Picture Perfect
Chapter 33
By Katie

Casey stood there dumbfounded as she watched Nick's retreating form. Walking back into the room and "falling" onto the bed, Casey burst out into tears.

Tears for her, tears for Nick, tears for the friendship they once had, tears for the love they could have. All these tears piled up.

"Casey?" Jane called out about an hour later when the family had arrived home from breakfast.

"Casey?" Jane asked again but then stopped when she reached Casey's bedroom door. "Oh Casey, sweetie, what's wrong?"

Her face was etched with worry and confusion as she walked over towards Casey. She sat down and took Casey in her embrace. "What's wrong honey?" She asked but just received more tears from Casey. Jane rocked her back and forth in her arms and comforted her.

About ten minutes later, the tears lessened up and Casey looked up at Jane. Jane looked at Casey, her face was the face of a frightened child. Jane wiped away some of the tears and looked at Casey. "What happened?"

"Everything." Casey spat out and sighed.

"Want to talk about it?"

"I'm just so confused Jane."

"About what?"

"Everything. Nick, my life, my place here, Nick, my old life, what I do, did I mention Nick?" Jane smiled at her.

"Yeah you did honey. Why are you confused about Nick?"

"Everything. Nick and I have been having this love/hate relationship. Like one minute, we're screaming at eachother trying to rip one another's eyes out and the next, we're kissing in a photo booth at the mall."

"So what are you confused about?"

"Well, this morning he started yelling at me because I didn't know what I wanted from him. But I don't Mrs. Carter. He left me eight years ago. Never a word from him. I didn't know if he was okay. Or what he was like, I knew nothing about him. Then I come back here and suddenly, I'm supposed to love him again?"

"No, you're not."

"Well, I don't. At least, I don't think so. But it's because of him that I am who I am today. When Nick left, my heart broke into a million pieces and I changed so I could be strong and not let that pain show. Now that I'm back here, Nick is slowly breaking down that wall that I have built upon myself. But I don't want to love him Jane. I don't. If anything, I just want his friendship. I think that'd be for the best."

"Are you sure?"

"Postive."

"Well, what else is bothering you. Cause I know that's not all."

"This morning while Nick was yelling at me, he said something. He was talking about me and having an alcohol fest here and a fuck there. Is that all he sees when he looks at me? Some stoner girl? I don't want to be known as that to him Jane. I just want my old life back. I'm tired of going out and getting drunk. I'm tired of passing out from getting high. I'm tired of it all Jane. All of it. I want to change."

"That's great Casey. If you're really serious about changing, then I'll be behind you one hundred percent."

"Thanks Mrs. Carter."

"No problem sweetie. Why don't you take a nap and come down later when you're feeling better okay?" Casey nodded and laid down on the bed while Jane walked out the door.