Time Goes By [COMPLETED]

chapter 7

Six years later

Lauren's POV

I sat alone outside the cafe, feeling the cold breeze hitting my skin, sending chills to my spine. Fall is near and the leaves are swaying on the trees, creating a beautiful rhythm.

You might be wondering about what had accorded in the past six years. Well let me tell you. First of, brad moved to Canada with his family after the situation he put himself in to with Cole. His parents were too protective, assuming it will happen again and took him away. Danielle is living with me as well as Ashley. We have our own apartment together, which is pretty cool to be honest. We had some bumps and troubles settling in together but we made it out strongly. Jonathan is in Seattle, studying economics as he took a break for 2 years and now he's in college and just so you know, we broke up.

After Cole left, The whole family was depressed, especially Mrs Erickson who kept looking everywhere but found nothing but dead ends. Jonathan regrets not being there to protect his sister and causing such harm that he locked himself away for awhile, which in conclusion, broke us up but we became friends instead. Mr Erickson is always at work, more than usual which lead to both of Mrs Erickson and Mr Erickson a divorce.

Shocking, how can one family member break the whole family apart. Matthew is 7 years old now and he looks so cute and handsome, he resembles Nicole a lot and I'm not even joking. Same hair, same eyes, same smile. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember anything about Nicole but Mrs Erickson makes sure to remind him every single day that he has a sister.

There are times I find myself thinking about Cole. Like where is she? How is she doing? Is she still in town or left to somewhere unknown? Is she with somebody? Is she alive? Is she dead? We have absolutely no clue.

Mrs Erickson went to the police station, after that day Cole walked out of the hospital and left unseen. They looked everywhere in cali but found no track at all. After a while, they came up with the result that she left the state. We went back home to find all of her stuff is gone, all of it. It broke my heart seeing the whole family break down including Matthew who didn't know a thing. I guess.....he sensed her missing presence.

I want to be mad at her for doing such thing but how can I? She has every right to do what she did. The whole school is against her except for her best friends. Her father stopped caring and can't trust her anymore, her brother is an asshole and her bully, and her mother never stood up with her. The only thing keeping her sane is Matthew and her friends.

I looked up and saw Ashley sitting on the seat in front of me. I jumped in my seat, startled. "Ash...." I sighed, holding my chest tightly. She chuckled and shook her head.

"Hello to you too sexy. Where's Danielle?" She asked and I shrugged "In her class or asleep." I shrugged again.

"Thought so." She chuckled the second time today. I looked at her weirdly as she smiled brightly and said "Aren't you in a good mood?" I raised an eyebrow at her as she blushed.

"Well of course I am, I just passed my anatomy test." She said smiling proudly. I smiled back, knowing that she spent the whole day, stressing and studying for that test. "Good for you." I congratulated. Ashley is studying in a medical university and She has one year left to get her degree while I have three more years to get my doctorate degree and become a psychologist. Luckily for Danielle, she graduated already and is working as a lawyer in a business company.

Ashley called the waiter and asked for a chocolate smoothie. This girl and her smoothies. I chuckled internally.

We began chatting about our day when Ashley abruptly stopped and looked behind me. I gave her a confused look and turned my body around. My jaw dropped when I saw a handsome lean man wearing a leather jacket, a white shirt, skinny jeans and a black combat boots, he's hair is dyed grey and he's wearing sunglasses. He walked inside the cafe with his back turned from us and stood in the cashier line.