Danny-

The interview seems to be going well. I know Sheriff and Mrs. Collins were nervous at the start, but they've calmed down as the questions went on. So now he's in the other room with them, and she's wrapping the most amazing-smelling dinner.

I'm listening to the interview now. Theo's bragging about the schools that are interested in him. I'm proud of the guy. He's earned the attention.

"Oregon...Washington...DU out in Colorado," he says with a smile and a pause before he continues, "oh and Vegas. I've been looking at schools there."

"Oh shit," I mumble to myself. Or at least I think it was to myself. Bryce and his mom both stop moving. I'm about to apologize when she brushes by me to go to the door, and Bryce gives me a look.

Theo just flipped the switch on his Aunt and Uncle.

"Oh really?" Says the lady as she stands up for the tour, "what made you think of that city?"

"Oh, I just like the city. It seems like it would be fun to live there. I mean, that pyramid building looks like a lot of fun. Right, Uncle Mason?" Says Theo as they walk out into the hall.

Sheriff Collins is clearly shocked but tries to play it off, "uh yeah... It can be fun. We gotta lot to talk about between you and Bryce."

"I agree. Should be fun," says Theo. "I'll show you the upstairs first." The next thing I hear is a pair of footsteps up the stairs, and sheriff Collins comes in and signals for his wife to come with him.

At this point, even Jackson and Mandy know something's up, and we all wait quietly. I can hear Theo upstairs with my normal hearing. He's really putting on a show, but I focus on the adults in the other room.

"I didn't tell him, Mason," groans Mrs. Collins.

"Then how would he know?" Snaps the Sheriff.

"I don't know. Maybe he heard us. Maybe he's just randomly interested in Vegas. Maybe it's a sign that you were wrong?" She says back, and I hear her moving towards the door.

"I'm not. I talked to Jenny that day, remember?" He says in a grim voice.

"Yes, and you said it didn't go well," says his wife.

"Yeah...cause she doesn't want to see Theo....she's clean and sober and to quote her...'I don't know if seeing him will help me stay that way. I'd rather not risk it,'" he says quietly. Holding back tears.

"Oh god," I say out loud, and they all look at me. Brenden's been listening too. I can see it on his face. Bryce wants to know what's up cause he knows I'm listening, and Mandy and Jackson look confused. "I...I just remembered I have a test to study for, and I don't wanna do it."

Jackson shrugs and eats out of the pot on the stove. I look at my bro and shake my head. I'll tell him later.

I turn back to the conversation, "I know I need to tell him, but how do you tell a kid his mother's Alive and doesn't want him? How do you not want a kid like Theo?" Sighs the Sheriff. 

"Mason. It's not that easy....she's actually being smart about it. If she comes back into his life and relapses, he'll be in a worse position than before," says Mrs. Collins. "I hate to say it, but I'm proud of her."

He doesn't say anything and just leaves the room. When he comes out, it's clear he's trying to hold it together, and Mrs. Collins looks annoyed.

The social worker lady comes into the kitchen for a second, "it was a pleasure to see you all again. I'll have my report by the end of next week, but I'll say that I'm sorry I misjudged you. You have a lovely home."

Theo smiles at his aunt and Uncle. I'm honestly a little scared of how he's hiding it all right now. I can hear his heart rate, and it's beating like a hummingbird.

Sheriff Collins clears his throat, "I'm glad. Let me walk you out."

Mrs. Collins speaks up, "ok. Grab a plate and dig in." She's acting like nothing's wrong, and if I didn't know better, I'd say she and Theo were related.

Theo moves next to me and nudges me. The first real interaction we've had all week. I can't be mad at him for long, and I put my arm around him and smile. "I've missed you," I add in a whisper.

He pushes his glasses up his nose and smiles back, "I'm sorry. It's been a long week, but the cats out of the bag."

The Sheriff speaks before I can respond, and we all turn because of his tone. "How long have you known, and why didn't you say anything?"

