A/N: This took much longer than I initially figured to write out but here it is. I realize the Prologue can be considered pretty repetitive and somewhat incoherent, but it's actually part of the story. I had it in my head to make this as dramatic as possible which I feel I do well enough at. Then I figured add some mystery to everything, and the whole affair thing between parents is the central mystery to begin with and until it's brought to a close, the repetitiveness will gradually lessen and eventually stop. Hope someone's at least getting a laugh out of this, I know I'm cracking up while writing it up, lol.

Chapter One

Heated Confrontations

One Week, Two Days Later..

It had been a week since Nick had told Sameera her father and his mother had not only been cheating on their spouses with each other, but had also both shown up back in town. Thankfully for the teens, neither parent had tried to make another appearance, and it seemed things would stay that way. Until today, this Monday, as the two of them sat down in their only shared class (Physics) when they realized there wasn't a substitute teacher anymore (the previous permanent Physics teacher having died in a freak accident on his way to Aruba for vacation). Instead, proven by the official nameplate that read her name on the desk, Keira Negron stood in front of the students.

"Welcome, everyone. My name is Mrs. Rai, and I will be your Physics teacher starting today. Now, can anyone please enlighten me as to where you've all left off? Your substitute neglected to leave me any sources for the syllabus."

"Yeah, like you neglected to tell anyone what was really fucking going on, mom?" Half the students in class were wide-eyed as they looked at Nick, whose face was set in a tight frown.

"Nick, sweetie-"

"No, you don't get to even speak to me like you're my mother. You went and fucked her dad, and ruined both of our lives in the process. Then you and him have the fucking balls to show back up years later and think things will be just fine? If you think that, you're just as much a fool as Icarus was to trust wax not to melt as he tried flying towards the sun."

"Watch that tone, young man."

"Fuck you." Nick said and got out of his seat, leaving the classroom without even a glance at his mother as he slammed the door behind him.

Keira sighed. "Does anyone else have something to say? Hopefully about the class itself this time?"

Sameera sighed, looking at Nick's now empty desk. Why did their parents have to come back now? Better yet, why did she have to take a teaching job?

Sameera found Nick after class, sitting by himself in the student council room. "There you are. You okay?"

Nick held up one hand, the appendage bandaged up. "I'll be fine. How was it?"

"If it wasn't for the newfound hatred I harbor for your mother, the class would have been just fine. Why are they even back? We were all doing just fine without them."

"I don't know, and frankly I don't give a shit. Neither should you, really. They both lost the right to even check on us when they decided to leave in the first place."

"Yeah, that's true. Did you really have to make that scene, though?"

"Maybe, maybe not. That.. that slut I formerly called mom means nothing to me. There's only one thing I can really say I do care about these days."

Sameera didn't try to hide the smile on her lips this time, the somewhat reignited friendship between them slowly bringing her out of the hostility she'd been used to dishing out. "Well, that's all you really need, right?"

"Yeah.. Meera, do you ever think things happen just to mess with you?"

Sameera smirked playfully. "I've been thinking that since I found out you were my customer at the cafe.. The hell are those three doing in here?" She asked, finally noticing the three idiots in the back corner of the room.

Nick looked towards them. "They're with me. I needed somewhere quiet, they wanted somewhere to play whatever card game they're screwing with over there. I let them hide out here with me. Is that a problem?"

"No, just curious. I'm so done with dealing with this, Nick." Sameera seemed to deflate, sitting down in her own seat.

"I know, Meera, I get it. I wish they'd never shown back up. Even with our.. issues, I thought things weren't going badly."

"Speak for yourself. The only reason you're even saying that is because you get to see me in ways no one else does."

"Possibly, but at least then we didn't have added stress and anger. I'm surprised you didn't blow up on my mom in there."

"I was going to, but.. She's not my root issue. You had every right to blow up on her like you did. Now come on, let's get outta here. Last period is a study period, right? No need to stay at school."

"What about the student council meeting?"

"The festival is squared away until next week's prep, so this week is a break for the council. But, I do have Leona running around to make sure nothing needs doing. I couldn't let my friend wallow in their own anger, could I?"

"Oh? So we're back to friends now, huh?"

"Keep talking like that and I'll take it back. I'm trying, Nick."

"I know, I know. And this last week has been fantastic, except for our parents."

"Enough about those assholes. Now come on, I have off tonight so you have me all evening."

"That sounds like a date, Meera. Better be careful." Although I am waiting for that.

"Yeah, yeah. If it was anyone other than us, I'd agree with you. Let's just go. Before she tries looking for you."

Nick nodded quickly. "Alright, yeah. I don't want to almost kill my mother twice in one day." Rolling her eyes, Sameera followed Nick out of the student council room and out of the school, thankfully avoiding Keira as well as any other inquisitive morons they attended school with.

The two teenagers decided to hang out at Sameera's house, Nick currently hammering in a new plank of hardwood flooring to fix the several holes in the entranceway. They had been laughing about whatever Sameera had brought up from their childhood when there was a knock at the door. Nick looked at Sameera, thinking it was her mom or younger sister.

Sameera got up from her spot on the floor and opened the door to find Aram there with his and Keira's older child, Kari. "Sameera.." Her father said, caught off guard by the young beauty in front of him. "You look just like your mother did at your age."

