Gosh, it's really shameful I'm so slow. School is up until weeks and what can I say? D: *sobs* Anyway, Happy Mother's Day! You should all greet your mothers and kiss/hug her. You know you want to. I just did. You know I love you all~! So, share the love back by reading/reviewing. Makes my heart fat with happiness. Back to the story! :D

I cast off what I think now in my mind and tried to delete that scene in my head as I can clearly remember that unacceptable and shocking dream that I dreamt last night.

Snapping out of it, I see Ever that morning, running past me, as I fail to erase that nightmare I had. Immediately, I run after her to Haven, who's waiting by the gate.

Ever grabs Haven from her shoulders and embraces her tightly.

"Okay, okay, I love you, too," Haven laughs, shaking her head and pushing her best friend away. "I mean, geez, it's not like I was going to stay mad at you guys forever."

At least, Haven looks like fine besides from her dyed red hair dry, her black nail polish is chipped probably because she tried to scratch me a lot of times when I'm saving her and the hollow of her eyes becoming darker than usual. With her face going back to colours, I grin at Haven, assert that she'll be much more okay soon.

Ever reaches out for her, hugging Haven again like a kid who got lost from her mother's side. She asks, eyeing her, "How're you feeling?"

"What is going on with you?" Haven mumbles, pushing her away while shaking her head. Somehow, an attention-seeking person like her is surprised by how she's being comforted and given attention without her doing anything, "What's with all the love and affection? I mean, you of all people, you of the eternal iPod-hoodie combo."

I chuckle silently at her remark, while Ever still mumbles all of her feelings, "I heard you were sick, and then you weren't at school yesterday…" Haven laughs.

"I know what's going on here. This is your fault, isn't it?" Haven nods, as she points at me. "You just had to come along and thaw out my icy cold friend, turning her into a sentimental, warm, fuzzy sap."

Playing along with her, I chortle at her words, however, it just doesn't quite reach me.

"It was just a flu," She says as Miles loops his arm through hers and they head past the gate as I walk with Ever near her two best friends. "And I guess being all depressed about Evangeline made it that much worse. I mean, I was so feverish, I actually blacked out a few times."

Just as I was holding her hand, she breaks away from me, walking alongside Haven and Miles. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, it was the weirdest thing." The gothic girl says, continuing her story. "Every night I would go to bed wearing one thing, and when I woke up I'd be wearing something entirely different. And when I'd go looking for what I had on before, I couldn't find it. It was like it'd vanished or something."

Miles laughs, commenting, "Well, your room is pretty messy. Or maybe you were hallucinating; you know that can happen when you have a monster fever."

"Maybe," Haven shrugs. "But all my black scarves were gone, so I had to borrow this one from my brother." She lifts the end of her blue wool scarf and waves it around.

"Was anyone there to take care of you?" I ask with concern, coming up beside Ever and taking her hand, my fingers intertwining with hers.

Haven shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "Are you kidding? I may as well be emancipated like you. Besides, I had my door locked the whole time. I could've died in there and nobody would've known."

"What about Drina?" Ever asks, unexpected of her. I mean, she could say that out of jealousy and such but this is out of bravery, too. You can't expect me mentioning Drina's name every time unless I needed to.

"Drina's in New York. She left Friday night. Anyway, I hope you guys don't get it, because even though some of the dream-state stuff was pretty cool, I know you guys wouldn't be into it," Haven stops near her class and leans against the wall.

"Did you dream about a canyon?" Ever asks, dropping my hand drily, and moving so close at Haven that she's practically at her face up again. And that caused Haven to laugh once more and pushes her away. "Um, excuse me, boundaries!"

"And no, there were no canyons." She shakes her head a firm 'no,' "Just some wild goth stuff, hard to explain, though plenty of blood and gore."

And I don't know what happened after, but the next thing I know, Ever is within the brace of my arms. I caught her as soon as I saw her faint before she crashes to the ground.

"Ever?" I cried, my eyes frantically try to search for her clear blue eyes. Whispering with care, I lean over to her, my voice tinged with worry, "Ever."

The next thing I know, when the time I check her thoughts in mind, I saw a memory I thought she forgot, I thought she doesn't know. It's blurry yet evident that it seems so familiar, and that's one of the first memories I have of Ever. I am surprised that she finally reminisces that day we first met, that day at the car accident.

"That's exactly how it starts." Haven's voice breaks our connection with the past. "I mean, I didn't pass out until later, but still, it definitely started with a major dizzy spell."

"Maybe she's pregnant?" Miles says, loud enough for several passing students to hear, stop and react to what he just said. But they all went away when Haven says, "Not likely."

"I'm okay, really." Ever denies her status, tries staggering to her feet and moves away. I still carefully support her, holding both of her hands like a 4-year-old who learns her first walk. And I insist at her.

"You should take her home." Miles says, looking at me. "She looks awful." Haven nods, agreeing with Miles, "Yeah. You should rest, seriously. You so don't want to catch it."

Sadly for Ever, nobody listened to her and we end up going back to my car while my arm is wrapped around her waist, securing her in case she falls again.

"This is ridiculous," Ever mutters under her breath, as I pulled out of the parking lot and we head away from school. "Seriously, I'm fine. Not to mention that we're totally gonna get busted for ditching again!"

I briefly glance at her with seriousness as my eyes focus back on the road. "No one's getting busted. May I remind you that you fainted back there? You're lucky I caught you in time."

"Yes, but that's the thing, you did catch me in time. And now I'm fine. Seriously. I mean, if you're really so worried about me, then you should've taken me to the school nurse." I can still take her stubbornness to this level.

