Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 87 Carry You Home

*Trisha*

James chose to live at The Avalon instead of with us, with me. That's a hard pill to swallow, and the car ride home is silent on my end. Everyone else is happy and chatting away while I look out my window aimlessly. I should be so thrilled for James. And I am. He's not going to jail. I just need some time to digest his decision to become an Avalon patient.

"Julia's going to freak." Nate exclaims, talking about James moving in with her. "Do we all want to go and visit?"

Everyone says yes but me. I continue my staring contest with the window, with tears streaming down my face. No one can see me with how far my head is turned, but I feel Nate, who is sitting next to me, squeeze my knee.

"You good?"

"Yep." I croak out. "I think I'm going to stay behind."

I turn my head, and my best friend frowns when he sees my emotions literally rolling off my face.

"I'll have Evan stay behind. I don't want you to be alone."

I turn my head back to the window.

Once we are at Nate's, I sit on the couch. Maggie jumps right up on my lap, and we watch everyone around us. I feel like I'm invisible, and that's fine. I'm relieved for that because I'm being selfish and having a really fucking hard time with it. I watch Casey drag out the dog's bed to put in the car. I watch Nate talk to Evan and then look away when Evan glances at me. I watch Jonah wheel a suitcase across the living room to James's room. The room I designed and decorated for him. I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted it to feel like a nice hotel. Like home for James.

I pet Maggie and watch everyone around me.

*********

*James*

"Is that everything?" Nate asks while zipping up the suitcase. "Casey is putting the dog's bed in the car as well as her toys."

"Julia doesn't know?" I look around my room to make sure I packed everything.

"No. I thought it would be a nice surprise. Hey. You will always have a home here. You know that right Gallo? This is just for your 6-month stint. You're not a full time Avalon resident. Hell, I actually don't know if I can afford to pay for another full timer." Nate teases. He can. "This is what you want, though, right Gallo? If not, you need to let me know."

I smile just thinking about it.

"I want to be with Julia. Wherever she is, is where I want to be."

"That's what I thought. She takes good care of you. TOO good." He rolls his eyes at me and I know exactly what he is talking about.

"Think Trish is pissed at me?" I bite the inside of my cheek

"Yes, but she'll get over it. She always does. But you guys should hash it out. Not today, but when things calm down a little."

I nod and look around my room again. None if this would have been possible if it weren't for Nate Hollan. 

He could have easily put me in a rehab center instead of building a room for me in his apartment. He could have pawned me off on to my sisters and not paid a dime in medical bills or resources I needed. He could have walked away completely. I'd have to be on state care, state health insurance and get a free court appointed lawyer that would probably lose this case and send me to jail.

He could have been selfish and not even mention the Avalon as an option for me. He could have Julia all to himself.

But Nate made all of this happen. And somehow found a way for me to live with Julia. Now he's paying my tuition too?