In The Scenes

Fourteenth

WARNING: May be mentions of abuse, panic attacks, trauma, blood, etc. If you are sensitive to these topics, please don't read.

Asha POV:

It's been a week since Alex and Lia returned from the hospital. Lia is recovering, but Alex, even with Mindy's daily therapy sessions, isn't. I'm worried about him. I know I'm not his close friend but he helped me out when I had no friends. He told me how to connect with Micah and because of him, my relationship with my family has improved.

"Asha?" Mattheo asked.

I looked at him. Since Mattheo and I were kinda seventh-and-eighth-wheeling the couples, we decided to go to a coffee shop. Just the two of us.

"Yeah?"

"What're you thinking about?"

"Our future. What's going to happen to Alex and Lia? Will they survive this?"

Mattheo held my hand. I felt a warm tingling sensation spread throughout my arm.

"I met Alex and Lia late. I'm not super close with them but Micah and I saw what they went through last year. It was a miracle they survived. With that strength combined with more friends, there's no way they won't survive."

I smiled. Mattheo knew how to cheer me up.

"I'm glad I could," he said. After reading the expression on my face, he said, "You didn't know you said that out loud."

"Yeah. I thought I thought it but I didn't think it but I thought I said it in my thoughts but I actually said it."

Mattheo just stared at me.

"How did you say that with your mouth?"

"Practice."

"You've said that before?"

"It doesn't matter."

"What matters is that I cheer you up."

"Shut up."

"If I shut up, how will you cheer up?"

I laughed. I felt relaxed. Did I say that out loud? No, I didn't. Wait, did I say that out loud? And that? And that?

"Yes, you're saying all of that out loud," Mattheo said.

I covered my face and slammed my head into the table.

"Cute," he said.

"I am not."

"Yes, you are."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes you are and you can't say no because then I'll leave."

I stopped saying no.

"You're an annoying idiot."

I turned and went to order something to eat. As I was walking away, I heard Mattheo sigh.

"I wish I was your annoying idiot," I heard.

I may or may not have squealed in my mind. Did I say that out loud?

"Yep," Mattheo said from behind me. God, I'm stupid.

~~A Couple Days Later~~

Bryce POV:

Why couldn't Lia be the oldest? She's more responsible than me. Every time something goes wrong, they expect me to know what to do.

"Bryce, my computer broke."

"Bryce, I don't get my homework."

"Bryce, I can't find the directions to this place."

Just because I'm the oldest, doesn't mean I know what to do when you have a sock stuck up your throat. Long story but I can tell you Micah won't be teasing Mindy for quite some time.

"Bryce?" someone said.

"I can't fix your damn laptop," I screamed.

I turned around and Mattheo was looking at me.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. I thought it was Lia again."

"Jane broke her laptop again?"

"No, of course not," I said sarcastically.

"I have a problem."

"Of course you do. Come into the Lynx Laboratory."

We sat on my sofa.

"I'm having a problem with Asha."

"No, you're having a crush on Asha."

Mattheo choked on his spit.

"How did you know?"

"You two were as obvious as Micah and Mindy. Now, what's the real problem?"

Mattheo bit his lip.

"Micah. I'm worried about how he'll feel. I don't want to destroy our friendship because I have a crush on his sister. He just met her. I don't want anything to happen to their relationship. I would rather him happy than him upset. What should I do?"

"You know I was friends with Lia before I dated Jane?"

Mattheo looked up. He was shocked. I'm not surprised. I've only told this to Mindy and Alex. Not even my sister knows.

"How did it work out?"

"I just one day got the courage to tell Lia I liked Jane and wanted to date her. Lia didn't talk to me for a week. Then, when she finally talked to me, she told me it was okay and that she was glad I was the one dating her sister and not some random freak."

"I can't. I don't want to hurt Micah's feelings. I . . . "

The door opened and Micah stood there. Strangely, he had a smile on his face.

"Are you kidding me?" he said. "I don't care that you're crushing on my sister. As long as you keep her happy, I'll be fine, okay?"

Mattheo was beaming. He went to Micah and hugged him. Micah hugged back.

"Can I ask her out?"

"Yep. She's in the kitchen."

"Now?"

"No. In fifty years when you're old and wrinkly. Of course now. Get your oversized brain down there and ask her to be your girlfriend. Run, run, run."

Mattheo had never sprinted faster. Micah looked at me.

"Now that's how you do the 100-yard dash."

"You idiot."

I guess being the oldest isn't that bad.