Teenage Dream

by Lucy Samb

You/ Darren Criss fanfic. The story is about your life with Darren in high school, college and professional life among friendship,love,fights,comings and goings and how you both go through serious stuff such as bullying,suicide,discrimination and life itself. It starts when you meet Darren, a guy of your school in St. Ignatius College Preparatory who never noticed you, a loser.

58. Suspicions

A/N: Hey guys! I wasn't planning to update today because I'm in a crucial moment of my final thesis, but I found a time to do this; however, due to the great amount of things I have to do, I'll keep this short. In other news, I want to tell you that I'm starting to run out of chapters and I obviously cannot write anything at all in these next weeks and maybe months, so I'll start updating every three weeks instead two; at least until things return to normal. We'll see how things go, I'm not sure about it, but just in case I wanted to warn you. Now, I'll answer the reviews!

MeMi83: I'm really glad you enjoyed last chapter, Jenna! I honestly didn't realize that it was intense; nonetheless, I'm glad it was like that and I'm even gladder that it had you enthralled since the beginning! Ah, it was really hard to think how to get you to like someone like February, who would be the person that in some way would 'replace' Freckles; but I did want to make Darren be with someone else that wasn't Freckles for some reasons that in future chapters will be known. Besides, almost all of the new characters were bad people and I wanted to change that. Definitely it wasn't the flu, what Freckles has may not be something serious (or yes) but it is a very important part of this story in general till the end; it started in high school but I was very discreet about it; with time, slowly, you'll get more information, but the complete explanation won't appear till the last chapters. Ah! I enjoyed writing that fight (please, don't think I'm a terrible person for saying that), but it's just that it was obvious that sooner or later Darren was gonna find out Brian's feelings and I always thought it could be interesting; and it's always interesting (not good, just interesting) how two guys fight over a girl. As you said, love can do crazy things, also when you're angry you're not aware of what you do. Something tells me that Brian is pretty good at avoiding certain conversations; but that conversation must come someday. And let me tell you that I loved that idea of Moulin Rouge since it's a great movie that I completely love; but no, sadly I didn't think about it! It'd be cruel if Freckles has tuberculosis; and I'm cruel but not so much! But I liked the idea of how Brian tells her his feelings; but I wrote it already and it's not like that! Did you get your tissue box? What did you think about the Cory Monteith's tribute? I'm assuming you watched it already! Oh, Red Vines! I don't have them in my country, it is so sad! And geez, a total AVPS geek out! I want to watch it again so badly! It's just so damn good and hilarious! Or should I say totally awesome? Did you get your blue headband? I want a Scarfy! I was so sad when it died!

alicegursk: The damn shit got intense, like what the hell, eh? I'm so wicked that my intention was totally to make you feel confused. I wanted to make you feel like you don't even know what to believe or what the truth is. You thought it was the man? If only I knew who the man is! I won't ever know who the man is, will I? Poor February! haha. It's so scary to have an enemy like you! I mean, you'll force her to sleep on the couch, right? Without a blanket? You just sounded so badass there! My hood, my shit! I totally loved it. But, the best of all was you saying 'motherfuck bitchass'! Bitchass was priceless! I am confused, were you kidding or not? No? No? Okay! It's a fact that February is part of the story now... But fear not, my lady! Someday I'll be nice and write something totally adorable, cheesy and fluffy between Darren and Freckles. How about that, bitchass?

Vcriss: Well, I haven't thought about that side of the episode, maybe because I was feeling super sensitive in that moment. But now that I'm not so sensitive and now that I read your opinion, I gotta say that I agree with you. The flashbacks from older episodes would have been something really nice and beautiful to do; I guess the episode needed to have it. Maybe they didn't do it because it could be so hurtful for some people, but then again, seeing all the characters crying was also something hurtful. I don't think it was bad to see them crying, because it's something natural to do when you lose someone you love so much; but they could have added more positive messages and not so much angst; people needed to hear something really beautiful to relieve their pain, to help them take this loss in a less painful way, just as Lea did at the TCA. The part when Caroline, Finn's mom, talks... that is what broke me; it was just too painful. I love Glee, but I must agree... It's not what it used to be, the new characters are just a bad copy of the original characters and I don't like them, their story isn't interesting and the episodes in general no longer have those great and teachable messages as before; they all are superficial now, it's all about money as you said. There are so many topics they could talk about, topics that could help people who are going through those situations; just as they did before with all of this thing of bullying, social issues, sexuality, teen pregnancy, alcohol use, and more others. And the songs, I still like some of them; like The Beatles songs; but I just don't like some others. Oh, no! I can be cruel and kind of a bitch sometimes with the cliffhangers and drama; but I am not that kind of bitch who could kill Freckles! She has something indeed, maybe it's not something serious, but it is a very important part of the whole story; it started in high school, though; and you'll know what she really has just in the last chapters of the story. The part of the hospital and Darren telling Freckles some shit would have been interesting... It will happen somehow, but not so like that and not any soon. Yes, Darren is acting like a real douchebag and he just didn't act as he really is; ah, what anger can cause, eh? Question is... Is Darren accusing Brian because he likes Freckles or because he realized some kind of evidence about Brian? I don't know. Oh yeah, if I was Freckles I would do the same... I'd have Darren tied on the bed and well, I'd be playful. Let's see what Freckles does now that Darren is acting weird and now that he's with February... Or let's see what Darren does.

Zahra Ayoub: Ahhh! I'm super happy to know that the chapter kept you entertained, Zahra! haha, what would your family think if they find out that this story and I are the guilty for your reactions? They would hate me! haha. Anyway, it made me giggle the things you said while reading because when I was writing it, I was thinking in my mind something similar. The expression used for the title of the chapter... I actually didn't know it until I searched for that expression in English; in Spanish (or at least in my country) there's a saying for that but it's certainly not that one. I'm totally fine with the hard shipper thing! I also ship them, but it'd be cool to write about how Darren tries to move on and be with another girl to experience and learn new things with someone else; I think it's time for him. Freckles is the super girl! Yes, I didn't want to forget that part of the high school Freckles, who was very smart and 'nerd'; I wish I could be an A student! And a super girl, of course, but with super powers. Do you really think Brian and February could be a cute couple? I didn't think about it, but now that you mentioned it, maybe you're right; but there will be someone else for him; someone even better than Feb. Geez! I love the fact you said you like angry Darren, because I like it too! And as you, I don't know why, but it's just kind of hot to picture him angry, like in that episode of Glee when he's boxing! And more when he's angry because of jealousy! But yeah, he really screwed it up, he just didn't act like himself and I have the feeling he will regret, or maybe not. We'll see. To be honest, I never celebrate my birthdays, but I guess most people do, that's why I asked! But I understand when you said it wouldn't be proper. However, it was really nice what you did in your birthday and more thinking as though it was a concert for your birthday with your favorite singers! That surely felt amazing!

PotterHead62: Aw, aren't Darren and Feb super cute? Maybe there will be more cute interactions between them. Thing is if this is gonna last or not. But yeah, I wanted to add a new character, a good one and not an asshole or bitch. Yes! Brian and Darren fight! You have no idea for how long I wanted to write a fight between them! After all, they not always got along, they were like the greatest enemies in high school, right? Besides, for some reason, I enjoy picturing the angry Darren; it's kind of hot somehow. Freckles right there, always listening to the last part of the fights or conversations, or right when they're in their most interesting point. So inappropriate! What would happen now, eh? And thank you very much! I'm glad you still enjoy the cliffhangers!

madalyncriss: Hi there, Madalyn! Well, I don't know if you continued reading the story, but if you did, this is my response for your review! First off, I want to really thank you for reading the story and I really hope you can enjoy it, despite the drama, the cliffhangers, the plot twists and the eternal comings and goings and ups and downs. I'm like one of those people who really enjoy drama, well, writing drama to be more precise; I like digging about feelings and all. Why can't they just be happy? Because I'm a cruel bitch who enjoys drama and who loves making you feel the drama! haha. No, I'm nice, so please, don't stab me! Oh yeah, they were the ones who wrote that note, maybe by now you know it. Darren would never do that to Freckles, he really loved her. Then, thank you a lot, but really, a lot, for saying this is the best fanfic you've ever read! That just made me feel super flattered and I'm now grinning like the biggest dork. I honestly don't think it's the best fanfic, but I'm super happy to know you like it and I hope I'm entertaining you! Do you believe in happy endings? Because I do, because I love fairy tales, so yes; I think they will get together at the end, but some things will happen in between, both good and bad things. When you type in caps it makes me read it as though you're yelling, and it made me read it really fast as if you were desperate or something; then when you changed it, I started reading more slowly. So it was an interactive reading that I enjoyed, so don't worry about it! You read 32 chapters only in two days? Whoa! That is very impressive! If you continued reading, you surely know that W is back, but it won't be as intense as it was in high school; and it'll be directed to another person. And you'll certainly get more kisses between them! So keep your hopes up! I'm really amazed by the way you can feel so pissed at me and then you change your mind! That's something positive; at least I make you feel something! When you read a story that doesn't make you feel anything at all, it's a boring story; so what you said it's like a big compliment for me! And you used 'supermegafoxyawesomehot'; that is the greatest thing you could have ever told me! Geez, I miss AVPM, AVPS and AVPSY! Oh, apple juice and red vines! What a good combination you have there! It's really funny that right now while writing this I'm drinking apple juice! I only need the red vines! Again, thank you very much for your review and most importantly, for reading the story!

vicky: Freckles is sick. Although it may not be something too serious, this is a very important part for the whole story; it started in high school, in a very discreet way, and it'll continue till the last chapters of the story. Therefore, you will not completely know what she has till the last chapters; of course you'll get hints, but the truth will be revealed in the last chapters. Will she be happy when she gets to find Brian's feelings? It can perfectly go in both directions. I just can say that the way she will find it out won't be a normal way and this will determine if she will be happy or not and what she will do about it. Something could be surprising. I think the same than you; I don't think she was jealous, just too uncomfortable, or maybe weird for seeing him with someone for the first time, something similar of what happened with Kelly, but this time something more serious. I knew you'd change your mind about Feb! See? Not all the new characters are bad people! I wanted to change it because I noticed everybody new was an asshole or a bitch! And Darren deserves to have a relationship, regardless if it's short or long, with a good person. Yes, her ex-boyfriend will appear, but he will not have an encounter with Darren, something related to her ex will happen but it'll be like a comment of a certain event. And yes, she is friends with Brian and he helped her to overcome her sadness; yet she chose to tell Darren the secret of Brian. Maybe it's because she loves him, but it's too soon for her to love him already; maybe Darren is a very significant person for her and she didn't want to let him go; and I agree that the best she could have done was to stay out of the situation between Darren and Brian, but well, it wasn't like that. Brian finally confessed his true feelings to someone, bad thing he confessed those feelings to Darren, Freckles' ex-boyfriend, a person who considered him as an 'enemy' in high school, the guy who might still have feelings for her. Sure it must have been hard for him, considering who Darren is in Freckles' life and considering how reserved Brian is. Well, it ended in a fight, so yes, it was hard. I loved writing the part in which he was singing! You're the only one who mentioned about it! I thought it was funny and something that someone totally would do when being alone and thinking no one is there to see you! Yes, Darren acted really weird and he kinda acted like a real douche. I wanted to do it, I wanted to make him look like someone he isn't, someone unrecognizable; just because, as you said, when you're angry you aren't aware of the way you act and the things you say. Besides, there's the jealousy factor that also has terrible effects on people. Yes, Darren really said hurtful and mean things and he sternly accused Brian for things that may or may not be as he stated. Stubborn Darren, oh yeah, that's the way I picture him (in the fiction, of course) when being jealous and pissed. About what you can't understand... Probably Darren let Brian choose one option because he just wanted to press and threaten him, as a way to let him know that one way or another Brian wasn't going to keep playing fool and Freckles will know about Brian's feelings, even if Darren doesn't want Brian to be with Freckles; just like a way to hurt Brian's feelings. Besides, Darren wants Brian to tell Freckles his feelings in front of him, so that Darren will take advantage to tell Freckles that Brian is the bully, that way, Brian and Freckles won't be together. Anyway, you'll know what Darren, Brian and Freckles will do about this entire messy situation in this chapter! Ah! I hope someday I'll find the time to write those stories! Maybe I won't write them as daily as this one, but I could start them as soon as I finish this one!

vero: First off, welcome Vero! I want to thank you a lot for reading the story! And thank you for saying you love this story, despite the plot twists and all of those damn cliffhangers and all the dramatic shit I write in general. I really hope you enjoy this new chapter and the next chapters and I hope not to ever disappoint you! If I ever do it, just kick my ass and tell me 'Lucy, you suck'. Do we have a deal? I wanna tell you a secret; I wasn't planning to post this chapter today, but then I read your review and I changed my mind. It made me feel good to know that you were excited to read the next chapter! So, I probably should stop talking, because one I start talking (writing in this case) no one stops me and I can be pretty annoying! So, one last time, thank you very much for reading Teenage Dream!

Okay guys! That was all for today! I really hope you enjoy this new chapter and thank you a lot for all of your nice reviews and words! I wish you the best of the weeks, full of… Giggles and smiles this time! Until next time, guys! Warm fuzzies!

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TEENAGE DREAM

Chapter 58

Suspicions

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When you returned to your dorm room with food for lunch, you found a particularly odd situation. Apparently you didn't make noise when you entered, because no one looked at your direction. You could sense an abysmal silence and a fraught situation. February was sitting on the couch with Sawyer on her lap, looking at Darren and Brian in a disturbed and confounded way; Darren was standing in front of Brian and he was looking at him very annoyed as Brian was looking down, biting his lower lip, ostensibly distressed. You couldn't understand what was going on there, because before you left everything was cool and now it seemed everything was wrong. You tried not to make sound, so maybe you could find out what was happening. Then Darren finally talked.

"So, Clerk, what if we stop with this shit and you tell Freckles all you feel for once and all, eh? Because if you don't do it when she comes back, I'll tell her, I swear." Darren said harshly and it sounded almost as a threat.

He was angry, but why? Why did he call Brian by his surname? And what was he talking about? What shit did he mean? What feelings? And it involved you. Could Brian be mad at you for something you did or said? Argh! You hated being in the middle of a conversation already begun. Nothing made sense when you were out of the context, so you were picturing thousands of possibilities. Brian didn't answer anything and he didn't dare to look at Darren; he seemed to be uncomfortable, nervous and afflicted. Could Darren have made Brian feel that way? No, no way, Darren wasn't the kind of person who used to make people feel bad. You felt a sharp sting in your temple, the headache again, it was almost unbearable and this situation of not knowing what the hell was going on was making it worse. Enough with this, you needed to know, so you took advantage of the silence to speak.

"Brian?" You asked questionably, looking fixedly at Brian.

At last they noticed your presence. They all looked at you abruptly; February remained looking at you with wide eyes and seemingly aghast; Darren looked at you surprised, then he looked at Brian again; and Brian looked at Darren as though he was pleading something and then looked at you very edgy and startled. None of them answered. This was extremely weird. They really needed to tell you what the hell was happening, so you decided to insist.

"What feelings do you have to tell me, Brian?" You asked suspiciously. Again, the abysmal silence. "Brian?" You repeated firmly because it was making you feel exasperated the way Brian was looking down without uttering a damn word.

"Come on, tell her, Brian." Darren commented while looking intently into Brian's eyes. Brian looked up at you in a very edgy way, he gulped and then he started babbling.

"I… I…" Brian stammered with trembling voice. "I can't." He whispered and looked down again, troubled and distressed.

"Oh, no! No, no, no! You're gonna tell her! Tell her, Brian, or I'll do it." Darren said very loudly and apparently annoyed. Seriously, what was this about?

"I can't." Brian whispered again, not looking at you at all.

"Coward." Darren said rudely. Why was he being rude to Brian? Brian didn't say anything at all. Why would he be so silent? Why wouldn't he defend himself? "Alright, it was your choice, Brian. I'll tell her instead." Darren said harshly and Brian remained silent, still looking down. Then Darren looked at you. "That guy over there who claims to be your best friend… That one you're seeing right now…" Darren said a bit contemptuously, pointing Brian but looking at you. You were looking at Brian, who was looking down, biting his lips and had sorrowful eyes. "That guy has been lying to you all this time; that guy made you believe a fucking lie. None of what you know about him is true, because everything is a damn lie." Darren explained furiously as you were looking at Darren incredulously, frowning. What was he saying? "That guy never told you that actually he felt…"

"Please, stop." Brian interrupted Darren, so you looked at him abruptly. He was looking at Darren in a pleading way, so this made you suspicious. "Please." Brian begged in a very distressed and desperate way.

