Chapter 24

City Lights

The summer heat

seeps into my skin

setting fire to my veins

fanning a flame inside my chest

My throat, parched

aches for the cool relief of water

but it comes in as a flood

and I'm tossed, back and forth

suddenly at it's mercy

Days pass and

the sun comes again, drying up the rain

and I lie here, back against dust

as I wait for the waters

to come rolling in again

Chase and Molly stayed like that for a few minutes, Molly crying silently in relief and Chase, holding her tightly.

Just when she was able to calm herself down, they heard footsteps approaching from around the corner and she took a step back, breaking the embrace. Molly blushed as she saw a nurse glance at them out of the corner of her eye and stayed silent until her footsteps faded away.

Now separated, Molly was too embarrassed to look at Chase and felt her cheeks burning as he asked if she was okay.

"Yeah, I'm better now...Thanks, Chase," she said, still looking at the ground.

Chase, also feeling awkward, suggested they go back to the waiting area.

"Oh, I actually do need to use the bathroom so you can head back first. I might try and find a place to pop outside real quick, too. I...probably look like a mess and I don't really want my family asking questions."

She indeed looked like she had been crying – her eyes were red, cheeks blotchy and eyelashes damp with tears.

"Yeah, if you walk around like this you'll probably end up scaring the patients or something," he said playfully and earned himself a punch in the arm. He thought he saw her smile though as she turned around and walked into the bathroom, leaving him by himself in the hallway.

Chase wondered if Molly had ever cried in front of her family before and, with the thought that he might be special, returned to where the rest were waiting. When he go back, however, he only saw Angela and asked her where the others were.

"My dad is in a private room now and is only allowed one visitor at a time, so mom went to go check in on him. Toby said he needed to use the restroom too, but he isn't back so I dunno where he went."

Chase replied with an, "I see," and took a seat by the window so he could look out at the city lights.

A minute's silence passed before Angela spoke up.

"So, is she okay?"

"Huh?" Chase asked, not paying much attention.

"Molly. You went to make sure she was okay earlier, right? The men's bathroom is in the opposite direction, after all. She was probably off trying to hold herself together all by herself, right?"

Chase eyed Angela warily, not really wanting to get into a conversation about Molly again but replied nonetheless.

"She was. I think she's fine now though. If you knew she'd be like that, why didn't you go to find her?"

Angela smiled a bit sadly and stared out at the city behind him. "If I tried to comfort her, she'd just feel the need to hide it even more and that would kind of defeat the purpose, now wouldn't it? She always thinks she needs to stay strong for us, as if we weren't the older ones here. She's so silly."

Chase looked at her, a question in his eyes. Angela smiled a bit sadly.

"See, I think we gave her some pretty bad memories and for some reason she feels the need to burden herself with guilt over our misfortunes. Did you know our parents are actually divorced? Well, they split up when Molly was still in high school and when she got to college mom had to work extra so that Molly could go. Mom just wants the best for her and it's not like she dislikes her job, but I think that's part of why Molly dropped out and went to start the farm. Then, there's me. I lost my husband while we were on summer holiday with Molly at his family's vacation home. He got caught in some weeds while swimming and drowned when Molly and I were in the house. It was just a freak accident but I think Molly blames herself. Really, she takes on way too much. That's probably why she got into that accident awhile back, too."

Chase looked down at his hands, folded in his lap and processed what he was just told. He looked up at Angela who was staring back at him.

"Why're you telling me all of this?"

Angela smiled. "Well, I just thought I'd level the playing field a bit. That and it'd be great if Molly had more people to look out for her over on Castanet. So basically what I'm saying is – I'm counting on you guys."

Chase didn't say anything in reply, rightly suspicious, but didn't press for any answers. After all, he didn't need to be told twice to take care of Molly. That, and he already knew about his rivals.

Molly breathed in the cool night air, staring out at the city she once called home. Even though she hadn't been home in over six months, she found that she didn't miss it at all. She wasn't surprised that she didn't miss the city – who would miss the traffic, the car exhausts blowing in your face or the people always in a rush, bumping into you as they sped by, not even sparing a glance in your direction in apology?

However, she was surprised that she didn't miss going to classes, her old hangout spots or sleeping in her old bedroom. Somehow, looking back on it all it seemed like a different life completely, like it was her past self living out all of those moments. She looked down at her hands, rougher than before because of all of the farm work she did. She held her hand out over the ledge, moving it left to right against the wind as it gusted between her fingers. Sometimes she thought it'd be best if she could just forget her past and let it pass through her like the wind between her fingers.