"Really? Thanks for that, I guess. Now what the fuck do you want?" Nick had stood up and taken position just behind her, ready to stop Sameera from doing something rash.

"Meera, sweetheart, I just want to talk. I need to apologize to you, for what I did."

"Yeah, you do, and you know what? You're not forgiven, dad. No, you leaving us? Me, Nashrah and mom? It really fucked me up, still stops me from.." She glanced at Nick, who just looked back at her with reassurance. "It doesn't matter. Just leave, Aram. You're not welcome in this house anymore, and I don't care if I never see your face again." Even as she closed the door, Nick knew how much willpower the action had truly taken Sameera to perform, and he was ready as she turned towards him with tears rolling down her cheeks and launched herself into his arms.

"Hush, Meera. It's alright. I know that was hard to do, but you're brave for doing it. They don't deserve our attention, not after the shit they've pulled. What they've been pulling since God knows when.. Oh, no. No no no."

"Nick?" Sameera asked him, wiping her eyes as she started to calm back down. "What?'

"You don't think they were already together when we used to have our playdates as little kids? Didn't they always leave us alone with the TV or something?"

Sameera looked at him, mortified but still thinking about it. "No, I'm sure there's another reason for that. We were pretty well-behaved kids."

"Which is another reason why it would make sense this was going on even back then. But let's not dwell on that. Maybe I should go. You might have had enough mental exhaustion for one day already."

"No, please. Stay, Nick. It's better with you here.."

"Are you sure? You just said it yourself. It's still hard for you to even stand a few feet away and converse with me. It's not like I'm going away anytime soon, this city is my home. I'm not leaving it." Not leaving you.

"I'm sure. The more we are like this, even my shifts at the cafe? The easier it gets for me. I want it to be easier, because I don't want you to become me over your mother's betrayal."

"Yeah, and it's the same with me towards you right now, Meera. Although it's never been hard for me to be near you."

"Yeah, yeah. Joke it up, wise guy. What are we going to do? Just seeing them sends us both to the moon in anger."

"Yeah, it seems kind of pointless to ignore them both, too. What with my mom now being one of our teachers and your dad.. well, trying to apologize to you. But then you're right, what are we going to do? I'll only keep my own anger in check as long as I can before I explode on mom."

"We're gonna have to figure something out, Nick. Otherwise it won't end well for either of us." With your track record, you would land yourself in a cell.

"I agree. I guess the only thing we really can do is play everything by ear for now, work it out as we go."

"Hmm, yeah. I think that could work, as long as we keep both of ourselves in check. You aren't the only one with an urge to pound someone's face into a wall."

"Understandable, but in your case you'd probably do it bawling your eyes ou- ouch!" He said, rubbing the spot on his arm where Sameera had slugged him.

"That man is many things to me, but a reason to cry is not one of them. Not anymore. I've done enough crying over that bastard."

Nick hummed. "I hear that, like I did over my mom's own leaving, but you know all about that."

Sameera looked at him with a coy smile. "Oh, you bet I do. In fact, your tears permanently stained my pillowcase."

Nick waved her off as he rolled his eyes. "We've both been through a lot, and this whole thing with our parents is just.. one more thing to add to that list."

"Yeah.." Sameera looked like she had something else to say, but the thought flew from her mind as another knock sounded on the door, followed by Sameera's mother Gail's voice. "Meera, you home?"

"Coming, mom." Sameera said and opened the door, thankful her father and half-sister weren't still hanging about. "Welcome home."

"Thank you, darling. Nashrah should be home soon, she's out with friends tonight and.. Oh, hello Nick. I haven't seen you around in quite a while."

Nick smiled shyly at Sameera's mother. "Hi, Ms. Halliwell." Halliwell was Gail's maiden name and something she had taken back quite quickly after Aram had first left.

"How are you, hon? How's your father holding up?"

"He's been doing a bit better but, you know. Some days it's just harder for him."

"You're a good, strong boy, handling the absence of your mother so well. If she could see you now-"

"I wouldn't care about her opinion. She left us, and now that we know the secret behind her and your ex-husband leaving.."

"Wait, what? What do you know?"

"Only what's been made painfully and obviously clear since they arrived back in town a week ago. Aram and my mother both ran away to be together, along with their now two children."

"He what?!" Gail roared, a tone neither teen had heard from the older woman in years.

Nick wasn't scared by much these days, but any of the women in Sameera's family did, if only because she was scary enough on her own in recent times as well. "Well, I really should get going. Sameera, I'll text you later about that thing for school."

Sameera looked at him, pleading him not to leave her alone with her now enraged mother but sighed. "Yeah, sure. Just not too late, we have school in the morning."

Nick gave her a thumbs up and meekly said goodbye to Gail before rushing himself out of the house before something else could happen.

Unfortunately, Nick's home wasn't as safe as he figured either as he walked in to find both of his parents sitting in the living room. His father Elias beamed at him. "Oh, you're home! Look, Nick, your mom came back!"

Nick glared at Keira, who avoided his eyes at all cost. "I told you never to even try stepping foot in this house again, mom."

"Nick, that's your mother. Don't talk to her like that."

"Like what, dad? She deserves it, for what she did. Or has she not told you, yet. Where are your new kids, mom? With their father, Aram, right? I know I saw the older one with him at Sameera's just now."

Elias looked at Nick expectantly. "You're talking to Sameera again?"

