Chapter 8

"Bree get up, it's time to get ready for school." I hear Adam voice tell her. I open my eyes and I see that I am standing in y capsule. I turn and see Adam. He is dressed and Bree is walking out of her capsule.

"Mom had breakfast ready." Adam tells her smiling.

"Adam, do you know what today is?" Bree asks him. Suddenly his face drops. I run over to the calendar. It is February 2. It has been a year. It has felt like seconds.

"Yay, it's the day you have you trig test." He says quietly.

"Adam." Bree demands.

"You have to hurry up and get to school you collage scholar." He jokes.

"Adam." She demands again.

"I know Bree. I know." Adam saying giving in. We head up stairs there everyone is already at the breakfast table.

"Mid terms came out yesterday Leo" Tasha says firmly.

"How did I do?" Leo asks.

"Straight A's!" She exclaims. Everyone cheers and congratulates Leo. Wow, things have changed.

"Come on guys, enough cheering." Adam tells them. "Lets go to the car you guys are going to be late. Oh and Leo grab a jacket it is kinda chilly out." Leo nods his head and we all pile in the car. First we drop Leo off at Mission Creek High school. Then we drop Bree off at Mission Creek Community Collage. Then we head home. When we get there it is just Adam and me.

"Hello?" Adam calls out. No answer. He then goes down to the lab. I steps into his capsule and changes into workout cloths. He then walks over to treadmill. I watch Adam work out for about 2 hours. He has really gotten in shape in the past year. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. It all seems normal. It isn't until he heads to the punching bag does something weird happen. He starts to cry.

"Adam?" I ask.

"Chasey, I don't get it." Adam cries. "I am doing what I told you I would do. I am a leader. Bree and I have been going on missions for 8 months now. Leo has amazing grades. Dad has been coming up with new inventions left and right. Bree is in a really good relationship with this boy. In fact he told me that he is planning on marrying her. Things have been great! But I am still sad and I don't know why. I think it is because I feel like your death is my fault. That is something I won't be able to live down. No matter how much I try." He cries. I don't know what to do. I want to tell him I forgive him. But I can't.
"Adam you have to let it go!" I exclaim. "You have to let me go. I have been dead for like two years now. Even I am over it." Adam just keeps blubbering and mumbling. I think of something. I go over to his phone. It is in his back pocket. I have him butt dial Bree and Leo. It only takes a half hour for them to get there. Adam is still sitting on the ground. He has finally stopped crying, but his eyes are red.
"Adam?" Bree asks from the elevator.

"Bree! Leo! What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in school." Adam asks them,

"Yay and you are supposed to be a man, not a sad little boy." Leo jokes.

"What's wrong?" Bree asks him.

"Nothing, I just…. Seriously why aren't you in school?" Adam asks trying to change the subject.

"Because you butt dialed us and we heard you crying." Bree admits,

"Oh." Adam says.

"Adam what's wrong?" Bree ask him. Leo and Bree come up and sitting down on the floor next to him.

Adam tries not to say anything but he ends up spilling. "It's been 2 years since Chase died and I still feel responsible. Chase would be alive if I hadn't been so stupid."

"Adam, I am soooo sorry I didn't know that is how you felt." Bree consoles him.

"Yay man" Leo agrees "I'm sorry."

"I have tried to be more responsible over the past year. Tried to make things work. Tried to be more like him….." Adam admits.

"What happened to our brother is nothing short of horrible. But you can't blame yourself. That kinda guilt will just eat you alive." Bree tells him.

"And if there is one thing I have learned through this whole ordeal it's that you can't be anybody but yourself. If you try to be someone else someone you are not you are just going to end up short every time." Leo adds.

"You really think I should stop blaming myself?" Adam asks them.

"YES!" Leo and Bree exclaim. After a little longer of silence Adam asks

"When does it stop hurting?" Adam asks.

"Never." Bree says crying.

"When does it get easier?" Adam asks crying.

"Never." Leo tells him crying. "Even though it will always hurt we will always have each other to help get through it."

"Thanks guys" Adam says smiling. Then they all hug it out.

"Hay do you guys what to make a nacho cheese fountain?" Adam asks them a couple minutes later.

"I thought you would never ask." Leo says smiling. And they all head up stairs. I feel myself getting lighter. I know this is the last time I will see the lab. I know next year on February 2, I will not be there. My work here is done. I have completed my last and final mission. Then there is nothing.

The End for real this time