She closed her eyes as another strong gust blew past, making her shiver.

"Cold?"

Toby appeared behind her, soundlessly moving to her side and leaning against the railing himself.

She smiled, not surprised that he was there. "Not particularly. It's just the wind that's chilly."

He straightened up, taking off his light outer robe and gently laid it on Molly's shoulders.

"You shouldn't underestimate the cool night air, even though it's Summer it can still get chilly. We wouldn't want you catching a cold now."

Molly protested, eyeing over his thin undershirt, but Toby insisted.

"Don't you know? Fisherman have very tough exteriors. We can handle any weather, be it snow, rain, hail or lightening."

Molly rolled her eyes and chuckled, "Well, it's a good thing it's not storming at the moment, but still...if I see you shiver, you're taking this back! Being a fisherman really does sound tough when you say it like that, though. Have you ever been caught out in a storm before?"

Toby smiled, moving his hands animatedly. "You wouldn't believe what kind of weather we've gotten stuck in before. One time, a thunderstorm rolled in so quickly Ozzie and I barely had any time to reel our nets in and take down our rods before the sky started lighting up. It's harder to predict the weather in the summertime, especially around the island, so you never want to stay out too long if you can help it."

"That sounds...exciting, to say the least," Molly said, amused that the usual passive Toby was getting animated about a thunderstorm. "Weren't you scared?"

Toby leaned back against the railing, contemplating her question. "I don't know. I probably was, to a point, but when you're there it's...exhilarating. You hear the thunder crack and all of the adrenaline starts pumping through your veins. I wouldn't want to get stuck in one again, but it certainly makes you feel alive."

"I never would've pegged you for being a thrill-seeker," Molly said, hiding a smile behind her hand.

"Ha-ha, I told you I wouldn't want to go through that again, though? Don't get me wrong, I much prefer my peaceful fishing trips to the exciting ones. It's just...the feeling of your blood pumping and the sky from that time, lightening everywhere contrasting against the dark blue ocean...it has it's own beauty."

Molly tilted her head and looked at him. "I feel like I'm discovering a new side of you, Toby. 'Toby, the adrenaline junkie', or something," she said, chuckling.

"What about you?"

"Me?" Molly asked, her brow furrowed. "No, I'd like to avoid anymore thrills, if possible. I feel like I've experienced enough for a lifetime since coming to the island." She thought back on the drowning incident, having to search for her animals at night, exploring the forest in the dead of night with Luke and Bo, encountering those drunks at the bar and now this. Really, she was amazed nothing worse had happened.

"That's true, huh? You tend to get yourself into dangerous situations a lot, don't you? I think it's best if we stamp out that bad habit," Toby said, raising his eyebrows.

"It's not like I purposely want these things to happen," Molly retorted, defending herself. Sure, she could've taken care of her health better or maybe handled the situation better at the bar, but…

Toby raised his eyebrows as if questioning her.

"Maybe not, but it wouldn't hurt for you to rely on others a bit more."

"But I don't want to create extra work for people! I'm the one who took on the farm and if I keep asking for help, everyone will think I'm a bother..."

"We won't," Toby said, looking at her seriously now. "It's not like you'd be asking for help with every little thing, right? Instead of sacrificing your health for the bigger jobs you can rely on people. We're more willing to help you than you think. Especially me."

"B-but, you already work quite hard in the mornings on the boat, I don't want to take up anymore of your free time. And besides, you've already helped me so much. Like now, you spent your precious boat ticket just to come to the hospital with me. Toby, I...I don't know how I can even repay you for something like this," Molly said, squeezing the railing and meeting his eyes, feeling guilty. "I...I don't deserve this kind of kindness from either of you." What has she ever even done for Toby, besides make him some food? And Chase? She's always just arguing with him and yet, why?

She turned around and looked at the floor, suddenly embarrassed. Why were people being so nice to her? She had never done anything much to help them, it felt like she just kept on piling up debt with the villagers.

She didn't hear any sound coming from behind her and suddenly got scared, wondering if Toby had realized that she wasn't worth all of this trouble after all. She swallowed, her throat feeling tight again as tears sprung to her eyes for the umpteenth time that night. She was going through so many emotions that she couldn't make sense of anything anymore and wondered if she wasn't just going crazy after all.

