Well hello! Bet you all weren't expecting this! Suprise! I didn't think I'd write for this story again, because it was finished. But, I have an idea for a sequel, so I'll be writing that soon. I suggest Author Alerting me so you don't miss it :) Anyway, I've been writing a story for the Hunger Games, a trilogy of amazing books I highly suggest reading. I realized I needed a break from that, so here I am :) This is an epilogue to Sticks and Stones. And I'm sorry if it seems a little off compared to the story. It's written differentely than my Hunger Games story, so it was a little hard to jump back into it, and these characters. But the sequel will be right back on track. So, without further wait, please enjoy this epilogue!

CeCe Jones looked at the door to her apartment, the door to her future. Behind it, she knew, would be the answer to everything: her mom. But CeCe was afraid of the future.

"You can do this," spoke the voice next to her. The young girl looked to her left and watched as Gunther Hessennefer watched her, concern in his eyes. If you would have told CeCe a week ago she'd be holding the blonde's hand, and actually have feelings for him, she would have laughed in your face, knowing it'd be the last thing she'd ever do. But a week ago, she was not an abuse victim.

CeCe shook her head. "Gunther, my life is going to change after I walk through that door. I'll never be the same girl, and… I don't think I'm ready to face that." CeCe closed her eyes, tears threatening to spill. She hated being this weak. CeCe was always strong, having that I don't care about the world attitude. But that died the second her boyfriend Frankie decided she'd make a good punching bag.

"CeCe, look at me." She shook her head, but felt her body being turned towards his anyways. "Please," he pleaded. Giving in, the redhead opened her eyes and found herself inches from Gunther. "You will be fine. Your mother will help you, and I will be with you at every minute. It does not matter if other people think you are different, because to me, you will always be CeCe. The CeCe who dances amazing, even if I would never admit it. The CeCe who always made me laugh with her attempts at insults. The CeCe who always helps her friend at all costs. The CeCe that I have started to like." A small smile started to form on her lips, and Gunther let his hand caress her face gently, mindful of her bruises. "And no amount of abuse is ever going to change that."

He leaned in, and kissed her. Gunther's lips moved in motion with CeCe's, and he pulled her closer, never wanting to let go. He felt a need to protect the small girl, and didn't care what it took. He would not let her get hurt again. Ever.

Gunther pulled back, and smiled at CeCe, who grinned back. "Ready?"

She nodded, and pushed open the door, ready to face her uncertain future.

"Mom?" CeCe called out into her apartment, knowing her mother was most likely in the kitchen, as she usually was.

"CeCe? I wasn't expecting you for another hour. Sorry, hold on. Let me just put away the cleaning supplies." Her mom was cleaning. That meant she was in a happy mood. And now she was going to ruin that. Great. "How was pizza with Rocky?" CeCe had texted her mom, telling her she didn't have to pick her up, she'd be home after eating with Rocky. A huge lie, of course. But she wouldn't, couldn't have her mom pick her up in her battered condition.

"I… didn't go with Rocky." CeCe's voice shook slightly, and Gunther gave her hand a squeeze. But what she needed was a hug.

"Well, then where…" Georgia Jones walked into the living room drying her hands and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw what stood before her. Her fourteen year old daughter, holding a blonde boy's hand. But all she was seeing was the bruise covering half her daughter's face. "Cecilia, what happened?" Georgia shouted, making the teenagers jump. "Did he do that to you? Because I swear—"

"No, mom! It wasn't Gunther, he would never hurt me." Georgia realized she recognized the name. She then remembered he was the boy with the strange accent who babysat Flynn with his twin sister.

Georgia made her way to the couch, and sat down, afraid of what CeCe would say next. She took a shaky breath, thoughts of what could have happened to her daughter running through her head.

CeCe looked to Gunther, who gave her a reassuring nod. "It was… Frankie," CeCe whispered, hanging her head in despair.

Georgia shot up, and ran to her daughter, wrapping her in a warm embrace. CeCe broke, and let the tears fall.

"Oh, honey, I am so sorry." Georgia patted CeCe's back as she cried, water soaking through her uniform. She didn't care. Why my daughter? was the question Georgia repeated to herself, begging for an answer. She witnessed abuse on a daily basis, but never imagined her strong daughter would fall victim to it. "When did this happen?" CeCe's mom whispered, the young girls tears subsiding.

CeCe sniffled. "A few hours ago. He got mad at me because I broke up with him."

Georgia hugged her tighter, wishing she could kiss the hurt away, as she did when she was little. But Mom's kisses weren't magical anymore. They couldn't get rid of real world pain.

"Show her your arm," spoke a voice from behind the two. Georgia looked up, and saw Gunther had been watching them. She pulled back and looked CeCe in the eye.

Without a word, the redhead pulled up her long sleeve, and revealed to her mother the secret that had tormented her for days.

Colors swirled into a sick rainbow on CeCe's arm, each fighting for domination. They were fading, but yellow bruising from age mixed in added an extra element of horror.

Georgia wanted to look away, to look anywhere but her daughter's arm, but couldn't pull her eyes away. When she heard CeCe whimper, the single mother tore her eyes from the bruises and looked into her daughter's eyes. They were mixed with tears and sorrow. It broke Georgia's heart.

"Honey," she started, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're going to have to tell me everything, okay? I know it'll be hard, but CeCe… just remember that I will never, ever judge you, okay?"

CeCe nodded, and sat down on the couch next to Gunther, who took her hand.

Georgia sat in the chair across from them, and gave her daughter a reassuring nod.

CeCe took a deep breath, and dove head first into her story, and silently wondering if she would ever be able to breathe again.

Georgia Jones closed her eyes, fighting back tears as CeCe finished her story. Her daughter had been abused just for being a teenager. It made her want to go find Frankie and beat him herself for hurting CeCe. But Georgia knew this was impossible. The justice system was there for a reason, and she was going to use to it make this boy pay.

But despite everything CeCe had told her, she knew it was going to be hart to pin the boy, unless there was a witness to the abuse. Suddenly, a thought sprung on her.

"Gunther, did you see Frankie hit her?" Georgia looked at the blonde, desperately hoping he would say yes.

He closed his eyes, and when they opened, she immediately knew he had. The haunted look in his eyes spoke all the words needed to be said. He nodded.

"Okay, honey, I need to go back to the station and report this. We're going to need to find him, and both of you will need to come down and testify. Okay?" Georgia watched her daughter as she nodded, and leaned her head on Gunther's shoulder.

In that moment, she was grateful for the foreign boy. Although Georgia thought him and CeCe hated each other, something had obviously happened, and now they couldn't be without apart. He had helped CeCe at her darkest moment, and for that, Georgia could never repay him.

"I'll call you both soon, okay?" When the teens nodded, Georgia left through the door, knowing her daughter's life would never be the same again.

Hope you enjoyed! Please review, and stay tuned for a sequel, coming soon!