Nick sighed. He hated that his dad was always so out of it nowadays. "Yes, dad, sort of. That's not the point. The point right now is that this woman, your own runaway wife, ran away to have Sameera's half sister, and from there Aram left his family to be with them. You shouldn't even be answering the door unless I'm home."

"I may be getting up in years but I am not old, Nicholas."

"No, you're not old, but you are depressed and only semi-aware of reality at the best of times. But of course, mom wouldn't know any of that, just like it surprises me that you even remember me and Sameera weren't speaking to one another."

"Nicholas Negron! Don't you speak to-"

"You have no fucking authority over me anymore, Keira!" Nick roared, sure the neighbors could hear him but not caring at that moment. "You lost all right to even call yourself my mother when you ran away after you fucked my best friend's father! Tell me, how long were me and Sameera having playdates while you were getting stuck like a pig by Aram?" Both parents were shocked at Nick's words, one of which was even thinking clearly. "Nevermind, I don't want to even know the answer to that. Take your new family and get the fuck out of town, you don't belong here anymore. Neither you or Aram." Without another word or waiting for a reply from either parent, Nick had already left the house, the door slamming shut behind him with enough force to knock a picture off the wall near the door, the glass covering the picture of a smiling Keira and young Nick cracked in a web above Keira's face.

Keira looked at Elias, finally realizing after the close to a half hour she had been in what used to be her house, that her ex-husband truly wasn't in the right mind. "Elias.. what happened to you? What happened to our son?" Her question would go unanswered that day.

By eleven O'clock that night, as Sameera lay in her bed, she was worried about Nick. She had thought she heard shouting from his house earlier, but she couldn't be entirely sure it was Nick. That and the fact he hadn't yet texted her at all caused her to sit up in bed, sighing as she looked at her phone as if willing it to come to life with news of Nick. After a few minutes sitting and focusing so hard on the device, it did in fact ring with Nick's ID on the screen. She picked it up. "Nick? Are you okay?"

"Meera, I don't know what happened to him to make him act out like this. He showed up here hours ago and now he's passed out." Came the voice of her father instead of the boy she wanted to know was alright.

"Where are you? I'll come get him."

"I figured you would. I'll send you the location." The call ended and Sameera got a text moments later, with a Google map showing Nick and her father were both at the auto shop by the edge of town. Where you worked before everything went to hell.. She thought, thinking about her father. Why would you go there, Nick? Sending a text telling her father she was on her way, she grabbed a hoodie and rushed out of her room. "Mom, I'm going and picking Nick up at dad's old job. I don't know why he's there or how long but it can't be good because I've been worried." She called to her mother.

"Take the car. If things are bad with his dad he can stay in the guest room." Gail called back.

"Thanks, mom. I'll be back soon." She said and hurried to find Nick.

Nick, meanwhile, was drunk down at the auto body shop, a fact Aram had neglected to mention to his daughter, seeing how wrathful she already was since he had returned. Aram knelt down to get on Nick's level. "Why'd you do this to yourself, son?"

"I'm not your fucking son." Nick said, his words slurred. "I have nothing good because of you and my bitch of a mother. You two were the ones who- hic- abandoned us kids, the ones who loved you the most. Needed you the most. Sameera hasn't been the same since you left, hell she's- hic- been the worst out of everything. You know, she hates men because of you. I've been trying to get her back to how she was when we were kids, but she won't go back. Something just stops her and I.. I'm just not good enough, I guess. Not for my mother, not Sameera, I couldn't even keep my own father in his right mind. And all because you and my mother decided to be selfish and ruin both of our fucking families. You and mom are the literal bottom of the fucking barrel of the human race."

Aram was impressed by how together even a drunk Nick seemed, although this was the first time the father had ever seen Nick in such a state. "She's on her way, Nick. I don't think she'll be very happy with you in your condition, though."

Nick made a sound somewhere between a choke and a laugh. "Yeah, she'll probably be pretty pissed at me, just as pissed as I am! Hahaha!" He laughed before his face became serious again. "Seriously, though. If she wants to fix what broke between us because of your leaving, then she'll get over it and figure out a way to forgive me for being stupid." The teenager leaned against the wall of the shop.

"Nick, what is all this about fixing you and Sameera? The few times I've seen you both since coming back home, whether or not you saw me, you've looked every bit the best friends you were before I left."

"Because that.. that was when we started being more like back then. Before that, she couldn't stand to be in the same room as me, not even during student council meetings. So, I'd cut out instead after checking in. Then I'd be her loyal customer every night and follow her home at a distance where she didn't know I was even around. She never even knew it was me at her job until the day before you showed up. You left her hollow of any feelings for men for all these years, and now you're threatening what I've only just started fucking getting back. Despicable." Because he was drunk, Nick wound up sounding like Sylvester from Looney Tunes more than anything.

Aram nodded, standing back up as a car was heard approaching, the gravel road leading to the auto body shop disturbed by the tires rolling along it. Sameera was by the two men in a moment, kneeling down to Nick. "Nick, you okay?"

"I have six hands all of a sudden, so I can't be sure, actually."

Sameera turned to her father. "Is he..?"

"Drunk? Oh, yeah. Don't know where he got the thing, but I first found him sipping from a pretty sizable bottle of bourbon."