She still didn't sense any movement behind her and slowly turned around, not being able to stand the silence anymore.

Toby hadn't moved and was still looking at her, this time with a saddened expression.

Molly was slightly taken aback. She was expecting an annoyed or troubled face, but a sad one?

"T-Toby?" she asked hesitantly.

"Molly, are we friends?" he asked suddenly, taking a step forward.

Molly blinked. "We are...or at least, I think we are?" she added, backtracking a bit. What if she was the only one that thought they were friends? If that were the case, she'd be so embarrassed.

"That's what makes me sad."

Molly's face turned red in an instant. So, she was right? Did that mean he didn't want to be friends with her?

"It makes me sad that you'd even doubt it," Toby said, cutting off her inner thoughts.

"Huh?" Molly asked out of surprise.

"Of course we're friends. And because we're friends, of course I'd want to help you in whatever way I can. This 'not being able to repay you' thing of yours doesn't make sense. Do you tally favors between friends? No, you help out because you care about them. As for whether or not you deserve something...isn't that for the other party to decide? If I really thought that you were a terrible person, do you think I would've come here with you?" Toby said quickly, taking another step forward. "I wish you'd stop thinking this way and just believe that I'm here because I truly care about you."

Molly's eyes widened as she heard his words. She had thought it would be best to not rely on others and do everything by herself because she didn't want to trouble anyone anymore. To think people would be troubled by her actually not relying on them…

Molly blinked, a tear escaping and rolling down her cheek. She turned away and wiped her face, trying to be discreet. She knew everyone on the island were good people, she knew, but...for some reason it was scary to fully put her trust in everyone, because as soon as she did she'd also be opening herself up to the possibility of being hurt as well. Molly shook her head. Really, what it came down to was that she was just a coward. She didn't want to expose herself too much because not only did she not want to hurt or trouble others like he's done with her family, but she was also afraid of being hurt herself.

Her ears burned in shame. She had unintentionally hurt Toby and probably others with her insecurities.

"Molly?"

Molly stiffened. Suddenly, she didn't know what to say to him and found it hard to turn around again. She took a deep breath. It was probably best to start of with an apology.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I...I know we're friends and I know you care about me, I'm just…," she said, mumbling a bit.

Molly felt a hand grab her wrist and tug, wanting her to turn around. She slowly did, still looking at the ground, embarrassed.

"Molly, I can't hear you if you're not facing me properly," Toby said, lifting his fingers to her chin. "You're just…?"

She reluctantly looked up and met his eyes, slivers of teal as he looked down at her. "I'm just...scared."

She felt his right hand move up her face, cupping it for a moment before brushing a thumb against her cheekbone.

"I'm the one who's scared," Toby mumbled, taking his hand away and sticking it in his pocket.

"What was that?" Molly asked, his words too low to hear and her heart pumping loudly as she was reminded of the Firefly festival where a similar scene took place.

"You had an eyelash," he said, smiling his normal smile again. "You don't need to be scared, we're not going to suddenly leave you or anything and we're not going to feel troubled if you ask us for help. Got it?"

Molly looked back at him. Toby was so steady, so reliable, like a giant rock out at sea. Now matter what you threw at him he could always process it rationally and weather the storm. "Got it."

She looked down at her watch, noticing the time. "Oh, it's already past twelve. We should head back inside..."

"You're right," he said, going to open the door for her. "I actually came out to tell you that your mom was allowed to go see your dad. He can only have one visitor at a time for now, but you should be able to go see him soon."

"I see, that's good."

"Oh, and before we go back," Toby said, reaching out and stopping her. "Happy birthday, Molly."

Molly blinked, momentarily oblivious and then started laughing.

"Thanks, Toby. To be honest, I totally forgot that it was my birthday today. Usually Angela is the first person to wish me happy birthday. She'll probably be upset when I tell her that it was you this year."

Toby smiled, relieved to see her laugh. He didn't say anything, but he hoped he'd be the first person to wish her happy birthday next year, too...and the year after that, and the year after that…

What he wouldn't give to be able to be there for Molly when she needed him. He knew Molly was strong and could handle herself most of the time, but it really pained him to know that she was probably struggling as well. He clenched his fist, thinking back to just a few minutes ago when he saw Chase embrace a distressed Molly.