But when she said, "You didn't have to kidnap me," I don't know what but I'm irritated with those words. "I'm not kidnapping you," I mumble with clear annoyance in my tone. "I just want to look after you, make sure you're okay."

"Oh, so now you're a doctor?" Ever shakes her head and roll her eyes. And I just shut up, avoiding any conversion like this.

We just cruised up Coast Highway, passing right by the street that leads to her house until eventually stopping before a big imposing gate.

I nod at the attendant, who gives back smiles and waves at both of us.

"Where are you taking me?"

"My house," I mumble, barely a whisper as we drive up a steep hill before making a series of turns that lead into a cul-de-sac and a big empty garage at the end.

.

.

.

.

I took her hand and lead her through my kitchen and into the den where she stands, hands on hips, taking in all of the beautiful furnishings, the exact opposite of what she expected my house is.

"Is this really all yours?" She asks in wonder, running her hand over a plush chenille sofa. I can see her eyes tour exquisite lamps, Persian rugs, a collection of abstract oil paintings, and the dark wood coffee table covered in art books and candles that I just moved a few weeks ago.

"When'd you take this?" She lifts my framed photo of hers, studying it closely.

Did I mention that I also have an interest in photography? Nope? Well, I just did and now you know. I love taking pictures of a person, especially when they don't know I'm doing it. By that way, I can catch the true looks of a person not just on the outside, but also in the inside.

"You act like you've never been here before," I said, motioning for her to sit. Instead, she shrugs and tells me, "I haven't."

"You have," I insist, prying. "Last Sunday? After the beach? I've even got your wet suit hanging upstairs," I pat the cushion near me as I gaze at her, "Now sit. I want to see you resting."

Without a choice, Ever sinks down into the cushions I prepared for her. She still clutches the photo in her hands while wondering when I took that.

"I took that one day at school," murmuring I did as I glance at the picture. The wind blowing at her face was in perfect timing. Her silky hair was long and loose, so the breeze can pick it up and let it flow behind her. She was kind of laughing, but the laughter doesn't reach her melancholic and serious turquoise eyes, "… when you weren't looking."

"I prefer candid shots, it's the only way to really capture the essence of a person," I remove the picture from her clasp and return it to the side table. With the look of my eyes, I command her, "Now, close your eyes and rest, while I make you some tea."

And so, I went to my supposed-kitchen and ready the tea. I'm sure a warm and soothing drink will calm her nerves as she rests. Making a blanket out of thick wool, I hang it by my arm and my hand holding the cup.

I place the cup in her hands as I tuck the thick wool throw all around her.

"This is really nice and all, but it's not necessary," Ever says, putting the cup on the table. She checks her watch, thinking that if we should go now, we can make it at second period, "Seriously. I'm fine. We should get back to school."

"Ever," I groan, sitting beside her. I stroke her blonde hair as I play with it by my fingers, "… you fainted." Her cheeks flush with embarrassment with the fuss as she clears her throat, "Stuff happens."

"Not on my watch." I whisper, wanting to assure her it's alright as I move my hand at her forehead. If I can, I want to heal her guilt and pain, from her memories, her self-guilt and that scar. She flinches, pulling away before I can touch it, "Don't."

I pulled my hand back to me, at my side. Peering at her, I almost choke when I spoke, "What's wrong?"

Ever shrugs, even going far, "I don't want you to catch it."

We both know it's a lie. A lie for her; a lie that she covers on the truth and the lie that tries to convince me not to pry and care about it anymore, forever. I know that scar is a reminder for her and hers only, which it can never be fixed like what happened. But, it wouldn't be bad if she shares it with someone who understands, who knows what she feels.

Still, I ride with her lie and I just laugh, bringing light back to the atmosphere, "I don't get sick."

Ever shuts her eyes and shakes her head. And when she opens them again, she blinks at me and stares, "God, now you don't get sick?"

I shrugged, as I saw the tea and bring the cup to my lips, urging her to drink and rest after. Ever takes a small sip, then turns her head and pushes it away. Putting it away, I brace myself.

She swallows and says, "So let's see, you don't get sick, you don't get in trouble for truancy, you get straight A's despite said truancy; you pick up a paint brush and voila, you make a Picasso better than Picasso. You can cook a meal as good as any five-star chef, you used to model in New York – which was right before you lived in Santa Fe, which came after you lived in London, Romania, Paris, and Egypt; you're unemployed and emancipated, yet you somehow manage to live in a luxuriously, decorated multimillion-dollar dream home, you drive an expensive car, and –"

"Rome," I paused her ranting about the list that says 'All-possible-things-about-Damen,' as I give her a look to respect names.

"What?"

Coolly, I corrected her, "You said I lived in Romania, when it was actually Rome."

"Whatever, the point is…" Ever finally says, trying to continue her ranting. Something about her troubles me. I lean towards her, excitement and eagerness building inside of me. The rush of blood pumps throughout my system. "Yes? The point is ..."

That turns to anticipation when she swallows hard and averts her gaze. Trying to form the memories in her mind, she crunches her brows reflecting on it. Even her ghost-like-Riley theory kicks in. But, as things go their way, this isn't expected.

All the queries and mysteries build up and overload her thoughts, her doubts. I can barely hear or read her mind with all the fuss and emotions jumbled into it, including the past and the present and any second she'll be bursting like a grenade or something.

"Ever," I placed her face in my palms, cupping her face. I turned her head towards me so that she can face me again. I looked at her in the eyes and said, "Ever, I –"

… Want to explain, for her to know things she wants to. But, before I can even say it, she's off the couch and out of my reach, like in the dream. I shook my head and bowed low as she throws the wool off her shoulders and refuses to have an eye contact with me as she whispers, "Take me home."