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.

71. Twins

A/N: Guess who's back? It's been so long that I forgot how to use this and I gotta admit that I even forgot my password. Anyway, I'm here now with a new chapter after… a year? I am so sorry for that. I won't promise to upload new chapters as fast as before because I don't like to break promises; but I promise you that I will finish this story, no matter how long it takes. For those who read this new chapter – if there's someone still reading this story – I want to thank you very much for supporting me even if I'm a lazy writer who never updates her stories. I hope you enjoy this new chapter and I thank you for the reviews. Sending you lots of hugs and kisses and until next time! WARM FUZZIES!

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TEENAGE DREAM

Chapter 71

Twins

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Once again you were running down the hallway of the University of Michigan Health System Hospital, with its dismal fluorescent lights, in complete desperation and nervousness; something that was making your vision be blurred and that was making you act on instinct rather than on reasonableness. This time -however- you were accompanied. Darren -just as nervous and frantic as you were- was holding your hand; and behind you were Jen, Mandy and Joey. You wouldn't waste your time by announcing yourself at the reception as it was supposed to be; this time you wouldn't deal with a stubborn, coldhearted and grumpy nurse; and if security wanted to kick you out due to your impertinence, they'd have to deal with the disrespectful version of you. You let out Darren's hand to run faster; you had to arrive there and see it with your own eyes. You opened the door of the room number 26 in a hasty, rowdy way; already panting. When you saw it with your own eyes, you gasped and your heart skipped a beat before it started pounding in such a way that it seemed it was ripped out of your chest. Your legs were wobbling owing to the shock; and then you felt a lump in throat as your eyes automatically filled with tears. By the time Darren, Jen, Mandy and Joey reached you, you were starting to believe what your eyes were seeing; they also stood abruptly when they saw it with their own eyes. You had to make sure this was real and not just in the imagination; thus you walked towards the bed with bated breath. Firstly, you looked down to see his face; secondly, your fingers touched slightly his hand: It was cold, but it was real. Then the endless flow of tears fell from your eyes as you let your body fall on him, throwing your arms around him and placing your head on his chest to hear his beating heart. Nothing ever brought you more peace to your mind; it was as though all the stress, sorrow and heaviness upon your shoulders and deep down your heart was gradually vanishing and being replaced by thrill. Never before hearing was a heart beating against your face so reassuring and pleasant. A smile played about the corners of your mouth as tears were still streaming down your face and hitting Brian's chest.

"His heart is beating. I can hear it so clearly." You announced with choked voice, giving your friends the assertion of Brian's life that they were expecting to hear.

You heard some gasps and muffled squeals from them before they all approached the bed. You closed your eyes and held him firmly, feeling the warmth of his body that you thought you'd never feel again. Brian indeed came back to life.

"I've been informed that a group of people stormed into a room without permission." Suddenly a male, gravelly voice spoke from the door of the room.

You all looked at that direction to find a young man dressed with a white coat, holding a medical chart. Oddly enough, he was smiling instead of being upset. He walked closer and looked at each one of you.

"I am doctor Douglas Campbell. Who of you is the girl whose nickname is Sunny?" He asked while looking at you, Jen and Mandy.

"I am." You answered awkwardly, your voice trembling and sounding raucous.

"Ah, I see." He grinned and nodded. Then looked at Jen and Mandy. "And who of you is the person with whom I talked on the phone... Jennifer?"

"I am, doctor Campbell." Jen responded, her voice also trembling a little. Jen was the person who had your old phone and the number the doctor called to notify about Brian.

"Good. And I suppose the rest of you are also the patient's friends." He said and Mandy, Joey and Darren nodded. "Has Jennifer told you the case of the patient?"

You all nodded again. It turned out that after the medical professionals declared Brian's death, after you left the room and after you and Darren were kicked out the hospital, Brian's heart started up again and that was why some doctors ran to the room minutes after you left. It was what doctors called the Lazarus Phenomenon: people wake from apparent death — after resuscitation attempts have been stopped. But actually what happened was that Brian simply didn't have heartbeats that approached regular rhythm; all efforts to save them were put aside, doctors were resigned to the inevitable; and a few minutes later his heartbeat simply evened out and gained strength. Even though he came back to life, he was in a state of coma and exhibited a complete absence of wakefulness and was unable to consciously feel, speak, hear, or move; therefore, doctors did not have any kind of information about him and that was why they didn't contact with you before. He was in this state of coma until two days ago, when he finally opened his eyes in one of the medical checking routine. And he mentioned your nickname Sunny, and then your real name. He didn't wake up again since that day and the staff of the hospital worked to reach you until they found your name in the system of the University and got your phone number; they called, Jen picked up the call and then she informed Darren and you, making you come back from your trip right away. You couldn't believe it was true until you arrived here and saw it yourself.

"The patient returned to his state of coma, but at least his condition is stable and there is not risk of death." Dr. Campbell stated and you grinned with your eyes glistening with tears. It didn't matter how long he was gonna be in coma; the important thing was that he was alive and there wasn't risk of death. "Now, this is an exception because this is the first time you came to visit; but you must know that the visiting hours are from 10:30am to 8pm, with patients' rest hours between 1.00pm to 3.00pm and it is allowed just two visitors at a time." He clarified and you all nodded. "And you must announce yourselves at the reception before visiting the patient. This is very important due to a recent event that occurred yesterday." He said in all seriousness now. "I've been given a list of names of people who are related to the patient, a list provided by miss Jennifer Nedeau." He voiced and Jen nodded. "And yesterday a person named Thomas Wagner wanted to visit the patient, proclaiming to be the patient's cousin." He said and your face went pale, suddenly feeling terrified.

"Did you let him come in?" You asked with wobbly voice.

"No. In this hospital we have the policy not to allow to let enter people who are not directly related to patients who are in the same condition of Mr. Clerk. Owing to the fact that the patient does not have family members alive, we just had this list provided by miss Nedeau; therefore this alleged cousin was restrained from visiting." He answered and you sighed in relief. However, it was not good at all the fact that Jim knew that Brian was alive.

"Do not let him come in. He is not his cousin. He is the same person who caused him to be in this condition." You said pointedly and the doctor raised his eyebrows. "Could you please call the police if he appears again?" You asked and the doctor parted his lips.

"We cannot do that because we don't have any evidence that it's like that." He answered and you scowled in consternation. The doctor noticed, because he spoke again. "Nevertheless, we can provide the patient a constant vigilance."

"Please." You begged and he nodded in affirmation.

"Now, I will give you a few minutes of privacy, then you must leave because it's no longer visiting hour. You'll be able to come back tomorrow. Only one visitor is allowed to stay and make permanent company, so you might as well decide who of you will be." The doctor announced and you all nodded again. "Good then, I'll be back in a few minutes."

With those last words, Dr. Campbell left the room and closed the door behind him. You all looked at each other with smiled on your faces and eyes moist because of the thrill, gladness and relief. This was some sort of miracle. No one spoke, you all just remained silently looking at Brian, each of you in your own minds, thinking about this crazy thing that happened. When the doctor came back, you still haven't decided you of you would stay; each of you wanted to be the one who could stay, but nobody said a word.

"We can take turns." Joey suggested and you all nodded.

Yet nobody dared to say that each of you wanted to be the first one and none of you had priority. He was Darren's bro friend, he was Joey's secret not so secret love; he was Mandy's brother, he was Jen's crush and he was your very best friend and ex-boyfriend.

"I need you to make a decision." The doctor hurried and you all glanced at each other.

"I think Freckles should be the first." Darren finally spoke as you glanced at him thankfully. "After all, she is the person Brian loves the most."

"No, that's not true..." You whispered a bit uncomfortable.

"Yes, it is true." Jen stated. "You're also the person he trusts the most, his best friend."

"Yeah, and you are the person he mentioned when he awoke." Mandy commented.

"Definitely. We all want to stay, but if we have to decide who's gonna be the first, it should be you, Freckles." Joey said and the rest nodded.

"Are you sure?" You asked to make sure, deep down feeling happy that they chose you.

"Yes." Darren answered, placing his hands on your shoulders to squeeze them softly.

"Just... take care of him, sis." Mandy requested softly, looking at Brian.

"Will do." You assured.

"Call me if you have news. Okay, baby?" He asked and you nodded, looking up at him. "I love you." He leaned over to peck your lips.

"I love you, too." You whispered and he smiled fondly, brushing a thumb across your cheek.

"Goodnight, Freckles." Jen said before leaning over Brian to kiss his cheek. "Goodnight, Brian." She whispered very low in order not to be heard, but you did hear and grinned faintly.

"See you later, Freckles." Joey tousled your hair. "If he wakes up, tell him that I will kiss him on the mouth." He added and you chuckled softly as Mandy nudged him and said something like 'asshole cheating on me with dudes' and Joey answering something like 'not any dude, my platonic love'.

"Sweet dreams, baby." Darren hugged you and kissed your mouth before they all were forced to leave.

When everybody were gone and you were left alone, you lay down in Brian's same bed and snuggled up to him, resting your head on his chest again and closing your eyes. Although his body wasn't moving, you still could hear the constant beat of his heart. You enfolded your arms around him and rubbed the side of his upper body, trying to come to terms with the realness of this moment. He still existed, and not only in the memories. You were given the chance to do with him all the things you didn't get to do together before, to tell him all the things you ever wanted to tell him but you always kept for yourself, and to experience all the things you've postponed; because now there was a 'tomorrow' with him; only that this time you've learned the lesson of not leaving for tomorrow the things you can do today because no one knows what the future may hold. You were probably the luckiest person in the world... How many people are given the chance to get back a person who passed away? Even if technically he never passed away. You moved your head and rested you chin on his chest to look up at his face. His eyes were shut and his face was bony and completely motionless; but at least his face wasn't as pale as the day he was declared dead. You remained staring his face for a long time in case you could notice the slightest movement, but nothing happened. Then you moved a hand to cup his cheek and your fingertips brushed his cold cheeks; yet his face didn't show any sign of being sensing your touch. You ran your fingers through his straight light brown hair that was way longer than the last time you saw him, but which was still as soft as ever. Nothing at all happened, not even the smallest of gestures. Then the thought of him remaining in a coma or vegetative state for the rest of his life popped into your mind. You knew that most comas don't last more than two to four weeks; and Brian had been about three months in this state of coma. Best case was he could come out of the coma. And if he happened to come out of the coma, he may need to relearn how to speak, walk, and even eat; or even it could happen that he'd never be able to recover completely. This thought brought you down, but then you thought that while there is life, there is hope. With your eyes flooded with tears, you kissed his forehead very softly while having the silly thought that maybe with the true love's kiss, he'd wake up, as it happened in most of the fairy tales. Of course it didn't work because this was not a fairy tale; you weren't even in a place that looked like a fairy tale as the place you went with Darren; this was an awful hospital with an awful odor and awful fluorescent lights.

"I'm sorry." You whispered with choked voice as a small tear was dripping from the corner of your eye; your stare fixed on his shut eyes. "If you can listen to me, squeeze my hand." You requested softly once you held his hand. You waited for several seconds, but he did not react. Another tear fell down your face at the same moment you muffled a whimper. "I'm gonna assume that you can listen to me but you can't move to let me know so." You stated with brittle voice. He remained motionless. "I'm sorry I caused you this. It's a burden and remorse I've been holding all along ever since I saw with my own eyes how life was escaping you. I'm sorry because you were willing to give up your life in order to save me and I couldn't save you when I had the chance. I'm sorry I couldn't be your savior as I promised; I'm sorry for failing you. I'm sorry for not telling you the enough how much I love you, how important you are to me and how much I need you in my life. I'm sorry for not appreciating all the small things you've ever done for me when I still had the chance to do it. I'm sorry for not even noticing them before losing you." You broke into tears, looking steadily into his closed eyes. You fondled his cheek and grinned in a pained way. "It's been one of the hardest things in world to live my life without you in it. When you were gone, a part of me was gone along with you. I tried to find you in other people, but you're impossible to be replaced and I never wanted to replace you, I wanted you to be back. And now you're back... So please, now that you're back, don't leave again. Stay. Stay in my life, Bri; because even if we weren't meant to be, our lives are meant to be bound. We're best friends soulmates; and it wasn't till you were gone that I became aware that when you've got a soulmate, a part of your soul dies when the other soul dies. So stay and I promise I'll stay, too; because now we cannot live one without the other." You managed to utter before smiling sweetly at him and leaning to plant a small kiss on his cheek.

You rested your head on his chest again and closed your eyes to find reassurance in the sound of his heartbeat. You intertwined your fingers with his and decided to feel contented that you were together in the same room again. Then, all of a sudden, you felt his fingertips pressing against the top of your hand. You got startled and your heart skipped a beat before you opened your eyes abruptly and looked at your hands holding to check if that was real or just an imagination. His fingers were indeed folded and pressing against the top of your hand. Astonished, you looked up at his face. His eyes were still shut and his facial expression was still the same.

"Bri, if you can listen to me, press your fingers against the top of my hand again." You requested with wheezy voice, feeling elated.

He did not do it again. He did not move at all. But it didn't matter. At least he managed to move a part of his body when you thought he wouldn't do it. You knew he was aware that you were there. You knew he listened to you. Therefore, you spilled out few tears of joy and smiled. You had him back.

---

I only had two hours of sleep last night. I spent the night checking my phone in case Freckles called me to tell me some news; also thinking and trying to come to realization with the fact that Brian was alive, which was crazy as fuck... After three months of thinking I'd never see him again, breathing. I was dizzy and stunned, but terribly happy. Yes, my bro friend was in coma, but he was alive. I played with the drumsticks he gave me until I could fall asleep. Then, the first thing I did in the morning - while everybody was still sleeping - was to go to a book shop and buy a book. I had a hard moment deciding which book Brian would like and - after an hour - the seller suggested a book based on Brian's preferences that I knew. When I returned to the apartment everybody was awake, having breakfast with sleepy faces - they slept the same hours as me. But I was wide awake and eager to go to the hospital, so I told them that we'd see there and I left. It was 11 am when I arrived to the hospital and I entered the room number 26. Brian was in the same position he was when I left the night before, his eyes still shut and his face expressionless. Freckles was asleep in the same bed as his, snuggled up to him and shivering a little because of the cold. I grinned softly and I took off my jacket to put it around her. Maybe she hadn't slept more than I did, so I would let her sleep a little more. I kissed her temple and then I sat on the chair beside the bed. I stayed a long while watching them, feeling glad that Freckles still had her best friend and she would no longer suffer as much as the last days. The door was opened and Dr. Campbell entered with the medical chart, looking around and raising eyebrows when he saw Freckles cuddling with Brian; then he saw me and nodded with a polite smile.

"Good morning, Mr...?"

"Criss. Darren Criss." I answered. "And good morning to you, doctor." I added politely.

"Thanks. I see you're very punctual." He grinned and I chuckled.

"I'm sort of an anxious person. I couldn't wait to come here and see how everything's going." I responded and he nodded. "Is there any news?"

"No. The patient's condition is still the same. I was hoping to talk to your friend to ask her if she noticed any kind of reaction from the patient, but I can tell she wouldn't like to be disturbed." He joked and I chuckled.

"She's not particularly a morning person and she would curse at you if you dare to interrupt her sleep." I replied and the doctor laughed as he walked to Brian's bed to check some things.

"Doctor, may I ask you something?" I asked curiously.

"Sure." He answered politely without looking at me, still checking something in a weird device.

"Does he respond to stimuli or something?" I asked and I saw how he frowned slightly. "I mean... Can he, for instance, hear us?"

"It's not scientifically proven and depends on each patient and their recovery progress." He answered and his answer didn't clarify anything at all.

"How is exactly the recovery progress of him?" I asked intrigued. He bit his lips, apparently trying to find a way to explain me so in colloquial terms.

"It's not the best of the cases. He's already been in coma for three months and he should have progressed way more than he has. So far he has awoken only one time to babble inconsistent words. Sure he's stable, but his stability hasn't showed any sign of recovery in terms to awareness or long periods of being awake." He responded and I scowled and pursed my lips.

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked with naivety.

"I wouldn't say it's bad, but it isn't good either. It isn't bad because he's not at risk of death; and it'd be good if he just showed any kind of reaction to the stimuli as you asked before." He responded and I nodded, looking down.

"Have you tried to stimulate him?" I asked again, wanting to know everything about his condition.

"Yes, we have. Yet it was unsuccessful." He answered and this was already worrying me, so I bit my lips. It was followed by a prolonged silence and when I looked up, I noticed he was looking at me. "Maybe he didn't react to our stimuli because he wasn't surrounded by a familiar ambience. Perhaps if his friends are the ones who try to stimulate him, he'll react. I must clarify that this is not a medical prognosis; I'm talking from the humane perspective."

"Thank you for doing that, doctor." I said surprised because he was the first doctor I've ever met who wasn't cold and heartless and who treated the patient as a human being and not just a body. "How could we stimulate him?"

"You could start by talking to him as though he could hear you and ask him things as though he could answer, request him to answer by moving certain part of his body. That's a start." He responded and I nodded. I already had an idea of how to stimulate him and I just wanted to make sure it was a valid way and not pointless.

"May I ask you something else, doctor?" I asked for the seventh time. He grinned and nodded. "In the unlikely event he recovers..."

"It's not unlikely..." He corrected me and I nodded.

"Okay. In case he recovers..." I reformulated and he nodded. "Would there be any kind of inconvenient? Like... Would he suffer any kind of disability?"

"It depends on each patient. We cannot diagnose it with anticipation." He responded tranquilly. "He will need physical and mental therapy to relearn how to speak, walk, and even eat; or maybe he will have a successful recovery and he won't need to relearn all of that." He explained but I could notice there was something else that wasn't good at all. "What will be certainly necessary is the physical therapy. The patient has been shot in the back and it caused a spinal cord injury. The lumbar vertebrae was severely injured and it causes paraplegia, which results in paralysis below the waist." He said and I dropped my mouth, looking at him horrified.

"Does it mean he won't ever walk again?" I asked with wobbly voice.

"Most probably. Most likely he will need to use a manual wheelchair and there will be little or no voluntary control of bowel or bladder but will be able to manage on his own with special equipment. He will also be able to stand in a standing frame." He said and I frowned and looked down in stupefaction, running a hand through my curls. "However, there's a chance he can walk again with the adequate physical therapy. The only problem is that his insurance company doesn't fund the physical therapy he needs, and it's quite expensive."

"How much are we talking about?" I asked.

"$250-300 per hour, most sessions are 45 minutes and it'll take about from 2 to 5 times a week for about 6 months and then he'll have to continue his home exercises for the next 6 or so months." He answered and I widened my eyes.

"Holy shit!" I exclaimed out loud. "That's like... $9000!"

"Yes, it's quite expensive and not everybody can afford it." He winced and looked down.

"I guess we'll find a way..." I whispered and the doctor nodded. "Thanks, doctor."

"You're welcome. Now, if you don't have any other doubt, I'll proceed to leave so that I can give you some privacy." He announced.

"That's all for now, I think. Thanks." I said politely and he nodded before leaving the room.

I returned my gaze to Freckles and Brian. I was glad Freckles was sleeping and she didn't get to hear what the doctor said, otherwise she would feel bad over again. I was feeling bad myself... Brian still played football every now and then and one of his passions was practicing sports, he needed his legs to function properly to do those things; it was as though all of a sudden I go dumb, and I need my voice to sing, one of my passions. If he happened to wake up, he'd feel depressed because of this; one more problem to add to his life. Or maybe it could be the start of a new life for him, one in which things would go better for him despite his paraplegia. Anyhow, we would find the way to pay his therapy; I knew Jen — the one who's got a better socioeconomic status — would be willing to contribute a big part and the rest of us could find any kind of job or something to help him out. We owed this to him. I was deep in thought when Freckles babbled and shifted. I looked at her and I smiled fondly when she rubbed her eyes, yawned and opened her eyes just a crack to look at my direction.

"Good morning, Darebear." She greeted with husky voice with sleep before smiling back at me. She yawned again and sat up in bed.

"Good morning, baby." I greeted softly, standing up to peck her lips. "How was your sleep?"

"Pretty fine, I think. I missed you, though. I guess I got used to sleeping next to you." She said sweetly and I couldn't help feeling very warm inside.

"I missed you, too." I sat next to her, putting an arm over her as she rested her head on my shoulder.

"How long have you been here?" She asked while yawning.

"Oh, not long ago. I didn't want to interrupt your sweet dreams." I chuckled softly, putting a kiss on the top of her head. She smiled and wrapped her arms around me. "So, how's been everything here?"

"Oh!" She suddenly exclaimed excited, moving away to look at me with a pair of wide eyes. "He moved his fingers!" She exclaimed loudly and I raised my eyebrows. "I was like talking to him, requesting him if he could let me know if he was listening to me. And he did nothing. But right when I was about to fall asleep, he pressed his fingers against my hand. I swear! I swear I'm not crazy!"

"I believe you." I assured, feeling a bit amazed by the news. "That's a progress!" I grinned broadly and she nodded energetically. "What if we try to talk to him again? Maybe he can let us know that he's listening again!" I suggested, now feeling as excited as she was.

"It's a good idea." She chortled and pressed her lips against mine. She held my hand and with her free hand she clutched Brian's hand. "Bri, look who's here!"

"Hi, buddy. How are you doing?" I asked and both Freckles and I looked intently at Brian in order not miss out the slightest movement. "Hey, why so serious? What's the matter, has the cat got your tongue?" I tried to joke and Freckles looked at me frowning, a bit amused and bit confused of why I was saying such a thing; fortunately she didn't think it was offensive. "Listen, bro... If you don't do anything at all, you know I will talk to fill up the silence... And that's never a good thing, because once I start talking, nobody can stop me and I could talk until your brain is like a dried-out sponge... And nobody likes dried-out sponges because they're not soft and pleasant, so..."

"Darren..." Freckles whispered softly when she noticed the way I was rambling.

"But it's the truth! Nobody likes dried-out sponges! Right, buddy?" I asked looking at Brian. Both of us stared at him for a while, and right when we were about to look away, I saw how one of the corners of his mouth rose. "Oh my fucking god, Freckles! Have you seen that? Have you fucking seen that? He smiled! You son of a bitch!" I exclaimed while squeezing Brian's shoulder. "You can listen to us! And just as me, you think that dried-out sponges are awful. Take that, Freckles! Two against one." I stuck out my tongue and she laughed while looking at Brian with her eyes shimmering with tears.