Soon after Chase had left, Toby had talked to Angela about Molly while their mom went in to the room. It was then that he found out that she was probably carrying some heavy guilt around due to her family's past. After listening to her story, he wanted to go check on Molly and gave Angela the excuse of using the bathroom. What he didn't expect to find walking around the corner was Chase, cold and distant Chase, cradling Molly's small frame as she cried into his chest.

As soon as he saw that he stepped back, flat against the wall, pain erupting in his chest making him clench the front of his shirt. Is that was jealousy felt like? It was painful enough to take his breath away. It was in that moment that he knew he couldn't live with just being Molly's friend anymore and that emotion was what scared him the most. That emotion that made his heart race when his eyes met hers, or that made him want to hug her when she smiled at him so endearingly. That emotion that made him want to fiercely protect her from everything, that squeezed his heart when he saw her talking to other guys. That emotion that made him throw out his usual calm and easy-going self and give in to reckless behavior.

"Toby?" Molly asked, turning around when she didn't hear him follow her.

He sighed, unclenching his fist and followed behind her, watching her hair bounce up and down as she walked.

Yes, that emotion called love. Toby chuckled to himself. This love felt exactly like being in that lightening storm. He could feel the danger, impending but distant, and the beauty of it all when he saw her smiling face. Maybe he was a thrill-seeker. Maybe they all were, deep down. Otherwise, who would put themselves through such torture?

They returned to where Angela and Chase were waiting, Chase eyeing Toby's outer robe loosely covering Molly's short-sleeved torso as she walked towards them.

They only waited a few minutes before Molly's mom came back, confirming again that their father was going to be alright and that he was sleeping, exhausted from the day's events. She handed Angela the keys to the house and suggested that everyone go over and get some rest for the night. She was going to stay and sleep in the reclining chair in his room until he woke up.

"But what about clothes or your toothbrush…?" Molly asked, trailing off as her mom held up a small bag, indicating that she had already thought of those things beforehand. Molly and Angela gave smiled at each other – Mom was always prepared.

"I don't need to come over, I can get a hotel room," Chase said, realizing that their mom had meant him and Toby could stay over as well.

"Nonsense, how could I make you go to a hotel when you came all the way our here? We have a sofa bed and a twin air mattress the girls can set up for the both of you. There's plenty of room," Molly's mom responded with a motherly smile.

Chase started saying how it was too generous of her before she cut him off.

"I'll be so sad if you don't accept and it would ease my mind if I knew two men were able to bring my precious daughters back home for me."

Chase's words died in his throat and Toby spoke up next to him, "How can we refuse if you say it like that? Of course we'll bring Molly and Angela back safely. We'd love to stay over."

He looked sideways at Chase, giving him a look that said 'may as well accept, you can't win this battle'. Chase shrugged, admitting defeat and they all got ready to leave, saying their goodbyes and heading out to the car park where they'd be taking the family car home.

"If you already had a car what did your mom mean by having us 'take you home safely'? We're not even driving," Chase said, huffing as he got into the back of the car, Toby following behind him.

Angela smiled, jumping into the passenger's seat. "That was just her way of guilting you into staying over for the night. She's pretty good at it, isn't she?"

"She should be, she's had us and dad to practice on for all of these years," Molly chuckled, turning on the engine and making sure everyone was buckled up.

"I didn't know that you could drive, Molly? Angela, can you drive as well?" Toby asked, leaning forward from the backseat.

"I can, but-," Angela started sheepishly.

"You don't want to ride with her, especially at night. Unless you want to wind up back at the hospital that is," Molly said, giving her sister a look as she pulled out onto the road.

"That bad, huh?" Chase chimed in, smirking.

Angela crossed her arms. "I just got my license later than Molly so I didn't have as much practice and now I don't get to use it because we don't have cars where I live."

"When'd you get your license?" Toby asked politely.

"Nineteen."

"Why'd you wait?"

"Mom made her wait until she thought she was responsible enough to handle a car," Molly said, grinning.

Angela pouted but didn't deny it.

"When'd you get yours, Molly?" asked Toby.

"Sixteen," Molly said, a bit proudly. "It's funny, whenever Angela wanted to hang out with her friends I'd have to drive her if she couldn't get to them by subway. Usually it's the older sibling driving the younger one around, but..."

"Just because you got your license earlier than I did doesn't mean you somehow have more experience than me, you know! I'm still older by two years."

