SALLY'S POV

I was on a pretty weird mission today. I was walking over to Schroeder's house for something very important. I knocked on his door. He opened the door instantly. "Can I talk to you?" I asked. He let me in as we walked over to the couch. Before he could sit down I grabbed his arm. I pulled him and kissed him. When we broke apart Schroeder just looked stunned, nothing more nor less. "Sally I-"

"I know you don't like me, I don't like you either." He looked at me. "So why-"

"This could be beneficial for both of us. You have something to distract from Lucy so you can gain her trust back, and Janice will leave you alone. And it will help me get over Linus." I waved my hand out in the air as if the imagination was seen right before our eyes. Schroeder was thinking. He made direct eye contact with me. And he kissed me. "We can give it a try" he said smiling. We let go of each other awkwardly just before Lucy barges into his house. "Do you guys know where Linus is?" She didn't see anything. I looked back at her "I think I might." I looked at Schroeder and he let me into his car. Lucy went home after.

I didn't have an exact idea where he was. But this reminded me of the time Lucy barged in awhile ago so I'm guessing he's at the creek. I was right.

LINUS' POV

I was at the creek that was a few neighborhoods away. No one ever bothered me here. Well besides Sally apparently. This time I was here without cigarettes or drugs whatsoever. I saw Schroeder's car pull up here. I forgot he found us here once, so he knows where it is. He walked out and opened the passengers door. Sally walked out of it. Why were they together here? Sally hugged him and they shared a kiss. Wait are they-

I forgot to mention, this all takes place a week after they broke up, my bad.

It had only been a week and she was dating someone, and Schroeder of all people!? When I looked at them my stomach turned. Seeing them together made me feel gross. And I don't know why. Schroeder got back into the car and drove away as Sally blew a kiss towards it. She looked over at me and smiled. I force a smile back as she runs towards me. I still had a hint of shock in my facial expression that she noticed. "Plot twist huh?" She laughed lightheartedly, I chuckle but it was completely fake. I was not amused. "I told you I was going to move on." I looked at her, you could tell I was pretty upset seeing this.

"What about Lucy?" Sally raised her eyebrow making that face she makes when she's playing dumb. "What about her?" Is she just gonna pretend Lucy is just going to accept this? "When did you ever like him?" I growled. Honestly I was more mad at Schroeder. I just told him not to hurt Lucy and here he is doing it all over again, even when he doesn't notice it.

"Probably when you started looking at another girl." Ok well that stings. I guess that's what I get for liking Janice. Something about her tone sounded kind of like she was talking passive aggressively. Which is weird because she said we'd still be friends. But even I knew that there always going to be something awkward about it.

Sally looks around at the area. "No cigarettes?" She smiles back at me. My eyes try to avoid her as she tries to engage in conversation. "So when do you plan to ask out Janice?" She leaned closer to me batting her eyes. "You want me to ask her...now?" I gulped looking back at her. She nodded. "You didn't have trouble asking me out." That was true, I don't know what made Janice so different. Maybe it was because I already knew Sally used to like me so I felt more comfortable. I look down, playing with the grass by my feet. "I know you can do it Linus. You've come so far, and we've been through enough for me to put all my faith in you." At first I was completely unfazed with Sally breaking up with me after everything but now when she says we've gone through so much and has a boyfriend something just changed.

I face her again. She has a huge grin on her face. I wrap my arms around her matching the same grin she had on. "Thank you Sally, you truly are great." I could hear her giggle. She was the sweetest. She gave me the confidence I needed. Once we go our separate ways I go to the same flower shop Schroeder dragged me to before Valentines Day. I got one rose for her, I didn't know what she liked but everyone likes roses right? Well probably not the people who have held them before. I look down at my hands. I got pricked multiple times trying to find a good area to rest my hand.

I walked to her house with only positives in my head. As a logical person I don't often think this way. Thanks to Sally I'm able to experience this point of view. And I must admit I feel great. Janice lets me in when I ask her to talk. "Good thing your here Linus I have so much to tell you. I'm going through something right now." She looked down. Like as if she was about to cry.

"Are you ok?" Ok, I'll save the confession for later. Right now she's hurt. "So I never told you but I- I really liked Schroeder and apparently he's dating Sally. Which how would that even happen!? Ever since I met Sally again she's been saying how I should give you a chance! This is all so stupid!" I felt terrible, ok now I know why I don't think like this. When you get your hopes up your more likely to fall down, to be vulnerable.

