I know everyone is upset about the break up. I'm sorry, but don't worry. Stryker will find love again. Eventually. He'll move on.

AUGUST 16

I laid on my back on my bed, staring glumly at the ceiling. Two weeks. It had been two weeks since Mal broke up with me.

I was glad that it had happened over summer break, at least. That way I didn't have to try to pretend that I was okay while at school. My friends had been over the day before, trying to cheer me up. It hadn't really worked, but I appreciated their efforts. They could be super obnoxious, but they were good friends when it really counted. They didn't make fun of me for the break up. They supported me and did what they could to help me move on.

Adrian had had some very interesting things to say about women who moved to Japan and refused to try a long-distance relationship. Most of it was ridiculously stupid, but it had gotten a small laugh out of me, which is probably what he had been going for.

A knock sounded on my door. I looked over the side of my bed as Mom walked into my room. "Hey," I said.

"Hey." She pulled out my desk chair and sat in it. "How are you doing?"

I snorted. "Oh, great," I muttered sarcastically. "My girlfriend broke up with because she moved to Japan, but she's not even willing to try to make it work and she seems to be intent on never speaking to me again. My life's just wonderful." Mallory had ignored every phone call and text of mine. I'd given up on trying to even talk to her. She hadn't been kidding when she'd said that she wanted a clean break.

I sighed. I was frustrated, but I hadn't meant to snap at my mom like that. "I'm sorry," I told her. "It's not your fault."

"Don't be sorry. I understand. But, Stryk, long-distance relationships are not easy."

"I know that. I wouldn't have expected it to be easy. Anything that's worth it takes effort. But I was willing to at least try, Mom. I was willing to give it a shot, because I fell in love with her. I wanted to make it work, I really did. But she won't even talk to me now."

"I know you did, little man. But it takes two, and if she wasn't willing to make it work, then it probably wouldn't have worked, no matter how hard you tried."

She was right, of course. It still sucked.

"And I know that this isn't exactly helpful advice or advice that you're going to want to hear right now, but…there are other girls out there. You'll fall in love again. Most people fall in love more than once. I did. Dad did. Jon did."

"Mamie and Pappy didn't."

"Well, no. But Mamie and Pappy are really weird," she said, with a small grin. I couldn't help but grin back.

"Aunt Maddie and Uncle Sammy didn't," I said, mostly to be a brat.

Mom rolled her eyes. "They're weird, too." She looked at me for a few seconds before saying, "I know that it's going to take some time for you to get over Mallory, but is there anything that I can do to help you?"

I shrugged. "Probably not."

She closed her eyes, sighing. "I can't believe I'm actually going to say this, but…I'll do a Doctor Who marathon with you. If you want."

I stared down at her, shocked. She had a grimace on her face, like she'd just eaten something gross. My mom was not a fan of Doctor Who. Dad, sure. Mamie, definitely. Even Pappy was a fan – though he would never admit it. But Mom, not so much. I liked the show, and I would watch it with Mamie a lot. I wasn't obsessed with it like she was, but it was a good show.

"Are you serious?" I asked.

She scowled. "Yes."

I laughed. "Thanks for the offer, Mom, but I'd never force you to sit through a show that you so thoroughly hate."

She gave me a crooked grin. I could tell she was relieved I wasn't going to take her up on her offer. "You didn't seem to have a problem with it when you were three and forcing me to watch Pokémon with you."

I rolled my eyes. I was still grinning a little. "That was totally different. I was three. I didn't really know that you hated my favorite show. But I do appreciate that you'd be willing to sit through Doctor Who with me."

"Of course. You're my son. I hate to see you in pain. I just want you to be happy. You know that, right?"

"I know. I'll get there. It's just…" I trailed off.

"Not an easy process," she supplied for me.

"Right. Not an easy process at all." With a sigh, I climbed down from my bed. "Want help with dinner?" I questioned.

"You don't have to, Stryk."

I shrugged. "Maybe the distraction will be good."

"All right, then. I'd be happy to have your help."

She stood up, and I gave her a tight hug. She hugged me back for about two seconds, and then tried to pull away – she really wasn't a fan of hugs. I didn't let go. It was nice to be hugging my mom, even if she wasn't reciprocating.

"Stryker. Stop. You know how I feel about hugs."

"I know," I said.

I still didn't let go.

Mom sighed, and wrapped her arms around me again. "I've always said that you like hugs way too much," she informed me. "But I love you, little man."

"Love you, too, Mom."

I let go and kissed her cheek before heading into the kitchen.