SALLY'S POV

He offered to walk me home. I said yes, I meant what I said about wanting him wherever I am. My hand was holding his. We talked. I told him he should start going to school. He said he'd think about it. He thanked me for seeing him. I thanked him for making me feel better.

Just when things were looking up I saw my father in handcuffs. My eyes widened. Linus held a stronger grip on my hand. My father was fighting back, angry. He looked over at us. "You bastard! I will ruin your life." My father said, but he wasn't talking to me. He was talking to Linus. Linus didn't react. He grabbed my other arm and held me. "What's going on?" I whispered to him. It was more rhetorical, I knew exactly what was happening. "I called." He said. He called 911.

Linus what have you done? You heard my dad! He's going to ruin your life! He's..he's going to take you away from me. He did this for me, I know he did. But what about him? What's going to happen to him? What am I going to do without him?

I would've been able to take the pain of my father, but what about the pain of losing Linus? I looked at him. Asking my last question through my eyes. "You'll get over it, you'll get over me." He said softly, not unfazed, but still calm. He doesn't get it. I won't. It's not that easy. He pulled me closer.

I didn't even notice my father being dragged away into a police car.

Linus left soon after the police car did. I didn't want him to, I wanted my time with him to last as long as possible, especially if I don't even know when I'll ever see him again, I wanted him there to ameliorate everything. But I didn't object. Instead I waited for Charlie to come home. I was scared to tell him, he didn't know anything about our father.

Then he came home. He looked at me, I was on the couch. My hand gestured for him to sit next to me. He did. "Our dad was arrested." He stood up and jerked his head to glare at me. "What!? Why'd you wait for me?! We have to go bail him out!" I shook my head. I had to tell him, so I did.

He didn't say a word, he just looked at me. It was a lot to admit, and for him it was a lot to take in. He sat back down. "I-I'm sorry." He said sympathetically. I couldn't say anything. I just cried. I hated thinking about it, I hated knowing about it. I hated everything about it. Charlie Brown didn't hug me this time, he just sat there.

I wish I could say that was the end of it. But it wasn't, it never is. The police brought him back. Charlie talked to him, trying to stall, my brother didn't know what I was going to do, neither did I.

I opened the window, and ran. I couldn't tell where I was running, I just ran.

I found myself at Frieda's condo. She glared at me with one eyebrow raised. I looked at her, unable to explain much. "Um, I know this sounds crazy but...I need your parents to bring my father to court. I need them to take custody of me, and Charlie."

She stood there dumbfounded, "I get I'd be a wonderful sister but don't you think that's a little drastic?" I sighed, I couldn't tell her, I just couldn't. "It's not because of that. I just really need you to. I don't expect you to understand, but please do understand that I wouldn't do this for no reason." That was something she could understand.

She asked if I needed help going back home, I shook my head and walked. Each footstep amplified my fear. I walked home slowly. But that didn't change the fact that I eventually made it home.

He was standing at the doorway. You could feel his anger a mile away. His hands curled into fists as I entered. I was so scared I became pale.

"I can't believe you." I looked down, trying not to blink in fear of crying. "You know I hate him right?" I nodded, "You know I hate you more correct?" I nodded again, I bit my lip trying my best to not react badly. He's almost too calm, and he never talks to me. "You can't see him again, I'll make sure of that."

Something happened when he said that. I no longer felt compelled to nod. He wasn't asking me a question he was saying a statement but that didn't change a thing. My eyes began to visualize a red tint. I clenched my fist this time, even the one I burned in Alaska. It didn't hurt so much anymore.

I was finally able to speak. "No." Big mistake, I shouldn't have said that, but I did, and I don't regret it. "What?" He asked, his voice lowered, his eyes genuinely felt like daggers. But I didn't back down. "You can only hurt me so much, but you won't do shit to him! Do what you want to me! I don't care! But you are not bringing Linus into this."

"He brought himself into this." He said. My head didn't face him.

Suddenly, my head hurt. It wasn't a headache, it was external pain. I fell over. I was bleeding.

LINUS' POV

I was pacing across the front of the house. Lucy relaxed on the couch. "We should go, it's her funeral. I told Sally I'd go." Lucy intervened. "It's not our place to go to, you know her dad hates you, he got out y'know."

"Yes I do know. But it's still her funeral."

"And it'll be yours if you leave the house." I sat down next to her. "What if something happened to Sally? What if something happens to Sally?" Lucy darted her eyes to the window, I could tell my questions felt like an agonizing bullet to her. "Ever thought to give her some goddamn space? I know you think you need to protect her, but judging on amount of time you spend with her you'll probably end up suffocating her if you don't take a step back."

Maybe Lucy was right. I can't believe I just said that. But I haven't been giving Sally much room to breathe, maybe that's all she needs. She's going through a lot and I think the last thing she wants is her boyfriend to be another worry.

