Notes:

Additional Cast

Sam Harris as Jessica Parker Kennedy 

Grey Damon as Ashton Sanders 

Robin's POV

I felt her toss and turn all night but I didn't wanna agitate her more by trying to calm her down, so I pretended to be asleep, when I was obviously too edgy to calm myself. I had my back turned to her and stared at my wall the whole night as I listened to her quiet sniffles and deep sighs, feeling desperate myself, for not fixing her.

When the first sun rays pick through my window, I turn around. She is staring at the ceiling, not blinking at all, not noticing me at all.

"Baby?" I say in a low voice and shake her shoulder softly. She finally blinks and shallows, and then turns her head to face me. Her eyes are red and puffy from all the crying and her lips pouty, like they always are in the mornings. "Good morning." I kiss her cheek and then scoop closer to her.

"Morning." She scoops closer as well, so I hug her. Our faces millimeters apart, and our breaths mingling together. "I am not ok." My pretty girl states, excused from everything.

"Ok, baby. I know." I caress her forearm and tangle our feet together, warming up her cold feet with my fluffy socks. "I am sorry I yelled at you yesterday. I didn't mean to. I was scared." I felt really guilty for making her extra sad with my outbreak, letting my fear get to me, and I have to let her know that I love her and will never raise my voice again at her. She nuzzles her head on my neck hugging back as well and faintly nods her head against my skin.

"I know, I am sorry I worried you too." Her breaths tickle my skin as she speaks but I also feel something wet on my skin. She is crying again. So I let her. But this time I whisper loving words to her till she calms down. At some point her phone vibrates on my night stand and I reach for it stretching as far as I can to get it since she makes no move.

13 missed calls from Dad, 3 unread messages from Vanessa and 1, the recent one, from Joss.

Nothing from her mom.

My phone vibrates next and I reach again to the nightstand, while she faintly swifts her body, but she is clinging to me, not letting me go.

From Casanova: will you bring her home or should I come over?

I text him to let him know that I will keep her here for the day so he can come by whenever he wants to. I hope he cheers her up, I really do... he knows her longer so he must know, right?

Then I text Sam.

To Sam: things went to shit. Sophie is a mess. I don't know what to do.

I shift my body as well, and untangle myself from her. "Let me get you breakfast, baby, I will be right back." I kiss her forehead and get off the bed to go downstairs. In the kitchen I see a box with donuts and a note from uncle Alex, saying it's for us and that he went for grocery shopping. I take the box and pour orange juice for Soph, when I get a text again.

From Sam: shitttt. The fuck happened? Is Sophie doing ok? Want us to come over?

And then of course from Nicky: Robin is Sophie ok? Are you ok? We are there for her, please let her know :(

I read at the texts and call Sam as I feel my eyes water a bit.

"Hey, what happened?" It is the first thing she says and I sit on a kitchen chair

"It's my fault!" I say loudly and cover my eyes with my hand trying to stop the tears somehow.

"Hey, Ro, no, hey, listen to me, this is not your fault." She tries but it is not confronting.

"Yes, it is. She did it for me. She wanted to do it for me. It's my fault. Everything is my fault. Nothing would have happened if I hadn't told her I liked her, if I had turned her down. And now her mom might not speak to her again and it's my fault. I ruined her family... it's all my fault." I finally say and feel liberated by the admission. That's what I kept thinking over and over again all night, playing our moments from that first day in class, and everything would have been so different if I hadn't patted her shoulder. She would be with someone else, maybe a guy, and her mother would be happy for her, instead of angry, and Sophie wouldn't be upstairs in my room crying and being in pain. Everything would be better if it wasn't for me.

"It's not." I hear, but it's not Sam's voice. I look up the moment Sam speaks through the phone, telling me in her turn that it is not my fault. Sophie is standing a few meters away from the kitchen table, eyes angry and posture stiff.

"Sam, I will call you back later." I say quickly and put the phone down. I also look at her and wait for her to come to me. But she stays there.

"It's not your fault." She says firmer this time. "Don't you dare think it is." Her jaw clenches and I get up to go to her, till we are face to face.

"You wanted to do it for me." I start. "Nothing would have happened if we weren't together... if you hadn't come out.. Your life would be easier." My head falls, after I run my hand through my hair. I can't look at her in the eyes, I just can't. I ruined her life. In this state, I fail to use reason. Guilt is clouding my mind, making me say stupid things. I have spent hours talking with people younger than me, telling them that coming out is the biggest thing that they could ever do for themselves, that it is the moment that defies you and the rest of your life and that you should always be proud... that you should not hide ...but here I am wishing Sophie hadn't done that. "I...-"

Her hand wraps around my back while the other brings my head on her shoulder, and I find myself in a calming embrace, as I break down.

"This isn't your fault. I did it because I wanted to, because I wanted to love you the best way possible. I did it because you deserve it, because I deserve to be honest with myself. This is not your fault." She reassures me over and over again, but I still feel guilty. What happens now? What if her mom is not ok with it?

