Disclaimer: I don't own them…just a fan

Death had seemed to plague Eric…whenever he started to learn the truth about someone or something their death had come...he wondered if he was the problem as he drove home from another painfully dull day at school, he was happy that it was almost over but not he wasn't looking forward to anything lately and that included getting his college acceptance and possible rejection letters. Eric pulled into the driveway and saw a familiar car but he tried to push it out of his mind as well as the letter that was sitting on his bedroom floor from the cemetery.

"Mom, I'm home…" said Eric "not that you care..." he continued under his breath

He walked into the living room and saw his mother sitting on the couch clutching her new best friend a bottle of anything that had alcohol in it and a big white envelope with the Metropolis University logo on it.

"Is that mine?" Eric asked approaching her

"No…its Jimmy's" said Rebecca clearly drunk

"Jimmy's? Why would his come here…did mine go to his house?" asked Eric curiously

"Nope…yours is on the table…how did she get mine?" asked Jimmy who had come into the living room

"Where did you come from?" asked Eric laughing

"Kitchen…I was getting a drink of water…I've only been here 10 minutes I was waiting for you we got our letters" said Jimmy

Rebecca had fallen asleep and let Jimmy's envelope go and it fell onto the floor, Eric didn't even question why she was holding Jimmy's envelope…he took his and motioned Jimmy to the kitchen so that they could open them.

"I didn't know your mother drank" said Jimmy sitting down

"Now she does…" said Eric sitting across from his brother

Eric sighed as he started to open his envelope…first he had to get though all the fake stuff…the brochures that showed pictures of people smiling and making friends but it was clear that the pictures didn't show the hidden truths about college and he didn't want to face anymore drama…he finally reached the letter and so did Jimmy.

"I'm in!" said Jimmy excitedly

"Me too" said Eric a little less than thrilled

"Great! We can be roommates!" said Jimmy

Eric nodded…it was the escape he wanted but not the one that he needed…he just wanted to feel excited about something…anything. Jimmy was so excited he had to go home right way to tell his parents...

The Olsen House

"Jimmy, I'm so proud of you…now you can do something meaningful with your life instead of being involved with Eric" said Kyle that night after he got home

"I want to make a difference dad but we aren't going to be away from each other we're going to school together and we are going to be together all the time" said Jimmy

"There's something not right about him...about his family…about everything that's been happening" Kyle said

"That's not his fault…you can't pick who adopts you…just because they were far from perfect doesn't make him a bad person" said Jimmy

"I don't know…I wouldn't trust him anymore" said Kyle

"Dad, he's my brother like it or not…no one is perfect and he knows that…I just wish you guys would understand" said Jimmy

Jimmy walked to his bedroom, he felt that whenever he talked to his parent he always had to defend Eric because of everything that was going on with him, as he made his way he noticed the family pictures and saw thought about they were all a lie they didn't the truth and never will.

The Summers House

Eric fixed himself something to eat and took it to his bedroom….he sat on his bed in full view of the mysterious envelope...who knows for sure if it was for him or not..but it clearly was not just a letter it was rather lumpy. He looked at it again….for what seemed like the millionth time since he found it, he couldn't take it anymore…he had to rip the envelope open and inside he found a letter and….

"A sailboat?" said Eric when he got Jimmy on the phone

"I'm glad you like it" said Jimmy "its a little escape for you…it was almost my escape"

"Why didn't you go?" asked Eric

"In time Eric…you'll know...but I have to go…good night" said Jimmy

"Alright…goodnight" said Eric

Eric put the sailboat on his night stand…he didn't know the meaning or what the point was but maybe one day he would find a way to know the behind a little plastic sailboat, he read the letter which was Jimmy apologizing for the fact that he had to bury someone else…and that he would be there for him always.

Graduation Night-A few weeks later

Both Metropolis High School and Smallville High School had their graduations on the same night; Jimmy was disappointed that he couldn't be there to cheer his brother on and he was hoping that Eric somehow felt the same way that he did. It was a long time coming and Jimmy couldn't wait to start his new life in college and he hoped that the recent deaths wouldn't follow him wherever he went. They both left to their respective graduation ceremonies alone…their parents would be there soon, the ceremonies were simple and quick as all of the graduates were called…Eric's name was called and he looked out into the audience and his mother wasn't there he grabbed his diploma and went back to his seat surprised.

"Mom, where are you!" Eric screamed as he walked in the door frustrated

With no answer he placed his diploma down on the table and went to go look for her, he found her on the couch with a bottle in her hand. Eric shook his head as he looked at his mother's lifeless body on the couch…unable to cry or speak he took his keys that were thrown on the kitchen counter and closed the door. When he got back to his car he dialed 911 and waited for the police and the ambulance, the wait seemed like hours…when only minutes had gone by. Eric called Jimmy hoping that he would answer…the phone rang and rang but there was no answer he left him a message "Hey...It's me...I need you to call me back when you can…I need you" Just as he had hung up his phone the police and ambulance had arrive, he explained the situation to them and they went inside, it seemed to be an open and shut case she had drank herself to death. Eric had given his statement to the police before they had left so he was free; they took his mother's body out of the house, everyone had climbed into their respected cars and Eric was left alone as usual. He didn't want to go back inside and he didn't have anywhere he could stay…he was about to climb into the car when he saw a familiar one pull into the driveway much to his relief.

"I got your message and I saw the police car and the ambulance...what's going on?" asked Jimmy when he got out of his car

"I didn't mean to take you away from graduation or anything" said Eric

"Don't worry about it…what's going on?" asked Jimmy again…deep down knowing the answer

"She's gone…my mom drank herself to death" said Eric unemotional

"What now? What are you going to do?" asked Jimmy after a moment of silence

"I don't know…I have no one now…I never had anyone" said Eric

"You'll always have me…you have to know that Eric" said Jimmy "come on…we'll go to my house for the night…you don't need to be here"

"Okay…I'll just be right back" Eric said as he made his way inside to grab a few things

"All set? Let's go" said Jimmy getting into the car

Eric nodded and got into the passenger seat silently, maybe I should consider myself lucky…Eric thought as Jimmy pulled the car into his street, lucky until Jimmy dies to. He didn't want to think about his brother dying but his mind drifted to the sailboat on his night stand, he wished he could climbed into that boat and sailed away from everyone and everything…it would be an escape from the lies.

Authors Note: Thanks again for reading…and sorry again for the long wait...it continues…