"Why would I stop? She deserves to know what kind of person you actually are." Darren said looking at Brian in a cold way.

"Don't do this to me, Darren, please." Brian begged desperately. Alright, this was very suspicious.

"Tell me, Darren." You demanded and Brian looked at you abruptly, in a very afflicted and frightened way, and then looked at Darren again, in an imploring way.

"She wants to know, and you should tell her; but considering you won't say a damn shit because you're a frigging coward, I'll tell her; we talked about this already." Darren said determined and Brian looked down again, running a hand over his face. "He never told you that he actually felt…"

"He felt that lately you were spending little time together and that saddened him." February suddenly said. All of you looked at her. Darren frowned and seemed to be even more annoyed; Brian looked at her as though he was thankful; and you looked at her surprised, raising your eyebrows. "He never dared to tell you this because he could understand that you needed your space and you had a lot of friends to hang out with; so he never told you because he didn't want to bother you. Right, Darren?" February emphasized loudly, looking severely at Darren. Darren didn't answer; he just remained looking at February kind of upset.

"Brian, is that so?" You asked softly, looking at Brian. Brian looked down, frowned and bit his lips.

"Well, kind of." Brian answered in a whisper.

You remained looking at him for a while in a fond way, and then you walked towards him and brushed a lock of hair away from his face. Brian startled because he didn't notice you were next to him, but then he looked at you with his green and now sad eyes. You took one of his hands while looking deeply into his eyes, and then you grinned sweetly.

"Brian, you should've told me, you shouldn't be afraid of telling me something like that. I can be super grumpy in the mornings, but I swear I won't bite you." You said jokingly and Brian giggled softly. "Really, Brian, I'm sorry if something like that saddened you. But, you know, it's only because we were distant and we couldn't talk until yesterday. But it's not like I don't wanna spend time with you." You said softly and Brian smiled faintly but fondly, looking piercingly into your eyes.

"I know." Brian whispered with the same faint smile.

"Oh, come on! That's bullshit. Don't tell me you believed that lie, Freckles!" Darren suddenly exclaimed in disbelief. You looked at Darren and frowned, he was confusing you. "That was a lie! The truth that he doesn't dare to tell you is that he loves you!" Darren exclaimed almost in a yell and you raised your eyebrows. You noticed that Brian, next to you, got strained and looked at Darren aghast.

"Well, Darren, I know that. And I love him back; naturally, we're best friends." You answered as if it was super obvious.

"Not in that way, goddammit!" Darren exclaimed annoyed and frustrated.

"Then, what way, Darren?" You asked muddled, frowning. You couldn't get his point. Brian was still strained and was looking fixedly at Darren.

"He loves you more than that. He loves you…" Darren started saying.

"He loves you more when you're with him and you're in a silly mood because you make him feel good; he said you have the ability to make him laugh and feel cheery, and you make him forget all of his problems. He said you have the ability to make him feel loved and for that, he loves you more." February said, interrupting Darren. You looked at February and then looked at Brian, who was looking at February with a faint smile.

"Is that true?" You asked and Brian looked at you. Brian nodded and looked down. "Brian, that's so sweet." You said with a tender grin, running your thumb over his hand.

"Why are you on his side?" Darren suddenly asked irritated, looking at February.

"I'm not on his side, Darren. I'm just saying the truth." February answered quietly.

"You know that's not the truth." Darren stated rabidly.

"Yes, that's the truth, Darren. I said the same thing with different words. Right now you're upset, so you'll say things in an inappropriate way that you'll later regret." February said firmly. Why was Darren upset?

"Can't you see that for Freckles what you said didn't have the same meaning it would have if I said what I was about to say because she's so fucking oblivious?" Darren asked annoyed, looking intently at February. You looked at them both really bewildered, and then you looked at Darren a bit angry because he called you oblivious. Honestly, couldn't they agree what they wanted to tell you? Then Darren looked at you. "Freckles, February is distorting the truth and Brian is lying to you."

"Why do you say that, Darren? Couldn't you be more specific? Because I'm starting to feel annoyed with all of this and I honestly can't get what you all want to tell me." You said a bit irritated.

"Yes, I'll be more specific, so that we all end with this shit." Darren said harshly. Brian let out your hand to start running his fingers through his hair, with a troubled expression. "Brian is in love…"

"Brian is in love with your smile and your heart of gold." February interrupted Darren. "That's it, Freckles. Darren is just upset because Brian never told you that. I think we should have lunch now, I'm starving."

"This all is a big shit!" Darren yelled furiously. "You, Clerk!" Darren pointed Brian in a menacingly way, yet Brian didn't look at him. "You're a fucking coward!"

"Darren, do not treat Brian that way, it's not nice." You said firmly, trying to defend Brian who was taking the worst part. Darren dropped his jaw, raised his eyebrows and looked at you in disbelief.

"I can't believe this. You, Clerk, you must be jumping for joy because you got to set her against me. Congratulations! You should feel proud, always screwing everything up." Darren said nastily, looking contemptuously at Brian.

"Darren, shut up!" You yelled angrily.

"Sunny, Darren is right." Brian suddenly whispered while looking down. Everyone looked at him and Brian looked up at you, with sad eyes. "February was trying to cover up for me because she could understand that I'm not ready yet to tell you what Darren has been trying to tell you. Yet, none of what February said is a lie, all of that is true, but she omitted some things." Brian said with trembling voice, looking at you sadly and nervously; as Darren was looking at Brian with a satisfied smirk. "Truth is..."

"Brian, don't say that." February interrupted him. "Darren should understand that this is not the time to say that, not now while we're still here." February said and you looked at her. "Freckles, this is a private conversation that only Brian and you should have. Darren and I shouldn't be here, so don't force Brian to tell you all of that right now." February said and you frowned and looked down, feeling even more confused than before. You looked at Brian and he was looking down, biting his lips. February looked at Darren. "Please, Darren, try to understand this is not time. You wouldn't like to have a private conversation with someone when other people are around. Can you please stop with this? Because this is uncomfortable for everyone." February asked softly and Darren clenched his jaw and huffed.

"Fine. I'll let it go… For now." Darren said frustrated and then looked coldly at Brian. "But you better tell her, Brian. Not now and not here, but you better tell her." Darren said a bit harshly and Brian just nodded. "And just so you all know, if I was doing this, it was because I think this whole situation is very unfair for Freckles and I don't want to see her hurt because certain jerk has been lying all this time." Darren added annoyed.

"Why do you keep calling him jerk, Darren?" You asked frowning, looking intently at Darren as he raised his eyebrows.

"Because he is." Darren answered moody and you certainly didn't like his answer. "Aren't you one, Brian?" Darren asked almost wickedly, looking at Brian who remained looking down.

"Alright, why don't we just end with this rude conversation? We have a lot of work to do, guys." February said after a long and profound silence.

"Yes, right." You said sighing and walking to the table. "I bought sushi, I hope you like it. And for you, Brian, I bought grilled chicken breast with mashed potatoes, considering you don't like seafood." You said placing the food on the table as you walked to the kitchen to grab plates and glasses for everybody, trying not to think about the recent conversation.

"Uh, thanks, but I'm not hungry." Brian suddenly said and you looked at him while setting the table. "I'll leave you alone so you can do that work you have to do… So, I'll just walk Sawyer."

"Well, you can walk Sawyer after lunch." You said while placing a jar of orange juice on the table.

"No, really, I'm not hungry." Brian said.

"You cannot leave without having lunch first, Brian." You insisted.

"Let him go, Freckles. Can't you see he doesn't want to have lunch with us because he's a coward who doesn't dare to tell you anything? Sawyer is just an excuse." Darren said rudely and you shot him a withering look as Brian looked at Darren serious and you could notice that instead angry he was feeling hurt. Then you walked to Brian and took him by the arm.

"It's alright, Bri, you can go. I'll put your lunch in the refrigerator so you can eat when you come back. Okay?" You said kindly, smiling at him.

"Okay, thanks." Brian said with a faint grin. Then he got closer to you to whisper. "I'm sorry, Sunny. Darren is right, I'm a coward." He whispered distressed and you frowned confused as he walked right to where Sawyer was. "Come on, buddy! Let's go for a walk." Brian exclaimed cheery as he pulled out from his pocket a collar and a leash that he apparently bought for Sawyer. Sawyer wagged its tail while hopping with joy as Brian was walking to the door. "See you, guys; hope you can finish that assignment you have to do." He said before walking out the room to leave.

You remained standing there, looking at the door from where Brian left, still frowning, very thoughtful and confused about this whole odd situation. But February was right; you needed to forget it for a while so you could do the project you had to do. Consequently you walked to the table and indicated Darren and February to sit and have lunch, silently. You almost didn't talk during lunch because you were trying to figure out what this all was about. The headache returned and it was like piercing your brain or something; damn shit. Why would Darren treat Brian that way if they were friends, if until the day before everything was fine? While you were thinking over and over again, almost torturing your brain with thousands of prospect, Darren and February were talking lively as if nothing has happened minutes ago. The headache disappeared, luckily. When you stopped thinking about Brian, you looked at Darren and February; they looked good together, they seemed to have something… But since when? When did Darren meet February and why he never introduced her to you? Maybe he thought it was the best, considering how it was to meet Kelly and how bad you felt about it. But you indeed wanted to know what kind of relationship they had, just out of curiosity. After lunch you started doing your project for Costume Design and this time you took part of their conversation, naturally, it was your project too. It wasn't so hard to agree about what doing because February was taking all of your ideas since you mentioned your sister Mandy was a fashion designer, so she assumed that Mandy taught you a lot of things. However, you decided to design the costumes for each one separately under the same concept. Yours, certainly, was the most eccentric and flamboyant, full of colors and different prints. February, who never saw any of your drawings, was surprised by your talent, so she asked you if could do all the drawings of the costumes while Darren and she could make them; and, although you were sensing that she proposed that as an excuse to spend more time alone with Darren, you agreed. Right after you decided how to continue, you helped Darren with his Scene Design project, as you promised; you tried to draw all the ideas he was saying while February was helping Darren to write the essay about it. At 7 pm you finished with all of the things you had to do, and it was weird because Brian didn't come back and he didn't even text you.

"Thank you a lot, Freckles." Darren said with a huge grin while grabbing his pack and standing up. "Now, I think I should return to my apartment because I have other things to do; I didn't know this would take so long." Darren explained and you nodded. "Feb, are you coming with me? I wanna show you something about the Sound for the Theatre course." Darren asked cheery as February looked at him with a bright smile.

"Yes, sure! I'd love that. I saw a piano in your bedroom, so I assumed you're good at it; maybe this time you could help me with that assignment." February answered joyful.

You raised your eyebrows in surprise, yet you tried to dissimulate it. So, February was in Darren's bedroom? Not in his apartment, but in his bedroom; and Darren never let you enter his bedroom, except for that time he recently moved and you spent the night there with Brian. And judging by the way Darren automatically looked at you a bit nervous, you assumed this was something that February wasn't supposed to mention, so you just played fool. Just because of this comment and the resulting situation, you were sure they had something. Well, at least February was a nice and sympathetic girl, unlike Kelly.

"Well, so… I guess we'll see you around, Freckles." Darren said while walking to the door and you nodded silently with a faint smile. "Thanks for the food and the help…"

"It's okay." You answered almost in a whisper, yet politely, walking behind Darren to open the door.

"Okay. See you, Freckles." Darren greeted, giving you a kiss on your cheek.

"It's was nice to finally meet you, Freckles or Sunny. I love both of your nicknames, by the way." February said giggling cheerily. "Please, greet Brian for me." February said while walking closer to you to give you a hug. Wow, she and you had the same way of greeting people; that was weird but good. "I hope someday we all can hang out together and have fun, not to do boring stuff for college."

"Yes, I'd like that. And it was nice to meet you too, February." You said politely, grinning softly.

"Great! I could plan something for the weekend, what do you think?" February asked very excited.

"Sure, I'm free this weekend, so we can do something." You answered shrugging, yet trying to show interest because this was nice from her.

"Oh! We'll have so much fun!" February exclaimed ecstatically and she hopped. She was indeed a very cheerful and friendly girl.

"Feb, we should go because it's really late." Darren suddenly mentioned.

"Oh yes. Well, Freckles, see you on… Friday night?" February asked while beaming.

"See you on Friday night." You confirmed, also smiling.

"Ah, great! Have a good week, hun." She said kindly and you nodded.

You opened the door and Darren and February walked out. Before you closed the door, you could see Darren taking February's hand and you felt something in your chest, not a good feeling. Alright, they had something and you shouldn't think about it; after all, February was nice and kind; she was a good girl for Darren. You walked to the couch and lay in there, trying not to think about Darren and February and waiting for Brian to return. You still had to talk. Abdominal pain. Nausea. Bathroom. Dark red with clots vomit. What was wrong?

---

"Now that we're alone… Can you tell me what was that all about?" February questioned.

"What was what?" I asked, clearly playing fool.

I was walking with February, holding hands, going to my apartment. I was trying not to think about this new thing I figured out about the jerk of Brian because I'd get mad again and all I'd want to do would be to punch him straight in his face. It worked while we were at Freckles' room doing the project, but now February decided to bring back this conversation.

"This whole thing that Freckles is your ex and she's the same person Brian is in love with… Why have you treated Brian that way, Darren? Telling him he was a bully and almost despising his mere existence only because he loves your ex." February started reproaching, apparently disturbed and disgusted. If she only knew what kind of asshole Brian was and this wasn't all about him being in love with Freckles. "How could you have forced him to tell her that? Do you have any idea of how hard this is for him? The guy loved her secretly for years because he didn't want to ruin his friendship with her and you were about to blow it in a matter of seconds." February recriminated and I was starting to feel very annoyed. Clerk truly deserved to suffer for this, that damn liar; Freckles needed to know the truth of all. "What for? Why were you so desperate for her to know? He just needed time and you didn't give him so. That's... cruel. I almost didn't recognize you there." She said disappointed and I looked at her angrily. She was pushing the envelope.

"You don't know me at all to say something like that. You should mind your own business and don't mess with this entire thing because you have nothing to do, therefore, you have no rights to opine or ask things." I stated in a very coldly way that February looked at me in disbelief and then she let out her hand very abruptly. Uh-oh. I screwed it.

"Good to know. I think I pictured you as someone else, but you're right; I don't know you at all. And sorry for the intromission, I just wanted to understand everything to be able to help you and everybody out without anyone getting hurt, considering that this morning you told me you wanted to start knowing each other, so maybe that way we'd figure out if we could have something or not. But thank you for clarifying this since the beginning; you spared me a lot of wasted time with you." February said upset and I was speechless, so she huffed, turned around and started walking away.

"Wait. Hey, Feb, wait." I said but she didn't stop, so I ran behind her and I took her by her elbow. She looked at me again and she seemed to be upset but also sad. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I was just mad and when I'm mad I tend to say things I don't mean." I said sighing as she looked away and crossed her arms, yet she stayed. "I don't want you to think that I don't appreciate this thing you're doing to try to help everybody, that's actually something very nice. But there are certain things that you won't understand because you're Brian's friend and he surely has been telling you a lot of bullshit; things that I'm sure are not true at all, because I know him since high school and I perfectly know what kind of person he is. So this is not about a guy being in love with my ex. Every guy can fall in love with her and I don't care; I just don't care who falls in love with her because she is my ex; but Brian… Not Brian. While it is true Freckles is my ex, she's also my friend and I love her, as a friend, of course; so I do care about her, therefore I won't let that some asshole like Brian is, even if you don't think so, hurt her." I said very clearly but softly, while looking deeply into her blue eyes.

"Darren, Brian is not an asshole. I think you're just saying that because you're surprised, not to say disturbed, about finding out Brian's feelings about your ex, who was a very important person to you, she was your first love, after all." February said quietly, shrugging. "I had the chance to be close to Brian, and he never said anything gross or nasty, he never acted in a rude way and he never did something to hurt other person. He told me a lot of things about Sunny, so I perfectly know what his feelings are, and they are harmless feelings, there's not wickedness, only love." She said gently while looking fixedly into my eyes, as I started feeling upset again.

