"I… I don't know really?" that was kind of the truth. Since you don't know what exactly it is about her powers that does this to you, only that it does, and it's bad.

You suppose because, although both of you have psychic powers, yours are so vastly different to hers, and your power trying to use hers was too much for untrained and badly treated powers such as your own.

When you say badly treated, you mean "I can't use them to their full extent or train them because life gets in the way and no one's there to teach me so"

John frowns at you, and wow okay, he does not wanna hear your "I don't know" bullshit.

"I'm fine John, I just pushed myself a little too hard, okay?" you're attempts to sound like he guilted you into telling the truth doesn't need to be faked, you did basically did tell him the truth. You pushed your power too far, and you're paying for it.

"Are you sure you're okay now Dave? Should I be on the lookout in case it happens again? Do you have medication or something?" he sounds worried, you want to know exactly what he's thinking, but you are far too weak at this point to do so.

"I'm fine, it shouldn't happen again, I don't have any meds, its chill man." He relaxes. You're lying.

He decides to treat you to ice cream and movies that night, and he takes you out for lunch shortly after your recovery. You attempt to pay at least half, but he refuses.

It makes you stop and stare. It astounds you that he can be so kind. So generous. You glance at him and see he was truly worried about you, you have given him a fright. And he was celebrating your recovery, not just for you, but for himself too.

You power recovers itself slowly. Thoughts flit in and the pain is mostly tolerable and easy to ignore, the headache of your powers biting off more than they can chew a pest.

But you enjoy your day with John, even though he didn't let you pay for your half of lunch (though you aren't complaining heavily about that), or that he has a bad taste in movies, but you had fun commentating each film. He laughed, or he elbowed you in the side.

It was fun.

By the time classes' start, you're healthy and normal again, but the question of what to do next hangs over you. You want to train your power so it doesn't cause you more physical harm than it already has, because John is still over protective and watchful, in case you are to faint again.

You don't like worrying him, but you can't help it. You still get woozy or lightheaded if you make the wrong move and the headaches still crop up. But nothing like the fainting incident.

Aradia has since apologised many times about you fainting and says she doesn't know why your power is sucked out of you so fast around her, you can only assume its lack of proper training or use is a major factor, and the fact it's a different type of physic ability involving the dead, while your involves the living.

You decide that if such an incident occurs again, you should make your room mate aware of your power. But you worry he wouldn't believe you, or trust you even if he did. It hangs over your head, and the longer you leave it, the worse it seems to become. The more horrendous the lie seems to be.

Could he truly blame you for not telling him, though? He didn't seem like the type.

The days turn into weeks, and then months of nothing but day to day routine. It bores you, but you and John talk and bond, which makes the dreary class life seem worth it, you guys can be broke together. And yet what happened in September with Aradia still haunts you. You dream of it sometimes. The whispers of the dead come to you, and sometimes you fear they will never leave.

During the day though, the time you and John spend together are full of laughter and jokes. You laugh at the simplest things together, even if it's just Dave's morning hair or John's occasional blonde moment whenever Rose or Jade make a joke he needs a second to understand. You laugh, but find his confusion adorable, you listen to his thought process as he attempts to understand, and you briefly wonder if you can plant the answer in his mind in an attempt to help him out.

It's now November. Christmas break will soon be approaching, and your Bro has booked you tickets home to Texas the day the holiday begins, and a plane back the day before it ends, so you have time to get your shit together.

Your goodbye in your dorm room with John is surprisingly emotional, you both admit you will miss each other, and agree to call and pester each other as much as possible, the goodbye with the girls is much similar, but with more hugs and a look from Rose that's mere memory sends shivers down your spine when she tells you that the two of you need to "Talk" while you're in Texas.

You don't know what about but you would be lying if you were scared of her in that moment. You didn't even read her mind.

Looking back that might have made your life easier.

No wonder you didn't do it. You just have to make life hard don't you?

As expected, the flight is hell and your luggage seems to get heavier and heavier.

As expected, your Bro missed you even though he didn't actually say it out loud.

Colours fly past you, oranges and brown flow into whites' reds and greens. Christmas. It's celebrated in the grandest and most ironic fashion. Ugly Christmas jumpers and crackers, Christmas smuppets and a big ass turkey, even though it's just the two of you.

He buys you a new sword and some equipment for Christmas, and gives you $100 with promise of financial help if you need it. You bought him new sewing supplies, a truly fantastic snap back that simply says "FUCK" on it, but unfortunately you couldn't do much else besides an empty card because of your apparent lack of cash.

You've considered getting a job many times, but college is bad enough with all of those thoughts, but spending your spare time in a busy shop or café would really ware you out, your Bro understands this, and helps you out financially if you need it.

Sometimes you don't say you need it, but your brother transfers large sums of money into your account anyway, and a surge of fondness fills you. In tender moments when your headaches overwhelm you or you have one of your nightmares, or your Bro gives you money without you asking, you feel closer to him and you smile softly, remembering how much the elder strider cares for you.

You watch the cheesiest Christmas movies you can find, and you have expensive hot chocolates. You drink them slowly while wrapped up warm on the couch with blankets. His thoughts drift through now and again, but with only one person in your range it's easy to have silence. You don't like it that much. You still remember that panic when Aradia carried you to John in that silence.

