Hate, Envy, Loss, Love Chapter 12: Celebrations and Confessions Part 1, a falling skies fanfic

Hello my readers! For the BenxKaylee people, you're going to enjoy this chapter;D Also, happy birthday to our wonderful fan ElySnow!:D As I type this right now, we're watching Falling Skies with our friends!:D Hahahaha yayyyyy! So I'm going to go explain more things to our friends:D To Alyssa,-Parker

HHHHIIIIIII GUYYYYYYSSSS! Im so hyper right now! We are having a Falling Skies saeson one and two marathon. and im like freaking me out! we are bringing three new people into the fandom! AAAHHHHH AND I HAVE JUICE BOXES! oh and Happy Birthday ElySnow! This is for you! "Happy Birthday to you Happy Birtday to you! Happy Birthday deard ElySnow! Happpyyyyy Birthdayyyy to youuuu" :) So enjoy!

Chapter 12-Celebrations and Confessions Part 1

Ben's POV

She was perfect. She'd always been perfect, and she'd always be perfect. She of course begged to differ, but I had my own opinion of her since the day we met.

Something about Kaylee Parker intrigued me. The way her red-gold bangs slightly covered her left eye and made her appear more mysterious than she already was. They way her silver-blue eyes never had a spec of emotion, which made it impossible to know what she was feeling or thinking in a given moment. How when she smiled, the rare occurrence confused you because you didn't know she actually could smile. How she was so silent all the time, you wouldn't even know if she was there or not. Or when she did speak, her voice sounded melodious to all that listened. She was something I could never figure out, a mystery that no matter how badly you wanted to solve, never unraveled.

She told me and Jimmy that her past was dark. She said that it was a place she never wanted to see again, and she often wished she could forget about it. I never understood why she hated what lay behind her, because the past was what built everyone's future. But no matter how many times Jimmy or I asked her questions involving her life before the war, we ended up with nothing but more curiosities than we started with.

Jimmy was lucky though. He managed to break down one of her walls before I could, and now he had access to her heart. It bothered me a little, knowing they had a different bond than Kaylee and I did. Jimmy had told me before that she wasn't exactly up for a relationship considering the war going on and the possibility of losing him. It was a smart choice, but I knew that soon the two would end up together.

I did have something with her that Jimmy didn't, and that was understanding. Kaylee, even though she would never tell me how, knew what it's like to be an outcast and to have everyone dislike you. She understood the whole thing with my dad and how painful it was to go through. I knew both of her parents died when she was young, but she didn't go into specifics with it. Alyssa wouldn't either, so I assumed it was serious. All I knew was that Kaylee Parker understood a whole other side to me that no one else did. That was all it took for me to start having feelings for her that I shouldn't.

The constant missions, patrols, and scouting with her didn't help either. The three of us talked about the interests we had, and I learned that Kaylee and I had a lot more in common than I thought. Math was her favorite subject, she wasn't really much of a sports person besides running, she was an outcast at school, and she loved music, perhaps more than she loved anything else.

Ever since I was a little kid, I loved listening to different types of music from different eras. My mom used to take me to free concerts by local bands all the time, and I enjoyed every second I was there. Music was a hidden passion of mine that no one knew about, and it was the same for Kaylee. She told us that she never talked about it because it reminded her too much of the past and how much it sucked to live without it. And then she told us that her birthday was in a month and that she was surprised she had survived this long. So I was going to make it my personal mission to find her a guitar or something because she missed playing more than anything.

Our birthdays were four days from each other, mine being December 16th and hers being December 20th. She asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I had shrugged. I told her that I wanted to live to see next year and she agreed with me. It was weird talking about becoming another year older because both of us felt way, way older than we were turning. The damn war had taken our sense of youth from us, as it was taking everything else. I felt like I was at least twenty on the inside, but on the outside I was a month away from being fifteen.

Often when I was quiet or not talking when Jimmy and Kaylee were openly discussing something, I would catch her looking at me. Maybe she was expecting me to say something or add something to the conversation, or maybe she was just trying to see why I was being quiet. Nevertheless, her pale eyes were unbelievably impossible for me to read, but she had no problem knowing what I was thinking. It was extremely frustrating; most people around me were open books. When Hal's angry, the whole fucking world knows. When Kaylee's angry, you couldn't guess unless she made it obvious. And I absolutely hated that. But the question still crossed my mind every time I made eye contact with her. Why did she keep looking at me like that?

"If you keep frowning so hard, you're gonna get major frown lines, dude." Kaylee and I were out on patrol at the moment, but we were sitting outside of camp. We were both doing target practice; I needed it badly while she just wanted to shoot some cans and give me a lesson.

I rolled my eyes and looked through the sight on the Heckler and Koch gun Kaylee had given me three months ago. It still worked flawlessly despite all it's gone through. Once I pulled the trigger, the bullet landed in the windshield of a car underneath the wall where we put the cans. "Damn it," I cursed. I have everything else down but shooting.

I looked at my mentor, hopeless. She was scrutinizing my every move and taking time to examine my position. She frowned vaguely, thinking. "Show me how you hold your gun again."

I grabbed the Heckler and Koch again and aimed at the cans. I don't know why-

"That's your problem," she pinpointed, motioning at my hands.

"What is?" What was she talking about?

"Give me your hand."

"Why?"
She rolled her eyes at my question. "Just do it."

I stuck out my hand. She spread out my fingers and filled the spaces with hers. Before I could react, she started squeezing my hand insanely hard.

"Feel that?"

How the hell could I not? She was crushing my hand!

"That's what you're doing to your gun and that's what's screwing up your shot. But if you just do this," she released her grip while still holding my hand firmly, "you'll start aiming better." Kaylee slipped her gloved hand out of mine and handed me my gun. "Now try it."

I shook my hand slightly to get the tingling feeling out of it and took it. I pointed it at the cans and my mind forced my right hand to relax. I aimed and fired.

It tore a hole straight in the middle of the can.

I faced her again with bewilderment inscribed on my face. She looked the same way she did five minutes ago. "How did you notice something as little as that?"

Kaylee shrugged, not impressed like I was. "Natural talent."

Another thing I liked about her was her quick comebacks that were always witty to some extent. I had no idea how she thought of them so fast; add that to the list of things I didn't know about her. Sadly, that list outweighed the one that held the things I knew about her.

"What's your worst fear?" I asked her out of the blue. If you saw this girl in combat, you would think she was as fearless as a lion.

She was taken aback by the question. I didn't even know why I asked it, but it was one of the things I always wondered when I saw her fighting. "My anger," she said finally. "And my hatred."

"Really?" I frowned a little. That has got to be the most peculiar response ever.

"Yeah. It's gotten way out of control the past two years."

"How so?"

She paused, as if debating whether or not she should continue. "When I get angry I have to lash out on something, otherwise I lash out on someone."

I stared at her eyes, trying to find some kind of emotion hidden beneath the silver. But I came up short, as usual. "So…you've beaten people up before?" Her eyes looked away from mine, and she gave the slightest nod. If I didn't have super vision, I wouldn't have seen it.

Wow. Kaylee Parker beat up people in the past. She was a tough girl, yes, but I never imagined she hurt others.

"And that's not even the start of the things I did. I'm not proud of my past, Ben. And not matter how much I wish I could change that, I can't. One of the reasons I don't like spending time talking or thinking about it is because I'm ashamed and don't want to be reminded of what I've done. But it does make me want to change my future more than anything. So I guess it all happened for a reason."

That answer left me now with thousands of more questions than I had. I guess Kaylee Parker was something I'd never figure out.

Kaylee's POV

Ben stared back at me, hundreds of questions reeling through his head that he knew I wouldn't answer if he asked. Sometimes I wondered why he wanted to know so much about my past because it didn't matter anymore, but the way I short answered almost question someone asks me made me understand his curiosity.

So I changed the subject. "Alyssa's birthday is tomorrow."

"So your birthdays are a month apart from each other?"

I nodded "Weird right? And as her practically-brother, you need to get her something awesome."

Ben chuckled. "What does she like?"

"Everything. If you got her a water bottle, she would be excited as fuck. She could spend hours playing with it."

He laughed. "She is easily amused."

