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Dedication: Fondofcliches for the awesome cover! Thank you! :)

Recap:

Suddenly, I stopped moving. I froze. My heart was pounding in my ears. My eyes squeezed shut.

"C-Casey?" I stammered.

He let out a kind of hysterical laugh.

"Yeah baby," he whispered, his teeth nipping my ear. "It's me."

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The cool water ran through my hair, effectively making it stick to my skin.

I was shivering, uncontrollably, by this point. My whole body was engulfed in paralysing trembles. Tears flowed down my cheeks, but there was so much water on my face, it was impossible to distinguish whether it was my tears or the running stream coming from the shower head.

Last night had been horrible. On many levels.

When I think about it, it all seems so surreal. Like it never even happened. One minute, I was walking from the bathroom, the next? I was face down, being attacked in my own bedroom.

Casey...

Could it really be him? All this time, has he really been alive?

Why? Why has he done this?

This question has been swirling viciously in my mind, making me feel nauseous.

Slowly, I dragged my eyes to my wrist, where a deep, purple bruise had formed, from his grip. I could still feel the sting on the back of my neck, as water ran over it.

I couldn't have made this up - not when I have physical evidence plaguing my body.

"It's me," his voice whispered in my mind.

A shiver ran down my spine as I squeezed my eyes shut tightly. Sobs wracked my body.

I have come to a conclusion.

Casey is alive. And he's out for blood.

***

It was a horrible, windy day.

Hugging my jacket to me, I walked faster. I let out a shaky breath of relief as the warmth from the cosy, coffee shop flooded over my body.

I had finally forced myself to venture outside. From vivid flash backs, to overwhelming waves of anxiety, there were plenty of emotional handcuffs holding me back. But today, I was soldering on. I had to.

I couldn't just pause life whenever something emotionally damaging happened to me. Otherwise, I will never be able to live. I have to learn to deal with the shitty hand I've been dealt and move on.

Casey will not win. He's done enough to me.

After ordering a flat white, I waited, leaning against one of the tables close to the counter. With a sigh, I ran my gloved hand through my hair, feeling weary.

Ever since That Night, sleep had evaded me. The bags underneath my eyes were a deep, purple colour, bordering on the unhealthy look. No amount of makeup was denying the fact that I was seriously sleep deprived. Not that I usually wore any.

If I closed my eyes, for even a second, the horrible memories from the other night bombarded my brain.

What did he want? If his goal was to scare me, he succeeded.

"Flat white!" a voice called, startling me.

"Thank you," I murmured as I swiped the hot cup from the bench.

I spun on my heel and a gasp left my lips. The fright almost cost me my flat white. At least it didn't get spilled down the front of my shirt this time.

"Hello Sadie," he greeted, his voice deep.

He looked as bad as I felt.

"Isaac," I breathed, instinctively withdrawing back.

He had a cut on his lip and his eyes looked bruised. However, that could have been from lack of sleep, as well. Which could also explain the puffiness.

Was he losing sleep over our fight?

"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to give me a hug?" he asked, his voice light and teasing.

I stood there, stock-still, my muscles completely tense.

Is he serious?

My face must have looked baffled, because he quirked an eyebrow at me.

"Oh, you're not upset about what happened at the bowling alley still, are you?" he questioned, cocking his head to the side. He let out a small laugh. "Sorry, I had been drinking. Did I say something offensive?"

"Something offensive?" I echoed incredulously. "Is this a fucking joke?"

His forehead crumpled in confusion. "No?"

"Cappuccino!" the voice behind me bellowed and a man, draped in a large coat, bustled forward. I side-stepped out of his way, just as Isaac grabbed my wrist and pulled me after him. A wince immediately left my lips at his touch, but he seemed oblivious.

I sat heavily on a chair, not too far from the counter.

"Look, I'm sorry if I acted inappropriately. I was off my face."

"Clearly," I muttered darkly, throwing a furious look at him. "I am not just going to forgive you. You caused a massive scene."

"I apologise." he said lightly, pressing his hand to his chest. "It shall not happen again."

"I don't think you're understanding the situation," I snapped. "You screamed, in front of everyone there, that I killed your brother."

"I said that?" he asked, even though it was obvious, he knew exactly what he said.

"I don't know what's wrong with you, but I'd like you to leave me the hell alone," I hissed, my eyes narrowing into slits. "I want nothing to do with you."

