Surviving - Rewritten

Epilogue - I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

A.N. - There was going to be a few more chapters to this, however I feel like it's ran it's course. This chapter is unedited, and far from perfect. I started writing this when I was 13 and struggling with a lot of things myself, and although its been rewritten numerous times since then, it still holds a special piece of my heart. I wish I could have made it more well-written in the latest re-write, however I have a full time job, family matters, am 24 now and have other projects that I feel I have more to add to. I feel like this story has come to an end. If you are ever struggling , please know that things do get better and you will find your way. 

Three years later

Cassandra Blake:

Cassie had finally unpacked the remainder of the boxes in her new house that she would be sharing with Leah and Blaise. They had all somehow managed to survive school and were now in a house share, albeit not in the best of areas. 

Leah was set to start university next month, after surprisingly receiving A*s on all her subjects, and was going to be studying psychology so she could become a therapist. Leah had become a very core member of the group in the last couple of years and had began struggling with anxiety due to an unhealthy relationship with her family. She didn't like to talk about it that much, but the girls had stuck by her and tried their best to help motivate her to move out.

Blaise, had began an apprenticeship and was set to be working with kids that had disabilities and suffered from Trauma, whereas Cassie would be studying child psychology and development, whilst working part time at the home her and Blaise had spent the last few years at.

Becky, was taking a gap year with Stefan whilst she figured out what they wanted to do - they were set to start travelling the world together the month after.

Cassie smiled as she began putting together her wall of pictures full of memories with her friends - something that at one point she never thought that she would have.

"Cassie, you would never believe who lives next door to us!" Blaise exclaimed, bursting through the door of Cassie's bedroom.

Cassie raised her eyebrows "in the flats? Who? Also, have you ever heard of knocking?"

Blaise rolled her eyes "please, we shared a room for years I don't need to knock. And its Cade! We just bumped into him"

"Oh really? Cool" Cassie wasn't overly bothered. Cade had transferred to their school for the last year of sixth form and mostly kept to himself. Cassie had maybe one conversation with him, and although she was glad that he was better than he had seemed when she met him in the hospital, he was just a reminder of Lucinda. 

No matter how much Cassie thought she had come to peace with what had happened, there would always be a part of her thinking about the what ifs. Seeing Cade would often bring back painful memories, of Lucinda and of being in the hospital after a traumatic childhood at Liam's. Cassie often avoided him like the plague. 

Leah sighed, appearing behind Blaise. "Cassie, be nice! He's actually okay" 

Cassie shrugged. She had explained to her friends about how she had found out she was related to Lucinda and about the story of Cade and Lucinda. They knew her feelings on the matter. "I'm sure he is, doesn't mean I need to be friends with him"

Blaise and Leah shared a look, both of them aware that Cade had a slight crush on her. Cassie had said multiple times the last few years that she didn't want to date though. She had been on the occasional date as she had felt too nervous to say no when asked out, however she always felt awkward and had come to the realization that she didn't need a boyfriend. There wasn't anything missing from her life, and a guy wasn't going to save her from any sadness or distress - she could save herself.