"You have no damn idea," I smiled back.
"Mason! Parker! Shift's over, get some rest!" Weaver shouted from camp.

The two of us stood up. I nearly fell back down because I was so exhausted. Fitchburg left the entire 2nd Mass more paranoid than we were before, even if we had gotten away safely and the battle happened five days ago. Dark circles were just about tattooed under my eyes. Jimmy told me it contrasted nicely with my light eyes, but he was concerned about the lack of sleep I'd been getting. Ben was too.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

Ben searched my eyes for anything that could give away the possibility that I was lying. "You almost fell over."

Did I really? Shit, I must be more tired than I thought.

"How long has it been since you got a decent amount of sleep?" Ben asked.

"I could ask you the same thing," I muttered back, slinging my Calico over my shoulder and staring him down.

I was just as worried about Ben as he and Jimmy were worried about me. Ben and I had gotten really close these couple of days. With the whole thing about my parents, Ben knew that I truly got what he was going through and how much it hurt. He opened up to me about a lot of stuff, like how he hasn't slept since he got his harness off. Ben got it off weeks before we first met, which was at least four months ago. And he hadn't slept at all since.

We talked about nightmares a lot. I didn't tell him this, or anyone for that matter, but that was the reason I tried to stay awake. An hour of sleep I could handle, but more than that killed me. About the same times my parents died, I started getting nightmares. I never told Alyssa about them; even my counselor at school didn't know and I was in his office everyday. Now that I think about it, I haven't had a regular dream since I was eleven. Four years of nightmares is a long time to go without much sleep, but Ben didn't sleep whatsoever. I was jealous of him, since he wouldn't be all too tired because of his harness effects. I would kill to not have to sleep anymore.

He said that being harnessed was the worst thing imaginable. He told me in detail about how painful it was, and how he can still hear the screaming in the facility. Ben told me that after it wasn't really as bad as everyone thought. The skitters were apparently kind to the harnessed kids and it seemed they enjoyed being with them.

"Kaylee?"

"Yeah?"

"I really think you should get some sleep."

"Ben, I'm fine. Quit worrying so damn much."

Ben rolled his eyes. "You and Jimmy are my two best friends. How can I not worry?"

Now I rolled my eyes. "You're such a sap."

"Tell me you don't think about me and Jimmy's safety at least once everyday."

"That's not fair," I shook my head.

He shrugged. "My point has been made. Go get some sleep."

"Not tired," I replied. Bull shit.

But Ben bought it. "You're seriously not exhausted from al the work you've been doing? Especially after Fitchburg?" He sounded skeptic, and I knew that he was certain that I was tired as hell. But I didn't care. I'd go to sleep when I was to the point where I couldn't stay awake. Until then, I wouldn't sleep.

"A fighter never rests. I'm just doing my job," I said.

"C'mon," Ben groaned. "How do I argue with that?"

"I'm a world champion at it. Years of practice, my friend."

Ben rolled his eyes again. "Sometimes I question why I'm friends with you."

"Because you're life would be boring without me," I smirked.

He laughed and shook his head. "Can I ask you something?" he suddenly turned serious.

I shrugged. "Doesn't mean I'll answer."

"How-"

"KAYLEE!" Matt yelled running up to me at lightning speed. Ben and I have been interrupted so many times, it's beginning to piss me off.

"Kaylee, Kaylee, Kaylee!" Matt crashed into me.

"Whoa," I said holding him steady. "What's up kid?"

"Alyssa and Hal! They, they…" he panted, attempting to get his breath back. How the hell does he have so much energy? Even Alyssa wasn't nearly this energetic when she was a kid.

I kneeled down to him. "Alyssa and Hal what?"

"They kissed!"

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

I stood back up to my height and looked at Ben. He had the same WTF expression on his face that I did. "When?" he asked his little brother.

"At Fitchburg, they were just talking and then Hal kissed Alyssa and then she kissed him back! I'm not supposed to tell you though." Well that makes it batter.

"Fitchburg?" I raised my eyebrows. Fitchburg was five days ago.

AND SHE DIDN'T FUCKING TELL ME?!

Ben and I's eyes met at the same time. We had a telepathic moment; the two of us ran back into camp to find the two "lovebirds." I was going to sock Alyssa in the face.

We searched around for a bit, until I saw the two talking in front of our tent and Hal was starting to leave. One brief eye contact with each other and Alyssa knew that I knew about her and Hal's kiss.

"HAL!" Alyssa screamed. "SHE'S GONNA HURT ME!"

Hal put his arm in front of Alyssa and tried to calm the situation down. "Whoa…what's got you worked up, Parker?"

"Hal, I love you, but if you continue to stand in front of her I will resort to killing you and not Alyssa."

Hal looked at me and then Alyssa. "I'm out." He raised his hands and started off towards the Mason tent along with Ben.

"Wow, shows how much you care about me," Alyssa yelled to him.

"I'm scared of very few things, and Kaylee's one of them. Especially when she's pissed, like now. Just calm down and don't kill each other."

"Matt, you are horrible at keeping secrets," Alyssa shook her head.

"You said I couldn't tell her about you two dating, not about the kiss." I raised my eyebrows and looked at Matt. "Oh, oops. Sorry about that. I'm just gonna go now." He left as quickly as he came, and Hal was about to as well, but he assumed I was talking to him when I asked Alyssa the next question and stayed.

"Oh so you're dating now?" I gave her the "you're so fucking dead" look.

"As of like five seconds ago," Hal put it.

"Hal, saying this with the utmost politeness, get the fuck out of our tent," I pointed to the door of the tent and Hal ran out." Why the hell didn't you tell me?!"

She rubbed the back of her neck. "Well…uh, you see, we've both been so busy-"

"Fitchburg was five days ago. All I've been doing is sitting on patrol and I know damn well that's all you've been doing too," I punched her arm.

"Fuck!" She rubbed her arm. "Damn, I really shouldn't have taught you fist fighting."

I pushed on. "So Matt knew before I did? Your best friend for fourteen nearly fifteen years? That's harsh."

"Well…he saw us. We didn't tell him"

I bit my lip to try and keep from laughing, but the more Alyssa stared at me because she was waiting to see what I'd do made me lose my control. I cracked up laughing. "That's gotta be really awkward."

"No shit Sherlock. Aren't you supposed to be the accelerated one?"

I rolled my eyes. I was a freshman yes, but I was in sophomore classes because I was "extremely intelligent" or some shit the principal said. I tuned him out when he was talking to my uncle about moving me up in my classes. "He would've found out eventually. But still, why the hell didn't you tell me?!"

"I don't know," she mumbled.

"Now if I have my first kiss, I'm not going to tell you," I folded my arms.

Alyssa did the same; this was our usual stance when we fought. "Oh, I'll find out."

"No you won't."

"Ben's terrible at keeping secrets," Alyssa pointed out.

…Did I hear her right? "What?" I frowned.

"Nothing," she short answered me. She was about to turn and leave our tent when I grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did you say Ben?"

She paused and looked directly at me. "Nooooooooo. Ppppssssshhhhhhh what are you talking about? I said Jimmy."

She was lying straight to my face. One, she was doing a crap job at covering it up, and two, I've been friends with her for so long that I can tell when she's hiding something from me by her physical motions. When Alyssa's not telling me something, she fidgets with her pockets and when she's lying and her eyes dart back and forth. She was doing both.

"Riiiiight…okay well…I'm gonna go."

What the fuck did she mean by that? Did Alyssa think that Ben would be my first kiss? 'Cause there's no way in hell that's going to happen. Ever. I didn't even want to kiss Jimmy. And plus, Ben was just one of my best friends. It would be way too weird to think of him like that. Right? What? Was I actually considering that?

I shook my head slightly to get the awkward thoughts out of my head. I have better things to focus on.

Ben came out of his and his brothers' tent and saw me standing awkwardly away from my tent. The two of us walked back to where we were sitting earlier. "Did you find out anything?"

I shook my head. "Just that she was 'too busy' to tell me. You?"

"That's what Hal said. But apparently he's liked her for awhile now."

"Alyssa too."

"Seriously?" Ben asked. "I don't even know what happened that transitioned them from hating each other. They couldn't stand each other one day, and now their practically in love."