Sameera shook her head, but her expression was mostly worried, only a hint of irritation. "Oh, Nicky. What am I going to do with you? What happened? Why didn't you just come to me?"

"Doesn't feel too good, does it? Being ignored when you could be needed?" Nick slurred, his head rolling from right to left.

Sameera sighed. "You're right, it does hurt. And I was a shitty friend for forgetting about you when you always knew what to say. Now come on, let's get you home."

Nick shook his head as she managed to get him standing. "No, not home. I can't deal with my dad right now." He was looking at her father as he spoke, frowning.

"That's fine. You always have somewhere to go, Nick." She rubbed her hand up his arm soothingly although the way she avoided his eyes as she did it said a different story. "Let's go home." She looked him in the eye again then, smiling.

Nick nodded, a little too hard as he pitched forward suddenly, Sameera almost dropping him from the sudden increase in pressure from the boy leaning on her. "Gah! Shit, Nick. I need you to do a little of the work, here."

" 'M sorry. I'm nothing but trouble fo- for you."

Sameera smiled as she got him to the passenger side of her mother's car, buckling him in and closing the door. "No, you aren't, Nick. Not by a long shot." She turned to her father. "Why didn't you tell me was drunk in the first place?"

Aram sighed. "He wasn't in good shape, Sameera. He was already passed out when I called you, I didn't want you to worry any more than necessary."

"Thanks for that, I guess. I'm sorry he gave you trouble, he.."

"No need to explain. I understand where you're both coming from. Get him home, Sameera. I have no doubt we'll see each other again at some point. And I think you need to fix things with him, at the risk of something like this happening again and ending much worse than it did tonight."

Sameera stopped as she went to open the driver's door. "I know I do, dad. Unlike you, though, I'll never let myself abandon those I care for." She climbed into the still-idling vehicle and drove off as Aram watched them drive away, waiting for his own ride back home.

Pulling the car back into the driveway of her house, Sameera turned the engine off and looked at Nick, now sleeping soundly in the passenger seat. She followed the rise and fall of his chest with a sad smile. "Always so adorable when you're sleeping." As if she realized she had said the words out loud, her cheeks burned as she huffed. "Stupid Nick."

She somehow managed to get Nick into the house before he stirred awake. "Hmm? The fuck am I?" Despite being drunk, Nick surprisingly whispered the question.

"We're at my house, dummy. Bet you regret getting yourself smashed now, huh? You had me worried sick." Sameera whispered back as she brought him back to a standing position.

He nodded, holding his head. "Yeah, probably not my best moment. Seeing my mom in my house like she'd never left.. the way my dad actually looked normal for once.. I couldn't stop myself." The boy began crying, making Sameera frown.

"Oh, Nicky. Come on, let's get you settled." She took his hand and brought him to the guest bedroom, sitting him down. "I'll get you some Tylenol and water. Hopefully it'll negate most of the morning hangover."

Nick watched her walk out of the room, his inebriated state causing him to focus on the more inappropriate parts of his old friend. "You know, you've always had an amazing ass, Sam."

There was a sort of yelping noise as she closed the door, leaning on the other side with her head turned, ear against the door. Did he.. He just really.. Why does Nick get me like this? I'm like Tsunade at any other time but he brings me into Komi-mode like it's my natural setting. What is it with Nick Negron? She thought to herself, chalking it up to Nick's current state and walked off to find the Tylenol for him.

Meanwhile, Nick was having his own little mental breakdown. Fuck, I.. I really just admitted that to her.. I guess it's about time but that was still wildly inappropriate of me.. He thought as he flipped himself onto the bed, groaning as he held his now throbbing head.

When Sameera came back, he straightened himself out and gave her a sheepish half-smile. "Sorry about that.. what I said before. All this time with distance between us has made me appreciate you in.. other ways that are probably best not brought up right now."

Sameera blushed yet again as she nodded, handing him the two little pain reliever pills and a glass of water. "It's alright, Nick. Right now, I just need you to feel better. You could have put yourself in serious trouble tonight."

"I know, alright? Sue me for being a teenager and doing something idiotic now and then."

Sameera smiled. "I will. But, I think there's still things we need to talk about.."

"What did your father tell you?" Nick's eyes met hers as they searched for an answer.

Sameera shook her head. "He didn't tell me anything other than how long you'd been over there. I've been thinking about it myself, really." And she had, when her mind hadn't been running rampant trying to figure out why her father and Nick's mother had even come back to town. "We both screwed up this whole 'come to me if you're in need of a friend' thing once already each. From now on, we talk. I.. we have to make it back to how we used to be, if that's even possible anymore.." Even if only because of my heart telling me I need you..

"Yeah, I'm sure we will, Meera. It'll just take time. I've been this patient for you to stop being so icy, I can stand waiting some more."

Sameera nodded. "Alright. Now get some sleep, okay? I'll come make sure you're okay in the morning." She smiled as she got up from the bed, only for Nick to grab her wrist.

"Can you stay with me? I don't know if I can even sleep after the day we've had."

Sameera frowned. This wasn't okay, not with their still fragile friendship and the many things still left unsaid between them, but as she looked at the pleading expression on Nick's face, she knew she couldn't leave him alone, either. Nodding, she sighed. "Alright, but you keep your hands to yourself, buster."

Nick nodded. "I wouldn't dream of doing something so uncouth." He said, the lie only being half-true.