"It's not fair! You gotta be on my side, Brian! You know dried-out sponges are good for exfoliation." Freckles said and we waited again. After a while, his fingers slightly touched Freckles' hand which was holding his. We both dropped our mouths and then exchanged surprised looks. "See? He knows it's good for exfoliation. He will never forget the long and boring explanation that Mandy gave us about the benefits of exfoliation." She giggled and so I did.

"Hey, buddy... Remember how you spoiled me the end of The Picture of Dorian Gray? Yeah, I'm still mad at it, so just you know. I told you I was gonna read a book you haven't read yet, so I bought you a book. Just a little something for you." I said while pulling out the book I bought and Freckles looked at me, pursing her lips.

"You're aware he cannot read, aren't you?" She asked and I nodded.

"I never said he's gonna read it." I answered and she frowned in confusion. "I've been thinking... He really, but really enjoyed whenever someone was reading to him; it calmed him a lot during the time he was having nightmares and all that. So... I thought that perhaps if we read to him, he'd react somehow. It's like his biggest stimuli, after all." I explained and Freckles parted her lips and raised her brows, apparently impressed.

"Oh my god, Darren." Freckles whispered, her eyes wide open. "That's a genius idea!" Her face was lit up by a cheerful smile that spread across her face.

"I know, right? Sometimes I can have great ideas worthy of a genius." I grinned proudly as she chortled and nudged me playfully. "Why don't you read it to him?" I asked, handing her the book. "Your voice always comforted him and you'd get better results than any of us." I added and she grinned and took the book.

"Okay." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she opened the book. "The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway." She began to read as I put all my attention on Brian and his possible reactions. "Robert Cohn was once middleweight boxing champion of Princeton. Do not think that I am very much impressed by that as a boxing title, but it meant a lot to Cohn. He cared nothing for boxing, in fact he disliked it, but he learned it painfully and thoroughly to counteract the feeling of inferiority and shyness he had felt on being treated as a Jew at Princeton. There was a certain inner comfort in knowing he could knock down anybody who was snooty to him, although, being very shy and a thoroughly nice boy, he never fought except in the gym."

She read the whole chapter one, but Brian did not react at all. Maybe it wouldn't work as I expected. That let me down a bit, but I decided not to give up; at least he half-smiled and moved his fingers; and all that in a short period of time. Maybe we had to wait certain period of time to see his reactions again, so we shouldn't push it. Nonetheless, Freckles continued reading the chapter 2.

"That winter Robert Cohn went over to America with his novel, and it was accepted by a fairly good publisher. His going made an awful row I heard, and I think that was where Frances lost him, because several women were nice to him in New York, and when he came back he was quite changed. He was more enthusiastic about America than ever, and he was not so simple, and he was not so nice. The publishers had praised his novel pretty highly and it rather went to his head. Then several women had put themselves out to be nice to him, and his horizons had all shifted. For four years his horizon had been absolutely limited to his wife. For three years, or almost three years, he had never seen beyond Frances. I am sure he had never been in love in his life." Freckles read slowly, checking Brian from time to time. She read the entire chapter 2, 3 and 4 and yet we didn't get any kind of reaction. She sighed and looked at me. "It's not working."

"Don't give up. I'm pretty sure he's listening. Besides, I'm already hooked up and I wanna know what happens now." I answered and she smiled faintly and nodded before returning her gaze on the book.

"He had a nice, boyish sort of cheerfulness that had never been trained out of him, and I probably have not brought it out. He loved to win at tennis. He probably loved to win as much as Lenglen, for instance. On the other hand, he was not angry at being beaten. When he fell in love with Brett his tennis game went all to pieces. People beat him who had never had a chance with him. He was very nice about it." Freckles read and suddenly we heard Brian babbling, so both of us looked at him abruptly.

"What did you say, buddy?" I asked eagerly, trying to make him talk.

"What might have been." Brian spoke with breathy voice and Freckles and I gasped, completely stunned.

"What?" Freckles asked with trembling voice.

"What do you mean, bro?" I asked, also with trembling voice, looking intently at him.

"Everyone has their hopes and dreams, but they can't be fulfilled." Brian stammered with difficulty. He was actually having a conversation with us, even if it didn't make sense to me. "The best anyone can do is wistfully indulge in the fantasy that these dreams could have been possible in some alternate universe." I dropped my mouth because he could talk, and talk a lot for someone who hasn't talk in a long time.

"What are you trying to say with that, Bri?" Freckles asked, just as bewildered as I was.

"Jake and Brett..." Brian responded and I widened my eyes, agape. He was indeed listening to us; he was indeed listening how Freckles was reading the book. "We could have had such a damned good time together, Brett says. Yes. Isn't it pretty to think so?, Jake answers. What might have been. The ending... of the book." He said with extreme difficulty and both Freckles and I were completely speechless. I could not possibly explain how surprised, how happy I was feeling. Owing to my happiness, I joked, feeling how everything returned to normal.

"Fuck you, man. You spoiled me another book! You're a fucking asshole!" I chuckled in a muffled way due to the lump in my throat because of the thrill. I saw how Brian grinned very slightly. Freckles, with tears racing down her cheeks, smiled. "I have all of your books and you didn't own this book! How come you know the ending?"

"Read it. Jen has it. And borrowed it to me." He managed to answer and I bit my lips strongly. Shit, this was too good to be true. He was answering with complete consistence and so fast that it was impressive.

"Fuck you and fuck Jen." I chuckled again, patting his shoulder. Freckles wiped her tears away and leaned in to kiss his cheek. Then, surprisingly and exceeding expectations, Brian opened his eyes just a crack. Freckles and I gasped again and froze.

"Look who's serious now." A crooked smile appeared on Brian's face.

"Oh my god!" Freckles' brittle voice exclaimed.

She broke into tears and leaned over him to enfold her arms around him, burying her face on the crook of his neck. Brian closed his eyes again and tilted his head just a little, his cheek slightly touching the top of her head. I looked at them with a warm smile and I wiped away a tear that managed to escape the corner of my eye. Damn, Brian came back for real. Brian half-opened his eyes again and looked at me.

"Thanks, bud." He said hoarsely.

I felt extremely thrilled as I nodded and squeezed his shoulder. I couldn't talk because I was trying hard to hold back my tears, so instead I leaned over to hug both Freckles and Brian. While I was embracing them, I caught a glimpse of Brian once again, just to make sure this was real. His eyes were closed but his face was no longer expressionless and pale, his cheeks were rosy and a crooked and soft grin reflected an emotion. I thought that it's in those moments when you understand that anything is possible, even the impossible. Just like this. My bro friend —the one we thought dead— was breathing. Then the same crooked smile crossed my lips.

---

It'd been a month since Brian woke up and regained consciousness. Dr. Campbell was surprised by the quick progress, yet Brian was still in hospital and he was visited daily. None of you could leave him alone and all of you wanted to be there to see him, to see his eyes again, to hear his voice again, to feel the warmth of his body again and to sense his heart beating again, after four months of believing that you wouldn't see him ever again. He wasn't conscious all the time because of the medication, but just hearing the slow and constant beep that indicated his pulse was quite comforting. Everybody was acting overprotective with him and you were all the time checking him as though you were his parents; but it's just that when a loved one suffers something too serious, all you want is to make sure that nothing bad will ever happen to them again; you feel the need to be like their guardian angel because you know they will be your guardian angel if it were the other way around. Maybe you were overwhelming him and he didn't have the energy and strength to be awake as you'd have liked; even the doctor had to advise you to stop being so close even if he acknowledged that you were the stimuli Brian needed all along to regain consciousness. Everybody wanted to stay at night with him as well; and this was the first time you didn't feel bad for being so selfish. It wasn't that you wanted to be the person allowed to stay at night; you needed to. Even if everybody was dying to be them, they understood that need and let you be the one staying; they would arrive at first time in the morning and leave when the doctor kicked them out. Brian used to wake up more during the night than during the day; he'd first feel disoriented but then —little by little— he would understand where he was and why. Now it was one of those nights in which Brian was completely conscious and so lucid that it seemed that nothing bad has ever happened to him. You were on the chair next to his bed, reading him a book as he was sitting in the bed, his shiny green eyes lost but listening to you very intently. At one point you saw his hand closing the book you were reading, so you looked up a bit confused.

"What's the matter, Bri? You don't like this book?" You asked, taking his hand with yours as you smiled faintly for feeling his warmth.

His green eyes looked at you before he shook his head. You knew he still had trouble speaking because it's been too long since the last time he spoke fluently and he always felt bad whenever he wanted to articulate an idea or thought and he couldn't; thus, you continued asking him.

"You want to go to the bathroom?" You asked softly, brushing his hand with your thumbs.

He lowered his gaze and his cheeks went a bit rosy, perhaps out of shame. That was another thing. Dr. Campbell encouraged him to start using the bathroom again instead of being connected to a device; but he still couldn't move his legs and he needed help to do it, so he was ashamed of being dependent on someone for something like this. He shook his head as an answer.

"You wanna watch TV?" You asked, completely clueless of what he wanted. When he shook his head once again, you were running out of possibilities. "You want to try to write again?"

This time you showed him a pen and a notebook where he was practicing how to write properly again. It wasn't the textual coherence what he had trouble doing; it was writing with the same neat calligraphy he used to have. This fact was one of the things that frustrated him the most, considering how much he loved —and needed— writing. Once again, he shook his head.

"Hmm, you want me to call Dr. Campbell or a nurse?" You frowned slightly, but he was still shaking his head. "Bri, I really don't get what you want." You bit your lower lip and he muttered something you couldn't understand.

"Talk." He finally muttered, his voice sounding throaty. You raised your eyebrows and parted your lips.

"You want to talk to me?" You asked and he nodded in assertion.

You grinned joyfully because this was the first time he was willing to try to have a conversation. Ever since he woke up, you never had a conversation and all you'd do was to read to him or watch the TV with him, commenting certain things.

"Okay." You squeezed his hand encouragingly. "What do you wanna talk about?"

"Wanna know the truth." He said and you frowned slightly, oblivious of what truth he meant.

"About what?" You asked.

"Many things." He babbled and looked into your eyes again.

"Well, we have plenty of time. So just ask me and take your time, do not force yourself. Okay?" You asked gently and he gave you a faint smile after nodding. He remained silent for a while and in this time span you noticed his green eyes reflected consternation and distress.

"Will I ever walk again?" He stammered and you bit your lips and looked down. You couldn't lie, but you didn't want to bring him down either.

"You heard what the doctor said. With the adequate therapy you will regain mobility in your legs and, little by little, everything will return to normal, Bri. Your paralysis is not permanent." You responded quiet. Of course you were still trying to gather all the money to pay the expensive cost of therapy; but that was something you preferred to omit.

"Not a fool." He replied with difficulty and you scowled. "Heard the conversation when doctor said the cost. I can't afford it." He babbled and you pursed your lips and bit your tongue. Dammit.

"But all of us will find the way to pay for it and I wanna clarify that I don't want you to argue with me about this because this is a decision that all of us has already made." You said and he just looked down, so you sighed and leaned in to put a kiss on his temple. "We thought that we've lost you forever, Bri." You started. This was the first time you dared to talk about that dark moment with him. "And if I have to be honest, we were devastated. We've suffered too much because, sadly, it's like the saying… We never appreciate the value of what we have until we lose it." Your voice cracked and he glanced at you. "And now that we were given this miraculous chance of having you back and appreciate how valuable you are to us, we want to do it; we want to learn from our mistakes; we want to give you all we couldn't before losing you for that horrible period of time. However in that time we learnt that when you have a true friend, you're willing to do anything for them in order to see them happy. Money comes and goes and it means nothing compared to the health and happiness of your true friend. You taught me that. By the way you've lived your life, you made me realize that material things aren't important, but the feelings and relationships are everything we truly need to live." You smiled fondly and he smiled back, tears shimmering in his eyes owing to his thrill. "Let us do it as we let you do tons of things for us; because friendships are about that, giving and receiving in a selfless way. Okay?"

"Okay. Thank you." He managed to utter and as a way to show his gratitude, he closed his eyes and tilted his head to rest it on your hand that was fondling his cheek. You leaned in and rested your head on his, also closing your eyes.

"How do you feel about… your condition?" You asked shyly, very curious to know the answer.

You were scared to ask him this because you didn't want to make him feel sad. You knew how hard this could be for him and how massive the change was. After a minute of silence, you opened your eyes to find him looking straight into your eyes, a sweet smile crossing his lips.

"My condition?" He asked and you remained silent, trying to figure out why he was smiling. "I am breathing. I survived death three times. I feel lucky." He spoke this time a little bit more fluent as you felt surprised by his answer. The corner of your lips rose and your eyes glistened with tears of joy when you realized he was being honest.

"It's a wonderful answer." You put a kiss on his cheek. "What else do you wanna know?"

"You told me you thought I was dead for more than three months. That's a long time." He said and your raised your brows owing to the amazement of how fluently he was speaking.

"Yes, it is." You assured.

"Have you read… my letter?" He asked and you grinned softly and brushed his cheek with your thumb.

"Yes, I have. It was really nice to know what I've always meant to you, that I've always been your blanket." You responded thrilled and he gave you a fond smile.

"You are." He said and you nodded, feeling the lump in throat that wouldn't let you talk. You never thought you'd have the blanket conversation with him and it was nice to know that he still owned his blanket. "That means that Kelly contacted with you." He added and you frowned slightly. Oh, you knew where this was going.

"Yes." You replied a bit suspicious, not wanting to start this kind of conversation.

"Then you may have seen the video I recorded." He presumed and you just nodded as an answer. "Then you already know the whole truth about Jim."

"Yes, but Brian…" You began to complain.

"Has he been threatening you? Has he found my replacement on you?" He asked very curious and concerned.

"I think we shouldn't talk about Jim right now." You answered firmly.

"I need to know." He begged desperately. "Has he hurt you?"

"Look at me, Bri. I am fine." You answered tranquil. "Let's not talk about this until you recover."

"I need to know what has happened in all this time I've been on a state of coma." He said desperately.

"Brian, Dr. Campbell said with absolute clarity that we must take things slow, little by little. This is something we cannot talk about right now. Everything is fine and that's all you need to know." You said as he bowed his head downwards and his face reflected distress.

"I am so sorry. Now you know that because of me Jim had threatened you and Darren in high school." He whispered and you pursed your lips before placing a thumb on his chin to make him look at you.

"As I see it, because of you and Jim's threats, I met Darren and you in high school and now I have real good friends when before I was lonely. It's all about a matter of different perspectives of how things turned out to be and what is more relevant to you." You grinned and his green eyes twinkled when he heard that answer.

"Thanks for seeing the bright side out of this." He moved closer with great effort to kiss your jaw.

"Now, can I ask you something?" You requested with an amused grin as he looked at you curiously and nodded. "How exactly do you feel about Jen?" You winked and Brian parted his lips and his cheeks turned flushed a bit.

"Sunny…" He whispered timidly, avoiding eye contact. You bit your lips in order not to let escape a chuckle. "Geez." He exclaimed apparently embarrassed; but then a smile played about the corner of his mouth and you knew he was currently picturing Jen. "Don't you dare to say something about it!" He suddenly looked up at you, his eyes were twinkling.

"My lips are sealed!" You giggled, making a gesture with your hands. "But Bri, I think she knows." You raised an eyebrow amused.

"What does she know exactly?" He asked shyly.

"Well, the enough to know that you have feelings for her. She was with me when I saw the video." You shrugged.

"Oh my god. She may be thinking that I'm a creep." He blushed and bit his lower lip.

"No. She doesn't think so, you know? Quite the contrary, actually." You answered mysteriously.

"What do you mean with that?" He asked very intrigued and eager.

"I'm not the person who should tell you this. But you and Jen owe a long, intimate conversation." You gave him a cheesy grin.

"Do you think… I could have chances with her?" He asked with a pair of green eyes full of hopes. The corners of your mouth rose at how cute he looked.

"That's something you'll have to figure out by your own, Bri. But… as a secret between you and I… I think you have huge chances." You whispered and winked at him as a big smile spread across his face, his cheeks blushing again.

"What did she say when she heard what I said about her?" He asked.

"You better ask her so yourself. You won't regret and it'll be more beautiful to hear that from her than from me." You responded.

"But Sunny! I'm really dying to know what she thinks! Please?" He asked impatiently, giving you a kind of look that looked much like Darren's puppy dog eyes, something that made you grin softly.

"Trust me. You can wait to hear that from her and the waiting will be worth it. That's all I can say." You wiggled your eyebrows and he muttered a diffident 'Fine'. Then you observed him for a while until you began to stroke his soft hair. "What I truly want to know is what you feel for Jen, when you started feeling something else for her and why… You know, basically to have that conversation that we never thought we would be able to have. That would be nice." You smiled sweetly and he looked up and smiled back.

"Yes, that would be nice." He looked down, the soft smile still on his face. "And weird." He let out a short chuckle as you giggled and nodded. "I never thought I would fall in love with someone else."

"Are you asserting that you're in love with her? Like a fact?" Your smile grew wider and he blushed a little and hunched one shoulder.

"I don't know if I'm fully in love yet. But… What I feel for her is something that I've only felt with you, no one else. She makes me want to smile after crying for a long time. So I guess that I'm falling in love. And I like that feeling." He confessed slowly and then looked up to you. "It's not that I forgot all the love I felt for you. You were and you will always be my soulmate." He clarified and you gave him a faint smile as you held one of his hands. "But a soulmate is not necessarily a lover; a soulmate can also be a friend." He grinned and squeezed your hand before looking at it. "When I understood that fact is when I could get over you; yet the love I felt for you remains, only that now I see that in a different way. That's why you and I can be friends now, I believe." He said as you were silently looking deeply into his green eyes fixed on your hand. "Of course there were times when I was walking down the street and felt a smell or a breeze, I listened to a song or recognized a certain gesture on a stranger, and everything is reopened, everything comes back, like a wave, like a slap." He continued his confession with his gaze lost as you were taking advantage to look at him a bit sadly. There was nothing you could do about it. "But then I see Jen and everything is reopened, too; everything comes back, like a slap, too… And it's not about you and I and what we had; it's about the feeling of being falling for someone again. Then I remember that even what you think it's impossible can be possible; and I understand that just because you've loved someone with all your soul who wasn't meant to be with you, doesn't mean that love won't find you again, or that you won't find love again. I understand that relationships can end, but every end is a new beginning, and the end doesn't mean forgetting what you've felt, or hating something or someone because it didn't turn out to be as you've pictured, it means that it'll be always part of you and that love and experience can be directed somewhere else. I understand that I gotta open my heart without the fear of it being broken; because a broken heart can be mended, but a protected heart always ends up turned to stone. And it's not wrong to have more than one love of your life, because that love can be different not for that better or worse. When I understood that is when I allowed myself to admit that I have feelings for Jen without feeling guilty because that person isn't you." He finished saying, causing you to grin, feeling proud of him.

It was always difficult for Brian to confess his deepest feelings and to overcome his fears, insecurities and life's misfortunes in general; so hearing him confessing that he was allowing himself to get over you and to let himself fall for someone else and let someone love him back was something to be proud of. Nonetheless, it was weird to hear him confessing so; it was weird the fact that he was talking to you about a girl he liked that wasn't you, it was weird picturing him loving someone who wasn't you, weird because now you weren't the one and only for him as before. Weird in a bad and good way. Bad because you would never be again his 'baby girl'; good because his new 'baby girl' would be Jen, the only girl who —in your opinion— was deserving of Brian.

"You seem to be thoughtful." Brian suddenly spoke. "Am I talking too much? Or am I making you uncomfortable? Maybe it was too soon to confess this."

"Hey, no." You responded softly, brushing his hands with your thumbs. "I'm glad you did so. And I don't feel uncomfortable, just weird. Weird because this is a side of you I haven't seen before. I can tell something on you has changed… I'm not quite sure what, but it's for sure something that makes me feel proud of you. You seem to be more comfortable with yourself; and that makes you look like… happier."

"Perhaps I'm happier…" He replied thoughtful, a small smile crossing his lips. "Or perhaps I finally found the way to be happy with what I have and not. I found that little formula of happiness that is to have acknowledged that to be happy or not always depends on you, on the way you see the world around you. I understood that you are the only one who prevents yourself from being happy, so that's what I decided to change. I will no longer prevent myself from being happy because life is short and I've been through different situations that have proved me so." He said as you were looking amazed at him, your lips slightly parted.

"Bri… The way you talk…" You whispered and his green eyes looked at you again. "Reminds me of the Brian who saved my life, the same who is trying to save his own life now, without feeling selfish. I've always loved and admired that side of you." You leaned to plant a small kiss on his cheek as he grinned joyfully. "I'm so proud of you."

"I always wanted you to feel proud of me. Thanks." He responded with a pair of fond eyes looking into yours. "Now… You sure read the letter I wrote to you, you mentioned the blanket."

"I did." You answered with a sweet smile.

"So, here comes another of the questions I wanted to ask." Brian said and you looked at him intrigued and more when he smirked a bit amused. "Are you and Darren sharing a blanket?" He asked curiously with a hint of craftiness, clearly speaking with double meaning.

"Brian!" You exclaimed perplexed, blushing a little. "Oh gosh, you are so silly!" You added as a way to avoid answering that question.

Truth was that you weren't ready yet to tell him that you and Darren were officially dating. It hadn't been so long since Brian started recovering and he was still in the process of recovery and the doctor was very specific when he said that you shouldn't say or do anything that could cause a stressful reaction on him. So —although Brian mentioned that he was starting to get over you— you knew that if he happened to know that you and Darren were dating, it would hurt him somehow. You knew it was wrong not to tell him that you were dating Darren, or to pretend in front of him that you were just friends with Darren when he was present; you knew it was like lying to Brian and you knew it could be hurting Darren, even if neither of them were complaining. But you couldn't help it, because all you wanted right now was Brian to get better. But perhaps there was also a personal trouble; perhaps not wanting to admit it to Brian had nothing to do with his recovery and everything to do with you. It was this trouble you had of feeling a bit uncomfortable of being with Darren when Brian was there for you were aware of the past conflicts that existed between them because you loved the two of them and the two of them loved you. It was you the one who still couldn't get over it. You always had trouble when it came to let things go and let bygones be bygones.

