A/N hey, thank you all for being patient with me on this update. I know it's been almost a year since the last one. I lost interest in this book for a bit, as it started out as just something for me to do. It always amazes me how other people actually like my stuff.

Also! I've had some health stuff come up, but I am doing much better! I had lost a lot of motivation and energy, but again, I'm doing way better.

College is also time consuming, but I do have free time and will hopefully be able to write more in the free time I have!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I do not know how many more chapters this'll have.

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I ran the Lysol wipe over the kitchen counter one more time before stepping back and looking at my handiwork. The apartment could have sparkled, it was so clean. It took the full morning, and my hands felt gritty from dust and dirt, but I stood up a bit straighter. I felt good.

I picked up the rest of the cleaning supplies and put it in the hall closet, packing it in tight against the winter coats and other clutter inside.

The front door opened, and I stepped to the side as it swung open. Bright green eyes looked up at me warmly.

"How's your day been?" I smirked. He laughed

"It's day? I thought it was just after noon. I came home to make some lunch" He shrugged. He shook droplets of water out of his thick black hair with one hand. "But it started raining again on the way home"

"Rain? In Portland? Who would have guessed" I laughed. "I just got a new loaf of bread yesterday. It's in the pantry"

"Thanks kid!" He said as he walked by. I smiled.

So much has changed in the past month. I learned they were the only two who lived in this apartment, though Ross, the roommate, had friends over pretty often. Phil, on the other hand, only seemed to be out. He had lent me his clothes after the attack, along with his bedroom. They said I could stay for as long as I needed.

I didn't tell them my full story, but they convinced me to call Adam and tell him what happened. He said James was devastated, but was doing better right now. He said Ian and Husky still went out trying to find me, but after I called they stopped. They were glad I was safe, but wanted to know where I was. I didn't tell them.

Explaining why I let was harder than I thought. Every time I tried to, I choked and made an excuse. They called every few days, making sure I was safe. Each call, without fail, they tried to get me to tell them where I was.

I wasn't ready for that.

That usually ended the call, unless it was James. Apparently, he had started a Youtube channel of his own. It was animation. After he told me about it, I checked it out and, I had to admit, it looked really good. He was getting popular really quick.

Adam also started music from what James told me. It wasn't a sure thing, and he still loved playing Minecraft, but there was a new beat to the house. Sometimes James would wake up in the middle of the night and Adam would be in the living room writing new lyrics or notes.

Ross came back later that night after the latest phone call. I was curled up on the couch, staring at the muted TV as the greys anatomy cast did their usual thing of hooking up and creating drama. The subtitles, bolded by their black background, seemed to mock me.

"You don't look too good" Ross said, standing in the kitchen behind me. I shook my head.

"I- I'm fine" I mumble. I wipe my eyes, and pull my knees closer to my chest.

"no you aren't. All the Ben and Jerry's is gone" He said. It was a plain fact, but he said it gently as he took a piece of cold pizza from the box and came to sit next to me. "You talk to your brother?"

"No" I shook my head. "It was Adam's new girlfriend. I- Something isn't right with her. James has only ever talked good about her but- something is off"

"How could you tell?" He asked. I shrugged.

"Just a gut feeling" I responded. He thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Well, those are usually pretty accurate" He stopped as if realizing something for the first time. "Hey, where's Phil?"

"He had something he had to do tonight. He won't be back for a bit" I say, starting to calm down. Ross nodded and grabbed the remote.

"Time to ourselves" he said as he stretched himself out. His cat, a beautiful tortoiseshell  who seemed to like everyone despite being a cat, jumped up behind him on the couch. She purred loudly in our ears.

I jumped as he unmuted the TV. The actors talked in such an overly dramatic way, but we stared and listened in a trance like state for what I think was four episodes until I passed out.