"It's a home run." Tum Tum assured. He raised his joy-con up then dropped it like a mic, it dangled safely in the air as it hung onto the wielder by the strap attached to it.

Colt cast his team a disgruntled look that would have been effective on people, but it's wasted on virtual creations. "We've got one more inning. Don't get so full of yourself." He replied to the joyous chuckling of his little brother, soon to be late little brother, if he slaps him on the gut one more time.

Tum Tum is only up by four points, that's hardly impressive when he still has a batting chance.

"You think my team can't stop your lame first-timers?"

Rocky, who was busy organizing their messy closet, snickered. Tum Tum has a knack for pushing buttons.

He pulled down the board game Perfection. It's missing pieces, it's time for it to go. The Monopoly game too. A kid their mom babysat for tore up 60% of the money, and ripped the board in half. The other games can remain. Now for the clothes pile on the floor. Some clean, having fell from the hanger, others dirty.

"Hello?"

The sudden voice startled the three brothers. They heard a flurry of random sentences before the tinny voice asked. "What is this thing?"

Rocky hurried across the room to answer the can. "Emily?" He smiled when she voiced an audible startled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Who is this? You sound like a guy..."

"Umm, yeah, it's me Rocky.. from across the street." He felt a sudden wave of shyness. "The blond guy who'd hugged you earlier."

Rocky wasn't sure how to explain their little communication connection. It wasn't embarrassing when they collaborated in creating the thing. But, at their current age, their opposite gender, her amnesia... It was embarrassing because she might be self-conscious that maybe he can hear her in her bedroom no matter what.

"Oh.. hi..."

Yeah. She's uncomfortable. Damn. Had the receiver been a girl friend it wouldn't have created this awkward pause. "Umm.. You see, we made these when we were younger because our parents wouldn't let us use the phone a lot. It was free, and it worked, so.."

Emily sounded better, though not one hundred percent, as he is still a guy. "We must be really close then."

"Best friends since pampers."

"Wow! That long?" Now she sounds more relaxed. He's not some weird guy tricking her, but a good friend.

"Yeah." He looked over his shoulder when something hit the back of his head.

Spotting a sock as the projectile, he searched for the culprit who tossed it. He didn't see a pair of chuckling hecklers, but Tum Tum holding up a sign written on a sheet of printer paper. It read: Tell her you became more. Colt nodded that he was completely in agreement that it was a good move. They seriously thought Rocky should take advantage of Emily. In their opinion there was no harm in it.

Rocky saw the risks, and he was not going to be a daredevil in a delicate situation.

Say that he does trick her. Once her memory returns she's going to hate him like he invented being a sleazeball. You don't play with other people's emotions or personal trouble or pain. It's sick.

"Umm.. we can't hear you, by the way.. if you were wondering."

"Hear me?"

"Yeah, through the can. You just have to put the cap on it." He added. "Sorry, this is kind of awkward."

"No. I think it's sweet. I've never had such a close friendship.. Not that I remember," she laughed a short embarrassed laugh, because Rocky and she are assumed that close and it didn't just happen.

The awkward space stretched between them.

"Well, I'm glad the mystery's been solved." Emily said. "I'm gonna go."

"Yeah... Later." He capped the open end of the can-phone.

"If you look to your immediate left" the youngest Douglas child says, expanding the nature documentary that Colt had started the day before. "You'll see an idiot in his natural state. Vacant stare, utterly perplexed by past and present choices."

Colt reached for his phone in his back pants pocket, pretending to take photos.

"And directly ahead of me," Rocky snarled, "are two idiots about to get trampled." He went after them.

The three dashed about the bedroom chasing and being chased. It was like watching Tom and Jerry, if Jerry brought along his relative to help screw with Tom.

Jessica heaved a sigh. She's currently in the kitchen, listening to the thunder storm overhead. "When normal kids fight it's all rolling around like puppies in a box, when ninja kids fight you're either refreshing the first-aid kit the next shopping trip, or someone's going to the dentist or hospital." Though she had mumbled to herself, her husband agreed with her.

"Are you gonna break it up?" She asked the eavesdropper.

"Why? Jonah and I fought our whole lives, no one ever broke us up. We're still close." He got up from the table; his coffee mug went into the dishwasher.

"Jonah, right. We saw him last - how many - Christmases ago?"

"He's got a very important CEO job."

"Mhmm."

"The point is, boys fight. It's bonding."

"It's barbaric." She placed the freshly made bowl of tuna in the refrigerator then wiped the stains from her hands onto a napkin. "I'm going to put an end to it."

"That's a mistake, but go ahead."

"Thank you." She exited the kitchen. "Our boys should show nothing but kindness to each other." She said over her shoulder.

