Cary couldn't stop rubbing his hand over the bruises on his arm when he got home. It hurt just to rub his palm over the green spots. Caleb could fucking PULL. No one would want to mess with him in tug-o-war. But the way he pulled Cary made him think again.

Why?

Was there something he was missing to that little story? Wasn't he over drugs? If the story involved steroids the situation would be making more sense for Cary but there wasn't. He began to wonder if he even realized if he knew what he was doing. Had he known it was Cary he was tugging on? Or just some dog on it's leash?

He heard a knock on his bedroom door, he quickly put his arm down so it wasn't in plain view.

"Come in."

It was Nathan, "Hey."

"Hi." he replied unenthusiastically, not looking forward to having to have a 'conversation'.

"Everything ok? You haven't come out your room in an hour."

How the hell did he always know? Cary sat up a little more,

"Yeah I'm fine."

"Don't tell me your tired again." he folded his arms leaning against Cary's desk. His friends had already left by the time they came back, he and Caleb had been hanging around the entire time.

"I'm not, just not feeling well." he lied. Nathan walked over feeling his forehead,

"You don't feel warm." he swiped his hand away,

"I didn't say sick."

"Jeez, what the hell's gotten into you? You haven't been acting like yourself since they arrived."

Cary didn't know how to respond, unconscious of the anger in his expression he looked at the wall past Nathan's head. Nathan raised a brow,

"Did something happen? That I should know about? Cary?" he asked,

"You treat me like a little kid too." He exclaimed before sliding off of his bed and walking past Nathan, opening his door heading for the garage,

"And where are you going?" he called, annoyed.

"Somewhere where someone will leave me alone!" he hopped onto his bike going out of the driveway down the street. Oh wait, he mocked in his own sarcastic thoughts, what if I get 'stolen'? he scoffed to himself with the memory all over again. Caleb watched Cary pedal away through the window until he was no where in sight.

"Where the hell is he going?"

"I don't know," he grabbed his car keys, "I have to go get him-"

Caleb grabbed his shoulder, "He'll come back…just let him be."

Nathan was a little suspicious, he gazed at Caleb, "Hey…how'd your guys day go?"

He nodded, "It went fine." he pointed into the kitchen curiously, "Do we have any more Sprites?" he walked away to the fridge, leaving Nathan unknown whether to be suspicious or to not care at all.

Cary didn't go far from his house at all. In fact, he only made a small turn at the end of the street and was currently sitting by a light pole watching the cars go by slowly one by one. He just needed some true alone time. The sound of the afternoon was around him, hungry baby birds waiting for their mother, cicadas and the late evening traffic were all somewhat peaceful to him.

He wasn't thinking about anything. Just listening. Although every time he tried to lean on his left arm it'd feel like it was going to collapse. At the same time, he worried his parents and the others would drive by and see him. He wanted to go somewhere else, but was either too busy trying to relax or too lazy.

"Its over…Its supposed to be over…"

Those were his thoughts the moment that space ship had taken off, "Its over…it's over…" No more action or pain he thought. No more near-death experiences or army tanks. The effect of the events on Cary didn't actually 'hit' him until afterwards. And he was slowly getting over it. Even his family didn't know how involved he was with everything. Just his mother crying hysterically, bawling out tears when he came home the night it ended,

He was covered in bruises and dirt and his clothes had gotten damp and mucky from tripping multiple times when he was in that cave. Even Nathan was almost convinced he was dead, shocked when he saw tears in his brothers eyes. He then remembered the hour long shower he took when it was over.

For some reason, the thought made Cary smile. It didn't seem like it, but it was strangely a memory that he could laugh at. He started to laugh to himself until he saw his wrist, also bruised. He flexed it, causing it to crack. Painfully. He winced and took it. Getting scratched and violently thrown against a cement wall from a missile flying through was pain. This was nothing. He looked down the street to see a familiar car coming up. It wasn't his family but he knew that yellow car…

Alice and Louis Danard. They went by too fast to see him, but he definitely saw them. Happy, laughing and chatting.

Even Alice was enjoying her time with her family.

"How is that possible?"

It wasn't fair…just not fair. He finally decided to suck it up and go home. He decided he'd 'take blame' for whatever he did. When he arrived back, he saw his father's car in the driveway, leaning his bike against the wall in the garage he walked up the few stairs and saw the boys in the living room and the two women in the kitchen. His father perked up upon seeing him,

"There's my boy! Where were you?"

He paused, think of something! Something! "Joe Lamb's."

His father nodded, "Well listen. Next time, ask before you just take off somewhere."

Cary froze up a little inside, "Yes sir." He did not like it when his father got angry. His father especially.

"Atta' boy." he went back to staring at the television. Cary looked up, he saw Caleb looking at him before turning his head at the television, Nathan just staring at the television. Cary turned around,

"Hey where are you going?" his father again, he turned back around.

"Just my room."

"M-mm." he nodded, "Your not locking yourself in your room all night again. Come sit down with us." he said pointing to the chair next to the couch he was on.

