The first edit of the new year goes to Moving Too Fast! Makes sense, last year was a really big year for this story. I wrote a ton of it and re-edited it twice. I totally finished editing this story in 2020. I definitely didn't do the last seven chapters two days ago, lol.

I'm trying to come back bigger and better than ever. I have an outline for this story up to chapter 50, Stardust Angel's due for an update next, (as well as a bunch of Ducktales lol) and we'll see where we go from there.


Zayne crawled through the window, Luca pacing in front of his bed.

"Is he okay?"

"Nah. He's really screwed up, same as me. Just let him have some space and try not to be so…"

"So what?"

Zayne screwed his face up trying to remember the biggest word on his Psychology study guide, "Psychoanalytical. You always do the thing where you compare people's real-life problems to lines in songs and sometimes people don't want to be musicals. Also, can I have some water? Because I kind of feel sick."

"Are you okay?" Now Luca had different concerns.

"Sure, heights just make me queasy."

"Sit down, I'll get you some water." Zayne gratefully sat down on the futon and Luca headed out of the room. As he made his way down the stairs he nearly bumped into his mom.

"Was that Scout on the roof?"

"Yeah. We had a bit of an argument and he's blowing off steam…"

"Right. I'm going to talk to him." Luca didn't process what that meant until Zayne came downstairs and flopped on the couch, beginning to scroll through Disney+.

"Your mom's on the roof," He said casually as Luca passed him a glass of water.

Luca's eyes widened at the prospect of his nearly 7 months pregnant mom crawling out on the roof.

"That's dangerous," he blurted.

"I think out of all the people I know your mom would be the one most able to handle it." Luca sighed, still nervous, and sank down next to Zayne, who had just decided to watch Tangled since there was no fear of Reese teasing him when she was at her own sleepover.

Scout was also extremely surprised about Mrs. Tomago climbing out on the roof.

"I'm sorry," he squeaked, "I shouldn't be out here."

"No," GoGo agreed, "But I understand wanting space when you're fighting with your best friend."

"Luca told you about that?"

"He didn't tell me much, just that you're arguing."

"I'm sorry about that too," Scout said with a sigh, "I didn't mean to make him feel bad."

"Hey, as long as you two eventually talk it out, I think Luca will be okay. He doesn't give up on his friends."

"That's the problem," Scout mumbled.

GoGo's eyebrows raised and she waited for Scout to elaborate.

"I love Luca but he just tries so hard, sometimes, to understand things he can't understand, thank goodness he can't understand but I don't want him to keep trying. He pulls out these dumb musicals and thinks he can like, get what I'm going through, or what Zayne's going through, or any of that, just because he's found some character that's kind of like us."

"I'm not going to lie, I've never had that exact problem. But I've had people who thought they knew me when they didn't. And, Scout, I might actually understand some of the stuff you're going through."

"I know," Scout said, "Mr. Tomago told me when I visited Andrew." Scout hugged himself, angling his body away from GoGo.

"What was the song? Or the musical, or whatever."

"Requiem, from Dear Evan Hansen."

"Oh yeah, that one hurts to listen to." GoGo leaned back on the roof, studying the skyline.

"Is your… He's dead, right?"

"Yeah. It doesn't actually get any easier when they're gone, or when they're behind bars. It hurts all the same."

"That's not what I wanted to hear," Scout sighed.

"I know. I'm sorry, Scout. I'm sorry you've been hurt. I'm sorry that a lot of people will never understand what you're going through, and that you've felt you have to shut people out so that no one gets the chance to understand."

"I don't want anyone to understand," Scout said, beginning to tear up, hugging himself even closer, "I don't want anyone to go through what I've gone through and I don't want people to try to understand, either, because then it's just pity and I hate pity most of all."

"People aren't going to stop caring about you, bud. The only option you've got is to either open up and take steps to being okay so that people have less to worry about, or to close yourself off so that people worry more."

"Both options suck."

"Now you're getting it. Don't tell Reese that you're allowed to say suck and she isn't." Scout laughed a little but the emotions bubbling up in his chest turned the laugh into a sob. GoGo quickly put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, listen, I don't want to push you, but you can talk to me about anything and everything."

"I'm supposed to hate him by now," Scout said, "but I don't. And everyone can see it, can see how weak I am for not hating my supervillain older brother. Now it's just pity and glances and people clambering out on the roof to comfort me."

"You don't owe anyone the feelings they think you should feel toward your abusers. Yes, hate is natural but so is confusion and love. For a long time you thought Andrew was there for you, was your protector. There's no shame in still harboring positive feelings towards Andrew or not knowing how you feel about him. These things take time. I thought I was going to feel happy when my dad died but it took me a long time to even feel okay afterward. I had to let people help me."

"I can't be helped."

"That's not true," GoGo promised, "everyone can be helped. Can I give you a hug?" She didn't want to make him uncomfortable. Scout nodded and they sat quietly for a bit.

"How do I get help?" Scout asked after a few minutes of silence.

"You talk to people who know more than you, people who care about you. You can talk to me or Wasabi whenever, or we could look into getting you a therapist."

"Luca doesn't know more than me about this," Scout said seriously, crossing his arms.

"Right. We can talk to him about what is and isn't helpful for him to bring up. I know he isn't trying to make you feel worse but setting boundaries will probably make you feel better, and Luca isn't going to mind."

"Thank you," Scout said.

"Of course. Any time. But maybe let's stay off the roof for a while?"

"Deal."