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Dedication: -Normality for the amazing banner! Thank you!

Recap:

I found myself leaning towards him. I gripped his hand tightly in mine, my heart beating steadily in my chest.

"Let's promise to never leave each other again."

"I promise," he whispered back, smiling at me.

And for the first time, in over a year, I gave him a true, genuine smile back.

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"Evening all," I said dryly as I dragged my feet inside.

Dad spared me a glance and mum smiled awkwardly.

"How was your community- how was your day?" she amended quickly.

"How do you think?" I replied with an eye roll.

She didn't reply as she continued preparing dinner.

"Someone came and saw me today."

"Oh really?" she asked distractedly, beginning to cut the carrot.

"Yeah, Isaac."

The knife slipped and the clang on the bench echoed around the kitchen. Mum swivelled her head to me, her mouth hanging open and dad drank his beer in silence, a look of shock evident on his face.

"O-oh really?" she stammered.

"Yep."

Shrugging my bag off, I maneuvered to the fridge. After withdrawing a water, I purposely took a long swig of it, as they watched me, waiting for me to continue.

"How did that go?" she eventually asked.

I shrugged. "It was hard at first, seeing him. But it was... nice?"

"That's great, honey," she smiled, looking relieved. "I'm sure it was nice to connect with a part of Casey again."

I saw her body stiffen as soon as the C word left her mouth.

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to bring him up, I just... I'm so sorry." she said, a flush creeping up her neck.

"It's fine, mum," I assured her. "I spoke about him with Isaac today. It's alright."

"I think we should catch up with them," dad suddenly announced. "Let's do a barbecue? It's been such a long time since we've seen Andrea and Jackson."

I chewed at my lip. A barbecue? Would Casey's parents be mad at me as well? I never even considered their feelings through my melt down phase. They probably hated me.

Was I even ready to face them again?

"I think that would be wonderful," mum agreed. "If that's something you would like, Sadie."

"Maybe," I eventually said. "Let me sleep on it."

"Sure," she smiled.

"I'm going to go have a shower," I declared.

"Don't be too long, dinner isn't far away!" she called after me.

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, a wave of exhaustion washing over me.

After twisting the nozzle of my shower, I began to peel my dirty clothes from my body. I pressed my forehead against the glass pane as I waited for it to heat up. Just as I was about to enter, I heard my phone ding.

With a sigh, I wandered towards it, in case it was Marissa. I hadn't seen her for a couple of days.

I felt my face turn pale as I read the message.

"I'll go if you go? ;)"

I stared at Casey's message, feeling a little lightheaded. I turned to the sink and threw up that chocolate cake Isaac forced me to eat.

That was a waste of $3.80.

***

"Flat white?" Isaac asked me with a grin.

"Good memory," I smiled back, taking the cup from his hand.

I fell in stride with him as we walked down town. We had decided to check in with each other, once a week, just to see how the other was going, which I think is going to be really helpful.

Isaac is the only person I feel understands what I have been through. Although it is different, we lost the same person. And we both have struggled to survive after he was gone.

"Back to school tomorrow?" he asked me.

Today was my last day of my suspension, although I still had about 15 hours of community service left.

"Unfortunately."

"Don't be so negative," he teased. "I bet you're excited to see your friends."

"Friend," I amended. "I don't really class Owen as a friend."

"Amelia has told me about him."

"I bet."

"He sounds pretty obsessive," he frowned, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Don't get me started," I sighed. "I've nicknamed him the Leech."

He chuckled. "I hope you don't say that to his face."

"I haven't yet, but I might."

He grinned and I grinned back, before letting my eyes walk over the water beside us. I took a deep breath of the salty air, before hugging my cardigan to myself. It was nice to be outside for once. I had a bit of a meltdown last night and couldn't sleep. I had to take some sleeping pills, just to rest.

That message from Casey burned in my mind. Did he mean he would go to the barbecue? I just don't get what he is trying to do.

We strolled towards a park bench and I sat down on it heavily, folding my left leg over the right.

"So, what was the good thing that happened to you today?" he asked me.

That was our agreement. We would meet up, get an update on how we are going and we would discuss at least one good thing that has happened to us that day. It was actually Anita, my counsellor's, idea. I met with her yesterday morning and rang Isaac yesterday to ask if he was interested.

"I got out of bed?"

"Oh yeah, good one," he replied sarcastically.