"And how do you know so much about him? How can you be so sure about it all? Have you been his lover or something?" I asked very suspiciously and almost darkly.

"No, of course not, Darren. He's in love with Freckles or Sunny or whatever. He clarified it since the beginning, he's true to her." She responded while frowning, as if she were thinking that I was saying nonsense things.

"Oh, what a wrong choice of words you've made. True to her? He has been hiding the truth from her for years!" I exclaimed with a very bitter laugh.

"Alright, yes, wrong choice of words." February said while huffing and shaking her head. "He's devoted to her. And is not that he means to lie to her, this is not easy for him because he's had a complicated life, Darren; he's just scared of being rejected and abandoned as it happened to him all of these years. He just doesn't wanna lose the only person he fully trusts." February said sadly, trying to convince me to understand him. Of course she wouldn't convince me and she noticed it, so she sighed. "Just for one minute try to forget all of this confusion, surprise and anger you're feeling to try to understand him. It ain't easy to tell your best friend that you're in love with her." She said looking deeply into my eyes. I knew what she was doing; she was trying to make me remember how hard it was for me to tell Freckles my feelings for her when we were best friends. But this wasn't the same situation.

"Feb, you have no idea of all the things Clerk has done. He's not a good person as you're saying. He just pretends he is, but he is not. And you're so nice, so sweet and so compressible that you cannot see that in this world, unfortunately, bad people do exist, and Brian is one of them." I said very sure, trying to sound gentle because this problem wasn't with her, it was with the jerk of Brian, and so February didn't deserve to be treated on a bad way.

"No, Darren. I know Brian and you know him too. Yes, maybe he has done a lot of terrible things, but he's a human being and we all make mistakes; and if you're talking about that time he acted like a bully, you know he's been forced to do it, just as you've been forced to leave your ex in that hotel room as you've told me." February said softly and I looked at incredulous. Was she really telling me that? What the hell, man? This wasn't the same! I started feeling annoyed again and she noticed it. "I understand your anger, because it's actually not anger, it's fear what you feel, fear because you've been forced to face the truth that your ex doesn't belong to you any longer and that any other guy can have her because they don't owe you anything. And it's always hard to face this reality when it comes to someone you loved with all your heart, it happened to me." She said gently and a bit sadly, so I started feeling meek again. Shit, she was making me feel weird. "But life goes on for both of you. It comes a point when you need to let go if you're completely sure you don't wanna get back with her, because if you don't do so, both of you can end up very hurt, and I'm sure you don't want it, do you?" She asked looking piercingly into my eyes.

"No, I don't want it." I answered in all honesty, almost in a whisper, looking down. After a while I looked at her again. "But I don't either want to see her hurt because of Brian's fault." I said firmly and I noticed she was about to start complaining again, but I stopped her. "I know he's gonna hurt her, I know he has something behind all of this. And yes, he told you a lot about her and he told you how devoted to her he is, how much he loves her and blah, blah, blah." I exclaimed almost sarcastically, in a mocking and almost derogatory way. "But I'm aware of all the things he has done, Feb, and I know he has told you all of that because he wants her for other purposes, purposes that are not good at all. All this time he tried to convince you that he truly loved her only to be in this kind of situation right now, to discuss about whether he is a good person or not; he needed to convince more people about his supposedly love for her, so no one would suspect of his plan that is hurting her as he has already done." I said roundly, raising an eyebrow. Hell yeah, that's what the asshole has been doing, the perfect plan.

"I think you're being a little paranoid, Darren." February stated while frowning and narrowing her eyes.

"Am I paranoid now?" I asked in disbelief, raising my eyebrows and letting out a bitter and short laugh. What the fuck was wrong with this world?

"Yes, pretty much; only because you're confused and this all took you by surprise." February responded softly, looking intensely into my eyes. I clenched my jaw and I looked down, trying to control my fury, because this was making me feel very moody. I knew she wouldn't believe my point. We both remained silent until she cleared her throat, I looked at her and she squinted. "Tell me, Darren, how come Brian planned this all? How come Brian tried to convince me he truly loved her to be in this situation right now? How come if he had no idea I was your friend? By the time he told me all of that, I didn't even know you and Brian didn't know I was also studying theatre. Can he read minds or something?" She asked suspiciously, but she was mocking me. How dare she?

"He has contacts, February. He knew everything." I answered moody, still clenching my jaw.

"Whoa, sounds like he works for the FBI or something!" February exclaimed in a derisive way. Argh, she was making me feel mad. Then she looked down, remained silent for a while, sighed and looked at me again, this time a bit sadly. "Darren, please. You're in all your rights to feel angry because he has feelings for your ex because this is something new for you, but this doesn't mean that only because he has feelings for her, you have to think that he has a plan or that he's trying to hurt her or that he's a bully and a violent person. Brian is one of the nicest people I know; he's so good-natured that sometimes he's kind of naive and silly." She admitted and she pursed her lips. I looked down, ran my fingers through my curls and I sighed, trying to calm down. After all, she was only trying to see the good side of everybody and that wasn't a bad thing, only that Clerk didn't deserve it.

"Yeah, I hardly think so." I answered with a sigh, still looking down. Then I looked at her again. "Can you notice why I didn't want to tell you? Because I knew you were going to contradict me." I said almost in a reproaching way, even if that wasn't my intention. February looked down, bit her lower lip and shook her head. This was a bad sign, I knew it. "You know what? Let's forget about Brian and all that shit, I really don't want him to ruin my mood again." I said determined, but she didn't say anything and she did not look up, so I walked closer to her and I took her hand. "Just let's enjoy our time together… Just like this, only you and me." I said kindly while placing a finger on her chin to make her look at me. When she looked at me, I smiled sweetly at her.

"Okay, just let me ask you something, and I want you to be completely honest. Can you do that?" February asked, looking intensely into my eyes. Ouch, hard and uncomfortable request.

"Yeah, just spit it out." I responded, trying to sound cool with it.

"Are you using me to get back at Brian for having feelings for your ex?" She asked suspiciously and I looked at her with wide eyes, raising my eyebrows because of the question.

"What? Why would you think something like that?" I asked while frowning. I couldn't believe she asked something like that. What did she have in mind?

"I'm just curious and I need to know. I just want to know if you really want to be with me because of the way I am or if you want that only to get back at Brian and maybe Sunny." She answered without taking her eyes off me. Oh no, man. I couldn't believe this; I never thought she could ever think something like that, I never thought she could be insecure.

"Again, why would you think that? And don't call her Sunny, that's the way only Brian calls her, we all call her Freckles." I clarified a bit harshly, even if that wasn't my intention towards her; it was just that I already had enough of Brian.

"Because I'm not fool, I noticed how all of a sudden you were more interested in me when Freckles arrived; like you started talking more to me, you started being more close and even more tender when she was around. And you seemed even more interested when you found out that I knew things about Brian and your ex. So… now that you know, please, answer me in all honesty." February requested, but not in an authoritative way but in a soft and almost pleading way; so I took time to clear my mind, relax and answer her.

"I am not using you to get back at Brian or Freckles. I am with you because this is what I want, because I like you and I'd like to know you more. And I'm trying to be tender and closer to you because I'm trying to figure the way to be able to love someone the same way I was able to do before Freckles appeared in my life. I want to do this with you because I like the way you are." I answered in all honesty, taking both of her hands and looking deeply into her blue eyes as she was listening to me very intently. "There's a thing you still don't know. I felt so much love for my ex, more than I could have ever imagined. And now, perhaps because I felt so much, I lost my senses, and now it's as if my feelings are anesthetized. I exhausted what I had stored. Let's say that I got wasted. It's horrible, so I want to change it; and I want to change it with you. I want to feel love again, I want to believe in love again, and I know you're the right person; because you already started making me feel something different. So, I wouldn't like you to think that I'm with you for other reasons, because it's not like that." I confessed, being totally sincere; still looking deeply into her eyes with a half-smile, maybe a bit sad smile because of that horrible truth that was happening to me. She looked down, yet she let me hold her hands. She remained silent for a very long time. I knew what this could mean, so I sighed. "I told you you'd suffer with me because of all this stuff. You're in time to repent and be out of all my shit." I whispered, almost embarrassed because of this big shit. February looked up and she remained silent, looking fixedly into my eyes. What? What did it mean? Why did I have to suck at figuring out what women wanted?

"No, I don't wanna be out of this, so there's no way I'll regret my decision. I just wanted to know the truth because I wouldn't like to start something with you based on a lie." She finally answered and I grinned softly because of her response, which made me feel relieved. I was freaking out because I thought she was going to say something bad, I thought she was going to regret being with me and I didn't want that. "Let's make a deal." She said with a playful smirk, so I couldn't help smiling. Finally she was being the cheerful February again. "Neither of us will lie; we will always tell the truth, even if it's cruel and crude, even if it hurts; we will never lie to each other. Deal?" She proposed, looking straight in my eyes.

"Deal." I agreed with a bright grin. "Now, to honor our brutal honesty we agreed, I must say…" I started saying in a mysterious way, so she looked at me intrigued, with a smile. I got even closer to her and I almost touched her lips with mine. "You're very pretty." I whispered in front of her lips and I noticed how it brought a cute smile to her face. "And I love your smile. That was honest, brutal honesty." I said smiling kindly but also playfully, moving my face away from hers.

"That was cute honesty, actually. And I liked it, so thanks." She said smiling joyfully as I intertwined my fingers with hers. "And I must say…" She said and this time she was the one looking mischievously at me, therefore I looked at her super intrigued. "You're very flirty and I love that in handsome guys like you. There, brutal honesty." She said while giggling softly and biting her lower lip, like in seductive way, even if her real intention was to show she was amused. Holy crap, that was hot.

"Ah! I have another confession to make, maybe you won't like it... but since we agreed not to tell lies and to be brutal honest with each other..." I started saying in a flirty way, looking and smirking at her in a seductive way, so she raised an eyebrow, apparently very curious to know what I'd say. I moved my face closer to hers again. "I'd really like to take you to my bedroom." I whispered very flirty in front of her lips.

"Oh, yeah?" She asked in a mischievous way, still raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah…" I whispered very close to her lips without taking my eyes off her.

"You don't waste your time, do you?" She asked while chuckling softly.

"No, I don't. I really but really want to…" I whispered while looking at her hot lips. I remained silent for a while, to try to keep the suspense, I knew it was killing her. "Show you what I've got for my Sound for the Theatre course." I finally said while smirking mischievously. She raised her eyebrows in surprise and parted her lips. Ha! I knew she wasn't expecting that kind of answer.

"Is that so? I really thought you wanted to do other things. Never mind." February said while shaking her head and looking down, apparently feeling ashamed because of her thoughts. Ah, I knew she had a dirty mind.

"Oh well, maybe after I show you that, we can do what you thought I wanted to do. Something tells me you thought about getting… playful." I said while biting my lips seductively. Damn, that idea was really tempting. She looked up at me and chuckled.

"Oh yes. We'll see what happens." She said while shrugging, smiling merrily. She was for sure one of the happiest and most sympathetic girls I've ever met and I really liked it.

"Oh! Uncertainty. That's exciting and it makes things more interesting. See? You got another point in your awesomeness." I said while winking at her. Then I walked closer to her and I wrapped an arm around her, while turning my face to look at her. "Come on, let's go. I'll be super tender and cheesy, so you can see that I can be a romantic guy sometimes." I said smiling goofily and she giggled.

"I'm eager to know that side of you. Let's go." She said beaming brightly. Then she attempted to start walking, but I stopped her, so she looked at me and frowned.

"First… Can I get a kiss?" I said looking deeply into her eyes. She squinted and frowned, as pretending to be hesitating.

"Hmm, I think you earned it." She finally answered.

She stood on tiptoe to kiss my cheek, but I quickly turned my face to make it a kiss on my mouth. She got surprised, but I didn't give her time to move her face away, because I placed both of my hands on her cheeks to deepen the kiss; and, after a little, she started kissing me back. Yeah, she was a good kisser and I was starting to like her kisses way too much, even if it was still too early to enjoy her kisses this way. This only could mean that she was the right person to start a more committed relationship with someone. Maybe she was the person who would make me believe in love again. Maybe I should remind what Chuck told me when he came here: "If love appears again, do not push it away". That was something I was willing to do, I wouldn't push love away this time. I deserved a second chance. And February was making me feel happy. Yes, everything was good.

---

Brian didn't return the day before until late in night, when you were getting ready to go to bed, so you didn't have the chance to talk to him. And when you woke up in the morning, Brian was already attending his course. It seemed as if he did it on purpose to avoid talking to you about the unfinished conversation of the day before. However, you tried not to think about that idea. You attended all of your courses and you returned to your room at 3 pm to have all the afternoon free, fortunately because everything was getting harder because the first term was ending, so you were feeling kinda tired; besides, you were still feeling kind of sick. The fever returned because you stopped taking the meds, yet it wasn't a bad fever, at least you weren't feeling so dizzy and so cold. When you arrived, you took off your coat and dropped it and your backpack on the floor and then you lay down on the couch, taking off your shoes, closing your eyes, and enjoying the time alone to relax. Minutes later you heard someone opening the door. You poked your head to look through the backrest of the couch and you saw Brian, picking up your coat to hang it on the coat rack and picking up your backpack to place it on a chair. Sawyer ran to him and it started to jump all around him, as trying to attract Brian's attention. Brian, once he hung his only black leather jacket and left his satchel on a chair, crouched to pet Sawyer.

"Hi, buddy!" He greeted joyfully. He seemed to be in a good mood, at least he was smiling, unlike the last time you saw him. "Look what I've got for you!" He exclaimed while pulling something out of his jeans pocket. "That's right! A dog cookie! Take it." He said giving the cookie to Sawyer after petting Sawyer's head.

Then Brian looked at your direction, but you were faster and you rested your head on the armrest of the couch, so Brian didn't catch you. You grabbed a magazine that was on the floor next to the couch and you pretended to be reading it. Brian walked to you and he stood next to you.

"Hi, Sunny! Trying to learn how to read upside down?" Brian greeted while laughing softly. What? You paid attention to the magazine. Damn, he was right, you were a fool.

"Uh, yeah. I was actually trying to see how this drawing looked upside down. Never mind." You answered while placing the magazine aside, and then you looked at Brian and grinned faintly. "How was your day?"

"It was great!" He exclaimed merrily and you smiled more widely. "I got an A on that article for a magazine I had to write, remember?"

"Oh, yes, I remember! Congratulations, Bri! I knew they'd love it!" You exclaimed just as merrily as him, standing on the couch to hug him.

"Yes, I wanted to thank you because you helped me a lot. I'm sure I wouldn't have got an A if it hadn't been thanks to you." Brian said grateful while hugging you back. You were about to answer him that he didn't need to thank you, but Brian parted and looked at you mysteriously with the brightest smile. "It's for that reason that..." He said intriguingly, placing a hand on one of his jeans back pockets.

"Oh, oh, what are you hiding there, eh?" You asked amused.

"This! A little present for you." He answered with a cute grin, handing you a chocolate bar. You looked at Brian and smiled sweetly at him, taking the chocolate bar.

"Thanks, Bri. You didn't have to." You said before kissing his cheek. "But I love it!" You exclaimed cheerfully. "Here, take some of it." You said, opening the chocolate bar and giving some of it to him.

"Oh, no, no! It's a gift for you." Brian said with a kind smile before sitting on the couch. You sat next to him, resting your head on his lap and eating the chocolate as he started stroking your hair. "Hey, listen, this Friday I won't be able to go to the orphanage, Orchards Children's Services, remember?"

"Yes, I remember. Oh, too sad, Bri, I wanted to go with you this Friday!" You exclaimed while pouting and Brian giggled softly. For some odd reason he always laughed whenever you pouted, maybe you looked ridiculous.

"You look so cute when you pout." He said still giggling and you nudged him playfully. "Well, the reason why I'm telling you this is because I'll go there at 5pm. So… I wanted to know if you're busy or not, so you can come and join me." Brian said and you grinned.

"I'm free! I'd love to go with you!" You exclaimed ecstatically while sitting. "I need to get ready! That's in a half an hour!" You exclaimed exaggeratedly, standing up, so Brian laughed.

"Yeah, no need to be so alarmed, Sunny! We have time; besides, you don't have to be too fancy to impress someone. There you're gonna meet only children." Brian joked and you pushed him playfully.

