Hey guys :)

Thanks so much for the support that you guys have given me, I am so grateful for all of it. I can't believe how popular this book has become.

I just want to say one thing. I have received quite a few messages and comments relating my updating. Now please don't take this the wrong way. I love feedback, and for you guys to comment on my chapters. I love the fact how you all ask me for updates every time I post a new chapter, and I don't want that to stop. 

What I don't like, is when people criticize me, saying I'm not doing a good enough job at keeping regular updates, and that if I can't update on time, I shouldn't bother writing because it's a waste of their time. I have never said that there will always be regular updates. I am very busy at this time in my life, regarding school, and some very personal issues, that unfortunately writing has to come second to. I love writing, and I wish I could do it all day. So I hate to see nasty messages like that. 

This is only a minority, and I DON'T want you guys to stop commenting telling me to update. That is not the problem. Thanks so much for the support thanks so much to all of you!! xxx

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I slam my locker closed, and yawn, rubbing my eyes. After Alex opened up to me last night, I didn't get much sleep. I stayed up all night, waiting for Will. He ended up coming home exhausted, but fine. A girl called Scarlett came with him. I found out that she's a nurse, and Zane's girlfriend. She helps Will out a lot. She's really nice.

Although Alex told me all that, he never mentioned the whole 'I like you thing' again. He left, after getting a text from Cole, asking him to go and stock up on Will's medication. I was kind of glad. That was a lot of information in one night. And he was so blunt about it.

On the bright side, Bianca comes home tomorrow, and tonight, Cole is going to take me home, to see my Mom. I'm supposed to go home tomorrow. I just hope that Mom has succeeded in calming my Father down, and convincing him to leave. 

I shuffle through the day, not really paying attention. I'm too tired to really care. Finally, it's lunch, and I find my usual seat near the dumpsters. Usually Bianca sits with me, so today is even more depressing. I bite into my sandwich, reading my book. 

"So this is what the cafeteria looks like." I turn around, to see Jake, Alex, Hayden, Vince, and the twins." Obviously the other kids go to different schools. They all join me, putting down their lunch trays.

"What are you doing in here?" I ask. "Shouldn't you be behind the gym brooding like angry men?"

"A man's gotta eat." Hayden snickers, taking a big bite of sloppy joe. He pauses, before letting it slip out of his mouth back onto the plate, sliding it away. "When it's edible." I chuckle, and give him the other half of my sandwich.

"Yeah." I tease. "Rule one, don't go for the hot lunch." The boys continue eating, talking. 

"So Harp." Vince grins. "I think you should keep tutoring me, cause look." He holds up his essay, and I can see at the very a top, a big red B+.

"Yes!" I squeal. "Good job bro." We fist bump, and Jake snorts. 

"That was all you." He says to me.

"No way." I smile, reassuring Vince. "I only helped. You deserve that B+."

"I'm gonna tell Cole." He says proudly. "I've never gotten anything bigger than a C before."

"He's gonna flip." The twins say.

"He's gonna frame it." Alex says mouth full.

"Put it on his blog." Hayden snickers.

"Hey." Jake warns him sternly.

"What?" I ask curiously.

"About a year ago we accidentally saw a blog that Cole writes." Alex chuckles. "He writes updates on life like, every day."

"We haven't told him we know." Seth adds.

"He should keep the one shred of dignity he has left." Elliot finishes. I laugh. I can't vision Cole being a blogger. He's just so... not one for words.

<><><><>

I continue to go through the motions, and finally the bell rings. I ride with Alex, and we pull up to their house. We get into the kitchen, to see Cole, hugging Vince tightly. If I wasn't mistaken, I would have said that there was a tear or two. He looks up at me, and grunts gruffly. Unexpectedly, he pulls me into a tight hug. 

"Thank you."He says, letting go.

"I really didn't do anything." I say sincerely. 

"I'm very grateful." He says before following Vince out the room.

"Why don't you go blog about?" Hayden snickers.

"Oh, you wanna be a punk?" Jake jokes, running after him, everyone following. I'm left alone in the kitchen, and decide to start dinner. It's the least I could do, considering. I start to cook, turning the radio on.

"My ex man's gotta new girlfriend, I'm like oh my god. I just gotta shake it." I mutter through some songs, and one by one, a river boy appears into the kitchen.

"I was just going to order pizza." Zane says surprised, walking in with Will on his hip, hand in hand with Scarlett. 

"No worries." I smile. 

"Need any help?" Scarlett asks me.

"Thanks." I grin, handing her the salad. We all sit down to eat, and Cole groans. 

"You can stay whenever you want." He grins. "This is the best."

"No problems." I say. "I'm going home tomorrow, I wanted to do something."

"Maybe." Alex says quietly from next to me. "If everything's ok."

"Don't worry Alex." I tell him. "I trust my Mom. We've been through this before, she knows how to deal with him."

"You ready Harper?" Cole asks, slipping on his jacket. "The twins are on dishes."

"Yeah." I say, getting up.

"I'm coming." Alex says, following us out the door.

"I can handle it." Cole frowns.

"I know." He says simply. "I'm still going."

"Go back inside." Cole says sternly.

"It's not a big deal." I tell him. He looks at. 

"Are you sure?" 

"Yeah." I say impatient. "I really just want to go see my Mom." He stares for a moment, then nods.

"Let's go." He says. We get into the car, and I bounce up and down in my seat. I'm never away from my Mom, and I really need to see her. 

"Harper." Alex says. "Please don't be disappointed, if for some reason, you can't go back." 

"Don't worry about it!" I groan. "It's going to be fine." He frowns, but nods. We pull into our street, and I crane my neck to my house. We pull into our driveway.

No. Truck.

He's not here. My heart soars. 

"I told you." I say excitedly. I jump out the car, and race towards the house. I knock on the door, grinning. The door opens, and I jump onto my Mum, who stumbles back.

"What are you doing here?" She asks me, smiling.

"I came to see you." I grin. "Dad left. His truck isn't here. I can come home." Cole and Alex come and stand beside me.

"Hi Wendy." Cole greets her. She smiles nervously at him.

"Mom, I can come home." I insist.

"Honey, you have to leave." She says quickly.

"What?" I ask confused. 

"You need to leave." She says, tears welling up in her eyes. I stare at her, my energy seeping out of me.

"He hasn't left has he?" I ask softly.

"Honey I'm sorry." She says. "He's gone to pick up Quentin, they're coming home soon." I shrug off Alex's hand that has found it's way onto my shoulder.

"We agreed Mom." I sob.

"I know Harper." She says, reaching for my hand. I step backwards, out of her reach.

"This was the last time, we were going to get rid of him for good." I tell her.

"I tried." She says. "You know his pattern, he'll leave eventually." I sigh.

"Right." I say softly. "He'll leave us with no money, and a black eye or two. But hey. At least we have each other." I turn around and get back into Cole's car, and wait for Cole and Alex.

I can't believe I thought something would actually be different.