You think this silence is different though. Less empty, less terrifying. The occasional thought still drifts through, filling the silence your own thoughts can't.

"I'm seeing someone." He says suddenly, and you look more surprised than you should. You sensed an unease in his thoughts, and phrases like "I wonder what he'll think" and "It shouldn't be this big a deal."

You didn't bother questioning it, but it makes sense now.

"Go you Bro. who's lucky fella or lady?" you ask him, he was surprised you were surprised.

"You seem surprised. That's either you respecting my brain privacy or you being a dick" you laugh. He knows you too well.

"For once I was trying to respect your brain privacy, half formed thoughts didn't clue me in that much, man" he nods, you take it as a gesture of thanks and nod back.

"His names Jake." Your Bro answers, and you sip the rich hot chocolate. He says nothing, but you allow your eyes to slip shut and your brother's mind to fill your own, in one of those rare moments you allow your psychic muscles to stretch out, as it were.

Bright green eyes, tan skin, admiration. Soft hands, bright smiles and a sense of adventure.

You smile. This man makes your brother so happy.

You open your eyes again. And he's smiling at you. It's a smile you haven't seen on his face for a long time, years in fact.

"So, does he have you approval lil' bro, not that I need it." of course he doesn't need your approval, but you know how much it would mean if he had it. Which he obviously does.

"Hell yeah you have my approval. I gotta meet this guy at some point. Why are you spending Christmas with my sorry ass instead of his fine one?" you heard your brothers thoughts on his boyfriends butt. He appreciates it very much.

"Because his family paid for him to be flown out to their island for the holidays and I figured you'd need someone to be here with you on the day, be grateful." You scoff, knowing he wouldn't do more than briefly consider leaving you here.

"I still gotta meet him." He nods, and you both start watching the shitty movie again. You can practically smell the cheese.

All too soon you're watching the clock strike midnight, vowing to make next year a good one.

When you get back to campus, you get the most powerful hug imaginable from one Jade Harley, a gentle embrace from Rose, and John. Well. John, he just stands there awkwardly, unsure if he can hug you or not.

You dip into his thoughts and knows he wants to hug you badly, because he's missed you! Your banter and good humour, and even your odd habits and hobbies, yes, he saw your dead things.

"Bring it in Egbert." You tell him, and he gives you this amazing hug, damn, you were not prepared for John Egbert to be the god of hugs.

The four of you go out for dinner, splitting the bill four ways. The conversation is focused mainly on the holiday season that just passed, including John getting a pie in the face from his father, and Jade's dog almost knocking the tree over, and the topic soon shifts to everyone's New Year's resolutions.

You can't tell them your real one, obviously. Your actual New Years resolution was to improve your powers, whether it means taming them more or making them stronger.

You think of one as Rose tells you of her resolution to write a novel.

"What about you Dave?" you didn't want it to be too meaningful or anything, but you didn't want it to be boring. You also wanted to lie as little as possible.

"I want to achieve something great before the year is out." This piques everyone's interest as you hoped it would, and you say you might climb a mountain or break a world record, or even just something as simple as lift that 30 kilo weight you dream of lifting with ease. Not the best example. But you have many options with this resolution and it is up to you to decide how great it has to be, and if you think you've achieved it or not.

It moves on to John, who says he wants to get a girlfriend before the year ends. Jade says she wants to see something extraordinary. You second that notion, John and Rose agree, they'd like to see that too.

Conversation shifts quickly to the angry waiter who seems to be checking Jade out, and Rose smiles with amusement as John eggs her on about getting his number.

You see the two speak briefly as you and John leave, with Rose waiting on Jade, but you don't think she got a phone number as such.

You find out she got a chum handle from him the next day. You congratulate her, and ask for all juicy details as soon as they happen.

You and John are watching a movie. Jade has to finish getting her stuff sorted, and asked Rose to help. You feel like you should spend more time with the girls because they are utterly fabulous, and decide you can work on it later.

John's New Year's resolution doesn't surprise you. He's whined about his lack of female attention a couple of times before. Honestly, you didn't get any attention from the ladies either, unless their name is Aradia and they cause you to collapse.

You haven't really heard from her since that incident now you think about it. You wonder how she is.

You allow your power to roam. John's thoughts hit you quickly, but you try and keep others thoughts away, which is easy, since, although your range can fluctuate, it seems to have kept itself at "only people in the room" recently.

I wonder if I can actually get a girlfriend. Maybe I set the bar too high.

Do I even want one? Ugh feelings.

Oh shit not this part, this is the sad part.

You pay attention to the screen and yes, it is rather sad. Who knew paranormal activity 2 could cause such sadness.

That dog was your favourite character in this shitty movie dammit.

Dave's quiet. Maybe he actually likes the movie. I wonder if he's found a girl he likes. Or guy. Can't assume too quickly with Dave,"

That is true, you'll give him that.

You start to feel rude and stop. Your power protests violently, and you can hear a head ache coming on, and you had been doing so well the past few weeks! Ugh.

John is an enigma when it comes to sexuality. And from the sounds of things, he isn't so sure of himself either, which you can understand.

Coming to understand your sexuality can be a confusing process until you find that label that fits, and suddenly you have an anchor, but even then it doesn't stay, stupid fluid sexualities making life hard. You get that. You really do.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year everyone! I hope you have a great day. Personally I'm very excited!