Molly rolled her eyes at her sister and they continued their playful banter, Toby sometimes supporting the conversation by asking questions and Chase not saying a word but enjoying seeing Molly acting like her usual self again.

Within minutes they arrived at their home and dropped their belongings in the entryway, taking off their shoes before Angela and Molly went around flicking on the lights one by one.

"I'll set up the beds, Molly. How about you show them to the bathroom? I'm sure they want to shower and get ready," Angela said, already pulling out the sofa bed and rummaging around in the hallway closet for some fresh sheets.

Molly thanked her and led Chase and Toby into the hallway. It felt rather strange to have them in her house and she suddenly felt nervous, wondering about what they must be thinking. She knew the place was small, but it was pretty clean except for some stray cat hair floating around.

She led them to the bathroom her and Angela used to share and showed them where everything was, letting them borrow some cups from the cupboard to put their toothbrushes in.

When she handed them the cups, Chase let out a snort, noticing the character that was printed on the design.

"How old are these cups? Did you used to watch this when you were a kid? If I remember correctly the main character was a girl with magical powers or something, right?"

"They might be old but they're still fine to use, they are clean, you know. And yes, I did watch that show, got a problem with it?" Molly said, puffing out her chest.

Toby smiled, putting the cup back down on the counter. "I watched that show too when I was a kid, it was on every Sunday morning when I still lived with my parents."

Molly smiled, glad she had an ally, "See? Maybe you're the odd one out, Chase."

"I never said I didn't watch it," he said, making Molly and Toby look at each other in surprise and start laughing. "What is it?"

Molly controlled herself and stopped laughing. It was too funny to imagine Chase as a child, singing along with the intro song to a magical girl TV show.

"Sorry, sorry, I was just having fun imagining it. Anyways, who wants to shower first? You can use the shampoo and stuff we have in the shower."

Toby and Chase looked at each other and shrugged. Chase put his cup down on the counter and left, telling Toby to use it first. Molly followed after him and closed the door behind her, leaving Toby to get ready for bed.

Molly looked up at Chase, still marveling at the fact that he was in her childhood home. He noticed her staring and asked what was wrong.

"Nothing, it's just...kind of weird to have you in my childhood home, I guess. I never would've thought this day would come."

"Hmm...you're right, it is a bit strange. So, you gonna give me the full tour or what?"

"There's not much else to see, though?" Molly said, a bit embarrassed. She rarely had friends over to her house before when she was in school, worried that she'd be picked on for having less money than her other friends. Even now she wondered if they were thinking how poor her family must've been.

"What about your room? Is it this way?" Chase asked, maneuvering around her and going to the end of the hallway, peering into the doorway on his left. Molly grabbed his arm and led him to the room on the right.

"You were about to go into my mom's room. This was our room," she said, opening her door and stepping inside. It was crazy to think that she used to live here not too long ago and how in that same bed she would dream of Castanet – not that she knew it was Castanet at that time.

Chase looked around the room. It had a twin bunk-bed, a large chest of drawers right next to a bookcase stuffed with books and a desk by the window. It was fairly normal with small knickknacks here and there, some bags hangings on hooks over the closet door and a bright blue circular rug making it's home in the center of the floor. Above the desk was a cork board with various pictures and tickets to events tacked on. Curious, he walked over and peered at the pictures – most of them of Molly and Angela when they were in high school.

When Molly saw what he was looking at she stomped over and threw her hands in front, covering as many picture as she could.

"Don't look, they're embarrassing. Ang and I...did a bunch of weird stuff when we were in high school."

Chase grinned at her flustered face and moved her hand out of the way. "You mean like wearing over-sized band t-shirts and posing in front of random statues? Is this really you, though? Your hair was so long..."

Molly took the picture down and hid it in a drawer, blushing. "Yeah, I had long hair for the longest of times. I only cut it short about a year ago."

"Why?"

Molly didn't answer his question, just shrugging, but he could see a flicker of a shadow cross her eyes when he asked. Deciding not to press it, he continued looking around when he spotted a small framed painting hiding just beside the bookshelf.

He went over to inspect it closer, somehow the scene looking extremely familiar to him. He took a sharp intake of air as the details came into focus. Painted with such delicate little strokes was a large white manor with lilac bushes adorning the sides of the property and a black cast iron fence, vines creeping between the bars. There were several white tables setting out on the front lawn and large hanging flower baskets decorating the porch. In tiny cursive writing was the name "Lilac Manor" written on a tiny wooden sign near the entrance.

