MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

So… Thanks so much for the Reviews.

Masterarcher, =) Thanks so much for the review… I also hope that there is something like an unbreakable friendship.

Elyy2k, =D This review made my day! Thanks so much. I'm glad you like it.

Miss Fenway, I'm sorry for your broken friendship… I've got a few myself :(

For everybody… Here is the new chapter… so please review…

The fight 2

Ben's Perspective

But he was still my little brother. He means so much to me and I would fight for his friendship.

"Riley, please! I was angry! And you didn't act like such a great friend either." Okay, if there was an award for the stupidest apologizes, I would get it. He wasn't acting like a good friend? He's an amazing friend! Of course he's not perfect, but he has never hurt me. Not like I hurt him.

"Okay, what did I do?" He asked with an offended look.

"You… haven't told me about your phobia of canoes or your claustrophobia." I complained.

"Oh, Ben, that's lame! Really!" he glared at me "But fine. I'll tell you about it," he stated in a firm voice.

When I didn't interrupt him, his newfound temper vanished: "You know I don't mind sitting in a canoe. I would sleep in a canoe if it was on land! And I don't mind little, dark rooms, as long as it's not a cave!" Again fresh tears were in his eyes. This time I could tell they weren't of anger, but of mental pain. What was up with the kid?

"What is it?" I asked gently and both of my hands had now a tight grip on his shoulders.

I didn't know how I should act. On one hand we fought but on the other hand there was a scared boy in front of me, my very best friend, who was now uncomfortably shifting his weight from side to side.

"Do you remember the last time we went swimming?" he asked, eyes on my shoes.

"No, that was… oh!" Then it hit me, the kid wasn't afraid of canoes, but of water. And he wasn't afraid of darkness or narrowness but of caves. "Riles…" I began and stroked his shoulder.

"I was way more than frightened, Ben! I was terrified!" I had the strong feeling he wasn't talking about our recent trip. He wound himself out of my grip and took a few steps back.

"You nearly drowned and I wasn't able to do anything. I didn't even say goodbye. It could have been the last time I saw you! It could have been your death! Do you really think I'm fond of the idea to go swimming with you or running through an underground cave? It just so happens that it reminds me of something! It could have been the last time I ever saw you." By now he was really crying.

I realized that we've never talked about this, not with him or Abi or my parents. Everyone seemed to be okay with it. Nothing had happened and I had no idea that the memory was this painful for Riley.

I made a few steps to him and took his upper arms between my hands and pressed them to his chest, so that he was finally start to calm down.

"Riley! Hey, look at me!" I ordered with a gentle tone. Eventually his crying eyes met my soft gaze. "I didn't think about it. I'm sorry. But all water or every cave wants to kill somebody, at least the ones without any treasures in them!" My joke didn't brighten his mood. He just stared at me.

I made sure to get my point across. "Ri, you don't have to worry if something might happen to me and I'm sorry that I pushed you so much. I shouldn't have taken it out on you. You had every right to want to not talk about it. I was really stupid, and I wasn't able to realize it myself."

Then there was an awkward silence, when his eyes downcast again.

"I'm sorry I was talking about us kidnapping the president in front of every one." he gave in.

"It's okay! Do you believe me when I say, that I was a jerk and just wanted to hurt your feelings, and didn't mean anything of it?" I asked with a little force behind my voice.

"Why?" He asked, sadly.

"I was so angry that you didn't listen to me, that this cop claimed we were cheating and that we both fought nearly the entire trip. And what was nagged me the most, why you didn't tell me about your fears, twice on the trip. I'm sorry, but it seemed so simple to hurt you at the moment. I didn't mean anything of it. Okay?" I apologized one more time.

He didn't response just looked away.

"Okay? Riley, please tell me that it's okay!" I begged.

He looked at me with now hopeful eyes, than he nodded. I smiled at him.

"Good! Riley, it was really stupid that you believed me! I was really stupid to say things like that. You are my best friend. No! You are my little brother. I love you like a little brother! Are we clear?"

"Yeah, thanks Ben." By now he smiled a sheepish smile.

"And I'm so sorry I failed my promise, which I kept when I met you the first time." I stroke his arm and avoided his gaze when I said this.

"Which promise?" he asked, and now he was the one who searched my gaze.

"To never let you get hurt, and now I was the one who hurt you." I said with sorrow in my voice.

He smiled at me with a genuine smile.

"So, come here!" I returned the grin. Before he realized what was happening, I pulled him into a tight embrace.

After a few moments he returned the hug and buried his face in my shoulder.

"I'm really sorry that we have fought so much on the trip!" he mumbled against the fabric of my shirt.

"Most of the time it was great, wasn't it?" I whispered gently.

He nodded and tightened his grip on me, gripping the back of my shirt, not wanting to let go. Oh I really hated myself for last evening. My thoughtless words were something he would never forget and I would never forgive myself.

I leaned my forehead against the top of his head and tried to blink the tears in my eyes away.

After we finally broke apart, I had an arm limp over his shoulders and led him to the tree where Abi was waiting, tears of joy in here beautiful eyes. When we were near enough she reached us and hugged us both at the same time.

The group hug was only interrupted by Abi's cries, of course in German: "Ich hasse euch beide! Warum könnt ihr nicht immer so sein?"

"Abi! I can't understand you. So if you said something important you should repeat it in English!" Riley asked whose head was resting on my shoulder next to Abi's head that rested my chest.

"I said that I hate you both and asked why you two can't remain being this way together." Abi mumbled and I saw her stroking Riley's hair affectionately.

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Riley's Perspective

I had my brother back. Okay, the fight didn't last long, but it was worse than anything else. I couldn't express how glad I was, here, at this bus stop, arms full of Ben and Abi.

All the pain felt only like an after- sound of a nightmare, of a healing wound.

When the bus arrived, we sat down in the back, where we sat in one row, Abi in the middle with a goofy smile.

I was smiling too and looked happily out of the window, enjoying the ride to Las Vegas.

ROADTRIPROADTRIPROADTRIPROADTRIPROADTRIPROADTRIPROADTRIP

Well…. Everything turned out good…. And finally we know Riley's fears =)

Only one chapter to go…

I think I will post it tomorrow…

Reviews please… (Would be my Christmas present :D)