"Sunny, you aren't answering my question." Brian spoke again as you bit your lower lip.

"Well, yes, we're really good friends." You responded in a whisper.

"Friends?" He narrowed his eyes and you gulped and shrugged. "Are you sure, Sunny? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Why are you asking that?" You scowled, constantly looking away.

"I don't know. I had the impression that you and he were dating." He answered tranquilly. "Or at least that is what I expected to witness."

"Why would you expect that?" You asked, this time looking straight into his eyes. "Would you be that happy to know if he and I are dating? Is that you don't feel anything for me now?" You asked, suddenly feeling a strange, inappropriate, and out of place jealousy, for no apparent reason in particular. You saw how Brian puckered his brows in confusion.

"No..." He whispered slowly. "I just told you... I still feel something for you... but..."

"It seems to me that you have forgotten me very easily." You interrupted him impulsively and he tilted his face and scanned your face.

"No, it's not like that..." He responded while looking deeply into your eyes as you looked down. "You'll always be my baby girl." He said after a while with mellow voice. You pouted and looked up at him through your eyelashes.

"Really?" You whispered. Brian grinned fondly and cupped your cheek with his hand.

"Yes, really." He brushed your cheek with his thumb. "It's clear that we don't work out as a couple. But you'll always be my best friend and my baby girl. That won't change, not even if you date Darren or if I date other girls. That's why I would be that happy to know that you're dating Darren."

"For real?" You asked shyly and he smiled again.

"For real, baby girl." He replied softly and you gave him an affectionate smile. "So... how about you tell me that something you aren't telling me?"

"You knew it all along, didn't you?" You asked with a more animated smile.

"I'm a very perceptive person... I noticed the way Darren looks at you and the way you look at him." He shrugged and you chuckled. "But I wanted you to confess me so just as I confessed you what I feel for Jen." He added and you nodded.

"Well, yes. I'm dating Darren for months now." You answered comfortable this time, with a cheesy grin.

"So, yeah, it may sound weird and I never thought I'd feel this... But I'm truly happy to know that and I'm glad you admitted it. Now there won't be furtive looks between the two of you in front of me." He teased and you giggled and nudged him softly.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before." You apologized.

"Don't worry about it. I get why you did so." He put a kiss on your cheek and you smiled.

"Excuse me..." A soft and tuneful voice said from the door.

Both you and Brian looked at that direction and saw Jen smiling widely. You automatically turned your face to see Brian's reaction: His face -all of a sudden- lit up as a broad smile spread across his face and his green eyes twinkled with joy, even his cheeks flushed a little. You bit your tongue and looked down in order to hide an amused smile.

"I hope I'm not disturbing..." Jen started saying and it was soon interrupted by Brian.

"No!" He exclaimed very loudly, probably louder and more desperate than he'd have liked. "No, of course you aren't disturbing." He added, this time softer and less eager.

"No, Jen... How can you think that you're disturbing?" You said with a short chuckle. "Well, guys... I think I'll take advantage to go for a coffee..." You stood up and walked towards the door as Jen stepped in. "It's just an excuse to leave you alone." You winked before stepping out.

"Sunny!" You heard Brian's reproach before you closed the door.

But you knew he'd thank you later.

---

It'd been weeks since the last time I really had the chance to spend a decent day or date with Freckles. Ever since Brian woke up, she kind of left me aside and I happened to be on the background for her. I could understand she wanted to take care of Brian and that she was all the time attentive to what he needed, because I was in that same situation, too; but it wasn't necessary to pretend that we weren't dating. I was mad at her for that and I've been patient with her because I could understand this whole situation was kind of recent and probably she didn't know how to manage it; but she took advantage of it, so this would be the day I would have 'the talk' with her. In view of the fact that she wouldn't leave the hospital by any means, I went there to take her out for at least an hour. Before I arrived, I got a text message.

From Freckles: Hi, my Darebear! I was wondering if you're free so you can meet me at the coffee shop next to the hospital and have a coffee-date.

To Freckles: Yeah, I'm free. Meet you there in 10.

From Freckles: Yay! I'll be waiting for you. I love you!

I wished that was true. I knew I shouldn't doubt it; but I was feeling bitter about the things she'd been doing lately. I arrived at the coffee shop in less than 10 minutes and from outside I saw Freckles sitting at a table alone, looking all around with her beautiful eyes, a pretty grin on her gorgeous face. Damn. She was my weakness, so seeing her was making me feel meek. But no, I had to be firm this time; so I thought that gorgeous and lovely girl was ignoring me and the feeling of anger came back. When I entered and she saw me, a wide and stunning smile made her eyes sparkle and I had to remind myself that I was mad at her. I approached her and sat in front of her.

"Hi." I greeted curtly, taking off my coat.

"Hi, Darebear!" She greeted cheerfully, leaning forward to kiss my lips; but I made sure to make it be a brief kiss. "How are you? I missed you so much!" She kept saying as I was just looking around to find the waitress.

"Yeah? Cool." I answered coldly and then I saw the waitress. "Here!" I called her and followed her with my gaze as she approached our table in order to avoid Freckles' eyes.

"May I take your order?" The brunette waitress asked politely and I gave her a sexy smirk.

"What can you offer me, beautiful?" I asked with husky voice, checking her out from her to toe on purpose. The waitress -apparently uncomfortable and glancing at Freckles- chuckled nervously.

"Uh, mocha coffee is our specialty. Does your girlfriend like it, sir?" She asked loudly, looking at Freckles and putting a limit. I glanced at Freckles and saw her looking at me with her lips parted in incredulity.

"My girlfriend?" I questioned, puckering my eyebrows. "Oh, beautiful... I also thought she was my girlfriend, don't worry." I looked at the brunette waitress again when Freckles raised an eyebrow and looked down.

"Oh... well..." The waitress babbled even more uncomfortable. "What can I offer you, then?" She asked nervously.

"If you say that mocha coffee is the best you can offer me, then I trust you, beautiful. I'll order two." I responded with a flirting look, aware that Freckles was observing me.

"Very well. Two mocha coffee." She asserted and left as I followed her with my sight again.

"Where did that come from?" Freckles asked, her voice sounding raucous.

"What?" I asked, finally looking at her.

"That whole scene of my girlfriend?" She asked trying to imitate my voice in a mocking way owing to her annoyance. "And that whole thing of flirting with that waitress in front of me? What's up with you, Darren?" She narrowed her eyes and scowled.

"You're overreacting." I let out a bitter chuckle.

"Sure as hell I am." She responded sarcastically, crossing her arms above her chest. "Do you have a problem with me?"

"Actually... Yeah. I do have a problem with you, Freckles." I responded bluntly, feeling moody again.

"May I know what is it about or are you gonna go after that waitress?" She asked a bit irked.

"I'm seriously thinking about going after that waitress, you know?" I responded even more upset. She raised her eyebrows and dropped her jaw.

"Oh." She nodded and pursed her lips in irritation. "Nothing is stopping you from going after that waitress, considering that you don't see me as your girlfriend in public."

"Oh! Look at you! Look who's the one who is offended for pretending not to be a couple! Why are you so offended? I thought that was our game." I said very bitterly, my voice sounding high-pitched.

"Okay, I get it. I get why you're acting this stupid way." Freckles responded.

"No, you don't have a damn idea." I replied coldly, looking defiantly at her. "We're just a couple depending on your own convenience, isn't it like that? If it's like that... Why can't I do the same, eh? Why can't I pretend I'm not your boyfriend to flirt with that hot brunette?"

"That's so very immature of you, Darren." She frowned.

"No, what you're doing is so very immature. And hurtful." I clarified.

"If you'd just let me talk." Freckles requested, this time softer.

"No. I'm not in mood for another of your excuses." I responded, looking away.

"It's not an excuse, Darren." She answered, her voice not sounding as if she was offended. I remained silent as a way to let her speak. "I realize I've been acting weird."

"Weird?" I raised an eyebrow, feeling very disgruntled.

"Let me correct myself. Wrong. I've been acting wrongly." She said and I shut up, peeking at her. "And this whole failed date was to apologize to you." She said quietly and I looked at her intently. "When Brian woke up I felt like I needed to be with him at all hours because, as you already know, his supposed death affected me way too much; so having him back was like a miracle to me, like a second chance to do things right. And in my obsession of being with him all the time, I left you aside. I left aside the one person who always stood beside me when I needed it the most. Not only that, but I basically forced you to pretend that we weren't dating. That was my biggest mistake. And I want to explain you why I made that mistake." She said with mellow voice, looking sadly at me.

"Go ahead." I said reluctant, but actually very interested in what she had to say.

"Excuse me, here are the coffees." The waitress interrupted us.

"We don't want those damn coffees. Cannot you see I'm in middle of a serious conversation with my girlfriend?" I asked irked as Freckles dropped her mouth and the waitress looked at me agape.

"Excuse him. We're not going through a good moment, that's all, nothing personal. And thank you for the coffees." Freckles said politely and I nodded. The waitress quickly put the coffees on the table and then left. "Darren..." She reproached in a quiet way.

"Sorry. I just want to talk to you with no interruptions." I apologized and she nodded. "So, you were saying..."

"I made that mistake because I was afraid it could hurt Brian, without putting into consideration that it could hurt you instead." She said with a pair of distressed eyes. "I was afraid that if I happened to hurt Brian it could put his health at risk; and I didn't want him to be at risk again. And I just realized that this wouldn't hurt Brian, if anything, it'd make him happy; and that because of my fear, I put at risk our relationship. And I don't want to lose Brian again; but I neither want to lose you again. So, I hope you can forgive me, because I'm really repentant." She said with deep voice, her eyes reflecting honesty.

"You hurt me." I responded and she nodded and looked down, her eyes shimmering with tears. "And you made me feel like the biggest shit. You made me feel like you aren't in love with me the enough to let Brian know about us; like you're ashamed of being with me somehow. And I am so fucking in love with you that I could scream it at the top of my lungs. But apparently you didn't want the same." I said and I saw how she bit her lips in order to hold back her tears. "But I forgive you because you were honest and because now I know your reasons." I said and she looked at me through her eyelashes. "Besides… I don't wanna lose you either." I said, giving her a warm smile. "I love you, baby. But don't do that again."

"I promise I won't do it again." She said with teary eyes and a fond smile. "I love you, too, Darebear." She said and this time it was me the one who leaned to kiss her lips. "And I told Brian about us. I told him that we're dating for months now."

"Really?" I asked surprised.

"Yes, really. And he's happy for us." She grinned. "After all, despite all he ever felt for me, seeing us together is what he always wished for me, for both of us."

"And despite the hate I ever felt for him because he had feelings for you, I know that too. After all, if it hadn't been thanks to him, you'd have never talked to me when we met again in college. I always keep in mind that." I confessed with my gaze lost and a faint smile on my face.

"True that." Freckles nodded. "He convinced me to give you a second chance. I'm grateful for that because now I have you back."

"We have each other back." I held her hand and squeezed it when she looked fondly at me. "Now talking about Brian... Has he asked you something related to Jim?"

"It's Brian, of course he has." She sighed. "And as we agreed, I didn't tell him anything. I'm worried about that. Jim knows that Brian is alive. It won't be long till he tries to infiltrate into the hospital again. And if he happens to do it when no one is around Brian, and considering Brian's paraplegia and his incapacity to defend himself like before, Jim will catch him. And it could be worse than the last time."

"Baby, don't worry about that. You know that Brian will never be alone. Besides, nobody aside from us can visit him. Nothing will happen to him or to any of us." I told her convinced and she nodded. "It's just a matter of days. He'll soon leave hospital and he'll be in a safer place with us."

"Yes, that's right." She nodded, apparently trying to convince herself before her phone started ringing. When she checked her phone, she frowned slightly as if the call was from someone unexpected. "Oh, hold on a minute." She excused herself and I nodded, sipping my coffee while looking intently at her. "Hi, it's been... Oh, it's okay. Tell me." She was apparently interrupted, so she scowled in confusion and consternation. Then there was a long pause until she spoke again. "Fine. Thanks for letting me know. We'll be careful." She said, biting her lower lip. "Yes, take care you too and let me know if you need a hand with that. Yes, see you soon." Freckles said before she hung up and looked at me with a pair of troubled eyes.

"Who was it?" I asked very curious.

"Sincere." She responded in a whisper.

"Sincere?" I asked as corroborating it. Weird —I thought— pretty weird. "What did he tell you?"

"It's about Jim." Her voice trembled as she started playing with her fingers. "We weren't wrong when we suspected that Jim would attempt to get into the hospital."

"What do you mean, Freckles?" I asked, now altered myself. "Freckles, has he managed to get to Brian?"

"No, no." She nodded energetically. "Apparently Kelly told Sincere that Brian is alive, thus she asked him if he could keep an eye on Jim. Sincere has been following Jim and he just called me to let me know that right now Jim is dressed as a doctor, on his way to hospital. He tried to stop Jim, but he has hurt him and couldn't stop him." She explained with wobbly voice, running a shaky hand through her face.

"Wait, does it mean that right now Jim is attempting to get to Brian?" I asked with absolute clarity.

"Yes." She responded, apparently unable to react because of the shock.

"Who's with him right now?" I asked.

"Jen. Just Jen." She answered.

"Alright, let's do something about it." I said tranquilly as a way to calm her. "You go to Brian's room and let Jen know, surreptitiously, that Jim is attempting to get in; then call the guards informing that someone unauthorized is trying to get in. Meanwhile, I'll stay at the entrance, looking for Jim to stop him on time. Okay?" I asked, looking deeply into her lost eyes.

"Okay." She nodded. "No!" She basically yelled disturbed. "No way. I won't leave you alone with Jim. He can hurt you."

"He won't hurt me, baby. We've been preparing to face Jim for more than a month and I'm quite positive about our ability to stop him once and for all." I replied, feeling very confident.

"But I want to be with you. I want to help you." She pouted.

"Brian needs your help even more. Go with him and help Jen to keep him safe, because I'll be able to be safe myself. You gotta believe in me as much as I believe in you if you happen to face Jim all by yourself." I held both of her hands while looking intensely into her eyes.

"I believe in you." Her eyes looked directly at me. I smiled affectionately at her before we stood up and she gave a kiss on the lips.

"Let's go, baby." I whispered while hugging tightly at her.

We left the coffee shop and Freckles entered the hospital after I convinced her that I was gonna be fine. Truth was that I wanted to be alone so that Freckles wouldn't witness my encounter with Jim, because I was gonna make sure to make it as a not nice one. I didn't give a shit about that stuff of earning Jim's respect because that was the supposed way to beat him, I'd never lick his ass in order to get that. That shit wasn't for me. I was gonna intimidate him in such a way that he'd stop threating and stalking us. After all, it was noon, we were in a public place, and surrounded by cops; he couldn't do much if his purpose was to harm me. So there I was, waiting for that douchebag to show up; but twenty minutes went by and I didn't see him around. I was about to text Freckles that it was some sort of ambush until I saw the red haired guy, dressed —as Sincere mentioned— like a doctor. At first, I tried to follow him on the sly; but then he seemingly saw me and he increased the speed. We both ended up running through the hallways of the hospital. I tried my best to reach him, but I failed. My heart skipped a beat and a chill ran through my veins when I saw how he entered —without hesitation and as if he knew pretty well which one it was— the room number 26; the room where Freckles, Jen and Brian were. When I got there, the first I saw was their petrified faces looking right at Jim, who was standing motionless ahead of me. Immediately, I took Jim by his arms to prevent him from moving. Weird thing was that he didn't resist or fight back. Freckles and Jen were standing in front of Brian's bed, as a way to protect him; Brian —meanwhile— was very pale and his face reflected horror; it was as if all the bravery and confidence he used to show in front of Jim before was now gone. He was scared of Jim, and with reasons. No one spoke and Jim didn't attempt to move; I could even notice that his body was slightly shivering. Then I saw his face; he was just as pale as Brian and his face —instead of reflecting horror— was reflecting puzzlement.

"So it was true." Jim finally spoke, his voice sounding gruff. Oddly enough, it didn't sound aggressive or cocky; it was more like stunned. "You're alive."

"Yes, and you won't get close to him ever again." Freckles responded defiantly, her eyes darkening as she took a step closer to Jim. "No more hurting, Jim."

"I didn't kill you, then." Jim said, ignoring what Freckles said, looking straight into Brian's frightened eyes.

"And you will never do it." Freckles answered once again. And once again, her comment was ignored by him.

"You look different, though." Jim said almost in a whisper. If I weren't seeing his face, I'd swear this was a person completely different from him. He wasn't sounding... wicked. Then I saw how his gaze shifted to Brian's legs. "Is it also true that you... can no longer walk?"

"That's none of your business." Jen replied coldly. I thought Jim asked that to provoke Brian, but when I felt disconcerted when I saw his eyes reflecting some sort of distress.

"What? Are you gonna mock me? Are you gonna say that this is what good people get? Or that this disgrace is what I deserve for being a disowned dude? Or are you gonna say that now I'm a cripple, worse than my dad?" Brian finally spoke, his voice sounding wobbly and his eyes glimmering with tears. Both Freckles and Jen looked down with pity, but I remained looking sadly into Brian's eyes that were now letting out some tears. "You didn't kill me, but you got what you wanted anyways. I'm just a useless guy, an outcast for humanity. I'm a burden, I'm pitiful. Come on, say it... People are better off without me, eh?" His voice cracked.

"Brian!" Freckles whispered, looking at him anguished as I was looking at him stunned.

"Don't look at me that way, Wade. You cannot feel more pity and shame than what I feel for myself." Brian said, now clenching his jaw. "Should I consider suicide now?" He said and I dropped my jaw and looked at him scandalized.

"No..." Jim whispered and I scowled.

"No." Brian nodded. "Is it because you want me to suffer my misery?" He asked and I frowned again when Jim shook his head. "Why, then? You wanna play another of your games with me?" He asked and this time Jim looked down, without answering. "You know? I don't fucking care what your intentions are. That won't change a damn thing for me. I don't give a damn about my condition. I don't give a damn about your games. I don't give a damn if you want me to commit suicide. That won't happen. You know why?" He asked, now feeling more confident and less frightened. All of us looked at him intently, eagerly; even Jim. "Because I don't feel like leaving behind this damn amazing life I've got with all of these people around me, my friends. Because despite the shitty things that have happened to me, I value this life I was given, unlike you. That's another thing we don't have in common. And I'm glad. So, bring it on, Wade, because I ain't giving up." He finished saying while looking fixedly into Jim's eyes as I smiled to myself when I heard that.

"I'm glad, too." Jim whispered, looking down again. "Can you release me, you fucker? I wanna go the fuck away." Jim demanded aggressively, turning his face to look at me.

"Do you think I'm that fool to let you go, asshole?" I responded just as aggressively.

"Listen, fucker... I came here in peace; so if you don't want things to get rough, you better let me go." Jim threatened, returning to his normal behavior.

"Why did you come here, exactly?" Brian suddenly asked.

"To prove if it was true that you are alive. It's not rocket science, wanker." Jim responded, avoiding Brian's gaze.

"No, I know there's something else." Brian said suspiciously.

"That shit ain't your business, fucking meddlesome wanker." Jim answered roughly, puckering his brows and looking away.

"Say it, Wade. Don't be ashamed of saying something good." Brian said and all of us looked at him confused, except Jim who clenched his jaw. "If you say it, we'll let you go, without calling the police." He added. "And look into my eyes while you say it." And -oddly enough- Jim looked into Brian's eyes.

"You're a wretched wanker who should be three feet under." Jim replied wickedly as I squeezed roughly his arms. "Piss off, you fucker! I'm gonna beat you down." He yelled at me.

"Wade, both you and I know that's not what you really came here to say." Brian said calmly. "Say it, and you'll be free to go." He insisted and Jim looked at him again, perhaps a bit uncomfortable. There was a long silence in which all of us were looking at Jim opening and closing his mouth as though he was really gonna say something good as Brian thought.

"I won't say it with all of these scumbags around." Jim finally uttered.

"They're my friends, Wade. They will stay." Brian answered and Jim -once again- opened and closed his mouth several times.

"Fine." He clenched his jaw and looked at Brian again. "Sorry, Brian." He whispered.

In that very moment, all of us -excluding Brian- looked at Jim astonished, confused as hell. Not just because he said "sorry", but also because he called Brian by his name instead of "wanker". I realized that Jim still respected Brian. None of this was what I thought it could happen when Jim entered this room; he didn't even seem like him. Maybe there was a very little part of him that still conserved kindness. Very, but very little. I looked at Brian again and I noticed how a small grin crossed his lips in satisfaction.

"I forgive you, Wade." Brian said politely.

"Whatever." Jim pretended indifference. "Now let me go. You promised it, wanker." He said harshly.

"And I don't break my promises." Brian responded. "You're free to go. Darren…"

"But…" I babbled while scowling. "This is our one chance…" I began to complain in confusion. This was truly our one chance to call the cops, imprison this asshole and end with this shit.

"Yes, Bri. Darren is right." Freckles whispered.

"You promised, wanker!" Jim screamed.

"Yes, I promised." Brian asserted and looked at me again. "Not this time, buddy. We gotta keep our promises, it's what makes us different from him."

"True." I agreed and Freckles and Jen looked at me as if I was out of my mind for agreeing with Brian. But Brian was right. We weren't like Jim and we should as well act as such. However, I looked severely at Jim. "Keep this in mind as the day we had the chance to destroy you and we chose not to do it, asshole."

"Kiss my ass, fucker." Jim smirked contemptuously. I was about to punch him and then release him, but Freckles spoke before I could do it.

"Wade?" She called up with mellow voice.

"What do you want, whore?" He asked fiercely as I nudged him strongly.

"I will remember what you've done today. It's been admirable and completely considerate." She smiled softly and Jen and I looked at her stunned as Brian raised his eyebrows in surprise before grinning.

"I don't fucking care what a whore thinks." Jim responded harshly.

"It doesn't matter. I will remember it anyways." She smiled once again.