"But your mom... she... you." I raise my head and look at her dead in the eye. It has stuck in my head that if not for me, she wouldn't have realized she liked girls. If not for me she might have been with a boy or realizing she liked girls later in life, not now, when she is still hung up on her mom's grip. When she is just 18 and so row and inexperienced. I have heard so many stories... I don't want Sophie to be one of them... it would kill me if she got hurt like that.

"My mom is my problem." I can see the pain in her eyes and my heart aches. "She will come around; dad will make sure of it. He called again after you left the room. He says he loves me and he is proud of me, ok? My mom will follow as well." She tries to sound confident but I don't think she really is.

The thought of Sophie not speaking to her mom ever again is what leads my head. The thought of Sophie blaming me later in life is another... the thought of her sad and broken and a shell of a person are there too. Sophie will become like these kids in the center, dark eyes, never happy, always feeling abandoned and unloved... because no matter the people you will meet in your life, being rejected like that scars you. I cup her cheeks looking at her and prepare myself for what I have to do.

"Sophie... I think we should... we should take a break." I tell her as my heart breaks into million pieces. "It will be better for you, give you time for this to blow off... We should break up for a while. I want to break up with you." I say the words 'break up' in repeat. Forcing them out of my mouth. Sophie's face is calm though.

"Do you really want to?" She asks me. I nod my head.

"Yes, I want to. This has to end here, before it's too late for you and your mom." I sniffle and shallow hard. I watch her as she steps away from me.

"Just answer me this. Do you love me?" Her voice is a whisper but her eyes speak volumes. I swallow hard again and lower my head.

"Sophie... we should do this now... before it is too late..." I can see the tear fall on the floor. I expect her to leave, this is what she should do, but she is not leaving. She is still here. I look up at her again and she is crying and I am just so tired of watching her cry.

"Do you love me?" She pressures.

"Sophie, don't. This isn't worth it." I try desperate to push her away, but she won't damn let me! "This isn't what I want." In my mind the reasoning is this: if her mom is not ok with this, Sophie will be miserable and broken. She will have to choose... and now Sophie's built is not made for thunderstorms. She can't take that. I would rather put some space between us till she talks with her mom, and then we can work things out, once the problem is dealt with and her mom is processing things.

"No, it isn't. It is what I want. What I also want is for you to be honest, so I ask you again. Do you love me?" Her voice is firmer. Louder. Confident. This time I don't lie.

"More than I should." I tell her and her eyes sparkle.

"I love you more than I should too, and it's ok." With that she comes near me again, stroking my cheek with her thumb soothingly. "I know why you are doing this, but you don't have to. It will be ok. All I want from you is to love me and not feel guilty." She pecks my nose and I sigh.

"What if you have to choose Sophie? I don't want you to ruin your relationship with your mom. If we take some time apart till at least your mom comes to terms with it... it woul-"

"Shhhhhh... dad will talk to her. He will make it all ok. Please, this isn't your fault. We don't have to break up. We will face this together. We will be stronger together. I can handle this with you by my side." I hug her tight again and she does too and it feels selfishly ok.

"I am sorry, I love you so much. I just don't want you hurting... I love you so much to let that happen to you. I am sorry I was an idiot." I mumble.

"You are my idiot though." She breaks the embrace and our foreheads touch. "I love that you want to protect me at any cost, but I am not sacrificing you because of this. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Robin. I love you, and I will not leave you. We will face this together. Trust me, baby."

In a minute our lips move in sync, gently and lovingly because we don't have to do this in a rush. Our kiss says it all. I love her and she loves me, and that's what we need to make it through this. If she says Nicolas will take care of it, then things will be ok. I don't want to think what we will do if things don't go our way but for now, I choose her and I think this is her choosing me as well. In a way... she is choosing to keep us strong together. Nothing will break us apart. We will face this as one. Things will work out and I trust her. I put my worries aside and smile in our kiss.

I take a breath and let reason clear my mind, my freak out now over. This will be ok. Her dad is ok, this will end good. I need to be strong for her. To support her, to be her rock. I have to protect her.

Joseph's POV

I drive more nervously than ever, pushing the gas more and more. Vanessa doesn't seem startled, sitting on the passenger's seat, at least not from the speed. Was Robin's house always that far away? I think it's taking forever to get there. I hope everything's fine, but I am fooling myself. Everything's shit and it wasn't supposed to be like this. It's the first time, I am feeling the positive vibes abandon me and one of the rare times I am unaware of what to do and how to react. This was not the way this weekend was supposed to be.

I went with Alice to Nathan's birthday party, whereas Sophie returned home to celebrate her parents' anniversary. I was supposed to pass the whole weekend in bed with my girl, while Sophie was supposed to have the best time with her parents and at the end of the weekend, we were supposed to eat dinner together as she would fill me in with all the gossip from our hometown and then watch movies or play a board game. That's how it was supposed to be, but things ended up completely different.

