"Maybe you should stay here tonight Dad,"I said,"So you're not all alone at the house."
"Are you sure you want me here,"He asked.
"You're all I have left,"I mumbled, then shouted,"Hey Kim?"
Kim came into the living room.
"Can my dad stay over tonight,"I asked.
"Of course,"Kim said,then looked at my dad,"Do you want to stay in the guest room?"
"That sounds great,"my father said.
Kim and I led him to the guest room, the one that John stayed in.
"The bedsheets and blankets are in the closet,"Kim said, then left.
"You got valedictorian, Brian,"My dad asked.
"Yeah,"I said.
"Your speech was really good Brian,"He said.
"How'd you...?"
"We were there,"He said,"Your mother, Maggie and I. We should've stayed, and talked to you."
"Really,"I asked.
"Yes,"He said,"We wanted to see you graduate. I'm proud of you. So was your mother, and Maggie."
"I guess all the shit you gave me really helped,"I said sarcasticly.
I was still angry at him.
"I should've talked to you more, Brian,"He said,"When you got caught with the flare gun."
"Yeah,"I interrupted,"But instead you threw me into a wall. You didn't even ask me about it."
"I'm sorry,"He said.
"You think that makes up for everything?!"
I ran into my room, slamming the door behind me.

Andy's POV
I was walking past Brian's father's guest room when I saw Brian run out and into his room. Brian's father stood up.
"Are you Andrew,"He asked.
"Yeah,"I said.
"Nice to meet you,"He said,"My name's Ron."
I nodded.
"Want me to go get Brian,"I asked.
"No,"He said,"He needs time to himself. He's..he's angry at me."
"I'll go talk to him,"I said.
"All right,"He said,"I'll see you Andy."
I went into Brian's room. He was sitting on the bed, looking up at me as I walked in.
"You okay Brian,"I asked.
"I guess,"Brian said.
I sat by him, putting my arm around his shoulder.
"I'm here for you Brian,"I said comfortingly,"If you want to talk."
"Thanks Andy,"He said,"But..can I be alone right now?"
"Sure,"I said, and got up.
"Andy,"He asked.
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell Sammy yet, okay,"He said,"Or anyone else. I'll tell them on my own, when I'm ready."
"Okay Bri,"I said, then left the room.

Sammy's POV
Saturday, June 2nd...

Claire and John decided to combine their graduation parties. They also decided that I should cook everything, since I'm just SO good at cooking. At least I got to choose the menu. I chose homeade pepperoni pizza, macaroni and cheese, vanilla cupcakes and chocolate cake. John was in charge of buying all the drinks, non alcoholic.
I'd just finished the large pot of mac'n cheese when John walked in with the sodas.
"How's the pizzas,"He asked.
"Terrific,"I said,"They're on the table out back."
There was a large plastic foldup table out in the backyard for everyone to sit on. John helped me carry the macaroni to the table. Claire set up the plates, napkins, and utinsels. I got bacon bits from the fridge to put in the mac'n cheese. I took the cake, double layered and sitting in a pan, out of the fridge and set it in the middle of the table. I took the cupcakes out too. Claire took a spoonful of my macaroni and tasted it.
"It's delicious, Sammy,"Claire said.
It was about twelve pm. The party started at twelve thirty. Brian, Allison, Andy, Andy's parents, and Claire's grandparents were coming. Andy, Brian, and Andy's parents, and for some reason, Brian's father got to our house about twelve thirty. Then came Allison,Claire's grandparents, and a few of John's friends, then friends of Claire's. Brian immediatly went inside as soon as he got there. He sat on the spinning chair, the same one he sat on the first day he visited. He wasn't spinning though. He looked sad, worn out. There was pain in his eyes, a deep pain, like he'd lost something. He had dark circles under his eyes, like he hadn't slept for a while.
"Hey Sammy,"Brian mumbled.
"Something wrong Brian,"I asked.
"No,"He said, I knew he was lying,"Nothing's wrong. Just a little tired, that's all."
I went over and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'll be right out,"Brian said,"I need to use the bathroom."
I nodded and walked out into the backyard.

Brian's POV
I waited untill Sammy left, then I ran to the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind me. I was shaking. I hadn't slept since Wednsday, I couldn't. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw THEM. My mother, and Maggie. Poor Maggie, she was only eight. It should've been me. I stared in the mirror, glaring at the reflection, tears streaming down my face.