"Um..."

"Okay, I'll go first because you suck," he said with a laugh. "I have more than one good thing. Today, I woke up and the sun was shining and I got to see Amelia before school. Then, I got my assignment back and I passed. And then I got to see an old friend, who I have missed very much."

I lightly punched his shoulder. "I liked it better when you referred to me as hot, older... what was the other one?"

"Shut up," he laughed. "Okay, your go."

"Mum made brownies," I said lamely. "They were yum."

He rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless. What else?"

I received no texts from your dead brother today.

"I was looking forward to seeing you," I admitted. "And that helped me out of bed today."

"Aw, you're making me blush," he teased.

"So, guess what."

"What?" he asked, leaning back and taking a sip of his coffee.

"My dad came up with the genius idea of having a barbecue with your family, like old times."

I stared at him, waiting for him to say that wasn't a good idea, but instead, he broke out into a broad grin and pulled me into a hug. I let out an embarrassing squeak as he squeezed me a little too tightly.

"That would be awesome," he breathed.

"Really?"

"Hell yeah!" He grinned, spilling half his coffee. "I think that would be perfect! When?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

"Well, whenever is good. Great, actually."

"Okay, calm down," I laughed.

"You don't understand how much we've missed you guys. You're family. It's been hard without you."

I smiled. "It will be good to catch up, won't it?"

"Yeah, it will."

"Please don't bring Amelia."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine, but you can't bring Owen or Josh."

I made a gagging sound. "Like I would want to."

"Good."

I stiffened as he leaned closer to me. I held my breath as he reached toward me and tucked a loose tendril of my hair behind my ear. I felt my heart stutter inside my chest.

The eyes of Casey stared into mine. His soft, slightly chapped lips so close... all I had to do was lean to meet them...

"Sadie?" a voice asked and I snapped out of my trance with a slight gasp, reeling back.

Isaac watched me for a moment, in complete silence. Shaking my head, I turned to see Marissa standing there, with Owen beside her. Owen was carrying hot chips wrapped up and a bottle of coke.

"Oh, hey guys," I said, still feeling a little out of it. "What are you up to?"

"Just having some chips," Marissa said. "We've been working on our English assignment together."

"Oh, right, that's due on Friday, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Isaac," Isaac jumped in. "Since Sadie is too rude to introduce me."

"Nice to meet you Isaac, I'm Marissa. This is Owen."

He nodded and his eyes darting to Owen quickly.

"What are you guys doing?" Owen asked with a frown.

"Isaac is an old friend of mine. From where I used to live."

"An old boyfriend?" he hinted.

"Oh my God," Marissa groaned. "Can you be anymore jealous?"

"What?" he asked.

I turned to Isaac. "See what I have to deal with?"

"Hey!"

Isaac chuckled but his body was a little tense.

"Did you guys want to join us?" Marissa asked.

"Er-" I said, glancing at Isaac.

He looked down at his watch. "Ah, I better get going. It was great catching up with you Sadie. Next week, same time?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Nice to meet you guys," he said politely. "See you."

"Bye Isaac," Marissa chirped as he sent a wave over his shoulder. She turned and gave me a playful smirk. "He's cute."

"He's also dating Amelia," I grimaced. "How gross is that?"

"Oh, ew," she exclaimed.

"I know."

"Why are you even hanging with him?"

"Our families were really close. I knew him before he met Amelia," I explained, careful not to say too much.

"Ah okay. You want to come down to the river?"

"Sure."

I fell in step with them. Owen attempted to go around us so he would be next to me, but I placed my hand out.

"I have hot coffee in my hand and with your track record, I think it's best you stay on your side."

"That was one time!" he huffed.

"One time too many," I huffed back.

"I've missed seeing you at school," Marissa thankfully interjected.

"I'd say it's been a good holiday, except for the community service," I sighed.

"Oh yeah, how's that going?"

"Horrible."

She laughed. "It sounds horrible."

I looked over my shoulder to see Isaac sliding into his car. I froze, feeling sick in the stomach.

There was someone in the passenger seat.

And it looked a hell lot like Casey.

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What do you think of Isaac and Sadie catching up? And the almost kiss?

And what do you think about Casey possibly being in the car!?

Please vote if you liked it and comment your thoughts! Thanks for reading! :)

P.P.S I have a new story posted called Coach's Number One if you want to check it out!