Brenden and Bryce look right at Theo. Mandy and Jackson follow their gaze, and Theo just looks back at his Uncle with a stern face.

"How long have I known what? How you lied to me. How you found mom and didn't tell me....like you promised you would?" He says back in a shout.

Mrs. Collins speaks up, "Theo, there's more to the story than that. You need to let him explain."

"Explain how he talked to my therapist to get the dirt on me? Can he explain that?" Continues Theo. He's in a rage. The last time I saw him this mad was in that bathroom months ago.

Sheriff Collins looks at the rest of us and says, "Brenden. Danny. You should leave. The rest of you go outside."

"No," snaps Theo. "They can stay. I'm leaving."

As he storms off without a plate of food, his Uncle shouts for him.

"Sheriff?" I say quickly as he snaps his head at me. "Uhhh, let me talk to him. Maybe I can help calm him down."

Sheriff Collins looks nervous, and he smells it too. I hear Brenden finally shuffle out the sliding glass door, so I know it's just us.

Against his own best judgment, he nods, and I take my plate with me. Theo needs to eat after all.

As I round the corner to go into the hallway to his bedroom, I can hear him crying, and my heart cracks in two. I know I love the guy, but I'm beginning to think it's more than love. Something deeper and more potent that only my people can ever feel.

I knock on his door and quietly say his name.

I hear him take a deep breath as he walks over to me.
********
Theo

"Theo?" Whispers Danny through the door.

I sigh out quietly. Danny's gonna try and be the hero...but he's part of the problem too.

He's gonna play both sides cause he's a "peacemaker," but really, it's cause he doesn't know what he wants. Chris was right. I can't trust him.

I open the door and see him standing there with a plate, looking sad.

"I brought your dinner up," he says quietly. "I didn't want you to be hungry."

I gesture for him to come in. My defenses are up still, and I hope he knows that.

I set the plate on my desk and sit there. He's quiet and keeps looking over at me.

"What?" I snap.

He holds his hands up, "nothing. I'm just worried about you."

"I'll be fine, Danny. I've been lied to before," I say back with a sigh. "I just need to find her. I wanna see her."

Danny's terrible at poker, so his face says everything.

"Say what you wanna say, Danny," I snap at him.

He rolls his eyes, and my blood pressure spikes, but he speaks anyways, "you don't know the whole story. They have their reasons for keeping it to themselves. You should actually talk to them."

"You don't know anything, Danny. They lied to me cause they think I'm broken and can't do anything right," I say quickly and get up and look out my window. Riker's quiet tonight, which is a nice change.

"You're being really dumb right now," groans Danny. "Your Uncle loves you. A lot, actually. He wants you to be happy..."

"Then why won't he let me talk to her or see her?" I Say as I interrupt him. "Huh?"

He sighs out. I can tell he's annoyed, "cause he wants you to be healthy and she's not gonna help with that."

"You don't know what you're talking about," I say back.

He's quiet for a second, "I know more than you might think, Theo. A lot more. She's probably not in a good place right now and doesn't want to bring you down. Your Uncle knows more....you need to talk to him." 

"Why. What do you know?" I say quickly and with some force in my voice.

He steps back, "I just know your Uncle. He's an honest man, and he wouldn't hide something unless he had a reason."

What he says clicks in my head, and a light turns on. It's not the light Danny would want, but his words make me want to ask.

"Are you an honest man, Danny?" I say quietly.

He pauses for a second, and I turn to look at him. He seems to be trying to come up with an answer....which is not a good sign. "I...I try to be."

"You try to be?" I ask.

"Yes...why are you asking me that," he says quietly and reaches for my hand, but I step away. "Theo? What's wrong?"

The words escape me before I can stop them, "I can't trust you, Danny."

"The fuck! Why?" He says and steps closer. "Theo. Look at me," he begs and puts his hand on my chin, and lifts my face to his for a second. "What do you mean?"

I push him back cause I'm feeling boxed in, "you're hiding something. You're not being honest. You're not honest to yourself...and I know you're hiding us." 

