"What happened?" Ian asked as I slowly pulled away from his embrace. I looked away from him as I filled with guilt and shame for trusting a man I hardly knew. "I-I don't know why I did it. I was so emotional and vulnerable. I just- I wanted- needed to tell someone." I said wiping my warm tears from my face.

"Tell someone what, Mia?" He asked making my heart ache from the nickname he gave me when we were little. "It was the night after Ethan and I's car accident and I was just- I just- I-I don't know what I was feeling. I just-" I rambled until he interrupted me.

"What?" Ian asked impatient making me look up at him finally. My heart broke looking up into his deep hazel eyes we shared. "I told Ethan. Everything." I confessed as my voice broke.

"I don't know why. I just- I-I trusted him. I don't even know why. I needed to tell someone- express what I- what we have been going through. But I-I was wrong to trust him. I'm such an idiot. I-I am so sorry." I rambled with wide eyes hoping to get everything out before he started yelling. But he never did.

"Please say something." I begged as more tears continued to fall making him pull away from me to stand. Ian raked his fingers roughly through his light brown hair as he paced for a few moments.

"He has known since your accident?" Ian finally spoke making me nod never tearing my eyes away from him. "Is he going to tell the police?" He asked again as I stood. "I don't know." I mumbled making him continue pacing. "I-I'll talk to him." I continued making him scoff as he looked down as me again.

"I don't think that's the greatest idea. Look what mess we are in now after you 'talked to him'." Ian bit making me look away from his eyes that held so much worry and frustration. "Fucking hell, Amelia." He beamed making me wince at him using my full name.

"Do you know what this means if he tells? What will happen to us?" Ian asked as his voice started to rise making me frown. "Of course, I know. I'm the one who has been keeping the school and the state off our backs." I answered full of hurt.

"I'm the one who signed every parent document in Mom's signature I've been perfecting for years. Talked to our teachers through email and over the phone pretending to be her. Telling everyone how thrilled we were to have them survive their car accident. Do you even know how horrible that felt? To tell everyone how ecstatic we were that they were alive waiting for us at home? While you went on like nothing happened." I began as Ian watched me intensely with tense eyes full of frustration.

"Y-You just continued to hang out and party like nothing really had happened. I was the one who kept everything from falling around us. Who kept a roof over your head. Having to work during all of my free time. I-I lost all my friends and my social life as you just continued on with yours. Part of me always thought it never effected you. I-I know I made a mistake telling Ethan. Believe me I do. I feel horrible for thinking I could trust him. But I will make sure he won't tell anyone. I-I'll fix this. We have kept it hidden for years and I won't let him ruin it." I stated sternly never tearing my eyes away from his as I continued to cry.

"You really don't think their deaths have affected me?" Ian asked full of hurt in his eyes. "You never confided in me, Ian. You never told me how you were feeling. You- This right now is the most emotion you have shared with me about them. I have no idea how you feel because you won't tell me." I said softly full of emotion making him look away.

"You are my brother, Ian. We're all we have. I am supposed to protect you and make sure you are alright. But I can't do that when you won't share anything with me." I continued walking closer to him making him rake his fingers through his hair before. "The first month they died I would sleep in their bed. It may be a morbid thing to have done but I helped me feel close to them in a way." Ian started softly as he looked away again as tears collected in his eyes.

"I avoid mirrors. Every time I see my reflection all I see is dad. His eyes. His hair and jaw. It makes me sick, so I avoided mirrors. I still do. I avoided talking about them to you because I couldn't bear talking about them being dead. I was cold and distant to you because I knew the topic of them would come up. I couldn't- I can't bear the thought of them actually being dead." Ian finished looking up at me as a tear fell slowly down his face.

"It's been four years. It's time that we grieve for them, Ian." I stated softly as I walked up to him before wiping his tear away. "But what if things won't be the same? Why can't be just continue the way things have been?" He asked as he looked down at me making me smile weakly.

"Things already aren't the same. The instant the cops came over to tell us was the moment our lives changed forever. W-We have to grieve for them, Ian. It isn't healthy to keep all our emotions and thoughts inside for this long." I answered making him bow his head as tears silently fell down his face. "I have their wedding rings." I stated after a few minutes of silence before walking over to my bedside table.

"They gave them to me when I identified them. I wear it almost every day." I said as I picked up the necklace with two wedding bands and her engagement ring. "What was it like? What did they look like?" Ian asked after I gave him the rings making me frown as tears collected.

"It was horrible. They were in a cold poorly lit room lying on metal slabs. They had cuts and bruises on their faces. I only saw their faces, but I could only imagine how-" I started but instantly stopped not wanting to think about that. "They looked foreign." I continued as I looked up at him to see Ian looking down at me.

"I'm so sorry you had to see them like that." Ian said making me shrug lightly. "I had no choice. I would never let you do it. It had to be done and besides I have a lot of better memories of them." I replied trying to make it less of a big deal for him. Ian smiled weakly as he looked down at the rings in his hand.

"I still have dreams about them. The same one. We were about six. It was when there was a snowstorm, so school and work was closed for that week. Dad was trying to entertain us with games as Mom baked in the kitchen." Ian confessed as he continued to look down at his hand lost in his thoughts. "The smell of her famous lemon pie still floods my nose from time to time. Dad and we were playing monopoly before you got bored and left to help mom. I always envied how close you two were." He continued making me frown lightly before he sat down on my bed.

"Really?" I breathed out making him look up at me. "You two always bonded over baking and not being able to cook. You both looked alike and everyone would always point it out. It always made me slightly jealous." Ian confessed making me sit next to him as Ian looked at me.

