As soon as the words left my mouth, Chase sat upright, with his eyes going wide. "What!?" His voice boomed in the silence.

I sat up straight, looking in front at the clearing and back at the star, where I believe Emma is smiling at me. I looked back at Chase to see that he sat frozen in his place with eyes wide, staring at me.

I gulped and looked down. "Yeah. She's no longer alive. She d-died because o-of me," my voice barely above a whisper.

"H-how?" He stuttered.

"I guess it's time for me to tell you that truth, huh?" I said as another tear escaped me eyes. I snapped my eyes close and took a deep breath.

"Tell me everything." There wasn't any emotion in his voice. I think it's time for him to hate me.

"I think you don't know that Emma wasn't my real sister," I asked as I looked at him with my teary eyes.

"No."

I sighed and looked at the sky above. "Emma was my sister, my best friend, my life savoir. She wasn't my real sister, but I believed that she was my real one. When mom married John, he told me and Liam beforehand that he has a daughter who is 2 years younger to me." I still remember when he called us together to inform us about our sibling that will join our family.

"I didn't have a problem and neither did Liam. We were happy. It's always me and Liam, so we thought if someone else would join our family it will be good. New surrounding, all the past left behind. I was happy that she was a girl. I got a company. Living with boys isn't always fun. She was happy that she had a half sister. We used to call each half-sister and tease Liam for being the only boy sibling in the family.

"She was younger to us, so we used to make sure she was safe. I would be her big sister and Liam would be her big brother as he is to me. We came to New York for vacation. That's where we first saw you. She was happy that she made a friend. I was happy too. Liam didn't come with us because of his studies. That's why you didn't know that Liam is my brother.

"It happened a year ago, when I was fifteen and Emma was thirteen. Liam was home at that time. It was late, but.." I trailed off, biting my lips. My eyes were burning and I could feel the upcoming sobs.

"But?" He insisted.

I looked at him and back to the fingers on my lap. "You're going to hate me for this, but I swear I didn't want anything to happen." Finally a sob escaped my throat. I felt Chase running his hands down my back. He pulled me to him, comforting me.

I suck in a deep breath and released it through my mouth. "I wanted to go out. It was pretty late. I used to like darkness, before. I wanted to see how world is at night. Emma liked to watch stars, too. She was the one to find this place. She brought me here to tell me that, this was her hide out place.

"That night I forced her to come with me. Liam tried to stop us, but I wouldn't listen to him. I wanted to go out means I wanted to, so eventually Emma said she'll come with me. We didn't let Liam come with us. We went to our favorite store, brought candy and were about to go home when...when suddenly out of nowhere, some guys strolled their way towards us. They were the bad guys.

"I told Emma to hide behind the wall nearby, so the guys wouldn't see her. She ran towards the wall and hid behind it, calling Liam. I wanted to run, find a place for me to hide, but one of the guys took hold of me. I struggled, but he was stronger than me. He tried to touch me, but I wouldn't let him, so he slapped me. I didn't have a problem until Emma was safe. But," my voice broke at the end. Tears were falling down my cheeks like waterfall.

"Emma couldn't see that and she came out of her place to save me. The other guy caught her. I begged them to leave her. They can do anything they wanted with me, but leave her alone. The guys only laughed at me. Emma shoved the guy who had caught her and came running towards me. She punched the guy who was holding me and told me to run.

"We were going to run when the guy who had trapped me, got up brought out his gun and pointed it at Emma. I panicked and stood there. Then, I faintly heard Emma shouting at me to run. But I didn't leave her. The guy's friend caught hold of me from behind, avoiding me from running in between. Emma was shouting at me to run, but I was elder than her. I was the big sister, so I didn't run. I begged them to not shot her. While in my begging and crying, he only laughed and s-shot her," I began crying. This burden was keeping me from everything. My sobs were the only sound heard through the forest.

"Shh," Chase pulled me into his chest as I sobbed, continuously. "Don't cry, Chloe."

"It was my fault, Chase." I looked at him. "I should have tried to save her. I shouldn't have gone outside. It was my duty to protect her. I failed. I failed."

"You did everything you could Chloe," he smoothen my hair while whispering reassuring words in my ears.

"No, I didn't. I should have tried harder, Chase. I should have tried harder. She wasn't supposed to die. I was. I should have died instead of her," I sat up straight and took Chase's face in my shaking hand. "Believe me, Chase. If I get a second chance I'll trade places with her. I'll die instead of her. I didn't mean this to happen. It's my fault. Please don't hate me."

I sobbed and shooed away from him. He grabbed my hand turned me around to face him. He lifted my chin and made me look into his eyes. "I don't hate you, Chloe. It's not your fault." I tried to open my mouth, but he shook his head.

He cupped my face and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Listen to me, Chloe. You didn't do anything wrong. You tried to save your sister. You told her to hide. You tried to stop them. It's not your fault. You couldn't do anything. You can't trade place with her. If she would have been in your place, she would think it's her fault, do you want your sister to think that it's her fault you're dead?"