"Sure you wouldn't. That ass comment didn't come out of nowhere, after all."

Nick felt his face redden, but he also had it only showing half of his face, the other half covered by the pillow on the bed. "Meh." Was all he said as Sameera laid down next to him, facing towards him while leaning her head on one arm. "Am I a burden?"

Sameera raised an eyebrow at the question. "What? No, don't be ridiculous. You're not a burden, Nick, least of all on me." Although it is true I've made it seem like the opposite. "We've both gone through very traumatic events in our lives, connected events, no less. That's all it is."

"I want them gone, Meera. As it is, we'll be in school with the older of our two new half-sisters come next year."

"Yeah, probably, but that doesn't mean we have to let them keep getting us down. So what if they're back? They left us without their guidance, Nick, and at this point we don't need them." Maybe we do a bit.. "We can keep going just fine with them back after all this time. Even if they're very presence sends our tempers to the levels of erupting volcanoes."

"Hmm. I just hope you're right. Things have been a lot harder for me since they arrived back in town, and I hate that I feel some of that anger, that rage, is being projected onto you when you don't deserve that."

"It isn't, Nick. I understand that anger just as well as you do. I hate it, too. I'm just.. too used to living with it by this point."

"But, we're getting there, aren't we? Slower than molasses, but we're steadily getting there." Nick was having trouble keeping his eyes open at that point, and Sameera sighed.

"Yeah, Nick. We are. Sleep tight." She said as she heard the soft breathing of Nick having fallen asleep, a smile on her lips as she closed her own eyes.

The Next Morning..

"Sameera?! Where is that girl?" Gail called out for her oldest daughter, unable to find her as she went room to room throughout the house. "Meera? Are you in.. here.. Oh." She said, opening the door to the guest bedroom and smiling at the sight of Nick and Sameera in the bed together, the two having melded into a single body at some point throughout the night, Sameera's head and one hand resting on Nick's chest, the boy's arm draped around Sameera protectively. The mother giggled, happy to see actual progress between the teens. "Soon enough, you two. It'll be like you were never apart in the first place. Might as well let them sleep in a bit. The surprise will be good for them." She closed the door again with another giggle.

A short while later, Sameera stirred as she tried to figure out why her bed felt differently than usual. Then she realized she was pinned in place, by what she couldn't tell. Fearing sleep paralysis, she tried and succeeded in picking her head up, the sight that met hers making her face feel hotter than she'd ever felt it before as she realized what had happened during the night while she was sleeping. When did I end up on top of him? She asked herself, knowing she had fallen asleep with a good two feet between herself and Nick the night before.

She tried to wriggle herself out of the weirdly iron-like grip Nick had on her only to eventually tire of trying and instead wound up waking Nick as he opened his eyes slowly. "Hmm? Meera?" He asked, locking eyes with the other teen as his eyes widened from seeing how they were now entangled together. "Nicky?" Sameera asked, her voice failing her.

"Y-yeah, Meera?"

"Can you let me up? I'd kind of like to get ready for school before we wind up being late." Nick could tell she was blushing from how dark her cheeks had gotten, but nodded and gulped as if his throat was dry.

"Yes, yeah of course. Sorry. I don't know.."

"It's fine. It takes two to wind up in such a position, doesn't it?"

Nick nodded. "Look who's making innuendos."

"Oh, shut it and get up. We slept in." They both sat up on opposite sides of the bed, sighing in unison.

"I feel like sleeping today away, too. Not gonna lie." Especially with how we woke up. I've been wishing for that for ages already.

"Yeah, me too." Why can't I look at him? "I'm gonna go get changed. Wait up for me and I'll tag along to your place so you can change?"

Nick nodded and Sameera left the room, beelining it to hers quicker than anything as she shut the door just as quickly, sighing again as she went to look for an outfit for the day. As she finished slipping a shirt onto her shoulders, Gail cracked open the door. "There you are. Did Nick go home to get ready for school already?"

Sameera looked at her. "You mean he's not still in the guest room?"

Gail shook her head. "Nope. So, did something happen last night between you two? You both were quite adorable when I went and checked on him earlier."

Sameera couldn't believe how often she was blushing these days as she gasped at her mother. "Mom! Nothing is going on between me and Nick."

"That's not how you two seem whenever I see you together. Looks more like two lovers reunited, and you both in bed together doesn't help that image. Although it was only a matter of time, really."

"Mom?" The teen asked as Gail entered the room and sat next to her daughter on her bed.

"You can't be that blind, Sameera. Let me ask you something. What do you really think of your old best friend? And I mean the truth, not some silly excuse that I should have put a stop to God knows how long ago."

"You've lost me, mom."

"Just answer the question, dear, from your heart. Your heart can never lie, even if your mind tells you every reason to the contrary. So, what do you truly think of Nick?"

Sameera looked over at her bookshelf, where a single picture stood despite the events that surrounded the teens. The picture showed Nick and Sameera, their faces the only thing visible in the frame but both were smiling wider than anything. That photo had been taken when the teens were young, before Aram left their family to follow Keira. "I.. I really can't tell, mom. It isn't that I don't want to. On the contrary, all I want is to know how I feel because all these conflicting emotions are driving me insane."