I stand up looking at her for a moment. Afterward I immediately exit, she didn't even think to follow all she did was look at me. As I left I crumpled that dumb rose with my fist. The pricks didn't come close to the pain of a broken heart. Nothings worse than love. I hate it, I do. It's all just some shit. I needed someone right now. For once I didn't want to grieve alone. I didn't even know where I was headed. All I knew was my body wanted to be somewhere, and I didn't object.

Before I knew it I had been let into Frieda's condo by Sally. I was going to tell her everything, I was. "Sally I-" I held my hand out. I looked down at it, it was covered in blood. Sally looked horrified. "Linus!" Her eyes became teary in minutes. She dragged me to the couch where she bandaged it up. "Are you ok? How do you feel? Does it still hurt?" I looked down at my hand again, I could see the blood seeping through the white bandages. "It still hurts a little." Sally face looked worse than mine. She was crying, I knew Sally cried easily but it still hurt to see it. "Is there something I could do?" She mumbled looking up at me. Her lower lip was quivering as she made eye contact with me. "Just stay right there."

She looked at me skeptically with her helpless teary eyes. I pulled her in for a kiss. When we broke apart she looked at me again, as if she never looked away. "Sally we will never be what we used to be thanks to me. But you deserved so so much better and I hope you know that. I wanted to protect from everything, everything that could ever hurt you. Just to realize I was the one causing your pain. I love you Sally, so much can I have another chance?" Tears were leaving her eyes rapidly. "Linus we are better apart. And I do love you still, I really do. We will always be more than friends but never the same. I can't do this anymore, as much as I'd just love to run back to you. I can't handle the pain. I love you, and I don't think I'll ever stop. I will never let you go far, friends? Or whatever we will end up being."

I could feel tears dashing down my cheeks. "Friends, always." We share one last kiss together, knowing that will be the last feels horrible. I look back at her with a different kind of face. "Wait but if you still love me what about Schroeder?"

"I guess that's what happens when you go to someone's house on drugs."

"Drugs!? Sally!" She giggled. I was completely serious. I pulled her in, tight. "When did you start?" She looked up at me. "Around March, heartbreak sucks." She laughed. So it was me. Well that makes me feel terrible. "Give me them." She walks over to her room and hands me what I had asked for. I take half, which was practically all that was left. And put it into my mouth. "Linus!" I heard Sally shriek. I tried to stand up holding onto the arm rest of the couch. Everything was spinning. "Now will you stop?" I could just barely see Sally nod her head as she pulls me back down to the couch. Now her eyes were 50% tears, redder than red, all puffy.

She shook my shoulders, which only made everything worse. "Linus why would you do that!" She was hysterically crying. She pulled me into her arms and cried on my shoulder. I wrap my arms around her as best I could. "You could die! Linus please! I need you!" She pulled me away for a second, my eyes were beginning to close. "No! Linus! Please! Say something! Don't leave me!" She seems scar-

SALLY'S POV

I was so scared. Linus way overdosed on my drugs, and I knew deep down, even though I'm not responsible for his actions. Every ounce of what happened was my fault. The pain hit my heart hard. I was crying my eyes out. Linus might die. Because of me. I immediately call 911. Barely being able to form sentences to them. I held his hand tight. "I-I'll never let you go far Linus." I held him tight waiting for the ambulance.

During the ride I called Lucy and Schroeder. I called my brother too, I didn't know if he'd care but it was worth a shot. I was right beside him during the ride. I held onto his hand the entire time. My tears made my vision blurry. I didn't even spend another second to think about myself. Linus might die. Why would he do that? How could he? Didn't he know how much I needed him?

I followed him the hospital bed without letting go of his hand at all. Once we were in the room I saw the nurses looking at me. I knew exactly what they were going to say yet I still waited hoping I would be wrong. A nurse stepped up towards me. Oh no. "Miss we are going to have to ask you to leave to check on him." I could feel more tears rush down my face. "I can't leave him." A kind smiling nurse came back towards me. "You aren't leaving him, you are waiting for him." She gestured her hand towards the door. I slowly let go of Linus' hand. I didn't want to, but if this was the only way to help him I'll do it.

LUCY'S POV

Schroeder and I rushed here as fast as we could bringing Rerun. I was crying the entire ride and Schroeder tried to calm me. He sat to the left of me holding out his hand. I took it, and as usual began to feel better. But this wasn't like all the other times. My pain didn't just vanish. My brother was in there, and I didn't even know if he was going to be alive the next time I see him.

Rerun was is tears. Trying to stay as silent as he could. But his loud sniffles were very noticeable. Sally walked out of the room. She sat down on the floor leaning against the door. She looked over at Rerun who was looking back at her. Without a word she opened her arms and Rerun ran into them. Most of the time they would share a love-hate relationship but right now they were here for each other. Rerun always thought of Sally as an older sister. Probably the one I couldn't be.

