New Beginnings

Chapter 9

Alessia (pov)

I had to do some damage control.

Before these people broke my heart.

I had gotten too involved. Too attached.

Every weekend we worked on the boat with Ned. I found myself always looking forward to it.

Once when we were alone, he had told me that he started working on the boat after Sam had died. It helped him get through it, by focusing his energy into something else, or he would have gone mad with grief.

It was so easy to talk to him. Maybe it was because his eyes reminded me so much of Anna, I don't know. Whatever it was, it had to come to an end. Soon.

The opportunity to do so came just in time. Ned and Sara had to go away for the night, for a fundraiser or something. I wasn't really paying attention.

This was it. My big finish before I had to leave.

And get away before they got the chance to break me even further.

I was gonna throw the biggest party ever.

It was gonna be a masterpiece. We would get so drunk and trash the place. And maybe even to add icing on the cake, the neighbours would report us for being too loud.

"Are you sure about this?"

Kaitlyn nervously fidgeted with her hands as we walked around the beach inviting anyone and everyone.

"Kaitlyn relax. I got this."

She still didn't seem sure.

"This is a rite of passage."

I winked at her.

She just kept looking at her hands nervously.

Jake on the other hand couldn't have been more thrilled.

"Where have you been all our lives?"

He looked at me grinning.

"Gift shop."

I gave him a big smile.

"This is gonna be great."

He couldn't believe it.

"Bring your friends."

I said to a guy with a surf board, handing him a flyer.

After we ran out of flyers we went and bought refreshments.

By ten that night, the house was packed.

Music blasting.

The whole house looked like a tornado hit it.

Forgetting I couldn't take being in a crowded room, I ended up hiding in my room.

Maybe this was a mistake.

I looked at Lily as she slept on my bed. The noise had scared her. She had creeped into my room as she always did when she couldn't go to sleep.

I never minded it. When she slept with me, she kept my nightmares at bay. So maybe I needed her way more than she needed me.

My heart ached as I imagined not seeing her again.

Kaitlyn entered my room upset.

"You don't get to hide in here when this whole thing was your idea."

"What if mom and dad find out?"

I was counting on that to happen.

But I pretended to give her a sympathetic look.