Narcia knocked on the door of her brother's bedroom. He had been moody and cold towards everyone since he broke up with Amy. He had buried himself in work and he didn't join her, Zara and Chloe for breakfast anymore. To make matters worse Courtney wasn't on talking terms with him since he didn't apologize for the hurtful words he said to her while she was only trying to help. She knocked on the door again this time harder than first. "Jayden Cohen Daniels, I know you're not asleep and you can hear my knock...open up the fucking door before I break it down.” She said. "As if you can break down the doo," Jayden said as he opened the door. "Good morning to you too and what the hell do you want from me ?" He spat at his sister. He was in no mood for her whinnying and long speeches. "Sorry...I-I-I missed you and decided to come to check on you." She said with her head down. "WELL AS YOU CAN SEE I'M FUCKING GREAT, SO SKEDADDLE AND STOP ANNOYING ME ...GO AWAY AND STAY OUT." He yelled as his sister flinched with tears rolling down her face she turned and run to the room banging the door in the process. He entered his room and shut the door behind him. He knew he'd gone too far by screaming on the two people he loved the most, his best friend Courtney and his little sister. He sighed as he entered his bathroom to shower. Courtney sat in her office sipping her cappuccino. It's been two weeks since she saw her best friend and since they talked. Even though he'd hurt her, she missed him dearly. She missed his smiles, his voice, the way he tilts his head when she says something unbelievable. "I'll be the better person and talk to him." She said to herself as she continued with the workload on her table. "Hey, Chloe you up for ice cream ?" Narcia crouched down to talk to the little girl. She felt drained after those tears she shed and she needed fresh air. She had called Anya and Zhav to come to pick her up since she was in no mood to drive. "Iceee cwweeeam," Chloe said as she squealed hopping up and down. "Mama can I go please." She said staring at her mom with her big brown eyes. "Sure you can go and have a fun baby." She said as Chloe went upstairs to wear her shoes. "Are you alright? I heard all that went on between you two." Zara asked her. "I'm fine I just need fresh air." Narcia said sighing." He'd come around give him sometime baby." She added rubbing Narcia's shoulder as Chloe descended the stairs and Anya honked her car horn. "Thanks, Zara." She said smiling. "Bye, mom, a" Chloe added. "Bye babies," Zara said as they left the house. Narcia helped Chloe into the car as she sat and Anya drove off to the ice cream parlour. "What flavour of ice cream do you want ?" The server asked as the girls sat at their table. "We'd take cookie dough, mint, vanilla, and chocolate,e," Zhavia said as the server wrote down their orders. "I'd be right back with your orders." She said and left for the counter. "Isn't that Zaid and his friends?" Anya asked as they all turned to see the guys entering the ice cream parlour. Sean spotted them and alerted the guys as they walked to their table. "And their coming," Zhavia added as their ice creams were brought to them as they all took their flavours. "Hi." Zaid greeted. "Hello," Chloe said with ice cream all over her face. "Awwwww, she's cute... I'm Zaid and you are ?" He added as they had already taken their seats and ordered for their ice cream. "I'm Chloe...and I'm four." She said grinning. "I didn't know his highnesses were fans of ice cream," Narcia added wiping Chloe's face. "But everyone loves, Ice cream". Reign said as a matter of fact. "Even the big bad boy?" Anya teased in a baby voice as they all burst into laughter. Narcia began to feel better than before. The girls and guys made her laugh so much that made her feel lively again. "Hey, Zara is Jayden around ?" Courtney asked as she entered the house. She had closed from work and decided to check on her best friend to see how he was fairing. "He's upstairs Aura, just be careful he's been harsh to Narcia this morning that she had to go out...so please be careful," Zara added taking the chicken out from the oven. "I will... thanks, Zara," Courtney said as she climbed upstairs to Jayden's study. Her full name Courtney Aura McClellan. Zara was the only one who called her by her middle name Aura. She took a deep breath as she knocked on the door to the study. She opened the door as she headed inside as she heard a muffled "come in". She stepped into the study and took in her surroundings. The study hadn't changed since last she was here. She stared at her best friend who looked worn out and dark bags under his eyes. His head was down he didn't look at her. "Hey, Jay". She said as he raised his head quickly almost snapping his neck in the process. The last time he heard that voice was two weeks ago. No matter how he denied it he had missed her badly. "Courtney..." He said as he stared at her. She