Sally was trying to wipe his tears away but it was no use. Tears were flowing down the both of the them faster than they could wipe them. Sally looked back at the door with the biggest frown she's ever worn. I stood up fuming, I didn't fully know why I was mad I just knew I was. "What did you do!?" I was staring daggers into her eyes. She looked back at me with those dumb helpless eyes. "It was all...my fault."

My hands were in fists as I continued to glare at her. "It is. It really is. I hate you Sally. You killed my brother!" Tears were coming down my face too. Schroeder walked up next to me holding out his hand. I pushed it away but he wasn't leaving. He grabbed me by the waist forcing me into his arms. Once I was there he loosened. I was trying to steady my breathing but it was no use. Schroeder walked me to an empty room. He wrapped one hand around me as the fingers of his other hand flowed through my hair. I cried into his chest.

"Schroeder I know what you are trying to do and it isn't working. I'm not going to stop crying. My brother is dying!" I couldn't even look him in the eye. It was like he took my words as a challenge. Without a single word said, he took his hand out of my hair and used it to hold my chin up. Then he kissed me. It was a small peck on the lips but it shut me up. My tears flowed slower until they came to an official stop. I looked at him. He was giving me a reassuring smile. "Everything will be ok Lucy." He pulled me closer.

SALLY'S POV

It had been hours since we first arrived. It was late at night. Schroeder took Lucy and Rerun home. Lucy put up a fight, but Schroeder was worried sick about her sleep schedule so there was no budging him. I for one was not planning on leaving any time soon. I promised I wouldn't go far. Out of the room was far enough. I couldn't think of anything but him.

I want him back. I want the guy who hugged me at the airport. I want the guy who kissed me while I was in tears over a 5th grade Valentine. I wanted the guy who made out with me in a dusty hallway. I wanted the guy who asked me to be his Valentine. I wanted the guy who danced in the rain with me. I wanted the guy who put his jacket around me holding me tight from the pouring rain. I wanted the guy who I cuddled up against to sleep against a tree. I wanted him. I needed him.

It had been hours. But the tears never stopped. It hurt so bad. The pain felt worse than ever. I felt the door open behind me. Two nurses exited while one stayed to talk to me. I perked up looking at her. She looked worried. Oh no, please no-

"He's still asleep, his heart rate is unsteady. We don't know if he will make it." No! No no no no! Please stay I'm having a nightmare. No! Once the nurse left I dashed into the room. I saw Linus unconscious, in the same condition I saw him since he passed out. All the memories came back to haunt me. I needed those antidepressants more than anything.

This was all my fault. Lucy was right, I killed him. She hates me. She should hate me. I hate me. Why couldn't it have been me? Why did it have to be him? I wanted to die. What would I do without Linus? But most of all. Without Linus, who would stop me. I looked over at a surgical knife at the bedside stand. I grabbed and faced it toward my heart. This is for the best. I pull back back and harshly aim it. "Sally!" I made a harsh flinch, the knife had sliced right through my cheek. I looked over to see Linus, awake.

"Linus!" The tears hurt so much more when they went over the bleeding mark. He sat up instantly, grabbing my face once I got close. "Sally why would you do that!" I cried even more. "It's all my fault Linus! You are here because of me! I don't deserve to be here!" Linus looked mortified. He grabbed a tissue with one hand with the other continued to grip my face. He held it on my bloody cheek. "No.." He was in tears as he looked away from my face. He turned to the other side and snatched a band aid from the table. He twirled right back to me and quickly planted the band aid on my face.

I looked back at him. I threw my arms around him. "You're alive!" Linus hugged me back pulling me onto the hospital bed. I adjust myself to sit next to him. "I'm so sorry Linus! You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me!" More tears began to stream down his face. "Sally nothing is your fault. I would be in a much worse state if you weren't there to help me see the brighter side of the world. You are my everything." I smiled at him as I held the band aid on my cheek. "You waited for me Sally, thank you." I leaned my head on his shoulder as he put his arm around me. "I'd never leave you."

I know we will never date but this felt good. I loved him, and I'm glad he's back. He made me feel like I was walking on air. He made everything possible. He put his hand on my sliced cheek and looked me dead in the eye. "You promise me you won't do this again." I smile back at him. "Promise." He let go of me. "Now you know I'm ok you go home and sleep." He smiled back at me. I didn't really want to leave. "Can't I just stay with you?" I looked at him with my most manipulative look. Apparently when cuteness doesn't leave you, you can easily get your way. He chuckled pushing my face away. "If anyone trys to kick you out I'll slug them." He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I rested my head on his chest and finally allowed myself rest.