When Jim frowned and his strained facial expression was suddenly softened for a split second, I understood why she was doing it. According to the conversation we had with Kelly the day we met Sincere, she agreed to earn Jim's respect and that was exactly what she was trying to do in that moment. My own conclusion was that she wanted to earn Jim's respect so as to put Brian aside of this conflict with Jim; she wanted to take Brian's role so that she would be the one interacting with Jim and not Brian. I knew —and I was almost sure that she also knew— that with this simple gesture she wouldn't get that, but at least it was a start. Of course I was gonna support her; firstly because I also wanted to give Brian a break of all of this shit, he already had enough; and secondly —and most importantly— because I believed in her. Therefore, I looked at her and winked, as she responded me with a faint grin. Brian —already suspecting that something strange was happening— observed us and looked down, as if he understood what was going on and he didn't like the idea.

"Why don't you suck my cock to thank my humble gesture instead of remembering it, whore?" Jim —back to his arrogance and poor demeanor— said. Freckles just rolled her eyes and I tried my best to ignore it in order to not screw her strategy. "Now let me go, fucker." He struggled to get away.

"Do it, Darren." Freckles said and Jim —over again— glanced at her in dissimulated amazement.

"Fine." I whispered and I released him, not before nudging him harshly, satisfying my desires since I saw him.

Jim —before going away— tugged my curls and we said goodbye with a full of hate look. It was when he was gone that all of us could breathe normally, and it was Jen's sigh that unwrapped a new conversation.

"That was weird." She commented, sitting next to Brian. She held his hand and he clutched her hand with his, making Freckles grin slightly. "Are you okay?"

"I am. Are you?" He responded while looking deeply into Jen's eyes, showing her an affectionate smile as she nodded.

Alright... the sexual tension between them was kind of obvious. I glanced at Freckles in conspiracy and wiggled my eyebrows and she had to purse her lips to avoid giggling. She walked to me and buried her face on my chest to muffle the chuckle as I wrapped my arms around her and buried my face on her head to do the same.

"So, are you gonna tell me what happened with Jim all this time, now?" Brian asked and we looked at him. Both Freckles and I looked at Jen as requesting her to answer that; now Jen was the one who could influence Brian. Of course she got it right away.

"Not now, Brian; but as soon as you leave hospital and recover completely." Jen said with mellow voice while caressing Brian's hair. Brian was now looking bewitched at her with his mouth half-opened.

"Okay." He whispered.

"Can it be possible that she convinced you so easily while I had to do it for hours?" Freckles finally burst out laughing and I giggled softly as Jen smiled joyfully and Brian looked at her with his cheeks flushed.

"Shut up." He whispered and looked away as Freckles laughed louder. "Stop it!"

"Okay, okay. Sorry!" She tried to stop giggling. "How about some intimacy now, eh?"

"Oh geez, shut up, Sunny!" Brian exclaimed, even more ashamed.

"Oh, come on, bro! Don't feel ashamed. Jen wants you just as much you want her." I commented with a chuckle and this time it was Jen the one who blushed.

"Darren, shut up, fool!" Jen exclaimed.

"It seems they haven't talked about it yet. What if we let them do it, baby?" I asked while looking at the smiling Freckles.

"Genius idea." She responded.

"Guys?" Brian suddenly spoke and we both looked at him. "It gladdens me to know you're together."

"I know, bro. And it gladdens me that you like it." I nodded and Freckles hugged me while looking fondly into my eyes. "Now we'll let you do your stuff, guys." I winked and both Jen and Brian looked down in shame.

I took Freckles' hand in mine and we were about to leave when Dr. Campbell entered the room with an unusual wide smile and his usual medical chart.

"Good morning!" He greeted cheerfully and we looked at him curiously. Not that all doctors were unsmiling, but this one was, so it was weird. Nonetheless, we greeted him back. "Good thing that most of you are here for the big news."

"What big news, doctor?" Jen asked very intrigued.

"Are you ready for this? Especially you, Mr. Clerk. Are you ready?" The Dr. asked and I was already very impatient to know.

"I guess so..." Brian responded while frowning slightly.

"You can leave this hospital this afternoon just as long as you keep taking your medication and come every week to check your development." The doctor announced and a big, bright smile spread across my face.

"Really?" Jen asked as Brian was still digesting the news. Freckles let out a squeal as she covered her mouth in happiness.

"Yes." Dr. Campbell asserted.

"You can go home!" Jen squealed while embracing Brian as he smiled softly.

"Home?" He asked in a murmur.

"Yes, home, with all of us, dummy!" Freckles ran to Brian to hug him as well.

"I can go home." He whispered, now smiling as though he was thrilled for real. It was that gesture that made me ran to him as well and just jump into his bed to ruffle his hair.

And I thought to myself that home never felt better.

---

BRIAN'S POV

---

It'd been four months since I left hospital. I was living at the house that Jen was renting for several reasons: Darren and Joey lived at an apartment with stairs, and it's quite complicated to live in a place with stairs when you're on a wheelchair; Mandy lived with Darren and Joey; and Sunny lived at a residence, also with stairs. Jen's house didn't have stairs and —besides— she had prepared and conditioned the entire house for a handicapped like me. It was like a real handicapped accessible house, with all things involved: It had a ramp at the doorway, widening and slider doors, laminate flooring, my bedroom had an adjustable bed and the closet had adjustable rods, the bathroom didn't have a bathtub and it had a shower with a hand-held shower head, a shower chair, it had bars everywhere and a pedestal sink; even the kitchen had multi-level countertops and a raised dishwasher because she remembered how much I loved cooking. Everything was very comfortable but —paradoxically— it reminded me every minute that I had a disability and there were several things that I was no longer able to do by myself. That was the only thing I didn't like, because truth was that living with Jen was nice; she wasn't much time at home, but when she was, she had a great ability to make me feel useful and like a normal person. This was making me have more feelings for her, feelings that I was still keeping to myself. Even though Sunny, Darren, Joey and Mandy had insisted me several times that Jen already knew what I was feeling for her because I was pretty obvious, I didn't want to tell her so. Not because I was ashamed of my feelings, but because I was ashamed of my condition. I didn't want her to deal with a handicapped as a boyfriend, saying this as if she ever thought about me as a possible boyfriend because she never said anything about her feelings or inexistent feelings for me. I wanted to tell her, though, but I knew exactly when. I'd been going to physical therapy every day these last four months. At first it was a total failure and it was very frustrating; but in the last three weeks I made a progress. It wasn't such a big deal, but it was a big deal for me and it gave me hopes. Three weeks ago I could move the fingers of my feet, two weeks ago I could move —slightly— my legs; and last week I could —for just a second and with all my strength— stand up. Now I was very excited and I wanted to do more physical activity, even if just moving a leg devastated me and made me feel completely exhausted. My doctor said that I shouldn't hurry up and be eager to walk right away because it could affect negatively my health; so he gave me a tedious speech and ordered me to slow down. But he couldn't watch me at all times, so when I was alone, I practiced constantly to move my legs and try to stand up; something that led me to go through bad situations like hitting my body or falling into the floor, spending hours in the floor until I could crawl and help myself to return to the safety of the wheelchair. Nobody knew about my progress, not even Jen who lived with me. I wanted to surprise them, like in those movies when a man in a wheelchair stands up and walks out of the blue, surprising everyone in the room. It was silly, but I always liked that idea. So yes, all in all, I was waiting till the moment I could walk to tell Jen that I had feelings for her.

"I'm home!" Jen's voice sounded from the entrance and the corners of my mouth rose automatically.

I was in my bedroom, doing an assignment for college, but I dropped out everything to just see her and talk to her. As fast as I could, I combed my hair and put on some perfume, then I left my bedroom. I was eager to have an afternoon snack with her, as usual. When I entered the living room where she was, my wide smile kind of faded away when I saw that she wasn't alone. She was accompanied by a guy I'd never seen before; a good looking guy with light brown eyes and dark hair, a guy who could walk.

"Hi, Brian." Jen walked to me to put a kiss on my forehead. "This is Alex, my coworker. I hope you don't mind he came here."

"Oh, not at all." I responded droningly before looking at that guy with capacity to walk. "Hi, Alex. It's a pleasure. I'd walk to you to shake your hand, but..." I chuckled bitterly while looking at my legs.

"Brian, I don't like that dark humor." Jen whispered and I nodded.

"It's okay, Brian." Alex said, walking to me and stretching out his hand. "The pleasure is mine." He said and I shook his hand. "Jen has told me about you."

"Really? What did she say? That her house now looks like a therapy center?" I chuckled again and Jen looked at me severely. "Sorry, I can't help the dark humor. You gotta laugh of your misfortunes, right? It's the only way not to feel sad." I shrugged.

"He has a point, Jen." Alex laughed softly. "But, no, she hasn't mentioned anything like. She just told me about your talent for writing."

"Oh, yes, I like writing." I responded humbly.

"And that's why he's here, Brian." Jen suddenly said. "We're writing an article and it came a point that we couldn't write anything good, so we kinda need your help. Could you please help us?" She asked and I raised my eyebrows owing to this unexpected reason.

"Uh, sure. Gladly." I muttered and Jen grinned cheerfully and kissed my cheek.

"Thank you." She whispered with sweet voice and I glanced at Alex as if proving him that she was mine. But, strangely, Alex looked down and smirked as though he knew something that I didn't.

"So, boys, do you want a coffee?" Jen offered and I nodded.

"That would be great." Alex responded as Jen walked to the kitchen. I was about to roll my wheelchair to the kitchen as well until I sensed how Alex placed his hands on the push handles.

"Oh, no! No, I can do it myself, thanks." I quickly said. I was aware that his gesture had good intentions, but I didn't like it because it made me feel even more disabled.

"Oh, okay." Alex whispered as though my comment made him feel uncomfortable.

"We have cupcakes!" Jen —unaware of the sudden uncomfortable ambience— exclaimed joyfully. "Alex. Did I tell you that Brian is a remarkable cook? He baked these cupcakes he himself." She commented while setting the table with the cupcakes and coffees.

"Oh, no doubt why you're fascinated with him." He observed with the same amused smirk.

"Is she?" I asked curiously and waited for the answer until I saw her face and the shyness it was showing. The last I wanted was to make her uncomfortable when she was doing her best to make me feel comfortable. "Must be because my lasagna is very similar to her mom's lasagna, according to her." I added with a kind smile and she smiled back at me.

"Totally." She said and I looked down, thinking that I'd have liked her to say something different. "Well, let's get started, shall we?" She asked, changing the topic.

"Yes, of course." I said while rolling to the table. "So... What's this article about?"

Like this began the afternoon. The article was about the evolution from countercultures to suburban cultures, with particular attention paid to the period around the turn of the 1980s. I didn't know much about it, but good thing was that Jen and Alex did, so they only needed help to redact something interesting, coherent and journalistically correct. It wasn't so hard, in less than three hours we had it ready.

"Wow, dude! We spent weeks trying to write something minimally good and you come up and in less than three hours you gave us an extraordinary article that anyone would think it was written by an experienced journalist. Just wow." Alex commented when we finished. "My girlfriend will love this." He added. So. He had a girlfriend. That made me feel better.

"I told you he's good." Jen grinned and then winked at me.

"No big deal... You had all the information and investigation... I just... I just put it all together, that's all." I replied, feeling very flattered, something I didn't like much.

"This is great!" He exclaimed so loudly and rowdy that —accidentally of course— he threw my cupcake into the floor, few inches away from me.

I —without even thinking— had a spontaneous reaction. Instead of rolling with my wheelchair to grab the cupcake, I moved my legs in order to be more comfortable when I bended and extended my arm. I didn't realize it until I grabbed the cupcake and looked up and saw Jen and Alex looking at me agape, their lips slightly parted in amazement.

"What was that?" Jen spoke with trembling and shrill voice. "Brian, do that again!"

"Do what?" I asked while frowning.

"You moved your legs!" She basically yelled.

"I did not." I replied right away. "Come on, I'm on a wheelchair. How would it be possible for me to move my legs?"

"But you did it!" She exclaimed.

"No. Maybe it was your imagination." I answered and looked away.

"Alex, if we're done... Would you mind...?" Jen requested subtly.

"Yes. I have to go." Alex announced and stood up.

He said goodbye and Jen was so stunned that she didn't even stood up to open the door, so I rolled to there and I did it. When Alex left and I closed the door, I was afraid to turn around and look at Jen. But I did it.

"He seems to be a good guy." I said as a way to talk about something else. I knew it wouldn't work and it was indeed like that.

"Brian..." She whispered with the same amazed facial expression, walking slowly to me. "You..." She whispered again, now squatting in front of me, looking fixedly at my legs. "You moved..." She said and placed her hands on my thighs. As an instinctive reaction, my legs tightened. "Oh my god! Don't tell me this is also my imagination because I felt it!"

"I… I don't know what's happening." I babbled and she looked directly into my eyes.

"You're lying!" She accused in all her rights. "Since when have you acquired sensibility and mobility in your legs?" She asked and at this point I couldn't keep playing fool.

"Few weeks ago." I murmured shyly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you..." I added quickly, looking afflicted at her.

"So it's true?" She asked paused, as if she didn't mind that I didn't say anything about. "Can you move your legs?"

"With big effort, yeah. Just a little." I responded, scanning her face and trying to guess what she was thinking.

"Oh my god." She whispered, moving a hand to her mouth. "Can you show me?" She requested and I nodded.

I looked at my thighs and I concentrated in just moving my legs and I ordered my brain to do so. After a while, my left leg moved just a little to the right. But Jen noticed and her response was to let out a muffled squeal. When I looked up, I found her looking at me with a pair of widened eyes, tears shimmering there.

"This is a miracle!" She exclaimed as a smile spread across her face and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I guess it is." I grinned softly.

"Oh, god, Brian!" She uttered with teary voice before throwing her arms around my neck. I took advantage and enfolded my arms around her waist, resting my head on her shoulder.

"I can show you something else." I said, now feeling more confident. She parted to look at me curiously. "Just step back a little." I requested and she did it, paying much attention to my actions. "It'll be hard, but I want to show you." I clarified while clutching the armrests.

"What are you gonna do?" She questioned.

"Just watch me." I smiled widely at her.

Now that she knew, I wanted to show her everything. Maybe today was gonna be the day I could tell her everything as well. Thus, I gathered all my strength and I strained my arms to make a strenuous effort to stand up. The orders from my brain weren't getting to my legs, and my arms were hurting a lot, so I let out a muffled moan. But I didn't want to give up.

"Brian, stop!" Jen exclaimed concerned.

"No, wait. I can do this. Let me... Argh!" I moaned in pain, but I kept trying it.

"Brian, you're gonna hurt yourself. Stop it, please." Jen requested, now distressed.

"No, just... let me try." I pleaded and I groaned again.

"No, Brian..." Jen stepped forward, but I looked abruptly at her to stop her.

"I swear I can do this. Please. Let me show you." I said supplicant and she nodded but remained looking at me worried.

With the strength that I had left, I pulled myself up and my legs finally responded. Little by little and wobbling, I managed to stand up, not fully and normally, but just the enough to show her that my legs were functioning. Then, carefully and fearfully, I slowly let go the armrests to try to be standing without help from my arms. That was something I hadn't tried before, so I was afraid it couldn't work; but it did work. For just a second I could be standing by myself with no kind of help, then I staggered and fell on my wheelchair, feeling more exhausted than ever. When I caught my breath, I looked up and I found Jen shedding some tears, looking fixedly at me with a completely stunned facial expression.

"So..." I uttered with bated breath, gasping a little.

"Oh, Brian!" She squealed and quickly ran to me, sitting on my lap to hug me tightly. I chuckled softly and rested my head on hers, wrapping my pained arms around her. "You can stand up!" Her shrill voice whispered near my ear. I grinned and her thrill was making me feel thrilled as well. Then she parted, placing both hands on my shoulders to look into my eyes. "We gotta tell everybody!"

"No! No, please." I begged. "Let's make this a little secret between you and me."

"But why?" She asked in confusion.

"I just..." I sighed and bit my lips. "I just wanted to... It's silly, but... I wanted to wait till I could walk properly to surprise all of you, like in the movies... The dude who couldn't walk and suddenly, in the middle of an event, stands up out of the blue. You caught me and my plan was like an epic fail." I said with scrunchy face and she chuckled softly. "Besides, I kind of like this idea of having a secret that only we share..." I said suggestively, but seemingly, she didn't get it.

"Okay, I'll keep your secret for now... But... Geez, Brian! Oh, I'm so happy!" She smiled broadly, tears glimmering in her eyes again.

"Thank you, Jen." I smiled affectionately at her and I dared to place a hand on her cheek to fondle it. She let me do it and then she held my hand to kiss it as I was looking deeply into her eyes, feeling that strange tickle on my tummy. "So, now that you know... Would it be presumptuous of me to ask you if you can help me to walk? Because I tried to do it myself, but I clearly need some help."

"Oh, damn, Brian! How on earth can you think that it'd be presumptuous? I'd love to do it! Actually, I was eagerly waiting for the day you'd ask me to help you." She bounced on my lap owing to her cheerfulness, something that caused my thighs to shiver. It was indeed functioning. "Are you too tired now to try it?" She asked and such was her excitement that there was no way I could tell her that I was devastated.

"No." I smiled fondly. "We can try it now." I fondled her cheek once again and she gave me a noisy kiss on the cheek.

"Okay! Let's get started!" She clapped as she stood up, something that made me giggle.

She placed both hands over my armpits as I placed my hands on her shoulders. I looked at her and told her that I was heavy, but she told me she could do this because she'd been investigating and practicing how to help someone to walk; she requested me to trust her and that was all she had to say for me to do this. Slowly, I tried to stand up as she was observing very intently each one of my actions. She even suggested me how to do it. I tried not to apply all my strength on her shoulders because she was too tiny and too fragile to support my weight, but she turned out to be stronger than I thought. This time, thanks to Jen's help, I could stand up easier than before and once she made sure that I was steadily standing, she moved her hands from my armpits to my hands.

"Now try to take a step forward. Just one." She requested softly with a big smile, looking at my feet.

It took me a while to move just one foot, but I could do it; and once I did it, I tried to take another step forward. It was in my third attempt to step forward that my legs wavered and I lost balance, causing me to stumble upon Jen, making both of us fall into the couch, me on top of her. I quickly tried to move my upper body away, but she —instead of feeling uncomfortable— was laughing lively, so I started laughing along with her. She raised her upper body to throw her arms around me and pull me down to lie on the couch next to her.

"Brian, you walked!" She giggled and looked at me with her rosy cheeks.

"Thanks to you." I beamed, taking advantage to wrap an arm around her waist. "Thank you for this, Jen." I brushed her hair and kissed her temple.

"I'm glad you let me help you." She whispered and brushed her thumb on my cheek, causing an instant reaction on my body. All of a sudden, I felt this irrepressible desire of kissing her lips. I even leaned in, but I stopped myself on time when she broke eye contact to look at the TV. "How about we watch a movie together?"

"Oh, sure." I responded, trying to sound natural. When she was zapping —trying to find a movie on TV— I tried to sit down, but Jen took my hand and looked at me.

"Can we watch it like this?" She asked and I frowned slightly.

"Like what?" I asked, perhaps playing fool.

"You know, like... cuddling?" She requested almost in a whisper, maybe feeling a bit diffident. "We don't have to if you don't want..." She hurried to say.

"I'd love it." I interrupted her before she could change her mind.

The corners of her mouth rose as I lay down beside her again. This time I enfolded my arm firmly around her waist as she took my hand and intertwined her fingers with mine. When she chose a movie, she watched it, but I couldn't pay attention to the movie while I was this close to her. This was the first time we were cuddling and —to me— that was way more important than any movie in this world. I shut my eyes and moved my face closer to the back of her head, I smelled the scent of her hair and I bit my lips. I even grinned. After a while, I decided that I couldn't keep my eyes closed like that and picture stuff about her and what I'd like to do; so I opened my eyes and watched the movie. We were watching "It's Kind of a Funny Story", a comedy-drama film about two teenagers in a hospital's psychiatric floor. In general, the movie had the topics of self-mutilation and suicide, something that brought memories to my mind. Although it was a comedy, it came a point that I had to stop watching it, because I didn't want to remember my dark past. When I noticed that the film was over, I opened my eyes and I found Jen looking into my eyes.

"You fell asleep?" She asked softly.

"No, I was just resting." I responded.

"This movie reminded me of..." She started saying and I looked down and nodded, knowing what she was gonna say.

"Of my past?" I said for her.

"Kind of." She shrugged. "Can I ask you something personal?"

"Sure you can." I answered, despite I was a bit insecure because I had a slight idea of what she'd want to ask.

"There was a moment..." She started saying and I dared to look at her. She wasn't looking at me, she seemed to be deep in thought, her gaze lost. "Two moments." She corrected herself. "The first moment was when I saw your scars for the very first time." She said and I looked down and bit my lower lip. I had the hope she'd have forgotten it. "I remember that day I looked into your eyes and all I saw was a boy who was suffering and wanted to release his pain somehow. Hence the scars. That boy was in pain, was scared, but he was waiting for his chance to live life as he's always dreamed of." She said and I glanced at her surreptitiously, trying to find out what her point of all of this was. "The second moment... it was when I looked into your eyes the day you were released from prison. I still have in my mind those eyes that looked into mine." She whispered and I noticed that she had a distressed facial expression. "The scared boy who was waiting for his moment in life was gone. What I saw in your eyes that day... It was a boy who was lost, who was breathing but who wasn't living. A boy with no hopes and no expectations of life, with no desire of living. It was sad." She whispered again and I turned my gaze to the ceiling. "I remember that in that moment all I thought was that you weren't relieved because you weren't gonna die, it was quite the opposite. You were tormented because you weren't going to die." She said and I bit strongly my lips. I forgot she was very perceptive. "Those were just my thoughts until I corroborated it when I saw you the night before you returned to Ann Arbor. You were alone and you didn't know I was there. But I saw you outside the hotel, alone, near the cliff. I saw you hesitating. I knew you were hesitating whether you should jump or not. I know you'd have done it if you hadn't heard the sound of police sirens." She said and I looked at her agape, my lips slightly parted.

"How do you…?" I stared asking.

