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Dedication: Dreaminginmars for the awesome cover! Thank you!

Recap:

"No," she said, shaking her head. "That's Casey."

She pointed a little left of me. I heard my mum suck in a breath of air, her hand covering her mouth.

"He's next to Sadie," she explained. She turned her deep, dark eyes to me and I felt my heart slam inside my chest. "He's been with her all day."

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"Sadie," Annita said softly. "This is a safe place."

"Is it?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest. "Because if I recall, you have the right to report what I say."

"Only if I feel yourself or anyone else you mention throughout the session is in potential harm. I won't report anything without confiding with you first."

"Right," I muttered.

"Sadie," she repeated, leaning forward in her chair. "Talk to me. Tell me what's going on."

Sighing loudly, I reclined back in my chair. I glared up at the ceiling.

She was silent as I tried to gather my thoughts.

"A couple days ago, I went to a BBQ."

"That sounds lovely," Annita replied.

"It was with Casey's parents. I hadn't seen them in about a year and a half."

"How did you feel when you made contact with them again?" she asked.

"It was confronting."

"Was it a good confrontation?"

"I don't know." I admitted with another sigh. "It was good to see them again, but I... I came across Casey's room. They still have all his stuff. That was really hard to see."

"I can only imagine."

I blinked a few times, staring down at my lap.

"Something weird happened."

"What was that?" she asked.

I bit my lip, playing with a loose thread in my denim jeans.

"Sadie," she encouraged. "You can tell me."

Slowly, I looked up.

"I think Casey was there."

***

The wind was cool as it slapped my face harshly.

Tugging my jacket tighter to my body, I dragged my feet into school. I made my way towards Marissa and internally groaned as she was surrounded by a large group of people. That was the annoying thing about being good friends with Marissa. She was also good friends with a lot of others.

"Morning," she chirped as I joined the group.

I gave her a forced smile back.

"Hey babe," Owen greeted, throwing his arm around me. "What's up?"

Making a face, I peeled his arm from my body.

"You hurt my feelings daily, but my love is still strong." He declared.

"Shut up before I punch you," I muttered, rubbing my face roughly.

"What's wrong?" he asked, grabbing my arm.

"Stop touching me."

"If you tell me what's wrong."

"Don't want to talk about it."

"Come here," he said.

He grabbed my hand and for reasons I'm not quite sure of, I let him tug me after him. He grinned as I followed him. He dragged me away from the crowd and over to a wall not far from the group, but far enough that no one could hear us.

He leaned nonchalantly against the wall and folded his arms. His soft eyes stared into mine.

He was attractive, I'll give him that.

"You okay?"

"I'm tired," I sighed, resting my head back. "I can't sleep."

"Something bothering you?"

"You could say that."

I felt my phone vibrate against my leg and I closed my eyes, grimacing.

The world around me faded as I thought back to the other day, after the BBQ. I was at home, getting ready for bed, when I got the message. My phone had vibrated. I assumed it was Marissa. I checked it.

'I told you I would go.'

How the hell is he everywhere, but nowhere, at the same time?

"Sadie?"

"Huh?" I asked, shaking my head, ridding the flash back from my mind. "What did you say?"

"I asked if you wanted to do something tonight. Might distract you from whatever it is you're worrying about."

"Who would go?"

"Me and you," he smiled. "It doesn't have to be a date. Just two friends, hanging out."

I paused. Would that really be such a terrible thing?

He is annoying as hell and kind of obsessed with me, but just casually hanging out with someone who isn't Isaac. Who doesn't know about Casey. Who hasn't got a million other friends trying to hang out with them, too.

"What would we do?"

His grin widened, if possible. "I'll take you bowling."

"Tenpin bowling?"

"Yeah," he shrugged. "You in?"

I shrugged. "Why not?"

He fist-pumped and let out a loud yell. I rolled my eyes.

"Yes! Awesome. Cool." He grinned, unable to hide his joy for a second. "I'll pick you up at 6?"

"Sounds good."

"This is awesome," he breathed.

"Owen," I laughed, rolling my eyes. "Stop being a dork."

"Sorry."

I shook my head, giving him a smile.

"I love when you smile like that."

"Don't push it," I muttered, stepping away from him.

"See you tonight!" he called.

I waved over my shoulder.

I was probably going to regret this.

***

It was 5:50pm when Owen pulled up out the front of my house.

I totally knew he was going to be the early type. I pushed off the stairs I had been sitting on and met him at the front door.

"Hey," he said. "You look cute."

"This isn't a date, save the compliments," I laughed.

"Right. Sorry."

I was wearing a pair of dark jeans, my Dr Martens, a maroon top with my leather jacket. I guess it was a nice outfit. Owen chose to wear a pair of navy blue chinos, paired with a white polo shirt. It fit him well.

He looked nice when he dressed up.

"Hold on a second," I heard my dad call.

"Oh my God," I muttered.

"I need to meet the boy!" I heard dad call, obviously responding to something my mother said.

