| Her | Others

"Hi."

"Nah. What's the fun in that?"

"I know. And I know it irritates you to no end. Hence, why I do it."

"You asked."

"How could I not?"

"Because..."

"Uhh, shut up."

"Yeah, I suppose. Thanks for making me smile."

"Sure."

"Did they- you know?"

"Yeah."

"Can we cry? Together?"

"Baby?"

"How many more terms of endearment do you plan on giving me?"

"Okay."

"..."

"What was?"

"Stop. Please. I may not have known you for a long time and I may have never met you in person but you're the most amazing person I know. You would never let anyone get hurt on your watch. I know that."

"I know. There are some things that you don't get over, ever."

"Hate what?"

"They love you, darling. I'm sure. Dylan loves you, I know that, at least."

"You're very fond of him, aren't you?"

"I can hear it in your voice. Your smile."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Can I join you on the floor?"

"Scoot over."

"I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Stranger?"

"I'm not mad at you anymore, okay?"

.....................

"I just got home."

"Yeah, I felt like taking a walk after dinner."

"I may have lost track of time at the park?"

"Yeah. To our place."

"You were talking to her again?"

"You like her, don't you?"

"You didn't deny my question."

"Can I talk to you about something?"

"Do you- are you okay?"

"I heard enough. I- you've never talked about her before. I always thought that we would never be able to talk about what happened."

"I miss her, you know."

"She- I- She uhh."

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's not. There is something I want to tell you, you deserve to know, but I cant- I don't know how to."

"Don't say that, please."

"It was easier to talk about this to her, she just understood. Always. I don't know how to say it out loud to you."

"Thanks."

"I want you to get better, you know. I want us to have that again."

"I know. I just wish she'd get better soon."

"Don't say things like that. Please."

"She'll beat the sh*t out of you for that when she comes home."

"..."

"Good, I guess. Physically, at least. The wounds are all gone. There are still some scars on her face. Mum says it's the same all over her body."

"She's always been conscious about her body."

"I know. I hated it when she'd starve herself half to death."

"Do you think she was being bullied?"

"Except that one time."

"No. There was another incident, I think. I vaguely remember her saying that she met a girl with black hair and bright green streaks."

"Yeah. I think she mentioned her name, I can't recall it properly."

"No. I think it started with an R."

"Do you think they were friends?"

"No. No one did. But then again there were very few people who knew what happened."

"No."

"About that..."

"I wanted to talk to you about her. I- she- Allie-"

"I like her."

"Jeez. Don't you think I know that already?"

"Ari knew."

"Eleven. It's going to be a full year in March. I realised it on the night of the spring formal, last year. Came home drunk. You were out that night, I think. Ari threw a fit when she found me drunkenly passed out on the front porch."

"Ari was the best secret keeper, you know that."

"So many things that she handled single-handedly and mom and dad never had a clue about anything."

"Is. She is the best."

"You keep talking about her in the past tense. You don't think she's ever waking up again?"

"Come on, Ad. You know that's not the truth. Everyone knows that you'll put your life on the line before letting any of us down."

"Ad-"

"Is that why you don't go out? You're scared of facing everyone?"

"I love you Ad. I don't blame you. Neither do they. It just hurts them. They didn't just loose one child Ad, they lost you too. I was so, so scared the first time you freaked out. It felt like I was loosing you too. That I was alone. That you'll leave me too."

"Don't blame yourself, please?"

"No. Promise me that you'll try. Try getting out sometime. Even as far as going to mom's garden outside. You haven't stepped out of the house since that haunting night Ad. It took you months to step out of your room without having a panic attack. Please Ad, do it for me? For us? For Ari? She would never want you to lock yourself up like this."

"Thanks Ad."

"Ugh don't remind me."

"Go to sleep bro."

"Really?"

"Is it because of a certain someone?"

"I wasn't talking about myself."

"Just don't get yourself hurt, please? It won't be just your heart that'll break."

"Now, I'm going to head out and you, go to sleep."

"C'mon."

"Yeah?"

"I care about you Ad, always."