Hey guys here I am back and this time a bit earlier than usual and I am proud of myself this time Im wrote the whole chapter in one session.

I think I added maybe a bit too much drama into this chapter, but it came just out of my mind and made at least a bit sence to me, so if you would be so kind to give me some feedback if it was okay or more nahh. That would be awesome. At least I think I improved my 'skills' as writer during this fanfiction over the chapters.

For now I wish you a good read and I see you in the end notes.

A flying artist Chapter 21: a bumpy start

On the next morning the alarm of my phone woke me up and I turned it off with a motion of my free right arm. My left were taken by Brooke who laid on it and grumbled into my chest. I poked hercheek with my index finger.

"Good morning. Get up." She grumbled again into my chest and cuddled closer to me. I moved a bit to lean my back on the wall behind me, but Brooke clung on me and pulled me back down.

"Nooo, I don't want..." I sighed and caressed her back. "Brooke?" "Mhm..." "Do you want to come with me to the graveyard today to give Kate her present?" "Oh I nearly forgot this, of course I do." "Good, then get up and ready." Brooke grumbled again. "Or I have to..." "To what?!" "Huh, nothing. I go quick to my room and get ready. You should do the same." "Yeah yeah..." "Then, see you soon." I gave Brooke a quick kiss on the cheek and put my old clothes on and went to my room grabed my shower supplies.

It was silent in thze dorms, but to the fact that it was the morning after the graduation, it seems to be normal. So I showered and put on some new clothes and picked up the acrylic glass cube with the special present in it for Kate and put it into my bag. I went back to Brooke's room and found her sleeping again. I sighed and an impish grin came to my face.

I walked to her bed and pulled down the blanket and only got a sleepy grumble, which was good. I poked her cheek with my index finger. "Come on it's time."
"... give me 5 minutes..." "Nope." Then I put my arms around her stomach and pulled her up onto my shoulder. "Then I have to carry you to the bathrooms, huh."

Brooke squealed and began to hammering with her hands on my back and paddling with her feet. As I opened the door she gave in. "Okay, okay. You won. You can let me down." "Are you sure? Not that you fell asleep again as I let you down." "Shut up and let me down." So I did and placed her infront of me and grinned sheepish on her. "God sometimes I hate you for this, do you know this?" "Yupp." Brooke rolled her eyes and put her arms up and yawned long.

"The schedule is long today. On noon your parents want to drive back to Seattle." "Ugh, don't remember me to that... I don't want to go back to Seattle, but I have to." "Hey don't be so down I'm coming with you. At least for the first week or so. It's a wonder that you already have packed up your stuff." "I know what does that mean, Dan! but as you said no time today for it." Brooke said as she digged in a box for her shower supplies. I sat down in the desk chair and looked out of the window as Brooke left the room and went to the showers, hopefully.

1 hour later on the Arcadia Bay cemetery

Brooke and I were now standing in front of Kate's gravestone and I had Brooke in my arm. I sighed and put down the bag which I've brought.
"So hey Kate, we are back again. sorry that it took so long, but it was a bit stressfully the past months. But we've brought you a present as I promised. I hope you like how it went."

Brooke picked up the bag and opened it for me, that I can put out the acrylic glass cube and I gave it one last closer look.

Of course the cube wasn't empty. To my luck the publisher accepted my request to send me the first printed copy of the book. they didn't even asked for the reason.
At this point I had to thank David that he let me use his tools to build the cube and he gave me some tips for the future. So I placed the book into the cube and I opened the first side of the book and fixxed that it will not close again. Then I placed the book an a little slope that it can be read easier. After this I closed the cube and sealed it airtight.

Now I had the cube in my hands and Brooke and I looked down at it. Then I kneeled down to the gravestone and placed the cube on a prepared place for it. I get up again and looked down at the opened site and read the writen lines.

This book is made in honor for a beloved friend who had the idea.

But she was a victim of bullying and other bad things.

Then she killed herself...

If I only can safe one person from a similar fate I am more than happy

R.I.P. Kate Beverly Marsh
*12. September 1995
✝ 8. October 2013

I looked up into the sky and sighed deep. "I'll try to visit you as often as I can. That's it for now Kate. I'll see you later." After some minutes of silent commemoration Brooke and I went back to Blackwell and began to pack her carton box with her stuff from Blackwell into my car, which I've got as a present from my parents and grandparents for the graduation. As we were finished with the last box Brooke's parents drove into the parking lot and her father stepped out of the car.