I was with Alice the whole evening, after Nathan's party and as it was expected we couldn't leave the bed. I heard my phone ringing at some point, but I was pretty busy, giving Alice the fifth or the sixth orgasm(I lost count), so I didn't even bother to answer it. I decided it to take a look at it late at night, finding it in my jean's pocket,which was tossed in the living room and to my surprise the missed call was from Sophie's dad. I knew from that moment that things had gone downhill. I called him and he asked where Sophie was. He told me without many details what happened and that Sophie had left and he had no idea where she was. I reassured him that I will find her and I called Sophie at once, but with no luck. Robin was the next to call. Thankfully, she answered and she told me Sophie was at her place and that she was sleeping, so it was better to visit the next day. I called mr. Ford again to let him know and not worry, but after I hung up I felt anxiety rising up inside me. It was a feeling I was not familiar with. What was I supposed to do? Family crisis were never my strong point, as I avoid them as much as I can, by not caring much, but Sophie is not me.

Alice got out of the bathroom and really got my frustration. We sat and talked, in order to help me deal with the situation. She told me that Sophie needs her bff. Just me being her rock, comforting her and reassuring her that I will always be by her side. She told me that's what she needs right now. Then Vanessa called. That's what I call perfect timing. I let Alice fill her in and obviously Vanessa would join me the next day. Honestly I felt more relaxed, as Vanessa can handle those sentimental situations better than me and she has gained Sophie's trust and friendship.

I picked Vanessa the next morning, after I left Alice at the dorms. We didn't say much on the road, only that we should support her the best we could.

Finally Robin's house appears in front of me and without wasting time, I park outside and get out of the car. Vanessa hits the bell and a gloomy Robin, emerges behind the door.

"Hey you guys, good to see ya." She says timidly looking behind her back. "I am so glad you're here" She speaks again, looking directly at me. "She's upstairs. I tried my best... Things are not as bad as they were last night, she calmed down a bit, but still. She needs you."

She then pulls aside to let us in. She hugs Vanessa lovingly and Vanessa hugs her back the same way, holding back the tears. Great, my first assumption wasn't so right after all. Vanessa isn't as much in control as she seems to be.

"Everything is going to be fine. Don't worry." She whispers, for us all to believe.

"I really hope so ,Vee, you didn't see her last night, she was like a ghost..." Robin replies. "It broke me."

"I am sure you did your best. Sophie is strong. And so are you, Robin. You'll see, by this time next year, we won't even remember this." Vanessa gives Robin a quick hug again.

Robin takes the hug gratefully, as if she needs to suck strength out of it. "I only hope. I can't believe this happened. I was not expecting this reaction. Life can really suck sometimes, Sophie doesn't deserve this." She says and then hugs me. She seems ready to collapse.

After the embrace, I nod to Vanessa to go upstairs. Robin didn't make the most encouraging introduction, but I already knew that everything was a mess. I climb up the stairs, walking to Robin's room.

"Hey, Joss." I feel Vanessa's gentle grip around my arm, once we reach the floor. "Sophie is going to be alright." She tries to give a smile and to encourage me for what's to come.

It's the first time in my life that a positive answer can't come out of my lips. Is everything going to be alright? "I hope so... Let's do our best to support her for the time being."

Once I am in front of the door, I take a deep breath and I open the door slowly.

Sophie is sitting on Robin's bed, holding a tissue. Her eyes are red and she looks kinda lost, looking ahead to nowhere in particular.

But the moment we step aside, she looks to her right, directly at us. She swallows hard, grips the hand tissue in her hands and looks at me. She clenches her jaw and her lip trembles.

"Sophie..." I step closer to her, watching her affectionately.

She swallows audibly again, and after one loud breath that she takes, she gets up rapidly and runs to me, as she begins to cry.

"Oh, Sophie..." I can barely hear Vanessa's voice as I catch her.

"She rejected me." She whispers barely audibly. "Joss... what am I gonna do?" She wonders breaking down.

"Sophie, I am here now! Everything's going to be alright. We will figure this out. Like we always do." I try to reassure her, bringing her closer to me. All I can do is give her hope.

She hugs me tighter. "It hurts."

"It will pass away in no time. You'll see. We're here for you, Sophie. Always." Vanessa says while approaching us and rests her palm tentatively on Sophie's arm that's still hooked around my waist.

Sophie raises her head, and looks at Vanessa like she just realized she is in the room with us, and after leaving my embrace, she hugs her next.

"Thank you, Vee... I am glad you're here... sorry to bother you though..." She tells her.

"Hey, don't ever say that again." Vanessa's green eyes have turned gloomy already. This is going to go splendidly. "I am happy to be here for you." She caresses the back of Sophie's head slowly, without leaving her out of her embrace yet.

"Thank you both for being here... I think I always trouble you with my things.. sorry...". She looks up at both me Vanessa. "Where is Ro?" She asks noticing her absence.