"Shut up, Brian! At least I need to look presentable." You said while thinking what you could wear.

"You always look presentable and beautiful. If I could suggest you something is that you should wear comfortable clothes because most likely you're gonna get your clothes dirty. It always happens when you play with children." Brian suggested.

"Okay, expert. I'll wear comfortable clothes. So, just wait, be right back." You said while walking to the bedroom and Brian nodded.

"You know what?" Brian asked loudly from the living room as you were looking for something to wear in your bedroom. "I think we could bring Sawyer with us, the children will love him."

"Yes, I think that's a good idea." You answered while pulling out a pair of leggings, a white turtleneck sweater and a colorful long-sleeve hooded striped cardigan, and taking off your shirt.

"I was thinking that considering nobody claimed for him; maybe we could keep Sawyer, after all." Brian commented loudly and you poked your head from the bedroom and saw him petting Sawyer.

"Aha! I knew you'd want to keep him!" You exclaimed very loudly and Brian looked at you and laughed.

"What can I say? I think we got a strong bond. Right, buddy?" Brian asked while looking at Sawyer and petting his head as Sawyer answered him with a bark. "You want to live with me, buddy?" Brian asked while you remained looking at that situation. Brian really loved puppies. Sawyer barked again. "Yes! You're gonna live with me and I'm gonna feed you with tons of dog cookies! Who's a good boy? You are!"

"You're such a sweetheart, Bri." You said smiling sweetly at him and Brian looked at you again.

"Weren't you changing your clothes?" Brian asked while laughing.

"Yes, sorry! It's just I got very entertained with this cute situation that I couldn't stop staring." You responded while giggling.

You walked to your bed to finally change your clothes. You felt dizzy that you had to sit on the bed. You dropped your head on your hands, closed your eyes and waited till the dizziness disappeared. You noticed you were sweating, so you ran a hand over your face to dry your face, and, immediately afterwards, you coughed for several seconds; yet you tried to be as quiet as possible. You checked your hand and saw the spot of blood. Alright, this was a bit worrying. You stopped taking the meds, it was supposed that you wouldn't have those side effects. You took a time to calm down, cleaned the blood and took a deep breath before standing up. You looked at yourself in the mirror and then you walked out the bedroom and took your purse. Brian looked up and beamed at you.

"Let's go, shall we?" You asked very excited and Brian chuckled.

"Yeah, let's go. Just let me go for my jacket and books." Brian said while walking to his desk to grab some manuscripts and place them on his satchel. Then he walked to the coat rack to wear the same jacket he was wearing before. "Let's go, we have a long trip to Southfield; it'll take us like an hour." Brian said while taking Sawyer in his arms.

You went to the bus station at downtown and Brian bought two tickets to Southfield on Greyhound Bus Lines. You waited for a little until the bus arrived. You and Brian, with Sawyer in his arms, got in and chose two seats; you, of course, next to the window. The first 10 minutes were really quiet, but then you started to feel eager, not because you were nervous to go to the orphanage but because you wanted to know what Darren and Brian were talking about the day before; a topic that Brian was evidently avoiding. So you looked at him as he was entertained with Sawyer, talking to the animal as if it could answer.

"Brian?" You asked to attract his attention.

"Yeah?" He answered while turning his face to look at you with a huge smile.

"Umm, I want to know what you and Darren were talking about yesterday. What is that thing you have to tell me?" You asked looking deeply into his eyes as Brian's smile vanished and he looked at Sawyer again.

"I don't think this is the time and place to talk about it, Sunny." Brian responded after a while.

"Then when is the time and place to talk about it?" You asked while huffing and looking through the window.

"I don't know… Just not now, please." Brian answered almost in a whisper.

"It seems you're avoiding it, Brian." You stated, still looking through the window. Brian remained silent for a long time, so you turned your face to look at him again. He was looking down with a sad facial expression, petting softly Sawyer's fluffy hair.

"Yes, you're right. I'm avoiding it." Brian finally answered in a whisper without looking at you. Then he turned his face to look at you distressed. "I still cannot tell you. I'm so sorry. I wish I could be different, I wish I could be brave and confident enough to tell you everything bluntly; but I am not." Brian said while looking at you with those sad green eyes. "And I know you want to know, and I know you deserve to know; but I just can't and that sucks."

"Tell me, why cannot you tell me, Brian? We've been best friends since a long time, you know I won't judge you, you know I'll try to understand you and I'll help you with all you need. Brian, you shouldn't be afraid of telling me, we're best friends." You said softly and gently, looking fixedly into his eyes.

"That's precisely why I cannot tell you, Sunny. And I know this surely doesn't make any sense to you, but that is so." Brian replied while looking into your eyes, apparently feeling bad. "I want to tell you; I even tried to tell you several times before, but it never worked, there was always something that stopped me." He confessed and you frowned, trying to think about what he sometime tried to tell you. "With time I realized that the true reason why I never could tell you is because I first need to restore myself before telling you; otherwise, everything will be fucked up between us and that is the last thing I want for us. This could sound selfish, but trust me, this is unselfish; I'm keeping it inside for the sake of both of us; because I know that after I tell you, things between us will be different and I know it won't be a good change, it'll make things uncomfortable, and I'm still not ready for that. I'm so sorry, Sunny."

"What can be that thing that could fuck up everything between us as you said? Because I hardly think there's something that can ruin our relationship." You said without taking your eyes off him.

"That thing I have to tell you is something that can definitely ruin our relationship. I'd like to be more positive about this, but I have to be honest; so that's the truth." Brian answered while looking at Sawyer again.

"Just tell me, Brian, and we'll find the way to make it. Even if what you have to tell me can ruin our relationship, I know we'll find the way to make it through. Let me help you, Brian." You said very gently while trying to look into his eyes.

"You cannot help me with this, Sunny; because it involves you, because this is about you." Brian whispered afflicted and you frowned.

"Is this about me? Is that there's something you don't like about me? Do you think I can get mad at you?" You asked suspiciously.

"Yes, this is about you. No, there's nothing I don't like about you. No, I don't think you can get mad at me but you can feel disappointed in me." Brian answered in all honesty, still looking at Sawyer and you frowned in confusion.

"Brian, just tell me. I promise that whatever that is about, I won't feel disappointed in you; I promise I'll try to understand you and I promise I'll try my best to make it through to keep being best friends, whatever it comes to be. Just tell me, please." You asked softly while placing a hand above his, so he looked at you very sorrowful with his big green eyes. He remained looking at you that way in silence for a long time, and then he took a deep breath.

"I… Sunny, I… I'm in…" He started babbling nervously, and then he looked down and sighed. "Sorry, I can't tell you. I'm so sorry!" He exclaimed with choked voice.

"Please, Brian." You said gently, squeezing his hand. Again, he remained silent, looking down.

"I need… time." He finally whispered and then he looked at you. Of course, you weren't contented with that answer, so you looked through the window again, feeling kind of sad. "I… I want to tell you." Brian said and you looked at him serious. "Not here. I want… I want to tell you this in a different place, in a place where we can be quiet, where we can sit and talk for hours, because I have a lot of things to tell you. I don't want to tell you what I should have told you long time ago in a bus, going to somewhere we're gonna arrive in a matter of minutes. I don't wanna be interrupted; I don't want to leave this conversation unfinished; I want to tell you it all in a different way, not like this." Brian said with trembling voice while looking into your eyes nervously.

"Alright. So, what do you propose?" You asked.

"This Saturday, in the afternoon. We can go to the movies and then I could invite you a coffee and we can drink it at Gallup Park along the banks of the Huron River and there we can have a quiet conversation. Is that okay?" He asked while looking deeply into your eyes.

"Okay. But it must be a pinky promise." You said, holding out your pinky finger. Brian looked at your finger and he smiled softly, but he intertwined his pinky finger with yours. "Do you promise to tell me absolutely everything this Saturday afternoon at Gallup Park?"

"I promise. Pinky promise." He assured and you smiled faintly.

"Good. It seems I'll have a date with my best friend." You said trying to joke, to end with this uncomfortable tension.

"Yeah, it seems so." Brian whispered and returned his sight to Sawyer as you took his hand and intertwined your fingers with his.

Twenty minutes later, Brian and you got off the bus and Brian led the way to the Orchards Children's Services orphanage. The way to there was silent, but Brian was smiling, just like in the picture you saw of him with all of those kids. After walking a while, you arrived to a one story building with conventional asphalt shingle roof and a stone front wall with floor to ceiling windows and a sign that spelled "Orchards Children's Services".

"We're here." Brian announced with a bright grin, walking to the entrance as you were following him.

"Do they know I was coming?" You asked. Now that you were thinking about that, maybe it'd be inappropriate to go there without notice.

"No, they don't know." Brian answered and you stopped walking and looked at him in silence; Brian noticed you weren't following him, so he turned around. "Hey, don't worry. You're gonna be very welcome, it's always nice to get new volunteers, even if it's only for one day. Besides, as I already told you, the kids are gonna love you." Brian said with that joyful smile; yet, you were hesitating, so Brian walked to you and took your hand. "Come on, I swear no one is gonna bite you." He joked and you chuckled softly.

"Alright." You said with a bright smile.

Brian and you walked holding hands to the entrance and you started feeling a bit nervous because you really didn't want to look like an intruder or something. As soon as you entered, Brian started greeting some people, apparently the ones who were in charge of the orphanage. He introduced you and they all were very nice to you, it seemed they were kind people, so you felt less nervous. Then an old man with dark skin, tall, bald and with the kindest face, walked to Brian and you.

"What a surprise, Brian! We weren't expecting you till Friday." The man said with a cheerful grin, shaking hands with Brian.

"I know, Michael; it's just that I won't be able to come on Friday and I wanted to see the kids, so here I am." Brian responded informally. Then he looked at you. "This is Sunny; remember I told you about her?" Brian asked and you raised your eyebrows in surprise. So, Brian has told him about you? Minutes ago he said he didn't tell anyone you were coming.

"Oh yes, I remember!" The old man exclaimed and then he looked at you and stretched his hand. "I'm Michael Williams, President of Orchards Children's Services. Brian has told me a lot about you, I'm glad I could finally meet you." Michael said politely as you shook hands with him.

"It is my pleasure, Mr. Williams." You said with a polite smile.

"Please, call me Michael." Mr. Williams said kindly and you nodded with a grin. "Now, what do you think if you go to the children's playroom? I'm gonna tell them that you're here, they will be happy."

"Yes, sure." Brian answered with the same bright smile he had. "Come with me, Sunny."

Mr. Williams walked away, maybe to the children's room and Brian led you to another place. He opened the sliding glazed doors and he indicated to enter the room. You recognized the place from the pictures Brian showed you; it was the indoors place where he apparently used to read to the kids. It was a small but cozy place with tons of secondhand toys, colored tables and cushions.

"Is here where the magic occurs, where you become the person who leads the kids through your books to the forest clearing you never could reach?" You asked with an amused smile, looking at Brian. He turned his face to look at you and his green eyes brightened.

"You remembered. Yes, at least that's what I wanna think." Brian answered in a humble way. "Let's go sit on those cushions. The tables are too small for us; well, I don't know if they're small for you, though..." He joked, obviously making fun of your height, so you nudged him. "I'm afraid that maybe I could confuse you with one of the kids. How am I gonna recognize you?"

"So funny, Brian!" You said mockingly, walking to one of the cushions to sit as Brian followed you and sat right next to you, leaving Sawyer on the floor.

After a while, you started hearing a lot of shrill voices speaking loudly and excitedly, steps running and jumping, and laughter. The children were evidently coming. What would they think about you? Would they like you or would they think you shouldn't be there? What would you do with them? You had no books to read, you had nothing prepared and you didn't even know how to act around children. Seconds later a bunch of little kids entered the room followed by Mr. Williams, all of them overexcited. They all were really little; they were between 5 to 7 years old. Most of them got entertained with Sawyer, playing with him.

"Brian!" A little girl about 6 years old with light brown eyes and wavy blond hair yelled with a huge smile, running to Brian and pouncing on him to hug him.

"Zoey!" Brian greeted enthusiastically, hugging the little girl. "How's my favorite girl doing?" Brian asked now looking at the little girl while holding her tiny hands, with the sweetest smile you've ever seen on his face.

"I'm fine because you came to visit us on a Tuesday! I missed you, Brian!" The little girl exclaimed while hugging at Brian again. "I made you a drawing!" Zoey exclaimed happily.

"Did you? I wanna see it!" Brian exclaimed just as happily as her. Zoey pulled a paper out of her sweater pocket and gave it to Brian. "Zoey! This is the most wonderful drawing I've ever seen! Is that you and is this me?" Brian asked while looking at the drawing with a sweet facial expression.

"Yes! And we're visiting the forest clearing where the willows weep!" She responded with a bright smile.

"I love it!" Brian exclaimed with the same sweet grin. "Come on, give me a kiss." Brian said giving her his cheek and the little Zoey kissed it; then Brian hugged her again and he whispered something. "Remember that the clearing forest is still a secret between us."

"Oh, right! I love having secrets with you! I feel special." Zoey said smiling and swaying.

"You are special, Zoey, remember it always, okay?" Brian said looking deeply into her eyes while holding her hands as the little girl nodded energetically.

You beamed widely while observing this situation. Could Brian be even sweeter? He was really nice to kids and this was the first time you saw him around kids, so you were amazed. Then a little boy with curly dark brown hair and big gray eyes walked to Brian, showing all of his tiny teeth.

"Hey, buddy! Come over here, don't be shy!" Brian exclaimed joyfully.

Zoey turned to look at the little boy with a smile. She walked to him and took his hand to walk him to Brian. Once they were close enough, the little boy pounced on Brian and wrapped his arms around his neck as Brian hugged him. It seemed that those kids truly loved Brian.

"How are you today, Neal?" Brian asked while giving him a kiss on his cheek.

"I'm happy because you're gonna read us a book and you're gonna play with us!" The little boy answered with a very sweet and mellow voice.

"That's right!" Brian exclaimed merrily, holding both of the kids' hands. "Has your knee got any better?"

"Yes! The pain disappeared thanks to that magical potion you gave me!" The little boy answered happily and you chuckled softly. Magical potion? Seriously, Brian? That was cute.

"I told you it worked on good boys like you." Brian said while winking at the little guy. "Hey guys, I want to introduce you a very special person." Brian said almost as a secret and then he glanced at you and winked. "Now, be sneaky and look at the girl sitting next to me, can you see her?" Brian whispered as though it was a secret and you giggled softly when the kids looked at you on the sly before nodding. "She's Sunny, she's magical!" Brian exclaimed in a whisper, but loud enough so you could hear. Were you magical? You couldn't help giggling again.

"Really? What powers does she have?" Neal asked in a whisper.

"The story has it that when she smiles at you, her bright smile spreads magic and invisible dust that can make disappear the sadness and when she laughs, the magical and invisible dust can reach people's hearts and make them feel really happy. Oh! And when she hugs you, she can make you feel protected and safe. She's one of the most powerful people I know." Brian whispered as a secret as the kids were looking at him very excited and you were looking at him with a fond smile. That was really sweet. "She's really kind and affectionate, so you should greet her, maybe she could give you some of her magical dust."

"Yes!" Zoey exclaimed joyfully. She turned around and walked to you with a wide grin. "Hi, Sunny! I'm Zoey!" The little girl greeted with bright eyes.

"Hi, Zoey!" You greeted her with a huge smile and then you hugged her, just as you used to greet everybody, but knowing that maybe this would be special for them. "You're so pretty!" You exclaimed joyfully.

"No, you're pretty!" Zoey whispered in your ear and then she looked at you. "You smiled and hugged me!" She exclaimed amazed and that made you giggle softly. "And now you laughed!" She exclaimed overexcited. "Brian! You were right! She gave me magical dust and now I feel really good!" She exclaimed merrily. Oh, Brian!

"I told you!" He winked at Zoey.

"Come on, Neal! Try it!" Zoey exclaimed again. The little boy walked to you very shyly, playing with his fingers, something that reminded of yourself.

"Hi, Sunny. I'm Neal." The little boy said lowly and very shy.

