SOOO SORRY!

~Last Time~

She crept in my room, and my heart started to race. She's grown. No doubt about that. Her curves maxing out. She's wearing her hair down, and the smell of strawberries fill my room. I looked past the woman she's become and catch sight of the real Dizzy. My Dizzy. The Dizzy that practically made my whole summer."

~Finn~

Her presence was dented in my soul. From her melodious laugh, to her sparkling smile. From the time she woke up just to talk to me, to the time she stayed up late making sure I wouldn't feel too lonely. Just as she was my summer, she was my fall and autumn, and winter and spring, and then…nothing. Not to me. She still meant the world to me. But I to her was a completely different story. She grew up, and left childish memories like me behind.

"Finn?" To be quite honest, I didn't think she was real. I've been having illusions lately. Illusions so strong, it's hard to tell what's real or fake. I turned over so I wouldn't look at her.

"Please tell me you're real." I whispered. "Please tell me you're real this time." She walked over and knelt by my side. I close my eyes.

"I am real Finn." I don't reply. "Finn, what's the matter?"

"Nothing."

"Something obviously is. I know you Finn."

"You use to know me." When she doesn't reply, I open my eyes. I have hurt her. I never wanted to. But here I am doing it. Because I'm tired of reality and fantasy mixing out of my control.

"Finn I'm sorry I haven't spoken to you in a while, but…I can help you. I know I can." I don't respond. "Don't make me feel like a loon for doing this. I went out of my way, for you. There's only a few people I would do that for."

"You never answered me." I blurt out while I have the confidence.

"Huh?"

"What I asked you. The last time we talked."

"Oh Finn the conversation was so rushed and-"

"I said will you love me till I stop."

"I know. I told you I would."

"You didn't mean it."

"But-"

"If you had meant it, you would've returned my calls. And messages."

"It's been awfully busy around the house lately. What with Leggit getting sick-"

"Leggit isn't the only one who's sick." I muttered.

~Mouse~

"Mum! Dad!" I sock skate around the house. "Mum! Dad!" Why aren't they answering me? I head for the kitchen and spot a note.

Mouse,

We're going out for the weekend. If you need anything, the neighbor is right next door. Your mum canceled her visit today, maybe she'll come by tomorrow. Food's in the fridge. We're trusting you. Like you always wanted. Mummy loves you soooo much. Please don't get sick or die. If you do, call us and we'll come right home. Daddy loves you too.

Love with all our hearts,

Mum and Dad

"Oh." I say to myself. I don't know how I'm gonna call if I'm dead, but Mum's just overprotective like that. Mum and Dad had no children before me. So it was just me. At times it was lovely. Getting all the attention and care. But mostly it's lonely. No Finn to wrestle with or have brotherly lessons. No Dizz to give me care and make me feel as if I did matter. No Leggit to throw sticks to and chase around the yard. Just me and toys I have no use for. I grabbed the phone and called Dizzy.

"Hullo?" Dizzy's dad. I haven't spoken with my dad in over a year.

"Hi, this is Mouse. Is Dizzy home?"

"Sorry Mouse, she's not. She went with a friend for the weekend."

"Oh. Thanks anyway." I hung up and called Finn.

"Hullo?"

"Tess!"

"Oh! How are you Mouse?" Her voice seemed….different. Not as happy.

"I'm good. Is Finn home?"

"Yes, but he's dreadfully tired."

"He's always tired!" I complain.

"I know. But maybe Dizz can figure out the problem and he'll be able to talk with you soon."

"Dizzy's there?"

"Yes. Didn't you know?"

"No."

"Well Mouse it was very last second. We didn't mean to exclude you in anyway."

"It's okay." It was very much not okay. "Can I come over?"

"You'll have to ask your folks. We wouldn't want another parent traveling all over England again wouldn't we." But even as she said this, I was packing my clothes. Mum and Dad gave me the weekend, surely I could make it back by then.

"I'll ask." I said. I heard a mummered Tess, and I already knew it was Dizzy. Tess told her to hold on just a minute, and turned back to me.

"Hopefully we'll see you soon, eh Mouse?"

"You will."

"Bye love."

"Bye." I said, and hung up. I took my piggy bank and smashed it to the floor. I had $87.00. Enough to afford a bus to Bramble Cottage.

~Tess~

"Yes Dizzy? Did he say something?"

"Not much." She admitted.

"Not much is still something. What did he say?" I keep a loose leash on Finn because I know from experience that anything tighter will make him resent me. I didn't realize that I had lost that leash completely. And I wanted my baby back. The son who could come and talk to me about anything and not feel uncomfortable about it. I wanted the real Finn back. And the fact that Dizzy could get even a reaction out of him made envy run deep in my veins. I pushed the feelings down to catch her words.

"He told me that….he was disappointed in me. And…that someone was sick."

"His gram died and he took it pretty badly."

"No this is not what he means. He's talking about something entirely different."

"Like what hon?" I tried to keep my face happy. But the secret was already coming out, and I didn't know if I could hold it in.

"He wouldn't say who, but he said someone had cancer. Who is it Tess?"

~Hopefully Next Week's Chapter~

~Mouse~

Bramble cottage is not Bramble cottage anymore. Like it took a bath or something. The bus ride was tiring, and I wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep. But as soon as I got off the bus, I saw Dizzy, sitting in our old tree house. I started running.

"DIZZ! I'M HERE DIZZ! I'M HERE!" She almost fell out of the tree, but when she saw it was me, she jumped down and ran to me, folding me in her arms.

"Oh Mouse! I've missed you!" I pulled away.

"Then why wasn't I invited?"

"Mousey it was nothing like that. I'm here to help Finn."

"I can help Finn too. You never even gave me a chance." I looked up at the person that raised me for a whole summer. For a while, I considered her past my sister and more like the mother figure she was. Even now, her eyes only shone with love for me.

"Why don't you let Finn explain what's going on."