Was he serious? Cary didn't respond, trying to keep a masked expression as he sat down, some sit-com was on that Cary knew absolutely about. He didn't speak as he listened to the various conversations between the other people in the house, from the people on the TV. He tried tuning everyone out which wasn't working because he constantly heard someone calling name…he later realized one of the main characters on the show they were watching's name was 'Cary'. It started to grow dark outside as he felt himself feeling more and more exhausted as he began to think less about his arm.

"Cary." he ignored it, mistaking it for the TV again. "Cary!" he then recognized his mother's voice,

"Yeah?"

He then realized everyone had gone into the kitchen. "Dinners ready, didn't you hear?" he got up, not even aware of how long he had zoned out, nor able to remember what he was thinking about for so long. They sat in pretty much the same order as the night before, Cary couldn't believe it had only been two days…no, not even a day really. Cary slowly ate, trying to make sure no one could see his arm. Why was he more concerned about hiding it than Caleb? Caleb should be the one concerned. In fact, why wasn't Cary showing it off?

"No! No more action…besides, who's gonna believe me?" He kept reminding himself every time he felt like 'stretching'.

"So Caleb what did Cary show you?" his aunt Sherri asked.

He swallowed, "Pretty much everything there was to see. We went to this eat and play restaurant with his little friend."

Damn it! Cary grimaced trying to scarf another bite of food into his mouth,

"You mean Joe? Didn't you just say you were at his place?"

He swallowed, not wanting them to stare at him any longer, "Well yeah…I went to his place after we left the restaurant-"

"So you let Caleb go home by himself?"

Cary was aggravated beyond his own belief, "I don't know! He's twenty-two! What does it matter?" he certainly wasn't being treated like a child at the moment, but he didn't want to be treated like a parent just yet.

"He can still lose his way!" His mother scolded, Cary was going to do it, he was going to hold his arm out, "Well he could've thought about this while he tried to find his way home!" Yes, it was perfect, the cat had the rat.

"Will you two leave him alone!" He heard…Caleb's voice. Cary looked at him in surprise, lowering his bruised arm, "Joe invited him over and…I let Cary go. He asked me specifically." he covered up, surprising Cary even farther, leading him into even deeper confusion. He could see the steam in his mother's eyes simmer,

"Oh…well, alright. Cary you could've just told me."

Cary tried to fake a smile, "Heh…"

His uncle Will lifted his fork, "Well can't we just put this all behind us and finish the lovely meal now?" that definitely sounded like he was related to Cary's mother.

-X-

Cary was playing his electronic football (having just found it underneath his bed) trying to get his mind off yet another problem. Was Caleb bipolar or something? Did he have a split personality? He was going in way over his head when he thought on even more about it. He sighed trying to lose himself in the game. He heard his door open, expecting Nathan or his mother. Nope. Caleb.

"Can I come in little cousin?"

Cary had just gotten into the game and was trying to stop, "Yeah yeah, hold on." he finished the level then turned it off. Caleb shut the door behind him,

"You alright?" he walked over, lifting his arm, looking at the green blotches he had left,

"Shit…did I do that?"

Cary grew tough, "Who else?"

He bit his tongue in guilt, "My god I'm so sorry."

"And what was that with the hair pulling yesterday?" he asked, tugging on his own hair for reference.

"Look, I lost my temper is all."

"But what did I do that was so bad?"

"Nothing!" Cary just couldn't take any more confusion, he waited for Caleb to continue, knowing he was the victim here. This wasn't a situation where he may have blown up the neighbor's mailbox (or even car) where he had to think of something sympathetic to say. No he would be getting an apology for once.

"I promise it'll never happen again."

"Yeah but that doesn't explain why you get so mad!" He remarked, feeling a bit confidant.

"I don't know why either Cary and…I plan on getting help but until then…lets enjoy ourselves for the next two weeks." he patted his back, it hurt.

"…Ok." Cary was still uncomfortable. He walked out of the room,

"You going to bed?"

Cary looked at his clock, "I guess…it's almost eleven."

"Ok, night."

…Cary still didn't feel any better. When he laid down he couldn't lay on his left arm for it still hurt. He didn't think he'd fall asleep at all with the random spasms of the muscles out of no where but he did. But then he dreamed about running through the caves all over again. He had ran in a complete circle right after Joe told him to get out. He then proceeded to run in yet another circle. He went down whatever path didn't look familiar but somehow ended up in the same spot once again over and over. The dream was exhausting as he moaned and stirred in his sleep.

He was the last to wake up the morning afterward, usual routine of showering and so forth until arriving in the kitchen to find only Nathan, Caleb and his mother.

"Hey sweetheart." His mother tried to pull him close but he just leaned in, "All I get is a lean?" Cary rubbed his eyes,

"Sorry, morning."

"What's wrong with you, you not awake yet?" Nathan nudged the back of Cary's shoulder.

"Tired." he mumbled.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "Again?"

