Her.

She's Broken.

By the time we reached The Kay's house almost everybody was asleep. It was only about an hour and a half drive, but life has been hectic this week getting everything ready for Lucy to come back.

I looked over my shoulder to see Lucy's bright blue eyes staring back at me. It looked like she still had sleep in her eyes and was getting ready to pass out once more.

"You ready to be in your own house and sleep good?" I asked her. She smiled a crooked smile and replied, "Well duh. I'm so worn out from all the traveling I've gone through." After she said this we pulled into their large country-style house. Mr. Kay turned around in his seat "Welcome home, baby girl" as he said this I saw tears build up. Lucy truly was a daddy's girl.

Slowly I saw heads begin to pop up and welcome Lucy back home. I jumped out of my seat and walked to Mrs. Kay "Yo, second mom, I think I'm going to head out. I'll see ya tomorrow though,"

"Wes? You don't want to stay for Lucy's welcome home dinner?" she asked

"It's just for family, Bren. I don't want to intrude" I called her by her first name so she would believe I was being sincere.

"You know you might as well be part of this family, Wes. Besides, Lucy probably wants you to stay anyways." I looked over at Luce who was eyeing my keys.

"You leaving so soon? I just got back."

I thought for a second. "I guess I can stay. But only because I want Mrs. Kay's yummy potato salad," Lucy's face lite up with excitement.

"Mom did you really make it?"

"Yes sweetie and it's Great Aunt Octavia's recipe"

"That's wonderful, mom. Really thanks" I could tell she was serious.

About an hour later Mrs. Kay was calling for dinner. Zach and I were in his room watching a movie while everybody else mingled around doing their own thing. As I walked down the rounded staircase I saw a figure on the steps, leaned down to see what it was when I realized it was Lucy. I rushed towards her body in total freak mode.

"Lucy? Are you okay?" I asked rubbing her back. I got a reply by her pushing me down the steps.

"Dang L, I was just making sure you didn't die." I laughed while her hand covered her mouth in utter shock.

"Holy crap, Cowboy, I'm so sorry. I didn't know what was going on."

I heard hysterical laughing coming from the top of the stairs where I saw Zach, Brandon, and Michele all pointing at me.

"Dude she totally could've beat you up." Mike told me laughing the hardest. Lucy blushed and apologized once more before walking towards the dinning room.

As Zach walked passed me I hit the back of his head saying "Really dude? It wasn't even that bad. She took me by surprised. He raised his eyebrows up at me.

"Hey man, all I'm saying is Luce got strong and she's not one to like being woken up. She could've really hurt a pansy like you." then he ran away before I could do anything. My mouth just hug open.

During dinner everybody was catching up.

"Lucy, what are you going to do tomorrow as your first official day back home?" Mr. Kay asked his daughter.

"Completely unpack and make my room go back to normal. You know? Put up my old pictures as well as new ones and posters also." L replied.

Mrs. Kay looked confused. "I thought you were going out with friends?" Zach, Lucy, and I made eye contact.

"Mom, you know my best friends are Zach and Wes. The others I haven't seen in over a year. Don't you think that would be awkward?" Lucy seemed nervous

"Honey, all I'm saying is Zach and Wes will be with you forever, but you also need to have some girlfriends." Mrs. Kay had a good point, I mean, Zach and I have always been Lucy's best friends and we've never really been the types to express our feelings. Of course, if we needed somebody we would always go to one another; we just didn't sit around a camp fire talking boys and gossip.

"Mom, I'm not into all that crap. I like doing my own thing, but for you I will call up some of my old friends and try to meet up with them this weekend." Mrs. Kay smiled and nodded, but you could tell she was excited.

After dinner, Zach, along with Jody, and I all went outside to hang out and play around with little Jody. I looked up at Lucy's window, used to seeing nobody up there, to see a figure moving back and forth putting away clothes into the closet.

"Zach? I'm going to talk to Luce before I go home. Kay?"

"You're not staying over tonight, man?" usually I stay at the Kay's house a couple of times a week, even in the school year.

"Not tonight, dude. But I'll come by about lunch time tomorrow," he nodded and kept on playing with Jody as I made my way up to Lucy's room.

As I almost reached her door I heard a one way conversation. I guess she was on the phone.

The door muffled her voice, but I swore I heard her say "I miss you too. Okay bye, love."

I knocked on her door and continued to walk in "Lucy-" I stopped short seeing tears flooding from her eyes and creating stains on her checks.

All she did was wipe them and say "I'm fine, really. What'd ya need?"

It didn't break my heart that she was crying- no it wasn't that. What broke my heart was that she was broken and wouldn't let anyone help fix herself.

I became determined to fix her, my best friend, no matter what it took.