"Hi, Neal. Come over here!" You said with a kind smile and the little boy walked slowly to you, but when he was close, he pounced on you and threw his arms around your neck as you chuckled softly, hugging him back. "What a wonderful hug!" You exclaimed while chuckling and rubbing his back. "Now, because you surprised me, you deserve a kiss!" You said looking into his big gray eyes and the boy grinned shyly but sweetly. You leaned over and kissed his chubby cheek as you held one of his tiny hands.

"Oh, Neal! She gave you her most powerful magical dust!" Brian exclaimed and you giggled as Neal smiled widely, showing all of his tiny teeth as he hugged you again.

"Thank you for making me happy!" Neal exclaimed grateful in your ear and your eyes flooded with happiness because you felt very touched by his sweet and innocent words. You were out of words, so you just kissed his forehead.

"And thank you for making me happy. I think you also have a magical dust." You said while looking into his big bright eyes.

"Do I?" The boy asked full of hopes and you smiled warmly at him.

"Yes, you do have magical dust. I noticed it when you hugged me. And so do you, Zoey. I think you two are very special." You said grinning widely as the kids' eyes brightened in happiness.

"Have you heard it, Zoey? We need to share our magical dust with the other kids, so they can also be happy!" Neal exclaimed with eyes wide open.

"Yes! We should do that so we all will be happy!" Zoey exclaimed with a wide smile.

Zoey and Neal ran very excited to where the other kids were to start giving them hugs as they were telling them the story that Brian has told. You smiled at them and then you glanced at Brian. He was looking deeply into your eyes with a very fond grin, so you smiled back at him. He moved closer to you and wrapped an arm around you, moving his face to your ear.

"You're marvelous, Sunny." Brian whispered and then he kissed your temple. "Look at them! You gave them hopes, Sunny, you gave them the hope that they can be happy despite everything, and they really need it. I think you are indeed magical, after all." Brian said and you chuckled softly as your eyes filled with tears again, now moved by Brian's sweet words. Maybe you were feeling very sensitive.

"Oh, that's just something I learned from you, Bri." You answered while smiling at him as his eyes twinkled. His eyes twinkled! You haven't seen that in the past few days.

"Don't make me cry in front of the kids, okay?" Brian said giggling softly as you hugged him tightly while laughing along him. "Gosh, I love you."

"I love you too, Bri." You whispered and this time you were the one who kissed his temple.

"Brian? Is Sunny your girlfriend?" Zoey suddenly asked curiously.

You stopped hugging Brian to find Zoey and Neal standing in front of you as all the other kids were also looking at both of you. Oh goodness! You didn't realize that everyone was looking at you! Brian, next to you, moved away and shifted uncomfortably as he started laughing nervously, running his fingers through his hair. You looked down and bit your tongue not to laugh because it was always funny to see Brian so nervous and because... Hell! That was a quite uncomfortable question! How would you answer a question like that to a little kid?

"No, guys! Sunny is not my girlfriend! She's my best friend." Brian answered while still laughing nervously.

"Why?" Zoey asked frowning and apparently disappointed. "You should be together and have lots of sweet and powerful babies!" Zoey exclaimed and this time you raised your eyebrows in astonishment and started laughing nervously along with Brian.

"Well, no, guys, that won't happen. Sunny and I are just best friends." Brian said.

"A girl and a boy are always together, it always happens when they're adults like you; like the prince and the princess. So why cannot you be together? Why cannot you be Sunny's prince?" Zoey asked as everybody was looking intently at you and Brian. Oh jeez, this was being even more uncomfortable.

"Well, because sometimes an adult boy and an adult girl love each other so much but just as friends. Sometimes the prince can be friends with the princess and just because they're a prince and a princess doesn't mean that they must be together and become a family. The princess can be with another prince from another kingdom and the prince can be with another princess, also from another kingdom; which doesn't mean that the prince and the princess will stop loving each other as friends. They can also be happy ever after that way." Brian tried to explain in a fictional way to make it more suitable for a child. Well, he was good at it.

"I understand. But it's too sad, because you look very cute together. You two are very beautiful." Zoey stated and you chuckled softly as Brian blushed and laughed nervously again.

"Sunny..." Neal suddenly said and you looked at him. "If Brian won't be your prince... When I grow up, can I be your prince?" He asked sweetly and you raised your eyebrows in surprise, not knowing what to answer.

"I'm sure she will, buddy." Brian answered for you, winking at Neal. Right after his answer, Neal smiled widely and ran to you to hug you and kiss your cheek, as you hugged him back, still speechless. "Alright, guys! Who's ready to listen to a new story?" Brian asked cheerfully, evidently to end with this uncomfortable conversation. All the kids started to run and hop everywhere, overexcited while yelling 'me, me, me!'. Brian pulled a book out of his satchel and then looked at the kids. "Come on! Sit in a round!" Brian exclaimed with that goofy grin and the children did so.

"Can I sit with you?" Neal asked with his mellow voice and you looked at him and smiled. How would you refuse it if he was looking at you in a very adorable way?

"Of course." You said kindly and crossed your legs, so Neal would be able to sit on your lap.

Neal sat on your lap and rested his back on your chest as you enfolded your arms around him. You noticed that Brian glanced at you and smiled before opening the book. When Brian started reading, you observed the children; they all were looking at Brian and were listening very intently to the story, they really enjoyed it, it seemed that only a simple thing like this could make them feel happy. Then you also started listening to Brian's story, a story he wrote himself for those kids, and you thought it was very good. When he finished the story all the kids started asking things, opining, and saying they loved it and Brian interacted a lot with them. You didn't know why but you pictured the scene as if Brian was Santa and all the kids were there to see Santa and be with him; and when you pictured Brian potbellied with white hair and beard and with a red and white costume, you started laughing, fortunately nobody noticed. After that, you proposed a game in which the kids had to draw something and then Brian and you had to tell improvised stories from their drawings. It was quite funny, you really felt as though you were a child; you understood why this could make Brian feel good as he said. You couldn't remember the last time you were so happy, playing and laughing like a kid, feeling as if you were in that magical and fanciful world where kids are while playing. It was such a great experience and you were glad you decided to join Brian. In a moment your phone started to buzz and when you checked it, it was an unknown number. Brian was entertained telling the children another story, so you stood up and walked outside the playroom to pick up the call.

"Hello?" You said.

"Hello, sweetheart. This is Marnie Clerk." A woman's voice said and you frowned. Brian's mom? How did she get your phone number? Maybe Darren gave it to her.

"Hello, Mrs. Clerk. How are you doing?" You asked politely, still wondering why she would call you.

"I'm fine, thank you. How about you, sweetheart?" She asked just as politely.

"Good, thanks." You answered, not knowing what else to say. There was a silence in which neither of you talked.

"I was calling because I wanted to ask you if you have talked to Brian about me and this recent situation." Mrs. Clerk finally said.

"Yes, I have." You responded. You weren't sure if you should tell her, but it seemed she was expectant to know. "To be honest, he's not so content with the whole situation. It was shocking for him to see his mother who was supposedly dead and he's still hurt for your abandonment."

"I understand." Brian's mother whispered, apparently sadly. "So... He doesn't want to see me and talk to me, does he?"

"Well, at first he refused energetically. He didn't want to see you again because when you appeared he was still trying to heal his pain and he didn't want to suffer again because of your fault and bring back all the awful memories he tried to forget." You explained in all honesty, even if you knew this was probably hurtful for her to hear. "But... Then I convinced him that talking to you could be enormously positive for him, to try to understand things he never could. So he agreed to see you sometime." You finally said.

"Seriously?" Brian's mother asked, apparently hopeful.

"Yes, seriously." You affirmed.

"So, could we meet now for dinner?" Brian's mom asked and you frowned. For dinner? You checked the time; it was 8pm… gosh! It was super late and you didn't even notice.

"Oh, sorry, but he can't make it today. We're in another town." You responded, not wanting to give her so many explanations. For some reason, you thought it was inappropriate to tell her where you and Brian were.

"Oh, I see." Brian's mother hesitated, yet you weren't going to tell her where you were. "What about tomorrow, for lunch?" She asked when she noticed you weren't going to say anything.

"Yes, tomorrow Brian is free. Yet I think first I should talk to him about this." You said firmly.

"Yes, that's alright. Would you let me know if he can? This is my number." She said.

"Sure, Mrs. Clerk, I'll let you know as soon as possible. Now, if you excuse me, I'm kinda busy." You said politely.

"Yes, sorry for bothering. I'll be waiting for your notice." She said and you remained silent. "Thank you, sweetheart. Have a good night." She said gently before she hung up.

You frowned and put your phone on the back pocket of your jeans before walking into the playroom again. Brian was now standing, hugging each one of the kids. It seemed it was time to go. Indeed, he indicated you that you had to go, so you also started greeting all the kids. Then, Brian walked to you and stood next to you, smiling brightly. You were about to leave, but Zoey and Neal ran to you and they held both of your hands to stop you. You looked down to the little kids.

"Will you return, Sunny?" Zoey asked with hopeful eyes and you grinned sweetly at her.

"I'd want to see you again! You're the best, Sunny!" Neal exclaimed happily, also looking at you with his hopeful big gray eyes. You glanced at Brian who was looking at the kids and at you with a merry expression; then you looked at the two little kids.

"Of course I'll return. And be ready because for the next time I'll bring more games to play." You answered cheerfully and the kids wrapped their arms around your legs. Then you squatted and kissed both of their cheeks. "I'll see you next week, okay?" You said smiling and the kids nodded enthusiastically.

Brian and you headed out of the building with Sawyer and started walking to the bus station to return to your room, silently. At one point, Brian walked closer to you and held your hand, smiling brightly as never before. It was really nice to see him so happy and lively, it was good the effect that the children had in him. When you reached the bus stop, he kept holding your hand and he looked at you.

"I told you they were going to love you, Sunny." Brian said fondly. "You heard Neal, you're the best." He said and you chuckled.

"That's because you told them I'm a magical being!" You responded, still chuckling as Brian started chuckling along with you.

"And you are!" He said kissing your cheek. "Thank you for joining me, it was good to have you there with me."

"No, Bri, thank you for introducing me those adorable little kids. And you heard me, I'll return next week." You said amused with a huge smile as Brian's face lit up.

"That would be nice." He said with the sweetest grin. Then you both remained silent, waiting for the bus to arrive.

"Bri, your mother called me." You said and Brian looked abruptly at you.

"My mother? She did what? When? What has she told you?" He asked alarmed.

"Yes, your mother. She called me when you were telling the kids a story. She told me she wanted to meet you today so you can talk." You answered gently, trying to make him feel less alarmed. Brian clenched his jaw and looked again; his bright smile vanished and he was now serious.

"I don't want to do that. I don't wanna ruin this great day." Brian answered gloomy.

"Yes, that's why I told her you couldn't make it today." You answered and Brian looked at you and smiled faintly.

"Thank you." He thanked in a kind way.

"Yet, I told her you'd meet her tomorrow for lunch." You added and Brian frowned and looked away again.

"I don't want. I don't want to see her." He said almost in a whisper. "Tell her that I won't go."

"But Brian! You promised! You promised me that you'd talk to her!" You exclaimed kind of offended.

"I know, but Sunny, please…" Brian said looking at you pleadingly.

"Brian, it was a promise." You said looking into his troubled green eyes. He looked down, sighed and looked at you again.

"Okay. Only if you go with me." Brian finally said.

"I don't think…" You started hesitating.

"You promised, Sunny." Brian reminded you and you bit your lips. Sneaky! He did the same than you!

"Fine. I'll go with you." You responded and Brian nodded, yet he didn't smile again.

---

On Wednesday I woke up early to attend my first course. After taking a shower and washing my teeth, I headed to the kitchen to have breakfast. As every morning I was kinda moody because I still wanted to sleep; it was insane to attend a course at 8am and wake up at 6am to take a shower, have a decent breakfast and take the bus to go to the North Campus. When I entered the kitchen, I saw Joey already having breakfast and talking to someone.

"Good morning, buddy. Good morning, May." I greeted while opening the cupboard to take a bowl out and fill it with cornflakes and milk.

"Good morning, Darren!" May greeted with her usual cheerfulness.

Now it was like a routine to wake up and see May here. Joey was moving too fast on this girl and that was cool for me as long as they don't get too noisy at nights. More than once I had to throw something at Joey's door so that they could stop making loud noises; it was particularly disturbing to know the way May called Joey's dick and I didn't want to hear that again.

"Where's February, man?" Joey asked as I sat on the table with them.

"She returned to her dorm room. She had to study for an exam." I answered while eating my cornflakes.

"Is that why you're so moody?" Joey mocked me and I threw him a cornflake.

"Actually I'm moody because certain jerk whose last name is Richter didn't let me sleep at night." I answered but in a jokingly way.

"Oops! That was my fault! Hunk, I told you that you should stop doing those things." May giggled in a goofy way as I started to look at them suspiciously.

"Oh, but you won't deny that you loved it. Next time I could get even dirtier... Maybe I could..." Joey started saying mischievously as I widened my eyes and I choked with a cornflake.

"Okay, okay! I don't wanna know what you do in your intimacy!" I exclaimed almost yelling as Joey and May burst out laughing.

"That's gonna be hard! So it's better if I take a shower. Can I, hunk?" May asked politely.

"Please, May. I told you that you don't have to ask permission. Make yourself at home." Joey said as May grinned and kissed Joey's mouth.

I looked away not to witness the way they were making out in front of me. Shit, man, seriously? After a while, May headed to the bathroom, leaving Joey and me alone. I kept eating my cornflakes while texting February, to ask her how she was doing today. Well, that was the intention, because Joey interrupted me.

"Okay, leave that phone for a minute because we have to talk." Joey said serious and I looked up at him, raising my eyebrows.

"Whoa! Who's the moody one now?" I asked mockingly.

"I'll ignore your question." Joey said roundly and I frowned. "So, May told me that February told her that you told Brian that he should tell Freckles… Whoa, wait! Shit I got dizzy there." Joey exclaimed and frowned as I laughed, even if I was already sensing what he wanted to talk about and I didn't like it. "Whatever. Point is… How would you force Brian to tell Freckles his feelings, man?" Joey asked kinda disturbed.

"Whoa, wait. Did you know Brian had feelings for Freckles?" I asked suspiciously because I never mentioned that.

"Well, yeah, it is pretty obvious, don't you think?" Joey answered while shrugging.

"You son of a bitch! Why did you play dumb when I asked you if you thought that Brian and Freckles were fuck buddies?" I asked kind of upset.

"I didn't play dumb that time. I don't think they're fuck buddies, they are not." Joey answered indifferently. "But come on! Since I saw Brian and Freckles together for the first time I knew that the guy had feelings for her. It is more than obvious, buddy!"

"And you did not tell me? I didn't know by that time!" I exclaimed offended.

"You surely suspected so, but you never wanted to admit that." Joey corrected me as I clenched my jaw and looked down, frowning, aware that he had a point. "Anyways, how would you force him, eh? That's not cool, man!" Joey exclaimed while frowning, as though he was scolding me.

"Because the jerk has been lying to her all these fucking years." I answered harshly, eating my cornflakes.

"Whoa, whoa! Jerk? Seriously, man?" Joey asked while shaking his head.

"Yes, jerk. He's a fucking asshole." I responded rudely.

"So, Brian is now an asshole because he has feelings for your ex. So mature bro." Joey said sarcastically and it only made me feel more upset.

"You know what? This is none of your business, so do not mess." I said moody.

"Yes, it is something of my business. And how you dare to call him a bully, man? That's not cool. No matter how mad you were because he has feelings for your ex, you shouldn't have called him that." Joey recriminated.

"He is a bully; I didn't say it because he has feelings for Freckles or whatever. I won't let that asshole hurt Freckles again like in high school. End of this conversation." I said harshly and determined.

"He's not a bully, Darren! He's a cool guy, man; he's our bro." Joey exclaimed while frowning.

He seemed to be very disgusted with what I said. Argh! I forgot the relationship he had with the jerk of Brian; Brian was like his bro since forever. Of course he was going to defend Brian, if the asshole pretended to be Joey's friend and Joey thought he was super cool and smart and shit like that, always admiring him. Bullshit, man.

"Correction, Joey. He can be your bro and whatever, but he's not even my friend. He was never my friend; if I ever tried to get along with him it was because of Freckles. But now that I know how things are, the jerk is no one in my life." I said coldly as Joey shook his head incredulous and disgruntled.