"Sorry," I apologised as dad reached us.

"Mr Bryson," Owen greeted politely. "Owen."

"Hello Owen," dad said, his voice much deeper than usual. "What time will you have my daughter home?"

"Can you not?" I hissed.

"What?" dad asked. "I've never even met this boy."

"So?"

"So!"

"Ignore him. Let's go," I muttered, grabbing Owen's hand.

"He seems nice," Owen forced out.

I just laughed.

"Thought you said it wasn't a date."

"It isn't."

"Then why are you holding my hand?"

I glanced down, seeing that we had reached the car and I was still holding him. I hastily let go and stepped away from him. He grinned, before opening my door for me.

"How chivalrous of you."

"I try."

I slid into his car and looked around. It was surprisingly neat. Neater than mine, anyway.

"Have you already eaten?" he asked as he pulled from the curb.

"Not yet."

"Want to get kebabs after bowling?"

"Sure."

There wasn't much of a lapse in conversation as we drove to the bowling alley. It was mainly Owen talking and me listening, but that's how I prefer it.

We pulled into the car park and I tumbled out of the car.

"You all good?" he asked.

"Yeah."

Owen opened the door for me and just as I was about to step through, Amelia came running out, tears pouring down her face.

"Owen," she gushed, looking at him.

"Woah, you okay?" he asked.

She opened her mouth to say something but she caught sight of me. Her eyes turned into slits.

"Oh. You're with her."

Owen frowned, looking between us both.

"Everyone's with her," she muttered.

I stood there silently, completely confused.

"Amelia-" he began but she pushed past me.

"Go after her if you want," I said to him, looking down at my feet.

"I'm here with you."

"You should make sure she's okay."

"I'd rather be here with you. She's not a nice person."

I looked up at him, a small smile on my face. He shot me a lope-sided grin back. I walked through and the door shut softly behind us.

My stomach tightened as Isaac was standing there, surrounded by a group of his mates. They were all laughing and pushing each other.

"Is that your friend?" Owen asked, his voice a little tense.

"He was."

Ignoring Owen's curious stare, we went up to the counter.

"Two games each, please," Owen said.

"Paying together or separately?"

I opened my mouth to reply but Owen beat me.

"Together, thanks."

"I can pay for myself, this isn't a date."

"I don't care," he teased, swiping his card.

I rolled my eyes. This actually hasn't been horrible, much to my surprise.

I glanced back to the door. I wonder why Amelia ran off crying? Was it something Isaac did or said to her? The group he was in was being rather loud. Maybe he was showing off.

Attempting to avoid Isaac, we went to the furthest lane. I tried to keep my face hidden.

"You okay?" Owen asked.

"Yeah."

Looking unconvinced, Owen went to go grab a bowling ball.

"Sadie Bonadie," Isaac slurred and I flinched.

He was drunk.

"Were you trying to avoid me?"

I pivoted and stared into the red-ringed eyes of my dead best friend's brother. Who was a spitting image of him.

"Yes."

"Why? Because you saw his room?" he asked, swaying.

"Yes."

"Real mature."

"Go away, you're drunk."

"You here with that freak?" Isaac asked, pointing not-so-subtly to Owen. "How many guys is that now Sadie? First Casey, then Josh, Owen... Anyone else I should know about?"

"What's your fucking problem?" I snapped. "You're sounding like a jealous boyfriend. Which is funny, considering you have a girlfriend."

"Ex-girlfriend," he announced. "Dropped that bitch."

"Sadie," Owen said slowly, coming over to us. "You all good?"

"Oh here we go, stalker alert," Isaac yelled out, stumbling backwards. "Here to protect his girl."

"Hey man, why don't you just go back to your mates, yeah?"

"Hey man why don't you just back off, yeah?"

"Isaac," I hissed, narrowing my eyes. "Stop."

"Has she told you?" he asked Owen, hardly able to stay up right. "Has she told you she killed my brother?"

"How fucking dare you," I seethed, my face burning.

"You were his best friend. How the hell don't you realise someone is suicidal?"

"I thought we were past this. I thought we were friends." I said thickly, my throat feeling dry.

"Friends," he laughed, his face crumpling as he stared at me. "What a joke."

"What is he talking about?" Owen asked, a puzzled look on his face.

"She killed my brother," he yelled, causing a number of heads to swivel our way. "And now she's fucking anyone that moves."

I lunged towards him and tackled him to the ground. He let out a loud groan as my fist projected into his nose.

"Sadie!" Owen exclaimed, trying to pull me off of him.

I got one more punch in, before I was reefed backwards. The guy who served us ran over.

"You're fucking dead," I screamed, lunging at Isaac.

"No," he laughed, pushing himself to sitting position. "You are."

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So... Trouble in paradise for Amelia and Isaac.

What do you think about his true feelings towards Sadie coming out? Do you think it was just because he was drunk, or does he really feel that way about her?

Please vote if you liked it and let me know what you think!