(Author note: I changed a bit in chapter 18 near the end. So reread that before reading this chapter)
After they left Bancroft Academy, Max parked the rust bucket at a nearby parking lot. There, Gwen and Max sat at the dinette as Lincoln explained more about his past. For Lincoln, it had been a long time since he talked to someone about his family's death, and it was going to be painful.
"See, eight months ago, my family and I were heading down the beach and driving the family van that had seen better days." Lincoln paused for a moment, then continued. "Suddenly, when the van started to drive downhill and there was a stop sign at the end, my dad tried to hit the brakes, but for some reason, it didn't work."
Lincoln started to remember his dad telling him desperately to hit the brakes, but it didn't work, and his family started to panic.
"As the van reached the end of the hill, a semi-truck came and hit the right side of the van, and I got knocked out. The next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital."
"And your family?" said Max
Lincoln was rigid, and a couple of tears started to come out, but he was trying to hold everything together.
"There is no way of saying this better. Except for my two sisters, the oldest and youngest, who are still alive, most of my family are dead. I thought we'd be together, but child services say they'll be splitting us up. I couldn't handle the fact, and... I panicked and ran away when I got better."
Lincoln then started to break down and put his hands over his face.
"Oh, god, I feel like the biggest jerk in the world for leaving them."
Gwen switched spots and sat with Lincoln to comfort him.
"Lincoln, your not a jerk," said Gwen
"But I am I left my only sisters alone and they might think I'm dead," said Lincoln
"I'm sure they don't think you're dead. And I understand why you ranaway," said Max
"R-really?"
"Yes, your kid having what happened to you all at once was too much; I don't think someone older could have handled what happened to you."
Lincoln stopped crying but still had some red eyes. "So what happened now?"
"We'll help you get better," said Gwen
"What about my sister?"
"When your ready and at any time," Max gave a sincere smile
"And we're with all the way," said Gwen
"You don't have to do this, you know," said Lincoln
"After what we been through for this summer we're with on this Lincoln." Gwen gives her own sincere smile.
I don't know how I managed to meet these two, but I'm happy that it happened, Lincoln thought.
…
Later at night, Lincoln was on his hoverboard outside of the RV, looking up at the starry night, when he heard the door open, and it was Gwen.
"Hey," said Gwen
"Hey."
"So looking at the stars?"
"Yep, I never knew how beautiful the star could be."
Gwen looked up at the night sky and saw a shooting star.
"Yeah, it can be."
"Do you want to sit and watch with me?"
"I didn't bring a chair."
"You can sat my lap." Lincoln realized what he said and blushed, "W-wait I didn't mean like that."
Gwen giggled "I know. How about you scoot on over on that board."
Lincoln moved a bit, and Gwen sat down next to him, looking at the stars with an emotional moment behind Lincoln, and hopefully, his future would be for the better.