"She is going through the delivery leaflets, I hope she chooses wisely." Vanessa chuckles briefly, in an attempt to make a joke. "You never trouble us, Sophie. This is what friends are for. Why don't we sit down? Robin's bed seems really comfortable." She places her hand on Sophie's back, directing her over there, and then turns at me, her whole face covered by panic.

We put Sophie in the middle and wait for her to take a couple of breaths. "Sophie... What happened? Your father called me yesterday..." Hearing her dad, she raises her head at once.

"I talked to him this morning... he mentioned it, yeah..." She grimaces. "Got you worried and all, huh? Robin told me you called her too."

"Yeah I did, but still I haven't fully processed what happened. I thought you were going home to celebrate. Why did it go like this?" I ask calmly, but try not to pressure her.

Vanessa takes Sophie's hand in hers and gives her a sort of encouraging half smile. Sophie takes a deep breath sadly.

"At the table everyone asked me about boys, and out of the sadden you got involved and they thought that we could make a nice couple." She eyerolls, regaining her Sophiness. "The others laughed it off, but I think it stuck on my mom's head somehow. And then yesterday, mom and dad sat me down to tell me they would rent me an apartment, saying how I can't be living with you if we are dating."

Sophie's words make me laugh unwillingly. "Me and you? A couple?" I let a small laughter again. "I thought your parents knew you're not my type." I try to be her typical Joss and gain any typical Sophie reaction. Her starting her sarcastic comments and eyerolls. A threat about my bangs.

"I know! Automatically a boy and girl as friends, have to end up together!" She puffs. "You're amazing and all, but you are my big brother." She messes lightly with my bangs. "Bangs and all."

"And you are my little sis." I rub her arm. "FYI, Alice loves my bangs." I tease her and Vanessa looks at us kind of relieved.

"Weird taste she has, if you ask me. Bangs are so last year." She adds with a small laugh.

"So all this began, because they forced you to move? You love me more than you are giving credit for." I force a smile, trying to keep up the cheery mood. I am good at it and it seems to work.

"Dork..." She eyerolls. "I freaked out cause it got all so huge so fast! Mom was out of her mind. I don't want to move! I love that place." Her shoulders fall and her features harden fast, as she loses her cheery mood.

"So far so good. And I guess nobody is going to move." Vanessa sighs, ready to ask the next question. "What happened next?"

Sophie gives a kind look. "I told her I am not with Joss, but I guess mothers always know everything, so she called me out saying how I look lately and it could only mean I am with someone." She shrugs. "She started going on about how it could be distracting, how it could end up bad, destroying my future with possible pregnancies and all! Can you believe that?" She starts getting frustrated.

"Mothers sometimes worry way too much. But it always comes out of love." Vanessa comments but I know how Sophie's mother can be. She can be irrational and when something doesn't go according to her plan, she gets pushy. I always pictured her as the female version of my dad.

"I know, that's why I tried to calm her down telling that I am focused. That no one is gonna ruin my future." She looks down at her hands. "I couldn't lie to her though, so I told her I love Robin." She wipes her eyes with the back of her hands.

She chuckles bitterly. "She froze. She said nothing for minutes and when I asked her if she had heard me, she told me to go to my room." Her tone is stone cold, cutting knives. "She wanted me to pretend the conversation never happened. She told right in my face that I am young and I know nothing about what love is, diminishing all that I feel. So I ran to my room, packed my bag and left. End of the story." Vanessa is left jaw dropped, as I am trying to gather my thoughts and find the most suitable thing to say. Man, I suck at family crisis; that's why I avoid them, but Sophie here needs my support and a piece of advice even though I suck at it as well, big time. The most important thing is to understand she's not wrong. She has to stand up for who she is.

She shakes her head negatively. Her reactions have changed more than once since we got here. From to sad to now upset, she is in an emotional rollercoaster. Right now she is vivid.

"She rejected me." She says with a complaint. "I've been the perfect daughter, Joss... I never did anything inappropriate... I just love Robin...Why is that so bad? I am happy. She said so herself, that I look different. Why did she react like that?" Here she goes back to sadness. "Mothers are supposed to accept you. Always."

"Your mother loves you. We both know that!" I say firmly, because it's the only thing I am sure of. "She's just old school. People can't always accept what they are not used to."

"She will accept it, Sophie." Vanessa talks next. "As Joseph said, it might take her some time, but she will. And when she will, I can assure you; she will be proud of you. As we are proud of you now. We are proud of your strength to love. You love with all you got, Sophie, and that's a rare gift. Either it is your mom or Robin. Or even us, to be honest. You should be proud of this unique ability of yours."

She puffs not believing any of the words we just said. "You guys don't know what it's like to have your role model turn you down..." She shakes her head again in disbelief I think. "And if she loves me that much, then why hasn't she called me yet? Dad did... just a phone call, or even a text to check up on me?" I have no argues on that.

