AN: This is the last chapter guys. I know it's a lot shorter than the others, but it's mostly a wrap up chapter. Thank you for reading, and I apologize that I took forever to update sometimes. I've just been really busy lately. Please review if you liked the story, or even if you didn't. I'd like to hear some feedback on this one.

Chapter Twelve

Nika startled as her phone went off. She blinked. It was still dark out. Not time to be awake for school. No one ever called her, except Liam.

She answered the phone anyway.

"Hello?" she asked, detangling herself from the bodies around her. April's bed was giant, even bigger than Liam's. The three of them fit perfectly comfortably. It was weird to be sleeping in a bed with so many other bodies in it.

"Jacobs," said Maria's voice, hushed. "Jacobs, I think Liam broke."

"Broke?" asked Nika. "What do you mean broke?"

She crept out of the room, not wanting to wake up Cody or April.

"I don't know," said Maria. "I was trying to leave earlier, and I wanted him to calm down so he wouldn't try to go after you in his ridiculous drunk rage, and so I was flirting with him. And he just broke. He broke down, and he was crying and freaking out. I don't know. I poured out all of his alcohol, and he's sleeping now, but I have no idea what to do with him. I know you said to get out of here, before the cops show, but I can't just leave him like this. I don't know what to do."

"Okay," said Nika. "The cops aren't coming until the morning. Something about paperwork. I don't really know. Just... stay where you are. Is he sleeping now?"

"Yeah," she said. "He's out. I just..."

"Okay," said Nika. "It's okay. I'll be there in ten minutes. I just gotta catch a cab and I'll be over, and I'll handle it. And then you can get out of there, because otherwise, the cops are going to pick you up. And I don't want that to happen."

"Okay," said Maria. "Hurry. I don't know how long he'll sleep this time."

"Okay," said Nika, glancing around on the floor for her clothes. She'd changed into a pair of April's shorts and a tank top before bed, but Liam would notice if she wasn't wearing her own clothes.

It took her a moment before she remembered that she didn't have to answer to him anymore.

She got dressed anyway.

She didn't let herself think about why she was going, but it didn't really matter. She knew she had to go. She had to see him again, before she let this go. It was irrational, and a bad idea, and she didn't care.

She crept out of the house and hoped they wouldn't wake up while she was gone. She debated leaving a note, but decided against it. She didn't want them to be coming after her. This was personal. They were her future, but she had to do this by herself.

She called a cab from the front porch, and waited. It was cold out. She hadn't been expecting that so by the time the cab got there, her arms were covered in goosebumps.

"Chilly night, isn't it?" asked the driver. She nodded and told him the address. It was one in the morning, according to her phone. She was going to be tired, in class tomorrow. She was already tired. It was a long day, made even longer by April and Cody. They'd gone back up to April's room, after he'd finished eating. She'd been quiet, just watching the two of them interact. It was interesting, to watch their shifting dynamics. They still argued, because that was just in their nature. But it was different than the way they used to. It was good natured. They were okay with believing different things, and that made her smile.

"Here you go, Miss," said the driver, and she paid him with her last little bit of cash. Maria's car was still in the driveway, but all the lights in the house seemed to be off. At least, the ones she could see.

She walked up to the house slowly, not sure of what she was going to say or do when she got in there. She'd said she was going to take care of it, but what did that even mean? Did she think she could make him listen? Listen to what? She didn't have any excuses.

He didn't know she was leaving him yet.

Not unless Maria told him.

She wiggled the door knob. It was unlocked so she let herself, trying to remind herself that this wasn't home anymore.

Maria was there by the door, waiting.

"He's in his room," she said softly. "He cried himself to sleep. Kind of pathetic, actually. Once he was out, I dumped all his alcohol. He doesn't need that shit anymore."

"Okay," said Nika. "Thank you. He didn't hurt you or anything, did he?"

Maria shook her head.

"He's too drunk to do much of anything successfully," she said. "You sure you got this? I can stay, if you want."

Nika shook her head.

"It's fine. Get yourself out of here, take anything that could identify you."

"Already got it."

"He already pay you for everything?"

