wanted to talk to her about him but I couldn't bring it up without her consent. I felt as if I was ready to hear, but judging by the look on Evan's face he was angry Drew had told me. What exactly had happened between them? Had it been bad or extremely bad? I didn't know.

Drew was still kneeling at her mom's grave when I turned, grateful she hadn't looked up and seen Evan and I talking. No telling what would've happened if she would've witnessed that. I could only imagine what Evan would've walked away looking like. I rejoined her then, not wanting to be away from her for another second.

She stood and turned to me, no tears in her eyes but I could tell she was still uneasy.

I smiled softly, "Ready?"

She nodded, "Yea, let's go home."

~ ~ ~ ~

And we did, but the entire way back I felt something within Drew change. I didn't know if it was good or bad, and I didn't know what had happened all of a sudden, but it worried me. I had tried multiple times to get her to open up to me but she just claimed she was tired, or sad, or something in between. It hurt to know she wasn't opening up to me, but maybe it was just the day that was preventing it. Maybe tomorrow would be better.

The following day came quickly, and I kept myself busy with work at the dance studio from one o'clock to six. Drew had told me she was working a double today to make up for the hours she had lost yesterday for the funeral, so getting to see her tonight probably wouldn't happen.

After work I had gone home, and it was around eight-thirty when Drew texted me again. I opened it willingly and read, "Come over tonight, you know where the spare key is. I should be home a little after 9."

I smile at the invite, thankful she had asked me considering I didn't want to spend the night home. I wanted to talk to her, or try and talk, because ever since yesterday something had seemed off. I packed a quick bag and escaped out the door, hailing a cab and ending up on the front steps of Drew's apartment. The spare was hidden in some cross hanging on the outside wall, but I retrieved it and let myself inside.

It was weird to be in Drew's home without her, but Milo greeted me by running into my feet. I knelt to pet him, and then walked up to her room.

It was nine already and it wouldn't be long till Drew got here. Dropping my bag I changed into one of her over-sized T-shirts and took off my pants, brushing my teeth and climbing into her bed. It smelt like her, the fruity shampoo and the perfume she wore not-so often. The heavenly mixture relaxed my nerves a bit, though I couldn't help but wonder why she had randomly called me here. I didn't want to think anything bad of it, but it was possible that's exactly what it could turn out to be.

Eventually I heard the front door opening, Milo's paws hitting eagerly against the wooden floor Drew had in her living room. I heard her drop her bag and walked silently up the stairs. I sat up eagerly, awaiting for her to appear at the door, and when she did my heart fluttered in my chest.

I smiled, "Hey."

Her smile was tired, but she responded, "Hi."

I watched her walk over to me, leaning down to kiss me on the head before revealing, "I'm gonna shower real quick, okay?"

She grabbed clothes and disappeared into the bathroom, allowing me to analyze the situation. She looked tired of course but there was something in her eyes that had been there since the funeral, something I couldn't read. I didn't know if it was pain or what but trying to figure it out was like trying to see in the dark. I just wanted her to talk to me, and I was giving her time, but my patience was wearing thin with this. I was worried.

I listened to the shower run from her bed, wondering if she was going to open up to me tonight. Maybe that's why she called me here, because she wanted to talk. I hoped that was the reason anyway, but I didn't know for sure.

Twenty minutes later she was emerging from the bathroom, hair wet and wavy while she wore her sweats and a tank. I felt my body tingle just looking at her, immediately forgetting about all of my worries for a split second. I was convinced she did this on purpose, knowing it drove me crazy.

She climbed into bed and I wrapped my arms around her, "How was work?"

She shook her head, "Too long."

I smiled, "I missed you."

I watched as those amazing eyes gazed into mine without any interruption. Her response was soft, "I missed you more."

"Doubt it," I countered, leaning in to kiss those lips I had craved since day one.

Even though everything was sweet right now I was dying to ask her what was wrong, but I didn't want to freak her out. I wanted her to open up one her own, but maybe she just needed a little push.

Before I could ask she revealed, "I'm sorry I've been acting so weird."

"I was wondering when you were gonna bring it up," I teased, but I was grateful she had finally mentioned it.

She shook her head, "I know it's just... when I saw him... I don't know. Everything I had pushed to the back of my mind came flooding back. I remembered everything, and it had been overwhelming. I can still feel the way his hands grabbed me..." she shuddered, and I held her tighter.

I comforted, "I know it hurts, but he's not going to hurt you anymore."

She smiled sadly, "It's so fucked up, Bree... the fact that he did what he did and... he got away with it."

I felt my heart throb in pain for her, yet I still didn't know exactly what she was talking about. I knew he had touched her and tormented her, but I knew nothing beyond that. I would wait until she was ready to open up completely, because I knew pushing her to reveal things she wasn't ready to reveal was deadly.

I couldn't even respond because Evan did in fact get away with it, and we all knew it. The unfair circumstances were eating her alive, and it was actually getting to me to. There was nothing we could do about it.

"I hate him so much," she whispered, and I felt my arms tighten around her. It hurt me when Drew hurt, and I hated seeing her so weak and vulnerable. I wasn't used to it, and in all honesty it kind of scared me, but I knew better. I needed to be strong for her, she required that from me.

