TW: Mentions of drug overdose and suicide.

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"Is this your favourite?" Billie chuckled as Hazelee passed her the same book for the tenth time in the last hour.

Hazelee nodded her head dramatically as she climbed into Billie's lap. "You don't have to read that again," I laughed.

"It's a great book though," she said with dramatics making me laugh.

Billie stayed this morning and helped watch Hazelee while I made us breakfast. I'm trying not to get used to this but honestly having her around isn't just fun it's also comforting, it's less lonely. I didn't know much about her or what she was like when we were just fucking around but she's great company and makes Hazelee extremely happy.

She's literally been hanging out here all morning and morning has now turned into late afternoon. As Billie was busy reading the book to Hazelee there was a knock on my door so I made my way over to the door, expecting it to be Rory or Dion but much to my dismay, it was not.

"Bronte?" I questioned. Just by looking at her, I could tell she was high as a kite. I'm not sure what she was on, but it was obvious she was way out of it.

"Where's my babyyyy?" She slurred. I tried to push her into the hall but she shoved past me stumbling into my apartment, standing in front of Billie and Hazelee.

"Bronte, you need to leave," I demanded as Hazelee turned around in Billie's arms, hiding her face.

"Baby Hazelee," Bronte laughed, "Come here," she put her hand on Hazelee's hair but Billie quickly moved it as Hazelee began to let out quiet sobs.

I grabbed Bronte's wrist with force, pulling her outside into the hall. "Bronte, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I came to get my baby girl," she rolled her eyes.

"You need to leave," I commanded.

"Fuck you," she stuck up her finger, shuffling away practically tripping over her own feet.

I took a few deep breathes, composing myself before going back inside finding Billie comforting a terrified, wide-eyed-looking Hazelee.

"Hazey baby," I pouted, grabbing her out of Billie's arms and holding her close. Billie gave a sad look and stood up.

"Should I go?" She asked.

"No, I'm gonna put her down for a nap. Please wait." She nodded her head in response as I walked to Hazelee's room with her in my arms.

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"She's finally sleeping," I sighed as I walked out of Hazelee's room.

"Are you okay?" Billie asked sincerely.

"Yeah," I nodded my head. "I do have to make a quick phone call but ca-"

"I'll wait," Billie interrupted with a soft smile before I even finished my sentence.

"Thank you," I mumbled before grabbing my phone and stepping out onto the balcony.

I clicked my mom's contact, waiting for her to pick up. "Carter?" She answered.

"Hey mom," I said back.

"It's been a while, when are you and Hazelee going to come visit?"

"Soon, I promise; but did you know Bronte was out of rehab? She just showed up at my door and Hazelee was terrified."

"Yeah, she's been out for a couple of months. She's been doing great, got a job, been clean since getting out," my mom explained.

"Okay well, I don't think that's true. She was on something when she was here," I said sadly. "And why did no one tell me she was out?"

"I don't know, I thought you knew."

"I didn't," I shook my head in frustration even though I knew she couldn't see me.

"Now you know. She told me she's been talking to James again lately."

"Where is she living?" I asked.

"She got an apartment," she answered plainly.

"I don't think she's been telling you the truth. Anyway, I gotta go." I hung up before she could go off on me.

"Sorry," I apologized as I walked back inside, sitting across from Billie.

"Don't apologize," Billie shook her head.

"I had no idea she was even out of rehab," I pinched the bridge of my nose. "My family sucks ass at communicating and it's extremely frustrating."

"It's okay, I get it," she started, "well, it's not okay that they don't communicate with you but, it's okay."

"I-it's just..my mom just told me she's been talking to James again and she's so fucked up. I love her but James has Hazelee for the night tomorrow night and if she's there Hazelee will be terrified. James being a dumbass won't even fucking care and I don't know what to do about it," I took a deep breath after ranting for a moment.

"Honestly," she started, "I don't even know what to say other than I'm so fucking sorry this is happening to you."

"It's fine, there's nothing to say." I slumped my back onto the couch.

" Can I ask you something?" Billie questioned.

"Yeah," I nodded.

"How come your parents didn't take Hazelee?"

"I wasn't planning on letting you in on how fucked up my family is this soon but here we go." I chuckled humourlessly. "My mother has super bad mental health issues and my stepdad takes care of her. They didn't really have time or energy to take her in but I couldn't fathom her going into the system."

"Bronte and I used to be best friends until she started using," I then proceeded to explain everything I never wanted her to know...

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"I'm on my way to Bronte's right now. We are probably gonna order in some food and just hang out. I offered to watch Hazelee so she can take a nap," I said to my mom over the phone.

"Sounds good. Are you going to come over after?"

"No, I'll probably just go home. I just pulled up to the house, talk to you later mom," I waited for her to say goodbye before hanging up and grabbing my bag, making my way into the cute bungalow Bronte was able to purchase for her and Hazelee.

"Auntie Carcar is here," I sung happily as I found Hazelee sleeping in a bassinet next to the couch. I gave her a soft kiss on her small forehead. Newborns are usually ugly but she's an exception.

"Bronte?" I called out, not hearing a sound. I sighed before trudging upstairs, yet she was nowhere to be seen until I noticed her bathroom door was closed. "Bronte?" I knocked on the door, receiving no response. "Open up bitch," I chuckled, slamming on the door again. When there was again no response, not even shuffling, my face immediately dropped.

"Bronte?" I whispered out, twisting the doorknob to find it wasn't locked. I didn't want the thoughts in my mind to be a reality. Could she have started using again? She's been clean for 11 months straight. A tear trickled down my cheek as I slowly creaked the door open, a needle on the floor and a pale hand. I sprinted back downstairs grabbing my phone, calling 911 while running back to her lifeless body sprawled out on the bathroom floor.

"Bronte, stay with me," I cried, tears flooding my red cheeks, "Bronte, the ambulance is coming. Just stay with me please," I begged, words barely audible as the sobs racked my body.

Everything seemed to move ten times slower as EMTs ran into the room, picking up her pale body, her hair hanging down as they carried her out, trying to get any information from me, but I was frozen. I just stood there, in utter shock as the needle was then removed from the scene. Did Hazelee just lose her mom? Did I just lose my best friend? Was she seeing James again?

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"That was the last time I saw her before they whisked her away to rehab...until today," I added, taking deep breathes, not allowing myself to cry in front of Billie again.

"Yeah um, James was the one who got her into drugs but after she OD'd he became sober and has been ever since. He, of course, convinced the judge to have Hazelee for one night a week and as I said, he's fighting for custody."

"After that, my parents and I discussed what should happen with Hazelee but two weeks before that my mom attempted suicide. She has bipolar disorder. When she's not manic she's a great mom and I love her but she's just so sick," my voice broke on the last sentence. I finally looked up to see Billie had a few tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Please don't cry," I frowned, moving closer to her and wiping the tears off her cheeks, the same way she did for me a few days ago.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be the one crying I just-"

"It's okay. I know it's a horrible story. I hate my past but honestly, my birth dad leaving when I was 10 was the best thing to ever happen to me. He's the reason Bronte even started using in the first place."

"Why? What happened? I mean- you don't have to tell me."

"How about I save that super fun story for another day?" I joked but in reality, I was never planning on telling her that part of my life.

"You know? You're like the strongest person I know," Billie says sheepishly, gazing down into her lap.

"I highly doubt that," I chuckle.

"No for real. I don't understand how you're still so sane," she shook her head, her crystal blue's staring into my eyes.

"Well, I'm a badass," I shrugged jokingly.

"You are," Billie giggled.

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A/N: Predictions? Assumptions?

Who's POV do you prefer?

Word count: 1621