Sammy's POV
I was getting worried about Brian. He'd been in the bathroom for ten minutes now. I decided to go check on him. I went to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
"Brian,"I asked.
"Sammy,"Brian asked,"What do you want?"
"Are you okay,"I asked.
"I'm fine,"He said,"Please go away."
"What are you doing,"I demanded.
"Standing here,"He said.
"Open the door Brian,"I demanded.
The lock clicked and the door opened. Brian stood there, staring at his reflection in the mirror, sobbing.
"I don't like what I see Sammy,"He said.
He looked closer at the mirror, almost touching it.
"I hate it,"He said,"I hate it!"
He slammed his fists on the counter, I jumped. He turned toward me, his eyes boaring into mine.
They're gone...,"He said shakily,"They're...both...gone."
I grabbed him into a tight hug, rubbing his back to get him to stop crying.
"Who's gone,"I asked.
"My mother..and my sister..,"He said,"Car..wreck.."

I nodded. I helped him to my room and sat him on the bed.
"When was it,"I asked.
"Last Wednesday morning,"He said between sobs,"My sister, she was eight, it should've been me."
"Brian, NO don't say that,"I said, hugging him tightly.
Brian wiped his tears and slowly told me about what happened when he got home from Allison's party. He told me about his father's apology.
"Do you forgive him?"
"I suppose,"He said,"I think he really meant it though."
He put his head in his hands and groaned.
"Are you okay,"I asked.
"Just a headache,"He said, and looked up.
"When's the last time you slept,"I asked.
"Maybe Tuesday night,"He said,"I can't sleep. Whenever I close my eyes, I see them."
I scooted closer to him, putting my arm around his shoulder, petting his head comfortingly. He put his head on my shoulder, closing his eyes.
"I love you,"I said,"Remember that."
"Hmm...,"He mumbled sleepily, which I took to mean, 'I love you too'.
I listened as his light whimpers turned into quavering breaths, then finally to light snoring. He'd fallen asleep. I gently removed his head from my shoulders and put my pillow below his head. I got a blanket and draped it lightly over him.
"I'll be right back,"I whispered, knowing he probably couldn't hear me.

I left the room and went to the backyard.
"Where's Brian,"Andy asked,"Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's fine,"I said,"He's sleeping in my room. He's tired, had a long week."
"Yeah,"Andy said.
Claire was handing out pizza and mac'n cheese to everyone as John opened their presents.
"What'd you get them,"I asked.
"You'll see,"Andy said.
"From Andy,"John said, opening another gift,"Car Seat covers."
I smiled, taking two plates with pizza and maccaroni, one for me, one for Brian when he wakes up. I went inside and sat the plates on kitchen table, and went to check on Brian. After shaking him, I realized that he would probably be out for a while, so I put foil around the two plates and put them in the fridge for later.
After the presents was the cake and cupcakes. I again took two pieces and retired into the house to see Brian. John stopped me.
"Hey Sammy,"John said,"Where are you going? And where's Bri?"
"Brian's sleeping in my room,"I said,"He's really tired. He hasn't slept since Tuesday night."
"Why not,"John asked.
I told him what Brian told me about the car wreck, and how Brian was acting. John stared with horror and sympathy as I told him.
"Poor Brian,"He said,"He doesn't deserve this."
"I know,"I said,"I'm going to check on him now."
"Okay,"John said, taking his cake and heading back outside.

I went to Brian, who was starting to stir. He blinked his eyes open, adjusting to the light.
"Sammy,"He asked.
I went closer to him and sat by him on the bed.
"I'm right here,"I said,"I saved some food for you Brian."
He sat up.
"Good,"He said.
"I told John about what happened,"I said.
"You TOLD him,"He asked.
"Sorry, I just thought..,"I defended.
"It's okay,"He interrupted,"I was going to tell people when I was ready."
"You said you couldn't sleep,"I said,"But you did."
"You helped me,"He said.
"How so,"I asked.
"When I closed my eyes,"He said,"I saw you. You're like.. some sort of ..painkiller. Remember in the hospital, when I said I needed you?"
"Yeah?"
"I really do need you,"He said.