Learning to Be Happy Again

Chapter Thirteen: Further Admirations and Apologies

A/N: *claps hands as if to get off dust* Welp. Get ready.

"Oh, there you two are." Huz walks into the room, and Elwin breaks from the hug, wiping an eye.

"Oh, hey, hon."

"What's going on? Am I missing a sappy family moment?" Huz's words sound playful.

I pick up the drawing again. "Yeah, Elwin got all sentimental on me 'cause I showed him this."

Huz takes the drawing from me, and gets that look on his face that Elwin did. "Oh, I. Keefe, this is really sweet. And you're so talented too!"

"You really think so?" I'm not surprised by this, I know I'm good. Hearing it from an adult is just different. It actually means something.

Huz points at the drawing. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Yes, you are amazing."

I wipe a fake tear from my eye. "This means so much to me." I say this with a joking tone, but it really does mean the world.

The three of us are basking in the happy feelings when my imparter rings. I pick it up.

"Keefe, you need to come here. Tam, he's not doing well." Linh says urgently, pausing for breath before finishing her sentence. She looks like she's shaking. "Keefe, please. I don't know if he wants that, but you're the only one who can help."

"Alright. I'll get there as soon as possible." The imparter clicks off. The room has lost its warmth. I look to Elwin and Huz, whose faces are distraught.

"Go, Keefe, work things out. It'll be okay." Elwin quickly hugs me.

I nod and then leave.

Linh is waiting at the front door when I arrive, arms crossed and knee bouncing. I speed up.

"He's in his room," she whispers, still shivering slightly. I hug her, both in comfort and for warmth.

"I'll do the best I can," I respond.

"Thank you." She opens the door. "Be careful."

I nod. I'd come prepared, bringing along two extra layers. This had been the right call. The temperature right inside the house was already drastically different from outside. I put on a jacket, hand Linh the other, and then continue on.

"It's the first door on the left up those stairs." Linh puts on the coat and then points up at the staircase.

I knock on the door after I've climbed said stairs. "Tam? It's me."

There's a muffled, "Go away," from the other side.

"Tam, please. I'm really sorry about earlier, but you need me right now." I bite my lip as if it would take back my poor choice of words.

There's a thump. "I don't need anyone." The words are louder now.

I go in anyway. It's nearly pitch black, but as my eyes adjust I see that Tam is crouched in a corner. The darkness seems to be coming from him, darkest there and fading out. I walk over to him and kneel down, touching his arm.

"Tam."

He looks up, and I see that he's been crying. "I told you to go away."

"Mm, yeah. But I'm known not to follow rules," I answer, seeing if I get a reaction.

I do, but it's not as good as I'd hoped. The spot where my hand is on his arm grows colder and I have to let go. He's glaring at me now.

"I don't want to hurt you," he says in a horse voice.

"And you won't," I respond. I realize he might, even if he doesn't mean to, but it seems unlikely.

"But I could," he responds, trying to sound fierce.

I grip his shoulders. "But you won't. Tam, it's okay. Please just breathe. The whole house is cold, did you know that?"

He falters. "It, it is? Is Linh. Is she alright?"

I nod. "Yes, but if this goes on any longer she may not be. So, please? If not for me, for her?"

Terror washes over his face. "I can't. It's too strong, Keefe I can't, what do I do?"

I immediately hug him. "What helped you before?"

Tam doesn't say anything, but that same pinkish emotion back from Sophie and Biana comes through, but it's gone quickly. Did I imagine it or...?

"Well, whatever it is, do that, yeah?" The room is already starting to get warmer, and, eventually, Tam hugs me back. We sit like that for a while, until the temperature feels normal again.

"Thank you, Keefe," Tam whispers, breaking the hug.

"No problem." I sit back. "I'm really sorry about what happened at Dex's. I should've thought first, but I didn't and I'm just so, so sorry."

Tam's hands come to rest on my own. "You should've. But it's alright. I forgive you." This seems surprising coming from Mr. I Trust No One, but I smile regardless and then remember the conversation I had with Elwin.

"Um, actually there was something else," I mumble, almost not wanting to be heard.

Tam lifts his hands. "What is it?"

"Well, I--"

The door opens, and Linh rushes in. "Are you alright?"

Tam rolls his eyes. "Yeah, Linh, I'm fine. What was it you wanted to say, Keefe?"

"Oh, um, nothing. I forgot." I sigh. It probably wouldn't have worked out anyway, so it doesn't matter. It really doesn't.