*~*Kamalei’s POV*~*

Zacky sat on the bed next to me handing me some things from the floor. I looked around at the mess all over the floor and couldn’t help but cry. Zacky put his arm around my shoulders, letting me cry into his shirt.

“I know Lei. I know it’s hard. You’re going to be alright.” He comforted me.

Will I? Will I ever be alright? Oh Zacky I want to believe you. I want to believe Kelly. Can I really move on?

“Baby girl are you alright? What’s wrong?” I heard my brother say from the door.

I looked up to him and expected him to be angry with Zacky but instead he had a look of concern. He sat on the other side of the bed with me, pulling me from Zacky’s hold and to his chest. I balled my fist into his shirt and cried.

“My house. My life. It’s all in pieces Matt. Look at it.” I said between my sniffles.

“It’s alright Lei. That’s why we’re here. We’re here to help you put it back together. Better than ever. I promise I won’t let it fall to pieces ever again ok?” he said looking down at me.

I nodded and released my hold on him, sitting up again.

“Zee can you grab that picture over there?” I asked pointing to an overturned frame across the room.

Zacky brought it over to me looking at it. He smirked as he handed me the photo of the day I left California in Matt’s front yard. I looked at the picture and smiled. The glass had been shattered but it didn’t matter as I held it to my chest tightly.

“Let me see.” Matt said as I gave it to him.

His smile widened as he looked at it, “This was a really sad day. None of us wanted you to go you know? When I came back to the house everyone was all moping around. I’m happy this won’t have to happen again.”

“Me too.” Zacky chimed in smiling.

“Me three?” I smirked as I hugged Matt.

“Come on let’s finish getting your stuff and go do something fun today. Are you feeling alright? They gave me a shit ton of pills for you.” Matt asked.

“I’m okay for now. I’ll let you know if I need some.” I said as I reached down slowly picking up more smashed pictures.

Matt got up and walked off patting Zacky on the shoulder. Zacky reached down and picked up more photos from the ground.

“You shouldn’t be leaning down like that. I know it’s gotta be hurting. Let me pick it up for you Lei.” He said handing me more.

I took the backs off all the frames and set the pictures in the bag near me. I didn’t even really look at what the pictures really were. Zacky picked one up from the other side of the bed and stood with his back to me, staring down at it. I saw his knuckles turning white as he clutched the photo.

“Zack, what is it?” I startled him a little.

“Is this him?” he said turning to me, his eyes dark again.

I looked at the photo he was holding. It was a picture from a few months ago that we took at my cousin’s baby shower. We looked happy with smiling faces snuggled together.

“Yeah. That’s Micah.” I said reluctantly.

“You look happy with him. Do you mind if I ask what happened?” Zacky asked.

“Honestly Zee, I don’t know what happened. I guess I was just a fool. It was all good in the beginning, then when we moved in together, it changed.” I said as I pulled some more photos from the bedside table, “He started to come home really drunk and get mad when things weren’t the way he wanted them. I had nowhere to really go. I had left my mom’s house on such bad terms and we don’t get along anyway. I didn’t want to burden anyone with my problems either. I can handle it…”

“It doesn’t mean you should have to. Lei, you’re worth more than that. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” Zacky said sitting next to me on the bed.

I looked into his bright green eyes as he lightly smiled, “Thank you Zack. I’m starting to realize it these days.”

“I’m sorry nobody helped you realize it sooner. Let’s go thru some more stuff and get out of here. It’s starting to make you depressed.” He said before getting up and handing me more pictures.

We made small talk about what Zacky and the others wanted to do now that I was free from the hospital confines as we went thru more items in the house. Jimmy and Johnny had packed up most of my clothes and had already loaded them into Kelly’s truck. Kelly and Brian had grabbed all of my stuff from the bathroom. Matt and Val walked thru the halls of the small house looking at the pictures on the walls, asking me questions now and then about who people are.