"We both know what your mother did was wrong. I am not defending her and I don't care about her. I care about you and I want to help you get through this." I state looking her directly in the eyes. I know how it is to try to impress your parent and be perfect, but instead of hearing a compliment, you just receive more disappointment. I gave up caring long ago, not letting my dad defining what I am supposed to be, but Sophie never stopped trying. She just doesn't deserve a mother like her.

She sniffles again so I take her in my arms. "Being here is enough." She says kissing quickly my cheek and taking Vanessa's hand in hers. "Dad calmed me down this morning, said he'll talk to her... He will fix this." Some good news indeed."I guess I have to take his word for now. Daddy would never lie to me." She adds confidently.

"That is a great start." Vanessa states with a grin, seeing the positive sight of this for the first time today. "Your dad is a wonderful man and as it seems more open than your mom. He will help her get past the first shock and see past this and get rid of all prejudices she might hold."

"Yeah... daddy can fix this." Sophie says more to herself.

"See? Don't stress yourself for the time being. I told you we will figure this out. Your dad will not let you down." I try to reassure her and stay positive. I hope I am right. Mr. Ford is a very kind man, who always considered me as his second son. I think he will be able to pull this through

"Yeah... Ι think I have to be positive... Ι mean... sooner or later, things will go back to normal, dad promised." Sophie says and rests her head on my shoulder.

"Everything will work out. " Vanessa increases the positive vibes with a nod of her head. "Um... what about Ben? Was he present when all this happened?" She asks hesitantly.

Sophie pouts anImatedly. "He was in his room, thank God. He didn't hear any of it, but was shocked to see me leave the house. I told him I am proud of him and that I will always support him,hugged him and then took off. Now I don't know how he is..."

"He has the best big sister. And we are all really proud of you. Never forget that." I caress her back softly.

"What if he dislikes what Ι am? What if Mom tells him Ι am not normal?" Sophie asks, looking like it's the first time she thinks about that.

"You'll always be his big sister and he will always love you, Sophie. Unconditionally. As for your mom", Vanessa sighs and takes Sophie's hand in hers before continuing, "it's the same thing. She will always be your mom and she will always love you too. Neither of them can truly dislike you. As we said, maybe your mom will need some time to process everything and until she does, you'll have us by your side. Okay?"

Sophie nods and squeezes Vanessa's hand back, and then she takes mine as well. "You are the best friends in the world. I never thought Ι'd be that lucky. I thought Joss would be the only one to tolerate me, but here Ι am, taken by surprise. Thank you both for all you have done. I love you guys."

"Oh Sophie, I..." Vanessa cups Sophie's hand that rests on top of hers. "We just..." as she stops mid sentence again, I notice her eyes. The first tear has already made its appearance. She lets out a quit sob, before she covers her mouth with her palm and hooks her arms around Sophie. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to cry. You'll..." another sob comes from her now, "you'll be fine, Sophie. Everything is going to be fine." She says and making Sophie tear up again, they hug.

"Sophie, you don't walk this path alone. We are right here with you. I know you are used to take any burden alone, but it's not like that anymore.Besides me, who I was always by your side, you have Vanessa, and never forget Robin. Remember what I always tell you. It's always easier to share and open up." I tell her and she smiles grateful.

"Exactly." Vanessa says, as she wipes her eyes with the back of her palm. "Robin can help you through it. There are things she knows best, she is strong and she loves you so much, Sophie. Don't think twice before telling her how you feel and all the things that are troubling you. You couldn't have asked for a more ideal person to help you through this."

Sophie makes a cryptic face. "She broke up with me earlier today."

"What?" Vanessa's jaw is dropped on the floor.

"When the hell did that happened? You were only gone for a fucking and a half weekend." I exasperate, not being able to believe my ears.

Sophie shakes her hands. "Relax, people. I wasn't done explaining." She pauses for dramatics. "She felt responsible for what happened and she broke up with me so that Ι can save my relationship with my mom. Said it would be easier. But I told her that I won't let this break us apart. I love her and I am not leaving her. I swear on my life. We will face this as one." She says confidently.

"Oh, thank God. I almost got a heart attack." Vanessa exhales relieved. "That's the spirit."

"Exactly! Stand for what you are! You mom should understand that Robin makes you happy. She should come in terms with that. Not the other way around." I tell Sophie firmly, grabbing her shoulder and looking directly into her eyes. "Sophie I've known you for more than I can remember myself and I've never seen you this happy, since when you started dating Robin. Don't let anyone take that away from you. Even your mom." Sophie's eyes widen, hearing my speech. I am even surprised with myself to be honest. Perhaps being with Alice has a bigger impact in my life and my character than I've being able to realize after all. And all this in such a short period of time.

"Look at you, giving speeches about relationships." Sophie mocks me." Worry not, Joss. I don't plan on breaking up with her. She is it for me. We are one." Sophie continues proudly. "You guys are right, Robin too. This all will end up well. Things will get better."

