A/N Sorry for the really short chapter. This was more of a filler so I can write the next chapter.

Critiques welcomes, and please Read and Review. Each one means everything to me


Art class on Monday had been painful. Aster walked into class without his painting and Manny immediately started asking questions to him.

"Where's your painting Aster," he asked as Aster took his regular seat at the front. Aster sighed as he put his bag onto the table in front of him.

"Something happened to it over the weekend," Aster said dejectedly. "I have to start over." Manny gave him a sympathetic expression and patted his shoulder.

"You still have a week to do it. I know you can redo it in that time." Aster nodded and Manny took that as his cue to leave and work with the other students. Most of them were still making theirs, trying to procrastinate till the very last moment.

Aster procrastinated through the whole class. He had nothing with him to work on his painting today. He had forgotten everything in his rush to get to school on time. Usually he was used to Jack waking him up on time so they could get ready together and walk to school. But today he was woken up by the sound of his mother yelling at him that he was going to be late. Jack had woken up and left early just to avoid going to school with him.

He was hurt, but he knew he deserved it. He was still trying to think of a way to make it up to his brother. What he did was wrong. He knew that. But he was horrible at trying to apologize to others. Every time he tried, he felt like he made it worse.

He almost missed it when the bell rang, signaling the end of the class. He was alert to it only as the chairs scrapped across the floor as everyone went to the door. Aster put his pencil and sketchbook back into his bag before slinging it over his shoulder.

As he walked down the hall, he avoided everyone. He just wanted to get home. He wanted to go into his room and work on his painting. But apparently he couldn't even do that.

"Aster," he heard a female voice call to him. He tensed as he turned around. April was behind him and panting like she had run to catch up with him.

"What do you want," he spat out. "I'm trying to get home." April shrunk down in his gaze but she didn't back away.

"I know you probably won't believe me, but I'm sorry," she said. Aster glared at her.

"You should be sorry. Because of you Jack is worse than ever, and I'm grounded." April, if she could, shrank even more. She couldn't look him in the eyes.

"I know. And I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be that bad."

"Well it was," Aster said, his voice rising. Some kids looked their way, but they kept on walking, wanting to return to their own homes.

"I know," April said, her voice getting a little louder. "And I felt horrible about it all weekend. But it wasn't all my fault! You guys agreed to it."

"But you gave the idea!" Aster's tone started to get more menacing; more threatening.

"Keep your voice down," she hissed. "I did give the idea. But you all went along with it." Before Aster could talk April continued. "Why did you agree?"

Aster shut up. He didn't know why he agreed. At the time his mind was hazy, he didn't know what he was doing. It was like he couldn't control his own thoughts and his mouth. He just went along with it. It was the dumbest thing he was ever done. But the worst part about it was he didn't know why he agreed.

He knew how bad Jack's condition was. He knew. Yet he still listened to them and fell into peer pressure. That was the only logical reason he could think of that explained why he agreed.

"I really don't know," Aster answered honestly after a while. April looked down.

"Did any of the others talk to you today," she asked.

"No." He had been avoiding them as much as they have been avoiding him.

"I hope he gets better," April finally said as she started to walk away.

"April," she looked at him and stopped walking. "I'm still pretty angry, but… Thanks. For at least coming and apologizing." April gave a small smile and left.

Aster watched her leave, confused as to why she came and apologized. Out of all his friends, she was the last person on his list to ever feel guilty. He shook off any feeling and continued to walk to the front of the school to go home.

A warm breeze hit his face as he opened the door to leave the school. Most of the kids had already left, leaving the outside of the school somewhat empty. Aster looked around, hoping that Jack at least waited for Aster before walking home.

At the bottom of the stairs sat Jack and Sanderson. Both of them were in deep conversation, and it seemed like they hadn't noticed Aster yet.

He was about to go down to talk to them, but he stayed put.

Sanderson was signing something, but Aster for the life of him didn't know he was saying. Even after Jack learned it Aster never bothered to learn it himself.

"I don't know," Jack responded out loud. "He helped me afterward. At least that's what I think happened. It's kind of blurry." Aster's breath hitched. They were talking about him and the weekend.

Sanderson kept signing to Aster. It made him a little frustrated. He was only able to understand one side of the conversation. It made things harder than they could have been.

"But why didn't he come for me when I was yelling?" More signing. "That could be it. I just… I don't know." Sanderson patted Jack on the back. Aster saw Jack lean into the touch and he couldn't help but wish that he was the one over there comforting Jack. That was his brother. But he was the cause of Jack's discomfort.

They didn't continue the conversation, so Aster decided to make his presence known.

"Jack," he called and Jack looked back, startled. "Sorry for making you wait. Mr. Manny wanted to talk to me and kept me back for a little bit. Hope you weren't waiting long." Jack shook his head and stood up.

"Bye Sandy," he said, waving as he walked away with Aster. Sanderson waved back and gave a small, reassuring smile to his friend.