"Yeah," she said. "I took some out of his wallet, for what he missed."

"Good," said Nika. "Okay. Thank you, Maria. Have a nice life."

"You too, Jacobs."

Nika nodded, and Maria shut the door behind her. Nika sighed. The house reeked of booze and vomit. Wonderful. She didn't go to him right away, instead making her way upstairs to where Maria had piled all of her things. She grabbed her school bag out of the closet, and piled anything that belonged to her into it. It wasn't much. Then she went around and made sure all the things that could be used against him were exactly where she thought they would be. His extra stash of drugs was still in the desk drawer. In the adjoining closet to the bedroom were all his... toys. She didn't linger at them for long.

Everything was where it should be.

And then there was Liam, sleeping on the bed, looking as peaceful as he was going to for a long, long time.

She sighed, and made her way softly over to the nightstand. That was where his list was. She crept over, and took out the drawer. It was under a false bottom, and she pulled it out easily. Notebook, still there. Names in it, yes. And dates and all sorts of other information. She didn't want to read it, so she put it back. She stayed there sitting on the floor for awhile.

What to do now? Would he sleep until morning? Should she wake him up? She wasn't sure.

So she just watched him. He looked almost like the man she had met that day in Warsaw. She could picture that carefree smile on his face now.

Had it really all been an act? One to make her fall in love with him? It had worked, at least for awhile. She had fallen for him, and even now, she was fighting her desire to defend him. Somewhere along the line, she'd begun to think of him as hers, flaws and all.

But not anymore. Yesterday had been an insane rush of courage, and that was all it needed to change her life. She hadn't thought she would ever see herself doing something like that. She had settled in for the long haul with him, thought it would last forever.

It had been a spur of the moment decision to cut the ties with him, him the one who took care of her no matter what. She had been thinking of herself, and of Cody and April, and all the promise that the future with them held. And maybe that was for the better. Maybe it was good that she was going to get out of here, for good. But she still felt like she was betraying him.

He trusted her. She didn't know why he had ever trusted her. But he trusted that she wasn't going to leave him, that she wasn't going to hurt him. He'd always said that she needed him, because she didn't know anyone else here. But they both knew that wasn't true. She'd never needed anyone. She didn't know people back in Warsaw either. She hadn't needed to. She could survive on her own here, speak English well enough to get work. She'd needed him for school, but she could make do without that, if she wanted to.

It wasn't all bad, really. There were times when the two of them could just be themselves together. Like a few weeks ago, when they'd watched a movie together, laughing and trying to toss popcorn into each other's mouths. Or the times he had gotten her all dressed up and taken her to that nice little Italian place he liked, the one whose owner he'd known for years.

She remembered one time she'd gotten all dressed up, and whatever they'd been going to, had been canceled. So he put on some music, and they'd danced around the house, and had the time of their lives.

Those were the times she was going to miss.

"Nika?" he mumbled, in a soft voice, still heavy with sleep. She almost jumped. She hadn't noticed his eye sneaking open.

"Liam," she said.

"Is that really you? Or am I dreaming again?"

"It's really me," she said softly, hesitantly. He didn't seem mad.

"Thank god," he said, reaching out to her. She went to him right away, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I missed you."

"I'm sorry," she said softly, not really sure what she was apologizing for. Everything, really.

"I was worried when you didn't come home last night."

"And I was worried the night before, when you didn't come home," she said.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I fucked up."

"We all make mistakes," she said. Apologies were nothing new from him, but this one sounded different. Not placating, but real.

"Come here," he said. "Come sleep with me."

She took a deep breath as he scooted over, and kicked her shoes off. She shouldn't be doing this. She should be leaving. But in that moment, his arms seemed so inviting. So she crawled under the purple sheets with him.

"I love you, Nika," he mumbled, already drifting back to sleep.

"I love you too, Liam," she said, knowing it would be the last time.

She woke to the sound of the door crashing open.

"Nika?" called a voice. She knew that voice. Why was that voice here?

"Step back, Miss," said another voice, one she didn't recognize. "POLICE!"

"What the hell?" grumbled Liam groggily.

