Köhler (Book 9 of the Köhler Series)

𝐗𝐋𝐈𝐈

Three Months later

Xavier hated his weekly therapy sessions, but he put himself in this position. It was something that he should have thought about months ago, and it didn't help that he shut everyone out, causing him to go into a deep depression, ending up in the mental hospital for a full two month. His Opa hated doing it to him, but it had to be done to make him understand that want happened with Maddi wasn't his fault, and Jasira had gotten herself killed by choosing to work for them. It took some time, but he realized they were right.

Shanice was a big help through the whole ordeal. She was there from day one and at the hospital, every other day, if not every day, sitting there at first just to let him know she cared, then later telling about the crazy shit Elias was getting them into, which didn't surprise Xavier. But his parent kept Xylia away, saying that she wasn't in her right state of mind to comminate with him, something that he later learned that she too was having problems with mindset.

"Hey, someone told me you needed to be picked up, handsome." Shanice smiled, stepping out of the awaiting car. Xavier chuckled, shaking his head as Henry stood there with a smirk.

"Naw, I thought I would walk. Henry, you can take her back to the house...."

"Xavier, get in the damn car! You know good damn well you're not going to walk forty-five minutes back to the community. Plus, I have a surprise for you."

"Oh yeah, what is the surprise? Should I be scared? Because I don't want you yelling at me because I missed your birthday." He spoke as Shanice stopped looking back at him with a cocked brow. He had to spend her birthday in a fucking patted room listening to crazy people scream through the night. It was horrible, and he didn't wish to return there anytime soon.

"No, I understand why you weren't there, big head. You have had a rough three months; you have become my best friend during those months. I don't care about you missing my birthday Zay. I'm happy that you are okay."

Xavier nodded, looking down at Shanice's bright smile before she stepped into the car with him following. He could say she took the time to know him and let Zay know her. Shy was silly on some days and serious on others. She always took her schoolwork seriously and loved her family but missed them dearly, unlike all the other girls that Xavier dated. She wanted to know what he liked doing besides playing video games, school, and anime.

"Good, but I have something for you." He smiled, something He found himself doing a lot around Shanice. Again she turned to him as he pulled a long box from his coat pocket.

"Xavier, you didn't have to get me anything for my birthday."

"Let me do something nice for you? You have been a big help to me, and I think you deserve this and more." He said, opening the box as she sat there and looked at him like he had lost his mind. "Say something, please."

"You're going to make what I did for you look stupid now." She laughed and quickly wiped a tear. "Thank you. It's beautiful. No one has ever done anything like this before for me. It's always been what I give to them. Everyone I got myself involved with only saw me for my money." She shrugged, hugging him as he kissed her forehead because he understood. After, she slowly turned around, letting Xavier place the necklace on her neck.

"Don't ever take this off." He spoke softly as Shanice nodded, looking back at him with a smile. "Where are we going, by the way? It's cold out, and we don't need to be trying to be sick... You did ask my parents if it was okay for me to go out. Didn't you?"

"Xavier, I'm not that fucking crazy. Your parents are scary. I told you this, and I wouldn't dare do something without asking them." She spoke as the car stopped. They were in the middle of nowhere, and Henry had to walk them about a half mile into the woods.