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Dedication: Profashionall for the amazing cover! Very mysterious!

Recap: *Prior to flash back || Chapter Thirteen*

I let his arms engulf me. Snuggling my head into his chest, I inhaled his scent. He smelled like Casey. His arms tightened around me.

For a brief moment, I let myself imagine it was Casey. He was here with me. I was wrapped in his arms, like I used to be. Everything was okay.

It was in this moment, for the first time this part year, I felt safe.

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"You and Isaac seem to be getting close again," mum commented as she placed my dinner plate in front of me.

"Mmm," I mumbled, taking a sip of my orange juice.

"That's nice. I'm glad you two are friends again."

"It is nice," I agreed.

"I need to tell you something," mum said softly, as she leaned on the table toward me. She bit her lip, which is a sign that meant she was feeling uneasy.

A sigh left my lips and I reclined back in my seat. "What?"

"Your father and I have kept in contact with Andrea and Jackson over the past year."

I blinked at her as I processed that information. My stomach clenched slightly as I pushed the mashed potato around my plate.

"You've been talking to Casey's parents?"

She stiffened as I mentioned his name, like always.

"Yes. We haven't met up with them much. We did a few times after the... after everything. But we decided to just take a step back and we wouldn't meet up again until you felt ready."

"Ready?" I asked, finally looking at her. "You didn't give me any indication that you were doing this."

"Because we didn't want to talk about him because you didn't. We thought you were moving on from that part of your life and we didn't want to damage the progress you were making."

I sighed again. "Progress?"

"You have made significant progress, honey."

"Doesn't feel like it."

"Isaac is helping," she nodded. "We wouldn't be having this discussion if he hadn't come back into your life."

I agreed with that.

"Do they hate me?"

"What? Of course not!" mum exclaimed. "Why would they hate you?"

"Why wouldn't they?" I muttered, still unable to eat.

"Honey, no one blames you for what happened. No one knew what was going on."

"I should have known," I bit out, my eyes burning with unshed tears. "He was my best friend. I should have realised."

"Please," mum whispered, her voice breaking. "Please. I can't have this conversation again. We can't keep going over this."

I buried my face into my hands and let the tears fall down my cheeks. I sat there, in silence, trying to collect myself.

It was a long time before she spoke again. My dinner was cold.

"We would like to meet up with them for a BBQ this weekend, if that's alright with you. They want to see you."

Squeezing my eyes shut, I let out a long, shaky breath. "Alright."

She got up from the table and began to clean up. I stood there, stock-still, going over everything that happened That Day, in my mind.

How am I going to face his parents again?

***

My stomach was in knots.

I clutched at my seat belt, holding back the urge to throw up my entire stomach's contents onto the backseat. We were on our way to Isaac's place. I am so relieved they moved. I don't think I could face going to their house.

His house.

It would have been too hard.

My phone vibrated, making my stomach feel worse. I stared down at the lit screen and let out a breath of relief. It wasn't Casey.

'You on your way?'

'Yeah.'

'You bring any Doritos?

I smiled down at my phone. Every time we had a social event at Casey's, I would always bring a packet of Dorito chips. Clearly, he still remembers.

'Of course.'

'Shit yeah. Keen.'

I rolled my eyes and put my phone back down. That definitely felt like old times.

"How you doing back there?" dad asked, his eyes staring into mine through the mirror.

"Alright."

"We're so proud of you, honey," mum said, turning over her shoulder and smiling at me. "You didn't have to do this."

"I know."

I leaned back on the seat and stared out the window.

Not much later, the SUV pulled smoothly into a paved driveway. I looked at the house. It was nice, not that I expected anything less. Their old house was huge. It was simple, but tasteful.

Shakily, I tumbled out of the car. I glanced down at myself.

I had a pair of faded jeans on, paired with a black, V-neck shirt and my converse. I looked pretty casual. I didn't know what to wear to see people I used to consider my family. I haven't considered them a part of my family for a long time. This felt like I was going back in time.

"Ready?" mum asked me.

"I guess."

She gave me a soft smile and dad clapped me, a little too roughly, on the back. I trailed behind them.

They still had the same car. I looked away from it and down at my feet.

My stomach hurt, it was so cramped. I lightly placed my hand over my abdomen, feeling nauseous.

Dad knocked on the door and I turned my back to the house, pressing my hand to my mouth. Surely, I was going to be sick.

"Hi guys!"

Her voice sent shivers running down my spine. I clamped my lips together, trying not to throw up.

"It's been too long!" my mother said back, her tone the same high-pitch.

I heard them move and could imagine they were hugging and whatnot. I let out a shaky breath, trying to keep control.

"Sadie?" her voice asked.

Slowly, I turned. Tears burned at my eyes as I looked at the woman I once considered my own mother.

I didn't say anything and she bustled forward, pulling me into a tight hug. I hugged her back tightly, burying my face into her chest. Her scent was overpowering and I gripped her shirt. She smelt like the home I loved.

God I had missed them.

"It is so good to see you," she whispered. "You have no idea."

My throat was too dry for me to respond. I just hugged her back, trying not to let the tears escape.

