Klavier never came back to visit while he was in the hospital. But he'd call twice a day just to say hi. Apollo was always glad that Klavier called. But he was also glad that he didn't come see him. He didn't know why. For some reason, Apollo thought: My life will be different now. And Apollo kept repeating that to himself. Apollo wondered what it would've been like to lose his legs. And in a sense, he had lost them. Not forever. But for a while.

He never asked about the book or what Apollo thought about his songs. Apollo thought that he was punishing Klavier. He'd showed a part of himself that no one else had seen. A piece of himself that he'd never given to another human being. And this is what he got in return. Apollo hadn't even bothered to look at it. Why am I doing that?

Apollo got to practice using a wheelchair with his legs out. But everything was still so hard. He thought he'd be happy when the doctor said that he could finally go back home. He wanted to be as ecstatic as Trucy and Mr. Wright was. But he wasn't.

Apollo hated living in the small and claustrophobic atmosphere of their house. He didn't like being waited on all the time. He hated that Mr. Wright and Trucy were so patient with him.

He practically begged Mr. Wright to give him some work to sort out so that he could have something to do while he sat on the couch or in his room. Sometimes Trucy would go to the pool or hang out with her friends. Mostly she stayed in, showing him magic tricks or watching TV with him. Sometimes they would talk. Mostly, Trucy would talk and Apollo would listen.

Even though Klavier didn't visit Apollo in the hospital after he brought him the book, he came to visit Apollo every day when he was home. Apollo wasn't sure if he was happy to see him or not.

"You don't seem very happy when Klavier comes over," Trucy commented one day after Klavier had left.

Apollo shifted from his spot on the couch. "What do you mean?"

She hesitated. "You don't smile as much."

"Smiles are like that, Truce. They come and go," he said. He offered her a small smile, but she pouted at him instead.

"Daddy says that he likes you a lot."

"Well, I would hope so - I am living in his house," Apollo deflected.

"Not Daddy. Klavier!" Trucy declared.

"I-I know, Truce. I was kidding," Apollo said, then sat back. "I mean, he's my friend. Of course we like each other." Trucy opened her mouth to speak again, but Apollo beat her to it. "Listen, Trucy. If it seems like I'm not happy, it's just because I'm still a little sad about having these casts," Apollo said. "It's hard to do anything with them."

Trucy sat next to him on the couch. "I'm glad that you're okay."

Apollo smiled. "So am I."

"I was really scared."

He squeezed her shoulder. "I know. I'm sorry."

Trucy smiled a toothy smile and wrapped her arms around him, engulfing him in a hug. "Ow…Trucy…This is excruciating…" Apollo strained.

"Excruciating? What's that?"

"Pain…ful! Very, very painful," Apollo said.

Trucy jumped back, a scared look on her face. "I'm sorry, Polly!"

He smiled, pretending like it he was no longer in pain, even though he was. "Maybe save the hugs for after I get the casts off, okay?"

He thought life would never get better. But it did get better. Eventually. Eventually he could bend his knees. Then his arm cast came off and he could use his crutches.

He was actually almost happy. Almost.

Apollo and his crutches walked into his room and took out his journal. He'd been avoiding writing in it. Clay had given in to him a while ago. He said it would help him to process things. But Apollo didn't want to process things. He tried not to think. He just started writing:

- School starts in five days. Junior year. Guess I'll have to go to school on crutches. My first full school year without Clay. In a brand new school.
- Sometimes I want to ride my bike down a desert road and just stop and stare at all the stars. No light pollution.
- Physical therapy will be coming soon. Doctor says swimming will be very good. Swimming will make me think of Klavier. Shit.
- Klavier's leaving in three days. I'm glad. I need a break from him. He's been coming over because he feels bad. I don't know if we'll ever be normal again.
- I like staying with Mr. Wright and Trucy. I like them. I'm going to have to walk Trucy to her school.
- Walking! I am in love with that thought.
- I don't know who I am.