"Well, what conflicting emotions? I can guarantee at least some of it isn't as contradictory as you think. Not with how natural yet fast your reconciliation has begun to occur, even if it's been fast tracked by your bastard of a father and that whore of a mistress." Gail's eyes became angry but she sighed. "You and Nick mirror them a lot more than either of you have admitted to each other or yourselves."

"What? I'm nothing like him! I-"

"Fell for your best friend, and don't lie to me and say you aren't in some way in love with little Nicholas, because that might work on your classmates but not on me. I've seen how his absence in the aftermath of your father running off has really affected you. I'm proud of you for stepping up as soon as you got into high school and getting that job, but you're missing out on things that were making themselves clear to you even as a child. That boy cherishes you, worships the ground you walk on. To him, you're a goddess in human form, and do you know how I know that?" Sameera shook her head. "Nick Negron looks at you like I used to look at your father. But, the difference between him and your father is that even after all these years, while Nick hasn't been a true constant presence in your life, that sparks never left his eyes. Nor has it ever gone away from your eyes, the few times I've seen it."

"Mom, I swear on everything I'm not in love with Nick. It's impossible for me to be in love with such an insufferable, dramatic, perverted-"

"Perverted? Nick may be many things but perverted is not one of them. Maybe he makes a comment here or there, but as long as he's saying it to or about you, then it's a compliment."

Nick's off-handed comment the night before replayed in her mind, making Sameera shake her now blushing face. "Alright, maybe he isn't perverted, but everything else-"

"Is in your nature just as much as his, these days. You don't think I'm told things by other parents while I'm at work? You've been just as insufferable and dramatic about all things men while the one man who never gave up on you met you with equal attitude. You're in love, my beautiful flower. Take it and cherish it, as I know you have it in you."

Sameera nodded, sighing as Gail got up. "Nick will probably come back soon, whether for you or breakfast, we'll see." She chuckled as she left the room, making Sameera look at the picture once again. Am I.. really in love with Nick?

It's about time someone told you. You figuring it out by yourself has been next to fucking impossible. Came that nagging voice from the other week. Even when you're the one giving yourself clues.

You again? What exactly are you to me, anyway? Other than a bitch. Although the conversation was happening inside her head, Sameera physically crossed her arms.

Oh honey, it takes one to know one, doesn't it? Isn't it obvious what I am? What with your real self being so much more present lately. There was a snarky bite in the other Sameera's voice.

And what the fuck do you mean by that, then?

Haven't you noticed? The way you act more like you did before that asshole of a father left home ever since Nick's active decision to get close to you again? You're not stupid, are you?

Fuck you. Yes, I have noticed I've been different since I found out about Nick being that ridiculously persistent customer. At first I hated that he made me so flustered, and so easily. Now, a week later, I can say I'm content with how things have been. But..

Then last night happened. You started to realize just how important that idiot really is to you, didn't you?

Yeah.. If I'd lost him like he had lost me, and for so long? I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I'm scared of knowing he could have been like I've been for all this time, and even worse. I'd hate myself for allowing him to get to that point, just as I'm sure he's felt guilty or otherwise over my turn in attitude. But no more, at least for him. There may be men out there like my father, but I can assuredly say that Nick isn't one of them.

Good, keep that mindset up. I'll always be here, you've changed whether you want to admit it to yourself or not. But, at least knowing where your heart may lie will make it easier for you. There was a chuckle as the other voice faded away and Sameera became aware of someone shaking her shoulder. Looking, she jumped at the sight of Nick, looking considerably better than he had when she had put him to bed. "Hey. You alright?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah, feeling much better. Thanks, doc." He chuckled. "Where were you just now? I've been calling your name for like two minutes now."

"Oh, just lost in thought. Come on, you hungry? Mom probably made breakfast for you, too."

"Yeah, I'm actually pretty starved."

"And there are the words none of our parents liked to hear when we were kids." Smirking, Sameera giggled as she lead the way out of her room.

Once they were all seated at the table and eating, Sameera's younger sister Nashrah spoke up about Nick's sudden presence. "What happened to hating on all men, Meera?"

"Shut it, twerp. Nick is an exception to most rules, I've found."

"Well, can my boyfriend sleep over, then?"

Sameera stood up, her hair doing the gravity-defying floating again. "What boyfriend? And Nick is not my boyfriend!" She half-shouted, both that and her blush saying there was at least the thought otherwise.

"Girls, that's enough. No fighting at the table, even if it's just harmless teasing." Gail intervened, making Sameera sat back down.

"Yes, mom." Sameera said, sticking her tongue out at her little sister. "He's still not my boyfriend."

"Well then why did mom find you two sleeping together?" Nashrah asked, the last word being said in a sing-song voice.

"Nashrah, stop antagonizing your sister. She has enough on her mind right now for you to be putting up more thoughts unnecessarily."

"Like what? The student council? Her job? Or do you mean the fact our sperm donor is back in town?"

"That's no way to talk about your father, Nashrah. Despite how your sister and I may speak of him, he is still your father and-"

"You care less than either me or Sameera do about him at this point. Or does it not bother you that he was screwing Nick's mom behind everyone's backs?"

Sameera looked at her sister. "And how the hell do you even know about that? You haven't been around us when we've spoken about dad since we found out about him cheating."

"One of the kids I have study period with told me about Nick blowing up on his mom during his and Meera's Physics class yesterday."

"Name. Someone needs to learn not to talk shit they have no business to speak of." Sameera said as Nick chuckled.

