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All I had to do now as sign some documents and I could be free. It had been four weeks since I have arrived at hospital and because of my fast healing process, I got to go home early. Every since Dr. Byrne came to see me we had regular sessions every week. Apparently I was making lots of progress. And I was. I smiled more, I found it more easy to talk about my feelings and I didn’t hold my breathe when I thought of my past. Although they were small things, they meant the world to me. Everyone at the hospital was so lovely and Alex came to visit often which was probably the highlights of most of my days. 

When they had first mentioned about me going home, I was sick because I thought they would force me to go back to that hell hole. But the doctors had explained that they were all ready in prison, and since I was under 18 they would find me another loving home. But Alex didn’t seem to like the thought of me being in the care system so offered me a place to say considering it could take a months. Although it was like it was all planned. I found it weird but decided not to comment on it.

Soon they called my name to come and sign. Flashed a few smiles towards the nurses I had gotten to know after this past month. They all returned them. The lady at the desk handed over the documents and I sighed them all. She checked I had all the medication the doctors had prescribed me then let me go. 

I walked out the hospital and smiled brightly when I saw a familiar goofy smile.

“Zack! Your here!” I shouted excitedly. I sprinted towards him and practically jumped into his arms.

“I missed you too Bells.” He chuckled. Zack was Alex’s best friend and was also the first stranger to knock and introduce himself so I had liked him straight away. He was 19 so two years older than me. We had clicked right away since we both had the same interests. When Alex wasn’t there to stop us, we spent all night talking about music, books and tv shows. He was kinda like the big brother I always wanted.

“Come on Alex is waiting in the car. He would of came but he’s currently in the middle of a important work call.” Zack explained while leading me to the car. We crossed the car park and I saw a shiny black Mercedes.

“Woah. That’s your car?” I said wide eyed. It was totally my dream car.

“Nah it’s Alex’s, but I do get to drive it.” He teased, waving the keys at me.

“Hey! No fair I want to drive!” I started chasing him across the car park to try and grab the keys. But he was too fast and had widened the gap between us.

“You’re so slow! You’ll never catch me!” Zack laughed as he reached the car.

“Fine. You win. God why are you so fast?” I was panting, leaning on the side of the car. I really need to work out.

“Yep. I was school champion 3 years in a row” He grinned.

“You could of told me” I glared playfully at him. No wonder he was so fast!

I got in the back with Alex. He smiled me at me and held up a finger telling to wait until he was off the phone. So instead I looked out the window watching the hospital fade into the distance. I admired the nature that surrounded us. The leaves have already started to change colour. The trees were decorated with reds, oranges and yellows. The leaves fluttered down, sparse in the cool mid-autumn air. It was like a cloud of colour. It started to rain and I began to feel sleepy so I leaned my head on Alex’s lap. He instantly started caressing me hair as if it was natural. I soon drifted to sleep to the sound of the falling rain drops.

“Bells wake up. We’re nearly there.” Alex lightly shook my shoulder. My eyes fluttered open and pouted.

“Do I have to? I’m really tired” I yawned. I really wasn’t a morning person.

Alex looked hesitant for awhile but then sighed in defeat. “Fine. But only a few more minutes.” I smiled brightly at him.

“No fair! If she gets to do want she wants then I can too!” Zack whined. Sometimes I forget he’s older than me. He acted like a 5 year old.

“Fine Zack, what do you want?” Alex shook his head in disbelief that we were acting like complete children.

“I want to play my music.” Alex nodded his head in agreement without seeing the knowing look Zack gave me through his mirror. I grinned and sat up getting ready for the chaos we were about to unleash. 

Zack reached for the radio and turned on our favourite heavy metal band. He turned the music to full volume and we both shouted th lyrics out loud. Alex was too busy trying to process the situation to get mad. By the time we got to the chorus Alex looked like he was questioning whether he should send us to a mental hospital or not. I started waving my hand everywhere and Zack was banging the steering wheel to the beat. I was having the time of my life. The song finally came to an end and both Zack and I were uncontrollably laughing. Alex looked at us like he was just traumatised by the whole experience. 

“Y-your face! Y-you s-should have s-seen it” Zack said through the laughter.

“I think I’m going to cry” I giggled, trying to catch my breath. This might be the death of me.

“Zack I think you’ve found your long lost sister.” He sighed, not even wanting an explanation from us.

“Totally! And my little sis is the best!” He proudly said with his signature goofy grin. I smiled brightly.

“Yeah and I’ve got the best big bro in the world.” I knew that we’d only known each other a month but as everyday went by, it was like we were becoming our own little family. 

“Looks like we finally arrived.” Zack turned into a huge black gate. I had been to busy singing my heart out to notice Alex’s house was miles away from civilisation. Before we reach the house we had to drive through miles of forest until we finally saw his house in the distance. Zack parked the car and we all got out. 

Ivy and ferns grew through the crevices of the old winding stone path which led directly to the colossal structure. The mansion stood proudly behind creaky iron gates, flanked by row of skeletal trees crowned in crimson, swaying gently in the autumn wind. At its threshold stood the delicate marble fountain, the soft gurgling of the clear water melodic as it resonated in the surrounding silence. Scary.

“What a great place to kill someone.” I mumbled under my breath.

Alex and Zack chuckled at my random comment. I shyly blushed. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

“I promise I won’t kill you just yet, so hurry up and catch up. We’re home.” He held his hand out for me to grab. I opened my eyes in shock. He tilted his head slightly confused to why I was hesitating. Then I remembered the two people in front of me were the two people who probably cared for me the most in this world and even if everything came crashing down I wouldn’t regret staying with them. So I ran towards them and grabbed Alex’s hand then Zack slung his arm around me. I smiled warmly.

“Yeah let’s go home.”