"Kevin." I gasped.

"W-what are you—Brice—why are you here?"

I stood and shrugged, "I was re-ready to come back." I said quietly, nervously pulling on the hem of Joe's hoodie. I found myself looking over his shoulder, trying to see out the large bay window in the kitchen that faced their house.

"They're not with me." He said side stepping and catching my eye. I felt myself frown and my cheeks burning up because he had caught me.

Joe's CD started over again and I turned, focusing my attention on the stereo, another wave of tears washing down my face.

He walked around the couch and picked up the remote, turning off the CD before he wrapped his arms around me and the tears came harder. Sure, I had talked to Nick, but a hug from Kevin was like gold. Comfort washed over me and I cried into his shoulder, glad he still cared.

"Why'd you buy this?" He breathed in my ear.

"It's about me." I sobbed. "All of it…I'm horrible. Kevin…he's done."

"You're not horrible." He sighed, rubbing my back. "You did what you had to do."

"Yeah, but he—they're all so—I don't know—like he's—"

"Changed?" He suggested, pulling back to look at me, "He has…a lot." He admitted, looking away.

I furrowed my brow, looking at him expectantly.

"Brice—it's been a year. A lot of things have changed. You can't tell me you expected to come back and everything to just fall into place, can you?"

I dropped his gaze. I did hope for that. I expected it actually. I waited for him. I went away, for him. I wanted to come back and find him and everything to just pick back up. But, that obviously wasn't going to happen.

I shrugged, "I don't know…yes…I wanted it to be like that." I said sheepishly. "I've made myself better Kev. I really have. I'm so much stronger and I feel like I can fulfill a purpose."

He smiled a little and laid his hand over mine, "I'm proud of you Brice. I really am."

Those 4 words. I'm proud of you. They made my heart flutter. No one ever said those words to me. Ever. What was there to be proud of? But he was. Kevin was, and that meant everything.

I smiled and gave him an appreciative nod.

"So." He asked, sinking into the couch, "What'd you do? Where'd you go?"

"Everywhere." I sighed, plopping down next to him, glad that he wasn't scolding me, but was actually interested in what I did. "I mean with the exception of like Hawaii…and Alaska, and Canada." I smiled.

"And Mexico?" He suggested, raising his eyebrows.

"Actually…I spent a day there."

He furrowed his brow.

"Well I don't have a passport, right? So, there was a hole in the fence so I just—"

"Brice! You were an illegal alien?" He looked at me shocked, "That's illegal!!"

"I know." I laughed, "But I bought this book, okay. 100 Things To Do Before You Die and—"

"What? And one of them was be an illegal alien in a foreign country?" He laughed.

"No!" I stuck my tongue out at him, "It was do something illegal."

He shook his head, "You're unbelievable."

I nodded, "Well I pretty much lived by that book, you know, it made me try new things, gain confidence."

"That includes, but is not limited too…." He trailed off, waiting for me to finish.

I smiled, "Swimming with dolphins, ride a camel, plant a tree, bungee jump, write a novel about your life…I started that, I'm not near finished, um, play in a fountain, feed pigeons in New York, take a road trip across America, recite poetry in a café, overcome failure, accept yourself for who you are, skii, run a marathon, drive a convertible, love someone with all your heart…"

I stopped, feeling more tears on their way, "I still have 27 left, most of them are from countries or you have to be 21, so..." I choked, trying to get away from the awkwardness.

Kevin looked up at me, understanding shining in his eyes.

"So." I said after a few minutes, "What have you been up to?"

"Well I've just been trying to plan—oh—oh my god!"

"What?" I asked looking down to see if I had a huge cockroach or something crawling on me. I didn't see anything so I patted my face, "Is something on me?" I asked, starting to panic.

"Wha—no." He laughed. "No, you're good."

I sighed in relief as he continued to chuckle, slightly shaking his head.

"I just forgot—you haven't been around—I mean—you know—"

"I got it, Kev. What?"

"Okay seriously…do you remember Afton?" He smiled.

"Yeah—your girlfriend?" I recalled playing the memories of meeting her over in my head, after Joe and I had fought, and he stormed off the bus, and then I left.

He grinned, "Yeah, well she's my fiancé now."

I felt my eyes go wide and I squealed. "Kevin! When? I'm so happy for you—Congratulations!" I gushed, leaning over to hug him.

He happily returned it and pulled back, still grinning.

"Since Valentine's Day. I mean it was kind of soon and stuff, but when you know, you know. I couldn't imagine my life with anyone else." His eyes lovingly glazed over as I assumed he was thinking of her.

My smile faded, I knew that feeling.

"So, when's the wedding?"

"Uhm, actually, this weekend."

"What?!"

"Yeah." He confirmed.

"3 days?" I asked.

"Yeah." He nodded, "That's why I'm here, dropping off the tuxes. All the guys are getting ready here Saturday."

"Oh my God."

I was going to murder Nick. Absolutely murder him. Oh yeah we'll be back from LA at the end of the week, Brice. Hello? Ever think to mention it's so you can have Kevin's wedding!?

"Well, now that your back…you have to come!" He said excitedly.

Considering Joe was his brother, I figured he'd have some part of the wedding, at least be there.

"Um—I don't know if that's such a great idea."

"Wha—why?—Ah, don't answer that." He winced. "Brice, you're my friend, one of the best. I WANT you to be there. I would have told you sooner if I could've." He cut his eyes at me.

Oh, if only he knew what his little brother had been doing. Talking to me behind both of his brother's backs.

"I just, don't think I'm ready to—"

"No way. Hold up. Hold up. You're not ready? What's all this bullshit about I'm stronger Kevin? Brice, he may be a lot of things, but believe me, over you is not one of them—Anyway Joe doesn't matter. This isn't about him. It's about me. Now are you going to be there for me, or not?"

I let my jaw drop, sure, Joe would call me out on my bullshit, but Kevin? Never. I knew he felt strongly about this and he said Joe wasn't over me, that put butterflies in my stomach and I smiled thinking maybe something was still there.

And Kevin was right. They always were. The Jonases were always right…always! Damn them.

I needed to be there for Kevin. This was something special to him and I'd be there to witness it.

"I'll be there." I smiled at him reassuring him. "I feel like I owe it to you. For everything I've missed."

"Really?" He grinned. "You'll really come?"

"Yes Kevin." I smiled. "I'll really come."

He pulled me up into a hug. "Thank you Brice."

I smiled into his shoulder. I had Kevin back. It almost felt like I hadn't even left…he was still the same Kevin.

We made our way to the kitchen and he scribbled down his wedding details on a scrap piece of paper.

"Promise you'll come?" He asked, locking his eyes on mine.

"Promise." I confirmed.

He smiled and wrapped me in a hug once more.

"I'm so glad your back Brice."

I smiled, "Me too, Kev…me too."

He walked out onto the porch. "Kevin!" I called through the screen door.

He turned around, "Yeah?"

"Please. Don't tell him I'm—"

He shook his head, "I would never."

I smiled slightly, "See ya." I waved.

"Saturday." He said as if reminding me so I wouldn't forget…or back out.

"Saturday." I smiled.

What have I gotten myself into?