"That's my best friend. And FYI, my speeches were always fascinating and have the crowd hooked. I don't know if it's my word flow, or my voice or just my face." I joke as I see the mood is much lighter now and I want to send away all the negativity.

As we stare at each other, we hear a knock on the door and soon Robin appears looking timid. "Hey you guys, I ordered food, if you are hungry."

"We're starving actually. Thank you so much, Robin!" Vanessa gets up first, finding back her cheery mood, and stretches her hand towards Sophie with a smile.

"Hungry as a wolf." Replies Sophie, taking Vanessa's hand and getting up too. They approach Robin with a smile. "All good, my love?" Robin asks Sophie, giving her a small kiss.

"Aww Vanessa, look at this cheesy sight? Don't they win a prize for the cheesiest couple ever?" My voice is painted with mockery, trying to tease Sophie and check if everything has become a little better. If she shoots back, I will have my answer.

"Bite me." Sophie barks back lightly, and then kisses Robin back. "All good, babe."

"Then let's go eat." Robin proposes.

Vanessa and Sophie move past her and I am about too, but Robin stops me."Well? What do you think?"

"She's fine for now. She's stronger than you think, but she will need you by her side." My eyes meets Robin's.

"I hope this ends well, Joss. I won't forgive myself if she gets hurt at the end. I love her. Do you think Becca will change?"

"Eventually I hope. I don't wanna give you any false hopes. Sophie's mom isn't the easiest person in the world, but I want to believe that the love for her daughter will make her overpass any superstition she might have." I force a smile and caress Robin's shoulder. She needs to know that things are difficult, but not insurmountable.

"She better! No one has the right to hurt my girl. I'll fight Rebecca if i have too, and you know I am a pacifist."

I can't help but let out a small chuckle. "And you will have us as your back up!" I reassure her, giving her a small hug. "Now let's go to eat. God! Pep talks always make me hungry."

Robin pokes my arms playfully and then she follows me downstairs. We stay for launch and it seems that Sophie sent the dark thoughts away. I know deep down she's still stressed, but at least we managed to diminish its amount. This ride isn't going to be an easy one.

Vanessa's POV

Last week was awful. So was the previous one. Or the one before that. To sum it up ,it's been an awful month and I am glad that April is coming to an end soon. Since the very start with all the Nathan-drama, which had an update every week, to the unpleasant consequences of Sophie's come out, things are going from bad to worse in a remarkable speed. Nonetheless the latest news about Sophie are much more serious and have affected every one of us. Joseph can't believe things turned out this way, but he is giving strength to Sophie and makes her laugh. Alice was saddened by the news, but she has been really understanding too, and she encourages all the time Joseph to support his best friend. Robin is the one who puts a brave face everyday, every minute of the day for Sophie, and tells her again and again that everything will be alright. As for me, I try to be extra optimistic and to lighten up Sophie's mood in every way I can.

It's been hard for me, I won't lie about it. I don't know what is the right thing to say and I can't imagine how I would be feeling if I was in Sophie's shoes. It makes me sad that I don't know how to handle a situation like this, that I can't make things better. When it comes to family drama, mine had none, or at least really little ones, which are long overpassed by now. I am thankful for that and I know that even if I have zero knowledge on other people's problems, what I can do is what my parents have taught me. Just be there for the ones I care about, hold their hand, listen and make them believe with a smile that better days will come. They just have to.

With everything that has happened with Sophie, I have no time to deal with or think about what happened between Nathan and me. Or to be more specific between Nathan and Susan. Alice said she met Susan at the party, but she wasn't impressed by her. Her exact words were that she was the classic blond bimbo, who tries to be someone just by playing it cool and dating the superstar basketball player. She couldn't stop raving that Joseph almost hooked up with her, but she was really glad he didn't.

What I told myself was that maybe I shouldn't have gone to the party. It is a different thing to hear it from somebody else than witness it with your own eyes. I did see Nathan holding Susan into his embrace, him smiling and her giggling. I did see him kissing her neck and licking her skin, like he did with mine. I can't unsee it, as I can't stop thinking about how badly I wanted to be her. Just for one night. I wanted to be confident and not to stress about what tomorrow will bring, because no matter the outcome, I would have done what I really desired and I would have been happy. Just for one night. I would be carefree and enjoy every second, without any guilt or worries. I wouldn't expect a thing because I would have been okay with that one night. It would have been enough. Alice insists it is nothing serious and that Susan and Nathan just hang out from time to time. I close my eyes and put myself into her place. I imagine how it would feel to be alone with him, to make him laugh, to sleep right next to him at night and wake up by his side in the morning. But then I open my eyes and this fantasy slips away. I am not her and I will never be. I am just Vanessa Adams and my mind is stuck on the one boy I can never have the way I dream to.

