Life of the Party

A/N: Hi everyone! I can't believe we finally gotten to this point in the story. I don't think I can describe how excited I am to be here; so many things are going to change after this. Honestly, it took me quite awhile to mold this chapter into what I wanted it to be, not to mention fit writing it into a full university semester. But, regardless of the wait, I hope you guys enjoy the childish antics and drama that I've put together. As always, I'd be happy to hear from you guys~ Reviews are like a second wind for people in the middle of the university writing sprints. Anyway, onto the chapter and happy reading!

Most of the kids were meandering around the backyard by the time Angie arrived, having been let off by their parents as the adults wandered off to get cocktails. The little girl marvelled at the fairy-lights strung up above her, looking for-all the world like a brightly lit circus tent. People were moving between the house and the garden, often lingering by scattered iron tables that were lit by candles or lanterns. For Angie, it was like a fairy council had decided to meet up in the mayor's backyard. With everyone dressed so fancily, the girl felt like a princess attending a ball.

Seeing Van and Heath, who were off by themselves fidgeting uncomfortably, she scurried over to join them. As much as it felt like a ball, they had a mission to accomplish. Angie just hoped she hadn't missed anything.

"I HATE these clothes!" Heath grunted out in greeting, scratching at his pants fruitlessly. He rarely had something so tight and confining on, much less during summer. Unusually hatless, he looked out from beneath straightened bangs at his friends, pleading for a way out. Van was more friendly, a wide smile being his own form of 'hello.'

Angie fingered her scarf uncertainly, not sure what to say to Heath. "Um…that…"

"Sucks," Heath finished for her, continuing to scratch. "But, at least the boss said we'd start exploring soon."

Van, his smile fading, spoke up to fill in the other details. "Dakota and Paolo are going to be looking around first." His hands were stuffed into his pockets, which Angie guessed was to keep him from scratching. Still, he didn't exactly look comfortable. Angie giggled, finally noticing his extremely gelled hair and creased red bowtie. Van looked confused at her reaction. The fashionista's daughter couldn't help herself.

"You look silly," Van huffed at her answer, his eyebrows scrunching further in displeasure. She thought she heard him mutter the words "outfit" and "pretty," but she wasn't sure. Regardless, Angie tried to stop more giggles from escaping at his pout; she didn't want to make him sulk.

Sasilvia barged in then, nudging two plates of mozzarella sticks into the displeased boys' hands. Heath inspected his curiously before stuffing it into his mouth, his itchiness forgotten momentarily in favor of junky fried food.

"Eat. It'll make you less cranky," The red-headed girl seemed just as annoyed as the other two, if her exasperated voice was anything to go by. Sasilvia waved to her costume, an unimpressed look in place. "And just be thankful you didn't have to wear this."

"…but it's so pretty." Angie marveled at the flow-y outfit, with its sheer sleeves and puffed out pants.

Salsivia rolled her eyes, replying sarcastically. "Yeah, sure. Do you like it enough to switch?"

Renee cut in before Angie could even think about it, fawning and cooing over the dressed-up group. They all awkwardly shuffled in turn, with nothing to say to her bright smile and compliments. Sometimes even Angie thought Auntie Renee was a bit too excited about everything. She did like the compliments though – it was nice hearing other people approve of her daddy's work. Matt showed up soon after, already jittery with anticipation, and waved instead of greeting everyone.

"Any news?" Sasilvia shrugged in reply, now preoccupied with her own fried food. Matt pouted, his shoulders slumping forward in turn. "Then, what are we doing?"

"Waiting," Van said, scratching underneath his jacket. "We're supposed to get a signal soon."

As if Van had spoken the magic words, an owl call pierced the air. While the parents continued on with their excited blathering, not giving the sound a second thought, the kids concentrated. The little group huddled together, taking stock of the numerous benches and covered buffet tables that littered the backyard. Angie scanned the area, trying to pinpoint where it came from. The noise sounded like it had come from the shady corner of the yard. Walking as quietly as possible, the group managed to make their way over, despite Ruth and Craig screening eyes frequently scanning the property. Slipping through an opening in the shrubbery, the kids filed into a small space between the greenery and the outer fence.

Taylor and Chloe's faces greeted them, though they weren't directed at the new arrivals. Glares were leveled as the two faced off, Taylor's hands in his pockets and Chloe's arms crossed.

"That's just stupid. If we did that, there's no way we'd have enough time."

