The memory was at Johnny's house, when she had spent a few hours contemplating what their next move was. Neil was making calls, as he said, but now she was finally learning to whom.

He was sitting right where she had found him the next day, and had just dialed a number on his phone. It rang for a bit then Neil spoke.

"So, Michael, any news about our last appointment"

Eva couldn't make out what Michael was saying, but the conversation was giving them memory links so she knew to pay attention.

"So there's nothing else? Alright"

…

"Wait, one more thing"

…

"Eva saw the pills. Should I tell her?"

…

"Alright, I'll keep it secret"

…

"Yeah, one more thing. We might need to up the strength of those pills"

…

"Yeah, it's still not very effective. "

…

"Alright, see you later."

Neil hung up, and their links were filled. Eva didn't move, she was processing the scene. So his doctor had wanted Neil to hid it- whatever it was- but why?

"I hate to interrupt you thinking session, but we have a job to do"

"Right"

Eva went over to Dr. Tue , who activated the memento- Neil's coffee cup. Soon they were in another memory. The gaps were short, they'd only moved back a few months, maybe a year.

This time Neil was in a doctor's office. Eva was looking for a memento when Michael came in, dressed in his doctor clothes.

"It's terminal. Osteosarcoma."

"Bone cancer?"

"Yeah. There's nothing I can give you besides painkillers, the growth is too large for a marrow or stem cell transplant"

Neil sighed, "How long?"

"A year at most. If it spreads to your blood a lot less."

"How am I gonna tell people? If my boss finds out he'll take me out of work.."

"If you're determined to stay in work, don't tell anyone. I'll just give you stronger painkillers so you can actually work."

"Thank you"

The scene froze, so it was time to look for mementos.

"Neil..you hid it just for work? That isn't the you I know.. Do I even know you?"

"Stop talking to yourself"

Tue was Eva 2.0- every annoying trait of hers accelerated., but he was right. She couldn't let every little thing get to her or they wouldn't get done in time- and then…

So she decided to keep it strictly business, to make sure her friend got his dream life. After all, she liked to keep business and personal life separate. Eva gathered the memory links while Tue looked for the memento, which turned out to be a letter in a resealed envelope which had been by Neil's bag.

The next memory was further back, during their time in college together. Neil was opening his mail when he started jumping up and down excitedly.

"Oh my god! I have to tell- no no I have to keep this a secret. She'll be so surprised! If I time it right, it'll be perfect!"

"Look for memory links" Tue demanded, so Eva did. There were none in the room, but out in the hall she could get access to her dorm room where she found two. When Eva left the room to look for more, Tue came out of Neil's room

"I have two links"

"I got the rest of them"

"How?"

"Communication. This is a confined memory after all, we had to get them somehow."

"Alright, as long as we have them I suppose."

"Yes. Now come to the memento"

Eva followed him, wondering what it was Neil had read in that letter and why Tue had waited for her to leave to talk to Neil. It felt like everyone was hiding something from her- but why? She would just find out anyways, why try to hide it?

Tue activated the memento, and they were back a few months earlier. Neil was talking to Michael.

"So that's what I wanted to say."

"Wow. It took you your whole life to realize this?"

"You could say that. I think I always sort of knew."

"Well, what are you gonna do now?"

"Same I always did. Be myself, and forget other peoples' opinions."

"That's probably why people find you annoying, you know that?"

"Yeah, and I don't care. I have to live my life, not the life that would make other people happy."

"But if you don't try at all you can't truly be happy"

"Maybe I can. I've seen people who are. The aspies, for example"

"Neil, Aspergers people aren't truly happy either, they just don't show their unhappiness nor really understand it. They also can have trouble seeing why they don't fit in, and if they do feel worse trying to fix it because its not them"

"Well I feel the same. Why should I not be me?"

"Because the way this world work as everyone has to fake a little to be happy. You have to fake interest in things, fake surprise, fake joy, fake that you're calm when you're actually really mad or panicking. If I was truly myself no one would be understand what I was saying through my science talk."

"This world sucks"

"Yeah it does"

That gave them all their memory links, and soon they were in Neil's sophomore year at college

Neil was at one of those many parties he magically got himself invited to. It was a college party, which meant everyone was at least a little bit drunk. Neil looked to be more on the sober side, however, and was sitting next to Sidney Weller, an extremely popular girl who, as far as Eva knew, hadn't actually dated anyone in college. Sidney was talking.

"You know, I just don't date people.

"Me neither."

"What's your reason?"

"Well, uh, not really anything I guess."

"Everyone has a reason for everything. I don't date because I don't want to date someone who won't take it seriously. I want a serious, long-term relationship, not some dumb college or high school relationship that rarely lasts even six months."

"I guess that could be my reason. Honestly, I now I had a reason at some point, I just have a terrible memory"

"Heh. Well I hope you do date Neil. You seem like someone who'd make a good boyfriend."

They get a memory link, and the memory fast forwards to later in the party, with Neil more drunk and talking to Michael.

"What about Sheila? She's cute and nerdy like you. Plus she broke up with Brad like two months ago"

"I heard she hooked up with Talia last week."

"Right, can't date a taken person. How about Madeline?"

"She doesn't get along with me at all. I don't think likes my references or something like that"

"True. Well, there's always Eva"

"Eva…" Neil chuckled, "No, we're just friends. It's weird we're even still friends, I know I annoy her a lot"

"I think you two are kind of just destined to be those friends who just put up with each other for their whole lives."

"That would make sense."

"Alright, moving on.."

"Michael, I really don't want to date anyone right now. Just not my thing"

"Dating hasn't been your thing your whole life. How are you gonna be happy if you don't date?"

"Simple. I will date myself- a person I can actually get along with!"

"Neil take this seriously"

"I refuse; humor is my joy in life. I don't need to date, I'm just that type of person."

So that was why Neil never dated, he just chose not to. And she thought he was just terrible at flirting.

Tue cleared his throat, meaning it was time to search for memory links. This was going to be a long night.