His mother grew concerned, "Do you even sleep at all anymore?" she tried to sound casual to not seem like she was interrogating him.

"I do just…" he figured he tell the truth for once this week, "I don't know, nightmares I guess."

His mother leaned him in and kissed his head, not helping him at all.

"You'll be fine buddy." Caleb commented. Cary saw his reflection through the window, the dark lines under his eyes not flattering at all. He then saw where his dad, Will and Sherri had went. He was showing them the lake way out in the area where little koi fish would swim around. When Cary was little he, Nathan and his dad would all go there together and feed them. Especially after it rained would they be up near the surface.

"So Cary…today you have a choice."

Cary wiped the sleep dust from the corner of his eyes, "What?"

"You can either come with me and the rest to go to the beach, or stay here with Caleb…he sunburns too badly."

"Then why are you going-"

"Sherri wants to go." she replied sounding irritated about it. She then pulled him into the other room, "Please keep Caleb company. It would mean a lot to him and- you two don't seem to have bonded since he got here."

Cary thought for a second…he did apologize last night. From the way he sounded he was sorry…and maybe it was a chance to get close to his only cousin, "Ok I'll stay with him."

Amy pulled him in for yet another hug, "Oh thank you." His mother hugged way too much. They left pretty early, since the beaches got crowded during the summer it'd be a pleasure to be one of the first there. Cary and Caleb didn't even utter a single word to each other since they left. Cary was on his electronic football on the living room couch as Caleb was…well, somewhere else. It wasn't like Cary was baby sitting and he'd have to be on his tail the entire time. In fact…shouldn't it be Caleb who was watching Cary?

About five minutes later, the phone rang. Cary was too focused on his game as Caleb ran in answering it,

"Hello?…No this is his cousin…yeah hang on." he put the phone down and slowly slid the device out of Cary's hand while he was playing,

"Yeah?"

"You got a call from…Charles?"

"Oh." he hopped off the couch and over to the phone, "Hey."

"Hey, is that new eat-and-play place any good?"

Cary sat on the chair next to the table the phone was on, "Yeah why?"

"Joe told me about it and…I'm inviting the rest of you guys to come when my family goes today."

Cary paused…"Today?"

"Yeah. Why is that bad?"

Cary leaned over to peak at Caleb in the kitchen, who was looking in the fridge waiting for good food to magically appear, "What time?"

"Around two I think. You're the only person who hasn't said yes yet so…"

Great way to make him feel like a loser he thought. He sat up, "Uh…how about I just show up? You know…see how things go?"

"Ok. Bye."

"Bye." He hung up. Then he checked the clock above the television, eleven thirty. He had time. But he couldn't just wait until 1:59 and say 'hey I'm going out bye.' He called into the kitchen, "Hey Caleb!" No response. He was only 2 feet away,

"Caleb-" he didn't feel like shouting and walked over to him, "Hey, uh…later on my friends asked me if I could…do something with them." he figured it'd be less irritating if he didn't know he was just going back to the same spot, "At about two. So…can I go?"

He looked at him, "I don't know can you?"

Oh how Cary loathed that saying, "May I?"

"I don't know." he walked in the living room.

"You don't know?"

"Well I just don't think it's up to me." he was sitting on the chair Cary had just been on,

"Well who knows how long our parents are going to be gone? And I'm not gonna ride my bike all the way to the beach just to ask."

"Well aren't you pretty sick of those boys by now?"

Cary folded his arms mumbling to himself, "We've been through a lot together…"

"Well do whatever you want." He began to walk into his guest room. For Cary that sounded like a 'yes'…but something was still bothering him, he walked after him,

"Do you even care what I do at all?" Cary didn't know why…but he was getting pretty mad, "If I had just said I was going to go sell drugs would you give a fuck?"

He cursed…right at his cousin…is 5'11" and temper like dynamite cousin. He turned around, "Cary, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing…it's just…one minute you care too much, then the other minute you don't care at all! Pick a side!"

He began to crowd over Cary, backing him up against a wall, "You know something you little brace-mouthed freak? I'm starting to think that you just might be losing it!"

Cary smacked his chest, shoving him away "Get off!"

Suddenly Caleb looked terrifying and before Cary could react,

POP!

"OW…oh…" Cary smacked his hand over his mouth, forcing pressure to stop the pain.

Caleb had punched Cary straight in the mouth. Hard as hell, it felt like he had been beaten in the mouth with a baseball bat. It fucking hurt. Cary felt the distinctive taste of blood in his mouth. He slowly held out his hand to see his fingers and palm drowned in blood.

"Go away…" Cary mumbled in both fright and anger.

"I'm sor-"

"GO!" Cary screamed, wincing at the taste. Caleb walked away shutting himself in his room. Cary walked into the bathroom to see the horrific sight of his reflection of his lip and teeth water falling blood. Because of how hard he punched him, he had cut his lip against his own braces. He swished it out with water at least six times before brushing violently.

He couldn't take it anymore…it still wasn't over. He sat down in the bathroom with the door locked, holding his hand against his mouth.