"And I'm telling you: it's gonna work."

"Tay, your plan doesn't even make sense!"

` Paolo and Dakota were also there, standing awkwardly on the sidelines. Van could understand: with Taylor and Chloe being the oldest, it just wasn't their place to intervene. While Chloe usually went along with Taylor's plans, their fights could be epic-level destructive. Knowing how stubborn they could be, their attitude made Van anxious; if they got into one of those fights now, everything would be ruined.

"What's not gonna work?" asked Matt innocently, cutting the tension. He pushed between the leaders, swinging his arm about him.

Chloe was eager to get the first word in. "This stupidface thinks that we should sabotage dinner."

"Sabotage?" Matt asked, no less confused than he was before.

"It means to ruin stuff," Heath provided. Momentarily forgetting about his itching, he also positioned himself between the two friends. There had to be unity somewhere. "But I don't get how we aren't doing that already."

"We can't just put all our eggs in one basket. This'd be more effective."

"Or make everyone sick and force us to leave early."

Their voices were rising again, leading to some concerned glances from the adults across the yard. Foliage could only do so much in covering up people when they were making a scene. Van knew that the situation wasn't one that could be defused easily. Fighting always led to failure; they were either together or apart, there was no in between.

"Guys…" Angie piped in, her hands wringing in front of her. "Maybe we can vote on it?"

They ignored her. "We'd only have to put something weird in the sauce. It wouldn't be such a big deal," Taylor grumbled further, his confidence quickly replaced with petulance. Chloe looked even more annoyed now, his tone of voice grating on her nerves. "We'd just need to wing it."

"It's too risky. I don't like winging things; we should just stick with what we planned."

As things started to escalate, Sasilvia clearly had had enough of the whine fest. Shaking her head in aggravation, she latched onto Chloe and Taylor's arms, pinching them roughly. The two accompanying yelps were enough to calm them both down. Time was passing quickly, and the darkness of night was encroaching, so they had no more time to waste.

"Stop," Sasilvia was all business. "If we don't work together then we don't find the quilt, end of story. I don't think Gillington Mcseriouspants is going to let us in again," She pinched a little more roughly, speaking through gritted teeth, "So chill, okay?"

Chloe and Taylor backed off, sullenly nodding as they rubbed their sore arms.

"Come on guys," Paolo spoke up, clearly trying to break the tension, "Don't get all grumpy, that's what we have Dakota for." His mischievous grin was accompanied by an indignant "hey" from the aforementioned girl, leading to her swatting his arm in protest.

Van's left hand tapped against the arm it was crossed against. "What about tampering with dessert?" Taylor's taunt of 'blood runs thicker than water' to Chloe led to some more pinching from Sasilvia. "We wouldn't have to do it, but we could use it as a back-up plan."

"Fine," Chloe sighed, wiggling uncomfortably in Sasilvia's grasp. "But it's only in case everything else fails. And I'm not in charge of it, understand?"

Taylor waved her off with a "yeah, yeah", finally dissolving the tension. As Sasilvia gave up her position as referee, the group began huddling closer. Van knew it was almost time for the plan to be put into action; his hand sought out Angie's, who was worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. A small squeeze prompted a nervous smile. They all had their part to play, though some were more important than others.

"'Kay gang, we're moving out in a few minutes," Taylor sounded like a platoon leader leading out his soldiers. "Everyone knows what they need to do?"

"Do I leave before the rest of you guys?" Their reconnaissance, Matt, said, looking around uncertainly. Taylor shook his head, but motioned for everyone to be quiet.

"Matt, you start the search as soon as we head through the doors. Angie, Van, Heath: you're the decoys. We need you guys to get buddy-buddy with the adults. Once there are fewer people around," He nodded toward Dakota and Paolo. "You two head out. Chloe and I will run headquarters, so we'll contact everyone when it's time to go."

"Plus, we've got walkie-talkies," Chloe said, slipping hers out of the small clutch at her side to show everyone, "and we'll give one to people who are heading out."

"So, we all good on our before-dinner plan?" Taylor asked. Everyone gave affirmative cheers in response. "Then alright guys, let's move out."

Adults mingled in the dining room and adjoining living room, chatting over glasses of wine and tiny appetizers. Gill and Luna weaved between them, talking with different groups as they settled into their role as host and hostess. Hamilton quietly sat on the room's sedan, munching quietly as Jake, Colleen, Barbara and Simon discussed future renovation plans. Heath and Dakota were by their grandparents, playing zoo with some animal figurines that were lying around. Everyone was doing their best to pass the time until everything was in place.

