KISS

18-Shattered

"You understand if you do this. You would be destroying everything you'd ever known." Jay watched the woman, he could still see the disbelief etched in her face, but it was slowly melting away. She believed him. It felt great to have someone else who could help and knew his darkest secret.

"Yes, but she'll be free."

"Jay, you must understand the procedure has a fifty percentile success rate."

"I get that, but we have the best doctor in the field performing the operation. It's gotta work." A foreign emotion bloomed in his chest. It was hope.

When Jay opened the door to leave he ran into a familiar face. He hadn't seen little Tasha in a while. She'd grown. Well, they all had grown.

"Axel," she said moving pass him. He stood there stunned. She'd never mistaken them before. Had something happen? Why would she mix them up now? He couldn't believe it. Those he thought closest to him were falling for his lies.

"Right," he bit off before slamming the door on his way out. Running down the hall he rushed out of the building into the fresh air. Had he been gone so long the world had forgotten him?!

***

"Sweetie what's going on? Something has been bothering you. You can talk to me."

"But mom I don't want you psychoanalyze me," she whined laying on the leather couch.

"I won't. This is simply a mother wanting to help her baby girl."

Natasha sighed as her mother got sentimental. She was so angry this morning and Iris words bothered her. She told her mother everything.

"Well honey, was there a particular reason why you didn't tell your friend you liked this boy?" Natasha frowned. It wasn't that easy. She wanted her friend to be happy, but she never thought Jay would reveal himself.

"Mom it's complicated."

"Oh honey, is this about the boy that just left. I know about Jay."

Natasha sat up startled. How did she know? When did she figure it out?

"Honey if you came to me sooner, we would have been able to help him."

"I like Jay! Iris liked Axel. I didn't think she would come across Jay too!" she cried.

Lisa rubbed her eyes. She got up to sit next to her daughter. She heard all about Iris McDerman from both Axel and Jay. Jay had warned her Iris may have met another personality. They were attached to her because she tried to help them. There were some feelings but they were unsure; which wasn't unusual for people with the condition.

"Honey, I want you to listen to me very carefully. Loving a person with multiple personalities can be a difficult."

"But I don't love—."

"Shh, it's okay sweetie. Look at me dear." Natasha stared into her mother's almond colored eyes, and relaxed when she took both hands into hers. "I know that you have feelings for Jay and you were fine with your friend dating Axel. This is a problem sweetie. You must understand that Jay and Axel are one and the same. If you're going to love someone you must love all of them. You cannot pick and choose." Shame immediately followed afterward. Was her love that superficial?

"Now listen. I understand that you're hurt, but you shouldn't take it out on your friend. She probably has good reasons for keeping her status under wraps. Often, people in the spotlight become targets. Her life has already changed and probably not for the better. Helping Jay has cost her everything, and I'm sure she could use a friend right now." Natasha sighed, she hated when her mom was so reasonable. She felt like the bad guy. She was so envious of the relationship they had. It made her sick.