"Listen to yourself, Darren. What happened to you?" Joey asked in disbelief, frowning and looking fixedly at me. "You were always that goofball who's friends with everybody, who likes everybody and who's nice to everybody. Now you seem to be someone totally different and that's not cool." He stated as I clenched my jaw and looked away. "It's not cool the way you're acting now, always mad, always disgusted for something, always thinking bullshit. What happened with your funny, sassy and kind side?" He asked and I ignored his question. "Since Freckles is back you always seem to have some kind of problem that doesn't allow you to be yourself; so you better figure out what you want, what you feel and with who you want to be, otherwise you're gonna lose all of those cool things you once had." He pointed and I remained looking down, trying to calm my anger, he was making me feel even more upset. "One thing is for sure, pal, you cannot keep being like this cause you're gonna blow it. So deal with your shit and make a firm decision for once and all and meanwhile, try not to hurt people because later you're gonna regret." Joey said firmly and I shot him a withering look, but then I started laughing bitterly. "Why are you laughing, eh?"

"Cannot you notice, Joey? This is exactly what Clerk wanted: You to face me. He wanted us to fight and he's getting it. That's why I'm laughing, because the asshole made checkmate in his perfect plan." I answered while still laughing bitterly.

"Stop with the bullshit, man. Checkmate in his perfect plan? That's stupid, you're starting to act like some crazy guy; you're going nuts, bro. Figure out what you want and stop judging Brian for something he is not." Joey pointed very serious.

"Oh! Are you on Brian's side?" I asked disgruntled, raising an eyebrow.

"Brian's side? Do I have to choose a side? Come on, man, we're not twelve." Joey stated while sighing. "And for the record, I'm not fighting with you, I'm just trying to help you, to make you realize that you're hurting people who consider you as friend and you're making wrong choices that will hurt more people. So, if I were you, I wouldn't force Brian to tell Freckles his feelings for her and I wouldn't tell Freckles that if Brian doesn't do it; besides, that's none of your business, Freckles is not your girlfriend, Darren, and you'd screw their friendship if you do something stupid. Just stay out of that." Joey suggested and I looked away.

"Freckles deserves to know what Clerk actually wants from her." I said firmly.

"Well, maybe she deserves to know, but this is not the way, Darren! This is something only between Brian and Freckles; you don't have the rights to force anything." Joey pointed and I huffed in annoyance. "Listen, each of us has our own problems, why would you complicate your own problems with a problem in which you have nothing to do? It'd be different if you knew that you could help them, but you're not gonna help them this way." Joey said and I shook my head, completely disagreeing with him. "If your intention is to help Freckles, then do not do anything of what you wanted to do that day; because, after all, Brian is her best friend and he always helps her, he always does things for her to make her feel good, he always comforts her when she's feeling bad, regardless if he does those things because he's in love with her. If you tell Freckles what Brian feels and you don't give Brian the chance to do it by himself when he feels ready, Freckles is gonna walk away from Brian and she's gonna feel devastated because, like it or not, Brian is one of the most important people to her. So that way you're not gonna help her, you're gonna hurt her, and I know you wouldn't want it, would you?" Joey asked, looking fixedly into my eyes and raising an eyebrow as I looked at him in silence.

"No, I wouldn't want it." I finally answered while sighing. "Then what am I supposed to do? I can't leave things like that, because I won't be able to look at Freckles and Brian without thinking that he's lying to her and he wants something else with her, not able to say anything at all because it's none of my business. I'd be like lying to her too."

"You won't be lying to her, Darren. Brian, sooner or later, is gonna tell her his feelings. And you don't know if Brian is lying to her or if he's just omitting certain things. Just do not force anything, do not feel uncomfortable because you're not guilty of Brian's decisions and just be yourself with them. Just that." Joey answered and I nodded silently, looking down and playing with the spoon.

"I'll try." I said almost in a whisper.

"Good. And stop with the shit of being sad and mad! Man, we're in college! You should be partying hard right now instead wasting your time with stupid problems. Go out with February or something!" Joey exclaimed and I laughed softly.

"Yeah, it's time for me to get back at you for being so noisy at nights. You'll see, this time it's gonna be me the one who's not gonna let you sleep." I joked while eating my cornflakes again.

"Maybe we could make a foursome." Joey winked in a jokingly way and I looked at him disgusted.

"Go to hell, Richter. You make me throw up. I prefer a fivesome." I joked again and Joey laughed out loud.

I finished my breakfast and Joey took the chance to walk to the bathroom and join May in the shower as I prepared all my things to attend the course. Fortunately they weren't noisy this time. Anyway, I left the apartment before they could finish their thing. Dammit, I hated Wednesdays, they were the busiest days; I wouldn't have free time till lunch time and then I'd be busy until 7pm. The typical cold of the beginning of November hit my face when I walked outside. It was already sleeting and this was super annoying; yet I was eagerly waiting for the snow; it was always funny to play snowballs war, build snowmen, go ice skating, go skiing or go snowboarding. I attended my first course and then I headed to the Blue Apple to get a hot coffee before going to the next course. When I entered the Blue Apple I huffed and frowned. The place was crowded; of course, it was cold as hell outside. I took off my beanie and wool gloves and I got in line to order the coffee.

"Hey, Criss!" Someone yelled and I looked behind me to see who it was.

"Mere!" I greeted cheerfully as she walked towards me. I hugged her and she stood next to me. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, just trying to survive, you know? I think I could freeze in any moment, so I need to be cautious." She answered with a giggle.

"I can figure by the way you're dressed. It seems that the end of the world is coming." I joked when I saw all the warm clothes she was wearing.

"It is. Unfortunately, not everybody is lucky enough like you to have someone with who warm up." Meredith said and I frowned.

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

"I've heard you're dating someone, and you, bastard, didn't tell me!" Meredith exclaimed and I widened my eyes and raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"How do you know it?" I asked intrigued.

"News travels fast in college! There are Facebook accounts run by the most popular fraternities and sororities. They tell all the gossip." Meredith explained. "February is the name of the girl you're dating, right?"

"Yeah, it's February. Anyway, we're not dating. I mean, yeah, we see each other but it's nothing formal… You know, I wouldn't label our relationship." I responded.

"Ah! I see, like a touch and go... Or like a one night stand." Meredith said and I shook my head.

"No, not like that. I... We're not officially dating but I like her. We're just... Like trying to figure out if our thing works or not." I explained.

"Just as a friends? No benefits involved?" Meredith asked squinting in suspicion.

"Well, no. Okay, let's say we're friends with benefits until we figure out if we work together or not. So far I like her way too much. I think we could work together, you know?" I said amused and Meredith giggled mischievously.

"I can see you're hooked up, Dare darling. That's good." She said smiling brightly. "So... The whole thing with Freckles is over?"

"What do you mean with over? Because I could take that question in several ways, you know?" I asked looking fixedly at Meredith, yet a bit uncomfortable by her question.

"I mean... This deep love you felt for her and how badly you wanted to get her back... Is that over?" She asked and I looked down, raising my eyebrows. Then I sighed, looked up and grinned.

"Yes, it is over. She is just my friend, nothing more." I answered while smiling, yet it was a kind of forced smile.

"So, you no longer have feelings for her?" She asked curiously.

"Nope." I answered, still smiling. "I told you, I have February now."

"Well, it's good to see you're finally moving on. About time, curly boy!" She exclaimed merrily while ruffling my hair. "I've seen some pictures of this February girl. She's super pretty; I think you look cute together. You gotta introduce her to me!" She exclaimed excited and I laughed.

"Sure. We were planning to go out this Friday night, maybe you could join us, what do you think?" I asked.

"Oh yes! I'd love that! We can go to The Blind Pig and show her your super talent for singing; she will totally fall for that." Meredith suggested while winking, so I couldn't help giggling.

"It could work. It's time to show her some of my charms." I said in a boastful way.

"You're such a snooty guy, curly boy!" Meredith said giggling. "I've also heard that Joey is dating a girl, someone who looks like a real model. Is that right?"

"Yes, that's right." I answered while laughing. "May. She's indeed hot and they wouldn't stop getting laid and make scandalous noises when I'm trying to sleep. It's like a nightmare and totally disturbing. She even named Joey's dick! Can you believe it?" I exclaimed in an exaggerated way, amused as Meredith laughed.

"Oh my wizard god! Tell me how she named it!" She exclaimed super amused.

"Mr. Cum Gun." I answered and Meredith burst out laughing. That was the truth, I heard that once. "Go figure my face when I heard her screaming 'Give me more, Mr. Cum Gun!'." I exclaimed loudly while imitating May's moan. A lot of people turned their faces to look at me astonished and, instead feeling ashamed, I laughed.

"Oh, goodness! That was too much information, now I'll be traumatized for life!" She said while chuckling. "Anyway, it's great to know Joey's seeing someone. Finally, eh?"

"Yes, finally!" I agreed.

"Remember when we wanted to pair him off with Freckles before knowing that Freckles was Freckles?" Meredith reminded and I nodded.

"Crazy shit!" I commented while giggling.

"Well, luckily we did not. I think Freckles should date Brian; they will be like the perfect couple, don't you think?" Meredith asked and my smile vanished all of a sudden.

"Uh... Maybe." I answered pretending to be indifferent while shrugging. Fuck, why the hell did she mention something like that?

"What would you like to order?" A young girl asked and saved me from the uncomfortable question of Meredith.

"Umm, an Espresso Macchiato, please." I answered and then I looked at Meredith. "Do you want one, Mere?"

"Oh, no, thanks! I was actually with some friends and we already ordered." She answered and I nodded. I paid the coffee and then I walked out the line. "Well, curly boy, it was great to see you in these crazy times usually known as the end of the first term! Now I have to come back with my fellows to finish some boring stuff for our next course. See you on Friday night?"

"Yes, see you on Friday night, Mere! Good luck with that boring stuff!" I greeted her and then she walked to the table where her fellows were.

I put on my beanie and my wool gloves before heading out the Blue Apple. Again, the cold breeze hit my face. Holy shit, it was truly cold! I took a sip of that hot coffee and I suddenly felt a pleasant warm sensation. I walked to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance building to go the classroom, even if I didn't have the next course till 20 minutes later, I would be warm in the classroom. On my way, someone bumped into me, causing me to spill coffee on my hoodie.

"Oh, fuck!" I exclaimed moody, without even looking who was the asshole who did that.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I heard a familiar voice, so I looked up. Freckles. Apparently she didn't look to check who I was. When she looked up, she raised her eyebrows. "Oh, Darren, it's you! I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking and... Oh, damn! Look what I've done!" She exclaimed afflicted as she tried to clean my hoodie with her hands; she only got to make it worse, so I took her wrist.

"It's alright, don't worry, Freckles." I said before she could keep making it even worse. Crap, now I didn't have coffee and I wouldn't go back there to wait for minutes for them to attend me.

"Oh! No! Look what I've done to your hoodie! And I messed up your coffee!" She exclaimed sadly.

"Freckles, it's fine. I had almost finished my coffee and this is an old hoodie, so now it's like a good excuse to buy a new one." I lied only to make her feel less troubled.

"At least let me buy you another coffee? I'm sorry!" She said and I shook my head.

"No, Freckles, it's fine. Anyway, I was heading to my classroom." I said and she looked down, bit her lower lip and nodded. Gosh, she looked beautiful and super cute with that wool beanie and that colorful scarf.

"I'm sorry; surely I'm also delaying you." She said apologetically.

"Hey, no. I have time... I actually wanted to go to my classroom to be warm. It's freaking cold today." I said and she chuckled softly.

"Oh yes! I still can't get used to this weather. It's much better in San Francisco." She commented with her usual cute grin. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were rosy because of the cold and that only made her look even cuter.

"Oh, you'll get used. And you'll love the snow, trust me, it's totally funny." I said with a bright smile. "So... Besides that you're super cold... How are you today?"

"I'm great!" She answered cheerfully so I couldn't help smiling. "How about you, besides the fact you want to kill me because I ruined your hoodie?" She asked and I laughed.

"For starters, I don't wanna kill you, okay? I don't have any knife, so I can't do it right now." I joked and she chuckled. "Then, I'm fine." I said while grinning. "Hey, what do you think if we go to some indoors place? This sleet is killing me!"

"Alright! I have free time until noon, so, why not?" She responded with a big smile.

So then Freckles and I walked to the Earl V. Moore School of Music, Theatre & Dance building, but we didn't go to my classroom, instead, we went to the student lounge and sat on one of the couches in front of a glazed window with views of the Moore Pond.

"I always thought this building it's by far the best building on UM North Campus." Freckles started saying all of a sudden while both of us were looking through the glazed window. "It was designed by the great architect Eero Saarinen in 1965. It's such a shame that this building is long under-appreciated. The hill siting, in particular, is exceptional; it is as though the building is floating over the landscape; and it has a cozy, cave-like atmosphere with nicely-proportioned spaces." Freckles started explaining while observing the space in general. Now I looked at her and I noticed she was grinning nicely. "And the whole building is made of bricks, which takes sunlight very well, and also has a nice variety in tone and I think on a subconscious level it makes the place seem warmer and more textured. Also, the building has huge windows overlooking the pond and generally working the connection to nature theme. Yes, I really like this building." She said cheerfully looking through the window again and I couldn't help smiling. She truly loved talking about random stuff that involved everything that had to do with arts; besides, I was amazed by her vocabulary.

"How do you know so much about that stuff?" I asked still amazed as she shifted her gaze to me and grinned.

"I'm just curious, so I like digging about this stuff." She answered while shrugging.

"Well, that's cool. I like listening to you when you tell this kind of stuff." I said grinning and then I handed her my almost empty coffee mug. "Here, you want to drink some?"

"Are you sure you don't want to drink it? I still feel guilty because I caused you to spill it on your hoodie." She answered, pursing her lips.

"Don't worry about that, Freckles, really." I said laughing softly. "No, I don't want it, but you should take it, it'll make you feel warmer. Judging by your rosy cheeks and the tip of your nose, you're cold." I commented while laughing as she laughed along with me, while rubbing the tip of her nose.

"Oh, you noticed! I don't know why my nose always gets rosy when I'm cold. I look like an awful clown." She said laughing, grabbing the coffee mug to take a sip of it.

"I don't think you look like an awful clown. Although clowns tend to be kinda creepy, you look like a cute clown." I answered gently, while smirking.

"Why, thank you!" She exclaimed cheerfully while chortling. Then we remained silent for a while, but not in an uncomfortable silence, though. "Umm, Dare?" She hesitated and I looked at her. "I want to ask you something?"

"What?" I asked while looking into her eyes.

"Brian wouldn't tell me anything about what you and he were talking about on Monday. He told me he would tell me this Saturday, but I can't wait till Saturday because this is like killing me. Could you tell me what was that about?" She asked curiously and I looked away, biting my lips and hesitating whether I should tell her or not. I remembered what Joey told me: I could hurt Freckles and I shouldn't mess between her and Brian.

"It was nothing serious, actually. I was kind of moody that day and I went mad and Brian had to take it with no reasons. Just that." I answered while looking away.

"But, if it wasn't anything serious, could you tell me?" Freckles insisted and I huffed.

"Brian said he would tell you on Saturday, so you should wait. He's the one who must tell you, not me. I have nothing to do with what he has to tell you, and that day I was acting wrong and I meddled in things I shouldn't." I answered while raising my eyebrow. Damn, I didn't want to lie to her.

"Well, if Brian is the one who must tell me; then at least I would want to know your opinion about this. I'd like to know what you think of Brian, because you weren't precisely nice to him, so I guess you have something to tell me about that." Freckles insisted again and I shook my head and laughed shortly.

"You won't stop until I tell you something, will you?" I asked looking at her and she smirked triumphantly.

"That's right, I won't stop; you know I'm stubborn and sometimes capricious." Freckles answered while smirking amused. "And I don't want you to lie to me, because I'm good at telling if someone is lying."

"It seems I'm screwed." I joked and then I sighed and looked down. "Alright, I don't know how to say this without sounding like a crazy and paranoid guy."

"Just try with the truth." She said while shrugging.

"I think Brian is not as he claims to be. I think he's hiding something and I'm pretty sure you won't believe a damn shit of this because he's your best friend." I started explaining a bit uncomfortable, remembering what Joey told me. But hell! Freckles needed to know, just because she had to be cautious about Brian. I glanced at Freckles and I saw her frowning slightly. "Alright, I'll go to the point to make things less awkward." I said firmly. "I think Brian is W and he's doing all of this because he wants to get something; so he pretended to destroy all of his own things, he is pretending to be super nice and he pretended to be your friend when you were in your lowest point, only to gain your trust and make his plan work."