I came home after the party and I cried myself to sleep. I couldn't erase the vivid image of Nathan staring at me before turning his complete attention to Susan. I thought that I would be safe in my sleep but then my dream became a nightmare as I saw the two of them kissing passionately, pointing at me with their finger and then laughing. They laughed so loud mocking me and their laugh was echoing in my ears. I woke up and I cried again. I cried for being weak. I cried for being a fool. I cried for not seeing it the way it is. A dead end. In one night, Nathan managed to hurt me like no one ever has. He was so distant, so rude and so abrupt. He didn't even care about me being there with him. All he cared about was making sure that he will hurt me. With his words and actions shattering my heart. Why do people intentionally hurt others? Could it mean that they are hurt too? Could it mean that they want to get even? Or it just doesn't have any meaning at all? They just do it because they don't care about the person they are hurting. And maybe they never did. Or maybe they just care about their feelings more. Their pride is all they have and this is non negotiable to them. They are going to put themselves first. This is their one and first priority. It is not their problem if you happen to get in their way. What you are is just a collateral damage and they won't hesitate to step on you, just so they can find themselves again. It won't matter if they crush you, as long as they build their walls and hide everything behind. All that matters is not give anybody the chance to see them vulnerable, that's why they wear their mask again. They simply refuse to let you in and you can't imagine the day they will.

Besides everything though, you want to get in and break the walls and throw the mask away. That is what you want but not what they want. So they make you give up hope eventually. I don't want to lose hope, but maybe I have to? I refuse to do it and instead I promise myself I won't keep my hopes up. As long as I don't expect anything, I won't get hurt again. At least, not like this.

I can get past it. I have to be there for Sophie and I have to get ready for my exams, which are coming soon, and I have my paper duties. I am so glad I joined the paper. When I enter the building, it is like entering another world. I can lose the sense of time while getting passionate about our projects. I can laugh with the endless fights between Anna and Vincent. I can return a sincere smile to Ashton everytime he smiles at me. Like he is doing now, while standing opposite from me with his arms crossed and his back on the wall.

"Hi." He lifts his eyebrows at me with his warm smile never leaving his face.

"Hello." I greet him giggling. "How long have you been standing there?"

"I don't even know. I was just staring at you and I lost track of time." He tells me smirking. "A while? I guess." He then adds and narrows his eyebrows.

I sigh and close my eyes, while shaking my head smiling. Alice's voice comes into my mind. Is Ashton giving me little hints for real? If he is, he is always so careful about not putting me in an awkward position. I don't think I could deal with such a situation when everything is falling apart around me.

"I, um... I didn't notice." I try to ignore the rest of what he just said.

"I know." He grins and steps away from the wall, marching towards me. "You have been too focused on your work. As an editor, I am really satisfied." He lowers his head, placing his hands on my desk. "But keeping this post of mine aside, I am sort of offended."

"Offended? I-I didn't... I didn't mean to offend you! I never meant to offend you! I..." I stop my monologue to take a breath before I go on with my apology but I look carefully at Ashton, whose facial expression seems nothing but offended. He looks back at me beaming and somehow amused by my reaction to his teasing. "It was a joke, right?" I laugh awkwardly at myself for taking everything in serious.

"Not entirely." He remarks playfully.

"Ashton! I felt bad!" I exclaim chortling.

"You can make it up to me." He leans his head closer.

"You mean you can make it up to me." I repeat.

"I have no problem with that. I believe it can work both ways. Are you done?" He says pointing with his head at the computer.

"Not yet." I puff. "It won't take long though, I have to read it again and maybe do some adjustments."

"You can do that tomorrow. I am calling the rest of your day off." He states casually.

"I am okay with doing it now. I am almost done. Besides, I don't want to take advantage of my personal relationship with you." I say shrugging.

"Your personal relationship with me?" Ashton's eyes immediately lit up, turning even more green. "And how would you define our personal relationship?"

"I would define it by saying that we are two people who work together and hang out out of office too and have fun and like each other and..." Did I just say what I think I said? "I mean I like you and you like me." Ashton is swallowing his lips, trying to prevent himself from laughing. "Um, as friends we like each other... I don't know how that sounded!" I giggle nervously and continue talking while waving my hands in the air. "We are friends and and we work here and you are my boss and I-"

"I think it sounded the way it should." Ashton chimes in, nodding his head.

"Okay..." I frown unsure.

"So where are you letting me take you today?" He asks as he retrieves his hands from my desk.

"Um, I can't today. I'm sorry. I have to go see Sophie. She is not at her best." I answer to him pouting.

"Is it something serious?" He asks again concerned and takes the empty chair from Marc's desk on the side to sit next to me.

"Yeah, it is really serious." I tell him sighing. "She is having a really bad week."

"I am sure you'll make her week better." He says softly as he takes my hands in his covering them.

"I hope so." I give him a half smile. "I honestly have no idea what I should tell her or do. I am completely out of my element." I admit feeling defeated.

"She has a friend like you. She will get over her problem." He squeezes my hands slightly.

