I don't think I've ever panicked as much as I did when I saw my dad. He couldn't even speak to me before I was out the door. I knew who I needed.

I walk through the doors of a tall building and make my way around to the smoky bar. I sat down next to him, wordlessly.

"To what do I owe the pleasure." Chuck Bass's voice whispered in my ear. I'd gone full circle, I was back with him.

"I need you to make me forget. I need it to all go away." I told him, my eyes locking with his.

He kissed me. But it never felt like that before. It never felt so wrong and empty. I never felt so worthless. "Stop." I whispered.

Chuck instantly let go of me and frowned.

"I need to leave! I need to get out of here! I can't breathe!" I yelled and took of any item of clothing that could pass as a warming layer.

I grabbed a bottle of champagne off the shelf and ran outside. It was cold. It numbed me. It was nice.

"Alexia?" A wary voice asked.

My head instantly snapped up and I looked up at the form of my ex-best friend. "What do you want?" I asked Samantha.

She looked at me for a moment before sighing and moving to sit next to me. "What happened to us? It was a stupid argument, and I'm sorry for judging you. But I miss my best friend."

I pursed my lips and tried to stop myself from crying. "I don't know how to get her back, Sam. I'm so lost." My voice cracked on the last part and the tears fell.

Samantha moved me to cuddle into her side. "Then find yourself Lexi. Be true to yourself."

"How can I?! My dad walked out on us. My boyfriend cheated on me. My sister slept with my boyfriend. My mother's a heartless bitch, even things with Nate have turned to shit. Even me and Jenny are arguing. I have no one. So being me really isn't that great."

"You have me."

"Then why did you leave?!" I yell. "You could've stayed with me. Even Blair thought if you as a sister! You left me too." I ran my fingers through my hair, attempting to get all of the knots out.

"I'm sorry. I know I left you, I shouldn't have. I should've taken your offer but I didn't. And I can't apologise enough for it." She laced our hands together. "But I'm here now. And I wanna be besties again."

I rested my head on her shoulder. "Stay at mine tonight?" I asked.

"Of course."

She helped me up and we walked back to mine together. It was a long walk, mostly silent. But it was nice to have a friend again, a piece of how my life was before it was all messed up.

We sneaked back into my room, not wanting to be seen or cause a commotion by my father.

Samantha wrapped a blanket around me and cuddled me in bed. "I'm sorry sweetie." She whispered.

"I just want to feel okay again." I murmured. "I want to be back to normal."

I didn't hear what she said next because I fell asleep.

**

When I woke up, Samantha was still asleep. I got up and put a dressing gown around me before walking downstairs.

"Lexi!" Blair yelled, running towards me. "You're safe! You're here!"

"Yes of course I'm safe. I've been here all night." I grunted when she attacked me with a hug.

"Chuck said you were a mess when he saw you and Nate's being going crazy looking for you. Of course daddy blames himself but that doesn't matter because your here." She smiled and let go of me.

I looked up at Blair and sighed. "Yeah, I'm here." I shrugged.

"Lexi?" A disbelieving voice asked. I turned round to see Nate and Chuck stood there looking very tired and worn out-oops?

"Hey guys." I muttered. "I'm safe and sound, you can both leave now."

Nate stepped forwards and put his hand on my arm. "Leave." I hissed out.

"Alex? Can't we talk about this?" My jaw clenched at the sound of my old nickname.

"Never call me that again. There's really nothing to talk about Nate. You thought I was the type of skank to cheat on you with Chuck and that's fine."

"I'm sorry." Nate tried. "I didn't mean to accuse you of anything."

"I'm sure my daughter asked you to leave." Father said, coming up behind Nate.

I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed. "Actually Nate, you can stay. I don't need anyone fighting my battles for me."

"How much have I missed?" Samantha asked coming down the stairs.

And that's when all the questions exploded. Blair grilling me on Samantha being here. Mother grilling me on where i went last night. Father grilling me on why people thought I was a skank. Chuck sitting back and checking out all the butts in the room.

"SHUT UP!" I yelled and put my hands over my ears. "ALL OF YOU JUST SHUT UP! I DON'T KNOW? I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING OKAY? MY LIFE'S A MESS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT!" I screamed.

My dad went to take a step closer to me and I shook my head. "It's your fault! Why did you have to leave us? Why did you go to another country? Why don't you care about us anymore?!"

"I do care about you, darling. You and Blair are my whole world."

"Then how could you leave us? How could go so far away? What happens when I need my daddy? I can't just go and see you. What if I really need you? How are you gonna get here on time?" Tears were openly spilling down my cheeks.

Then my dad hugged me. It was simple, just a hug. But it's what I needed. It was the reassurance that I wasn't being ignored, that he still cared, that no matter what I was his daughter. A hug is one of those simple things in life. It's free and easy to do. But it can change a day, a year, a lifetime if you're hugged my the right person.

But I didn't just need one person and they all sensed that. That was how a group hug was started. All of us in our tiny, messed up world needed each other. Things might not be right when we let go. But for the moment the message was clear, even if we hate each other and yell and kick and scream, we'll always be there for each other. Because we're a family. All of us.

Thank you for reading guys! I feel like the song on the side is very appropriate to this chapter and how Alexia is feeling. Vote's and comments are always appreciated. Thank you