I shook my head as my bottom lips quivered. "She wouldn't want you to think the same. You're an amazing person, Chloe. You still were strong. No one blames you. Your dad, I mean John, loves you. Screw your previous Dad. He lost you a long time ago. What you did today was right. It shows how strong you are. I don't think if I were in your place, I would have enough guts to speak up like that. Liam's proud of you. I am. I don't blame you. You're an amazing girl, Chloe. Trust me." He said.

"But I should have tried harder, Chase. I should have pushed the person holding me. I sho–"

He pressed his lips firmly against mine, cutting me off. He kissed me, urgently and passionately. I moved my lips against him, afraid that I might lose him. The kiss was a toe curling kiss, but I didn't mind. After a few seconds, we broke away. He placed his forehead against mine and stared into my eyes. "It's not your fault."

His words just wanted me to believe them. I've been living with this guilt for a whole year. Everyone tried to tell me that it's wasn't my fault, but I never listened to them. It was hard for my parents and Liam to get over Emma's death, and looking at them only weighed my burden of killing her. They kept reassuring me that it wasn't my fault and I shouldn't blame myself as she wouldn't be blaming me either. I didn't believe them. I've heard Dad cry so many times at night when he thinks everyone is sleeping and Mom looks so sorrowful whenever she remembers her. As hard as it was for everyone to move on, they did. That's what she would have wanted us to do. Slowly, but eventually everyone moved on, remembering her happy memories except me. I just couldn't move on. The blame felt too heavy to move on. But when Chase said it, there was an urge for me to believe it, to believe him. And so I did. I believe him. I trust him. He doesn't hate me. He wouldn't hurt me or let anyone hurt me.

We sat down, not saying a word. Occasionally, sobs were let out by me. Chase hugged me close and kept me safe. I felt few tears leave his eyes, but he swiftly brushed them away. I know it hurts him, but he is strong for me.

I don't know how much time passed by as my sobs and breath came to normal. I took a deep breath and looked at the sky.

"Can I ask you a question?" Chase asked, quietly.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Why were you angry that day?"

"What day?" I asked, confuse. I'm angry with him almost every day.

"That day of prank. You know Alec's prank. You snapped at me, before going to mall. When I barged into your changing room," he coughed, awkwardly completing his question. I leaned back to look at him and saw blush forming on his face. Aww, he's so cute.

I giggled at that thought. I tried to remember what he is talking about, when the lighting bulb lits up in my head. "Oh! That." Now it was my turn to blush. "Uh, I was kind of j-jealous."

"Jealous?"

"While we were putting up the prank, I saw you flirting with this girl and I got jealous," I muttered the last part under my breath, but he heard it. He chuckled while I blushed furious red.

"You liked Emma, didn't you?" I kinda forced out this question. Even though we kissed, there was still this question in my mind since New York.

"What gave you the idea?"

"It wasn't hard. I mean, both of you were pretty close. I saw both of you together. I don't have a problem. She is my sister. Well, was my sister. I'll be happy to hear that..." Now I'm rambling.

He chuckled, lifting my chin. "I wasn't spending time with her because I like her or anything. She had a boyfriend. Emma made it quite clear when I asked her that I want to talk to her."

"So, what were both of doing then?" I say as curiosity seeps through.

"I...uh," he looked away, blushing. He seems to be blushing a lot.

"Come on, say it already!"

"Fine. Fine. I was asking her about you." He confessed softly.

"Me?" I squeak.

"Umm..." He clears his throat. "Yeah, you. When I first saw you, there was something about you that attracted me. I'm confident usually, but when I saw you all the confidence swept away. I was blazed. I wanted to know about you, so I asked Emma for help. She helped with you. That's why, I was with her most of the time. But then you had to leave. I was sad, but I couldn't do anything. Later, I came to know I'm shifting and imagine when I saw you as my neighbour. I was happy, but I couldn't show you that I like you. So I choose the argument. Wrong from side, but you can't blame me. That's why I was so persistent in knowing where Emma was."

I looked at him in disbelief. Did he just confess that he likes me? Woah..that's a lot to take in for today. I blinked and looked straight in front of me.

"Oh.."

"Oh?" Now he looked at me in disbelief. "That's what you have to say when I confess I like you?"

"Yeah?" I said, unsure. You can't blame me. I'm not good at handling this stuff. Christ, I never had my first kiss until him.

"Chloe?" He called.

"Yes?"

"What am I going to do with you?" He asked, shaking his head.

"I don't know?" There was amusement dancing in his eyes. "You're enjoying my discomfort, aren't you?" I eyed him, accusingly.

"Maybe," he smirked back. I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest.

After a few seconds, I glanced at him and smiled. "Thanks for distracting me."

"You're welcome, sweetheart." He leaned in and kissed my cheeks. I turned red from his affection.

"Uhh, yeah." I awkwardly said. I can't get used to him kissing me, even if I want to.

He chuckled and patted my head. "Only you, Chloe. Only you." I stuck my tongue out at him. Some things never change. Tomorrow is the day I tell the truth to my friends. I don't know how my friends are going to react, but I could only wish for the best.