I laughed a little. "Kind of like us. Except for the whole 'liking-each-other' thing."

Ben nodded. "Yeah." Something about the way he said that made me wonder what he was thinking about. Occasionally, he'll say something with a half-hearted tone or a thoughtful one that makes you want to know what was going on in his mind. But I respected his privacy since I hate it when people ask me what I'm thinking about.

"Hey guys!"

I smiled when I saw who was coming. "Hey, Jimmy."

"Hey, Jimmy," Ben said.

"What's up?"

"Trying to get to the bottom of Hal and Alyssa's complicated relationship," Ben chuckled.

"Relationship?" Jimmy asked. "What relationship?"

"Apparently they kissed in Fitchburg," I reported. "And we were thinking about how weird it was that they hated each other one day and the now they're a thing."

"Wow we missed a lot," Jimmy remarked.

"Seriously. She didn't even tell me!"

"I will never understand their relationship," Ben gave up.

Jimmy and I chuckled. I think it's hilarious that my two best guy friends and I are talking about relationships and they aren't trying to change the subject or anything.

And out of absolutely no where, Jimmy started poking underneath my eye, like he was trying to wipe something off my face.

I pulled back. "What are you doing?"

He frowned at me. "I thought there was dirt on your face. You have got to get some sleep." Guess the circles under my eyes were getting darker. If Jimmy could see them easily at one in the morning, anyone would be able to spot them in the daylight.

"Guys, I'm fine. Stop worrying about me."

"No. You look like you're about to pass out every time we see you. You're going to faint it combat or something if you don't sleep," Ben said.

"Eventually your body's gonna give out on you. And you don't want to get sick, now of all times," Jimmy added.

I opened my mouth to argue, but Ben and Jimmy were giving me disapproving glares. They were daring me to argue with them. Damn it.

"I don't think it's fair that you guys are ganging up one me."

"Just get some rest for us. You'll make Jimmy and I feel way better," Ben said soft and serious.

"Please," Jimmy threw me his beggy face, which made all possibilities of refusing to sleep disappear instantly.

I sighed then threw my hands up. "Fine."

Ben and Jimmy high-fived each other. They were so stupid sometimes.

But I still smiled at their dorkiness. "Night, Jimmy."

He pulled me in for a hug. "Night. If I find out that you're up, I'll burn all of your guns."

"I can make new ones," I smirked.

"Shut up and go to bed."

I laughed and turned to Ben. "Night, Ben."

"Night, Kaylee."

Ben gave me a tight hug. He was probably as fantastic as Jimmy at giving hugs. Ben wasn't like those guys that simply draped their arms around you; he made a point of hugging you tightly back to show how much he cared. Every time I walked away from one of his hugs, I felt all sappy inside because of how much I cared about him as a friend and knowing how much he cared about me. Alyssa was my only friend before the attack and having two others now means more to me than they'll ever know.

Ben released me from his kick-ass hug and I walked over to my tent. When I reached the flap of it, I turned around and looked back. The two were smiled at me and waved.

I smiled back and waved softly back. I have the most amazing friends in the world.

Alyssa's POV

I think we were all a little on edge. Five days after the attack and the flames were still showing, they were far away but they were still there. A constant reminder of what happened, all those innocent lives lost. It was hard to carry on but the 2nd Mass had this little thing both Kaylee and I lost a long time ago: hope. Of course Kaylee and I had people we believed in, who we trusted, besides each other. It just so happened that the person I believed in, kissed me five days ago for good luck, in a battle that we weren't supposed to survive! When that happens, you don't live to see the person again. But we did. And because of that, thinks were a little awkward between us. Like I tried to avoid being alone with him at all costs because it would be so awkward. I also hadn't told Kaylee yet, and I was scared as hell for the day she found out.

"Hey Carter." Oh my God he's here. My first thought was to run and hide.

"Hey Hal," I said as I walked up and gave him a quick hug.

"So Alyssa, I've wanted to ask you this but we've both been busy and I haven't been alone with you at all really." There is a reason for that. "And I just I need to know. At Fitchburg, you asked me why I waited until then to kiss you. Would you have been okay if I kissed you earlier?"

"Well if you had, it would've helped clear out a lot of confusion in my head."

"Confusion about what?"

"Whether or not I like you and you like me."

"So you like me?"

"I kissed you didn't I?"

"Point taken. So I've liked you for a while now and um I'm really bad at this stuff, just so you know. But will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes." We were both quiet. Wow thinks can get awkward very fast.

"So are you gonna kiss her or what?" We both looked at Matt.

"Shut up Matt, you're so nosy. Jeeze, can't two people get any privacy?" Hal asked.

"Nope," was his only reply. I smiled.

"Where are you off to?" I asked.

"I don't know, go help out different people."

"Okay Matt whatever you do you can't tell Kaylee, about this. I'm going to tell her because if she finds out about it from anyone but me, she will kill me."

"Okay." He nodded and ran away going where ever Matt goes in his free time.

"So how have you been?" I asked.

"Good, tired but good."

"That's nice. I haven't been sleeping well either. So do you know what the plan is? Like what's our next move?"

"Don't die."

"Simple but effective."

"Pretty much, well I gotta go. Scouting in a bit."

"Okay." As Hal walked away, I turned around to see Kaylee walking towards me. And the look in her eye said she knew all about the kiss. Oh shit! "HAL! SHE'S GONNA HURT ME!"

Hal ran forward and stepped between us. "Whoa…what's got you worked up, Parker?"

"Hal, I love you, but if you continue to stand in front of her I will resort to killing you and not Alyssa."

"I'm out."

"Wow, shows how much you care about me," I said.

"I'm scared of very few things, and Kaylee is one of them. Especially when she's pissed, like now. Just calm down and don't kill each other. I'm gonna go get ready for scouting."

"Matt, you are horrible at keeping secrets."

"You said I couldn't tell her about you two dating, not about the kiss." I just stared at him. "Oh, oops. Sorry about that. I'm just gonna go now." He turned around and left.

"Oh so you're dating now?"

"As of like five seconds ago."

"Why the hell didn't you tell me?!"

"Well…uh, you see, we've both been so busy-"

" Fitchburg was five days ago. All I've been doing is sitting on patrol and I know damn well that's all you've been doing too," She punched me, hard.

"Fuck! Damn, I really shouldn't have taught you fist fighting."

"So Matt knew before I did? Your best friend for fourteen nearly fifteen years? That's harsh."

"Well…he saw us. We didn't tell him."

"That's gotta be really awkward." She was cracking up now. Well at least she wasn't gonna shoot me.

"You think?!"

"He would've found out eventually. But still, why the hell didn't you tell me?!"

"I don't know," I muttered.

"Now if I have my first kiss, I'm not going to tell you," she crossed her arms and I mimicked her.

"Oh, I'll find out."

"No you won't."

"Ben's terrible at keeping secrets."

"What?" Oh shit, did I say that out loud? Shit shit shit! Ben is gonna kill me!

"Nothing," I tried to escape but she grabbed me.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did you say Ben?"

"Nooooooooo. Ppppssssshhhhhhh what are you talking about? I said Jimmy." She totally knew I was lying…oh well.

"Riiiiight…okay well…I'm gonna go." She went outside of our tent to wherever.

I went outside and speed walked away. I saw Ben and Jimmy talking to Kaylee. It looked like they were arguing. Then Kaylee smiled and walked over to our tent. Ben came over to me.

"So you're dating Hal?" Ben asked.

"Yeah," I nodded. "Okay so Ben, you consider me as a friend, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"And friends forgive each other for making mistakes?" I asked.

"Oh my God, what did you do?"

"Well let's say hypothetically I maybe accidently indirectly told Kaylee you like her. Hypothetically of course, what would you do?"

"You did not." He looked so pissed off at me.

"Well, see she told me that if she gets her first kiss, she's not gonna tell me. And I said I will find out because, no offense, you're horrible at keeping secrets."

"Okay, I'm not that bad and WHAT DID SHE SAY?"

"Well, I don't think she figured it out because she really has no guy experience so yeah should be good."

"Don't do that again."

I started to walk away. "You got it. Now Imma go to bed. Its late and I wanna be fully rested for tomorrow."