"What? Are you insane, Darren?" She asked incredulous, looking fixedly at me while frowning. "Really, Darren, that's absolutely ridiculous. I know Brian pretty well and there's no way he's W. We both know that W is Karen and Jim, and it's a pseudonym for 'We'. Brian, seriously? Brian is the kindest person I know, Darren. How can you think something like that? You are even friends!"

"He's not my friend." I said harshly because I was sick of people telling me that I was friends with Brian. When I looked at Freckles I realized I shouldn't have said that, she was looking at me distressed. "I knew you wouldn't believe me, Freckles. But you asked my opinion and you told me to be honest, so I just did what you requested. This is only my opinion, it may or may not be like that, I don't know." I said shrugging and Freckles looked down and shook her head.

"Fine. It's your opinion; but it just makes me sad that you think that about Brian, because he does consider you as a friend and he never did something to hurt you or hurt me." Freckles commented avoiding my gaze.

"What? Have you forgotten that he almost killed you in high school when he punched you and left that scar on your jaw?" I asked while raising an eyebrow as Freckles ran a finger through the scar on her jaw, with her gaze lost.

"He was forced to do that, Darren; just as you were forced to disappear that night in the hotel room, leaving a scar on my heart." She answered. Ouch, that was such a low blow. Then she looked at me. "You really need to tell the difference between bully and bullied. And I'm surprised that you, out of all the people, cannot believe that Brian was bullied and he was not the bully; just as now he's the bullied and not the bully. The bullies always bullied him, telling him he should act like a bully; they did it in high school… I can't believe you fell into their trap again, I can't believe you believed what the real bullies wanted to make you think: that Brian is the bully."

"Whoa! Wait, Freckles, don't get mad at me only because I gave you my opinion, because next time I won't tell you anything." I said while raising my eyebrows, as letting her know that she was starting to treat me bad.

"I'm not getting mad at you, Darren. I'm just telling you that it makes me sad that you, out of all the people, can think something like that about Brian." Freckles answered tranquil.

"Hey, listen… I won't try to convince you to believe what I think; and just as I won't do it, I'd appreciate if you don't try to convince me with your own point of view; because we see things differently and I don't have the determining factor that he is my friend, unlike you. So you'll never see things as I do because you'll always think the best about him; just as I can't understand why you defend him so much and cannot see what's happening." I said roundly and Freckles frowned and looked away, now raising an eyebrow.

"Whatever, Darren. I'd have liked that you could be friends, because Brian is my best friend and he will always be, and you were and are important to me for all the things we lived together. So yes, it makes me sad that two of the people I love most can't get along, but I'm not one to tell others what would be nice to see." Freckles said softly and sadly, looking down. "I only hope that this thing doesn't screw my relationship with Brian or my relationship with you. Hopefully I'd be able to be friends with the two of you."

"As for me, don't worry. We can still be friends and I promise I won't talk about Brian and my very own opinions about him; and if he really is the best friend guy, I'm sure he'll do the same. We don't necessarily need to have all friends in common." I said while shrugging and Freckles glanced at me furtively, but she remained looking down. "Nevertheless, I'd ask you if you please can be careful. I know you don't believe me and you have your reasons not to, but still, try to be careful around Brian. They fooled us once; I wouldn't like to be fooled again." I said and Freckles huffed, I knew she didn't like what I was saying. "I won't tell you to stop being his friends because that's not right and it's none of my business with who you're friends with; but try to see carefully all the things he does. Try to notice if there's something suspicious, if he hides you things and why, if he talks about something you don't understand and doesn't want to explain you, if he acts weird… Just try to pay attention to those things, just in case, Freckles." I said almost pleadingly and this time she looked at me, but remained silent.

"Alright, I'll try to be careful and notice if I see something suspicious or odd. But I don't think I'll have to be so careful. He never acts weird… But if that makes you happy, I'll do it." Freckles answered shrugging and sighing, as if she were tired of hearing this bullshit that wasn't bullshit at all.

"Thanks. And don't hesitate to call me if you feel like talking to someone if you're worried about something that came to happen. You know I can always help you, Freckles." I said smiling friendly at her and she smiled back.

"Okay, I'll keep it mind." She agreed while nodding.

"Cool. Now, I have to attend my course. I guess I'll see you around, and if not, I guess we'll see on Friday night, right?" I asked.

"Right." She confirmed and I smiled.

"Have a good day, Freckles." I said while kissing her cheek and standing up to walk to my classroom.

Before leaving, I looked behind to see Freckles one last time. She was looking through the window with the coffee mug, apparently thoughtful. Hopefully she will be careful and hopefully I didn't hurt her with my comments as Joey thought I would do. And I was sure she didn't believe me and she didn't like all I said. She just had to be careful; I wouldn't like to see her hurt because of W again, because of Brian to be more precise. This was a big shit.

---

You were heading to your dorm room to look for Brian and go to the lunch meeting with his mother; you were walking slowly, thinking about what Darren told you. You didn't like it at all; you couldn't believe what he said about Brian. Seriously, how could anyone think that Brian was a bad guy? He was really nice to everybody, even to Darren; you always thought they became friends, but it seemed it wasn't like that. How could Darren think that Brian was W? W was Jim, you were sure about it. You remembered that you had to keep digging about it; you had to get more information about Jim and all of this. But... What if Darren was right? What if he discovered something about Brian and he didn't want to tell you not to hurt your feelings? Because Darren was really mad at Brian on Monday and Brian told you that Darren was right and he was a coward who didn't dare to tell you what happened. What if Brian was W? He was hiding you something, that's what Darren said on Monday and Brian confirmed it. He never wanted to show you his phone and he had hidden folders in his laptop. What if he was pretending to be nice as Darren stated? Darren wouldn't lie to you; if he stated something like that was because he knew something. But no, no way. Brian was your best friend, you knew him, you shared a lot of things with him, he helped you a lot, he helped you out of depression last year, and he was always trying to make you feel happy. However, you were going to be careful and try to notice if something odd occurs, just in case. Oh no, not the headache again. You stopped in front of the door of your dorm room, pressing your fingers on your temple, until the headache disappeared.

"Brian, I'm here!" You said when you entered the dorm room. Brian wasn't in the living room, dining room or kitchen; and he did not answer. "Brian, where are you?" You asked again and walked to the bedroom. He wasn't there either. "Brian?" You asked one more time.

Absolute silence. Why wasn't he here? He knew you were coming to go to the lunch meeting and you'd be late now. Where was he? You couldn't believe this! He surely ran away not to go to that meeting when he promised he would be ready by the time you came, and when he promised he would go. You started feeling upset with him. You grabbed your phone and called him. Few seconds later, you heard his phone. The idiot didn't bring his phone! He knew you would call, so he left it here. How clever! Anyway, you walked to the bathroom, from where the sound of his phone was coming. You opened the door and you saw Brian standing in front of the lavatory, looking at his phone with a disturbed face.

"Brian? Why haven't you answered me? I thought you left!" You reproached him; yet he kept staring his phone, even if you already hung up. "Brian!" You exclaimed loudly because it seemed he wasn't listening. Then, Brian, slowly, turned his face to look at you. He still had that disturbed face. "What's wrong, Brian?" You asked gingerly while squinting.

"I can't go." Brian answered in a whisper, with trembling voice.

"What? What are you talking about?" You asked while frowning, it was more like reproaching him.

"I can't go. I cannot see her. I can't." Brian whispered troubled while looking at his reflection in the mirror. You huffed.

"You will go." You said roundly and kind of harshly. Brian looked down and his eyes filled with tears. It was such the sadness of his face that you felt bad for treating him kind of harshly. You walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Brian, don't be scared, everything is gonna be alright."

"She's gonna hurt me, I know it. She's gonna leave again." Brian whispered with choked voice, yet not shedding tears.

"She won't, Brian. If she appeared again, she's gonna stay, I promise." You said softly while squeezing his shoulder.

"Before she abandoned me… She told me she would come back in days and she never did. She's doing the same now. I don't want to be abandoned twice." Brian said with choked voice and this time he shed some tears.

"She won't abandon you again because I told her that if she wants to be part of your life again, she must stay forever. And if she does, we're gonna kick her ass, deal?" You said jokingly to make him feel better and it worked because he chuckled softly while shedding tears. You wiped away his tears and smiled warmly at him as he smiled back. "Come on, Bri. I'll be with you all the time."

"Do you promise?" Brian asked looking deeply into your eyes, hopeful.

"I promise." You assured with a kind grin before clasping him in your arms.

After convincing him to go, Brian and you left the residence building to go to downtown at The Black Pearl restaurant, where Brian's mother requested to meet. On the way, Brian was very silent and the only thing he commented was that he didn't like seafood so he wouldn't be able to eat anything in the restaurant; this was like an indirect way to say that his mother didn't know anything about him and he didn't want to go. Nonetheless, you arrived to the restaurant and you were about to enter, but you noticed Brian froze in the entrance, with the same disturbed face than he had when he was in the bathroom. He was scared like a little kid.

"Come on, Bri, everything is gonna be alright." You said softly, taking his hand.

Brian bit his lips, hesitated, took a deep breath and stepped ahead, holding too tightly your hand. When you entered, you saw Marnie Clerk sitting alone; she didn't see you, and Brian, once again, froze. You squeezed his hand and started walking towards his mother. When you were close, Marnie looked up and finally saw you, then her sight shifted to Brian and she smiled softly.

"Hi, sweetheart." She greeted you and then she looked at Brian. "Hi, I'm glad you came, son." She said meekly. Brian gasped and parted his lips, then looked down, without greeting her.

You basically had to force Brian to sit. You sat next to Brian and Brian sat right in front of his mother. You held his hand under the table and he was squeezing it too tightly and his hand was already sweating because of the nervousness. He didn't look at his mother in any moment and there was an abysmal and uncomfortable silence.

"What would you want to order?" The waitress asked politely.

"Umm, smoked salmon salad with crab dressing." You answered and Marnie grinned.

"That's a good choice, I'll take that too." Brian's mother said. "What about you, son?"

"Nothing. I don't like seafood." Brian answered curtly, looking down. You saw Brian's mother face, she seemed to be troubled and ashamed.

"I could offer you pasta." The waitress suggested.

"I want nothing, thanks." Brian answered curtly again.

"Brian..." You whispered gingerly.

"I'm not hungry. I just want a soda, please." Brian said looking at the waitress and she nodded and took down the order.

Then the silence started again and neither of you talked until the waitress brought the orders and you and Brian's mother commented about how tasty the food was. It was evident that Brian's mother didn't know how to start a conversation with her son because she wasn't used to this, she didn't know how to deal with a son and you knew that Brian wouldn't be the one starting the conversation. When you finished eating and Brian finished his soda, Brian's mother looked at her son and smiled, even if Brian wasn't seeing. You didn't know what to do. Should you encourage them to start talking or not? Brian's mother saved from this dilemma.

"I'm glad to see you. You look very different." She commented.

"That's because I'm twelve years older since the time you abandoned us." Brian replied a bit coldly and Brian's mother looked down distressed. Ouch. This was going to be though.

"I'm sorry for that." Brian's mother said afflicted. Brian, for the first time, looked up at his mother.

"Why are you back?" He asked roundly.

"Because I regret what I did and I want to be part of your life again." Brian's mother answered with a sad smile, looking at his son.

"How would I believe you? The day you ran away, you promised you would return in a matter of days. That never happened. How would I believe you want to be part of my life?" Brian asked harshly while frowning as Brian's mother's face reflected sadness.

"I was another person by that time, Brian. I wasn't prepared to be a mother." She answered.

"And I wasn't prepared to lose my mother, regardless the way you were." Brian answered back and you bit your lips. You knew this was like a stab in the heart for his mother. "Do you have any idea how it feels to know that your own mother replaced you for drugs? Do you have any idea how I felt? Did you know that I spent years sitting on my bed, looking through the window to check if you returned? Did you know that I spent years blaming myself for your abandonment? Did you ever care?" Brian asked rudely, frowning and looking fixedly at his mother. This time, Brian's mother was the one who was looking down and she started shedding few tears. "And now you're playing the victim, making me look as the bad guy when it was your decision to leave me. I should be the one crying because my mom abandoned me as if I were worthless, not you. You didn't suffer, unlike me, you only cared about yourself."

"It was hard for me." Brian's mother said while crying.

"It was even harder for me!" Brian answered back. "At least you grew up with a family, at least you knew what it is like to have both of your parents; I never had the chance to know what it is to have a family, to have a mother who loves you. I needed you and you were never there. And damn, I needed my mother." Brian said while clenching his jaw and now also crying. You looked down, feeling bad for this tough conversation. "Dad has done a great job raising me; but I needed my mother too. I always wanted to be like the other kids and I never could. I wanted to have a normal life like the other kids and I never could. You have no idea how hard it was for me to say that I did not have a mother when others asked; you have no idea how hard it was to explain them the reasons when they asked why. And you say it was hard for you? Again, you're thinking only about yourself!" Brian exclaimed with teary voice, still shedding tears. "Why? Why did you abandon me? What have I done to deserve being abandoned?" He asked sorrowful while mourning.

You already wanted to cry, but you held your tears back. Brian let out your hand to cover his face with both of his hands while crying as his mother remained silent, also shedding tears. Damn, you never saw him crying this way; it was heartbreaking. Maybe he was right; maybe it wasn't a good idea to see his mother so soon. You placed a hand on his thigh and squeezed it softly, as a way to reassure him.

"You have never done something bad; it was my fault." Brian's mother answered with cracked voice while looking distressed at Brian. "I was lost and I wasn't aware of the things I was doing, I wasn't aware that I was hurting you, I didn't know how to be a mother, how to take care of you if I couldn't take care of myself. Abandoning you was the biggest mistake of my life and I couldn't realize it by that time; it took me years to realize that you were the only I needed to get out of my dark past, that you were the only who could have saved me because you're the most important person to me. You are my son." Marnie said bursting into tears as Brian uncovered his face to look at his mother with teary eyes. "And no words can express how sorry I am, how remorseful I am for having done such a terrible thing to my own son. If there was one thing I could change about my past, it would be not to abandon you, it would be to decide to stay with you to protect and love you, to give you the good childhood you deserved to have." Brian's mother said repentant and Brian started shedding tears again, in silence, while looking at her. "And I know it's late, I know there's no way to change the past, I know I can't take away all the pain I caused you, I know you can't forgive me because I cannot even forgive myself for what I've done. I know I don't have the rights to call you my son because I've been an absent mother." She said while mourning disconsolately. She paused, bit her lips, looked down and then wiped her tears away before looking at Brian again. "But I wish you could give me the chance to make up for all my mistakes. I wish you could give me the chance to be part of your life again. I wish you could give me the chance to deserve calling you my son. Because when I look at you I can't help looking at my little boy. I wish you could give me the chance to give you all I never gave you. And above all, I wish I could find the way to undo all the damage I've caused to my little boy." She said pleadingly, looking deeply into Brian's eyes as Brian remained silent. "I'm really sorry." She said and that sounded very honest.

Brian looked fixedly at his mother in silence while wiping his tears away. There was a long silence in which Brian and his mother remained looking into each other's eyes. Brian looked down, bit his lips, closed his eyes and took a deep breath before looking at his mother again.

"I forgive you." Brian finally said with choked voice.

Both Brian's mother and you looked at him with wide eyes and raising eyebrows in surprise. You couldn't believe that Brian forgave his mother. It was surely very hard for him to do so. To be honest, you didn't think he would forgive her because his mother really hurt him too much; but he did. You were proud of him because you knew it wasn't easy to forgive someone who caused you too much pain; you were sure this would be very positive for him, that this would help him to overcome all of his troubles; and that was what made you feel glad, not because this was good for his mother but because this was good for him. Brian's mother burst into tears and held Brian's hands and, surprisingly, Brian didn't move his hands away. Apparently she couldn't talk; she was surely very grateful; well, who wouldn't be?