Klavier came over the day before he left for Chicago. But what was strange was that Kristoph showed up too. Mr. Wright and Kristoph spoke like they were old friends. Kristoph didn't shoot daggers at him, but he did note Apollo having healed.

"I see you're doing well, Mr. Justice," Kristoph said.

"Uh, yeah," Apollo said, still a little unsettled with him. Apollo had no idea what Kristoph thought of him now. "I feel a lot better," he said.

"It seems you've taken in quite the individual, Wright," Kristoph said with a polite smile. It was freaking Apollo out, to be honest.

Klavier was standing over with Trucy by the couch and pretending to be amazed (or, knowing Klavier, he actually was amazed) at one of Trucy's magic tricks. It was odd for Apollo - to look at Kristoph standing with his hands behind his back with a poised expression as he spoke to Mr. Wright, and then to look at Klavier as he made a funny face at Trucy and flipped over his card.

Mr. Wright smiled. "That I have. I've got quite the two to keep me straight," he laughed. "And you've got yourself quite the brother. I don't know many people who would jump onto a street to save an injured bird."

Klavier would. Because Klavier was one mystery of the universe.

Kristoph's mouth twitched. "He certainly is quite the character." Kristoph glanced at Apollo briefly. "A very reckless thing for him to do, though, wouldn't you agree?"

Mr. Wright shrugged. "I dunno. I think it was noble. Like I said, not everyone would do that. That means something." Kristoph looked…upset? Apollo wasn't sure. But he didn't look pleased that Mr. Wright had chosen to praise Klavier so much. Mr. Wright smiled at Apollo. "And not everyone would push someone out of the way of a moving car, either."

Apollo huffed. "I already told you-"

"'I didn't do it on purpose'," Mr. Wright mimicked. "You can't fool me, Apollo."

"I'm not trying to fool anyone," Apollo said. "I'm just telling you the truth."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Wha-Of course I'm sure!" Apollo exclaimed. He could feel himself already getting frustrated. Before he could say anymore, he felt Klavier next to him.

"Can I talk to you for minute?" Klavier said to Apollo. He had this expression like he knew he was saving Apollo from a conversation he didn't want to be a part of.

"Yes. Yes please," Apollo said, glancing once more at Mr. Wright. "We can go outside."

Klavier followed Apollo out to the front porch. Even though there was a bench out on the porch, they decided to sit on top of the steps instead.

Klavier stretched out his arm, the one that had been broken in the accident. Apollo stretched out his arm, the one that had been broken in the accident.

"All better," Klavier said.

They both smiled.

"When something gets broken, it can be fixed," Klavier whispered. "Good as new."

"Maybe not good as new," Apollo said with a shake of his head. Klavier gave him a disproving look. Apollo smiled. "But good anyway."

Klavier's face had healed. In the evening light, he was perfect again.

"I wrote a song today."

"Really?"

"I love music."

"I know," Apollo said.

"I love music," he said again. He was quiet for a little while. And then he said, "I love music-and you." Klavier sounded sure. His voice didn't waver or hide or hesitate. He spoke clearly. He was sure. He was sure.

Apollo didn't say anything.

"Music and you. Those are the things that I love the most."

"You shouldn't say that," Apollo said, hardening his voice.

Klavier sighed, like he'd expected this sort of answer. "It's true."

"I didn't say it wasn't true. I just said you shouldn't say it."

He stared at Apollo, who tried to look anywhere but at Klavier's piercing blue eyes. "Why not?"

"Klavier, I-I don't-"

"You don't have to say anything. I know. I know. It's…okay. We're not the same."

"No. We're not the same." Apollo knew what he was saying and he wished to God that Klavier was someone else, someone who didn't have to say things out loud. Apollo just kept nodding. Klavier said something in German but Apollo didn't want to ask what it meant so he just kept his mouth shut.

"So…I'll see you when I get back from Chicago?" Klavier said.

"Yeah."

"You promise?"