"What's tomorrow? What are we doing tomorrow?"

"Oh nothing. It's just a big day for me that's all."

"What is it?"

"It's my sixteenth birthday. Did you know the day you found us, Kaylee and I were talking about our birthdays and what we wanted to do for them."

"Really? Cool, well go to sleep. I gonna go find you a birthday present."

"Birthday present? For who?" Hal walked up.

"I see you magically reappear after Kaylee leaves."

"Yeah she can be kinda scary when she's pissed. So what were you two talking about a birthday?"

"Tomorrow is Alyssa's birthday," Ben said.

"Well we have to do something special. The 2nd Mass needs a good reason to celebrate. What do you wanna do?"

"Surprise me," I said. "Now I'm gonna go sleep. See you in the morning." I went into our tent and lay down. Kaylee was actually a sleep for once. I fell asleep thinking about how much my life changed in one year. I mean people say that a lot changes in one year, but I never thought so much would happen. I mean practically we kinda, in a way, discovered two whole new species. And they rule our planet.

Kaylee's POV

There was a house in the middle of a street. And there were flames. The blood curdling screams of those trapped inside were getting louder and louder every passing moment. I was a helpless soul standing in front of the house, not moving. My legs were trying to move forward to try and save the people, but I kept hitting a force field in front of the house. All I could do was stare at the shattered windows with fire bursting from the depths of the home. It was absolutely heart wrenching to watch this, powerless to watch. I fought and fought to run towards the door, but I couldn't move forward.

A child banged on a still intact window on the second floor of the house and pressed his palms to the window, staring at me. He was covered in third and fourth degree burns, and it made me sick to see his charred face. His hands were black from the burns and his face was turning hideous colors from the constant exposure to the flames. The boy let out a scream and the fire swallowed him, setting his hair and clothes on fire.

His screams got louder and louder to the point where it sounded like he was standing next to me shrieking in my ear. I pushed the palms of my hands against my ears due to the growing pain that resulted from the deafening screams, but that only seemed to amplify the noise even louder.

"Kaylee," voices whispered around me. "Kaylee, why aren't you saving them?"

Louder and louder and louder. I couldn't hear my own thoughts any longer. The voices kept asking me why I wasn't helping the poor child and the rest of the people in the building, and their eerie tones got more and more creepy.

"You're a useless being!" They shouted along with the screams. My hands pressed as hard as they could against my ears to block the sound, but it was no use.

"Your heart is as black as that boy's face," it hissed. "You're going to die alone just like him, and when you scream out for help, no one will rescue you. Kaylee Parker, you are an unwanted person of the world, and I can promise you your death will be as painful as possible."

I collapsed onto my knees and I shut my eyes tighter and pressed harder. Those voices were continually telling me how I deserved to be the one being burned to death and not the innocent little boy and his family. I started shaking; I couldn't block out their talking and accusing me of how awful my soul was.

"A dark soul," it said. "The light you've been seeking is gone, gone forever. It's too late for you; you've succumbed to the darkness in your heart, as you shall forever do. Light isn't in your nature, and it never will be Kaylee Parker. It's too late."

Too late for a dark heart and a dark soul.

I gasped for air and forced my eyes open. My heart was beating a billion miles an hour and I had to blink a few times to get those horrible images from my eyesight. The soft breathing pattern I usually had was replaced with a loud, shaky one that I was unfamiliar with. Cold sweat was beaded on the back of my neck and the hairs on my arms were sticking up. I looked at Alyssa who was sleeping soundly on the cot next to me, even smiling a tiny bit. I envied the peacefulness she had now, wishing I could feel that again. She was so fucking lucky.

"The light you've been seeking is gone, gone forever."

The voices circled around my head, haunting me. I pushed myself off my cot and slid into my sneakers. I couldn't stay in here a second longer. Subconsciously, I threw on my jacket and kept thinking about what those voices were saying. Did I really have no chance to turn to the light? That's all I wanted, but according to my nightmare, I wouldn't be getting that any time soon. But was I really going to believe voices from a dream? Didn't dreams have some deep psychological meaning or something?

Too late for a dark heart and a dark soul.

I tossed the flap open and walked swiftly outside, away from the madness, away from the broken dream, and away from something that could be true for my future. I had no idea where I was going, but I just needed to get out. My feet picked up the pace I was going and I couldn't help but think of a song I've loved for ages.

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
When the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone up there will find me
'til then I walk alone

Green Day was always a favorite band of mine and that song couldn't have described me more perfectly than it did. I've walked the only road I've know, alone, and I have no clue where it goes. The only one that's walked with me is my shadow, and occasionally I wanted someone to pull me out of the lonely road, but until that happened, I would stay alone.

Of course I wasn't paying attention and I smacked right into someone who was standing in my path. My breath caught in my throat and I calmed down just a bit when I looked up to see who it was.

"What are you doing up?" Ben asked me, frowning. I didn't say anything; I just stood there trying to calm myself down.

"You're shaking…" he said staring at my arms. "Are you alright?"

I pushed my bangs from my eyes. My hand was shaking too. "If I tell you something, will you promise me that you won't tell anyone, not even Jimmy or Alyssa?"

"Of course," he nodded.

I sighed. "I've been having these…nightmares. I can't sleep for more than an hour at a time. That's why I try not to sleep at all."

Ben blinked and watched my eyes. He was probably surprised that I was opening up to him and showing some kind of emotion. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I didn't want you to worry more than you already do."

"How bad was it?" His eyes were still fixated on my own.

I looked away from his intense gaze and let my bangs fall in my face. "Bad."

"What was it about?"

I let out another shaky breath and tried to put my nightmare to words. But nothing came to my mind, except the terror that ran through my body when I was in the dream. "I…I can't…." I shook my head, just wanting to disappear. I felt like a total wuss right now.

"Hey," he said in the softest voice I'd ever heard him use. "Look at me." I looked up at Ben. He wasn't giving me a pitiful look, which made me feel a little better.

"You're gonna get through this. And I'm going to be here for you every step of the way, I promise." His eyes smiled, something only Ben Mason was capable of doing.

I smiled at him, still not able to believe I had a friend like him in my life. "I could really use one of your kick ass hugs right now."

Ben grinned at that. "They are really awesome, aren't they?"

"Hell yeah."

He laughed and then opened his arms for me. I walked forward and he pulled me into his safe embrace. When I hugged him back, I felt so at ease, like I didn't just have one of the worst nightmares ever. The voices left my head, the shakiness stopped, and my breathing felt normal again. I felt him put his chin on my shoulder and hold me a little tighter. I never thought that anyone could care about me as much as Alyssa did, but Ben proved that wrong. He was someone who had my back and I had his, and that would never change. He had the kindest heart and the lightest soul, and I don't think even the darkest of darks could change that. Ben was perfect the way he was; and I hoped with every single bit of light still in me that he wouldn't let Tom's situation change that. Ben was Ben, and that was something I never wanted changed.

That night, he took me to a secluded field that looked like it wasn't even touched by the aliens. It was beautiful to say lightly, and the sight was even prettier. The stars were shining so brightly, you would think that they were just a few feet above you rather than thousands of miles away. You could see Boston in the distance and you could see the remnants of Fitchburg. The only thing that kept me from thinking this was all dream was the big ass mother ship over Boston.

"This is where I come at night, when I need to get away from everything. Something about the atmosphere makes me feel at peace with myself you know?"

I nodded. "I used to have one of those places back home too. Except it wasn't nearly as nice as this." There was a big oak tree that concealed the field that we laid down under a few moments later. The two of us talked about life while we looked above at the stars. I asked him some questions about stuff I didn't know about him and he asked a few about me and I actually answered them.

"What's something no one knows about you, not even Alyssa?"

My eyes remained focused on the sky, but my head was focused on the conversation. "I almost pulled the trigger on myself awhile back. Probably would've gone through with it had I not thought it out."

Ben turned his head and looked at me. I mean, really looked at me. "I was not expecting that kind of answer."

I smirked. "I'm not the kind of girl you used to go to school with, Ben."

He kept staring at me, to the point where I wanted to slap him so he'd stop. "You seriously almost killed yourself?"

A useless being.

