A/N: Alright you guys, don't go keel over and dying because I'm updating. Seriously.

Anyhow, I've decided to rework this story. I wasn't happy with it, and I've been so busy, I've just gotten around to working on it. I hope you guys still love me. =(

This will probably be the last chapter for a bit so I can work up a bit of an arsenal. I just wanted to let you guys know what the plan is, and that I'm still alive. If you head on over to my profile, you can link up to my Tumblr, and check out what's going on.

Thanks for staying with me, you guys. You rock. You really do. =)

Chapter One

Brielle had never felt so alone.

And Jonas hadn't even left yet.

When her brother Cade had left for school a month ago, Brielle hadn't even shed a tear. Maybe it was because Cade was going to the local college, instead of all the way to NYU like Jonas was. Or maybe it was because her best friend was leaving her all alone in this stupid town.

She watched him talk to her Dad, his sandy-blonde hair spiked perfectly, as always, and his blue eyes shone with excitement. "What's up, Bree?" her sister Daphne asked as she walked up behind Brielle. Brielle looked at her sister sadly.

"I just can't believe he's ditching me already. It feels like he just graduated," Brielle told her.

Even though Daphne was four years older than Brielle, the two sisters could have passed for twins. If their styles were at all the same, their brown hair, light brown eyes, and the same athletic build was basically identical. Whereas Daphne's features were outlined in makeup, and her hair styled perfectly, Brielle's face was bare and void of makeup, and her hair was always pulled back into a bun or a ponytail. Their personalities were complete opposites as well. Daphne was outgoing, and made friends easily. Brielle was shy, and preferred hanging out with Jonas than anyone else.

"He'll be back for break before you know it," Daphne told her, and Brielle heaved a sigh.

"I know. It just seems so long from now," she said, watching her best friend as he started talking to their mom, Carlie.

"It won't be," said Daphne, putting her arm around her sister's shoulders, and squeezing them in a hug.

"You. Come here." Jonas said suddenly, and Brielle knew it was meant for her without even looking in his direction. She shrugged Daphne's arm off of her shoulder, and moseyed over to Jonas. He wrapped her in his long arms, and rested his chin on the top of her head. He was 6'5", while she was a tall 5'10".

"You're going to be okay, dollface. Trust me," he murmured into her hair.

"What if I'm not?" she whispered, her voice loud enough for only him to hear.

"Girlfriend, you're going to kick ass and take names," he told her, and she laughed. He kissed her on the top of her head, and squeezed her tightly.

"I love you, Joe," she told him, and she could feel him smile against her hair.

"Love you too, Bree."

After saying a final, tearful goodbye to Jonas, Brielle grabbed her favorite book, and headed over to the Café Moreno, her favorite hangout spot. It was a busy little cafe that all of the local college kids hung out at, and the high school kids couldn't be bothered with. Brielle found comfort there, because it was a place that nobody would bother her. Plus, the drinks weren't that bad, either. Brielle ordered something frozen and chocolaty, and sat down at a table in the corner. She pulled her book out of her purse, and placed it on the table in front of her.

Brielle loved reading as much as she loved writing.

There was something about cracking open a new book, and getting lost in the story lines. The smell, the feel, the look of a book, were a few things that could get her out of any funk.

The same thing held true for writing. Brielle loved to write, and was happy to create lives that were so much different than her own. She created her characters sassy, and the plots romantic. The very things that her own life was lacking; sass and romance.

Carefully, she would write sentence after sentence, fabricating this whole other world.

By the time she looked at the clock, she realized with dismay that she was late for work. Quickly packing her things, she grabbed her half-melted drink, and darted out of the café and down the street.

The bells jingled cheerfully as she hastily opened the door to Adeline's Bakery. She quickly stowed her things under the front counter, and ducked back into the kitchen.

"Better late than never, Bree. Get your apron on, and lets get baking. We've got a ton of orders, and your sister can't bake to save her life." Carlie Mason sighed as she blew a clump of flour out of her bangs.

"Mom! I heard that!" Daphne hollered from the front of the bakery where she took orders and dealt with money. Brielle, unlike Daphne, had inherited her mother's love for baking. Carlie utilized that to her advantage. Because Brielle had learned everything she knew from Carlie, beginning at a young age, she was Carlie's best assistant baker.

Brielle grabbed her apron that had been hanging it its usual spot on the hook next to the door. She tied it neatly around her waist, and grabbed one of the slips her mother held in her hand. She read it quickly before taking out the items to make the bakery's famous Chocolate Killer Cake. She threw the ingredients together quickly and effortlessly, trying to keep her mind on her baking rather than other things.

Like Jonas leaving.

Brielle shook her head trying to de-rail her train of thought. It was hard enough to be basically alone in this town with just Jonas, but now that he was gone…Brielle didn't even want to think about it.

School next week was going to be interesting, that was for sure.

After Brielle finally filled all of her orders, se grabbed a chocolate chip cookie from the front case, and munched on it as she helped Daphne clean the front of the bakery.

"How're you holding up?" Daphne asked her as she wiped the display case down with a cloth.

"I don't want to talk about it," Brielle said around a mouthful of cookie.

"That bad, huh?"

"Yep."

They worked in silence for a few minutes before Daphne spoke again.

"Do you know what you're wearing for the first day of school?" she asked, and Brielle could only laugh at her sister.

"Me? Plan and outfit? Are you crazy?" Brielle giggled. Daphne stared at her for a minute before she realized who exactly she was talking to, and started giggling along with her sister.

"Okay, okay. We'll go shopping. I promise I'll go easy on you," Daphne said, backpedaling quickly as Brielle's expression turned to horror at the word "shopping".

"Fine," Brielle said after a moment, and Daphne cheered.

"Yes!"

After they closed the shop, the three Mason women piled into the car and headed for home.

Daniel Mason, Brielle's dad, was a famous architect, and often traveled. Today was no different, as he had left that morning, not soon after Jonas, which left the three women alone. They usually took this time to watch chick-flicks and eat copious amounts of M&Ms.

Where the Masons lived wasn't a normal house. Daniel had designed it himself, and it was worth millions. Brielle never admitted openly to anyone and everyone that her parents were loaded. Between the ever-popular Adeline's Bakery, and Daniel refused to use her money to gain friends. She preferred her few, genuine friends than tons of fake friends that wanted her money. It made her less popular with the guys, but she determined that all the guys at her school were assholes, anyway. She would rather be alone than date some idiotic jerk anyhow.

At least, that's what she told herself, anyway.

When the girls got home, Brielle mindlessly ate her dinner and retreated quickly to her room. She jumped on her computer for a minute to type a quick email to her pen pal (a.k.a best friend after Jonas) Laine, who lived in London. They'd talked to each other since they were both in fifth grade. At first, it started out with simple letters. Then, it spread to emails, IMs, and phone calls. Laine was the complete opposite of Brielle. She was outgoing, funny, and spoke her mind.

Brielle knew that Laine would be less than pleased at her hastily written email. But the one thing Brielle wanted was lots of sleep. She quickly changed into her pajamas after she shut down her computer, then crawled into bed, clad in nothing but an old shirt of her dad's and a pair of panties. She bunched up one of her pillows underneath her chin, and finally drifted off to sleep after an extremely long and emotional day.