[ please play the song above! it's perfect! ]

Everly Clark

DEAD SILENCE. Silence so cold, I felt goosebumps rise on my arm. Everyone stared, stunned at the fact that I had just announced that. I was stunned myself, I didn't know how to feel. As cheesy as it sounded, it felt like a huge weight was taken from my shoulders.

Oh, God.

Ricky's lawyer licked her lips, avoiding my eyes, "Thank you, Miss. Clark, that'll be all,"

I nodded, feeling lighter. I stepped down from the stands, clenching my fists to prevent my hands from trembling. The silence seemed to echo against the walls of the courtroom.

It was a waiting game, the jury and Judge Rodgers talked silently, somber looks painted on their faces. Gabriel kept repeating comforting words, rubbing my shoulder silently. It was all a blur, everything was just a blur.

Judge Rodgers cleared her throat, "The jury and I have thought deeply for this very decision, but by hearing all the evidence and statements from the witnesses, we hereby announce Everly Clark innocent. Everly was still a minor at that time, however, there will be consequences,"

"Both Mr. and Mrs. Clark will be sent to a rehab home and will not be released until they have a medical professional proving that they are completely sober. Everly Clark will have to go see a physical therapist and will have to pay a fine of 500,000 dollars to the Hans family."

. . .

I had technically won, I was proven innocent. I didn't have to go to jail. I should be so damn happy right now. Except for the fact that I wasn't. In fact, it felt as if I had lost. My parents were going to rehab, God I just couldn't live without them and where was I going to get all that money?

Thoughts rushed through my head like a freight train, making me question myself even more. God, what was I going to do? I couldn't bear to see Ricky's reaction this, I couldn't even face him right now.

"Hey, hey, hey, Ev come on you have to smile now," Gabriel frowned, "Come on, a teeny smile?"

I couldn't help but smile, Gabriel just had that kinda effect on me. He was full of such sunshine that it eventually spread to me. You just couldn't be sad around Gabriel Pryer.

"I-I don't want to lose my parents," I confessed quietly, "Even though they hurt me a countless amount of times, I just can't."

"Everly, the truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for. You have to ask yourself, are they worth it?" he paused, searching my eyes, "Are they worth it?

I thought about all the good times I had with them, the good times. The times when we were all happy when they were sober. I have to constantly remind myself that there was a time when my parents and I were happy.

I needed that more than ever and there was only one way that I might have a chance like that again.

"They need to go to rehab," I mumbled, glancing at them quickly.

He nodded, giving me a small smile, "I know,"

"Everly?"

Gabriel tensed, looking behind me with a deadly expression. I froze as well, I knew that voice very well. Too well. Gabriel gave me a look and then walked away to go chat with my lawyer.

I didn't want to turn around, no matter how much my heart was urging me too. My mind and heart were having a battle with each other and I was in the middle.

"Everly," he repeated softly, the pain was evident in his tone. I couldn't help it, I turned around. I will always turn around.

Jesus Christ.

God, he was so perfect. So, so, so damn perfect.

"I-I'm so sorry baby," he looked like he was about to cry, "I'm so freaking sorry!"

"I-I was blind by my fury, God I should've known that you wouldn't ever do anything like that. I had no idea that this terrible thing happened to you. I love you, Everly Clark, I love you so much. It's you, Everly, it's always been you," Ricky poured out, not stopping once.

"Ricky," I said helplessly, "You have a wife."

"I want to love you. I want to love all of you. Your eyes, your scent, your smile, your laughter. Holding your hand, kissing you, cuddling with you. Your touch, your voice, your heart, your mind. You, Everly. Just you," Ricky confessed, breaking my poor little heart even more.

"I want to be the reason for your happiness," he finished.

I was speechless. My heart was telling me to run one way, my mind was screaming the complete opposite. I didn't know what to say or feel.

I should've felt happiness, I mean this is what I have been craving for nine years. I wanted this.

"You have a wife," I repeated numbly, a lone tear sliding down my cheek.

His face broke me, "Everly, please,"

"I want you to have all the happiness in the world Ricky, you deserve that. In all honesty, you probably will not find a woman who loves you as much as I loved you. We were perfect, perhaps the universe was jealous of how perfect we were,"

I love Ricardo Hans. I often repeat that sentence, over and over again in my head. I don't think I'll ever love someone the same way I loved Ricky but this has to end.

For my sake, this has to end. It's time for me to move on, to be happy. I had to do this for myself.

"The time that we had together will never be irreplaceable. You taught me to be happy, but also about suffering. You were a lesson as well as a blessing for me and I thank for that,"

I smiled sadly, wiping my tears away, "I hope you know that I won't ever forget me and I hope you won't forget me, Ricardo. I wish you all the best in your life and you might hate me right now but I promise you'll understand in the future,"

"I know that deep down you know that you know this is the right thing to do. I love you Ricky Hans and I will treasure what we had till the day I die."

"I'm Ricky Hans and you are?" a blonde-haired boy asked me, leaning against the locker next to mine.

"Everly Clark," I replied back in a confused tone, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded, his lips forming a small smile, "Well, Everly Clark how about you I give you a tour of this school? I'm your tour guide for today."

"You are?" I spat, my eyes wide. God, I thought it was a girl.

"Yes, is there a problem?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"No," I mumbled under my breath.

"Great then, how about you tell me something cool about yourself.

I laughed, "Trust me there is nothing even remotely cool about me, I'm as lame as they can get,"

"Oh come on, everyone is cool and I happen to believe that you are fascinating."

Ricky nodded and I could swear his eyes watered up, "So this is it? This is the end?"

I looked at the ground, releasing a deep breath, "It's the end of our story yes,"

I stepped up to him and wrapped both my arms around his neck, hugging him one last time. The scent of his cologne filled the air, making me never wanna let go. He hugged me back tightly, snuggling his head into my hair.

"I'm really going to miss you," he said, placing his cheek on the top of my head.

"And I'm going to miss you," I pulled back, my heart aching.

"Goodbye Ricky," I smiled, slowly walking away from him.

"Goodbye Everly," I heard him whisper.

I turned around, releasing the breath I didn't know I was holding. With that, I walked away from him. I walked away from all the pain that I had gone through.

I walked into the future that held happiness for me. The happiness that I deserved. The happiness that I had earned.

I knew I was making the right decision, because everything we did screwed up the universe.

I mean, that's just who we were.

. . .

a/n: okay so wow my heart hurts this was really heartbreaking to write.

so one thing, i lied about there being 10 more chapters left (oops). THIS IS THE OFFICIAL LAST CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK!!!!

i had decided that this would be a good place to end this book, it would have a clear message and have it end the way i wanted it to end.

but do not fret my loves, the epilogue is still yet to come! keep an eye out for that! thank you all so much for supporting me throughout this journey!

i love you all so much! :)