Sasilvia was standing by her father, Angie by her side. The three of them were playing a game of eye spy, calming the girls down as they waited for the others.

Phoebe and Paolo were standing off to the side of the room, with Paolo excitedly gesturing about something while the older woman looked on fondly, while Calvin marveled at the various masks hung on the wall. Angie was being hugged to death by her aunt, who didn't look like she was ready to let go anytime soon. Gill seemed to be awkwardly joking with Julius, who seemed intent on making him as uncomfortable as possible by poking and prodding at the future mayor's outfit.

So many of the adults kept on moving in and out of the rooms, making it difficult to keep track of who was where. Currently, most of the parents, save for Chase, Candace, and Jin, were present and accounted for, but it put Van on edge. His task was to lookout for when Matt could slip through, and he didn't like having any loose-ends.

Their 'search-and-retrieve' boy, in the meanwhile, was marveling at the shiny silverware. He looked for all the world like he wanted to play instead of explore, which made Van even more nervous. Matt really didn't take things seriously, sometimes.

Lamps were turned on, leaving the room well lit enough that few corners remained dark. The adults didn't seem too preoccupied with what the kids were doing – though Anissa frequently looked around for Van – but that didn't mean they could tuck themselves away if they needed to. Everyone had to be carefully watched, and then they would strike.

Chloe eventually made her way between the two of them, stuffing a walkie-talkie into Matt's hand before motioning toward the doorway that led into kitchen. In hushed tones, she told the two how she had seen Yolanda leave there a moment before, meaning that only Chase was left inside. Knowing Dakota's father, he would only have eyes for the stove, so Matt could pass by undetected.

Giving a brief salute, Matt embarked on his quest, slipping out of view into the kitchen. Through there, he would find the alternate entrance to the foyer, and then the stairs. Matt would be in charge of the upper floor, while Dakota and Paolo would look through the other rooms on the ground floor. With any luck, they wouldn't be gone long enough for anyone to miss them.

"I just hope Matt remembers the map that Angie drew," Chloe fretted, sparing a glance to Matt's retreating back. "You know how he is…"

Van hummed in agreement, twitching with the restrained desire to move. Together, Chloe and him moved toward Taylor, who was leaning between two bookshelves in the living room. The tiny space allowed him to hide the device in his hands, clunky as it was.

Now they would just have to wait, and hope that Matt was quick enough to get back in time for dinner.

An hour into the party, Angie was ushered away from Sasilvia by Julius, who insisted that her aunt needed to speak to them elsewhere. Being waved off by her friend – who genuinely seemed to be enjoying the quality time with her own father – Angie took her leave, allowing herself to be herded away to whatever fate her aunt thought fit. The girl guessed adults would never stop confusing her; one minute they wanted to be at the center of a party, and the next they didn't want people to see them. Her father was smiling widely at her though, so maybe what Luna wanted to do wasn't too bad.

Maybe she had something to give them? Angie smiled at the thought of potential gifts. That's definitely something you had to do with only your family.

Her aunt had summoned several people into the kitchen, shooing out Chase in the process so that they could get some privacy. Auntie Kathy, grandma Shelly, and Hamilton were already huddled together by the pushed back kitchen table, looking curiously at the host and hostess in front of them. Angie was crowded in alongside her father, whose hand rested protectively on her upper back, as he ushered her out of the doorway. Her mother shuffled into the room not long after them, looking around sheepishly and seeming a bit out of breath. She offered Angie a small smile before going to stand beside her and her father, her hand coming to rest over his.

"Good. Everyone important is finally here," Luna said, fidgeting by the kitchen counter. Her fiancé, trying to avoid the people in front of him, glanced worriedly at the simmering pots and full pans behind his bride-to-be. An exasperated hip-bump from Luna, alongside an exaggerated eye-roll, got his attention, forcing him to clear his throat awkwardly as he looked towards the other people in the room. Together, they stood before them, their expressions serious. "We just wanted to tell you all first…"

"Way to be dramatic, Lu. What, are you pregnant?" Kathy teased, a cheeky grin crossing her face. Angie noticed the question made her grandmother light up with glee, while her teacher and mother paled. Really, adults were super weird. What did pregnancy mean anyway?

