Gerry started coming around a lot more. I was sure there was a scheme brewing in his mind, and it turned out in the end that he did. He came over and watched hockey games with Uncle Bill, and eventually, Sky started joining them, even though he hated hockey. At first, he was just a shadow of a ghost in the TV room, watching from the doorway, or from the arm of the couch. But Uncle Bill and Gerry's enthusiasm for the game eventually got Sky to sit between them like an old friend, and he screamed at the TV and threw Cheezies at the screen right along with them. It was good for Sky. But when Gerry left, so would Sky and when he came home, he wasn't the brother that I loved.

But back to me.

"I'm bored," Alan announced in my bathroom.

We were in the bathroom because we weren't allowed to be in my bedroom.

I crinkled my nose, leaning my weight into his legs as he sat on the counter. "Why don't you just go home then?"

"Because you wouldn't be there and my old man would be," he replied, matter-of-fact.

"Yaaay, you like me you really like me!"

"Yes I do, but my pants are wet."

I tossed back my head and laughed.

He waved his hands, as if a sudden idea came to his mind. "Cookies!"

"Yes, aren't cookies just lovely," I said agreeably.

"We should go find some." He leapt off the counter, toppling the toothbrush holder over in the process, and then dove for the door.

"Okay, but I'm having cereal!" I called, running after him.

Since both Alan and I were chronic eaters, he knew his way around our kitchen and I knew my way around his. He produced a box of Oreo's from the pantry and then peered into the fridge. "Milk?" he asked me.

"No thanks," I replied, getting out the Frosted Flakes and a bowl.

"But you're having cereal?"

"I know," I giggled. "I had an incredibly piggish idea."

"I love it already."

I reached past him into the fridge and grabbed a tub of whipped cream. "Milk substitute!"

"SICK!" he cried, grinning maniacally. "Can I have some for my cookies?"

We had just settled down at the small breakfast table and were about to devour our unhealthy meal when we heard a voice say, "Hey, can I talk to you about something?"

"Yeah, sure, what about?"

"Sky."

"Oh…oookay. He's still in the next room, can we talk in private?"

"Uhh, yep, in the kitchen."

Hearing footsteps fall on the creaky floorboards in the hallway as they got closer to the kitchen, I shot a look at Alan. "Quick, under the table!"

"Ooh, what are we gonna do under there?" he asked, smiling deviously.

"Spy." I grabbed my food. "And eat."

The long blue tablecloth prevented us from seeing what was going on, but it also prevented us from being seen. I recognized the voices to belong to Gerry and Summer. They were standing by the sink, or so I guessed, and their voices were hushed so I had to strain my ears to hear them.

"My brother doesn't have an addictive personality, Gerry," Summer began quietly. "He hates everyone, so why are you all buddy-buddy with him?"

"I don't know, I just like him," Gerry replied nonchalantly. "He's a good kid underneath all the crap."

"I know he is. But why are you trying so hard?"

"You wanna hear the truth?"

"DundunDUN," Alan whispered trying to build the suspense. I elbowed him. He took an Oreo and scooped up some of my whipped cream covered Frosted Flakes. He nodded approvingly, then gestured for me to try it.

"Okay, Summer. You and your sister are both nice girls. You're both well adjusted to what your mom did. That's why you're not doing what Sky does. He's depressed, he hates his mother but wishes she would just come home, and he figures maybe blow and whatever else he does will help him feel something else."

"And you know this how?" she demanded.

Cookies, Frosted Flakes and whipped cream is a delicious combination.

"I got him to trust me," Gerry said simply.

"How? You've only known him for two weeks! We've known him all his life and he just gives us the finger when we try to help!"

Gerry's voice turned dark. "Who wouldn't trust a guy in a wheelchair?"

Summer took her time replying, obviously taken aback by his comment, as I was. "So…what, you've been having little pow-wows with him?"

"We were watching a game together and he looked like he needed such a good ass-kicking that I kinda gave him hell," he laughed. "Told him he needed to get his act together before every opportunity ran out for him. Told him that if he kept burning out the way he was, he'd end up like me."

"Like you?"

"Useless."

"Don't say things like that," Summer snapped. "It's not true. Your life is gong to take you somewhere amazing."

"Amazing, huh?" he chuckled self deprecatingly.

"Yes. Because that's what happens for people like you, Gerry."

I slapped a hand over my face. I hated the mushy parts.

"You're a surprising person, Summer," Gerry told her, not in a flirty way. "When I first saw you--"

"You thought I was an airhead?"

"I thought you were a typical cheerleader."

"Thaaaanks," she laughed.

"Hey, I'm not even going to ask what you were thinking when you saw me."

"That's not fair, Gerry," she said, quietly angry.

"Neither is…anything." He sighed loudly. "Anyway, good news, your brother is accepting help. That's why I was lurking in the hallway when you came up to me."

"And why's that?"

"I was trying to find his room. Sky asked me to flush what I could find."

Summer squealed, and I was pretty sure that she hugged him, judging by his surprised, "Oof."

Lying under a breakfast table and getting fat wasn't the most typical situation to be in when you find out your brother wants to turn his life around. I just raised my eyebrows in shock, forgetting about the food.

Then Alan wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close to him, and I could feel his smile as he kissed the side of my head.