Already Fallen ~COMPLETED SEQUEL~

Chapter 10

*Picture refers to details later on*

Adam's P.O.V
I walked through the door and sat the keys on the table. I looked around for Haley and heard or saw nothing. I checked the time and knew that she had to be here. As I looked around a little more, I noticed her backpack had been carelessly sat on the couch, with a sloppy stack of textbooks beside it. She was definitely here, most likely in the bedroom. I quietly opened the door and peered inside. The room was dead silent and mostly dark, except for the light shining in from the blinds. I looked to the bed and saw her small form surrounded by the covers. She faced away from the door and toward the windows.

"Hey.. I'm home," I say quietly. There was no answer. I could tell she wasn't asleep, so something had to be wrong. I walked over to her bedside and sat down. Haley's eyes were slightly red and puffy, with some mascara running down her cheeks. She'd been crying. I brushed the hair away from her face and looked down at her. "What happened, Haley?" "My mom.. She's here.. In Los Angeles." "What?" Haley nodded and sniffled. "I ran into her on the way home, and I told her off." "So why have you been crying?" I asked, concern obviously threading my voice. "I started thinking back to when they left.. And all those times I just broke down and cried.. And when I was so stressed out and worried that I couldn't manage it all." She lifted herself off the pillow and sat up. "And still, after everything, my mom feels nothing. No guilt, no remorse, nothing." "God Haley," I wrapped her in my arms, "I'm so sorry.." She nodded, "I am, too. I'm sorry that Em will never know what it feels like to have real parents." "Hey, hey listen.. Em is a strong little girl. She always has been. And you know what? Them not being in her life is a mistake, because she's amazing. Despite the way things turned out, Em will be fine, because after all she has you. That's a blessing in itself, I would know." I saw the tears streaming down her face, and I slowly wiped them away. This wasn't the first time I had to do this. I didn't mind it, either. Whether it was 5 years or a week ago, holding her and being there for her when she cried was always a privilege to me. I was lucky to have gained her trust. I was lucky to have her. I hoped that deep down she knew that.
"So what'd you tell her?" I asked quietly. "I told her to get out of town and if I ever saw her again that I'd call the police." Her voice slightly trembled from the crying, but I could tell she was almost done. "You mean that, don't you?" Haley nodded, "Yes." For a few more minutes we sat there, and once she stopped crying, I insisted she lay back down in bed and rest it off.

Haley's P.O.V
I awoke from my light sleep to see it was already morning. I hadn't slept good at all; there were too many thoughts clouding my dreams. I shifted and felt Adam's warm body against mine. He was still asleep. I slowly pushed the covers away and got out of bed. I trudged around the bed and made my way into the kitchen, turning the TV on in the process. Seeing as there was nothing better to watch, I turned on the news and started brewing some coffee. I looked up at the screen to see that a reporter was doing an interview with some woman. The headline read "Conditions Worsening on the South Side of Los Angeles. Should it Really be Called the City of Angels?" My brows furrowed. That's where I saw mom.. The south side. I quickly turned up the tv and began listening to the reporter. "Many reports of prostitution and drug sales have been collected from sources. Along with the many homeless and gang members in this part of town, cracking down on the crime has been difficult." I watched as the camera pointed in different places. Women with messy hair and skimpy dresses stood against the brick wall of a convenient store, most lighting cigarettes or trying to fix their dark make up. God.. It really was as bad as everyone says. "Back to you, Jill," the reporter finally said, and the news continued with it's regulars. I looked over to see the coffee was ready, so I poured a cup and sat down at the kitchen table.

Adam opened the bedroom door as stepped out, running his fingers through his hair. I told him about the news report as he also got coffee. "You might be mad at me for asking this, but what are we going to do about your mom? I mean, she's having to live there," Adam says. "Nothing. She chose that life." Adam seemed offended by my response, but his calm expression quickly returned. "It's not always that way, Haley. I used to live like that, remember?" "Yeah, but like I said, that was your decision," I say. Adam looked away, "It's not like a runaway has many options." I looked down at my coffee, feeling guilty about Adam's past. He didn't have it easy, that's for sure.

"What do you suggest we do?" I ask, breaking the silence. "Get her out of there, let her stay with us." I practically choked on my coffee. "What? No. I don't want to be anywhere near her, let alone have her living with me!" Adam put his hand on mine and gently squeezed. "Sometimes it's better to do the right thing, even if that person did you wrong. I know how much resentment you feel and the anger and hatred inside, but how do you expect to ever move on from it if you can't make things right?" I hated to admit it, but Adam was right. He was always right. He was the realistic one of the both of us. He saw things for the way they are, and the way they should be. "When should we go and find her?" I ask. "Tonight."