"Where did you get this painting?" Chase asked, sensing Molly beside him.

"Ah...I, er, didn't buy it. I, uhm, painted it."

Chase turned towards her, slightly amazed. "You did? Do you...know where this is?"

"Hm? Yeah, it's a little Bed & Breakfast outside of a town called Merrishire. It's maybe a five hour drive or so away from here. My family went out to that area a lot for vacation and we always stayed at that inn. I painted this the last time we went there, when I was about sixteen. After that my parents...well, we never went back after that, so," Molly trailed off. After that her parents divorced and Molly never felt like going back if it was only going to be the three of them. "Why, do you know this place?"

She looked up at Chase, curious. He sure was showing a lot of interest in it.

Just as Chase opened his mouth to reply a knock came at the door, starling them both. It was Toby, a towel around his neck, protecting his nightshirt from his still damp hair.

"I heard your voices coming from down the hall. I'm all done with the shower, Chase you can use it now."

"Wow, that was quick. Oh, Chase, were you about to say something?"

Chase shook his head, replying that it was nothing and left to go take a shower.

"Did I interrupt something?" Toby asked, drying the nape of his neck with the towel.

"No? I was just showing him our room. Shall we go out to the living room? Do you want something to drink?"

"Before that, I'd like to look around a bit more here, too," Toby said, perusing the book titles.

Molly rolled her eyes. "What's with you guys and wanting to see my room? You've never seen a girl's room before?"

Toby straightened up and gave her his signature smile. "No, actually. This is the first time I've been in a girl's room before."

Molly blushed. Somehow that statement didn't sound entirely innocent. Not that she thought he meant anything by it – it was Toby, after all.

"Well, there's not much else to see so can we go now?" She said, hand on the light switch. Toby took one last look around the room and walked back to the living area, Molly on his heels.

Angela was sitting at the table, beds already made and on opposite sides of the room. Toby silently thanked Angela for her presence of mind in splitting their sleeping areas up. He certainly didn't want to sleep so close to Chase.

After awhile, Chase came out of the bathroom and set his things by the sofa bed, Toby having already claimed the smaller air mattress.

"Well, Ang and I are gonna take showers and head straight to our room. If you need something you can always knock on our door. Goodnight," Molly said, feeling slightly awkward. After Chase and Toby said it back, she left to use the shared bathroom and get ready for bed.

"Goodnight and sweet dreams," Angela said, dropping a wink at them and snickering as she walked down the hallway.

Chase sighed and leaned over to the lamp next to the side table. "I'm gonna turn off the light."

Toby nodded, saying thanks and they settled into their beds, eyes adjusting to the darkness. However, the sounds of the shower in the background made it hard for the two men to fall asleep and it was only after they heard the click of a bedroom door that they were able to drift off.

Chase woke up with a start, disoriented as he tried to make out his surroundings, temporarily forgetting that he was currently in the living room of Molly's house. He squinted, adjusting to the darkness and looked around for the source of the noise that had woken him up. It had sounded like the thump of something moderately large hitting the floor.

He shifted, pulling the covers back and saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked towards the kitchen and saw two yellow beads of light staring at him from on top of a table.

A cat? Confirming his suspicions, the cat jumped off of the table and made it's way around the corner into the hallway. He also noticed someone's purse, laying on the floor with it's contents spilling out and realized that the cat must've knocked it over when it jumped on the table. He sighed and got up, being careful not to make any noise and gingerly laid the purse back on the table.

Now awake, he felt the urge to use the restroom and headed that way when he noticed a sliver of light spilling from underneath Molly and Angela's bedroom door. As he got closer he heard people whispering and stopped just outside their door, wondering why they were still awake. Feeling a bit suspicious but curious all the same, he stood there and listened as he heard Angela's voice get slightly louder.

"But why? You've always been able to swim without any issues?"

"I…," Molly looked away, biting her lip. She had finally decided to tell Angela her fears concerning water as she had already told Kathy and them. Knowing how the village grapevine worked, Molly was sure that everyone would know about her 'condition' by the time she got back to the island and didn't want Angela, her sister, to be left out of the loop. She found it hard to tell her that the catalyst was her husband's drowning and resulting death, though.