Her aunt just scoffed in response. "No." Candace sighed in relief, causing Luna to send her an annoyed look. "But," Luna grabbed Gill's hand, "Our news is just as important."

A blush spread across Gill's face, Angie noticed, making him look like a human tomato. She just had to tell the others about this later.

"We-we're cancelling the wedding," the teacher stuttered out. A shocked silence followed. Hamilton's face looked thunderous, and everyone else looked surprised. Angie was, again, confused. Did that mean they weren't together anymore? Weren't weddings about people promising to be together forever? Stopping one just didn't make sense.

"And not because we're breaking up," Luna continued hastily, "We're just no longer…" Her aunt sucked in a deep breath, looking at Gill for a moment. "We're just not going to be doing it here… anymore."

"You're eloping? How romantic!" Julius piped in, bouncing back from his shock, his eyes atwinkle and hand on his hip. "Gill, you rogue, wanting to whisk your bride away from our prying eyes. I didn't think you could be so suave."

A high pitched noise was Gill's only reply, while Luna slapped her forehead, secretly shooting her brother-in-law an amused smirk.

Shelley came to their rescue, her voice tired but patient. "Luna, dear, explain," The silence that ground out afterward was awkward, making Angie shift uncomfortably from the tension.

"We're leaving Waffle Town."

"What!?"

Who asked didn't matter. Angie's confusion melted into fear. People didn't leave the island. At least, they didn't leave permanently. Right?

Gill looked weirdly winded after his outburst, and he slumped against the counter, exhausted. Luna placed a hand on his shoulder comfortingly, but kept her eyes focused and trained on everyone else.

"A fashion agency from down south contacted me. They saw some of my old school work," Luna swallowed nervously, "and they offered me a job."

"So, I took it."

"And you're both going?" Hamilton sounded mystified, though he pulled at his sleeves in nervousness.

"Father, I wouldn't stay here without her."

Julius and Candace were silent. Angie could feel how tense they were from the hands on her back, now supportively intertwined. "When do you leave?" Kathy asked breathlessly. One of the bartender's hands was clasped tightly to her chest, and her eyes skittered between the two of them. Even if she wasn't family, Angie figured this was just as scary for her.

"In a few weeks."

"Congratulations," Julius finally squeaked out, opting to break the tension once again. He stepped forward to give her a hug, a genuinely happy smile breaking through. "That's amazing, Luna."

"Thanks, Jules," Angie could swear there were tears in her aunt's eyes as she hugged Julius back. She ruffled his hair as he pulled away, an impish grin on her face. "But you don't need to sound like that. Jeez, your soft-as-cheese voice will make people think I'm never coming back or something."

Not able to handle it anymore, Angie ran to Luna, attaching herself to her aunt's side. Candace joined her a second later, wrapping her arms around her sister tightly.

Angie's family was going to be split up. She buried her face into Luna's shoulder, tears welling in her eyes this time. She really wasn't okay with that.

Matt's eventual empty-handed return signaled Dakota and Paolo's departure, but it did little good. With both groups having done a quick sweep of the house, with no results, the kids were discouraged. Angie, Sasilvia and Heath had thrown their all into distracting the adults. They'd asked questions and entered conversations where people would fawn over them uncomfortably; all in an effort to make sure nothing was amiss. Van had started talking to Perry – a notorious walking-talker – and had used him to scout the perimeter without attracting attention. When the second search-and-retrieve squad had come back empty handed, after 40 minutes no less, it seemed like they were out of luck.

Ultimately, dinner had started, meaning that as many people as possible were seated at the extended dining room table. Additional tables had been set up in the living room for everyone else in the meantime, and it had been like a game of musical chairs to find a seat. The kids were mostly separated, having been forced to sit with their respective families, and were getting antsy about what to do next.

Taylor and Van were seated together at the larger dining room table, and Angie was at the other end, sandwiched between her aunt and her great-grandmother. Everyone else was scattered around, and it didn't seem like communication was going to be a thing anytime soon.

Van was shifting the peas on his plate, his expression stern as he wracked his mind for alternatives. He refused to give up without trying at least one more time. He just wasn't too sure what trying meant at this point. They'd already done so much; not getting anywhere just wasn't fair.

His cousin nudged him quickly, stealing glances at his sister, who was sitting across from them.

"We need to do one more sweep," Taylor whispered, following his statement with a mouthful of salmon. "We're close, I can feel it."

