Author's Note: Okay, so writing this has become my therapy. I'll probably get a few chapters done today, and I'll try to update regularly. Thank you all so much!

"A meadow?" she asked.

They'd arrived at a small clearing in some sort of forest. It was covered with flowers, and the grass was so tall it came up past her knees.

Tam shrugged. "I found the crystal at my parents house the last time we were there. I think my mom came here to paint at one point and had a crystal made. I doubt she's used it since."

Biana smirked. "I wouldn't pin you as the type of guy who likes flowers."

He rolled his eyes. "Don't make me regret bringing you here. I figured some fresh air would do you good. Plus, you like flowers. Right?"

She smiled a little. "Yeah. Thanks."

It was beautiful. She took a few steps, the tall grass and wildflowers brushing against her legs. There were plenty of beautiful places in the Lost Cities, but this took it to another level. It was wild and untamed, and no one had made it grow this way. It just. . . did.

"How much of this forest have you explored?" Biana asked.

"None of it," Tam replied. "Do you want to?"

"Of course," she responded.

"Which direction?" he asked.

"I don't know. It's your forest. Lead the way, flower boy."

He sighed. "Please don't call me that."

Biana smirked. "Sucks to suck. That's your nickname now."

Tam rolled his eyes, but he didn't object again, and instead began walking towards one end of the meadow. Biana followed him without question.

After a few moments of walking in silence, she asked, "What's bothering you?"

Tam said, "Nothing."

"It's not nothing," she replied. "I can tell something's bothering you. You can trust me, you know."

"I know," he said. "I'd rather not weigh you down with my problems."

More silence.

"What about you?" he asked. "You looked like you were crying earlier."

"Tell me what's wrong, and I'll tell you."

Tam shrugged. "Deal."

He didn't speak for a few seconds, and Biana knew he was trying to figure out how to express his thoughts using words.

"I've been living with my parents. For a while. And they're being their usual selves. I'm just angry because of how they treat Linh. I mean, I understand why they dislike me. I'm a sarcastic bastard. I don't have a good personality. I'm rebellious and I have nothing but spite for them. I'm distrustful, and naturally suspicious, and I can't control my temper. But Linh is practically perfect. Sweet and kind and amazing, and I hate to see them treat her like trash."

Biana noticed that Tam's fists were clenched. And maybe she was crossing some line, stepping over some invisible boundary, but she grabbed his arm to stop him from walking. He turned around to face her, giving her a questioning look. She pulled him into a hug. He hesitated for a moment, but then he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.

"You're not, you know," she said.

"Not what?" he asked.

"A horrible person."

Tam laughed, the sound completely devoid of humor. She felt his heartbeat quicken.

"Thanks, but you don't have to lie to make me feel better," he said.

"Wasn't lying," she replied.

They held each other for another minute before Biana finally let go and kept walking. He followed her. They cleared the trees and came upon some sort of valley. Snow-capped mountains loomed on either side, and a stream cut through the middle. In the distance, they could see a lake.

"Cool," Tam said.

Biana smiled and began wading through the wildflowers that grew here, too.

"Where are we going?" Tam asked.

"I want to go to the stream," Biana replied.

He nodded and followed her. They reached the stream, more of a river, really. The water was maybe ten or fifteen feet deep in the very center, and it was probably about fifteen feet wide. The water was clear, and she could see small pebbles covering the bottom.

Biana took off her shoes and socks and set them on a small rock. Tam followed suit. Then, she sat down, letting her feet trail in the water. Tam sat next to her.

"So," he said.

"So?" she asked.

"So, I told you my problems. Your turn," he finished.

Biana sighed. "Well, you know, the thing with Sophie and Keefe disappearing is the main reason I'm. . . messed up."

Tam nodded.

"But also, I was dating Lucin."

Tam's eyes darkened. Anger? Jealousy? Biana wasn't sure.

"And I overheard him talking to his friends this morning. About how I was. . . broken. They were making fun of me, and the scars on my arms, and-"

Her eyes started watering, and she attempted to blink back the tears.

"And I guess it wouldn't hurt as much if he was wrong, but he's right. I am broken. I'm damaged."

Tam shoved her into the water.

She was completely submerged. When she resurfaced, she was drenched.

"What was that for?" she demanded.

Tam glared at her. "Don't cry over him. He's not worth it, Biana. So what if you're not normal? So what if you're not his idea of pretty? You're strong, and brave, and the scars on your arms are just proof of that. You are worth more than he could ever imagine, and if he doesn't realize that, then he's a fool."

Biana was shocked, but Tam wasn't done.

"One day, Biana, he's going to realize that letting you slip through his fingers was the biggest mistake of his whole miserable life. And he's going to come crawling back, begging you for forgiveness. Because he's a spineless coward."

Tam pushed himself off the edge and waded out to where she was standing, still dripping wet. He grabbed her hands.

"Biana. You are brave, and beautiful. You've saved the world more times than I can count."

He looked her in the eye.

"Don't cry for him."

She nodded.

"He isn't worth it."

She nodded again.

He opened his mouth to say something else, but stopped himself. Considered.

"What?" Biana asked.

Tam shook his head. "Nothing."

They stood there for a moment, the water quietly running past them, the birds chirping in the trees nearby.

To break the silence, Biana shoved Tam.

He went under, and came up spluttering. "What was that for?!"

She giggled. "You owed me."

He rolled his eyes, a smile growing at the corners of his mouth. "I did not."