"Oh you are allready done. I've expected that I have to wake you up." "If I wasn't there, Brooke would still drool into her sheets." "Hey!" "What? Is it wrong?" Brooke crossed her arms and looked away. Brooke's father and I bursted out laughing. After some moments to calm down. I turned to Jin. "We just have to give back the dorm keys and then we are ready." "Okay we are waiting here for you."

It took some minutes until we could give back the keys some other students were moving out today as they could not wait to leave Arcadia Bay. As we came back to the parking lot. Brooke's parents were waiting outside of their car and Jin told me the route back to Seattle. After this Brooke and I turned around to go to my car and get in as her mother spoke up.

"Brooke Scott, what do you think you are doing?" Brooke turned around with a pissed of raised eyebrow. "I want to drive with Daniel." "No you are driving with us." "But it doesn't matter with whom I drive." "I don't care you are driving with us." "But-" "No 'but' young lady, you are driving with us. end of the discussion." Brooke clenched her fists. "Okay..." Jin looked at me in an excusing way and get into the car. I gave Brooke a kiss. "I'll see you in Seattle." "Fuck this mother." She whispered into my ear. "Don't say this. She has her reasons. I don't know them, but..." "Yeah and the reason is to piss me off."

So everyone got into the cars and we started to drive out of Arcadia Bay. I took one last glance into the Rearview mirror before I had to drive a curve. The drive was quite and I had a lot of time to think about, why Brooke's mother seem to be against me or us, but I came to no real reason. sure we had some little fight here and there, but It all was forgotten after some hours. We never had such an intense fight like this one with the hoodie girl.

After some hours we drove past a 'Welcome to Seattle' sign, then I had to focus on the car before me and follow them. Finally we reached their house. It was one of the classic white suborb houses with an garage, some lawn in front of it and a garden in the back.

I drove into the place before the garage and everyone get out of their cars. I wasn't even half out of my one as Brooke ran into me and hugged me. "Hey, it just were some hours how do you deal with it the next two years, huh." "I don't know, or want to know..."

Jin looked at us smiling and of course Brooke's mother looked annoyed and turned around to walk into the house. After I helped Brooke carrying her stuff into her room, I put my bag out of my car and walked into the house and Brooke's mother waited by the stairs. "Alright Daniel. Brooke is gonna show you the guests room you are sleeping there." "Mom, we are a couple. He can sleep in my room too. The bed is large enough for both of us." "I said that you are showing him the guest room! Did you understood me?" "Yeah..."

We went upstairs into the guest room and I put my bag down and sat on the bed. "Really Brooke, what is the problem of your mother with me? I don't get it." "Me neither Daniel. She... was so to everyone of my... boyfriends before. But you are the first one who get this much of a shitload from her. But don't destroy your mind about it. The next week you're all mine." Brooke said and immediately pinned me down to the bed and climbed on top of me and started to kiss me and her hands trailed all over my body.

The someone knocked on the door. Brooke sighed and got of the bed and sat down on a chair. "Brooke, Daniel can I come in?" It was Jin. "Yeah dad." Jin stepped into the room. "Hey I hope I haven't interrupted something?" "You have dad, but it's okay." "Oh okay I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you that we are ordering some pizza and wanted to ask you want do you want." "Special medium, as always, Dad." "I know honey, the question was more for Daniel."

"Oh okay. I like a medium tunna, with extra cheese, please." "Okay. Oh and Brooke your mother want to talk to you." "Ugh, okay..."

So I had some time for myself until the pizza came and we all sat around the table and ate the pizza in a questionable silence. Even the trys of Jin to start a conversation failed most of the times. Only me and jin were talking only interrupted by some not really helpfull comments from Brooke's mother and it took a lot of self-control from me to not ask her what her fuking problem is with me. So after we finished the meal Brooke and I went to her room to get her stuff out of the boxes. I stopped counting at six so let's say her mother walked past the opened door a lot of times to check on us. As we were done I said that I am going to bed earlier.

"Okay Daniel. Around 8 it's time for the breakfast. Have a good night." Jin said to me and he digged his head back into his newspaper.

After I took a quick shower I put on my pyjamas and laid down in the bed, but I could not fell asleep. So after a while I digged in my bag and put out some stuff to roll a small joint. I opened the window and sat on the windowsill and blew the smoke into the night sky. I don't know how long I sat there, but at some time I noticed by the noises that Brooke's parents went into bed too. For some time longer I enjoyed the silent night and in some distance I could see the lights of Seattle.