Jessica walked up the stairs to her son's bedroom. She grabbed the knob, but when opening the door she didn't find the slaughter scene she thought that she would. Her sons were playing with their video game. The picture didn't match the previous sounds. This was a set-up. It had to be. Not about to be led with a lie, she eyed her sons equally as she said.

"Boys.. I don't want the three of you fighting. It's not healthy; and some day you're going to really need each other. I don't want you thinking only about these little fights you've had." With her chin she nodded towards the window. "Look at what happened to Emily... We could have lost her. Life is too short, you have to live it at your best, and on your best behavior."

Her son's nodded.

"Ok, mom." Tum Tum replied.

"Sorry, mom." Rocky chimed in.

"Yeah." Was Colt's reply.

Jessica looked at them a moment more before exiting. However, she remained within the vicinityof the door, though she walked just a bit away. She waited. Seeing that the peace remained in effect. After a minute, she went back downstairs. Mission accomplished.

Upstairs. Rocky lowered his weapon, the weapon being a virtual kendo stick. He released his anger in an expelled breath. "Look, I understand what you're telling me, and why... But I can't take advantage of a friend like that." He looks from Colt to Tum Tum. "Can you imagine the fall-out if she got her memory back, and realizes what I did? She'd hate me forever. Worse, she'd never trust me again, so I wouldn't even be able to make it up to her."

"OK. Sorry, Rock,"

"Yeah," Tum Tum seconded that response. "Sorry."

Rocky looked at the television. "Sorry I had to teach you a lesson, but it's my business when it comes to my relationships."

Colt scoffed. "Hey, we did win one match."

"Out of eight." He removed the controller strap from his wrist. "I'm going for a jog."

"I'll join you." His first brother stated.

Rocky seemed standoffish about that, but said nothing. He went downstairs to grab his water bottle to fill it up. He was joined by his brother once Colt was through changing his everyday clothes into baggy shorts and a tank top. He smelled like sunscreen. Rocky raised his brows upon noting that his brother wasn't going to grab his tumbler.

Colt shrugged his hand. "I'll get something from the convenience store along the way."

"I hope you have money for that. I'm not paying."

Colt groaned then walked back in the house to grab a few dollars from his wallet.

Rocky looked across the street when seeing the curtain move in his crush's bedroom. She waved to him, he waved back with a smile he knew she could see as opposed to her nearly ghostly appearance. He can't tell her mood while she's waving. He can just see her figure. A pit in his stomach threatened to turn it on him.

His best friend for life, crush since forever, is now a stranger to herself and others. He hoped the temporary amnesia didn't last longer than a few days if it wouldn't be resolved today. Or even tomorrow morning.

Colt walked up beside his brother, and looked up when seeing that he was gazing off towards their adjacent neighbor's home. He smiled and waved, as well. But rather than leave it at that, he cupped his mouth with his hands and shouted. "Hey, Emily, wanna join us?!"

Rocky paled. "Colt!" He hissed.

How could he ask that? Emily just got home from the hospital, surely she wants to rest. Her parents probably want the same for her; not to have their daughter dashing about in the L.A. heat. His attention is outward now when hearing the window open.

"What?" Emily called down.

"Rocky and me are going for a run, wanna join us?" Colt repeated to some degree.

Rocky resisted the urge to correct his brother's grammar, and instead focused on remaining breathing. What if Emily said "yes"? What's the action he needs to take. He's never had a concussion before, especially to the level of amnesia. What's he gonna do? What does she need? She was released from the hospital; doctors know what they're doing and they wouldn't have let her leave if they thought she was in any sort of danger. And as far as he knows her parents weren't given instructions either, apart from not jarring her memory so hastily because it could have the reverse effect.

"Umm, I'll ask my parents. But, sure!" She called down. "Hold on." She disappeared from view.

"Don't look at me like that," Colt waved off his brother's glare. "She could be bored sitting up there."

"She could be tired."

"She could be tired because she's bored."

Rocky sighed. "I just don't wanna agitate her."

"I doubt it will."

The front door of the Farmer home opened and Emily exited. She looked both ways then joined the Douglas brothers on their front lawn. "They said it was up to me, and I'd like to go."

"Really?!" Rocky said a little too heartfully.

Emily chuckled. "Yeah. I was wondering what to do; sitting in my room was super boring. I was watching a show with a sea sponge."

The brothers had a momentary blank, then realized she means the cartoon Spongebob Squarepants.

"I didn't realize how much the rescue was needed." Colt jokes.

Rocky had to agree. That show went awful after a point when it used to be really good. "Are you sure you're up for it? You're not tired?"

"What? From the accident?" Emily shook her head. "I have a black eye and amnesia. I don't really need rest, just time."