"I was the one who played the sound of police sirens. With my phone." She said as I looked at her stunned. I couldn't stop thinking that she saved me that time. "Anyway, my question is… That time… Did you really want to die?"

I turned my gaze to her and looked fixedly into her eyes. There was no kind of judgment in them, just curiosity and perhaps certain desire of understanding me fully. I liked her, and if I wanted to start something with someone —something complete, honest and committed— I had to show myself just the way I had been and the way I was now. Nevertheless, I took a time to answer that; it wasn't an ordinary question, after all.

"No one commits suicide because they want to die." It was my answer.

"Then why do they do it?" She wondered, narrowing her eyes.

"Because they want to stop the pain." I whispered, recalling that deep pain I felt back in that time; a pain that led me to that decision and so many others. "Everyone has a breaking point. In that moment, I'd just reached mine." I murmured with my gaze downwards.

When I looked down, I looked at the spot of skin of my arm that wasn't covering the sleeve of the pullover. There I saw the red scars; they were highlighting, like a recent tattoo. I looked at them for a while and I thought that the damage was permanent; there would always be scars. But even the angriest scars faded over time until it was difficult to see them written on the skin at all, and the only thing that remained was the memory of how painful it had been. I outlined one of them with my fingertips and I frowned slightly.

"What if I just wanted to die?" I asked out of curiosity, still staring my scars.

"Then I'll be sad and disappointed that you cheated yourself out of your chance at existence. Not all of us have that opportunity, you know, to choose life." She responded and I grinned faintly, satisfied with her answer. Now —after being at the edge of death several times— I could value life and my opportunity to choose it. "You know?" Her sudden teary voice caught my attention, so I looked up at her. She was staring the ceiling, her eyes glimmering with tears. "My little brother committed suicide, and I never understood what the reason why he did that was. Well, until now." A slow tear escaped the corner of her eye.

For some reason, what she said made me feel deeply anguished. Perhaps it was because he chose not to live and missed out all the good things in life. Perhaps it was because that could have been my case. Perhaps it was because I was feeling like a terrible person because I was about to do the same than what her little brother did, I was about to make her suffer all over the same she'd already suffered. Perhaps —and mostly— it was because of the tears in her eyes, the hidden pain in her soul that she'd been holding back all along. I didn't know what to say and —if anything— I was nobody to tell her something. What would say someone who also thought about giving up life? Everything I could say would sound like a lie, like cheap and mediocre comforting words from someone who really didn't care. And this wasn't precisely that case. Therefore —out of words— I took my thumb to her cheek and wiped away her tears. She looked at me and -with her eyes filled with tears- gave me a crooked, pained smile.

"I'm sorry." It was all I could say. But it was honest and heartfelt.

"Me too." She said with cracked voice and with a nod. "In high school, Freckles reminded me of him. And then..."

"Then I reminded you of him, right?" I asked gently.

"Yes." She uttered with choked voice. "And there is... There's something I've always wished I could have told my little brother before he could have committed suicide."

"As an unfinished business?" I wondered and she nodded as a response. "There's nothing like an unfinished business. It's like you can't go on in your life if you don't do it. Like a missing piece of the puzzle."

"It feels like that indeed." She looked down as more tears streamed down her face.

"Why don't you finish it?" I asked softly and she looked at me in desperation.

"How? He's no longer here." She sobbed softly.

"What was the point of telling your brother what you've always wished?" I asked and she looked at me as if the answer was obvious; however, I wanted to hear it.

"I wanted to save his life." She finally answered.

"You wanted to save a life." I asserted and she nodded. "Now, I know there's no comparison and I'd never mean what he meant to you, but you told me that I reminded you of your brother. So, tell me and save my life." I requested and she looked at me astonished.

"I... It's not..." She babbled.

"I know, Jen. I know." I took both of her hands in mine while looking deeply into her watery eyes. "I know I'm not your brother, and I know that it's not the same or what you've always expected. But you can save a life, just as you wanted." I said softly and she broke into tears, burying her head on my chest.

I enfolded my arms around her until her crying stopped and she looked at me, a small smile crossing her lips. For look in her eyes, I realized she was going to say what she's always wanted to say. She cupped my cheek with her hand and brushed my cheek with her thumb very gently. We stared into each other's eyes for a while, until she spoke.

"Life is painful and messed up. It gets complicated at the worst of times, and sometimes you have no idea where to go or what to do. Lots of times people just let themselves get lost, dropping into a wide open, huge abyss." She started saying and such was the fondness of her look that it made me feel thrilled and loved. She held my hand and squeezed it softly. "But that's why we have to keep trying. We have to push through all that hurts us, work past all our memories that are haunting us. Sometimes the things that hurt us are the things that make us strongest. A life without experience, in my opinion, is no life at all. And that's why I tell everyone that, even when it hurts, never stop yourself from living. You have a wonderful life ahead if you just believe it and dare to live."

Her words acted like a click on me. So many things would have been different for me if I just had heard them before; but I was glad that at the end I got to hear them. I was amazed by her kindness and way to see life. I was simply amazed by her. And in that instant, I finally knew what it felt like to be whole. I'd been wishing for my life to get better. Now I realized that Jen could take me to a place where everything was the way it should be. She could definitely take me there; she's always been able to do it since the beginning, only that before I was too blind to realize this.

"Thank you." I muttered with my lips.

"No, thank you, for giving me the chance to finish my unfinished business." She responded in a whisper. I leaned in and put a kiss on her forehead. "I want to know..." She started saying and I waited for her question. "Is there any part of you that still thinks about giving up life because of your pain?" She asked and I raised my eyebrows. I stayed silent for a while, pondering about it.

"No." I whispered, surprised with my own answer. "No." I ensured. "I've finally gotten to the point where my pain no longer defines me. For a long time I saw myself as a victim, but I've moved past that. I'm in a place now where I realize that my life is mine to create and enjoy, and that my future will be the result of the decisions that I make." I said and this answer brought a smile onto her face. "I've learned that when a wave comes, you gotta go deep."

"I think I'm going to need an explanation for that one." She puckered her brows. I grinned and began to stroke her hair.

"There's three things you can do when life sends a wave at you." I answered and she looked curiously at me, a faint smile on her face. "You can run from it, but then it's going to catch up and knock you down." I widened my eyes and made a pained grimace, something that made her giggle a little. "You can also fall back on your ego and try to stand your ground, but then it's still going to clobber you." I pursed my lips and she nodded slightly. "Or you can use it as an opportunity to go deep, and transform yourself to match the circumstances. And that's how you get through the wave."

"It's an interesting theory, Mr. Clerk." She grinned widely as I chuckled.

"It kind of is, Mrs. Nedeau. I must thank you because you've helped me a lot to formulate this one." I answered, half-jokingly to try to make her laugh, and half honestly.

"Have I really helped you that much in your life?" She asked and I could tell it was a serious question.

"More than you can imagine." I responded with deep voice, looking intensely into her shiny eyes. It was now or never. For once in my life, I dared to take the first step. "You showed me that a life with you is a worthwhile life." My voice trembled and I was nervous as fuck, but I said it. "When I'm with you, I think to myself... Damn, this is how it feels to be... happy." She was looking at me fixedly, with lips slightly parted. That made me feel even more nervous. But I wanted this life and my life was mine to create, so I continued. "And I... Wait..." I paused a little, trying to find the proper way to say this; but it was difficult to concentrate with her steady gaze. "I felt the sun graze my face as I sank to my knees, absolutely full of despair and sadness. For a long time, droplets of blood continued to fall into my lap. Until there was no 'now'. The storyteller didn't exist anymore but he did get his purpose to show that novels tell us the most truth about life: what it is, how we live it, what it might be for, how we enjoy and value it, and how we lose it." I quoted the end of my book and she caught it right away, so she looked at me very intrigued. I tried to calm down and re-write the ending. "But novels, in most cases, have an epilogue; that part of the story that was unfinished. And in most cases, the epilogue is the key of the whole story or what defines it. There was no 'now' for the storyteller as the man he used to be; but there was a renewed 'now' for him. And it was as if a hand had come out, and taken his. That hand pulled him up from the abyss and darkness, showing him that up in the surface was the sun shining with a whole new life for him. A complete life, not a half, torn life as his past life had been. He clutched that hand and never let it go." I began to write on my mind as I took one of her hands and intertwined my fingers with hers. "Such was the safety that hand was making him feel that he began to feel something; something he had felt before, but with a different hand in a different way, but not for that less. It was a feeling right in his heart." I placed both of our hands on my heart and looked deeply into her eyes. "He had all this renewed love to give to this hand; but he was scared. This time, he wanted to do it right, because this hand meant a lot to him. So that was the moment he turned his gaze from the hand to her face. And he saw her eyes and realized that he shouldn't be scared because all he's always wanted for his life was right in front of him. His future was going to be the result of the decisions that he makes, so he took the decision of having her in his life. So he told her..." My voice wobbled as I cupped her cheek and moved closer to her. "I want to create this new life with you, both of us together, with all of me and all of you, as life and love partners, Jen." I whispered, feeling my heart beating fast while she was looking at me stunned. She didn't say a word, so I took a deep breath and finished what I started. "And he showed her his feelings in the purest way..."

Then, without even pausing to give this a second thought, I leaned in, closed my eyes and kissed her lips; very gently and a bit shyly. They felt warm and soft. And they gave me millions of feelings that I thought I'd never feel again with a person other than Sunny. But most importantly, I felt like she was my new one and only. If I was infatuated with Jen before, now I was most definitely head over heels for her. After kissing very tenderly her lips, I parted a little with my eyes still closed. This was the moment I'd be kissed back or slapped hard. The defining moment of knowing if she was feeling the same or not. None of what I thought happened; instead, she breathed in front of my lips and spoke.

"And she told him..." She whispered with husky voice. "I want to be your life and love partner, Brian."

I let out a chuckle out of the immense and sudden happiness I felt and right after I took both of her cheeks with my hands and kissed her again. This time more affectionately and confidently. When she ran a hand through my hair and deepened the kiss, I felt like we were officially dating. That night we lay down together and cuddled without taking our eyes out of each other. None of us fell asleep and we continued writing our own story.

---

"Take me as a tequila... All at once and without thinking." Darren's husky voice whispered in your ear. You couldn't help laughing.

"Get out, Darren. I gotta finish this thing." You responded in between giggles while he was rubbing your body with his hands.

It was a quiet afternoon after class; both of you were in your dorm room and you were painting a landscape for an assignment while Darren was bored because he finished his own assignments about an hour ago. Hence, he began to entertain himself, fiddling with your body.

"Don't do this to me." He whined, his voice still sounding husky. "You're arousing me on purpose."

"How am I even arousing you?" You chuckled while scowling.

Seriously, all you've done all afternoon long was to be in sportswear, with your hair all messed up, paint all over your hands and face, sitting quietly, just painting. There was nothing less sexy than that.

"Argh!" He roared in your ear while squeezing your waist and tugging your hoodie by behind. "It's just that those leggings are so fucking provocative. And that wild hair of yours. And you do that thing with your mouth when you paint. Fuck, baby. Now I've got an urge on you."

"Geez, Darren." You laughed as his hands began to wander about your legs. "Stop it, Darren. I have to finish this."

"Come on, just throw it all away and let's make out." He groaned before nibbling your earlobe.

"Darren! You're decentralizing me and I'm gonna screw this up." You complained when you shivered and this led you to paint something you shouldn't have painted.

"But baby! Cannot you see I'm in misery?" He whimpered and bit his lower lip. You turned your face to look at him.

"I'm sorry I'm making you miserable. But this is an important assignment and I have to do it right because my grades depend on this." You responded gently and he sighed and threw his head down.

"Okay, baby." He said with soft voice before looking up to peck your lips. "I'll hold back my urge so that you can finish it. But after that, we must make out." He said and you giggled. You placed a hand on the back of his head and pulled him to you to whisper in front of his lips.

"I promise you that when I finish this, you'll have the best day of your life." You said seductively before tugging his lower lip with your teeth.

"I'll keep that on mind." He responded with throaty voice. Then he pulled himself together and sat on a chair next to you. Tranquilly, he observed you painting for a while. "So... How can I help you for you to finish this quickly?"

"Gosh, Darren! Are you really that desperate?" You chuckled while shaking your head.

"I already told you! I'm in misery!" He exclaimed exaggeratedly and you laughed out loud. "It's not my fault that you're so damn irresistible."

"Oh, I feel flattered." You smirked.

"Now, you flatter me." He requested as his hands returned to your body and began to rub your inner thighs.

"Okay, you know what?" You suddenly said, putting your paintbrush aside. Such was the vigor of your voice that he stopped rubbing your body to look at you bewildered. "Screw this assignment. Let's make out." You said hurriedly, sitting on his lap to kiss his lips before he could react.

"Fuck, baby. I love when you do that." He tried to utter while you were basically devouring his mouth, running your hands through his bushy, curly hair.

"Shut up and just kiss me." You panted in front of his lips. He chuckled in between the kiss and then he placed his hands firmly on your back and pulled you closer to him, deepening the kiss. You entangled your fingers in his hair and moaned a little. "Ah, I love your hair."

He parted a little and looked at you. You sensed certain naughtiness in his look, causing you to suspect that he was gonna do something silly. And he indeed did so. He tilted his head down and brought his bushy hair to your mouth, rubbing your lips with all of his curls.

"Kiss my curls, they love you so much!" He spoke with childish, sharp voice.

"Darren! I'm gonna choke with your hair!" You tried to move away, but he kept pulling you closer.

"Oh, Freckles, we also wanna make out with you!" He continued talking with the childish voice.

"Darren! You ruined the moment!" You complained but laughing. When he finally parted and looked at you with shiny hazel eyes because of his amusement, you pushed him softly with a chuckle. "You're such a dork!"

"Do you love me with all my dorkiness?" He asked with a cheesy smile, showing all of his teeth. You grinned and wrapped your arms around his neck.

"Your dorkiness is my weakness." You answered, nuzzling his nose with yours. He smiled brightly and enfolded his arms around you.

"And you are my weakness, cheeky creepy bossynova." He chuckled and you punched his chest softly.

"Oh god, you didn't forget that!" You exclaimed.

"Never, baby." He brushed your lips with his. "Baby! You didn't finish your assignment. You're a lazy ass!" He said out of the blue and you raised an eyebrow.

"Shut up before I kill you." It was your answer that made him laugh.

"Rude!" He exclaimed.

So yes, you had a pretty peculiar relationship with Darren and you loved it. It was like no day was like another day with him. Even though you weren't living together, it was like you were, because —apart from the hours of classes— you'd do everything together, whether in his apartment or in your dorm room. Months went by since you started dating and the relationship didn't go wasted; quite the opposite, it was getting better over time. That happiness of seeing the partner that one usually feels in the first months of a relationship and that usually vanishes gradually was still there, growing. You were feeling lively, like back in high school when you were together. If someone asked you what happiness means to you, you'd answer: Darren is. Even with the silly disputes you had in you daily life. Simple as that.

"Baby, I don't wanna interrupt your sweet process of admiring my beautiful face..." Darren began to say, clearly making fun of you for having been watching him like a fool for a while. "But we gotta go."

"Where?" You frowned slightly.

"Uh... The meeting with guys?" He responded and you slapped your forehead.

"Oh, right! I almost forgot!" You exclaimed and he narrowed his eyes.

"You almost forgot? You actually forgot it, you mean." He mocked you and you just shot him a withering —but playful— look. "Sorry! Don't wanna unleash your crazy, grumpy mood, creepy cheeky bossynova!" He laughed and you pushed him softly.

"Give me a sec, I'll change my clothes." You announced while standing up.

"A sec? You mean an hour, then!" He exclaimed while you were walking to your closet. As an answer, you stuck out your tongue.

An hour and a half later —more than what Darren predicted— he and you left your dorm room and took the bus to go to downtown, not before he complained about how you took too long to get ready if you just looked gorgeous the way you were. While you were walking holding hands, going to Jen's house, Darren looked at you curiously.

"Why do you think they were so desperate for us to go there?" He asked and you shrugged.

"No idea. I just hope it's nothing bad." You answered, concerned that it could be because of something related to Jim.

"I think it's pretty weird. It's been a while since the last time we had news of Jim. I'm afraid it could be something related to him." He commented. You grinned a little just because you and he were sharing the same thought, as if your minds were connected.

"Yes, me too. But once again, they did sound desperate but not nervous or scared. So it might have nothing to do with Jim. Perhaps it's something else." You pointed out and he nodded.

"What if it's something related to Brian's health? What if something bad happened to his health?" He asked and you sighed.

"Well, we'll know in a minute, I guess." You replied.

"You seem to be quite tranquil." He opined.

"Maybe. But I'm not. I'm just trying to learn how to remain calm in any situation. I'm getting ready for future occasions." You said, thinking about the day you'd face Jim.

"You know I can help you with all of your preparation." He suggested, obviously getting what you meant with that. You looked at him and gave him a fond smile.

"I know, Darebear. Thank you." You put a kiss on his hand.

"Aaaand... With this I'm trying to say that I wish you could let me do this with you. I want to do this with you, together; not just you alone with a little help from me." He voiced and you grinned and nodded.

"Okay, but there's a difference between you and me. You're very confident, you have balls when it comes to facing a scary situation; even if it scares the shit outta you, you just do it. I don't. I chicken out at scary situations; I run away from them. I'm insecure and fearful. So, let me overcome this and let me be at your level before we do this together." You requested softly and he looked deeply into your eyes.

"Then let me help you overcome it. You know I'm good when it comes to help you, just you. I know you way too much, so I'll find a way." He responded and you grinned at him.

"I can let you do so. You always find a way." You answered and he smiled broadly and wrapped an arm around you.

Ten minutes later, you arrived to Jen's house and knocked the door. You began to feel even more nervous, but you breathed in and out to calm down as you'd been practicing. Jen was the one who opened the door; she didn't look worried or scared, or sad, which was pretty weird. When Darren and you entered, you saw Brian on his wheelchair, talking to Mandy and Joey who were already there. None of them seemed to be hurt or distressed. They were more like cheerful. You and Darren exchanged confused looks before joining them in the living room.

"Hi, guys!" You and Darren greeted at the same time. Brian, Mandy and Joey looked at you and smiled.

"Hi, pieces of shit." Mandy greeted.

Darren ran to her to mess up her hair, causing her to get upset as Joey walked to you and gave you one of his 'bear hugs' as he like to call it. Brian rolled to Darren and gave him a fist-punch before he rolled to you. You squatted and gave him a warm hug and a noisy kiss on his cheek.

"Hi, bunny teddy." It was your new nickname to him, recalling the bunny teddy he once gave you. He smiled at it. "How are you?" You asked, trying to dissipate your doubt about problems with his health as Darren suspected.

"Fabulous. Alive and kicking with my super functioning legs." He tried to joke.

"Brian! Your dark humor, please!" You reproached, crossing your arms above your chest.

"Why nobody likes my dark humor, eh?" He asked.

"Because it's stupid and morbid, you scumbag." Mandy responded and Brian chuckled.

"But it's humor, at end." Brian shrugged.

He was seemingly wanting to start a playful dispute with your sister, but Mandy just rolled her eyes. You noticed how Darren —on the sly and next to your sister— was encouraging Brian to keep doing that. That time you were the one who rolled the eyes.

"It seems that when he recovered, he became some sort of rebel guy." Jen suddenly said, rubbing Brian's arms from behind.

You observed how Brian held one of her hands and intertwined his fingers with hers as she rested her chin on his shoulder. You looked down and tried to hide a puckish grin. Both of them were so obvious, so innocent and oblivious of each other's feelings that it was amusing.

"Rebel and hot guy. I like it, bro." Joey winked at Brian.

You laughed because although everything had changed in the period from when Brian 'died' until he returned and everything that followed it, there were certain things that were still the same; like Joey flirting with Brian, or Darren encouraging people to annoy your sister because it was entertaining for him, or your sister insulting people no matter their condition or whatever, or Jen trying to see another perspective about things.

"So, hottie and smart girl... Are you gonna tell us why we are in this house with weird furniture?" Mandy asked, looking at the table which was higher than normal for Brian's comfort. "And you better called us for good news or I'm gonna throw this weird, aberrant table into your pretty faces."

"Oh, geez. I'm already a disabled, I don't wanna be a monster too." Brian commented.

"Brian!" You, Mandy and Jen rebuked him at the same time while the boys were laughing.

"They aren't good news, though." Jen responded and everyone stopped laughing and looked at her serious and concerned. "They're very important and amazing news." Her teeth shone bright and the rest of you frowned a bit suspicious.

"And... Can you tell us?" Joey asked.

"Not yet. We're waiting for more people." Jen answered.

"Who?" Darren asked and his voice sounded a bit harsh, as if he didn't like it. "I mean, if they're important news... It's supposed that just our team should know it first. And our team just includes Joey, Mandy, Freckles, Brian, you and me, Jen." He clarified.

"Screw you, little shit! I cannot believe you forgot about us!" A familiar male voice suddenly sounded from the entry.

All of you looked at that direction right away and a wide smile spread across your face when you saw Chuck and Lucy, smiling at each of you. All of you —except Brian— ran to them to give them a group hug in between giggles out of gladness. When you parted, Lucy and Chuck looked at Brian and tears of joy shimmered in their eyes as they walked to him to hug him tightly. They already knew all about Brian and even talked to him over phone, but this was the first time they saw him, so it was understandable that they were thrilled and overjoyed. In middle of the hug, they whispered him something that you got to hear.

"We were never happier than now of seeing you again." Lucy whispered.

"A part of us was missing when you were gone, so never dare to leave us again, because our life without you wasn't a good life, bro." Chuck whispered. "You're very important to us. You're our family, okay?"

You felt very moved when you heard what they said and more when they looked into the eyes. There was so much simplicity in those words and look, but that simplicity said too much, because sometimes simple gestures are the ones that touch hearts the most. You looked around, watched each of the people who were there and observed the situation very intently; all of you were so different yet so close, there was something very strong that was bonding all of your differences and it was called friendship, the real type one. Years ago —when you were a lonely girl— you'd have never pictured that you'd find people who would make you feel like part of something big and unique. When you realized this, you smiled and understood why Brian was strong whenever it came to facing Jim: He had a reason to fight for. And that same reason would help you get all the confidence that lacked you.