I laid down in the bed again and looked at the ceiling. An unknown ceiling in a house where I seem to be unwelcome. I closed my eyes and tried to catch some the door opened creaky and someone walked into the room and besides the bed. "Daniel?" It was Brooke. "Hmm..." "Good, you are awake..." Brooke lifted the blanket and laid down besides me and cuddled close to me. We don't have talked for the whole time. With her in my arms I felt like I am home here. And I fell asleep fast with the girl in my arm which I love.

The next morning...

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!" someone stood besides the bed and screamed at us. I opened my eyes slowly and saw that Brooke's mother stood on the edge of the bed and was yelling at us. "Brooke Scott get out of this bed! NOW!" And with this she stormed out of the room and slamed the door into it's frame.

"What the fuck was this..." Brooke mumbled. "I don't know, but what I know is that this was enough for me." "What?" "I did my best Brooke, but I don't like your mother and this is an understatement. I don't want to stay here longer. Please wait here." I stood up and put on my clothes from yesterday and packed my other things back into my bag and closed it. I took the bag and went out of the room and downstairs. I walked into the kitchen where Jin and Mrs. Scott sitting on the breakfast table.

"Miss Scott can I talk to you for a moment?" "Sure sit down, if you are not busy with ignoring my orders." "Wha- Okay." I sat down with all of my remaining calmness and took a deep breath.

"To be honest Miss Scott. I don't like you or the way you are treat your daughter not to mention me as her boyfriend. I don't even know what is your goddamn problem with me. And at this point I no longer want to know it. But I want to tell you, like me or not you have to deal with me as the boyfriend of your daughter or in the future maybe more as just the boyfriend. You can have it in the easy way or the hard one." I took a quick glance over to Jin who had an eyebrow raised and said nothing, he just listen to us.

"Okay." "Okay? Is this all you have to say? Then I have to thank you for your 'hospitality' and say good bye. I hope this-" I put my wallet out of my pants and put a hundred dollar note out of it. "- will cover the costs I've caused." I stood up and took my bag. "Good bye Jin, at least it was a pleasure to meet you."

I was going to the houses door as Brooke stormed down the stairs. "Daniel wait, where are you going?" "Me I am going back to Arcadia. I don't want to be in a house where I am not welcome. I still love you, Brooke keep that in your mind." I put my hands on her cheeks and kissed her long.

"I'll call you as soon as I am back in Arcadia. And if I ever come to visit you I'll take a hotelroom. I'll gonna miss you soon enough honey." "Please don't-" I put my finger on her mouth. "Shh, please don't make it harded than it is for me, Brooke. Okay. I'll see you." Then I turned around and out of the house, into my car and started the engine. Even now her mother didn't had the guts to show her face. I drove back out of the parking space and away from the house which costed enough of my nerves. i did not really had a target where I was driving now I just wanted to move as far away as it gets.

I drove for around one hour on a street I don't remember and stopped at a diner, because my stomach was grumbling. I didn't had breakfast. So I went into the diner and ordered some pancakes and sat around for like another hour as my phone vibrated to see a message from Brooke.

Brooke: Daniel, please pick up your phone. I have to talk to you.

To Brooke: For you everytime.

Just a moment later my phone rang and I picked up.

"Brooke?" "Yeah it's me. Please come back... my mother want to talk to you..." "Oh now she wants to talk to me. Don't you think that it is a bit to late for it?" "Maybe, but she really want to... she explained it to me and you have to listen to her..." I sighed and thought. "Daniel?!" "...Yeah I'm still on the phone. I know that I'll regret it. Message me the address I have to use my phone navigator." "Okay, I'll do it. Daniel?" "Yes?" "I love you." I smiled. "I love you too Brooke. I'll see you soon."

I put down my phone and drank the rest of my coffee. "Fuck this shit..."

A minute later I got the message from Brooke with the address and I started to drive there with a lot of thoughts in my head. Over one hour later I drove into the space before the garage and stoped there and got out of my car. As soon as I closed the door Brooke came out of the house and ran into my arms and started to cry.