"I felt the same way about you and Dad. You two always had your sports and I always envied your green eyes you got from him. I still do." I confessed making him frown in confusion. "Buy you have mom's brown eyes." He stated making me smile softly up at him.

"I guess I never appreciated them. I always just thought about what I didn't have. The traits that skipped me onto you." I confessed making him smile before he placed our parents wedding rings in my hands. "You may look just like Mom, but you act just like Dad. And I guess me vice versa." Ian said making me smile as I ran my fingertips along the golden rings.

"I hope they think we are doing the right thing." I confessed softly after a few minutes of silence. "I think they do. They would've never wanted us to be separated. You remember when we lost you at the grocery store? They both almost had a heart attack before they realized you were in the next aisle over." Ian replied making me chuckle softly remembering the memory of our parents rushing towards me after finding me.

"I miss them." I said softly as tears started to collect in my eyes once more. "Me too. More than I ever thought possible. Every day I regret all the hurtful words I said in annoyance. How I wish I could take it back and see them one last time." Ian confessed making me look up at him.

"They always understood. I know if they were here now, they would never want you to feel guilt over what you have done in the past. I wish more than anything to see them again too. Not even speak to them but to just see them. Mom's smile as she baked or Dad's eyes as he talked about the new book he was currently reading. But I know they wouldn't want us to think that way. They would want us to grieve properly and to not feel guilty for their death or what we might've said to them in the past. They would want us to live our lives happily without heartache for their deaths." I stated making him nod hesitantly as he looked away.

"And I would like to think that one day I will be able to see them again. We were never a religious family, but I want to believe just for that one reason." I said making him smile softly before we sat in comfortable silence getting lost in our own thoughts.

"I'm sorry I was cold towards you. I shouldn't have been." Ian confessed making me look up at him. "It's okay." I replied with a weak smile making him clear his throat before sitting up from my bed.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He said before he left my bedroom as he shut my door. I sighed as I wiped my tears away. I looked at my clock making me do a double take not realizing how late it was.

I quickly slid into my warm bed with Ethan and Ian on my mind before drifting to sleep.

"I have work today. Do you need a ride home?" I asked Ian as we walked up to the school building. "Yeah. I have to do my homework." Ian started making me smile softly before my nerves caught up to me.

This whole morning, I dreaded coming to school not wanting to see Ethan. I couldn't handle seeing his face or hearing his voice right now. I knew if I did, I would break down again in front of the whole school.

I'm an optimist. I know that may be surprising but my whole life I have tried to see the bigger and better picture. So, part of me is trying to feel somewhat grateful that he told only his family and not the police. But the other part of me, the larger part, is telling me everything wrong about what he did. And all the consequences that could arise.

My thoughts were interrupted by Blake and Ian chatting next to me as I unlocked my locker. I ignored him not wanting to start a conversation with him.

"How's that boyfriend of yours?" Blake asked making my heart ache before I masked it to reply. "What boyfriend?" I said with no emotion not looking at him making him scoff.

"Well, you definitely aren't just friends." He stated making me frown as I quickly closed my locker. "You're right. We aren't." I stated as I looked up at him to see him smirking down at me.

I walked away from them to get to my class ignoring all the confused stares and whispers. I inwardly groaned hating the feeling they all gave me thinking about what could possibly be going through their minds about me. I quickly shrugged off the feeling as I walked into someone as I turned a corner.

"Sorry." I muttered as I bent down to pick up my books. The man helped me when I noticed his familiar hand tattoos. I instantly looked up at him to see Colton making me frown.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I stood up with my things making him do the same. "Would you believe me if I came here for an education?" Colton asked with a smirk making me roll my eyes. He did not look young enough to be going here.

"Is this Ethan's doing?" I asked again making him chuckle. "He has no authority over me, love." He replied making me frown again ignoring everyone stares.

"Daniel told me about your parents-" Colton started instantly making me cut him off. "Don't." I threatened as I walked away before I heard his footsteps behind me.

"Why is it a secret?" He asked as he grabbed my arm making me turn around. "I don't have to explain myself to you. I don't even know you. Just leave me alone." I pleaded as I pulled my arm from his grasp before I continued walking.

I saw Ethan at the end of the hall staring at me instantly making me stop in place. "We can help you, Amelia." Coltan said as he caught up to me making me tear my eye as I looked away from Ethan.

"I can't talk about this now. Just leave me alone." I replied trying to fight the sadness in my voice. The bell rang making me walk quickly into my classroom ignoring Ethan and Colton.

I was met with a busy classroom before I quickly sat in the back of the class. As I pulled out my notebook, I saw both Ethan and Colton walk in my classroom making me fill with anger and hurt.

I scoffed to myself as Colton sat next to me with Ethan in the front of the class. I was somewhat relieved that I was a far away from Ethan as possible when Colton spoke.

"I've never seen him like this." He stated making me look away from Ethan. "Like what?" I muttered as the teacher began to speak.

"Quiet. Full of regret." Colton answered making me frown as I looked down at my notes. "He should have thought twice then." I replied making him chuckle to himself as I looked up at him.

"There is a lot about us that you don't understand." He stated making me roll my eyes as I looked away from his blue eyes. "I'd like to keep it that way." I mumbled not wanting others to eavesdrop on our conversation.

"You really have no idea what you are now involved in. Yet you don't want to learn. It baffles me." Colton confessed as we started to take a test making me roll my eyes. "I'm not involved in anything." I stated annoyed making him chuckle lightly again making my palms sweat.

"You have no idea how wrong you are."