Driving down the highway with the boys in my rearview, sounds like the beginning of a sad country song. Unfortunately, this is my reality as I race to the Sergeant Jasper to comfort my friend Karen. And unfortunately for them, in this moment, I hate the boys. I hate them for what they've done to me, and I hate how they just show back up and spring this on me.

They love me? Who the hell disappears on someone they love for two years and then just show back up like nothing ever happened?

Maybe the old Sang would've forgiven them for it. Giggled and laughed it off like it was nothing, running into their arms, so happy to have them back. But I'm not that Sang anymore, and I don't want to be. I don't want to be someone that people walk all over. I've been able to build myself up with the help of my team, and I refuse to let all of our hard work go to waste.

No. If the boys want into my life, they'll have to work for it, and earn my forgiveness. They'll have to get to know the new me, and if once they do, they still feel the same, maybe we can be what we once were. If not, who needs em?

You do.

No! I don't. Not anymore. No matter how much I miss having them in my life, I won't let them believe that I need them. I may want them, but wanting something, and needing it, are two separate things.

I know you're probably wondering how the hell I actually ended up in the Academy without the boys. Well, a few months after I joined the group, they sat me down and told me that they were an Academy team. That was the main reason they moved. You see, Jaelyn's dad is Academy and he had to move back to Charleston because of his new position within the organization.

Once they moved here, Jaelyn wanted to know more about the organization, and the whole group ended up going through bootcamp, with Jae as the family lead. Once they told me, I told them all about the Blackourne team. They'd already heard of them of course, but they'd never met them, which is why they were confused that day in the mall. I went to bootcamp with them that year, and we've been a team ever since.

Pulling up to the Sergeant Jasper, the first thing I see is Karen pacing in front of the building, her suitcase and backpack pilled up by the front doors. I hop out of my car and rush over to her, quickly pulling her into my arms as she sobs.

Karen moved into Nora's apartment here about a month ago. I can't believe she would pull this crap, so soon after begging Karen to come live with her.

Stupid skank. She probably just did that so Karen could pay her bills for her.

Karen's mom died right before graduation, cancer, and her no good daddy isn't in her life. He left Karen's mom when she was five.

"Where is that no good tramp? Point me in her direction and she's done." I say to her.

"I just wanna get out of here," she sobs. "Please Sang, take me away from here."

"You got it babe. Go get in the car, I'll get your bags."

She nods forlornly, releasing me and going over to my car. As I'm walking over to her bags, Ryan's R8 pulls up next to my A1 and he jumps out, along with the twins and Marissa.

I guess Jae stayed back at the house.

"Babe get in the car, I'll get the bags." he says to me.

"How is she?"Marissa asks, running up to me.

"Heartbroken," I respond. "But she'll be ok. We'll get her through it."

"Damn straight," she responds.

Mariss's had a bit of a crush on Karen for a little while now. She never did think Nora was good enough for her.

"Riss, Muse! In the car, now!" Ryan calls to us, putting Karen's bags in his car.

When I look away from Riss, I can see why Ryan sounds so aggressive. The Blackbourne's have arrived, and they're now getting out of their cars.

"Hey!" North screams. "You don't talk to her like that."

"You don't get a say on what she can and can't do." Zerric yells at him. "Why don't you do what you do best and get out of here."

"Yeah you pricks, " Darren adds. "You're not needed here. We've got this."

"Listen you little-"

"Enough!" I cut North off. "This is not about you, or me! Now just do yourself a favor and butt out!"

"Baby-"

"No!" I scream, getting in North's face after he walks up to me. Poking him in his chest, I continue. "No. You don't get to call me that. You lost that right when you left. Now get out of here."

"Sang, please." Owen pleads.

"No, not now! My friend needs me, and unlike you guys, I plan to be there for her. Now get out of my way, because this is the last time I'll ask nicely."

"That was her asking nicely?" I hear Luke whisper to Gabriel.

I narrow my eyes in his direction, not knowing how to feel when he shrinks away from me. At least this shows them how serious I am. I'm not the same person I was when they left. It's better they find that out now.

Save us both the heartache; if they really care that is.

Marissa huffs behind me, before taking my arm and pulling me to the car. I watch as the twins walk over to Ryan's car, waiting for me and Marissa to get in mine before sliding in.

When we get back to the house, I put Karen in one of the spare rooms. Poor thing is so exhausted that she passes out as soon as her head hit the pillow. I'm thankful that the guys decided not to follow us back, but I'm pretty sure that's only because of where we were. The Toma's live in the Sergeant Jasper, and I'm sure the only reason they stayed is to gather intel. It's what they do best.

I'm sagging against the wall after leaving Karen's room, and that's where Jaelyn finds me a short while later. I slide down to the floor, knowing she's going to want to talk about what happened tonight, but for the life of me, I just can't find the energy to evade her.

"You know they'll be back right?" she says to me after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah I know."

"They don't give up easily, your boys."

"They're not my anything."

"Bullshit Sang. I was there when they left remember? You called me."

"Yeah, I know."

"Then don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. You were heartbroken when they left. Much like Karen is right now."

"I know Jae, but I'm not that girl anymore."

"No, you're not," she concedes. "But you can't tell me you don't still care for them."

"Doesn't matter if I still care for them or not. They left. They don't get to just drop back in and act like everything's alright."

"And they shouldn't. You have every right to be pissed off at them. But the fact that you are just proves how much of a hold they still have on you. You can't be mad at someone you don't care about."

As much as I hate to admit it, she's right. Those boys still hold my heart in their hands. But I'll be damned if I let them know it, or let them use it against me. I'm stronger now, and no matter how much I've missed them, I won't let them just waltz back into my life. Not without a fight.

"So what are you gonna do?"

"Right now? I'm gonna find one of the guys and go to bed. I'll save my issues with the boys for tomorrow, when I have a clear head."

I stand up and start to walk away, only to stop when she calls out to me.

"Sang, don't let this ruin your chance at happiness. Those boys made you happy once, maybe they can do it again."

"Maybe, but that day isn't today."