Jackson emerged from the house and it was basically the same process as before.

"How's it going?" he asked me, offering a friendly smile. It was slightly forced but I think it was due to the awkwardness of the situation, not out of dislike.

His hair had streaks of grey in it, that it didn't have some time ago. Wrinkles had gathered around the corners of his eyes, but he still looked relatively the same.

I couldn't speak yet.

"Give her some space, Jackson," Andrea murmured, but I still heard her. "This is a lot to take in."

My head felt light.

They all wandered inside and I did too. My mouth felt hot and sticky.

"Finally," Isaac said as I walked into the kitchen.

He was leaning on the island, popping a grape into his mouth.

I silently passed him the Doritos and he fist-pumped me, before tearing the packet open.

"Oh, BTW," he said, his mouth full. "Marcus and Janett are coming."

"Really?" I finally choked out.

They were another couple that mum and dad were good friends with, once upon a time. They had a little girl, Clarissa. She must have been about four or so, when I last saw her.

"Yep."

"Where's your bathroom?" I asked, feeling the sudden urgency to be alone. I needed some time to breathe.

"Up the stairs, to the left."

I nodded and began to head upstairs. With a sigh, I opened the door to the left.

My heart plummeted into my stomach. This wasn't the bathroom.

Casey's bed, which still had the same blanket cover, was made. A photo of us, beside the lamp on his bedside table, smiled up to me. I held back a sob as I wandered into his room. They didn't throw out any of his stuff, after his suicide.

His trophies were lined up on the cupboard. He still had some clothes hanging in the wardrobe. I sank to my knees as I stared around me.

How the hell am I going to get through today?

***

Lunch was over now and I hadn't had one bite to eat.

I couldn't. I felt sick.

I sourly stared at Isaac, who was leaning back, talking to Janett. He had a casual smile on his face as he spoke to her.

The bathroom wasn't on the left. It was two doors up, on the right. Why would he have purposely told me the bathroom was the room left for Casey? Did he want me to have a meltdown?

"Not hungry?" mum asked me, for the umpteenth time today.

"No."

"Just try and eat some fruit-"

"No," I snapped.

Shaking her head, she walked from me and re-joined the conversation. Clarissa wandered over to me.

"Can you get me some chips?" she asked.

"Sure," I said, my tone significantly lighter as I reached over the table, grabbing her a bowl of plain chips.

She gave me a toothy grin, before climbing onto the seat beside me. And almost knocking over the bowl.

"How old are you now?" I asked her.

"Six," she beamed.

I stared at her. She had long, blonde ringlets and beautiful rosy cheeks. She glanced up at me and her eyes wandered beside me. Her grin grew and she let out a laugh.

I followed her gaze. Nothing was there.

I opened my mouth, to ask her, but she was gone. She began skipping over to Janett.

"Got any more Doritos?" Isaac asked, as he began to load up his plate, even though we'd only had lunch twenty minutes ago.

"Fuck off, Isaac," I snapped.

"Woah," he said, glancing up at me. "What's wrong with you?"

"You said the bathroom was on the left."

"No..." he trailed off. "I said it was on your right, two doors up."

"No. You didn't."

"Yes, I did," he said slowly. "You didn't... You didn't see..."

"Casey's room? Yeah."

He let out a breath. "Are you okay?"

"What do you think?" I snarled, folding my arms across my chest. "You fucking set me up."

"No I didn't."

"Whatever," I muttered.

This sucked. It was nice seeing everyone again, it really was, but the moment I got here, I was slapped in the face with a massive reminder of Casey. How was I meant to plaster a smile onto my face after that?

Isaac gave me a sad look, before loping back over to the lunch table.

Finally, after another few hours, dad declared that we were leaving.

"Please come back, any time," Andrea urged, hugging me tightly. "I've missed seeing you."

I just nodded.

"I'm glad you and Isaac have been talking again. He was going through a horrible depression. You've really helped."

I frowned as I took a step back from her. How have I helped?

"What do you mean?"

"He just seems to have a purpose again, you know?" she asked.

"Good to see you," Janett said, materialising beside Andrea.

She wrapped her slender arms around me.

"You too," I mumbled.

I waited as dad and mum bid their farewells. I refused to look at Isaac. Right now, I want nothing to do with him. He lied to my face and then denied it.

Janett and Marcus began to follow us out. Clarissa ran and gave Isaac a hug. He chuckled, hugging her back. I gritted my teeth, glaring down at my shoes.

"Now, Clarissa, say goodbye to Sadie," I heard her say.

"Bye Sadie!" she sang.

I smiled automatically and gave her a small wave.

"Bye Casey!" she called out.

Everyone froze. My stomach tightened as I felt my spine stiffen.

A look a complete horror flashed across Janett's face. Andrea's face crumpled in pain.

"Clarissa!" Janett scolded, looking completely mortified. "That's Isaac, you know that."

"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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What do you guys think of Isaac telling Sadie the wrong directions? Do you think she misheard or do you think he purposely lead her to Casey's room?

And what do you think about Clarissa claiming to see Casey?

Would love to know what you think! Thanks for reading. Please vote and comment if you liked it! :)