Apollo rolled his eyes, thinking Klavier was teasing, but when he looked, Klavier had a serious expression. Apollo looked into his perfect face. "I promise."

He smiled. Apollo didn't know what to say to him, but then he got an idea into his head. "Your notebook is under my bed. Will you get it for me?"

Klavier hesitated. But then he nodded. He disappeared into the house and Apollo waited. When he came back, he handed the book to Apollo.

"I have a confession to make," Apollo said. "I haven't looked at it."

Klavier didn't say anything.

"We can look at it together."

Klavier still didn't speak, so Apollo just opened up the notebook to a random page.

And then my soul saw you
And it kind of went,
"Oh there you are. I've been looking for you."

Apollo paused, holding the book towards Klavier. "Who's this about?"

Klavier didn't answer, and to be honest, he didn't have to. Apollo bit the inside of his lip and continued flipping through.

There were songs about his brother. There were unfinished lines. There were pages with a single sentence or a word on them. There were songs about himself and songs about past loves. Songs about law. Songs about everything.

Klavier didn't say a word as Apollo looked at his notebook.

He looked at one that was scribbled out, though he'd left it in regardless. The date on it was from seven years ago. Had Klavier really given him the songwriting book he'd had for that long? Apollo strained to read the words. He could see that it was about his brother.

Apollo looked at Klavier. "What happened seven years ago?"

"My brother left."

"He left?"

"Not physically."

"Oh."

"Ja."

Apollo closed the notebook. Klavier looked so vulnerable. He wasn't cracking jokes. He wasn't calling him 'Herr Forehead.' He didn't have his carefree smile on. His mask was off. Not completely. But almost.

Apollo decided that he didn't like that. And he didn't like what it meant.

"They're honest," Apollo said.

"Honest?"

"Honest and true. You're going to be a great musician someday."

"I already told you I don't-"

"I know. It's a hobby. But you are," Apollo said. "You're going to be both. Someday."

"Someday," Klavier said, though it was clear he thought the idea was ludicrous. "Listen, you don't have to keep the book."

"You gave it to me. It's mine," Apollo said with a smile.

That's all they said. Then they just sat there.

They didn't really say goodbye that night. Not really. Mr. Wright and Trucy came out to say goodbye and Trucy hugged him and gave him some sort of magic thingamabob for him to hold on to. Mr. Wright shook his hand and wished him well. Then it was Apollo's turn.

Klavier hugged him.

Apollo hugged him back.

"See you in a few months," Klavier said.

"Yeah."

"I'll write."

"We have cell phones," Apollo said.

"I know," Klavier said with a smile. "But I'll write too."

And Apollo knew he would. He just wasn't so sure that he would write him back.

Mr. Wright, Trucy, and Apollo sat out on the front porch after Kristoph and Klavier left. It started to rain and they just sat. Sat and watched the rain in silence. Apollo just kept picturing Klavier standing amongst the rain holding a bird with a broken wing. Apollo couldn't tell if he was smiling or not. What if he'd lost his smile when he came back?

Apollo bit the inside of his lip so he wouldn't cry. Was there a word for sucker-punching someone in the heart? There should be, because that's how Apollo felt.

"Music and you-those are the things I love the most."

"I love the rain," Mr. Wright whispered.

I love it too. I love it too.

Apollo felt like he was the saddest boy in the world. Summer had come and gone. Summer had come and gone. And the world was ending.

So I'm thinking it'll be around 3-4 chapters of the school year (aka while Klavier is away). I might alternate a chapter from Klav's point of view for this, but I dunno. We'll see how it goes. This next part will probably be a little harder for me to adapt from the book, but I love a good challenge haha. Again, longer space between uploads because IRL stuff is kicking my butt right now haha. But thank you to all you beautiful people to reading! Writing angst-y Klavier was harder than I thought it would be haha. Also I forgot that Apollo journals in the game (at least in the fourth case, I can't remember if it's mentioned in others), so I'm glad that I was able to keep that part in haha.