had sleepless nights and the bags under her eyes could tell. She had tried to conceal them but he could still see them. She looked exhausted. Courtney took a seat on the sofa. She had taken a soda from the fridge in the study. "How's life treating you apart from you being harsh to those who care." She spat. Jayden got up from his chair and sat beside her. " Courtney, I know I fucked up big time and I was an ass not to come apologies but I'm doing that now. I'm so sorry Courtney, I am. I miss you, I miss your suggestions, I miss your laughter and I miss hanging out with you. I just hated how right you were from the beginning ...that's why I lashed out and I know I shouldn't have, so I'm sorry." He apologized. Courtney set down her empty can of soda as she clapped."Woah...what an amazing speech Jayden." She added. Jayden had noticed the harm that his words had caused. He'd hurt her badly and was ready to make up for it. "Jayden, you hurt me... It is obvious that I'm in love with you no doubt but I was trying to console you as your best friend nothing more or less. But what did you do, you threw that back in my face. I've decided to let it go, cause believes or not I miss you, but the next time it happens I'm sorry this friendship will be done and dusted." She added wiping the tears from her eyes as Jayden hugged her. "Thank you, Courtney." He added. "You look like shit...you know that right". Courtney added chuckling. "You look no better." He added. "At least I look better than you do...what are you working on ?" She asked as she joined him at his desk. "Bye Courtney," Jayden said as he stood at the door as Courtney sat in her car. Just at the same time, Narcia came out of Anya's. "Jay!" Chloe said as she runs towards him as he hugged her. "I hope you enjoyed your day baby...I'd come to play with you later I need to talk to the pumpkin." She said as he set Chloe down as she runs into the house. As Narcia was about bypassing him he held her hand. "Pumpkin I'm so so-" He was cut of Narcia hugging him while she sobbed into his shirt. It broke his heart to see her cry. "I'm sorry.” He added wiping the tears off his baby sisters' face. "It's fine I'm glad my Jay is back I missed you." She added as they entered the house. “How was your night?” He asked. “I did, it was fun with the guys and girls.” She added as they walked up the staircase. “I’m glad you’re finally opening up, they would be proud of you.” He said to her referring to their parents and Mason. “Thanks Jay, that meant a lot to me.” She said as she stepped into her room, locking the door behind her. She entered the bathroom for a quick bath and then headed off to bed since she was exhausted. “Get down on the floor!” One of the masked men said pointing the gun to her parent’s heads. She was hiding under one of the big tables in her father’s study so she wasn’t seen. “What do you want, how much do you want? We'd pay, please spare us.” Her mom pleaded. “Tsk tsk tsk, poor woman. We don’t want your money, you’ve been a threat to our company for many years, so we need to eliminate you so we can be at the top.” The man said. “You’d never be at the top even if you kill us never!” Mr Daniels added as they shot him in the head. His wife let out a piercing shriek attracting the attention of the police who were nearby. Narcia covered her mouth with her hand as she sobbed. The men heard the sirens of the police and then shot Mrs Daniels also on the head. They tried escaping but it was too late. The police caught up with them and had them arrested. Narcia crawled out letting a cry as Zara and Jay came out to meet corpses. “I saw them, Jay, I saw the men. They were t-t-there.” Her 8-year-old self pointed at where the men stood. “Shhhh, it’s going to be fine.” Jayden hugged her sobbing as well. “Mama, Dad wake up.” She said breaking free from Jay's grasp. “Wake up!” She screamed. “Wake up!!” Another voice said shaking her awake. Jay had a spare key to her room in case of moments like this. She woke up shaking and sobbing as he hugged her right. “Its gonna be fine.” He kissed her temple giving her a glass of warm milk. She lay down and tried to go to bed again when another nightmare happened. “Mase, please don’t leave me. Hold on help is on the way.” She sobbed holding the head of her friend. “Hey, it’s not like I’m gonna die, stop crying Nar. I’m fine and here with you.” He tried to crack a joke. “No, you’re not. You’re bleeding. Promise not to leave like mom and dad did.” She said as he was closing his eyes. “Promise me, Mase, “ She probed further. “I promise.” That was the last thing he said as he closed his eyes. The paramedics arrived just in time to take him away. Narcia woke up with a start, waking Jay in the process. “Hey, are you okay?” He asked. “I-I’m fine, over some sleep Jay.” She scooted over as he climbed in her bed with her. “You’re gonna get through this Nar, you’re a strong girl.” He murmured to her as he fell asleep.