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I found myself staring at the wall of pictures, and there seemed to be a thousand there, all neatly arranged by Mom. My eyes scanned the ones near the bottom - the ones of me, and how it went from my newborn portrait, to one year old, to two, three, and then five.

Desperately, I tried to remember the night of my abduction. It was hard to believe that a person could get into my room and basically steal me without Justin's knowledge. He

had always been a light sleeper... or maybe, he forced himself to become a lighter sleeper due to my disappearance. After he told me the story, I understood why he was so protective of me, and why he never wanted me to be alone. It wasn't just because of my panic attacks.

"I know I don't know you, but I don't think you've ever looked at your own pictures for that long," a voice rang out behind me. I recognized its smooth deepness, and turned

around with a small smirk on my face.

"Decided to show up, huh?"

Asher raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, I'm accompanying Justin and Kalani somewhere. So, uh, what's wrong? Something bother ya?"

"Oh, um, no. I just... found out why I was never a four-year-old." I managed to chuckle a little, but it faded rather quickly.

He gave me a sympathetic look and I frowned.

"Please don't... don't make that face." I began to walk away but he shot, "Why not?"

I faced him again and shrugged. "I don't wanna be pitied."

"In other words, you don't want me to be human and actually feel sorry? There's no shame in getting sympathy. It's an emotion just as strong as happiness or... love."

"I know. But the more people feel sorry for me, the more of a burden I become to them.

If I told you I suffer from panic attacks, you'll pity me and feel obligated to be there for me. Which I do appreciate, but I don't like feeling as if I'm a bother." With that, I turned and ran up the stairs, into my room.

I buried my face in my pillow and let out a long sigh. I didn't expect anyone, but someone knocked on my door.

"Permission to come in?"

"Asher, please..."

"No, I get it. I'm not... gonna pity you. If all you want is someone to vent to, I'll offer my ears."

I contemplated it and slowly sat up, looking towards my wide open door. "Promise?"

He smiled and nodded. "I promise."

"Come in then."

He walked into my room and shamelessly inhaled the air. "My, it smells heavenly in here."

I couldn't help but smile. "What can I say? I'm an angel."

He sat down on my bed, keeping a reasonable distance from me. "So, how come you

never turned four?" His finger traced the pattern on my bed sheet as his steel blue eyes gazed at me.

"Justin told me I was kidnapped. Gone for almost a year."

Asher slowly nodded. "I was... not expecting that."

"Yeah, me neither. My kidnapper crashed the car because he was drunk, and I was in it. That led to how I was found." I shrugged. "That's the simple way to put it. It kind of makes me feel weird. It should, actually. To think I was taken like that, and only god knows what happened to me."

"You can't remember anything?"

I shook my head. "No, the kind of amnesia I suffered made me forget everything that happened before the crash. I wish I could tell Justin how I was taken. Justin needs a peace of mind because we shared the same room that time and he

never woke up to catch the man in time. He kinda beats himself up about it, so yeah."

"Well, maybe that's just it. Who knows? The man could've injected some kind of sedative or... I don't know. Rendered both you and Justin unconscious."

I made a face. "Ugh, I don't even wanna think about it anymore. He was put in jail, so I guess justice was served. But... I'd forgive him if I could see him, you know."

"Seriously?" Asher asked me in surprise.

I nodded, completely sure of it. "Honestly, I would."

He just stared at me as if I were crazy. "If it were me I'd find that man and kill him if I could."

I snickered.

"Seriously, how do you find it so easy to just let it go?" Asher squinted. "Or are you just saying it?"

"No. I've forgiven a lot of people for a lot of things, and I've made my own mistakes. This can't be any different."

"Nolan. He kidnapped you. Drove with you in his car while drunk. I'm sure he had the intention of harming you."

"I understand that. But I forgive him. I'm not angry. See... when you forgive people, it helps not only them but yourself as well." I nodded, believing in my words. "It sucks when you have to harbor anger because it would be all you ever do. Then, you just become a very bitter person and by the time you have to forgive yourself... you can't."

Asher just looked at me as if I were a wise old man. He leaned back a bit, letting out a sigh. "You are an angel, after all."

I smiled and he did as well, his dimples showing.

"I mean it. That's very mature of you, and I'm amazed by the way you think. You must have a good heart, Nolan. Don't lose that. In the meantime, when I get home... I have a lot of reflection and forgiving to do. Thanks to you."

"Glad I could help." I chuckled as he stood up. "Are you guys leaving right now?" I asked him.

"Yeah, Kalani's already here."

"I might ask Shane to pick me up."

"Shane?"

"Oh!" I stood up. "He's my um... ex-boyfriend, I guess. But we're still friends. Justin just doesn't want me to be alone because I tend to panic. Trust me, I will freak the hell out at

some point, so he's right."

Asher just looked at me, not speaking.

I raised my eyebrow. "Something troubling you or do you just tend to space out often?"

He snapped back to earth. "No, I just... you're gay?"

"Ohh, that. Um, not exactly, no. I don't really label myself, for now anyway. Looks like I've got some reflection to do as well, huh?"

He smirked. "Right. Well, I don't do labels either."

We stared at each other for a moment before he spoke up again. "Sure you wanna spend a day with your ex? That's not uncomfortable for you? Because, I honestly don't

have to go with those two love birds."

"Definitely not. I told you, I can't be a burden to anyone, and I hardly know you. You don't even want to be my friend."

"Nolan, let's take this step by step, okay? First, you are in no way, shape, or form a burden to me or anybody else. Second, I want to be your friend. I'd be honored even.

I'm just... a bit cautious of what would become of our friendship."

"What does that mean?"

He shook his head. "I can't exactly say. But I don't want you to think that I can't see you as my friend."

I shrugged. "I won't pry if you don't wanna tell me. We still hardly know each other."

Asher smiled at me. "It isn't too late. So, I can tell Justin-"

"That you'll babysit me, then what?"

"We'll find something to do and get to know each other in the process?"

"Oh, okay. Can we cook...?" I glanced down at my hands, fidgeting with them. "I meant, we can do whatever you want."

"I'll be right back." I watched him leave my room. I sighed and dropped back onto my bed, picking up my phone. I opened up my

messages and tapped Shane's name.

Hi, Shane. I don't think you should pick me up anymore.

His reply came quicker than I thought it would.

S/ Why not? Something come up?

Me/ Someone came up, actually. He offered to keep me some company.

S/ Okay. I was planning something fun for you, but I can save it for another day.

My heart leaped at the knowledge of that. I couldn't believe that the mere idea of him thinking about me still made my heart race.

Me/ What was it?

S/ Well, I realized that I never got to cook with you, and for that, I'm sorry.

*******

Note

Triple update yass!

Hey so any suggestions on who could play Justin??

;*

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