Rocky blushed unintentionally. Colt felt like a third wheel and almost decided to make up an excuse to go elsewhere or simply go back inside for the day. But, he wanted to keep Rocky from bothering Emily and ruining his newly presented shot with her.

"Let's get a move on," he pointed. "We can go to the park, then Royal Barn."

"Royal Barn? What happened to a quick stop in a convenience store?" asked Rocky, walking to the curb with his fellow joggers behind him.

"A more invigorating drink sounds better."

"Ok. But we need to pace ourselves."

"Nag, nag, nag." Colt says to Emily before bolting.

Emily chuckled. She looked at Rocky with a shrug of her shoulder; she then took off after Colt.

Rocky quickly followed.

...

Rocky tipped the bottle of vitamin water as high as it could go to remove every last drop of liquid from it into his mouth. He had to admit it, an hour and half jogging along the neighborhood then into the city was exhausting, so the vitamin enriched drink was hitting him just how he needed it to. He was about to open his second one when he noticed his, not-so-secret-crush eyeing the food counter.

"Did you want something?" He asked her.

Colt casts a glare at his brother, who wouldn't open his wallet to get him a meager bottle of water, but he'd pay for a meal? Love sure has a juggling balance scales. He knows Rocky loves him and his family, but romantically seems to hold the wallet in his brother's life. He wondered if the same was true for himself? He hasn't found a situation to apply it, but he was sure he'd pay for family too.

"Oh, no. I can't help but think I do, though." She closed her eyes and took a smile inducing sniff. "What is it about fried chicken that makes you have to have it?"

"The skin." Rocky replied. "We can split some; did you have lunch yet?" He asked while headed towards the service counter.

"Not yet,"

"Great. I'll pay." Rocky looked past Emily to his brother. "Colt, you want anything?"

"Umm.." He looked over the selection. "I'll sha.." He backpedaled when seeing the expression of don't-even-think-about-it from Rocky. His brother wanted to share only with his crush. Colt could get something, but for himself to consume. "I'll get some fries."

Satisfied, Rocky bought a meal to share with Emily, and Colt's fries. They ate their food outside. It was a quick bite that fueled them for the return home. After buying one more water for the road, they started back. Rocky was so happy with the way things went, he was actually planning to get Colt something for deciding to have Emily join them. He couldn't believe he wanted her to stay home. She was happy, talkative, and listening to them.

Her panting breathes were giving him a new life, along with the swing of her ponytail. It had brushed his cheek when they slowed their pace at a crosswalk. If his heart rate went any faster he'd die from cardiac arrest. He calmed himself by thinking ugly thoughts. Bad jokes, spit in food from a ticked-off employee, getting scratched by a stray that was more than happy to eat your food offering, but not interested in your company. Grapes.

OK. His heart rate calmed. Rocky looked over at his best friend. He noticed how long her gaze was as she watched traffic passing before the crosswalk sign would allow them to go. "Hey," he says to her. "Which episode was it?"

"Huh?" She exited the mental tunnel.

"Of Spongebob."

"Oh... umm.. the squid guy stole a dime - well, it was assumed that he stole it."

"That one is my favorite." Rocky stated truthfully. It really was one of his favorites.

"It could be, but I don't know."

"Naah, you like it, but you told me your favorite was Hooky."

"What's that one about?"

Rocky explained the episode to her.

Colt kept his attention on the light, while snickering inside that a couple seventeen year olds are bonding over Spongebob. "That's us." He alerted them.

The trio crossed the street quickly then resumed a light jog home.

Rocky walked Emily to her house once they hit their neighborhood.

"This was a lot of fun." She commented. "I'm glad you invited me."

"Yeah," Although he hated that it was Colt and not himself. "Umm, I'll see you tomorrow, if that's ok?"

"Of course! We're childhood friends, right?"

"Right." Just friends. He moped.

"Tomorrow then - but hey, if you wanna call me on the can I'll leave the cover off."

Rocky held his laugh over how wrong that had sounded. But nodded that he would remember.

Emily, as if suddenly hearing her words, said. "That sounded weird, didn't it?"

"Yeah," Rocky chuckled.

"Well, at least you know what I really meant." She smiled. "Bye.. Rocky?"

"Yeah."

"And your brother?"

"Huh? Oh, Colt."

"Yeah, tell him bye for me."

"Ok."

Rocky felt naked when Emily paused before going inside, because she was studying his face. She had sorta done the same with Colt. He noticed her doing it when they stopped for water.

"Later."

"Later."

He walked across the street but decided to head into the backyard before going inside. Today made him wonder if maybe he should just go for it. Ask her out. Tell her nothing about the past rejections. She had said yes to a date before... Yes. Tomorrow, he'll ask her out.