"…sure," Van reluctantly agreed, eyes still stuck to his plate. He clearly wasn't as convinced. The boy wished he could have talked to the others when they'd come back, but crowding and excited whispering would have attracted attention. Taylor ran a hand through his hair nervously, only to have his wrist slapped by his mother. He flinched away, shuffling closer to Van.

"I got this, kid, don't sweat it," he gave a toothy smile, a small piece of spinach from the appetizers still in his front teeth. "Remember, there's always plan dinner-twist."

"Pst."

The whisper cut through the chatter like a knife for the two young boys, though it didn't stop any of the adults' conversations. Silverware continued to clink against plates and bowls, and people continued to pass around various food platters. Van frowned, and Taylor raised an eyebrow as he ducked his head toward the bottom of the tablecloth, where he thought the sound came from.

Heath's face came into view, his toothy grin showing how pleased he was with himself. Van was surprised; their practicing had actually paid off. Jacketless and crouched under the table, Heath looked like a master spy, stealthily moving messages between different groups.

"So, boss-man," Heath, his wild curls reappearing due to his journey under the table, poked Taylor's knee. "What's the plan?"

"Kitchen," Taylor whispered, voice laced with child-like authority. "Sabotage. Dessert."

Heath nodded. That was what they had agreed on, even if Chloe wasn't happy with the idea. He didn't budge from his spot though; orders still had to be sent out.

"We won't be able to get anyone in there, and we wouldn't have enough time…" Van reasoned. Looking dejected as his words,

"What do you suggest then?"

"I can try sneaking in," the boy beneath the table proposed, eyes over-eager. "Maybe I can sprinkle garlic in the pudding."

Taylor started to nod as enthusiastically as he dared, "That's the thing, that won't work," Taylor stopped his nodding. Van continued, attention returning to his plate. "The adults would notice us out in the open, plus Yolanda's in the kitchen now. We'd practically need a distraction to make another distraction. It's pointless."

Heath was looking increasingly uncomfortably down below, forced to push up the table-cloth as he was. Their leader pondered for a moment, clearly not thinking the situation as hopeless as Van's comment would suggest.

"Okay, forget the dessert," Taylor mentioned, his voice picking up speed. He continued at the same pace, looking around nervously. "Send Matt out, and then create a big enough distraction that no one notices he's away for awhile." Matt and his parents were seated by the doorway that led directly into the entrance hall, and it wouldn't be that difficult for him to get a clear shot. Fortunately, Heath was seated at the same table. "Make sure he tells his parents he's going to the bathroom before, okay?"

Orders given, Heath agreed excitedly, before slowly starting to crawl backwards the way he came. Taylor and Van gave him two thumbs up, before smoothing out the table-cloth where he'd been. The encounter had only been a few minutes, but it had been enough time to potentially attract parental eyes keen on making sure nothing was afoot.

However, now they had a bigger problem. What kind of distraction would be long enough to give Matt more time?

Angie looked small in her high-backed chair, her eyes glued to her aunt, whose hair was swinging animatedly as she talked. People were starting to finish off their meals, so the general din of dinnertime was being replaced by more lively chatter. To get people's attention, the distraction would have to be just loud enough and just shocking enough to make everything else seem less important.

But what could be that shocking?

Van mind was running a mile a minute. The chatter of the party was continuing unabated: Van could hear Maya disturbingly moaning in delight over the food at the other end of the room, while Kathy and Owen were getting into an argument about proper animal care with Cain. Beside him, Taylor was also quiet, in what his nephew could only assume was frantic planning.

Really, what would work? What could keep people distracted for that long?

His green eyes widened. Van knew what needed to be done. Jumping to his feet, the boy's chair loudly scrapped against the floor behind him. A few heads turned his way – his mother and grandmother looked livid – but that was only the beginning.

Then, the firing shot.

Taking in a deep breath, he yelled. "I love you, Angie!"

There was silence; an oppressive blanket of quiet where you could hear a pin drop. The leader of the group, the only one Van dared dart his eyes toward, looked at him with a mixture of pride, awe and horror.

Finally, just as Van predicted, the quiet bubble burst, and all the attention was on him.

As the romance hounds descended, Van had no regrets. Now, it was all up to Matt.

The ninja leapt from shadow to shadow, hiding behind any table or shelf available to him in the dimly lit hallway. He was a thief in the night, escaping detection. Better yet, Matt was the world's best ninja-thief, currently exploring the castle of an enemy lord to uncover valuable secrets.