I closed my eyes for a second, trying to think of who had told me that. I'm pretty sure it was one of those bitches in school that use to give me shit all the time. "Yeah. I was damn close to doing it too. But I couldn't leave Alyssa and her little sis alone with her psychotic dad, so I put down the gun and sucked it up."

"Wow," Ben looked back up to the sky. "When you tell me about all the crap that you've gone through and all the things that happened where you lived really makes me think about how sheltered I've been this whole time. I didn't even think about how our old world was bad before the attack."

"You were one of the lucky ones. The kid with the great parents, great siblings, great grades, and a great life. I was one of the unlucky ones. No parents, crap sibling, didn't give a shit about school, and a messed up life. But I guess that's what makes us really good friends. We're showing each other our worlds through each other's eyes, and showing them what it's like. I mean," I looked at Ben, "I've never seen someone love anyone as much as your dad loves you. Do you know how incredible that is? And I know it doesn't strike you as much, but to an orphan and to someone with an abusive dad, that's above and beyond amazing." I looked back at the stars, silently envying Ben's perfect life. "That's what I see through my eyes."

Ben was quiet, letting my words sink into his mind. "I wish I thought about that before he stepped on that ship. I'll never be able to tell him how much I appreciated him."

"Don't say that."

"It's true," he said serious. "There's no way in hell he'd still be alive."

I frowned as I made eye contact with middle Mason boy. "In Fitchburg, I knew there was no way in hell the 2nd Mass survived that bomb. I thought for a fact that everyone I loved had been killed. But you," I shook my head, "you kept us going because you knew that there was still a possibility they could be out there. I didn't know what to think, so I just decided that when I had proof that they were gone, I'd believe it. And in the end, they were just fine. So don't lose hope so fast, Ben. Wait until you have proof that your dad is actually gone."

"Do you always know the most perfect thing to say at the most perfect time?" Ben asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Sap."

Ben playfully shoved my shoulder. "Shut up."

I thought that we'd have a few quiet moments before we continued talking again, but Ben went straight to the next question on his list.

"You never did tell me what you wanted to do for a living."

"Ugh," I put my face in my hands. Do we have to talk about this now?"

"You've kept me waiting long enough, Miss Parker."

I slapped his arm. "That's what the principal called me at school. Do it again and I'll kill you."

"Whatever, tell me."

I let out an aggravated sigh. Did I really want to tell him about it? Hell no. But he would bug the shit out of me until I did tell him, and I'd rather not be annoyed to death. My eyes went back to the stars, simply because I didn't want to see the look on his face when I admitted one of my most well kept things about me.

"Well?" Deep breath. Here goes nothing. Fuck, I'm going to regret this later. Like extremely regret this later.

"I wanted to sing," I admitted, almost shamefully actually.

When Ben didn't reply to me, I forced myself to see what he was thinking. Shock rendered on his face. Pure and utter shock.

"Are you screwing with me right now?"

I shook my head. "No I'm serious."

"Sing something for me." Okay, I was wrong. I regret saying it now.

"Hell no."

"Why? No one else is around," Ben motioned to the empty field.

"That's not the problem," I said. "I just don't want to sing in front of you."
"Please." Ben said it with such a genuine voice, that I almost gave in.

"No."

"C'mon, you must be amazing if you actually wanted to be a professional singer."

"Ben, I really don't feel comfortable-"

"Don't be a pain in the ass. Just do it." I think that since Ben has been spending so much time with me, he's starting to pick up on the amount of cussing I do and the abrasiveness I sometimes have. Okay, maybe always have.

"Sometimes I really hate you," I muttered.

"I'm waiting."

Fuck my life. I cleared my throat and took a few minutes to do a breathing exercise to help warm up your voice so you didn't have to do the obnoxious vocal ones that scare people when you do them. Then I started thinking about what song I should sing. The second I wondered it, the perfect one flowed into my mind and out of my mouth.

"We'll do it all

Everything

On our own

We don't need

Anything

Or anyone

If I lay here,

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know

How to say

How I feel

Those three words

Are said too much

But not enough

If I lay here,

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told

Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waist time,

Chasing cars

Around our heads

I need your grace

To remind me

To fine my own

If I lay here,

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"

Damn, I haven't sung that song in a really long time. But the look on Ben's face told me that I had sung it like I practiced everyday.
"Holy shit, Kaylee. I had no idea you had pipes like that!"
I smiled widely. "I'm glad I didn't make your ears bleed."

"Sing me something else."

"I think one's enough for the night." Ben started giving me a puppy dog face, an all too familiar one. "Has Jimmy been teaching you to make that face?"

"What? No."

"Yeah, bull shit." I began to get up, but Ben pushed me back down. "Rude."

"C'mon. Sing me another one." I had no idea that he would like my voice so much, I mean it was weird you know?

"I still have to make Alyssa's present, dude!"

"Ugh, I forgot," Ben groaned, "I have to go get her a water bottle and something else. What else should I get her?"

"Dig deep and be creative or something. I'll see you in a bit; it's gonna take me awhile before I'm done," I got up and started heading back to camp. Ben ran over to me and matched my pace.

"For the record, I've never heard someone sing as beautifully as you."

That's gotta be the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me. "If you continue to be that freaking sweet, you're going to make me blush."

"So if I told you that you were beautiful, you'd blush?"

I raised my eyebrows and smirked. "Now you're just being a kiss ass."

Ben chuckled and shook his head. "I'll see you in a few hours."

"See you." I went by our tent to where I had stashed all of the gifts I was going to give Alyssa. I had found a varsity type jacket in a store that was black and white and had 'AC' on the sleeve so I had took it to give to her. I also was going to make her a new knife since the one she used was absolute shit now. It was duller than dull, the handle was barely in tact, and the blade was almost dislodged from the handle. So I had taken the high carbon and stainless steel material (which is the best knife material you can get) I had with me and a turquoise rock handle I had taken from a jewelry shop and was going to combine them together. My uncle gave me a laser knife for my fourteenth birthday last year, and let me tell you it was the best thing to use for making weapons. I used this thing every time I was crafting something.

I also was writing Alyssa a song, which was something we did with each other. It wasn't always on our birthdays; usually we would write each other songs randomly and gave them to the other. Like the song Angel With a Shotgun she wrote for me was totally out of no where. But since this was her sixteenth, I was going to write a really heartfelt song. While I make her a death weapon.

Once I was far enough away from the tent, I set the items down and sat. I took the turquoise and began shaping it with the laser knife. The grip was perfect, and now I had to make the whole down the middle of the handle to put the blade in. The kind of blade I was dealing with was probably the sharpest out there, so I could easily cut myself. High carbon and stainless steel didn't rust and it took a really long time to become dull, so this was definitely the best choice for Alyssa because she uses her knife more than anything. I cut out the knife shape in the material and slid it into the handle carefully. If I really wanted to make sure that the blade and the handle were secure, I would have to work insanely quickly so that I would finish while the blade was still hot from being cut.
I raised up the handle a little and took my laser knife to start welding the two together. The laser knife melted all four sides into the handle and then I started to clean it up a little so the knife piece and the handle would be even. I blew on the steaming blade and examined the now knife. It was probably my best work since I was more careful with making the knife than I usually was. However, it was missing a personalization.
My thumb switched the laser to a smaller setting. I pressed the button and began burning Alyssa's initials into the bottom left of the handle. And soon enough, a black "AC" was at the bottom of her brand new knife. Now I just had to finish the song and I'd be done with her gifts.

Two hours later, I had an amazing song ready and two gifts for my best friend for her sixteenth birthday. Looking back on the years we've had together made me smile at all the memories I shared with just one person. She was the first person I had a sleepover with, she was the one I went to when I had fights with my mom, dad, or brother, she was the first one to give me a hug when I found out my parents died, she was the one who was there for me through all the broken bones I got, she was the one who constantly pulled my ass out of fights at school and even took the blame for me on some occasions so I wouldn't get expelled, and she was the one who's stuck by my side despite all the shit we've dealt with all of our years. Not to mention she was the only one who knew how to make me smile in an instant. I couldn't have asked for a better friend than her. And I couldn't thank her enough for staying in my life because without her, I wouldn't have made it this long.