"Sadie, come on," he pleaded, finally adopting a serious look. "I know I messed up, but we can't let something like this ruin everything we have together."

"We have nothing together. Whatever we had, was only because of Casey. And now he's dead." The word dead hovered on my lips as I recalled the traumatic event which occurred in my bedroom the other night.

Pushing that horrific memory into the back of my mind, I continued to glare, with as much hatred as I could muster, at Isaac.

He exhaled loudly. "I truly am sorry."

"Do you really think those things about me?" I whispered, hot tears welling up in my eyes. "Do you honestly blame me for Casey's suicide?"

"No," he whispered back, just as brokenly. "I was angry, for a long time, but I know no one is to blame. These things happen... It's just so hard to accept everything."

"I know."

"I'm so sorry, Sadie," he said, his jaw clenching. "This is what I do. I push people away. First Amelia, now you... I end up with no one. This is what happened before. This is why we moved here," he choked out, rubbing his face. A single tear slid down his cheek. I blinked, shocked into speechlessness. He seemed so nonchalant and careless when we first ran into each other. It was only now, I was finally seeing some emotion. A deep look of vulnerability clouded his eyes. His cheeks were stained red from tears. "I'm a fucking mess, Sadie. I need you. You can't leave me."

A sob left his lips as he began bawling. My mouth fell open as I stared at the broken boy in front of me.

A few people looked over, to see what the sound was but I ignored them.

"Isaac," I said softly. "If we're going to be in each other's lives, what happened at the bowling alley, must never happen again, okay?"

"S-so you f-f-forgive me?" he spluttered, hastily wiping at his eyes, looking like a boy who was lost at the supermarket and I had just agreed to help him find his parents. I guess we were in a similar situation.

He was lost. He was looking for Casey.

We both were.

I paused for a moment. "I guess. But let me be clear, I will not forgive you a second time."

He nodded eagerly, making an odd sound in the back of his throat. "Okay, yes, I understand."

"You need to stop drinking."

"I know, it's what caused this," he muttered, vaguely pointing at his cut lip. "I can't handle it."

"Neither can I."

"It brings him back," he murmured, finally looking at me. "I feel like he's still here, when I drink."

My heart clenched tightly inside my chest, making me feel slightly breathless and restricted.

"He's here with me. All the time."

He nodded. "I know."

I let out a sigh and reeled back in my seat. I was late to school. I was going to go and attempt to salvage whatever relationship Owen and I have. Which is ironic, I usually want him to leave me alone. In saying that, I don't want him thinking I'm some psycho murderer.

"You don't need to feel guilty about going out with other guys," Isaac stated, as if reading my mind. "I'm sorry for making you feel like you can't."

"It wasn't a date, Isaac," I huffed, folding my arms neatly in front of me. "I know he is into me, or whatever, but I just needed someone. I'm lonely and Marissa is so popular. I just wanted to do something to take my mind off of everything. It just worked out that way. I'm sorry if you think it's betraying Casey, but it wasn't a date."

"Okay, but even if it was," he said gently. "I would be okay with it."

"I'm glad I have your blessing," I said dryly.

He rolled his eyes and rubbed his nose on the back of his sleeve. "Sorry."

"You sure are apologising a lot today."

"I have a lot to apologise for."

Yes, you do, I thought bitterly.

"Are we okay?" he asked as a tension-filled silence lapsed between us.

Slowly, I nodded. "Yeah."

He looked physically relieved. "Thank you."

"I'm serious, don't ever do anything like that again." I barked, my tone laced with authority.

"I promise." he said, leaning toward me. He laid out his hand.

Hesitantly, I reached forward and placed my hand in his. He moved his thumb, caressing my knitted glove.

"Okay."

"I know it hasn't been long since you came back into my life," he sad softly, his eyes intently staring into mine. "But I can't imagine life without you in it."

My lips curved into a soft, small smile in return.

This was true.

Our lives were entwined and there was no way we could break it off, without leaving permanent damage on one, if not both.

"I can't imagine life without you either," I whispered.

And I meant it.

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What do you think about Isaac's apology? Do you think he was sincere? Should she have forgiven him?

Please comment your ideas and any suggestions you have! I try to read every comment, so I appreciate it if you take the time to say how you feel! And please vote if you're enjoying the story!