Ironically. This was the one time I needed to be there.

I called Charlie Brown a week later. I didn't want to, but I knew I'd regret it if I went to their house. I wanted to surprise Sally, well maybe not a pleasant surprise, but she'd be surprised nevertheless.

"We are at Frieda's condo, for good. And I'm not sure you'll want to see Sally."

"Of course I do, and why are you guys staying at Frieda's?"

"Her mother has custody over us." I smiled. I couldn't help much, but I'm happy they could finally get away from him. Before I said anything I paused. "Wait why wouldn't I want to see Sally?"

"Come over and ask Frieda." He hung up. It left me with plenty of questions that crowded my head the entire time I walked over.

Frieda opened the door for me. "About time." She said sarcastically. I ignored her tone keeping my serious one. "Where is she." She pointed to a familiar hallway. I was a few steps away from Sally's room till Frieda stopped me. "She doesn't know you, she doesn't remember." My heart sunk. Shivers came down my spine when she said that. "W-what happened?"

"He threw a brick at her. Lost all her memories, she's regaining them slowly but it might take years for her to remember everything again." My mind was fogged. Can I even call the girl behind the door my girlfriend if she doesn't remember I'm her boyfriend?

"Should I tell her who I am?"

"I think it's best if you wait for her to remember, she's been bombarded with names and people that it's really getting into her head. Wait. If there's going to be anyone she remembers it'll be you, eventually." Eventually. I'll wait till eventually wears out for that girl. I prepared myself for the girl behind the door. Because I knew I'd be devastated seeing her.

And I was. I looked at her as she looked at me. It was the same girl but at the same time completely different. I knew that wasn't my girlfriend, to me it was a complete stranger. It hurt my heart to see her. But I persevered.

I noticed her red eyes and glistening eyes. "Are you ok?" I asked the girl. I sat down on her bed beside her. "I'm fine. I just- There's all these people trying to get me to remember them, I can't control the fact that they're unfamiliar to me! I'm sorry. Who are you?"

"I'm Linus, don't feel pressured to remember me from your past, one day you'll know." She smiled, it was so genuine, so gratifying. She hugged me, and didn't move until awhile. "I can't say I know you, but something about you is familiar. And thank you." I smiled back at her. "Is there anything you do remember?"

"Little things, I remember how I lost my memory. I remember my mom, and I remember her death. I also remember this guy. I couldn't tell you his name, or how he looked. But it was how I felt, that's what I remember. I couldn't tell you what that feeling was either, but I can't get the guy off my mind."

"What was the feeling like?"

"It made me really happy, like I couldn't stop smiling. It was comfort too. And excitement. And a plethora of other things, it was complicated. I remember my face lighting up when I saw him. And the way he held me. And the way I buried my head into his chest. And the way he reminded me things were going to be ok."

She was talking about me. All those things happened while we were dating. Still are dating? I'm not sure. I wanted to tell her everything, I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to tell her again that everything would be ok. But I remembered what Frieda had said. Maybe it's best I don't. "It's love Sally, you're feeling love."

"Is that a good feeling?"

"It's a beautiful feeling, it means you care for them a lot." Sally looked down trying to take in the strange feeling. "Would it make sense if I said I love you?" Yes. "No, love is for specific people, most of the time you can only love one person. Which in your case would be that guy."

She was interested. After thinking about it more she nodded. "You know, I had a dream about that guy last night. I was wearing a dress, it was raining like crazy-"

I remember this.

"And he stood up in the pouring rain, and he asked me to dance. And I said yes. It was the best I had ever felt. It makes me smile every time I think of it. God I really wish I knew him. Do you think he'll come to visit me?" He already has. "Maybe."

"You should come by more, when are you free?"

"Anytime after school." Her face lit up. "Great! Come by everyday!" I smiled, I can do that. "When are you coming back to school?"

"Maybe in a month? My head still hurts." Her forehead was wrapped with a large bandage, I could see dried blood at the edges. Her hand was fidgeting, I could tell she wanted to touch her bandage, and she knew it was best she didn't.

"I should go, I'll come by tomorrow."

"I'd like that." She grinned, she was grateful for my company. And I couldn't be happier.

And I did visit, I visited the day after, the day after that, and plenty more times.

This was probably my tenth time here. "Linus, I had a memory come to me after you left yesterday. I think that guy is still my boyfriend."

"Then he'll surely come to visit."

Her smiled faded. If only I could tell her. "I'm not sure anymore."

SALLY'S POV

Where is this guy? It's like ever since I've woken up I've been imagining him, but I know I'm not. I know I'm not crazy. Linus believes me. Speaking of Linus, he's been really helpful, he gives me hope this guys actually out there. Linus told me that I don't love him, but for some reason I feel like I do.

