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My heart broke for her I couldn’t i hopelessness like that I didn’t have h he and I didn’t always see eye to eye, I couldn’t i no one at all As for friends, I was blessed in that department Cruz had been my best friend since ere little kids, I knew he had hout school we had added his cousin Sebastian and then Aaron to our group, and even as irlfriend, Sophie, she had always been a good friend to me Then there was Scarlett I knew I could depend on her no ed a friendship after everything we had been through was proof that eren’t going anywhere in each other’s lives

Bringing roup, conversation had roup hung out until it was tioodbyes and wished them all the best

Before Andi walked out the door, I asked her to stay back a minute I had never really paid much attention to her; she was tiny in stature and typically very quiet during group activities and just kind of stayed to herself She always hid behind her long dark hair and baggy clothes As she looked up atblue eyes, I asked her, "When do you get out?"

"Whenever I want really I’ve been here for nearly fivebecause they don’t want to deal with me Their life is easier if I’ to hide hteen last week" Damn she was just a baby I didn’t understand why parents would rather keep their kid locked up in here rather than at home where they could actually be parents

"What are you in here for?"

"What ahed nervously as she pushed her hands into her pockets

"Don’t answer my question with a question please I want to knohat your drug of choice is," I said sternly

"I’ve dabbled in prettyrelated Blood isof choice," she replied as her eyes pierced ed to say Her answer caught uard and it tookat me, with a snarky look on her face, "Any other questions Dad?"

"You don’t need to get defensive withto tell you if wanted a place to stay on the outside, that I have a two bedroom apartment that you are more than welcoet you a job, but if alcohol was your issue, that probably wouldn’t be the best idea I wasn’t trying to be your dad, I was trying to be your friend"

Her face relaxed as she realized what I was offering to her "Why would you do that for me? You don’t know ht, I don’t However, if you really don’t have anyone or anywhere to go, I would hope you’re a decent enough person, that you wouldn’t screw over the one person trying to help you Unless you really do want to live here forever…"

Before I knew it, she flew across the roo in my arms "You are the nicest person I have ever met I can’t believe you just said all of that Are you so, I answered, "No, not even close, but I a notes from one You’ll meet her tomorrow" She pulled back and cocked her head at me confused I continued, "If you accept the offer, one of el, will be picking hteen and have finished the progra you can check yourself out at any tiht she could take us both at the sa up and down in irl once you found her face behind all of that hair "Yes! Yes! I will pack up "

"There are rules in the aparts whatsoever, not even pot I can’t be around any of it If you do decide to work at the bar, alcohol can’t become an issue; you will lose your job Don’t steal froot to continue counseling for the cutting If I find out you’re doing it again, I will drive your ass back here in a heartbeat" I looked at her sternly "Are you cool with all of that?"

"Yes, absolutely"

"Also, in six weeks, I will be co back and forth between Houston and Austin, so I won’t be there all of the time Not that it should be an issue, but just so you know," I warned her

"Oh my God, I can’t believe this I promise I won’t disappoint you," she said as she left my room, obviously ecstatic

"I sure hope not," Imy head, I stripped offwhat in the fuck I had just done I had invited a strange girl that had ad herself to live witha bit too far… Oh well, it was too late at that point It truly didfor her She desperately needed someone to believe in her, like Scarlett had done with me; I just hoped it wouldn’t backfire onI was to pick Mase up froin to describe how I felt about the progress he had made while there It wasn’t that he was a different person than I once knew, he was just a new and very much improved version of it He still had confidence but without the over-the-top cockiness and his egotism had been replaced with pure charer locks and scruffy facial hair, but he had already told me that he couldn’t wait to shave his head and face as soon as he got out