Matt took down all of the photos of my family for me and brought them into the bedroom, plopping down next to me on the bed. He began taking them out of the frames with Zacky and put them in the stack I already had.

“Are you alright?” Matt asked me.

I was a little taken aback at his question, “Yeah, why?”

“Because you’re crying.” He said as I reached up and felt the tears on my cheek.

“Oh……yeah. I guess I’m just more sad than I thought. I came to this house a whole and now I’m leaving in pieces.” I said wiping the remaining tears with the back of my hand.

“There’s nothing wrong with that either. It’s ok to be sad. I get it, you built a life here. In my opinion, it wasn’t the best, but who am I to judge. I just want you to be safe Lei. You’re my baby sister and I will never let anyone hurt you again.” Matt said and I could have sworn he threw a glare in Zacky’s direction.

“Thank you Matt. I don’t think I could ever do this without you and your friends.” I told him.

“Hey, we’re your friends too now.” Johnny said from the hallway.

“You do know it’s going to be so much better in California right?” Brian said hugging Kelly to his side.

“Yeah, besides getting to live in a bigger house, you get to live with all of us coming in and out of the house!” Jimmy said jumping softly onto the bed.

“Plus, it’s really a new start for you and for Kelly.” Zacky said softly.

“You guys all have good points, but it’s still hard for me to believe. I’m moving away from the only family I’ve ever known...” I replied.

“To be with the family you’ve never had the chance to know.” Val added with a big smile.

I smiled back at her, “True. I did want to stay. I always wanted to stay. I wish I had. This never would have happened.”

“Maybe it was the sign you needed that we had to get out of Maui babes. We can always come home to visit. I’m sure Mama would love to visit us in Cali too.” Kelly said cheerily.

“I would love it if Mama would come to visit us.” Matt chimed in.

“I guess you guys are right. I think you were right Zee, we need to get the hell out of here because its bringing me down.” I smirked at him, earning one back.

“Do you have all the things you want?” Matt asked looking around and picking up the bags off the bed.

“Yeah, let’s go. I could use some good food to eat.” I replied.

Everyone started getting up and heading out of the house. I sat on the bed for a minute, Zacky the last to walk out of the bedroom.

“Zacky?”

“Yeah?”

“Will you carry me?” I asked putting my hands up like a little child.

“Of course. Come on.” He said kneeling down in front of me so I could hop on his back again.
“Am I heavy?” I said squirming on his back.

“Not even a little bit. Are you saying I’m fat and can’t handle carrying you?” he asked jokingly.
I laughed regretfully as the pain in my ribs ripped thru me, “Ow…. Ow… no I’m not calling you fat. I was just trying to be nice. Damn I can’t even pretend to be polite huh?” I said tugging his black hair.

“Why would you pretend? I already know you are.” He said as we walked to the front door.

“Wait. Don’t go yet. Put me down here please.” I said as he set me down and I stood in the doorway looking at the house that was once my home.

Goodbye house. Goodbye horrible memories. We had some good times but they couldn’t outweigh the bad times. I’ve learned a lot from this place. I learned that everything is not always as it seems. Now I’m off to live a better life. A life I deserve to have.

I shut the door to the house, dropping the keys on the front doorstep and turned to Zacky who bent down and lifted me up again, heading towards the truck.

Notes

This was one of my favorite chapters to write. It shows how they truly are a family coming together to help one of their own feel better. Also I liked expressing how Lei feels about moving on. It would be hard for anyone after 4 years to go on to something completely new. I hope you guys enjoy it, even though I know it's a little shorter than usual. I will try to post tomorrow but it is Halloween and all that. I know for a fact after tomorrow, I won't be able to post until probably Tuesday. Lots of parties/drinking/beach to do. I suggest everyone check out what "Lahaina Halloween" is all about on google or something. It's pretty awesome and maybe Tuesday I can upload some fun photos from the festivities. Anywho, hope everyone has a great Halloween! Have fun and always be safe! <3 you guys!