"I'll give you a second chance because I know everybody deserves a second chance, regardless how much pain they caused; because I learned that we learn from our mistakes and all human beings make mistakes." Brian said looking intently at his mother as she smiled in between the tears. "I only hope you don't make the same mistake again, because if you do, then I won't be able to forgive you again because I'll know it'll be intentional." Brian said firmly but not harshly as his mother only nodded. "And you have to know that it won't be easy for me to act as though we had been together since forever, you will have to be patient with me because I don't know you and I'll be insecure, I'll be all the time thinking that you'll leave again until I get used to this thing of having a mother, because you have to understand that I don't know what is to have a mother, I don't know how a mother is and I don't know how to be the son of a mother." Brian clarified.

"We'll figure it out together." Marnie said thrilled with a warm grin as Brian nodded.

You couldn't help smiling softly. Brian deserved this, he deserved to have the mother he never had, he deserved to be happy. Before coming here, you were nervous because you thought that things wouldn't end up in a good way, but you were wrong and you were glad for it. Now, you were feeling like you shouldn't be there because they needed to catch up, they needed to have a private conversation between mother-son. You came here only to accompany him to support him if something went bad, but now that you were sure it went good, you could give them the privacy they needed. Thing was you didn't know how to say it.

"How about I invite you a coffee so we can keep talking?" Brian's mother proposed.

"Sure." Brian answered. Well, this was your chance to say you had to go. When Brian's mother called the waitress, you took advantage to grab your purse. Brian saw this and looked at you.

"What are you doing, Sunny?" He asked in a whisper, frowning.

"I think it's time for me to go. You need to have some kind of privacy with your mother." You answered softly with a warm smile.

"No!" Brian exclaimed loudly, maybe louder than he wanted because he blushed and gulped. Fortunately, Brian's mother was talking to the waitress, so she didn't notice. "Please, don't go. You promised you'd stay with me." Brian whispered alarmed.

"I know, Bri. But you'll be fine, you need to be alone with your mother so you can talk freely and I shouldn't be bothering here." You responded in a whisper, taking one of his hands.

"Sunny, please, I need you here." He begged.

"You don't need me, Bri. You can do this alone." You encouraged him and Brian frowned and looked down. "Listen, I'm sure everything will be fine, so you don't have to be scared. But if, for some reason, something goes bad, you can always call me and I'll come for you. I'll be just walking around downtown, so we can meet when you think it's time to return." You said with a friendly grin.

"Sunny, please, stay. Please. You won't be a bother; if my mother wants to talk to me, she can do it in front of you because she has to understand that you're my best friend and I want you here." Brian said pleadingly.

"Brian, you need to do this alone. That is the way." You stated, looking deeply into his eyes.

"I don't want to be alone." Brian whispered afflicted.

"You'll be with your mother." You answered back, in a gentle way, though.

"It's not the same. I don't know her. I need to be with someone who I know won't leave me. Please, I beg you." Brian said pleadingly again, he was getting edgy.

"Brian, listen, you need to learn how to do things by your own; you need to learn how to face new situations by your own, for your own good." You said firmly but gently.

"No, you don't understand. All my life I've done things by my own, all my life I've faced new and hard situations by my own, I've always been by my own. Then I found you and I never felt alone again; so in this moment, I want you to be with me. It's not only because I want to be with you not to feel alone, it's also because you've always been the one person who showed me that not everybody would leave me; so in this important moment for me, I want you here to share this with you; because if it hadn't been for you, I'd have never done what I recently did. So, please, Sunny." Brian requested while looking deeply into your eyes in that imploring way. You looked at him for a while, hesitating whether you should stay or should go.

"Alright, I'll stay; but only if you let me know when it's time for me to go." You finally answered.

"Fine, it's a deal. Thank you. Thank you a lot, Sunny." Brian answered in a thankful way, grinning at you as you nodded.

"By the way, I'm proud of you, Bri." You commented in a whisper, winking at him as he smiled widely.

"Guys, I ordered a cappuccino for each one. I hope you like it, it's my favorite." Brian's mother suddenly said. You noticed Brian looked at her abruptly, astounded; sure, cappuccino was also his favorite.

"Yes, we both like it." You answered with a polite grin when you noticed Brian wouldn't say anything.

"But your favorite is Café Mocha." Brian commented.

You knew what he was doing. He still couldn't accept the fact that he and his mother had some similarities, so he was trying to contradict his mother as a way of self-defense to keep some kind of distance with her.

"Yes, but I like cappuccino too." You said, always keeping the polite smile. Brian just nodded and looked at the table to get distracted with something.

"What about yours? What's your favorite, Brian?" His mother asked and Brian just looked at her.

"Cappuccino." He answered curtly and looked at the table again.

"I think we have something in common. That's good." Brian's mother said with a bright grin and Brian just nodded. "I have an idea. Since I want to get to know you more and I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, we could play a sort of game. Like a questions and answers game. What do you think?" His mother asked enthusiastically as you thought that maybe it was a good idea to break the ice.

"Sure." Brian answered while playing with a napkin.

"Good! Do you want to start asking me something or do you prefer if I start asking you?" His mother asked with a joyful smile.

"Umm, you ask me something." Brian answered while shrugging.

"Okay! Hmm, what's your favorite color?" She asked.

"Red." Brian answered and his mother beamed.

"That's a nice color. Mine is green. What about yours, sweetheart?" She asked looking at you and you raised your eyebrows. You weren't expecting to participate in this game.

"It's blue." Brian answered for you, so you just nodded. "Umm, it's my turn, right?" Brian asked and his mother nodded. "Well, err... What do you like doing in your spare time?"

"I love reading. But I also love writing. I use to write a lot, most of them are fictional stories." His mother answered and you looked at her surprised.

That was what Brian loved to do. Maybe she and Brian had a lot of things in common than what you thought. Brian was also astonished and he wouldn't stop looking at his mother perplexed.

"Yes, I like writing too. I'm actually studying English Language and Literature." Brian commented and his mother grinned.

"I bet you're good at that." She said and Brian just shrugged and looked down; yes, he would never admit it.

"He is the best of all his courses." You commented with a proud smile.

"Why do you like writing?" Brian asked curiously.

"Because it gives me joy. And you know, we always have to defend the joy as principle, as a destination, as a certainty and as a right." She answered and Brian frowned and looked at her a bit suspicious.

You also looked at her suspiciously because this was kinda weird. Brian's mother just mentioned some things that Brian wrote in his book entitled 'Defend the Joy' and no one knew about that book, not even his father; you were the only one who knew about the existence of that book, well you and Darren. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

"That's pretty weird. I wrote a book about joy." Brian commented, looking fixedly at his mother. She only raised her eyebrows and grinned.

"Have you written books?" She asked.

"Yeah." Brian replied. "So, what exactly do you think about joy?" He asked curiously.

"Well, that we have to defend the joy as a trench; defend it from the scandal and routine, from the misery and miserable, and even from the obligation to be cheerful." She answered and Brian widened his eyes and parted his lips, frowning again.

"Weird. That seems like a fragment of my own book and no one has read it, except from her." Brian replied, pointing at you.

"Well, that's indeed a weird coincidence." His mother said while laughing jovially.

"Yeah..." Brian said almost in a whisper, still frowning and now looking down while squinting. "I propose another kind of game!" Brian suddenly exclaimed cheerfully. "I think it'll be like more entertaining if I ask you things about me and you have to try to guess the answers. Maybe that way you could get to know me more. What do you think, mom? Can I call you mom?" He asked with a sympathetic grin.

Wow, that was such a change of mood. Maybe he realized he was being kind of curtly and he wasn't like that, so he wanted to change that. That was a great progress, so you were contented. Of course Brian's mother's face lit up when he asked if he could call her mom. She smiled widely at her son.

"Of course you can call me mom, son." She answered, evidently thrilled. "And I think that's a better game. So, ask!" She exclaimed while giggling softly.

"What's one of my favorite books?" Brian asked, still grinning.

"Umm... Let me think..." She said thoughtful. "The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde?" She answered a bit unsure and Brian beamed widely as you widened your eyes in astonishment.

"Yes! That's actually one of my favorite ones. It means like a lot to me." Brian replied. "I bet it's also one of your favorites. The book is incredible." Brian commented and his mother nodded as a response. "Well, next question. Why do I like writing?"

"Well... Because in the books you can imagine your own condition, because it is an effective way to get out from the depression and confusion that sometimes you feel." Brian's mother answered and, again, you felt amazed. That was what you read in one of Brian's texts. "At least, that's why I like writing, so maybe it works that way for you too."

"Yes, it was accurate. No doubt you're a keen reader." Brian affirmed while nodding and grinning. Didn't he think that was weird too? "Do you think I have any pet?" He asked randomly and his mother laughed.

"What kind of question is that?" She asked and Brian shrugged while grinning merrily. "Umm... Maybe yes... Maybe a dog, I remember you loved dogs, like Anakin." She answered with a warm grin.

"Yes, you were right! I can't believe you guessed that one. Now, another question, a little bit harder. How do you think I named the dog? I'll give you a clue, it's a male dog." Brian asked while beaming. He seemed to be very entertained. He seemed to be enjoying his time with his mother and that was nice.

"Oh! That's indeed a hard question! Well... Since you love reading a lot... I guess you named the dog as a character... Let me think, this is hard." Brian's mother said and, for the first time in the game, she frowned.

She seemed to be thinking a lot, she was very thoughtful and apparently she was feeling kind of frustrated because she couldn't think about a name. Brian, in the meantime, was looking fixedly at his mother, and now that she wasn't looking at him, he was serious, as though he was examining her. That was super odd. When Marnie looked up, Brian grinned brightly again. He was faking the smile all this time. What could he be thinking?

"Hmm... Arturo?" She answered very unsure and Brian shook his head. "Oh! Let me try again... Romeo?" She said and Brian shook his head again. "Maybe Hamlet or Hercules."

"Nope. Come on, you have one last chance!" Brian encouraged her.

"Ah! This is hard!" Marnie exclaimed with a nervous chuckle. "Gandalf?"

"Gandalf! Who would name a pet like that?" Brian said laughing softly. "Well, only Sunny, right?" He asked while looking at you and you just nodded. "But don't feel bad, mom. All the names you mentioned were options. I didn't know how to name the puppy, so Sunny helped me out and she mentioned all the names you just mentioned. So you weren't so far!" Brian exclaimed cheerfully. That was right. Brian's mother mentioned all the names you proposed in a jokingly way; so you looked at Brian's mother in a suspicious way. "Its name is Sawyer, like Tom Sawyer from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain."

"Oh! Sawyer! That's a good name!" She exclaimed with a grin, but she was kind of nervous.

"Yes it is. Well, now I'll start asking more difficult questions. It's more interesting this way! Are you ready?" Brian asked in a playful way as his mother nodded. "Well, Sunny and I once joked that we both have super powers. Yes, maybe it's silly, but whatever... I told her she was magical and powerful. What power I told her she had?" Brian asked and his mother raised her eyebrows.

You looked at Brian, as letting him know that question was very private and his mother was never going to guess. Maybe he was doing this on purpose; maybe he wanted her to fail to make her feel bad because she didn't know her own son. But Brian ignored your gaze.

"That's really hard. But well, let me think... Maybe I could have an idea. Your best friend..."

"You know she's my best friend and not a simple friend?" Brian interrupted her as she looked at him a bit nervous.

"Well, yes... I think... Yes, she told me she was your best friend when we met, right?" She asked looking at you.

"Yes." You affirmed and Brian looked at you and nodded, then looked at his mother.

"Well, sorry for interrupting... You can answer now." Brian apologized.

"Well, your best friend told me a lot of wonderful things about you both... So maybe her power is to make you feel happy and to make you forget all the bad." She answered and you looked at her frowning. How the heck would she know the right answer?

"Very good, mom! I really love this game!" Brian exclaimed joyfully. "Another question... Even harder! Sunny and I have a song; it's a very meaningful and important song for us. Remember our song, Sunny? We sang it some weeks ago." He asked and you nodded while smiling. Then Brian looked at his mother again. "What song is that, mom? I'll be nice and I'll give you a clue... The singer is Sarah McLachlan."

"Sarah McLachlan! I can't believe you like her music. She's one of my favorite singers. Well... Let's see... I'll tell you my favorite song and maybe that's the meaningful song for you and your friend." Marnie said grinning. "Angel." She answered and you dropped your jaw. No, there was no way she could have guessed it on her first try. "Is that the song you danced with your best friend some weeks ago?" She asked.

"Yes, that's our song! You guessed mom! But... How did you know that we danced that song? I only mentioned that we sang the song, not that we danced." Brian pointed and you haven't realized what she answered until Brian pointed that out. What the hell? What was this? How did she know?

"Well... Because... Because there's a funny fact. That song was my and your dad's song. We used to dance it all the time." Marnie responded with a short chuckle.

"Really? Dad told me that your song was Against All Odds by Phil Collins." Brian answered back.

"Well, yes, that was our other song. We had several songs." Brian's mother answered with a faint grin, now looking down and playing with her cup of coffee. Brian stopped smiling again and he looked at her as though he was angry and when she looked up, Brian, once again, smiled widely.

"That's nice!" He exclaimed merrily.

He was acting in a very strange way; this wasn't Brian. Why was he pretending to be cheerful if he was looking at his mother in anger when she wasn't looking? Brian never faked his feelings, he never faked anything... Or yes? Darren told you that he was lying to you; he told you that he was pretending to be nice all the time, just as he was doing in this precise moment. What if Darren was right, after all? You looked down and frowned, now feeling very confused and disturbed. What if you were sitting next to W?

"Mom, I have another question. This time you don't have to guess anything, so don't worry!" Brian exclaimed with a cheerful giggle. "It's just that there's something I can't remember... Something you once told me, but I was too little, so I can't remember it so well; but I do remember it was something wonderful, so I'd like to know what it exactly was."

"Yes, sure, ask me, son." Brian's mother said with a warm grin.

"When I turned four… You celebrated my birthday, remember? I think it was the only birthday we celebrated." Brian started saying and his mother nodded. "Well, after I blew out the candles, you whispered something in my ear; something that only I could hear. What was it, mom? Because I can't remember." Brian asked curiously.

"Oh! I told you… May all your dreams come true, boogersnot." She answered and Brian smiled widely.

"Yes! That's right. I knew it was something wonderful. Thank you for remind me that, mom." Brian said with the same wide smile.

"You're very welcome, son." Brian's mother replied with a kind grin. Then she looked down and Brian's smile vanished and his face turned into a very angry and dark face. "Guys, if you excuse me, I'll go to the bathroom."

"Yes, sure, we'll be here, mom." Brian said with a sympathetic grin. Good, you were going to demand him some kind of explanation. Brian's mother stood up, but Brian looked at her and faked another grin. "Chloe?" Brian asked and his mother turned her face to look at him.

"Yes?" She asked and Brian smirked almost wickedly.

"I remembered what you told me that day in my birthday and it wasn't what you just told me. You actually told me 'Mommy loves you, boogersnot'. It was the first and last time you told me so, it was wonderful. It's such a shame that you didn't know it… Chloe. Oh yes… Chloe." Brian emphasized with the same wicked smirk.

Why was he looking at his mother that way? He seemed to be a nasty person… Again, you remembered what Darren told you: Brian wasn't nice, he was just pretending; he was W. And Chloe? What was Brian talking about? His mother's name was Marnie, not Chloe. Why would he call her like that? You couldn't understand anything and you were feeling really bad, thinking that maybe he wasn't what you thought he was. You looked at his mother's face. She had a terrified and alarmed face, she was looking at Brian with eyes wide open and she had her lips parted; she was pale and it seemed she couldn't move.

"Long time no see, Chloe. You look exactly like my mom, no wonder she was your sister." Brian said coldly and harshly as she gulped nervously. What the actual fuck? "Sit over there again and do not dare to move or I'll call the police. They're looking for you, did you know? So, better if you do what I tell you or things will be totally fucked up for you; we're gonna have a long talk, my dear aunt." Brian said rudely and she remained still, with the same shocked expression. "I said sit. Do what I say or I won't hesitate to ruin your fucking existence." Brian said nastily and threateningly.

The woman walked slowly to the chair and she finally sat, obviously feeling frightened. You looked at Brian. You never heard him talking that way and his words sounded exactly as W. Brian was possibly W and all this time he has been fooling you. Your heart started beating faster because of your fear. Shit, you needed to get the fuck out of there. The nausea and dizziness returned, oh no, not now… No when you had to go away as quickly as possible.

"Well, well, well, where should I start?" Brian asked with a bitter and vicious laugh. Damn, Darren was right: Brian was W.