"Fuck," she said scrambling out of the bed. "Fuck, fuck, fuck. Liam, I am so sorry."

"You called the cops on me?" he demanded, rising from the bed. "You fucking little bitch. I can't believe you."

"I am so sorry," she said. "I am, fuck, Liam let me explain."

"Fuck you," he said, and then she grabbed her backpack from the floor and started running, not even pausing to put her shoes on. She shouldn't be here. Why did she come back? He was coming after her, and she knew she could run faster. She knew it from all the years she spent running around Warsaw, getting away from the cops who wanted to send her somewhere else. Somewhere she would have to rely on other people.

She almost laughed at the realization that she was running to the cops now. She ran through the house, going as fast she could until she got to the front door. There were cops in the entry way and she didn't stop there. She ran outside until she hit Cody.

"Whoa," he said. "Nika, are you okay?"

"Yeah," she said. "I'm okay. I'm okay now."

"What were you doing here?" asked April. "We woke up and you were gone."

"What time is it?" asked Nika.

"Almost 9," Cody told her.

"We're late for class," she said. "Shit. We should go."

"It's okay," said April. "I think we'll be okay if we miss another class. What were you doing here?"

"Maria called me last night, and she said he'd broken, and I had to go back and I don't know. I shouldn't have, but there were lose ends and I had to say goodbye, and then I fell asleep here."

"Why were you running?"

"The cops got here, and he knew and I couldn't stay in there any longer. I think they've got him, but I want to get out of here. Can we go?"

"I'll go ask my dad," said Cody. "He's in there. Stay out here, with April."

She nodded, breathing heavy.

"Have some water," said April, handing her a bottle. "You okay now?"

"I'm okay," she said. "It's over. It's all over."

"Yeah," said April. "It's over."

Cody came back with a nod.

"We can go to class now," he said. "Or not to class. But we have to stop by the station later. You need to give a statement."

Nika nodded.

"Okay," she said. "Let's get out of here."

She started running again, down the long driveway. She could see the car, and she could see them struggling behind her, and she just wanted to run. She felt like she was a kid again, free from Liam.

Free to be the girl who she used to be.

"Come on," she called back. "Race with me."

A moment later, April was by her side, running with the wind. Cody followed behind, and she collapsed against the car with a grin on her face.

"Wow," said Cody. "It's almost like you're a different girl."

"I am," she said. "I'm free."

She laughed as she climbed in the back seat.

"I like it," said April. "You seem pretty happy for a girl who was just chased by that asshole."

"I can out run him," said Nika with a shrug. "I can out run anyone."

"I don't know about that," said Cody. "I bet you couldn't out run Sam."

"Well, maybe not Sam, but after all, he is a princess."

"What?" said April, so she explained the story of Cody's dog, Princess Samuel McWinterson.

She bounced out of the car when they pulled up into the school, and waited for them to catch up with her.

"I am so tired," said Cody. "I have no idea where she's getting this kind of energy."

"Who cares?" said April, catching her around the waist. "It's a good look on her."

Nika laughed, and gave her a kiss before wiggling free and doing the same to Cody. Then she took off with a run towards class.

"Bet you weren't expecting this that day she offered to pick the lock on your door," said April softly.

"She told you about that?"

"When she had to pick the lock on mine," said April.

"I don't know what I was expected, honestly," he said. "But I like this a lot better than anything I could have dreamed up."

"Me too," she said, taking his hand. He grinned, and together they walked to class.

"It's almost over," said Nika. "We should just wait and go to the next one."

"Probably," said Cody. "They should be out in a minute."

Nika nodded. April grinned.

"In that case, it's the perfect opportunity to explode Steven's head," she said with that twinkle in her eyes.

"Oh good," he said. She grinned and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him hard on the lips until he forgot that there was anyone else around. Nika just grinned, dancing in circles around them, waiting and watching.

The look on Steven's face was priceless when he came out. The entire class stopped in their tracks, watching them.

"I think the world ended," said Elmer.

"It must be a whole new world then," said Nika with a grin.

"I do believe it is," said April, drawing away for air. "And I think I like it."