Then she voiced, "I want to tell you something."

My skin crawled at her tone, and suddenly I realized that this was actually happening. I hadn't expected her to talk about it, at least not tonight, but maybe she just wanted me to understand. If she was ready to talk I had to be ready to listen, but I wasn't sure how bad it could actually get. She had warned me a long time ago, and that reminded me that it could in fact be pretty bad. Was I ready to hear the truth?

I nodded, "Only if you're ready."

"I think I am," she confessed, and I sat up, knowing I couldn't lie down at a time like this. My heart was hammering in my chest but I knew it was the same for her. She looked so scared, and I didn't know why, but I had to let her see that she couldn't scare me away. I wouldn't leave, just like Demarcus had demanded from me. I had multiple promises to uphold.

She sat up as well, and when she started fidgeting with her hands I understood she was nervous. She refused to hold eye contact with me.

"Remember when I told you it was the summer after my junior year that it got bad?"

I nodded, realizing she couldn't see me so I verbally responded, "Yea."

She hesitated slightly before continuing, "It was a week before summer ended. Evan and I were home alone because at the time my mom and Ronnie had gone to a hospital that I didn't know about till later. Of course Evan threw a party that got out of hand and I was convinced everyone in our subdivision was there. A few of my friends showed up so we partied, me staying as far away from Evan as possible. Then things got blurry."

I felt the tension in the room thicken, and suddenly I started putting two and two together. I didn't want to fill in the holes myself, so I tried not to think too much and just listen.

"I shouldn't have gotten that drunk," she confessed, shaking her head, "I should've known better."

I watched her struggle to resurface her memories, and I could tell this was a night she didn't resurface on purpose. She was trying her best, so I grabbed her hands to show her I was here for her.

She sighed, closing her eyes, "I blacked out, suddenly the rest of the night disappeared. The last thing I remembered was coming to, seeing Evan climbing off of me and pulling on his pants. I was naked, and when he closed the door behind him I just broke into tears. Everything ached, my arms, my stomach, everything... like I had struggled against him for a while, but back then I wouldn't have stood a chance. I think he had drugged me because when I talked to my friends the next week they told me he had helped me up to my room. My friends let him take me up to my room, Bree..."

It was like I had momentarily stopped breathing, already understanding before she had finished her last sentence. I felt the tears threaten to emerge, and suddenly I was in pain for Drew. How could she not have told anyone? How could she keep quiet for so long after?

She flexed her jaw, holding back tears, "That was the day before my mom told me about the cancer."

How could something like this happen to someone like Drew? It seemed impossible to me, like if I would've been in her shoes I wouldn't have made it. I didn't talk; I just leaned in and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into me. I felt her break then, the tears instantly soaking my shirt and I held her close. I didn't let her go, I just held her into my chest as long as she cried, running my hand through her hair.

I was crying to, just not as hard, but I couldn't stand the thought of knowing someone had done that to hr. It was hard to believe, but it had happened, and dealing with it wouldn't be easy. She sobbed, "What the fuck... did I do... to deserve that...?"

Oh God, I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to react except to just hold her and let her get it out. Sometimes people had to hit the bottom to know which way to go. Maybe this was her rock bottom. Maybe there was no direction but up from now on.

I hated this, I hated how hurt Evan had left her, and I was so hurt that I couldn't fix her. I wish I could, all I wanted was to take her pain away. Then she pushed against me, trying to free herself from my hold. I let go even when I didn't want, and suddenly she couldn't even look at me. She was shaking her head, and her hands were trembling in her lap. It was so painful to see, and it was even more painful whenever she spoke again.

"I can't be with you, Bree... you deserve so much more..."

Was she really saying this? After we had finally made it official and I was already falling in love with her? She couldn't do this; I could let her do this. Was this what Demarcus had warned me of? Her pushing me away and me allowing her to? I wouldn't let that, no matter how much she pushed against me.

I moved closer, "I don't want to hear that, Drew. I deserve you, and you deserve me."

She shook her head, wiping her face, "N-No, I can't be with you... I can't-"

"Well I love you okay?" I blurted, realizing I hadn't meant to but it had slipped. Was it the right time? Probably not. Except I watched her bloodshot eyes switch up to me, something inside them softening a way I hadn't seen within Drew.

She mumbled, "What?"

I decided to back up my claim, grabbing her face, "I love you, Drew. I don't care if you think I deserve better, I think you deserve someone like me. I'm not leaving..." I trailed off, finding it harder and harder to keep my composure. Looking at her all vulnerable and crying hurt me, and knowing she was trying to push me away because of it was even worse. I begged, "Please don't make me leave..."

Something in her changed, and I realized I had finally gotten through to her. She exhaled a breath of relief, looking down and then bringing herself back into reality.

Nodding she whispered, "Okay... I'm sorry..." she paused, as if she was gathering the strength to say something else. "I think I love you too," she confessed, and suddenly my heart clenched.

I wasn't letting her push me away, no matter how hard she tried. I vowed to myself, Demarcus, and even Drew that I was going to stay here and stay strong. And I kept true to my promises.