"I am not so sure if I can prove to be any help but..." I leave my sentence unfinished and look down at our hands together.

"Hey." Ashton takes his upper hand away and places it to my cheek forcing me to look at him. "Don't ever doubt the impact you have on others. I do speak from experience." He smiles at me warmly and his smile instantly warms my heart. "She is lucky to have you in her life. I am lucky to have you in my life. Everyone who has you in their life in any kind of way is so much more than lucky and blessed."

"How do you do it?" I ask letting a brief laugh escape from my lips.

"How do I do what?" He asks back caressing my cheek.

"Tell me everything I need to hear the exact moment I need to hear it." I raise an eyebrow at him. "Thank you."

"You can thank me another time." He says with a grin. "And hopefully soon. Since you've been ignoring me for a fair amount of time now."

"I am not ignoring you." I remark widening my eyes. "I am sorry for not joining you guys at the grill the other day, I just-"

"I am talking about me. And not necessarily now as now now." He interrupts me. "The others don't mind. I am the one who wants to spend time with you." I bite my lip and look down again. "But it's not the time, okay?" With his other hand, he locks a strand behind my ear. "So Sophie, she is gonna be alright and just being by her side will be enough for her."

He changes the subject so I don't feel uncomfortable. He offers me his smile so I smile as well. He says the right things so I get back my lost confidence. Sometimes I think Ashton is out of this world. He seems too perfect to be real.

"Thank you." I say once again. A thank you though is surely not enough for what he is doing for me. Not only now but for what he always does.

"Is it about Robin?" He asks hesitantly.

"Hmm?" I got lost in my thoughts about him for a moment. "No, not exactly. But it is related. You know?" I narrow my eyebrows at him.

"Yeah, it's been going around after spring break." He puts his one hand at the back of his neck and the other one on his knee. "I never thought about it but after hearing the news, it seemed logical to me. I remembered the few times I've seen them together. Like at Alice's birthday party. I can empathize with the way Robin was looking at Sophie." Ashton chuckles silently. "But I've never expected her to hurt Sophie."

"No, she did not." I shake my head. Ashton's delicate way to talk about Sophie and Robin's relationship is one of the things that makes me like him more. "They are still together and really in love." Ashton smiles and narrows his eyebrows at me at the same time. "It is about Sophie's family. Specifically, her mom. Sophie told them about Robin last weekend. Well, about herself. Things didn't turn out to be ideal."

"I see." He nods his head in understanding. "Sometimes things need time to become ideal. Every person has his own way to deal with everything that happens in his life. Or in the lives of the people they love. At the end of the day though, that's what matters most. Love. Love can overpass anything. Let alone maternal love. Sophie will be fine." He reassures me with a smile and I am left at staring at him astonished.

No, he can't be for real. I take his hand in mine now, hoping my gesture can show him how much I appreciate his words and his kind soul. I can't explain, without messing it up, what I mean to say. So I choose to stay silent. It is not something expected from me but Ashton left me speechless. For one more time. I have lost track by now.

"Now save your work and turn off your computer. I am driving you to Sophie's."

I accept with a nod and after I am done, we both stand up ignoring Anna's teasing as we walk out of the office. It has grown on her as a habit after all. We get into Ashton's car and I give him Robin's address, since Sophie has been staying there for these couple days. He begins to drive and I stare at him from time to time with a wide smile on my face.

"Is everything okay?" He chortles after giving me a confused glare.

"Yes... Thank you." I tell him once again sincerely.

"I didn't do anything." He says softly.

"Yes, you did. You do all the time and I want you to know that I am grateful for it."

"You can thank me another time as I said. Maybe next week?" He looks at me waiting for an answer and I nod my head in confirmation. "Good. You don't get a chance to cancel it. It would be cruel, considering it is my birthday."

"Your birthday? Really?" I lift my eyebrows at him surprised. "I had no idea."

"Now you do. So don't make any other plans." He points a finger at me warning me.

"Okay, I won't. I promise." I tell him as we stop outside Robin's house.

"Good." Wait, there is another car parked outside the house too. It is Nathan's. Nathan is here? "I haven't thought much of it. I am probably going to have a party at my place. Shawn is already on it." Ashton chuckles and I turn to face him.

"Great." I don't think I am ready for another party, but as long as the previous birthday boy doesn't come, I will have no problem. The thing is I am having a big problem right here right now, since Nathan is 99,99% inside Robin's house at the moment. I still hope for that 0,01% to be the case. I guess there is no point in stalling. I have to get inside eventually. "I'll be waiting for any updates on the party. Thank you for the ride, Ashton. And everything really."

"Tell Sophie I said hi." He nods his head grinning. "Everything will be alright, Vanessa."

I get out of the car and wave at him goodbye as I repeat his words in my head to calm down. Everything will be alright, Vanessa. I take a deep breath and ring at Robin's doorbell. 

A/N:Thanks for staying with us for so long! Happy new year filled with love,health and happiness.