"It's fine, Meera. She's right, I really don't care about that bastard anymore, but I do need to tell you all something, since it does regard you three. Your younger siblings, as unexpected as they are, are-"

"Not a part of our families, mom! If we let the half-siblings into our lives, then eventually it'll be dad and Keira involved."

"Sameera Halliwell! I put up with your attitude for far too long already. If you and Nick decide you both want nothing to do with the Rai family, then you're allowed. But, Nashrah was barely old enough to even remember your father when he left, so if she decides to give him and/or them a chance, she is allowed just as much. I'm just saying that ostracizing those kids because of the actions they are unaccountable for is just like what happened with you two." She leveled a pointed glare at the older teens. "And I for one would rather not have multiple teenagers causing unnecessary chaos."

"Got it, Ms. Halliwell."

"Yeah, mom. No problems with the kids. But I'm not stopping if they start something. The older one is sharing a school with all of us next year, unless she's old enough to get transferred in. How old were we when your mom split, Nick?"

"Um.. About four, so the math would work out. Shit, Sam, we're gonna be late." Nick said, looking at the clock on the kitchen wall.

Sameera followed his gaze. "Damn, you're right. Sorry to cut breakfast short, mom but we gotta run."

"Sure, sure. Have a good day, kids. And you two." Nick and Sameera stopped just inside the door, Nashrah having beaten them outside the house. "It's good to see you both back in a somewhat amicable relationship."

Nick blushed and turned away as Sameera huffed. "For the last time, mom, we aren't dating!" She said, closing the door before Gail could make a retort as she caught up to Nick and Nashrah two houses further down the block.

"I have a bone to pick with you two, but you in particular, dear big sister."

Nick looked at Sameera with uncertainty, shrugging as she gave him an exasperated look and sighed. "Alright, Nash, I'll bite. Whats up?"

Nashrah crossed her arms as she spoke. "It bugs me, you know. Why exactly do you keep throwing the suggestion away? You two have always looked cute together, even as enemies in school." Nashrah explained, much to both older teens' shock as they looked at her.

"What's that supposed to mean, Nashrah?" Nick asked. "Name one example of us looking cute while ene- Nashrah interrupted before he could finish.

"Tenth grade, you were both just appointed to the student council and everyone thought it would be a good idea to put you two in a photo together for that year's yearbook. You both looked so pissed off at each other, but everyone who saw that picture thought you were just dating and having a fight."

"A-alright, that's a bit odd to jump to but it's whatever I guess. Name another, if any."

The smirk the younger Halliwell wore could win its own award. "Try the rest of that yearbook. Any picture with the two of you present was both overly hostile but also strangely sweet. Then there's the fact all the boys want to take Sameera out-"

"They'll never get the chance." Nick rolled his eyes.

"And how is it I'm the last two know I'm apparently highly wanted by other guys in school?"

Nashrah laughed. "You're kidding, right?" The serious expression on Sameera's face said she wasn't. "Oh, big sister you've been oblivious lately. It's because Nick keeps beating up on the ones talking about you behind your back. The ones who want to ask you out are too scared our resident school Boogeyman will put them on the floor. Not that the ones he does don't deserve that or anything." She giggled.

"Ugh, you both are just the worst. Anyway, Nashrah, why'd you hang around to walk with us to school today? Don't you usually leave early to meet up with your friend? Hannah, I think."

"Yeah, usually. But, she's out of town this week, her grandmother in Colorado is sick in the hospital. Plus, I never get to annoy you unless Nick is here, he diminishes your regular bitchy attitude."

"I am not a bitch, just looking out for the other girls in school."

"Who don't need someone to watch their backs twenty-four-seven, sis! Some girls like being handled rough, you know." Sameera's face went dark as a flash of a scene came to her mind, something she hadn't actually thought about despite waking from the dream that morning.

"Be that as it may, if someone doesn't look out for them, then guys will just walk all over them. I can't let that happen to our fellow students."

"You know, Sam, you take your job as student council president way too seriously sometimes." Nick said, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. "If you take a step or two back from engaging the problem, it might turn out better than you think."

"Yeah? And what authority do you- ah!" Nick's face was inches from hers again, causing yet another blush and yelp of surprise.

"Whatever authority it is you seem to fall under. When it's me, at least."

"Ugh, stop it, Nick. Don't make me regret trying to be friends again." She said, the threat empty as her words were spoken pleadingly.

"You wouldn't take it back. Not after how much lighter you've felt the last few days." Sameera opened her mouth to reply but stopped. Nick was right, she really did feel lighter since the night he'd told her their parents had slunk back into town, maybe even the more emotionally stressing day before that.

"A-alright, maybe not. But that doesn't mean you can just do that, Nicky!"

"Oh, that's another thing. Back before dad left, you always called Nick by his nickname. Then you stopped once dad left and now you're using it more and more again, whether or not he's present."

"I've noticed that, too, but I'm also not trying to force the facts down her throat, Nashrah. Just leave it, before you cause her unnecessary emotional damage." Nick said, his voice taking on an Asian accent at the end.

Sameera facepalmed. "Oh, God. I regret letting you play that damn video in the meeting when we came back to school this year." On the first day the student council had met that year, only a week or two prior to her and Nick's somewhat making up with each other, Nick had played a video with her permission that showed an Asian man speaking about how parents cause emotional conflict on their children, and the words Nick had said were the de facto highlight of such videos by the man.