Angela, being perceptive and catching on to the hesitancy in Molly's words, connected two-and-two together.

"This is about Bry, isn't it?"

Molly looked back at her sister, nodding.

"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? That was not your fault and I don't blame you in the slightest...it was just an unfortunate incident. You don't have to feel guilty about it and you don't have to worry about me anymore. I'm moving on."

"I-it's not about that. No matter how much time passes or how many times you say that there's nothing to forgive...it doesn't make me feel any more comfortable around the water. Just thinking about going through that makes me-," Molly said, taking in a sharp breath.

"Stop," Angela said firmly, pressing her hands flat against the sides of Molly's face. "I can't really say anything, because it's a legitimate thing. It's not unfounded – even if Bry's event hadn't of affected you, you've actually almost drowned yourself, so it wouldn't be surprising. But isn't it troubling? You live on an island, after all. If you end up in a situation like before, I want you to be able to get out of it."

Molly had thought that before, too. She didn't want to be afraid of water – who wants to have a phobia? She was also fully aware that she lived on an island and might have to go into water for one reason or another in the future. If that happened, would she panic again? The last time she had people to help her, but what if she was alone?

She sighed.

"I know, I think I should try to do something about it too."

"Maybe you can get your friends to help, you said they know too now, right?"

Molly smiled. "Yeah. I'm sure they would. Toby reminded me to rely on others every once in awhile, actually. Well, maybe more like scolded," Molly said a bit sheepishly.

"So he said that, did he?" Angela said in a knowing tone.

"What?" Molly asked, wary of the look on her sister's face.

"Nothing, really. I don't think I need to remind you that you're literally surrounded by a bunch of good-looking men."

Molly huffed. "Not this again. I told you already, I'm not going to get a boyfriend!"

Angela shushed her and Molly glared, but returned to whispering.

"Getting a boyfriend means committing and committing leads to marriage."

"And what's wrong with that?"

"It's scary."

Angela rolled her eyes. "I really don't get you sometimes. Usually it's the guy that's afraid of commitment."

"I'm not afraid because I'd have to commit to one person for the rest of my life," Molly retorted, slightly offended that Ang would think that of her.

"Then why?" Angela responded, getting shushed by Molly this time.

"Look, I don't want to talk about it anymore, it's late. I'm going to go to the bathroom."

Chase, who was eavesdropping by the door this entire time, barely had enough time to slide around the corner into the kitchen to hide before Molly slowly opened her door and tip-toed to the bathroom. He waited until she was finished and went back into her bedroom, finally seeing the light vanish from beneath the door.

He waited about a minute before sneaking into the bathroom himself, processing the conversation.

There were a few things that he found out from that conversation that troubled him. One, that Molly was afraid of water and had apparently told others but not himself. Thinking back on the Luke incident from yesterday, he could understand why she was so freaked out and it was troubling to know that it was the result of trauma from Angela's husband's death. Secondly, he knew Molly wasn't looking for a boyfriend, but didn't think she'd be so against the idea of marriage. Not that he'd thought much of marriage before but it was always part of his distant future. Become a great chef, get married, have some kids, pass on his techniques and live a comfortable life until he was old and passed on.

The more he learned about Molly the more he was curious about her past and the more confused he was on what he should do about it. He was past the point of denial; he knew he loved her, but was he going to pursue it?

He returned to his bed, head a mess as he contemplated the possibilities. One thing was sure – either way it was bound to be full of obstacles and not just with Molly, but himself too.

He smiled ruefully as he laid across his arm. To think that one girl could make him feel so conflicted. He sighed, his pride aching.

Love was such a pain.

Author's Note: Hello! I realised that in the last chapter I mentioned that it was 1 am by the time their dad was finished with surgery but it was a mistake and I fixed it to be 11 pm so that it made sense with Toby's timing. I've been going back and editing earlier chapters and fixing any discrepancies I find.

Now that both Toby and Chase have fully realised their feelings, I wonder what will happen next? ;)
How will Molly move forward as her feelings grow in response and why was Chase so interested in the Lilac Manor? Stay tuned and find out what happens in the next episode of Dragon Ball-...ah, wait, wrong series *ahem* find out what happens in the next chapter of Finding Life!

Thank you for the review as well! I always get so happy when I see someone review :)

Things will start moving faster and faster and some loose ends will be getting tied up soon. I'm curious about who is rooting for Chase and who might be shipping Toby...