"I love you, guys." You voice cracked a little owing to your thrill. All of them looked at you kindly and grinned. "And I love our friendship." You added and Joey —next to you— put an arm over your shoulder. "Years ago, we didn't even know each other and each of us had a problem, each of us were lonely at some extent. And look at us, now." You shrugged. "We'll never be alone again, because we have each other. This friendship is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"To all of us, I'd say." Brian grinned sweetly and you nodded.

"We love you, maudlin girl." Joey commented jokingly and you let out a choked laugh.

"I guess I'm indeed a maudlin girl." You responded, wiping away a tear that was about to escape the corner of your eye. Casually, your sight focused on Darren who was looking fixedly at you; he smiled fondly and muttered 'I love you' with his lips.

After that little outburst you had, all of you sat in the living room and chattered about silly things for a while. When the laughter and jokes ceased, all of you remained silent and for a moment you thought that Jen and Brian would tell the supposed 'important and amazing' news, but they didn't. Instead, you did something pending between all of you and Brian. It was the 'talk' you had when you recently faced Brian's 'death'. As back in that time, you all told Brian all you ever wanted to tell him but didn't get the chance, only that this time he was present for real. At first —naturally— you felt a bit shy, because it's always a little awkward to tell someone your deepest feelings; but not long after you felt more comfortable because this was an one-off chance to finally say it. Of course that Brian felt very moved and he wasn't ashamed of shedding few tears as each of you were telling everything. It was a wonderful experience. Like back in that time, Jen was the last one who spoke and all of you were very anxious to hear her telling him her feelings. Maybe this would be the day that Brian and Jen would be honest with each other and perhaps —and luckily— they would do something about it. So all of you looked intently at Jen when she looked at Brian and opened her mouth to start talking.

"Brian..." She started saying with soft voice and an affectionate smile. You could see her eyes shining and that made you smile; this time not because it was amusing, but because it was cute. "When I said this the first time, when we thought you were gone, I said it like a person who doesn't know how to speak, it was because I couldn't talk because I was terribly sad. The guys can tell you... You wouldn't have recognized me." She chuckled softly and so did Brian.

"True that, though..." Darren mocked her and you nudged him as a reproach. A 'shut up' came out from your mouth and he got silent.

"So I'll try to say it right this time." Jen continued as your eagerness was killing you. "Brian, my confession is that I'm very fond of you." She started and your heart skipped a beat as if someone you loved was telling you this. You couldn't imagine how Brian would be feeling in that moment. "Although it's always been hard for you, you opened up to me and let me see all of you. And, yet, there's nothing about you that I dislike. You have something that can make other people feel loved, something that makes you be the best person I've ever met." She smiled fondly at Brian who was looking lovingly at her with a pair of bright green eyes. "And I'd say this again because you must know. You're very kind and humble, but you're so wrongly convinced that you have no importance." She said and Brian pursed his lips and nodded, as if acknowledging that it was true. "I've always wanted you to notice that it's us the ones who are graced by your presence. You are important. You matter. You are overflowing with love, and everybody can see it from a mile away." She said slowly and gently, emphasizing each word. Brian was looking affectionately at her, his green eyes were filled with tears of joy and even your own eyes shimmered with tears. "My confession that day was, and it still is..." She said next to him, placing a hand on his knee. Okay, the moment came. She finally was gonna tell him what you've been expecting all this time. "Brian, I'm in love with you." She whispered and such was the fondness with which she said it that it made you shed the tears that were pricking at the corners of your eyes.

It followed a short silence that seemed to be an eternity to you in which Brian and Jen stared deeply at each other. 'Damn, Brian, say something!' You thought in your mind and you were sure that everybody was just thinking the same. Brian cupped Jen's cheek and brushed it with his thumb. At this point you were dying; you needed him to take action right away.

"And I'm in love with you, Jen." Brian spoke and you dropped your jaw because you never thought that he would say it so shameless and forthright. 'Okay, the kiss now' you were repeating in your mind. "And I think we should tell them now one of the important news."

"Oh fuck!" Many basically screamed, apparently frustrated. "Screw the stupid important news and just fucking kiss, will you?" She continued yelling and all of you giggled.

"Yes, goddammit! Just kiss for fuck's sake!" Darren shouted.

"We've been waiting for that kiss like forever!" You continued saying as Jen and Brian were looking amused at each of you.

"If you'd just let us tell the news..." Jen let out a chuckle.

"Shit! What's wrong with you, people? Kiss!" Chuck yelled.

"And it's an order!" Joey added.

"Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss..." You, Darren, Joey, Mandy, Chuck and Lucy started reciting at the same time in between giggles, like a group of excited teenagers.

"Stop! Just let us tell the news..." Jen began complaining while laughing.

"Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss..." The six of you continued repeating.

"Jen and I have been dating for three weeks now." Brian's imposing and loud voice suddenly made all of you shut up to look at them bewildered.

"What?" You asked with loud, shrill voice out of your astonishment.

"Jen and I have talked and we started dating about three weeks ago." Brian repeated and you widened your eyes and looked at the two of them open-mouthed.

"No kiss, no evidence that you're telling the truth." Joey crossed his arms above his chest.

"No problem at all." Brian smirked mischievously and looked at Jen straight into her eyes.

It was unexpected and abrupt. Brian took Jen by her cheeks and pulled her to him to give her a kind of intense kiss. And then the kiss continued deepening more and more as the passion and fervency was also increasing. Obviously, all of you were looking at them flabbergasted. You had to blink several times to make sure that you were seeing properly. They were indeed kissing and what a hell of kiss that was!

"Alright, well! Stop kissing, you motherfuckers! I'll be traumatized for life because of that kiss!" Mandy commented in a yell, breaking the tension and making all of you burst out laughing.

Brian and Jen broke the kiss and nuzzled their noses while chuckling. In other circumstances —and if you still were the girl you used to be— you'd feel offended because Brian didn't tell you this in the minute after they started dating. You'd be a bit upset now, but you weren't. You couldn't be upset and if you were, you just had to see their eyes to feel as glad and moved as you were feeling in that very moment. You smiled at Brian's bright eyes and thought that he deserved this. He deserved to feel the happiness that Jen was giving him. He'd suffered so much in his life, that seeing him overflowing joy was gratifying. Then you looked at Jen and your smile grew wider. She also deserved this, probably more than anyone in the room; even if nobody could notice it, she was the one who —in the time Brian was absent— kept all of you together and strong. You felt a warm hand fondling your shoulder and you looked up to find Darren looking sweetly at you.

"Our mission is accomplished." He whispered with a wink.

"It is indeed." You chuckled, remembering when you and Darren had hatched up certain plans —which ended up being a total failure— to get Brian and Jen together.

"Tell us how it happened!" Lucy suddenly squealed so that got your attention. You really wanted to know that.

"Well, that's an interesting story, I believe." Brian commented cheerfully.

"Yeah, it is. And it leads us to tell you the second important and amazing news." Jen's teeth shone bright. At this point, all of you were looking curiously at them. "I think we should tell them so in our own way. You know how." Jen said to Brian while running her fingers through his hair. Brian grinned widely and nodded before looking at the rest of you.

"This is the story and it begins with the end, in reverse." Brian began to speak and all of you looked at him intently.

You grinned slightly when you noticed that he was about to tell the story as though it was a written book and you wondered if others noticed it, too. This was always your favorite part of Brian's talks.

"We were lying down, staring into each other's eyes and holding hands, sharing a secret that only the both of us knew." Brian started and he was awfully interrupted by your sister.

"Oh my god! You had sex already!" She practically shouted and it made all of you roll your eyes.

"Shut up, Amanda and appreciate this guy's talent!" Darren growled, but not harshly. "Keep going, bro." He looked at Brian who nodded.

"Without speaking, we were talking about the large amount of events that happened in so little time and how astounding everything has been. Minutes ago, or perhaps hours -time was irrelevant and immeasurable as it always is when great things are happening- we opened each other's hearts up and told our feelings. They came as a story that later turned into reality, or perhaps it was a reality that turned into a story. More accurately, we created this story together as we were creating our own reality because we understood that future is nothing but what you make of it in the present. It happens in all stories, it happens in all lives. " Brian said and you smiled at it. "I took her hand when we kissed for the first time. It wasn't the passionate kiss of movies, it wasn't the poetic kiss of books, it wasn't the artistic kiss of paintings. It wasn't the greatest of the kisses nor the worst of them. It was simple -as the best things of life are- and meaningful. It was the kind of kisses that speak and say: I want to create this story of life with you. And hand in hand we continued creating our story just as the same way it began, since the beginning. Every couple in the world and history has their own intimate aspect that characterizes their relationship and make it be unique. For some couples is speaking with their eyes or expressing their feelings through songs." Brian said, giving you and Darren a mischievous look as you and Darren looked at each other and smiled. "For some others is humor and brutal but playful way to express their feelings through insults." He looked at Mandy and Joey, making all of you burst out laughing. "And for others is loyal company and tenderness." He nodded at Chuck and Lucy. Then Brian looked at Jen and held her hand. "For us, it is and it's always been being hand in hand. The reasons of why this is our thing are endless and I could talk about it for hours on, so I'll enumerate the reasons of why our thing led us to that kiss." He clarified as you were looking at him mesmerized owing to the way he was telling everything. It was as though he was reading a book. "She took my hand when I was falling. She took my hand and didn't let go. Part of this statement is metaphorical, part of it isn't; here why our story is both a story and reality. Metaphorically speaking, her hand that took mine took me out of my depression and showed me that my life was mine to create and that it could be a life worth living; I noticed it was indeed like that just as long as I could have her hand holding mine. Literally speaking, she took my hand to help me walk and don't let me fall."

"Uh, wouldn't it be metaphorical, too?" Joey asked shyly and all of you —except Brian and Jen— shot him a withering look, thinking that there were certain things that couldn't be asked because it reminded Brian that he had a disability.

"No, it isn't metaphorical. It is one of the reasons that led to the kiss, remember?" He asked and all of you frowned in confusion. Even though you all looked at Joey that way, you were thinking the same than him. "Her hand, the one that always held mine when I needed, did it once again. She didn't fail to show me that there was something good for me in this life. Some people say that miracles happen; I say that there's miraculous people who give you the strength to keep trying on and on until something important happens, something worth of being called miracle. To me, Jen is that miraculous person who gave me the strength to try on and on until the important something happened and then I could call it a miracle."

"Brian, it's quite complicated to understand that." Darren commented and you had to agree on that.

"I know. Miracles are hard to believe or understand if you don't see them with your own eyes, right? It happens all the time." Brian nodded and you looked at him, expecting him to elaborate. He looked at Jen and stretched out his hand. "I think it's time to show them, so that they will understand this miracle and why being hand in hand is very important and significant to us."

"Yes." Jen grinned broadly and took Brian's hand before standing up.

An immense silence was taking over the room as you all were observing very intently what Jen and Brian were doing, trying to understand what this all was up to. Jen made a gesture as encouraging Brian to do it and he smiled before closing his eyes and biting his lips, creating a facial expression that showed some sort of pain. You and Darren managed to exchange confused looks before realizing that Brian had that face because he was forcing his arms. He wanted to stand up, but he clearly couldn't because of his disability. You and some others attempted to stop with this because it was sad to see, but no one dared to do it. You couldn't understand why Jen was encouraging this, considering how much she knew about Brian's condition. All of you looked away in order to avoid seeing the sadness of Brian's attempt to stand up. You looked distressed at Jen as way to ask her to stop doing it, but she disregarded it. And then... There was a moment in which none of you breathed or moved, it was the exact moment when you all saw how Brian moved his legs. From that moment on, each of you held your breath and looked at him completely stunned. But it was when he stood up that your heart skipped a beat and you dropped your mouth. It was when he —with help from Jen's hand— took a step forward that your eyes filled with tears; tears difficult to be cataloged; it was because of joy, because of astonishment, because of thrill.

"Walk to her." You heard Jen whispering in Brian's ear.

Your body started shivering because of fear when Jen let go Brian's hand. You thought he was gonna fall, but —miraculously— he maintained balance and a bit nervous smile spread across his face. Your body was still shivering, but this time because of your amazement and thrill of seeing Brian walking —very slowly and unsteady— by his own. You covered your mouth with a hand and looked fixedly —and without blinking— at Brian through your watery eyes, watching each step forward he was taking to you. You let fall all of your tears when Brian drifted his gaze from his feet to your eyes. It was when he looked at you that he lost balance and fell. But he fell directly in your arms which embraced him very tightly. You were shivering against him and all of your tears hit his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around you and kissed the top of your head.

"Shit." You heard Mandy murmuring because of her bewilderment. You parted and cupped Brian's face with your hands. His green eyes were glistening with such brightness you haven't seen before.

"Brian." It was all you could say. Words weren't enough to convey all you wanted and needed to say.

"Don't say anything. I know." He responded with an affectionate smile.

"I understand why the hand. And it makes me feel so happy." You whispered with choked voice before hugging him again. Then you sensed how he raised his head to speak out.

"So the story of how Jen and I got together begins as it ends and vice versa: holding hands and..." He began to say a bit amused and was interrupted by everyone when they ran to him to join the hug in between giggles.

"Hey, you guys!" Darren suddenly exclaimed, breaking the group hug. "I've got the perfect song for you!" He announced excited, with a big smile directed at Jen and Brian. "Freckles! Do you know what song I'm talking about?"

"So far, I can't read minds, Dare." You pursed your lips, trying to hide a mischievous grin.

"Come on! I'll give you a hint." He responded and began to hum the song and you guessed which it was right away. "Isn't it the perfect song for them?"

"It is indeed!" You exclaimed joyfully.

"Sing it with me." He requested and you accepted as Jen and Brian were looking at the two of you intrigued. And so Darren and you started singing in unison.

Oh yeah I'll tell you something

I think you'll understand

When I say that something

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

Then Joey and Chuck joined and started singing with you.

Oh please say to me

You'll let me be your man

And please say to me

You'll let me hold your hand

Now let me hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you I feel happy inside

It's such a feeling that my love

I can't hide, I can't hide, I can't hide

Mandy and Lucy were the next who joined the song.

Yeah, you got that something

I think you'll understand

When I say that something

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you I feel happy inside

It's such a feeling that my love

I can't hide, I can't hide, I can't hide

And finally —and surprisingly— Brian began to sing to Jen and the rest of you got silent to hear him singing to her.

Yeah you, got that something

I think you'll understand

When I feel that something

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

Brian finished singing while holding Jen's hands. Probably there wasn't anything cuter than seeing that. It was followed by a kiss that Jen gave to him and that completed the cuteness of the whole situation.

"Our song?" Brian whispered in front of her lips.

"Our song." Jen asserted.

Alright, no. That was what completed the cuteness of the whole situation. Even Mandy smiled at that; it didn't last much because she hid it, but you got to see it. Darren glanced at you and this time he didn't have to say anything for you to understand what was on his mind. While everybody was busy, you walked to Darren's guitar case and handed it to him. Then he and you sat on the couch next to each other and when he strummed the guitar, everybody looked at you.

"Listen up, guys..." Darren started.

"That's what we're already doing, sucker." Mandy answered and you held back a chuckle.

"Fuck you, Amanda." Darren responded aggressively as a joke. "Freckles... Please, you continue or this bitch is gonna interrupt me again." That was their relationship and you -as well as the rest- enjoyed it.

"Okay." You chuckled. "Together, Darren and I have written a song. Actually, Darren composed it and I just helped with the idea and lyrics..."

"You did a big part." Darren commented.

"Okay, come on! Stop with those cheesy compliments and shit and just tell us!" Mandy interrupted.

"Okay, fine!" Darren widened his eyes while looking at Mandy. "Go on, baby."

"As I was saying, we've written a song. The idea, well..." You looked at Brian amused. "I'll go straight to the heart of the matter." You clarified as Brian was already narrowing his eyes in suspicion. "Brian was taking too long to tell Jen his feelings and we also knew that Jen wouldn't say a word if Brian wasn't the first to say it. And Darren and I are very impatient and hasty people. We had the need to do something about it. So we wrote this song. This song is as if Brian is the one singing it to Jen. So that way, Brian would tell her his feelings and Jen would hear it, even if he wasn't the one singing it or whatever. You get the point, right?"

"Putting it simple... Jen, we know that Brian wanted to tell you this... So, we'll sing it for him. Okay?" Darren commented hastily. He was eager to sing the song.

"Alright..." Brian whispered. "Let's see what is what I wanted to tell her." He commented and Jen giggled.

"Yeah, I wanna hear what you supposedly want to tell me." She commented.

"Hey! Don't underestimate this! We've made a big effort and for a good cause with good intentions." You pouted, pretending to be offended.

"Sunny, we're not underestimating it. It's just funny and weird what you did, not for that bad, quite the contrary actually . I really appreciate it." Brian answered. "I'm just curious."

"Do you want to hear it or not?" You asked.

"Of course we want!" He replied right away and Jen nodded in agreement.

"Okay, let's start, Dare." You looked at him and he nodded before starting to play his guitar.

"Yes, dammit! Just start!" Chuck exclaimed eagerly, just as his brother was.

I've seen her face, I've heard her name

I've lost my place and she's to blame

And I can't stand it when I'm staring in her eyes

And she's not looking back, it's not a big surprise

I've heard music, I've heard noise

I wish that she could hear her voice

The way that I do when I go to sleep at night

And dream my life away but she's gone when I awake

You began to sing and Darren was the one who continued.

Jenny, Jenny...

Why can't you see

What you're doing to me?

The way her hair falls in her eyes

Makes me wonder if she'll

Ever see through my disguise

And I'm under her spell

Everything is falling

And I don't know where to land

Everyone knows who she is

But she don't know who I am

When Darren finished, you sang the chorus.

Jenny, Jenny...

Why can't you see

What you're doing to me?

From that moment, Darren and you sang in unison.

I see you singing on that stage

You look just like an angel

And all I do is pray

That maybe, someday you'll hear my song

And understand that all along

There's something more that I'm trying to say

When I say

Jenny, Jenny...

Why can't you see

What you're doing to me?

What you're doing to me!

Jenny, Jenny...

Why can't you see

What you're doing to me?

What you're doing to me...

The both of you ended the song and that was the moment when you looked up. Brian and Jen were looking at the tow of you with bright smiles on their faces.

"I like it, man." Joey was the first who commented.

"It's cute." Lucy grinned sweetly.

"Thank you for doing it, guys." Brian said out loud. "I personally love it and I think the song is pretty accurate. It's a good song and it could have helped a lot, so thank you." He smile at the two of you before looking at Jen. "We've another song."

"It seems so. I love both of them. But this last one is more personal and exclusive, don't you think?" Her teeth shone bright as Brian agreed. "Thank you a lot, guys! You're the best!"

"Hey! I'm offended." Joey pouted and all of you laughed out loud.

"Aw, naw!" Jen exclaimed as if Joey's face inflicted cuteness on her. "All of you are the best, guys." She added.

After that, you all continued talking lively until Brian rolled to the kitchen to make something for dinner and you followed him because you still needed that little talk between you and him about all that happened, to just know how he was feeling and if he was happy. He was giving you his back, still unaware that you were behind him, and so you placed your hands on his broad shoulders and squeezed them, making him startle as usual.

"Sunny! How many times have we talked about you frightening me off? My poor heart, please." He joked and you roared with laughter.

"Sorry, I'm wont to do it. I forgot about your poor and delicate heart." You wrapped your arms around his neck and rested your chin on his shoulder to put a kiss on his cheek.

"Kind of missed it." He shrugged and looked at you amused. "So, you're here because you want to help me cook. Yay!" He commented ironically, clearly as a way to ask you what you wanted to tell him.

"Always so shrewd enough to guess the motive behind this gesture." You commented with a chuckle when he made a proud grimace. Without asking, you sat on his lap as he started preparing some sort of sauce. You observed him silently for a while until you asked him. "So? How do you feel?"

"Uh?" He asked distractedly before looking into your eyes.

"You know, how do you feel, like in general, now that your life has basically turned upside down so quickly? And I'm speaking of all things involved." You reformulated the question and he stopped doing what he was doing to pay attention to you.

"Great." He beamed widely and you remained looking at him intently, wanting him to elaborate. "I'll put it simple, because I believe it's the best way you can convey something so complex." He voiced and you nodded. "You, more than anyone, know how my life has been. You know it all, what has happened to me, what I had to go through, how I've felt, what I've done, my dreams, goals, fears, sadness. You know that my life has been hard and most of the time I was bitter and down." He began to say and you tilted your head to try to look into his eyes that were looking down. "Then I had a breaking point in my life that marked a before and after my accident." He referred to when Jim shot him, actually. He used to call it 'accident', even if it wasn't. "The way I see and value life is different now. I understood a lot of things that before I couldn't, I learned many others, and I experienced few others. All of those little things together taught me a valuable lesson." He looked up and grinned. "Life is hard, but bitterness isn't the solution. And so one day you realize that everything starts again... And the smile returns to be the owner of your life. Then you can say that you're happy and you're feeling great despite the pain that everyone, inevitably, carries upon their shoulders. You aren't lying, it's just that you understood that life's too short to deprive yourself of your smiles and your chance at happiness. So that, in middle of your pain and struggles, you create your happiness and you just live your life the way you want." He said as you were staring at him thrilled, tears glistening in your eyes. "So, my answer to your question is that I'm feeling great."

"Bri, you've always been a wonderful person. Now you also have a wonderful way to see life." You commented with a kind smile, caressing one of his arms. "I'm glad to have you back and so glad for your happiness. Your dad would be so proud of how his son became this great man."

"Do you really think so?" He asked, his voice sounding a bit choked.

"I do." You threw your arms around his neck as he wrapped his arms around your waist to embrace you. "We all are proud of you." You whispered in his ear. "Look how far you've come!" You chuckled with joy while parting to look into his bright green eyes.

"Who would have thought, eh?" He joked and you nudged him softly.

"Dark humor!" You reproached while giggling. "Aw!" You let out a long sigh. "I love you, bunny teddy."

"And I love you, baby girl." He gave you a tight hug and a noisy kiss on the top of your head.