Nashrah giggled. "I think that guy's funny. And, in retrospect, his videos have helped me not completely hate on dad, added with the fact I was like three when he took off."

"Dad still deserves everything and every attitude I give him. He has a lot to make up to us, Nash, andy hatred towards him will not diminish unless he proves he's willing to truly try."

"Granted, him and my mom have been trying to reconcile with us." Nick pointed out as the trio turned onto the street the high school was located on. "But, I'm in the same boat as you, Meera. Your situation is a little worse off than mine, since there were already two children with your family, or it was before dad's mind cracked."

Sameera nodded, frowning. She remembered when the high school principal had held an assembly for people with intense, possibly irreversible mental conditions. It hadn't meant much to any of the students but Nick, and the fight that almost resulted between him and one of the football players (which Sameera had been able to break up, thankfully), had been when Nick had broken down for the first and only time in front of the girl. It was then that everyone learned not to mess with the boy, because his levels of stress at home were far worse than those at school, since his father had fallen into such a depression that most days, as shown when Nick had found him with his mother in what used to be their living room, Elias Negron was barely coherent to all around him. Seeing Keira again had obviously helped slightly the afternoon before, but otherwise he'd been the same. It was a miracle to the doctors who had taken a look at Elias that he could even still work, but Nick guessed the distraction from the depression at home must have helped. "Is there.. really nothing you can do to help him?"

Nick shrugged. "No idea. Nothing's worked much so far, you know. Maybe if there was someone else to take his mind off of my mom, then he'd get better but that's a tall order."

"Ah, yeah.. the idea has merit, I guess." Sameera smiled sadly at Nick, who nodded.

"So, Sam? When we're back in school, right? Are we going to be more enemies than friends?"

Nashrah shook her head. "No, come on, please. Meera, you've been smiling so much more and I know you've been sleeping better. Especially last night." She crossed her arms as she huffed at her older sister.

"Seriously? Don't we need to keep some kind of appearance during school? Can't have the rest of the boys thinking you've gone soft, do we, Nicky?" She didn't know why, but as she asked her final question, she had instead gotten in his face, smiling coyly as she pressed her back against his chest, her eyes staring into his.

Nashrah laughed hysterically. "Oh yeah, as long as you don't do that during school, you're totally not dating." She managed to say between laughs, somehow managing to work her usual sarcasm into her voice all the same. "Although, it seems you've finally realized Nick's weakness, sis."

Sameera and Nick looked at her and then back at each other, both seventeen year olds blushing like mad as Sameera pushed herself off of Nick, walking away towards school once again, muttering to herself. "Stupid Nick."

Nashrah looked at Nick as Sameera went out of earshot. "Sorry, was that too much?"

Nick sighed. "Sometimes, you need more empathy to get through to people, Nash. Thanks for giving it the old college try, though. Definitely breakthrough territory." He gave her a thumbs up, his head down.

"Why are you looking down?" Nashrah nodded as she realized Nick was keeping his eyes on his shoes.

Nick was silent for a short while before answering, his face getting even redder than before. "If I look up, my eyesight will focus on Sameera, and since we're behind her.." He trailed off, his head still unmoving.

"You'd be straight up staring at my sister's ass." Nashrah sighed, shaking her head before looking towards Sameera, making sure her older sister didn't wander into trouble in her embarrassed state. And also checking out the focus of the topic at hand for consideration. "It really is a nice ass, though. I'm sort of jealous of her."

"You haven't finished puberty yet, twerp. After that, you'll see whether or not to be jealous. Although I hope you don't blossom that much. This all works out, I'm the closest thing to a father and brother you could have aside from biological family and I'm going to be the one beating guys off you with the katana hanging in my room."

"You have a fucking sword in your room?!"

"Duh, a guy needs protection, and I've seen too much Star Wars to lose with a sword and, hopefully, the element of surprise."

"You really are such a nerd. How long do you think it'll take before something else happens to ruin the pleasant mood you've been helping put Sameera in?"

Nick chanced a glance at Sameera, and cursed himself for knowing exactly where his eyes would go at their current distance from each other. "I give it to the end of the week. You?"

"I give it about.. let's say two days. Honestly, with your mom- mine and Sameera's stepmother, mind you- being one of our teachers and one of their kids possibly coming to school with us as well, we're in for a rough ride."

"Rougher than a mechanical bull." Nick agreed, before Nashrah hurried up to her sister, the school looming over them at the end of the street.

"Meera, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you. But you did set yourself up for that." Nashrah stopped Sameera just inside the entrance gate to the high school property.

Sameera huffed and watched as Nick eventually rounded the same corner and kept walking, seemingly not noticing the girls as he passed. "I know I did, but I don't even know why I did that. That was totally not me."

"Whatever you say, sis, if it makes you feel better. Oh, look. Seems mom was right." The younger Halliwell daughter pointed at Nick's mother, who was approaching the school with the older of her two new children in tow.

Sameera frowned. "Oh, this makes just another interesting development, doesn't it?" She gasped. "Shit, I should go warn Nick before they set him off again." She started rushing off towards the school, zipping right by Keira and Kari.

"Totally not dating, right?!" Nashrah called after her, laughing as she made her own way into the school.