It was one afternoon that the group decided to talk about their respective families. During that time, Bill had been really quiet about the subject. It seemed easy enough to avoid the topic...until Léa noticed it. Like she always did, she tried asking him several times, asking differently. Bill just leaved her, clenching his fist. Why couldn't she just leave him alone about this? He just didn't want to talk about that.
Only this time, Léa didn't just got curious. She got worried. She had to find out what was going on. He was alone, sitting in the hall when she sat beside him. For a moment, they didn't say anything. It was quiet. She broke the silence, asking with a very calm voice:

-…Yvan...About your family...

He winced. Why was she so persistant with that?

- I won't force you to talk about them if you really don't want to, she immediately added waving her hands, But... I think...You really need to.

His face lit up with surprise. How come he needed to talk about this? As if she could read his thoughts, she explained her statement:

- The fact that you don't want to talk about your family...is it because something happened to them? Because I know, from personal experience, that keeping something that makes you suffer to yourself is bad, Yvan. The more you'll struggle to keep it to yourself, the more underwhelming it will be. It's clearly not making you happy to...discuss about that... And I don't want to see you suffer...Y-You're my friend. She finally added, blushing slightly.

For a moment, there was only silence, as Bill allowed her words to sink in, looking through her eyes. A few minutes later, he finally gave in, sighing deeply. There was no stopping her, afterall. What did he have to lose, as long as he was careful not to tell her too much? It took some time for him to even answer. But he finally decided to dive in those buried memories deep within his very soul. Might as well get this over…
At least that what he thought at the moment, as he started talking:

- Look I-...I never had a happy.."childhood"...Where I came from… I was...different, to say the least. No one was able to understand me, and everyone was treating me as some sort of mistake that should have never existed.

Bill felt his heart ache as he kept talking :

- My Parents...All they ever tried to do was making me "fit" into this dumb place. So I could be someone "normal"..."flat" like everyone else...I never undertsood why they hated what made me…unique. The more they kept telling me those words...The more I hated them. It was suffocating… I started to hate everything…"flat", "normal", "restricted"...I-I hated everything and everyone around me...I hated m-my...f-family.

Bill paused, seized by his emotions. He didn't expect the answer to cause so much pain in his chest. His mind was filled with anger and hatred

- I-I did a...lots of things...that i-i...regret...

His voice was cracking. He couldn't bear it. Emotions were overwhelming him. Memories were flashing before his eyes...Until he broke down, beginning to sob uncontrollably, gritting his teeth, unable to speak straight:

- I-I never wanted that to happen ! I j-just...I j-just wanted to live! To s-show them that I'm not s-some…"mistake" I wanted e-everyone to stop...making m-me hate e-everything.

Léa didn't answer immediatly, She had been right: He had kept those thoughts to himself for too long. Even though she couldn't fully understand what he was going through, she could feel his pain. Seeing how he was unable to speak now, she wrapped her arms around him. Bill stopped as tears rand down his cheeks. He didn't know how to answer to that sudden gesture.

She wanted to confort him, holding him for several minutes before saying:

- W-Well...There's nothing wrong w-with you in my opinion.

She paused letting go of him, before adding:

- You know...growing up in the ranch... I wasn't, and still isn't easy. My mother is always very strict with me. She's judging every aspect of myself on a daily basis, even the way I stand. "Keep you back straight! Raise your head" She keeps repeating that. I'm even forced to wear corset. Looks are everything to her. She wants me to be the best in everything she makes me do. Even if I don't want to. I have a very strict diet, since I have to stay lightweighted for every horse riding competitions she wants me to take part of. I really don't like them. I'd rather spend my time swimming. Only my mom refuse.

- ...W-why don't you ask your dad?

- He doesn't even try to argue with her anymore...She's the head of the house since the ranch...burnt down. He dropped everything so he could take care of the two remaining horse we have... But what I want to say, Yvan...When it comes to being force to be someone you're not?... I understand you.

Those words hit Bill. Even though he was feeling miserable, those words were conforting him. Even though he might have been on his own for too long, he realised that in this misery, he wasn't alone anymore. Was this what human called compassion? At the same time, he felt awful for not being able to tell her the truth. He felt like she was the only one who understood him at the time, but he just couldn't tell her the whole story. He had to hide the truth from this only person he currently "trusted". As he calmed down wiping down his tears, he began to think:

- Y-You know….if you could come over sometimes...I mean, the weekend, at my house…well...Maybe we could go to the pool together?

Léa's eyes sparkled for a moment. That was an idea that she liked.

- Like this, I'll be able to teach you how to swim ! She immediatly answered.

- Er….yes ! O-of course ! Good idea !

Bill looked at his friend with a silly smile. When she was there, all the pain and all bad things seemed to disappear.
After staying still for a moment to both calm down from their emotions, they decided to regroup with the twins.

- Hey, lovebirds. You sure took your time. Mabel grinned.

Bill suddenly freezed upon hearing this. He had honestly never even consider the possibility. In fact, he had no idea what humans felt when they were in love. He looked at Léa. She was as embarrassed as he was by Mabel's words

- That's not what you think ! Bill answered, offended.

- Aaaaaaaw that's so cute! You're both blushing ! Mabel shouted

It was true. Bill and Léa had started to blush. A thought suddenly filled in his mind: What if it was true? All he knew about this human instinct, was that it was acting like one of the most powerful drug on both the body and the mind. How was he supposed to know that anyway? It's not like he could ask Léa.
Even though the two were embarrassed, the group began to chat again, though Bill and Léa were now avoiding eye contact. Realising this, the twins shared a look, before taking both of them apart. Bill found himself alone with Mabel:

- Sooooooo when are you gonna tell her ?!

- E-excuse me?

- Stop being like "I dunno watcha talking about". It's clear that you have a crush on her !

- No I don't!...;He paused, uncertain. before silently adding; Do...Do I?

- Well, duh! Just look the way you smile everytime she looks at you. Plus, everytime she sings, you're just standing there, hypnotized ! Well no more! Don't just stand there, pal, go talk to her!

He took a step back, slightly afraid by this overreacting girl.

- I-I'm not even sure how I feel about this, Mabel.

- How can you not be sure? She's a very likable and forgiving person! It's not like she would hate you for that!

Bill sighed before giving a patient smile to Mabel as he tried to reach a compromise to end this conversation:

- Look, I'm...glad you want to help...I'll try to talk to her about it...this week-end.