Maybe I was one of the lucky ones, but just in a different way. Sure my life sucked, but I had someone like Alyssa in it. That made it bearable, which was all I needed to keep going. I'm glad I realized that now, because if something happened to her I want her to know how important she is to me.

"Alyssa get up, Alyssa get up." Hal continued. It was like a joke now. Ben said we bickered about that like an old married couple.

"That's not gonna work. You gotta use force." Then Kaylee hit my arm. "Get up lazy ass it's like ten already." I glared at her. "Oh yeah, Happy Birthday."

"So how does it feel to finally be sixteen?" Hal asked.

"I really don't feel any different," I said. I never felt older on my birthdays. I don't get how people are like in less than a day, I'm so much older and more mature. I'm just like bitch shut up it's just another day in your life. You don't automatically become this old wise person. It's stupid. "So what's the plan for today?" I asked Hal.

"Well it's just like a regular day, except a little surprise tonight," Ben said, then Matt started laughing and Ben smiled like they were hiding something from me. Hal just rolled his eyes, Kaylee looked the same. I shooed them out so I could get dressed. I put on my boots, shorts and my old soccer shirt. It was the tee shirt we got when we won state the year before. I put on my belt and started loading up with knives and my two guns. I went to grab my AK-47 Assault Rifle, but o couldn't find it. Where could my gun have gone? I'll just get another one from Kaylee.

I walked outside and the whole 2nd fucking Mass was standing there staring at me. "NOW," Matt yelled. What the hell?

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ALYSSA! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" I think they were supposed to be singing but it sounded more like a dying whale. I was smiling and laughing. Then Hal came up and hugged me.

"Happy Birthday!" Then he kissed me. "That's one present, you get the rest tonight."

I laughed harder. "Okay." Everyone clapped then went about their business. Weaver walked over, followed by Kaylee, Jimmy, Ben and Matt.

"Happy Birthday Carter." Weaver said. "I don't think your birthday could have come at a better time. The people needed something fun to do. And that was it."

"Well I'm glad I could help," I smiled.

The day went by quick. I got to kill a bunch of skitters and I even killed a mech, by myself, which was pretty cool. We were out all morning doing that. The 2nd Mass's tactic is to surprise attack in small groups. We do a kind of hit and run. Basically we need to be such a big pain in their alien asses that it's not worth it to be here on Earth. The day was fun, but the night was the best part. At dinner, Hal walked up with a big bowl and he put it in front of me. It looked like cake batter.

"We managed to make the batter but we didn't have anything to cool it with so here is your birthday cake." We all took spoons and started eating. Ben, Hal, Kaylee, Matt, and I all sat in Kaylee and my tent. They had a few gifts for me.

"Okay my gift first," Matt said. He pulled out a new looking soccer ball with a bow made of string.

"Matt I love it!"

"Now here is mine," Hal handed me my gun and his grey Metal Militia shirt. "You seemed to like the shirt and the gun, because you need a gun."

"But it's my gun." I was very confused.

"Yeah I gave you a gun! You need more," he said in a duh kinda way.

"Oh my God. I like the shirt though."

"Cool," he was laughing. I will never fully understand what goes on in his head. I seriously wonder about him.

"Here is mine." Ben handed me a water bottle filled with water.

"A water bottle? I thought my gift was bad." Hal said looking at his brother.
"Kaylee said she would like it," I looked at Kaylee, and suddenly I remembered a partially boring day in science. I ran out of paper and couldn't take notes, so I just kinda zoned out. I picked my bottle of water up and started spinning it. If you held it upside down and spun it real fast, a tornado was made inside. It fascinated me. Kaylee saw me and just laughed. That was last year, and for my birthday and Christmas last year, she gave me a water bottle with her present. I started spinning it around.

"This is so cool! Thanks Ben!" Ben looked surprised, Hal looked confused, Kaylee had a look of knowing on her face, and Matt looked entertained by the tornado.

"Oh my God you are so easily entertained, it's sad," Hal said, shaking his head and laughing.

"Shut up," I said.

"Mines a three part one" Kaylee said. She handed me a letterman style jacket. It was black and white and on the sleeve said "AC".

"This is AMAZING! Thanks Kaylee! This is awesome!"

"And here's the second part" She handed me something wrapped in paper and taped shut. I am horrible at opening presents. This time I was actually doing pretty good, then something really sharp cut my finger.

"OOOWWWW! Shit that hurt! Kaylee what is it? It's sharp!"

"It's a knife dumb ass."

"Oh." I fully opened it and looked at the knife. It was really nice and strong. It was made of high carbon stainless steel metal, which is the best way to make a knife. It even had my initials on the bottom, carved in black. Of course there black I mean it wouldn't be a gift from Kaylee without something being black. And it was my all time favorite color too! "It's really nice! Thanks Kaylee, I needed a new one."

"Yeah your old one was crap," she said.

"Thank you captain obvious."

"I'll give you the third part later." She winked at me. I was suddenly very nervous.

"We should be going. I have grave yard shift with Ben and Matt needs to get to bed." The three Masons left and I lay down in my bed. That's when Kaylee decided to give me my last gift. "So, I wrote a song for you this morning…" she grinned at me. Oh God.

"You did?" I asked. Kaylee and I sometimes wrote each other songs when we were bored.

"Yeah. Don't laugh but," she pulled out a harmonica, "it involves the harmonica."

She's had that since she was a little girl. I laughed at her, "Okay, sing it."

Kaylee started playing the harmonica, and I was trying really hard not to laugh at how Kaylee Badass Parker was playing the harmonica and doing it well.

"And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well then close your eyes and try to feel the way we do today
And if you can't remember

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me
For sure
That's what friends are for
For good times, and bad times,
I'll be on your side forevermore-
That's what friends are for

Well, you came and opened me,
And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you
And then for the times when we're apart,
Well, then close your eyes and know
These words are coming from my heart
And if you can't remember," Holy shit she was making me cry! I knew Kaylee wasn't all that big on showing emotion, but this was totally pulled from the bottom of her heart. And if something were to ever happen to her, I'd have this song to remind me of the good times we've had.

"Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me
For sure
That's what friends are for
For good times, and bad times,
I'll be on your side forevermore-
That's what friends are for

I never thought I'd feel this way before
But I'm glad I got the chance to say I love you,
I love you -
That's what friends are for -

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me
For sure
That's what friends are for
For good times, and bad times,
I'll be on your side forevermore-
That's what friends are for."

Her voice ended, and she smiled at me. "What do you think?"

I tackled her in a huge hug. "I think you're the bestest friend ever."

"Well, duh," she said being the fucking smart ass she is. I slapped her for it.

She just laughed at me and held up her arm. "Friends Forever?"

I didn't even have to think; I instantly bumped her arm. "Always."

"Happy Birthday, Alyssa," she smiled.

"Thanks, Kaylee." I lay down on my cot, thinking about how sweet Kaylee could be if she actually tried. Kaylee did too, but I knew she wasn't going to sleep. She was going to wait until I fell asleep then leave. After a couple minutes of thinking, I was fast asleep.

Kaylee's POV

I re-hid all of Alyssa's presents and then walked into our tent to get her up since it was like ten already. Hal, Matt, and Ben were standing outside their tent. I motioned them over and we all entered Alyssa and I's tent.

"Alyssa get up, Alyssa get up," Hal began saying loudly next to her.

"That's not gonna work," I told him, "You gotta use force." I slapped Alyssa's arm. "Get up lazy ass it's like ten already."

Alyssa opened her eyes and gave her first murderous glare as a sixteen-year-old. There would be plenty more that followed that. "Oh yeah, Happy Birthday."

"How does it feel to finally be sixteen?"

"I really don't feel any different. What's the plan for the day?" she asked her boyfriend.

"It's just going to be a regular day, except there's gonna be a little surprise tonight," Ben said. Matt began laughing and Ben smiled because we all knew something Alyssa didn't. Hal and I weren't amused by the two younger Masons, so we just rolled our eyes at them. Alyssa made us get out so she could get dressed, and we had the entire 2nd Mass gathered around the tent so we could all sing to her. The moment she set foot outside, Matt yelled, "NOW!" and all of us sang 'Happy Birthday' to her.

Hal went up to her first and gave her a kiss, which was really adorable. And then Weaver, Jimmy, me, Ben, and Matt all went up to her.

