Elliana X Jason

Thirty Three, Family

After the movie and some goodbyes (and soaking his hands to make sure he was good water-wise), Jason walked down to Ryan's. He knew the way from that time that Frederick had chased Cole, and it wasn't like there was a rush. After being trapped in darkness, everything seemed so much brighter, and he wanted to see it.

Once he arrived, though, he considered that it might be awkward to knock on the door. So, he teleported in, hoping that the nearest water source wasn't a toilet.

He found himself in a small, dark room. He cringed. But this wasn't the darkness. No, he could see a sliver of light through a crack in the door. He noticed someone else in the small room, too. "Hi." He muttered.

Ryan screamed, flicking on a light switch. "Jeez, Jason. Warn a girl. She opened the door, and they walked into what Jason assumed was her room. He wondered where the water had been, but he noticed a bit of a small puddle on the floor of the small room (which he now knew was a closet).

Ryan rubbed her eyes, which Jason noticed were slightly puffy.

"That was one of the worst episodes of it I've had in a while. I was even thinking of... the thing, the thing I told you I sometimes think of." She said. He could see her eyes welling up a bit, and he cringed.

"What thing? And what's it? I don't know what you're talking about."

She swiped at her eyes immediately. "What do you mean? You've been helping me out with it the past two weeks."

"Oh, right. I got my memories back. But I don't remember anything that's happened since I lost them."

Her lips formed a soft O shape. "That's... wow."

"I mean... if you promise to stop pestering me about dating Elliana, I could help you out." He offered as a joke. She didn't seem to find it funny, and she looked a little offended. "You can tell me what it is, though."

"No." She shook her head. "No. But... I'll stop pestering you. I only was because I wanted to make sure you were good enough for Elliana. I know now... you are. Yeah. You're a really nice person."

"Why are you so protective of her? She doesn't even like you." He said.

"Oh. Okay. That's kind of you to say." She said sarcastically.

"I mean, she kinda has grounds to, you know? You kept pestering us, as if it was any of your business."

Ryan rubbed her temples. "Can I not have you insulting me? Now's not a good time. Maybe tomorrow."

"That's not what I mean. I'm not trying to be rude." Jason said.

"Yeah, well you're sure acting like you are." She said, looking incredibly over the conversation. "Look, I'm really tired, and I can't do this right now. I guess, if you want to talk or something, talk about something else, and please don't make it rude."

"I didn't come here to talk. I came here because you asked me to." He defended.

"Yeah, well that's too little too late."

This was the Ryan that Jason knew. The mean, overly defensive girl he'd come to hate.

Ryan sighed. "Look. I'm not judging you for not coming. It's your time. Do whatever you want with it."

"What did you need me for, though? If you'd told me why it was such an emergency, I might've come."

"No. I won't make that mistake again." She snapped.

"It's not my fault I lost my memories, you know." Jason said.

Ryan looked more tired than he'd ever seen her. "Yeah, I know. I just don't want to tell you. Not when you're like this."