"Remind me that I gotta tell Jen that she's the best person ever for making you feel this way." You murmured and he let out a chuckle.

"Alright, I will." He put a kiss on your cheek as you giggled. "Now I remind you to help me bring this food to the table."

"I never asked you to remind me that. How would I possibly ask you to remind me such a thing, eh?" You joked and he laughed. "But just because I'm a good girl, I'm gonna help you with that." You added with an amused, mischievous smirk.

All of you had a nice dinner and you did thank Jen as you said. The spotlight —obviously and well deserved— was on Brian and Jen. Each of you would ask them how it happened, or how they were feeling. You didn't ask too much, you simply chose to listen to them and watch their actions and small gestures. You noticed that Brian looked at Jen the way every girl would like to be observed. It was very similar than the way Darren looked at you, too. Different eyes, but same feeling, you thought. After your friends satisfied their curiosity, they started joking and playing games; it was as though for that moment everyone forgot that outside there was a dark world threatening to harm you. After the games, it came the hour of debates; and this time you weren't the one who started it, it was Chuck who had the purpose of making you feel upset so he would see your passionate, crazy side when it came to defend your point of view. This time the topic was wars, and you were very entertained until your phone rang, letting you know that you received a text message.

"I know where you are, with who and what you're doing."

It was an unknown number and you automatically guessed that it was Jim. You stared at your phone for a while and nibbled your lower lip, very surreptitiously. The least you wanted was to disturb your friends and ruin this nice moment, one of the few you had the last months. Maybe it was time to let Darren help you as he requested. You were about to squeeze his hand to make him read the text message on the sly, until your phone rang again.

"Sorry, I forgot I'm using a disposable phone and you don't have this number. I'm Sincere. I've got bad news and I need you to pretend that nothing is going on, so that your friends won't panic, as we agreed."

When you read that, your heart began to beat faster owing to your nervousness, yet you tried your best to look calm.

"Okay. Go on."

You typed the fastest you could, in order to not to attract attention. While waiting Sincere's response, you pretended to pay attention to the current dispute about guns and bombs used in wars. You were pretending to be listening and pondering about it when you got his response.

"Wade is coming for Brian right now."

You read and you couldn't help gasping, what made your friends look at you. You quickly stopped reading the text message to pretend that you gasped because you heard them saying something you disagreed.

"How can you say that, Many? It's outrageous!" You quickly opined when you realized that Mandy was the last who spoke.

"Why would it be outrageous?" She frowned in confusion.

"Yeah, why?" Darren looked at you, narrowing his eyes. You stayed silent, not knowing what you say because you had no idea what Mandy was saying; so you were waiting for someone to give you a clue about it.

"I think I know why she said it's outrageous." Lucy suddenly said and you felt relieved. "It's not because it itself is outrageous, it's because the whole context is outrageous. Right?"

"Exactly!" You exclaimed very loudly and when Lucy started explaining God knows what, and everybody paid attention to her, you continued reading the text message.

"Both you and I know that Brian can't face Wade in his condition and Wade just wants to get him. And both you and I know that you're the only one who has the chance to stop him if it's not Brian."

"Am I right, Freckles?" Lucy interrupted your reading. You looked up and noticed that all their gazes were fixed on you.

"Wh-what?" You stuttered, showing that you were nervous. "Sorry, it just drives me crazy to talk about wars and violence." You let out a shaky chuckle, to disengage from the situation.

"We can talk about something else." Joey suggested.

"Oh, no! I'd like to hear your opinions and at the end I can give you mine, as a conclusion." You responded. You couldn't concentrate in the debate and if they changed the topic, then you wouldn't know what to say if they asked you something.

"Good, then." Joey nodded and he continued talking as you continued reading.

"I tried to stop him, but I couldn't. He's alone and he'll be there at any moment. If he arrives, try not to let them see him. Entertain him until I arrive there to give you a hand. He seems to be mad, so you must be careful. If he..."

"I'm sure Freckles would agree with me!" Jen suddenly yelled and you widened your eyes as you looked at her, gulping.

"Of course! You know me very well, Jenny." You responded with a nervous smile.

"It was obvious. And what about you, Darren? You also agree with them?" Chuck asked and all the attention was on him, for your luck.

"If he gets to get in the house, your friends will face him and he's gonna hurt them badly. So it's very important that you face him alone, outside. Do not let him get to Brian. You can do this."

"Not sure if I can."

You responded with your shaky hands. You knew you should be brave, you knew you should be prepared for this, but you weren't; and you were feeling the need of Darren's help. Just with him alone you would feel safer and more secure.

"Not even think about getting help from your boyfriend. You know pretty well that Wade cannot stand him and your boyfriend is the first person Wade would kill."

Sincere replied as if he knew you pretty well. You bit your lips and frowned, thinking he was completely right. You couldn't ask Darren to help you because you wanted him to be safe, you didn't want him to be hurt.

"Get ready. Wade is just few miles away. I believe in you."

You brought your hand to your mouth and bit your fingers, now starting to panic. How could you pretend that you were calm? How could you pretend that nothing was going on if Jim was just few miles away, about to attack you, get Brian and hurt the rest? And how would you entertain Jim without making them suspect that something was going on?

"With who are you texting?" Darren suddenly whispered in your ear, trying to take a look at your phone. You hid it and looked at him with a pair of edgy eyes.

"Uh…" You babbled and gulped. "With a classmate." You answered, feeling very bad for lying to him. "She's asking me about something we have to do for tomorrow." You continued lying, feeling worse with each word. "Sorry." You added as if you were apologizing for being distracted, but actually you were apologizing for being lying to him. You were almost sure that Darren didn't believe you, judging by his look; yet he played fool, nodded and looked at the rest. "Dare…" You whispered anguished.

"Just tell me the truth, Freckles. What's going on?" He whispered while looking at Brian who was talking, being dissimulate as you.

"Nothing!" You responded and his eyes glistened with disappointment as he let out a sigh. "I… I…" You stammered. "I can't. Sorry."

"It's about Jim, isn't it?" He asked, his face very serious. You bit your lips strongly and hesitated about telling him or not. No lies would work with him.

"Yes." You whispered while looking down. There was long silence and your phone rang again.

"He's there."

Your heart skipped a beat and your face went pale when you read it. You gulped in order to calm down and when you looked up, you widened your eyes. Darren read it and was now looking at you with his worried hazel eyes. There was a knock at the door and everybody looked at that direction. You knew you should react, that you should stand up to open the door and keep Jim outside. But Darren was looking at you in a severe way, as if he was forbidding you to go there.

"Weird. We weren't expecting anyone else." Jen announced, puckering her brows.

"Don't you dare, Freckles." Darren whispered with clenched teeth.

"I'll go." You stood up and Darren took your hand.

"Don't." Darren repeated.

"I have to." You whispered. There was a second knock and your legs began to tremble as Darren stood up next to you. "I'll not ask you not to get mad at me because I know you will. But I'll ask you to let me do this alone because he's ready to hurt you if I don't go alone. Please."

"I'll not let you go alone." He responded firmly and a third knock was heard. "I'm gonna help you."

"If you want to help me, keep them entertained as I entertain Jim until Sincere arrives. He's not far from here and we must not let Jim get to Brian." You whispered supplicant and Darren looked down as thinking about it. When you heard the fourth knock, Brian rolled his wheelchair.

"I'll go." Brian announced.

"No!" Darren and you yelled at the same time, both of you sounding desperate and making them suspect.

"It's for me. I told a classmate she could come here so I could give her something. I hope you don't mind I told her to come over here." You tried to fix it.

"Oh. No problem at all." Brian said and you nodded and glanced at Darren as he glanced at you.

"Go. I'll entertain them and if you need my help, scream your supposed friend's name and I'll know you need me without making them suspect." Darren whispered and you gave him a thankful smile. "Be safe, baby."

"Yes." You pecked his lips and walked towards the door as you heard Darren starting a conversation about movies.

Your gait was unsteady and your body was shaking with fear. Your heart was beating faster with each step forward. When you reached the door, you stopped for a moment and took a deep breathe to look as if you were brave and defiant in front of Jim. With the same rapid speed with which you opened the door, you closed it behind you so that Jim would not enter. And there you were, face to face, looking steadily into each other's eyes.

"Whore. What a surprise!" Jim exclaimed with a wicked smirk.

"What are you doing here, Jim?" You asked with a expressionless face.

"I clearly didn't come to see you. So get out of my way because I just came for the wanker." He answered with the same wicked smirk.

"And do you think I'll let you get him?" You asked tranquilly, but feeling scared as hell inside.

"If you're smart, you'll let me do so." He responded.

"Why do you want him, Jim?" You crossed your arms above your chest.

"Do you really think I'm gonna tell you so?" He narrowed his eyes, making his gaze look maniac.

"No, not really." You shrugged while thinking that you actually were managing to control your fear in order to act naturally. "I'm just trying to understand you."

"Understand me?" He let out a bitter, loud chuckle. "What are you, a psychologist?"

"Not that I am aware of." You responded calmly, without feeling offended or attacked. "But I'm a perceptive person and I can tell that you're not as bad as you seem to appear. That day in hospital..."

"Don't analyze me, whore." Jim suddenly said very coldly, clenching his teeth.

"But I'm right, aren't I?" You asked slowly, looking fixedly into his eyes.

Jim looked down and pursed his lips, as though he was disturbed or troubled. Since that day in hospital —when he went to see Brian and apologized to him— you were thinking that there was something else behind the mask that he always pulled out when he was threatening you. There was a side of his heart that wasn't dark; it was almost indiscernible, but it was there. And it seemed that each time it was becoming harder for him to hide it. And you needed to know what it was and why.

"Look, whore…" He came back to his dark side. "I just came here to talk to the wanker. So, I'm not gonna hurt anybody if you get the fuck out of here and let me do what I came here for."

"I'm sorry, but you can't talk to Brian because of his condition. He must not face stressful situations." You responded but not in an aggressive way. You even sounded sad because of forbidding him this. He made a disturbed grimace again, perhaps because of the kindness of your voice. "But you can talk to me." You quickly added.

"I'm not gonna talk to anybody but Brian." Jim responded, avoiding eye contact. He called him Brian. All of that was pretty strange.

"Whatever you want to tell him, you can tell me and then I'll let him know, I promise." You answered, trying to look into his eyes.

"No! It doesn't work that way!" He shook his head and his face seemed even more troubled, now also afflicted. "Brian… I need to see Brian. Is that hard to understand? He's the only one who can help me, goddamn!" He yelled in desperation as you remained looking at him stunned, you mouth half-opened.

"Help? You need help, Jim?" You asked softly.

"Don't call me Jim! My name is not Jim! It is and it's always been Wade! Wade!" He yelled madly, making you look at him agape, not quite understanding why he was acting this way.

"I'm sorry…" You uttered with trembling voice, hesitantly stepping closer to him. Very carefully, you rested a hand on his shoulder, causing he to shiver. "I'm sorry, Wade." You said softly and he moved his shoulder away.

"Don't touch me." He whispered.

"Okay, I won't." You nodded. "Brian can't see you, it'll be bad for his health. And I'm not Brian, but maybe I can help you."

"Why would you help me?" He asked in suspicion.

"Why would Brian help you?" You responded with a half-grin. "Because all of us are alike. We like to help people."

"Maybe. But I don't trust you." He responded while looking away.

"Give me a chance." You requested.

"Why would I give you a chance?" He asked with a bitter, a little mocking laugh, raising an eyebrow.

"Because… I'm a trustful person." You answered very surefire as he let out another bitter laugh. "You have to put into consideration that inside the house are all of my friends. I could have told them that you're here, I could have called the cops, I could have betrayed you, I could have taken the chance to revenge in this moment of vulnerability you're in. But I haven't." You added with a triumphant smile when you noticed he was realizing that it was true. "You may be wondering why I haven't done it. It's because I've noticed that there's a side of you who wants to change, and I believe in second chances, no matter what."

"After all I did to you… You want to give me a second chance? Come on! It's weird, more reasons not to trust you." He responded after a long pause. "I know that behind all of your words pretending to be a good person is a plan you're plotting to imprison me or something."

"Not all of the nice gestures mean that behind are bad intentions or a bigger plan." You responded with your brows puckered.

"You mean that not everybody is like me?" He raised an eyebrow and gave you a smug smirk, as if proving that he was no fool.

"Exactly." You answered right away, not afraid of suffering his attack for this kind of answer.

"That was honest." He whispered as though he was surprised.

"Yeah, I don't have to pretend something I'm not in front of you because I don't really care what you think of me." You shrugged and he raised his eyebrows. "So… Make a choice. Either you're gonna talk to me or you're gonna go away without doing what you came here for."

"Are you hurrying me?" He asked aggressively.

"You got it right. I have the sense that you don't have much time because of the way you look around every other second. You're nervous. Someone's following you." You responded and he dropped his jaw slightly in astonishment owing to your insight. You grinned. "You've been following us for years now; if I didn't know how people react to that, then my life would be a complete lie." You shrugged and he nodded. "So, let's stop with this and tell me if you're gonna accept my help or not. I don't wanna waste my time, you know."

You crossed your arms above your chest and waited for his answer. He seemed to be even more nervous, unsure, undecided. He looked all around again and pursed his lips. You remained expressionless and silent, looking steadily at him. He finally looked up and gulped.

"Alright." He responded irresolutely. "After all, I need help." He said and you grinned very faintly, feeling victorious. He stepped closer and whispered. "But not here. They could be watching me. I don't feel safe here. Maybe if we go inside..." He suggested and you just raised an eyebrow.

"Inside is not an option, Wade." You replied very firmly.

"Okay, fine." He sputtered. "Then… somewhere else, I don't know, but not here."

"I know where we can go. Follow me." You answered, also looking around to check that Sincere was not here yet.

Very cautiously, you walked to the dividing of the house and Jim followed you behind. You could notice that he was very unsure and he still didn't trust you. However, he followed you when you crossed alongside the dividing wall to arrive right to where the backyard was. You thought it was a good place where you could talk without being watched or listened, because the backyard counted with lots of trees and bushes, so it was a good spot to hide. When you found that perfect spot, you rested your back against a tree and looked at Jim straight into his nervous eyes.

"What, here?" He asked and his voice trembled a little.

"Yes, here." You affirmed softly in order to calm him.

"Okay." He nodded and looked down before taking a deep breathe. "I'm in trouble." He stated and you looked at him silently. When he looked up to see why you didn't say anything, you gave him a nod as telling him that you were listening. "I've been in trouble for a long time, actually. But now I lost control."

"Would you help me understand what kind of trouble?" You requested when he stopped talking for a while.

"The kind of trouble that I caused you." He responded and you frowned. "Eh… You already heard the expression that nothing is what it seems from my sister."

"Uh, yeah… But I don't understand why you're telling me that. Maybe if you elaborate…" You suggested subtly.

"Argh! It's so fucking frustrating to talk to you, whore!" He basically growled as you widened your eyes and raised eyebrows. Why frustrating? He was the one who wasn't explaining himself well. "See? It's not the same. It's not the fucking same to talk to you. You ask stupid things and you have no sense to connect stuff and understand what is what I'm trying to say implicitly. Stupid whore!" He began to yell in a rage out of the blue. What happened to him? "You play to be smart but you're an idiot, a little fool whore." He continued screaming and you didn't know what to do or say to stop him.

"Who's there?" A voice suddenly came from the door that connected the house with the backyard.

Seconds later, Brian appeared in his wheelchair in front of the both of you and it was followed by a profound silence in which none of you spoke owing to the astonishment of seeing each other. Brian was pale and his face reflected distrust and a hint of fear; Jim seemed to be intimidated and perhaps embarrassed; and you were nervous because obviously he now knew that you've lied to him by saying that you met a 'classmate', besides of being nervous because this encounter could affect his health.

"What are you doing here?" Brian asked suspiciously with shaky voice. Then he fixed his gaze on you, as if checking if you were safe and sound. "What has he done to you?"

"Nothing! I swear that he hasn't done anything bad." You responded right away. "We were just talking. A quiet, non-violent talk." You added, but Brian and Jim were looking fixedly at each other, both of them very serious and distrustful. "Brian, I swear."

"Don't speak." He cut you off, a little bit harshly.

He was mad at you and it was because he didn't want you to interact with Jim; not because he wanted to do it alone, but because you were completely alone and you could have been hurt. But it wasn't the time to reproach you for that, and less in front of Jim.

"Brian, don't do this right now." You responded with a huff.

"Don't wanna talk about it." He responded curtly while watching very intently each of Jim's movements. "What do you want?" He asked and Jim looked shyly at him, showing a submissive side he has never shown before. Brian noticed it, because he frowned. "What's up with you, Wade?"

"I need help." Jim finally answered, mumbling and looking down, perhaps out of shame. "And I know quite well that it's presumptuous of me to ask you help if we consider all the bad I've done to you and how badly I've treated you all of these years. But I don't know about anyone else who can help me if it's not you. There's no one else in my life I can talk to." He suddenly confessed in a whisper and completely abashed, all the time keeping his gaze down. You thought he was feeling humiliated. "Trust me, if it weren't because I'm in despair, I'd have never made the decision of coming here to ask you this. I know, I know, I really know I don't deserve your help, but I'm here... begging you."

This was the moment when Jim began to talk as if he was becoming crazy. He was truly troubled and desperate as Brian seemed to be bewildered. This was certainly not the Jim you knew. He seemed to be more... human. You even felt pity for him and this desire of helping him on whatever he needed, because it didn't seem as if it was a trap or lie. Jim continued talking in desperation and he began to say incoherent things that you barely could understand because his panting was interrupting his speech. Apparently, the same was happening to Brian, because he was scowling in his attempt to make sense of what he was saying.

"Okay, stop." Brian interrupted him and Jim bit his lips, shrank and looked down, as though he was intimidated. "You gotta calm down if you want me to understand what you are saying." He clarified and Jim nodded. "Let's get inside. We'll be more comfortable and you're gonna tell me what's going on." He said and Jim nodded again. "No tricks, Wade." He pointed out in a severe way.

"No tricks. Promise." He responded and Brian rolled his eyes. All of you knew that Jim's promises were in vain. "This time's for real." He said when he saw Brian.

You walked to Brian to roll his wheelchair and Jim followed you to the door of the backyard. When you opened it, you entered; but before continuing, you looked behind to realize that Jim was no longer following you. He was standing still in front of the door, apparently too scared to enter. You made a gesture to indicate that everything was fine and he —timidly— stepped inside. After crossing the screened porch, you entered the living room, where everybody was. When your friends looked at your direction and when their gazes focused on Jim, all of them dropped their jaw and revealed their stupefaction. Darren and Jen were the fastest: They stood up and adopted a position of defense, prepared to attack if the situation was required. They looked at Jim defiantly, as the rest was still stunned.

"It's okay. He came to talk." Brian announced.

"And you believed this piece of shit?" Mandy asked hostilely.

"Nice to see you again too, Amanda." Jim said sarcastically, but still avoiding everybody's eyes.

"How you dare to come here, douchebag?" Jen asked harshly. It was still weird for you to hear Jen insulting, but you thought that owing to the situation it was normal and reasonable.

"Call the police!" Chuck suddenly yelled and Jim's face went pale because of his fear. He shrank and looked down, perturbed.

"No!" You quickly screamed, a bit alarmed. And of course this made them look at you in confusion. "Don't do that, guys. He really came to talk, let's just hear what he has to say." You added.

"Are you insane? We must call the cops, this is obviously a trick." Joey said, puckering his brows.

"Yes, do it, Joey." Lucy commented with trembling voice.

"Guys, wait." Darren suddenly spoke. You looked at him and thought that it was pretty strange the fact that he didn't attack Jim. "Why don't we hear what he has to say and then we decide what to do, eh?" He suggested and you raised your eyebrows because of how tranquil he seemed to be. He was pretending, though; you knew him and you knew he wanted to punch Jim straight in his face. "Sit down, asshole." He ordered and you held back a grin, because you were sure that sooner or later he was gonna insult him.

Despite the way everybody was looking at him, despite all the suspicious faces and all the murmurs and words of hatred, and despite the fraught atmosphere; Jim sat down on the couch, next to you and Darren, who were very on guard of his actions. Brian rolled his wheelchair in front of him; Jen, Mandy and Joey stood around Brian as to protect him; and Chuck and Lucy stayed close to the doors not to let Jim escape. You remained very silent and you stared at Jim very fixedly for a long time; you could notice how uncomfortable he was feeling.

"So, what do you have to say?" Brian started, breaking the abysmal silence.

Jim remained silent, looking at his shoes, running his hands over his knees over and over again. The looks were still fixed on him and you yourself began to feel uncomfortable. You were feeling as though you were torturers or corrupt soldiers who were tormenting a disturbed, perhaps helpless person. You didn't want to be that kind of person. Even though Jim has tortured you for years, you didn't want to do the same; and you were sure that none of your friends wanted it; but nobody could notice that they were doing it that moment.

"This is a mistake." Jim whispered, shaking his head and flinching. "Coming here was a terrible mistake." You could feel him chickening out. Of course he would cower, any person would if they were in his shoes.

"No, Wade. It wasn't a mistake." You said softly, and this gained some suspicious looks from your friends. But you ignored them because you wanted to know what was up to him. "Remember how you were talking to me calmly? Do it again." You requested and he shook his head again.

"Not the same." He babbled.

"Why not?" You asked gently, trying to look into his eyes. Jim seriously seemed to be helpless and innocent in that moment.

"You were alone and you weren't looking at me hostilely. You were looking at me as if you really wanted to help." He whispered so low that you were almost sure that only you and Darren got to hear it. Darren looked at you over Jim's shoulder as though he was impressed of how far you've come.

"Naturally, Wade. They don't trust you and I think they have good reasons not to do it, don't you think?" You asked and you felt surprised of yourself because you weren't afraid of telling him what you thought. "They're ready to defend themselves if you happen to attack us. It's not like it would be the first time you do it. All you've ever done to us is to do us wrong, so don't expect them to treat you nicely or to look at you kindly. That won't happen; you're aware of it, aren't you?" You asked and he clenched his jaw and gulped before shaking his head.

You glanced at Brian and you saw him widening his eyes and raising eyebrows because of the way you were talking to him. Understandable; it's always been the other way around.