"Happy Birthday, Carter," Captain Weaver said, smiling a little. "I don't think your birthday could have come at a better time. The civilians needed something fun to do. And that was it."

"Well I'm glad I could help," she smiled at him. After that, we took the birthday girl out to go and kill some aliens. I mean, what better way to celebrate your birthday than with wasting some skitters and mechs? Alyssa was really pumped to go out; she killed at least seven skitters and Hal, Ben, and I let her destroy a mech on her own and she was thrilled. She was going to be even more excited when she got her presents from me tonight.

The sun was beginning to go down in the sky, so we took Alyssa back to camp where we had a "cake" waiting for her there. I left briefly to get the hidden gifts as did everyone else. Then we dragged her back to the tent to give her presents. Hal set the bowl of batter we made a few hours ago in front of her.

"We managed to make the batter but we didn't have anything to cool it with so here is your birthday cake," Hal laughed a little. All of us took some spoons Hal brought us back from the food tent and ate the batter.

Matt initiated the gift giving. "Okay my gift first," he said. Matt managed to find a fairly new soccer ball and gave it to my soccer crazed friend as her present.

"Matt I love it!" Alyssa took it and spun it on her fingers then put it next to her as Hal gave her the next one.

"Now here is mine," Hal, being the absolute dipshit he is, gave her the assault rifle I made her awhile back (he really didn't understand the idea of creativity) and his Metal Militia shirt. "You seemed to like the shirt and you need a gun."

"But it's my gun," Alyssa pointed out.

"Yeah I gave you a gun! You need more," Hal said, still pretending he didn't steal her gun and give it to her as a present. Dumbass.

"Oh my God," Alyssa rolled her eyes (great choice for a boyfriend, Alyssa), "I like the shirt though."

"Cool," Hal laughed.

"Here is mine," Ben went through with my suggestion on giving her a water bottle.

"A water bottle? I thought my gift was bad." Hal raised his eyebrows at his younger brother.
"Kaylee said she would like it," Ben protested.

Alyssa looked at me and the two of us started laughing. During science class a few months ago, Alyssa was really bored and unprepared, like always, and so she started playing with her water bottle and I've given her crap about it since.

"This is so cool! Thanks Ben!" Ben was surprised that I wasn't lying to him when I told him that she would like it.

"Oh my God. You're so easily entertained, it's sad," Hal said laughing at how stupid Alyssa was being.

"Shut up," she said and set the water bottle down.

"Mine's a three part one," I smiled, sliding the jacket to her first.

"This is AMAZING! Thanks Kaylee! This is awesome!" Alyssa smiled and put it on.

"And here's the second part." I had taken paper and wrapped it around the knife, so that way she'd be surprised when she did open it. I picked up the wrapped knife by the blade and handed her the handle side so she'd open that part and not cut herself.

"OOOWWWW! Shit that hurt! Kaylee what is it? It's sharp!" Dumbshit opened the blade side first. Why do I even try?

"It's a knife dumb ass," I shook my head at how clueless she could be sometimes.

"Oh." She tore it open more carefully. It was her favorite color, so of course, she got really pumped. "It's awesome! Thanks Kaylee, I needed a new one."

"Yeah your old one was crap," I pointed out.

"Thank you captain obvious."

"I'll give you the third part later," I smiled.

"Well we should be going. I have grave yard shift with Ben and Matt needs to get to bed." The Mason boys left.

"So, I wrote a song for you this morning…" I started, and grinned at my friend who was lying down already.

"You did?"

"Yeah. Don't laugh but," I pulled out a harmonica that I had since I was a kid, "but it involves the harmonica."

Alyssa laughed. "Okay, sing it."

I started the intro with the harmonica (despite Alyssa's awful attempt at trying not to laugh), and began to sing the song that took me forever to perfect.

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me
For sure
That's what friends are for
For good times, and bad times,
I'll be on your side forevermore-
That's what friends are for

"Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me
For sure
That's what friends are for
For good times, and bad times,
I'll be on your side forevermore-
That's what friends are for

I never thought I'd feel this way before
But I'm glad I got the chance to say I love you,
I love you -
That's what friends are for -

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me
For sure
That's what friends are for
For good times, and bad times,
I'll be on your side forevermore-
That's what friends are for."

I stopped and looked up at her. "What do you think?"

She bear-hugged me and I silently thanked the world for giving me Alyssa Jane Carter to live my life with me. "I think you're the bestest friend ever."

"Well, duh."

Alyssa slapped me for being a smart ass and ruining the cute moment. I laughed and held up my arm to be bumped. "Friends Forever?"

She immediately bumped me back. "Always."

"Happy Birthday, Alyssa."

"Thanks, Kaylee." I lay down on my cot next to Alyssa and waited for her to fall asleep so I could get out of the tent. I needed some alone time and call me crazy, but I had a really good idea for a song I wanted to start working on. I don't know why, but writing songs makes me forget life for a little while, and I treasure that time more than anything.

Alyssa was already out, so I got up and opened the flap of the tent and started walking somewhere. I wanted to get out of camp for awhile, just pretend that I was on my own for a little, like I used to be. I sat down outside a little shop and pulled out a black composition book that I had with me when we joined the 2nd Mass and a pen. I stared at the moon, thinking about how much my life has changed in such little time. In a month, I'd be fifteen, and God knows what I'll be doing then.

Alyssa's POV

"I warned you not to say anything, but what did you do? You ran your mouth," said the man with the gun. It was a weird hand gun; it was brown with and intricate design. Though you couldn't tell what design it is because there's a claw scratch that covered the entire handle. He was standing in the dark so he was hard to see but he looked familiar. The woman he was talking to looked scared. The man pulled the trigger and the women fell down to the ground, motionless.

I woke myself up. I haven't had that dream in months. Not since our first night with the second mass. That seemed like so long ago. I looked around and didn't see Kaylee. She probably was out and about walking around doing something. She never slept anymore. I put my shoes on and left the tent. We were in the middle of the city, with a fire set up and tents around that, in a big circle. I started walking and I didn't really notice where I was going, until I looked up and realized I was out of the camp. I turned the corner and ran straight into a hard body.

"What are you doing up?" I looked at Hal.

"I couldn't sleep," I hope he couldn't see through my lie, the real reason I wasn't asleep.

"Nice try. What's the real reason?" Damn it.

"Remember when we first came here, how I had a nightmare and that man and all that? I had the dream again, that's all. It's nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I just couldn't fall back asleep. Kaylee isn't in there and it's creepy. So I figured id take a walk, and go find Kaylee. Why are you up?"

"Just getting off scouting duty."

"Oh okay."

"Come on, take a walk with me." We started walking, until we found an old park bench. Then we sat down. He wrapped his arm around me and I laid my head on his shoulder. We just sat there, in silence.

"Well, well, well, look at the little couple." We turned around to see a man staring at us. It was the man who was with the 2nd Mass when we first got there, the man who killed my mom and tried to kill me and Hal and Anne and Ben and Kaylee. I stood up and glared at him.

"What the fuck do you want?" I said my voice hard.

"To finish what I started. To kill you and your little boyfriend. But first I'm going to finish my story first. See, I don't think you ever heard the whole thing. And I want to at least make sure you know the real reason I killed your mom. I told you it was because she told on me, reported my murder. That's not why. Did you know your dad was a drug dealer? I was his supplier and he messed up. Did you know your mom didn't make that much money? She couldn't support you. She knew your dad was a drug dealer. Your grandfather and her made a deal. They acted like all the money was coming from her. That's when your dad messed up and he had to be killed. He said I could kill your mom instead, because he knew she couldn't support you with her money. So I did. He continued to make money, but legally he didn't have a job, so he got money from the government. He had you to care for, so he got more money, and then when Kaylee became legally under his care that was more money. And when your grandma wanted custody of you and Kaylee, he had her killed, and he got more money from her will. Since the money went to you, but legally you couldn't take it, he got it. Your dad was a smart man; he knew how to make money. And only with the loss of two people, that's not that bad considering the money he got. Well, two lives lost and two messed up children. That's not that bad, considering how many people are on this earth. And I taught him all of it. I taught him how to make money."

