QUICK NOTE: And here we go again! I have been writing and writing, then erasing and erasing, and back and forth for weeks with this story...I got to the point where I just couldn't think of a thing to carry this story forward, and decided to just start uploading it in hopes that it would light a fire under my behind to create some inspiration! Please read and review in your leisure, and let me know what you think so far. And, as always, send any ideas you might have my way!


"Thank goodness it's all over soon!" Wesley exclaimed with somewhat of a sigh of relief to James as the two of them zoomed down Interstate Highway 20 in James' truck.

"The year went by pretty quickly, didn't it?" James asked.

"Are you kidding?" Wesley responded. "This has been one of the slowest years ever! With all of the boring general ed classes, the stupid work study jobs, not to mention the endless attacks on my life…"

"Well the important thing is that graduation is in a couple days," James said, bringing Wesley back to the main topic. "Now we'll all be back on the same campus again. That'll certainly make things easier on us, don't you think?"

"Oh sure," Wesley agreed, rolling his eyes. "Now we can all get attacked at the same time, like we used to do. Those were the good ol' days…"

"Sarcasm," James replied dryly.

"You're getting so good at picking up on it," Wesley answered as he reached over and playfully ruffled his brother's hair. "Good job, Jimmy."

Wesley wanted to get some new clothes for the graduation ceremony that was taking place at Oxford College in two days. His own car had been destroyed by the last demon he and his brothers had encountered, Selrach. Since then, the insurance claims and paperwork had been taking what seemed like forever to get processed, resulting in him not having a car yet. James offered to drive him to the mall so that he could get some shopping done.

"So your family's gonna be in town tomorrow?" James asked. "Excited to see them?"

"Meh," Wesley sighed. "Everybody is making such a big deal out of this, when really it isn't. I mean, we're only getting Associate degrees; it's not like we don't still have two more years of school left. But my mama makes a big deal out of everything. Her baby is graduating from Oxford. That's what she tells people. As far as I know, she's probably telling them she's headed to England now for my graduation. Aside from that, people are crying left and right. My mama's first child, my grandmother's first grandchild, the oldest this, the first that. Just because I'm the first one in my generation to get a degree, people are going crazy."

"They're just proud of you," James said. "You've come a long way, little brother. You're definitely not the same brat who showed up two years ago. I think college has done you well. Well, actually I think your brothers have done you well."

"Don't take credit for my accomplishments," Wesley answered, rolling his eyes. "And don't mix the supernatural with the normal. And don't put Matt's name in this. We were having such a pleasant conversation until just now."

"You can't still be upset," James insisted. "It's been weeks now. He's apologized and you've kicked his ass, which I still can't believe you did by the way, and he's apologized again and y'all have talked to each other about it. Can't you just move on? I mean, he is your brother."

"Get off your high horse, buddy," Wesley told James. "I know everything you just said; I was there when it happened, remember? Forgive, I do plenty. I never forget. You should know that."

"I'm just saying," James insisted as he seamlessly weaved through a few cars, causing a bit of uneasiness in Wesley. He knew that Wesley did not particularly care to ride with either James or Matthew because of their tendencies to drive somewhat recklessly. Without a vehicle of his own, at least for the time being, Wesley was forced to put his hesitations to the side and accept the conscious decision to get in a car with them. The only thing that made him the slightest bit secure was the fact that at least now he could glimmer out if he really needed to avoid a heart attack.

"Listen," Wesley said to James. "I get it, I really do. I know what he did, I can't say that I totally understand why, even after he tried to explain it to me. I can only accept it, but my heart is not very open about it right now. Maybe later down the line things will get better, but even that won't change the fact that he basically betrayed me. I mean, come on…I've never done anything close to what he did."

"But it…"

"And before you start," Wesley quickly interrupted James, almost reading his mind, "I know that he isn't the only guilty party. Stephanie wasn't under any spells at all, so she made the decision herself to date Matt. They're equally guilty. I just don't get it, any of it. I didn't get it then, and I don't get it now. Maybe it's not for me to get at all. But all I can do is process how I feel right now."

"Right," James hesitantly responded in a drawn out tone. "You should focus on the progress that you've made so far, though. You're definitely in a better place now, right? So keep that in mind, especially now. You're about to graduate from Oxford, little brother, and your family's gonna be in town. His family's gonna be here too, so don't you think y'all should at least be civil enough to get through that? When it's all over we can work on what to do next. I'm just trying to keep the peace long enough to make it through everything."

"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Wesley asked with a faint grin and a tone of curiosity. "Since this whole thing happened it's like you and Matt have switched sides. You're stuck in the middle, and he and I can't seem to get along."

"I can't say it's the best feeling for me," James answered. "I'd rather be taking shots at you if I had a choice. Things were better that way. That's why I'm trying to get things back to normal as quickly as possible. This sucks!"

"Well…it is what it is," Wesley sighed, grabbing a tight hold of the passenger side armrest. "Meanwhile can you please slow down? The mall is not closing anytime soon, and I want to get there and back in one piece before my family comes to town."

"I'm just trying to make sure we're back before they get here," James said as he took one hand off the steering wheel to glance at his watch. It was just after noon. "We've got a few hours, so calm down. Good thing you have a huge family; otherwise they might've wanted to stay at the house."

"I don't think so," Wesley said, snickering nervously as James swerved two lanes over in the course of two seconds. "After everything Wyatt went through, staying at the house would be the last thing they'd want to do, although I'm sure he wouldn't mind. But with the entire family driving down, I was quick to give them a list of nearby hotels!"

"And it was good of Matt to help arrange it so that both of your families had time to get together with mine," James added. "I guess since we're all…you know…connected…it makes sense that they should at least get to know each other."

"Well that's one good thing he's done right," Wesley mumbled. "You know the exit is coming up, right?"

"I know," James said, abruptly turning on his blinker. "Hold on…I need to pass this eighteen wheeler first."

"This is it," Wesley announced, gripping the armrest with one hand and his seatbelt with the other. "This is how I'm gonna die…"