"However, they're my friends and they may not trust you, but they trust me." You added and Jim looked surreptitiously at you. "So, guys, trust me. Wade is here because he's in trouble and needs help. And I'm not afraid to say that all of us think that everybody deserves a second chance. When we needed a second chance, it was given to us; let's try to do the same with him." You proposed and they looked at you a bit alarmed.

"You know it's not the same." Mandy said slowly. You looked at her and tilted your head.

"Why not, sister?" You asked and she made a grimace as to say the answer was obvious. "Because he has made us suffer? Just the way you made me suffer in the past and I gave you a second chance to start all over again and become the sisters we're now; the same way I made you suffer and you gave me a second chance to change my ways. The same way all of us hurt each other and gave each other a new start to do things right." You started saying as they were looking down, perhaps pondering about it. "All of us have lost our way at least once. And when that happened, someone helped us, even if we hurt the person who helped us. That's what second chances are about; no matter how terrible things we've done, it's never too late to get an opportunity to change."

"But he's not even sorry for what he has done to us." Mandy whispered with clenched teeth.

"How can you be sure about it if you don't give him the chance?" You asked, raising an eyebrow. You glanced at Jim and noticed he was taken aback for the way you were standing up for him in spite of all the bad he has done.

"There are certain people who are not deserving of being given a second chance." Chuck commented, avoiding your eyes.

"Yes, not everybody is good at heart, Freckles." Lucy added.

"How can you say that, people?" You asked incredulously, looking at each of them. "Do you really believe that not everybody is good at heart?" You asked again, narrowing your eyes and scowling. "Darren?" You looked at him straight into his eyes, looking for his support; but he just gulped while looking down. You felt a bit disappointed because you were sure that Darren thought the same than you; that no matter what, everybody was good at heart. "Brian?" You asked. He had to agree with you. But he had the same reaction than Darren. Were you wrong? "Really?" You asked, but this time in a whisper and discouraged.

"I probably should go." Jim announced with his gaze down, reflecting a hint of despondency. There. Why nobody could notice that small gesture on him? He still had feelings as everybody else.

"I'm sorry, Wade." You sighed. You didn't know that your friends would take this all that way, so you wanted to apologize.

"No, I'm the one who's sorry." He whispered and after few seconds he decided to head to the front door.

Why didn't he say it louder so that the rest would have heard it? As Jim was heading to the door —and when he walked past Brian— he glanced distressed at Brian, very surreptitiously. Perhaps Jim was expecting something different from him; perhaps he was expecting a little bit of compassion or understanding. And Brian just acted as someone completely different, just as the rest of them.

"I thought we shared the same solid values." You muttered under your breath. "Wade is a damn liar." You said this time loudly. "But all of you, all of us, are liars, too."

"Freckles..." Darren warned owing to your almost aggressive statement.

"No, she's right." Suddenly Brian spoke. "Don't open that door, Wade." He ordered before he could leave. "We say that we understand, that we're compassionate, that we forgive, that we aren't mean and that we aren't rancorous. We say that we're good people." He began some sort of speech, looking at his legs while frowning. "But this guy here has come to confide us his troubles and all we've done is to reject him, to humiliate him, to push him away." Brian said while pointing Wade, who was looking at Brian intently, perhaps a bit intimidated. "Why? Because he has hurt us, badly. Then, are we or are not we rancorous? Are we or are not we mean because we've rejected him? He has come to ask for help and we ignored it. Then, are we or are not we compassionate? Can we understand him? Can we forgive him? According to how we've just acted, we can't. We are just words; thus liars. She's right." He pointed you as you pursed your lips. "Thing is... Do we want to be the way we act or do we want to be what we claim to be?" He asked and it was followed by a deep, prolonged silence.

"You can't define how we are just based on the way we act around that asshole." Chuck responded with throaty voice, apparently annoyed.

"I agree. This is not a normal circumstance, nor a normal person with whom we're dealing with." Lucy added, supporting her boyfriend's point.

"Yeah, it's kind of overstated what you said, bro." Joey pursed his lips and shrugged while looking at Brian, however he didn't seem to be as angry as Chuck and Lucy.

"Sorry, but I have to agree with Brian and Freckles." Darren spoke with a defiant a tone, as if challenging his brother and defending your argument. "We're not what we claim to be if we start to discriminate between one person and another or one circumstance and another." He added and you nodded.

"Yes, if we claim to be something, then we are that full-time, not part-time. Otherwise, it'd be disingenuous of us." Jen commented sensibly.

"Oh, come on, you're just some fuckers who think they're right always. You know? Our opinions count, too! You're not the leaders or something!" Mandy ranted madly, huffing, crossing her arms above her chest, and scowling.

"What?" She made you scream in disbelief and indignation.

"Who said about leaders? That's stupid and childish." Darren bawled in wrath.

"Enough!" Brian's voice yelled. His voice has never sounded as imposing as that and it was reflected in the extreme silence that followed. "Keep in mind that the true measure of an individual is how you treat a person who can do you absolutely no good and that hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head. Is this the way you are?"

Of course what Brian stated triggered a severe dispute between the two teams -the ones who wanted to listen to Jim and the ones who didn't. You were yelling to each other with fury and it seemed it wouldn't end in anything productive. It was getting worse and worse instead of agreeing on something or solving the problem. Perhaps this was the worst group discussion you've ever had since all of you became friends. At some point you began to regret to have brought Jim, or to defend him in the first place; because nothing was more important than your friendship and you could sense how it was going down with this dispute. But it was late to take your words back and you wouldn't like to look like an indecisive person in front of Jim. The dispute turned into insults and some sort of thing that consisted in denigrating each other.

"Hey, guys! Stop!" Jim suddenly shouted, making all of the choleric faces look at him abruptly; but it did make all of you shut up. You could speak for everyone and swear that all of you forgot that Jim was there. "I wouldn't like to see how you start an argument because of my fault. I better go. Forget I was ever here."

"Who looks like an understanding person now? He or we?" Brian asked in a hostile way. You couldn't remember the last time Brian looked so pissed off; he was kind and tranquil, not like now. "I'll listen to him and I'll try to help him if I can. The one who wants to do the same, may stay; the one who doesn't, may leave. No one's forcing you to stay, so you shall make a decision." He kind of ordered, very determined.

Everyone looked at him in the way 'Are you kidding us?'. But judging by Brian's gaze, he was speaking in all seriousness and he wouldn't change his mind. You stepped next to him, as letting know your decision of staying. Darren followed you and held your hand. Then Jen stood behind Brian and placed her hands on his shoulders. Mandy wouldn't stop huffing and grumbling, with her brows puckered and her arms crossed, Chuck put an arm around Lucy and they stepped back, maybe as letting know that they wouldn't be part of this. Joey -undecided for the very first time- was repeatedly looking at Brian and then at Mandy; then he bit his lips and took a step closer to where you were.

"Richter!" Your sister growled.

"Sorry, but I wanna know what Jim's up to." He answered.

"Wade." You heard Jim's whisper, but it went unnoticed.

"We're not doing this." Chuck spoke for him and his girlfriend.

"That's okay. It's your decision." Brian answered, calm. "Mandy? What are you gonna do?" He asked and Mandy looked down, clearly feeling unsure. After few seconds, she looked up and crossed her arms, and with her browns puckered and steady gaze she demonstrated strength of character.

"I will stay." She stated and narrowed her eyes while looking at Jim. "Just in case this douchebag does something bad." She said aggressively. "And also because I wanna know what lies he has to tell now." She said with an air of superiority. "But I won't walk over you because I don't wanna be near junk." She added while squinting at Jim.

"Well, we'll leave. Text us when he's gone or if you need some extra help, if you know what I mean." Chuck announced and then he and his girlfriend left the house.

After they left, the silence returned. Each of you were looking intently at Jim, perhaps trying to decipher what his intentions were. But this was the first time that Jim didn't look hostile as always, so for some reason you didn't feel the need to be on guard or to look at him cautiously in case he happened to do something bad. Or perhaps you were taking this situation too lightly.

"We're not gonna attack you, so relax. In any case, we should be the ones nervous because we're not sure about what you came here for." Brian broke the ice. "So, let's take a seat so that you'll enlighten us."

"Fine." Jim answered timidly. When you all sat, he spoke again. "I came here to talk and I feel the need to clarify that what I'm gonna say is not something you will believe at first." He stated and gained some distrustful glances. "I pledge to do no harm and only speak on the condition that you let me speak without interruption. We all agree with this?"

"Do you feel able to put conditions in your circumstance?" Mandy asked provocatively.

"My circumstance?" Jim asked displeased. "You should be grateful that I came here to tell you the truth of this situation in general."

"Alright. Can we avoid all of that shit and just go straight to the point?" You interrupted fretfully.

"Yes. Thank you, that's what I need. To go straight to the point and without interruption because that's the only way to say this." Jim responded.

"Okay, shoot it." Darren said, also impatiently.

"Good." Jim nodded and looked down. He seemed a bit nervous, however relieved to say what he had to say. "I'll probably get killed for saying this, so there's no problem for me if you want to record this."

"Isn't it a bit suspicious that you're willing to risk your own life just for telling us something? I don't buy your bullshit." Mandy commented.

"Either way, telling you this or not, I'm gonna get killed. Let's say that I'm not... useful anymore." He answered, oddly tranquil. "So I'd rather to die with the truth already told."

"That's truly shady..." Joey uttered, taking his phone out his pocket. "I will record you, just in case you're telling the truth."

"I've been bullied as much as you have been bullied by me." Jim spoke out and this time all of you raised an eyebrow out of incredulity. It just seemed he was mocking you; however none of you interrupted him. "And I'm not the real bully."

"Okay, okay... This gotta be a fucking joke." Mandy barked with a cynical laugh as Jim sighed surely because of the interruption.

"As I was saying..." Jim ignored Mandy's comment. "I'm not the real bully because truth is that I've been bullied to pretend to be the real bully." He stated and of course nobody believed him, nonetheless you let him finish. "All I did, I did it because I had no option. Because I was constantly threatened... by my own sister." He confessed and this time he gained some surprised expressions from you all, also distrustful ones.

"How do you expect us to believe you?" Brian asked. "Kelly is the one who has been helping us, not the other way around." He pointed out rightly.

"I don't expect you to believe me, just to listen to this version, the true one." He answered. "That's any bully's intention... to make others believe that they aren't the real bullies."

"Exactly..." Mandy said. "That's what you're doing right now."

"I've got proofs." Jim responded calmly. "But I'd rather to tell you the whole thing before giving and showing you them. So... may I?" He asked and he got a nod as answer. "Now, you must pay attention to what I'm gonna confess because it's pretty complicated. So, please..."

"No interruptions, yeah, yeah... It's clear, continue now..." You said impatiently.

"Originally, Kelly's intention was to torture just you..." Jim pointed at you. No big news that it all started with you. "And you..." He pointed at Mandy and she frowned. "And... you, Brian." He said as Brian raised his eyebrows. "But then Darren and Jennifer got into your lives and so Kelly took it personal and decided to threaten you two as well."

"And, according to your version of the truth, why you appear on the list of threatened people?" Jen asked and it was followed by a long silence. Jim, with his gaze down, finally responded.

"Because I decided not help her with her plan for revenge as she asked me. Instead, I decided to protect the three of you from her..." It was what Jim responded, referring to you, Mandy and Brian, you assumed. Anyway, it didn't make sense. "I made the decision of protecting my... my... " He babbled nervously. "My brother and sisters from her."

"Whaaaaaat?" You could hear Joey as you were too shocked to even say anything.

"What the fuck is that crazy shit?" Darren mumbled.

"That is..." Brian started saying, also too shocked to speak.

"The most ridiculous bullshit ever heard." Mandy finished and you had to agree with her.

"That." Brian affirmed.

"Sorry, but... It's nonsense. You could have come up with something better, Wade." You voiced. "If you wanted to fool us and make us believe that you aren't the bully who has threatened us all of these fucking years, then you should have thought about something more credible, at least."

"The point is not to convince you that I wasn't that bully, it's to tell you the truth." Jim answered. "And yes, it seems as if it was a bullshit, but it is not. Sometimes the truth makes no sense when you don't have the full picture."

"What full picture are you talking about?" You asked, now a bit mad.

"I've got the proofs. Kelly and I are your brothers." Jim insisted as you were shaking your head.

"Okay, we had enough..." Brian commented.

"No, really!" Jim squealed. "Why do you think that Kelly's target was always the three of you?"

"Because it's a fucking lie, Jim!" Mandy talked back, in exasperation.

"No, because she has always loathed you, because you've always been the chosen kids for your parents, and we've always been the miscarriage of our biological parents. She can't stand that idea." Jim stated with sharp voice. "We weren't planned, we just... happened. We are the result of a one-night stand." His voice started to crack. "We were abandoned, just left in a basket in front of the door of the man and woman who raised us. We thought they were our real parents, but we had nothing in common; so Kelly started to investigate and found out the truth. We were ten back then, and ever since she spied your lives and developed the hate she feels for you."

"I will have to stop you..." You commented, incredulous.

"Don't. Let me finish and then decide whether you believe me or not." He replied and you rolled your eyes, surefire that you wouldn't believe this lie. "Brian... wasn't your mother an absent one?"

"Don't speak about my mother, Wade. You know nothing." Brian responded coldly.

"But you know that's right. The reason she was absent it's because she had an accident, a terrible one... Her parents were killed in front of her and her sister. That's what you know, isn't it?" Jim asked and Brian glowered at him. "Your father told you she wasn't the same since that occurred, right?"

"Do not mention my dad with you damn mouth!" Brian yelled, out of himself.

"But I'm right. You were born one year after that accident, right? And Kelly and I are older than you... One year older, to be precise. I've always been the guy who repeated his junior year, just to be at the same grade than you." He said and Brian glanced at him, clenching his jaw. "You never wondered why your mother was that absent. And when she disappeared from your life... Don't you think that your father would have looked for her? Your father found out about us."

"Stop talking about my dad..." Brian muttered with hatred in his voice. "He would have told me. He always told me everything."

"And he did, but you never found out because Kelly took care to erase all the evidence." Jim responded. "And that is one of the proofs I have." He added as he took out a paper from his pocket, handing it to Brian. "Read it."

Brian received the paper, but didn't read it out loud, so a silence invaded the room. You observed Brian very intently and you could witness how his face transformed as he was reading it. The rage of his expression turned into confusion and disturbance.

"What does it say, for god's sake?!" Jen asked fretfully and Brian - without pronouncing a single word - showed it.

GENETIC TEST REPORT

Alleged Mother: Clerk, Marnie.

Children: Whitfield, Wade and Whitfield, Kelly.

Probability of Paternity: 99,99%

Conclusion: The alleged mother, Marnie Clerk, cannot be excluded as the biological mother of Wade Whitfield and Kelly Whitfield. Based on the genetic testing results, the probability of paternity is 99,99% when compared to an untested random man of the North American population. At least 99,99% of the North American population is excluded from the possibility of being the biological mother of the children.

Then it was certified and signed by a doctor and accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks. You frowned and glanced at Brian, then at Jim. It couldn't be true, it was surely falsified.

"I still don't buy it." You voiced.

"Jen, you know about these things. Is it a forgery?" Darren asked, but Jen just looked down and gulped, apparently not wanting to respond that question. "Jen?" He insisted.

"If it's a forgery, it is a very good one." She whispered.

"What? That's crazy shit." Joey murmured.

"Wait... if what Jim says is true... and I'm not saying it is... That would mean that... our father?" Mandy frowned, a bit scared, a bit disturbed.

"Yes." Jim confirmed, not before he mumbled 'Wade'.

"Impossible. Absurd." Mandy shook her head. "Our father is a respectable man." She added and you bit your bottom lip. He wasn't that respectable, but it didn't mean that you thought he could have cheated on your mom. "Sister? Aren't you gonna say anything?" She kind of reproached.

"What are your proof that our father is also your father?" You asked, looking defiantly at Jim.

He just pulled out another paper. It was also a DNA test, but with your father's data; also indicating the 99,99% probability of paternity. It was hard to believe and you didn't want to. You didn't want to be fooled again.

"Your mother never got along with your father since you can recall, eh? She always acted cold around him, always distrustful." Suddenly Jim spoke and you identified with the way Brian reacted when Jim talked about his father; but you couldn't deny it.

"How can you possibly know anything about our family?" Mandy attacked.

"Because, somehow, I am part of your family." He answered as if he was telling something banal. "Your mother knew about us."

"Yeah, sure…" Mandy commented sarcastically and unexpectedly pulled out her phone. Whether Jim was telling the truth or not, you didn't want her to call the police; you wanted him to finish telling 'his version'. "Scared that I would call the cops, little shit?" Mandy let out a bitter snicker and that's when you paid attention to Jim's face, he was indeed frightened and more when she started dialing a number. "If what you're telling is the truth, you wouldn't mind if I call my mom to corroborate your story." She said and you frowned, perhaps a little disgusted because you didn't want to put your mother into this nonsense thing.

"No, I don't mind." Jim replied and you pursed your lips. "But if you're not ready to accept this fact, then I suggest..."

"Shut up, fucker." Mandy interrupted aggressively.

She put the phone on speaker and the situation got strained. You could sense how everybody was in the expectation of hearing this conversation and find out if Jim was right. But again, you didn't want to know, you weren't prepared for them to be your siblings if it was like that.

"Hello?" You heard your mother's voice and closed your eyes.

"Hello, mom. I'm here with sister, on speaker." Mandy answered.

"Hi, mom." You said with a reluctant smile.

"Hi, my princesses. How's Michigan treating you?" Your mother replied and you suddenly felt embarrassed because of the princess thing.

"Well, mom... Actually Michigan is full of surprises." Mandy responded, as if the princess thing in public didn't affect her at all. "You would never believe what we have found out!" She exclaimed. Of course she would go straight to the point.

"Amanda, I know you. You've got something to ask, so ask me." Your mom responded. She was the only person that Mandy couldn't fool.

"You'll have to be honest because this is important, okay?" Mandy said.

"Have I ever been dishonest?" She asked.

"If what I have to ask turns out to be true, then yes, mom. Can you picture how important it is now?" Mandy replied as you stayed very silent, letting your bigger sister handle it for you.

"Amanda, the attitude towards your mother." Your mom reproached. "Listen, I'm running late for work; so ask me."

"Dad had any other kids besides me and my sister?" Amanda asked right away and your mom didn't utter a single word.

"What?" You heard a nervous giggle. "How can you ask such a thing, daughter?"

"Dad cheated on you and knocked up the other woman?" Mandy asked without mincing words. "And it happened before we were born?"

"Amanda, stop talking like that about your father." Your mom said, this time she seemed to be pissed off.

"Is that why you never got along with him? Is that why you finally divorced him? Is that why our father was always travelling?" Amanda asked persistently. "I need answers, mother; honest answers!"

"Stop." She ordered.

"You're not denying it! Is it because it's true? Tell me!" Amanda demanded. "You swore never lie to us."

"Amanda..."

"Father had twins with the other woman?" She asked the killer question and your mother got silent. "And the other woman was, at the same time, the mother of a person we know. Right?" She asked and Brian looked away, still disturbed. "Mother?"

"Yes." She finally answered and you froze for a moment.

Actually, everybody in the room froze in astonishment; especially Mandy; who apparently couldn't believe that at least part of what Jim told was true. Darren -next to you- placed a hand on your thigh but it didn't help. Mandy frowned and started shaking her head. Jim was the only one who was calm, but he seemed to be too ashamed to look up. Now you had more reasons to hate your father.

"Girls... I wanted to..." Your mother broke the silence, this time her voice had a hint of sadness, perhaps repentance. "I was trying to find the proper time to tell you this."

"The proper time, mom?" You finally spoke. "You should have told us from the beginning. How could you have even lived with that man all of those years while knowing the truth..." You started to blow off steam. "Tell us everything you know, mother. Every single thing. Do not dare to omit something!" You demanded strongly. "I don't care if you're running late or if you are busy or anything. We have the right to know the truth and right now!"

"Freckles..." Darren whispered in your ear, making you realize that rage was overtaking your body and you were too close to lose your temper and start one of your unpleasant scenes, so you took a deep breathe.

"We're not mad at you, mom; you're not the one to blame. We're too astonished and we just want to get the whole picture." You said, controlling your anger. You mother sighed, and begun to talk.

"First of all, you must know that I didn't know about this till you were teens. Your father had an adventure with another woman. It was a one-time thing, in one of his business trips. It was before you were born."

Coincidence number 1: It was indeed before you and Mandy were born, therefore before Brian was born.

"It happened in Nashville, Tennessee."

Coincidence number 2: Wade and Kelly were born in Nashville, Tennessee.

"The other woman..." She said and Brian looked at the phone, very fixedly. "Marnie Clerk, your friend's mother."

"Oh, Jesus Christ." You mumbled, resting your forehead on the palm of your hand. You glanced at Brian who had a similar position.

Coincidence number 3: Your dad had an affair with Brian's mother.

"She conceived twins, but both of them decided to give them away to a family they didn't know because both of them were married and having those children was a mistake. They never met their kids. I'm not saying that they took the right decision or that I agree with it, I'm just telling the truth."

Coincidence number 4: Twins. Abandoned.

"When I got to know about the twins, I tried to find them. After all, they were your siblings. And that's when I found out who was the woman, so I got in touch with George, Brian's dad. He already knew; it turned out that his wife had disappeared and while he was trying to find her, he found out about the twins. We both decided to tell you and his son the truth, but other problems started to happen related to high school, so we decided to postpone it."

"I need names, mom." Mandy spoke with weak voice. "Do you know the names of the twins?"

"Yes. All we knew was that one of the twins is a boy and the other one is a girl, that they were raised in Nashville, their adoptive father was alcoholic and died, and their adoptive mother was addicted to sleeping pills. The boy was admitted to a psychiatric hospital but escaped at the age of fourteen, the girl run away from her house. We found the girl, but she wanted nothing to do with us and asked -hostilely- to never look for her again. The boy apparently changed his identity because we never found him."

Everything was coinciding and you didn't want to know anything else. It was scary. And disturbing.

"Okay, tell me their names!" Mandy demanded impatiently.

"Whitfield. Kelly and Wade Whitfield."