But I also feel like I shouldn't love him, I feel like I should only love my boyfriend, whoever he is. I feel so confused. And all I want to know, is more about Linus. For whatever reason.

"Tell me about you." I said with a smile on my face. "What?" He asked, he didn't expect to talk about himself. "We've only been talking about me, I never got to know you. You don't have to tell me about our friendship before I lost my memory if you don't want to. I just want to know more about you." I've tried to ask about who we were to each other before but he keeps dodging my questions, so if that makes him uncomfortable I'm sure there's something else about him I could learn about. But he was more willing to talk about our relationship this time.

"Well when we were little we were friends, kind of. I was best friends with your brother."

"I thought you didn't like my brother."

"I used to. Anyway, uh- I carried this dumb blanket everywhere, I think I was on a baseball team with your brother. I think I sucked my thumb too, god that's disgusting." I grinned. "What did your blanket look like?"

"Uh, I gave it away. It was a light blue, incredibly distressed after dragging it around the floor." I swear I've seen that blanket somewhere, I know I did. But I brush it off, wait. "What did you mean by we were 'kind of' friends."

"Well-"

"Linus!" I heard a girl shout from the front of the condo. The voice was unfamiliar. He sighed as he stood up from my bed. "She's here, I have to go." When he tried to stand up I grasped his wrist just before he could leave, pulling him back down to my bed. "Is that your girlfriend?"

He laughed. "That's insulting. It's my older sister." My eyes glared green, that green feeling flooded my entire body. It felt like that same greenish feeling was trying to tell me that wasn't his sister, even though there'd be no reason for me to not believe him. "If that's really your 'sister' I'm sure you could bring her over here so I can meet her." I smiled, but not the same way I normally do. It wasn't a happy smile, I thought you could only smile when you're happy?

"Oh trust me you don't want to meet her, wanting to talk to her is equivalent to a death wish."

"Trust me I'd love to meet your 'sister'."

"Why are you saying sister like that-"

"Just bring her here."

"Uh ok, I'm going to go, I have to pick up my little brother?" When did have a little brother? It's like he's taking all these siblings from out of his pocket. I softly scoffed at him as he left, he didn't notice.

And then she came. When she walked in I could tell, he wasn't lying. That was 1000% his sister. Her stance, her facial features, except for her dark blue eyes, and especially her hair, they all reminded me of Linus.

"You wanted to meet me?"

"Yes I did. Tell me about you." I smiled, the happy kind this time. I would be happy to meet Linus' family, if they're related she must be just as great right?"

"Uh- I'm Lucy, I'm a year older than you. Oh! I run a psychiatric booth, well the booth is no more. But I'm still willing to be anyone's psychiatrist, just say the word and I can help you, as long as you pay 5 cents." She held her hand out looking straight at me. Very persistent, nothing like Linus..

I grabbed a nickel from the open drawer of my nightstand. She held the nickel sighing happily, sliding the nickel into her pocket.

"So, what'd you got for me? Problems? Feelings? I'll literally take anything."

"Um- there was this feeling, like as if I was angry. But it was different than normal anger. Instead of seeing red, I saw green."

"When was this?" I could see her left hand fidgeting with the nickel in her pocket, still proud from the money gain. 5 cents can't give you much in this time but if you saw her facial expression you'd be convinced it could buy Europe.

"Just now, I mean it's happened before but it was really noticeable this time. When I heard your voice, I- I don't know what came over me. I got upset at Linus. Linus! I asked him if you were his girlfriend and he said no and I didn't believe him! Can you believe that!? I had no reason whatsoever to not believe him and I still didn't! I was so upset and I don't know why!"

"I'm going to ignore the insulting accusation of my brother and I dating that was implied in your speech. You're feeling envy."

"What!"

"It's when you're feeling like you want to-"

"I know what envy is! I'm not jealous of you! Or I wouldn't have been if you were dating him." She looked away from me. "Seemed pretty jealous to me."

"I'm not! Plus I've got a boyfriend, before it all happened. And I still have a boyfriend. You know him, right?"

"I do."

"You do? You do! I knew I wasn't imagining it! Where the hell is he? Have you seen him? Where is he!?"

"I wish I knew." She looked even further away from me trying to hold herself back. I sighed staring at Lucy, who was now looking at me. "Linus told me you can only love one person, but, I don't know. I just- whenever I get that feeling of love when I think about my boyfriend I feel that same feeling with Linus."

"Linus told you that? Well his words are full of complete bullshit. You can love a bunch of people, you love your family most of the time. Love isn't restricted to a romantic interest it's a special kind of relationship which happens to include someone with romantic interest. So you love your mother, and your brother, and your boyfriend. And maybe even Linus."

"No, no I don't. Forget what I had said before. For get everything I said. You should go."

"Hiding your feelings only makes them more intense."