"Hey stop crying I'm here now." Brooke's parents stood in the doorframe and waited. "Brooke?" "Hmm, would you mind go in the house while I talk to your parents?" She shook her head and after some moments she got of me and kissed me short, but long enough to place a statement to her parents. Jin spoke up. "Daniel you like to come in for a second." I looked up to them and leaned against the bonnet of my car and crosed my arms. "No. It's better for me when we talk out here."

Jin took his hand on the back of his wife and gaveher a nod and walked into the house. Now it was just me and Brooke's mother outside of the house. She came in front of me and looked at me.

"So...Daniel. At first you don't know how sorry I am for my attitude the past days." She seemed to await an answer, but I said nothing, instead I looked up to a window, because a slight movement caught my attention. I saw that Brooke was watiching us trough the curtain. "Is she watching us?" "Mhm..." I looked back at Mrs. Scott. "Look Daniel, I just want the best for my daughter, which includes the boyfriend. Like every mother...So I kind of tested you." I contracted my eyebrows in disbelieve what I heard. "I want that she get's a boyfriend who stands up for her and himself not like the other softies she brought along over the past years." Again she seem to await an answer and I still said nothing.
"Well and you were the first one who did." "Of course I did. Believe it or not I am a grown man. Or at least I try to be one. And no one gets between me and my love."

"Yeah. I've never seen her yelling at me in such a way she did today. Which brought me back into the reality and I realised what I have done to you. I was in a trance-"
"And you thought to do 'this' is the best way to 'test' me. I... don't get this. It makes no sence to me. Doesn't Brooke have said something about me...us?" "Of course she did, but I could not believe it. I wanted to see it with my own eyes. and over the past days I saw and could not believe it." "I still don't get it, but I don't think that I will ever do it."

"Afterwards I don't get it too-" "Oh okay then I am not alone. That's good." "Today I got tossed out of the trance. And all I can do is ask you to accept my deepest apology and my offer to take my daughter." I laughed ironic. "Again you don't get it Mrs. Scott. I do accept your apology, but not the 'offer' to take your daughter." "What?" "Look what I am saying is that we are no longer in the middle Ages where a family offers their childs to others. Your daughter have to offer herself to the one she loves and I know that she did some time ago. ... Wow this sounds a bit odd..."

"So would you come back into the house with me and stay for a week?" She hold out her hand towards me. I didn't move a muscle and looked up to Brooke's window and smiled at her. "I would like to Mrs. Scott." I stepped towards her and shook her hand. "And by the way you can call me Nicole."

I still can not believe what happend now. What is this for a mother...
I followed her into the house and as I stepped in Brooke ran again into my arms and cried, but this time from happiness.

The following days were... let's call it strange. Mrs. Ehm I mean Nicole was friendly and nice to us and Jin said that she was mostly like this, but when it comes to her daughter she changes into a different personality. I still had my problems to believe what she said, but in the end off the week I lost the doubts. I did some sightseeing with Brooke to the Space Needle and some museums. We spent a every free time out in Seattle. the evenings in the living room cuddled together under a blanket under the smiling gazes of her parents.

Then the day of my final departure came and Brooke became more clingy than before, if this was possible somehow.
Now Brooke and I were standing in the gateway of their house looking into our eyes and her parents stood in the doorframe and Jin said to Nicole. "Come on let's get in. give them some time for themself." And Nicole nodded. Jin, Nicole and I already have said goodbye. now it was time for me and Brooke.

"Hey Brooke, please stop crying. Or I have too. I'll come to visit you often as I can I promise." "No one can safe you when not..." I laughed short and hugged her tight and she digged her head into my shoulder. "That wasn't a joke..." "I know. And don't mess up your college." "I'll be the best!" "Of course you will." We looked us deep into our eyes and Brooke started to close the cap between our lips and closed her eyes. As our lips met I closed mine to and enjoyed the long and passionate kiss. As our lips parted we rested our forwhead agaist each others and looked again into our eyes.

"It's time Daniel. It's going to be dark soon." "I know..." I wiped away a tears from Brooke's eyes and sneaked another quick kiss. "I'll call you as soon as I am back in Arcadia." "I'll haunt you if not. And that's a promise." I laughed and got into my car and started the engine and drove into the dawn with some tears in my eyes. There must be something in them...

End notes: Alright it's done another chapter and the ship is still sailing, but this time it's out of sight behind the horizon, but not out of the world.

The next chapter will be about Daniel's settling in Arcadia Bay as an artist and his start into his dream.

keep flying guys and stay tuned for the next chapter soon.

- Flo