"You sick mother fucking bastard." I said. "That was my fucking mom you had killed! You ruined my best friend and I's childhood! I thought my dad was worthless, but he is nothing compared to you. Bastard, I swear to God I'm going to blow your brains out!" I reached for my gun but he was quicker.

"I don't think so," he held the gun to my chest "You make one move I kill her." He said to Hal. I forgot he was even here. I looked at him. He kept looking down at my nunchucks. He was trying to tell me something. Suddenly I remembered when we first met, how Hal and Ben had there guns pointed at us, I surprised them and disarmed them. Slowly I reached for my nunchucks. I quickly whipped them out and hit his gun, sending it flying. Hal ran over to it and picked it up and aimed it at him.

"I don't believe in killing people with a gun. I think it's a cowardly way to go. If you want to kill someone, fight them. Fists, knives, nunchucks. Not guns." I picked up my arm and socked him in the face.

"You little bitch!" He went to hit me but Hal clicked the gun in place and he froze. The man quickly lifted his hand and smacked the gun out of Hal's and he pushed Hal to the ground. I pulled my knife from my boot and sent it straight at him. It hit him right below the heart. Perfect. He isn't going to die instantly, but he can't be saved now. He will sit here in pain and suffer, suffer the way I did when he killed my mom. I stared at his almost lifeless body. He was just about dead, but he wasn't quite there yet. I started to walk away and Hal followed me.

"Alyssa. Alyssa stop!" Hal grabbed me and tried to make me face him but I didn't want to. I didn't want him to see me cry. He held my face in his hands. "Alyssa, it's going to be okay." When he said that, I broke down crying. I have cried once in my life, when my mom died. I guess I should be happy right now that the man is dead. That's what I wanted, I wasn't crying because I was sad he was dead. I don't know why I was crying actually. It was all too much. Hal pulled me in and hugged me tight and I wanted to stay here in this moment forever. "Come on, let's head back. If Kaylee still isn't in your guys' tent, you can stay with us." We walked back to camp, but Hal still didn't let go of me. I peeked in our tent, but it was empty. We walked back to their tent. Ben was gone but Matt was sound asleep. We climbed in, Hal laid down and l laid down next to him. I laid my head on his chest. I fell asleep to his rhythmic breathing.

"Hal, wake- what the hell are you doing Alyssa?" I woke up and glanced at Ben. Hal was just waking up to. Ben leaned back and yelled, "KAYLEE I FOUND HER!" He looked back in here. "Prepare to die Alyssa. Kaylee has been worried as shit. She came in this morning and you weren't there. I was coming to get Hal to go help find you. " I stood up and left, Hal followed me. Matt slept through all of this.

"So how pissed do you think she is?" Hal asked.

"ALYSSA JANE FUCKING CARTER GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE NOW!" "I'd say she is pretty pissed" I said and he laughed. We walked over to Kaylee, who practically had steam coming out of her ears.

"WHY THE WEREN'T YOU IN OUR TENT?!" She slapped me, the looked at Hal. "WHY HELL WERE YOU TWO IN YOUR TENT?" Then she punched him. Ben walked up.

"What's going on?" Hal explained everything to them, because I couldn't.

"And you killed him? Why didn't you use our tent?" Kaylee asked.

"I didn't wanna be in there alone. And I didn't know where you were, so I stayed in their tent."

"Whatever. Just as long as you guys used protection," Kaylee rolled her eyes.

"Shut up Kaylee, just shut up. Fuck you," I said.

"Chill out Kaylee. We slept together. Calm down," Hal stated.

"Oh." Ben said looking between us.

"No, oh no. Like we literarily slept together. Like with our eyes shut and-"

"Hal was even snoring," I cut in.

"Yeah I know how sleeping works Hal," she smirked.

"Plus we couldn't do anything, Matt was there," Hal defended us.

"What's all the yelling about?" Matt walked out, his hair all messy. He yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Nothing," Ben said.

"Mhmmm sure," Matt said. We all laughed and headed off to go get breakfast.

Kaylee's POV

I got back to camp at seven in the morning and no one seemed to notice the direction I came in from when I entered camp, which was good. But when I went to go check on Alyssa, she was no where to be found. I frowned and exited the Parker-Carter tent and walked around camp until I spotted Ben by the food tent. "Hey Ben," I started while I walked in front of him, "have you seen Alyssa around?"

"No, I haven't seen her anywhere. Why?"

"When I left last night she was asleep in our tent but when I came back this morning she was gone..." I trailed off when I saw something next to a park bench that was a few yards away from camp. "Do you see that?" I pointed to it.

Ben's eyes widened a little. "It's a dead body."

"Let's go check it out," I motioned him and we ran over to it. When I examined it more closely, I recognized the face. "That's the guy that killed Alyssa's mom." A familiar black handle to a knife jutted out of his chest.

"And that's her old knife," Ben pointed to it.

"If she got hurt I swear to God I'm going to make this the worst birthday she's ever had in her life," I tossed my bangs out of my face, getting seriously worried, This guy was seriously messed up in the head, and if Alyssa had managed to actually kill him, he had to have fought back.

"I'm sure she's fine. C'mon, let's go ask around if anyone's seen her." Ben and I asked a ton of the civilians and some of the fighters if they had seen Alyssa anywhere, but the same answer came up: No. I was really starting to get worried.

"I'm gonna go ask Hal really quick," Ben sprinted off to his tent while I sprinted to Jimmy.

"Jimmy have you seen Alyssa anywhere?"

He shook his head. "How long has she been gone?"

"Like five hours or so," I sighed. "No one has seen her anywhere."

Jimmy was about to reply, when Ben shouted to me, "KAYLEE, I FOUND HER!"

I'm going to fucking kill her. "I'll see you in a little bit," I waved and ran over to the Mason tent. Ben was standing out there already.

"ALYSSA JANE FUCKING CARTER GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE NOW!" I shouted to her. I was pissed as hell that she gave me such a huge heart attack. Hal and Alyssa came out of the tent and she actually cowered when she saw how pissed I was. "WHY THE HELL WEREN'T YOU IN OUR TENT?" I slapped her as hard as I could muster. And then it dawned on me that Alyssa was in the Mason boys' tent…with Hal.

"WHY THE HELL WERE YOU TWO IN YOUR TENT?!" When he didn't reply, I punched Hal in the arm even harder than I punched Alyssa because I knew Hal could take a semi-hard punch.

"Damn it," Hal rubbed his arm vigorously. "Do you punch harder every time you hit me?"

Um, DUH.

"What happened?" Ben asked, annoyed that we still didn't know what went on.

Hal said that Alyssa had her nightmare again and so she ran into Hal looking for me so they took a walk to shake off the dream. Then they were sitting at the bench and the man came over to them and tried to kill Alyssa but she beat him to it.

"Why didn't you just stay in our tent?" I asked Alyssa, who was being quiet for the first time in her life.

"I didn't wanna be in there alone. And I didn't know where you were, so I stayed in their tent," she explained.

"Whatever. Just as long as you guys used protection," I rolled my eyes. Ben started laughing so hard while I stood and smirked at the beet red couple. Alyssa looked like she wanted to murder me.

"Shut up Kaylee, just shut up. Fuck you," Alyssa said.

"Chill out Kaylee. We slept together. Calm down," Hal stated.

"Oh." Ben said looking between Hal and Alyssa.

"No, oh no. Like we literarily slept together. Like with our eyes shut and-"

"Hal was even snoring," Alyssa added.

"Yeah I know how sleeping works Hal," I smirked.

"Plus we couldn't do anything, Matt was there,"

Hal defended them. Alyssa was just about to kill me, when Matt came outside.

"What's all the yelling about?" Matt's hair was a total mess; his curls were flying all over the place.

"Nothing," Ben said as he ruffled Matt's hair, making it even messier.

"Mhmmm sure," Matt rolled his eyes. The five of us laughed and went to the food tent to start the new day.

:3333333333333 Review and tell me what you thought!:DDDDD Until I see you next,

Keep The Resistance Strong And Falling Skies On. -Parker

AAAHHHHHH! SO what did you guys think of the AlyssxHal action?! PLEASE TELL ME! Review, PM whatever you have to do to tell me!