Europe!

"You're welcome." Courtney said as she took a sip of her tea when the waitress walked away.

"So what else is up?" Allie asked.

"Um...nothing too much, just been really busy with the tour. What about you?" Courtney asked.

"Um..I seen my little sister again."

Courtney nearly choked on her drink in shock when she heard what Allie said.

"You have a little sister?" Courtney asked.

Allie grinned sheepishly, "Yeah...she got kicked out of my mom's house too."

"How come you never told me you had a sister?" Courtney asked.

"Because...we don't get along. At all." Allie said.

"Why not?" Courtney asked.

"You know how bad I was last year? She's that times two to the sixth. And personalities clash whenever we see each other." She said, "She's better now but she's still a bitch."

Courtney nodded, understanding what Allie was saying.

"Ah. Maybe it's just her way of keeping herself from getting hurt. Your mom sounded like a terrible person and people you love or get close to tend to hurt you the most." Courtney said.

"Of course that's just a theory though, I've never met her so I don't really know."

"You may be right, I just thought she was heartless."

"I don't think she's heartless, she just sounds troubled." Courtney said.

"Maybe." Allie said with a shrug. "But I'm happy to know that she's okay."

"That's good, I'm happy she is too. Growing up I always wanted a sister." Courtney said with a small chuckle.

"You don't have any siblings?" Allie asked.

"Nope, I'm an only child." Courtney said.

"Oh." Allie said, "How was that growing up?"

"I think it was better to not have a sibling growing up. My mom and I suffered a lot thanks to my dad so I would have hated more people to have had to go through what we went through." Courtney said.

Allie frowned and slightly tilted her head in confusion.

"What happened?" Allie asked.

Courtney let out a heavy sigh.

"My dad...Derek was very abusive towards my mother and I then one day he left, when I was fifteen. My mom thought it was finally over and she seemed happy but then a couple years later she killed herself or so I thought. Years later shortly after I met your dad Derek came back into my life. He was very mean and was out to hurt me. Your dad let me stay with him for a little bit until I felt safe but during that stay Derek broke in and tried to kill me...and he told me he killed my mom...and that I was a huge mistake and he wish he would have killed me too." Courtney paused to wipe some tears in her eyes.

"He's shot your dad and myself each once in the past and has kidnapped Kayla and Jake. He's dead now though so I don't have to worry about him hurting me or anyone else I care about anymore."

(I LOVE your Allie sig! It's so beautiful! )

Allie couldn't help but let a few tears drop as she listened to Courtney's story, her being the sensitive person she is. Allie gasped lightly, he shot them? That news made a few more tears drop, she was in total shock. How could someone harm Courtney? God, some people are just so cruel sometimes. Allie stood up and walked over to Courtney, hugging her.

"I'm sorry Madre..."

(Thanks! This is one of my favorites.)

Courtney hugged Allie back, appreciating the hug, then smiled softly at her.

"I'm okay, thank you. It was the toughest times of my life but I'm okay now. Your dad had a great help in my recovery, I don't know what I would have done had he not come into my life." Courtney said.

(You're welcome! Mine too )

"I'm just glad you're alright. You didn't deserve to go through that...no one does." Allie said softly.

Courtney nodded in agreement.

"You know the saying though...what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Courtney said.