He snuck up to the edge of the study's doorway, his back pressed firmly against the wall. The great ninja-thief couldn't risk detection. Any false move would be the end of him and his clan.

The foyer's grandfather clock rang out nine times, its clangs reverberating off the walls. Matt sucked in a breath sharply; it was nine o'clock. They'd have to leave soon.

He hurried in front of the door, quickly pushing it open just enough for him to slip through.

The study was small in size, with the back wall lined with glass cabinets and a large desk crowding the center of the room. Several filing cabinets were crowded to one side of the desk, standing opposite to an empty fire place. Matt took this all in quickly before opting to crawl instead of walk. He needed to be quick, sure, but stealth was important too.

The desk had just covered his body from view when the room's next occupants entered. Light suddenly flooded the room and Matt froze, his hand already stuffed into the right-hand bottom drawer. His heart was beating out of his chest and into his ears, making them ring against the hushed, angry tones from the other side of the great-oaken barrier. Slowly, he looked up over the edge.

"We need to put a stop to this."

"They're kids, it's nothing serious."

"You don't think a declaration of love is serious? We're clearly operating under different definitions."

"Jin…"

Angie's mom and Van's dad were there, standing close to one another. Candace was standing like Angie did sometimes; her crossed arms making her look like she was curling into herself. The doctor stood stiffly, his forehead wrinkled with anger. More importantly, the door behind them was closed. Matt was trapped in there, and it didn't look like he'd find a way out anytime soon.

"…my apologies," Jin sighed, the tenseness leaving his body. "I was caught off guard, and you know how that makes me." He took a step forward, taking Candace's face within his hands. "Forgive me?"

The whole scene was too mushy for Matt's tastes. He ducked back behind the desk, moving quietly toward the edge closest to the fireplace. The ninja-thief was stuck: he needed to leave but couldn't risk being caught.

Not being able to see anything from beside the desk, he calmed down and leaned he could hide out until they left. He scanned his surroundings in frustration, trying to come up with an idea. But, lack of experience won out. He never was chosen for the planning part of their adventures, anyway. Now he just needed to make sure he wouldn't get bored.

Staring at the marble fireplace probably wouldn't help with that, but it wasn't like there were any options.

Until, that is, something caught his eye. Hidden inside the fireplace, hanging a little below the top, was what looked like a quilt. Matt squinted, not quite believing it. The corner that he could see showed a small person beside a large tree, a blood-red fruit held firmly within their hand. The boy had to rub at his eyes for a minute just to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

But, getting a closer look was going to have to wait. The two adults were moving toward the other side of the room, forcing Matt to scramble backward and push himself under the desk.

There was no point in paying attention to what they were saying. The words passed through one ear and out the other. Anxiety made his heart race, making him take shallow breaths as he watched them move toward the glass cases.

The others were going to be so excited when he showed them. So long as he didn't get caught, and was able to get out of there in time, they could throw the quilt over the backyard fence and use it later. Everything - all the effort – would have been worth it. He just needed to get out of there.

So long as the adults didn't see him, and Matt pretended he hadn't seen them, then they'd all be scot-free. He could forget how uncomfortably close his aunt and uncle were standing, or how they looked at each other weird. Actually, his mommy and daddy looked at each other with the same mushy, soft-eyed expression.

The boy knew when there were things he wasn't supposed to see. Things he wasn't supposed to do. It was like when Angie collapsed all over again. Even if it wasn't his fault, or even his idea to go into the mine, he'd still felt guilty. He hadn't done anything to stop it, had he? Maybe he should have…

Matt's mind was racing a mile a minute, his clammy hands clasped against his jeans. He just needed to stay quiet, and then he could make everything right with everyone. He'd be cool again with Angie and then maybe he wouldn't feel so bad about letting her down before. Maybe then, with her bright eyes happy, he could forget about her lying on the ground, motionless.

However, when Jin kissed Candace, in a way definitely only meant for mommies and daddies, Matt's breath audibly hitched.

He was caught, and this wasn't something he could forget.

Matt shot up out of bed, his long hair whipping against the side of his face. His breathing was just as erratic and fast as it had been that night. Burying his head in his hands, he curled up into a ball on his bed, trying to block out the quiet snores of his father and just breathe.

It had been 4 years since that night, and he still couldn't forget.