"Theo. You're my boyfriend. I try to be honest with you. It's just some stuff I can't talk about...yet, but I will. I promise," he says in a pleading voice. "Please...I love you."

"No, you don't. You just wanted something fun and easy, but that's not me. You'd be out if you wanted something real," I push back.

He's stunned at that, but he pushes on, "you more than anyone should know it's not easy."

"You mean 'cause your bros won't respect you?" I say back.

"There's more to it than that," he snaps. "You of all people should know that."

"Right cause of my Dad," I say and stand up. I walk to the door and open it. "Go home, Danny."

"No," he says in a low growl. "I'm not gonna leave like this. You're not breaking up with me cause you're mad at your Uncle."

I turn back, and he's visibly shaking. I've never seen him this mad. "Danny, go!" I shout. "I'm done caring about people with secrets. All my life, it's been secrets and lies. I have enough problems without your baggage."

I hear someone coming up the stairs, but I'm distracted by Danny. He's still shaking and looks like he's in actual pain right now.

Before I can say anything, a voice speaks from behind me. "Danny. Stop," says Brenden in a stern voice. I've never heard him speak like that before.

"You....don't....understand," says Danny in a strange voice.

Brenden pushes past me and grabs Danny's hands, "I get it, man. We need to go. You know we need to go."

"Danny," I say quietly.

He starts to look at me when Brenden hits him on the chest, "breath Danny and come with me." 

Brenden pushes me out of the way again and practically drags Danny out of the room. The next thing I hear is the front door slam, and more angry stomps up the stairs.

I have 3 seconds to recover before Bryce marches in, screaming, "what the actual fuck is your problem?"

"Fuck you, Bryce," I shout back and push him out of my room.

"Bryce!!!!!! Get downstairs," shouts Uncle Mason.

Bryce gives his Dad a hard look before turning to me, "that guy loves you, and you're treating him like garbage."

"Bryce. Downstairs. NOW!!!" Shouts Uncle Mason again.

"He's a great guy, and you're throwing him away cause of your deadbeat Mom who doesn't even want you," he screams.

My anger gets the best of me, and I lunge at him. He's quick to block me, and I go flying into a wall. Uncle Mason's right there pulling his son down the hallway.

"Go. Down. Stairs," he says between pants. Bryce finally gives in and goes where his Dad tells him.

"Danny cares about you, and you're being an IDIOT," shouts Bryce.

"Bryce Alexander Collins!!!!" Shouts Aunt Tasha. "Get down here."

"No wonder Dad doesn't tell you anything. You can't be trusted to not fall apart," he says and finally goes downstairs.

I'm still on the floor of the hallway crying when I feel Uncle Mason touch my shoulder. I jump....and recoil from his touch. Like I did all those months ago.

The look on his face says everything. He knows I don't trust him right now. Maybe never again.

"Theo. You ok?" He asks kindly and tries to help me up.

"I'm fine," I snap and brush him off me. "Go talk to you, kid. He needs you."

"You need me too, Theo," he says back.

"Your REAL kid needs you," I say back. "I'll be fine...I'm always fine."

He opens his mouth to speak, but I just slam the door in his face and lock it.

I hear a car peel out, and I can see it's Brenden's truck. He's getting Danny somewhere fast. I can see Danny's Jeep is still parked in front of the house.

"Whatever. I don't care anymore," I say to myself

I can hear Riker whining in his house. Mrs. Carson tries to get him to go outside, but he's just crying. Finally, she gives up and closes the sliding glass door. I open my window to let the air in. It's a lovely April night. A beautiful night to blow up every part of my life. My parents would be proud.

I roll over and just cry into my pillow. I can hear Uncle Mason arguing downstairs with someone, but I can't hear the words.
**********

I honestly didn't think Teddy would do it. He's always so slow to react, but his Uncle was the driving force behind the betrayal, and Teddy did what Teddy does best. He overreacted and pushed people away.

I think it's about time for me to step in.