She knew. Someone else knew. For six years Donovan had a small circle of people who knew who he really was. Now one more person knew and it was her.

The initial shock had passed. But Donovan still felt like his world had been flipped on its axis. Not two days ago he told himself he'd never forgive Carter Owens. But now...

Now he'd seen the scared, vulnerable girl behind the facade of smirks and sharp comments. He glimpsed her fear over her father and in doing so, he'd been given a glimpse of her heart.

Carter walked alongside Link, listening to him talk about the previous day's lunch and everything he'd done wrong. He held nothing back, which told Donovan Link had completely forgiven her. If he had, then Donovan would as well. After all, she'd cracked open the door to her life and let them in.

The pain and brokenness Carter had shown in the library were no longer there. Instead, she wore an easy, calm expression, all her emotions hidden away. She might have let them see the deeper side of her but she clearly didn't intend for the rest of the world to see it. Donovan admired her strength at tucking away her struggles so easily.

Her father had been shot, he couldn't imagine her having a bigger fear than that. But somehow she managed to conceal it so easily so no one else would ever know. But also so that Link wouldn't think more about it.

Something about that made him soften more towards her. How many times had he concealed his feelings from Link for his sake? Now Carter did it to make amends with Link. That was something they shared.

As they entered the cafeteria, got food, and seated themselves, Donovan didn't mind taking the spot next to her. A strange contrast to the previous day. Again that feeling like his whole world had been turned on its axis hit him again. The strange feeling made him less perceptive and out of nowhere, he found one of Maddy's friends by his side.

"You came back," the girl, Jen, Donovan remembered, said. "I thought yesterday I wouldn't be able to finish my story."

Donovan vaguely remembered the contents of the story, but the turmoil over Carter had kept his mind occupied while Jen had chattered on. He inwardly sighed, he could have done without the completion of her story. He understood her attraction and could've felt pity for her, he sensed how eager but nervous she was talking to him. But he didn't care, he wanted to eat in peace while his best friend floundered at flirting.

But there didn't seem to be an escape as the girl launched back into her story. Beside him, he noticed Carter half-listening to Link and half-listening to Jen. He waited. Hadn't she promised to use her charm? Charm that came in a form like a verbal bat to the face?

Donovan shifted, his elbow bumped hers but she acted as if she hadn't felt the contact. At the tiniest twitch in the corner of her mouth, he understood. She was amused by his predicament.

Of course she would be. Her knowing who he was wouldn't change who she was.

Jen gave an eager, high-pitched giggle that shot straight into Donovan's ear and he held his wince in check. As she stopped giggling, she leaned forward and rested her hand on Donovan's bicep. He reflexively tensed which was not the right move, since her eyes widened a fraction.

Donovan glanced at Carter and saw her fighting back a grin. She was enjoying this far too much. Maybe he'd been too quick to forgive her.

"So there I am lost in the museum and they announce they are about to close," Jen said, stroking Donovan's arm with a manicured hand.

Donovan shot Carter a look again. This time he threw in narrowed eyes. She rolled hers at his subtle threat but still, she responded, coming to his aid. Something he hadn't thought he would need but having his arm fondled made him extremely uncomfortable. Therefore yes, he needed her aid. No, he needed her blunt nature.

Carter rested her head in her hand and continued eating from a bag of chips. But did nothing beyond that.

Donovan tried to shift his arm out of Jen's grasp but her hand remained where it was, though from her nervousness he wasn't even sure she was aware that she still held onto him.

"I was so nervous, I could barely think," Jen said, giggling excitedly.

Donovan kicked Carter under the table and she scowled. He simply stared at her. Carter glared at him but turned her attention onto Jen. Jen continued talking while Carter watched her. Donovan had to admit the intensity in Carter's gaze was not something to be missed. Jen faltered under Carter's gaze.

"Please, go on," Carter said, sincerely. A tone Donovan hadn't imagined Carter able to produce for the occasion. "Your story was truly riveting. I need to know how it ends or I might die of curiosity."

Donovan had been right, verbal bat to the face. Jen opened her mouth but didn't seem able to make a sound. A blush crept up her cheeks.

"Okay," Carter said. "If you can't finish it, just nod and let me know that you got out of the museum alive. That is all I need to know."

Jen's face reddened even more and she turned away. Donovan felt a minuscule twinge of pity for her. After all, she'd only wanted to hold his attention. But the physical contact had been crossing a line.

"I guess we will never know if she made it out alive," Carter said, shrugging. "It's truly tragic."

The nonchalance in Carter's manner made Donovan almost smile. No one would ever guess that this girl could be hurt.

"Took you long enough," he whispered.

"You ruined my entertainment. Now, what am I supposed to do?"

"Anything that doesn't involve my arm being stroked."

Carter cocked her head. "Wait? That bothered you?"

At the wicked gleam in Carter's eyes, Donovan knew exactly what she planned to do. As she reached for his arm, he grabbed hold of her wrist. Carter retaliated, pulling back his thumb with her free hand. Donovan went to counter her move, a small thrill zipping through him but Link's voice stopped them.

"Guys?" he said.

Donovan exchanged a look with Carter and casually, they both released each other like nothing had happened. What had happened? Donovan told himself to ignore the bizarre reaction he'd felt. Not something to think about.

"Maddy was just wondering if we want to work on the history assignment together today, during free period."

Carter scoffed. "I already finished that."

Donovan wanted to flick her ear like he would've with his brothers. Sometimes she saw things clearly and others she spoke too soon to understand. But at least when Link frowned, she pasted on a smile.

"I mean sure," she said.

Link grinned. It really never took much to make him happy.

"Okay, great," Maddy said. "It will help so I don't have to do it over the weekend. I'll be free as a bird."

Her eyes darted to Link, expectantly. He nodded but had nothing to say. Donovan felt like burying his face in his hands at Link's ignorance. Despite all the times he'd tried to help Link with girls and reading cues, he still failed to see the obvious.

He looked at Carter and she raised a single eyebrow. She seemed to be thinking something along the same lines as him. Only she didn't understand the years behind Link's continued obliviousness.

Maddy shifted and leaned on the table, resting her chin in her hand, her black hair falling over her shoulder.

"What are you doing this weekend?" she asked, Link.

He shrugged. "Homework, video games. I don't know, stuff."

Maddy's smile shrank and she pulled back, her posture going rigid. If Donovan had been any closer he might have jumped in, but being two people removed felt awkward.

"Sounds like fun," she said, tightly. She stood abruptly. "I have to go to the bathroom. Jen come with me."

The girl beside Donovan rose and followed Maddy out of the cafeteria. Once they were out of sight, Carter punched Link in the arm. Though Donovan figured it would leave a bruise, he understood the sentiment.

"Ow!" Link said, rubbing the sore, spot. "What was that for?"

Carter motioned in the direction Maddy had disappeared.

"You idiot, she wanted you to ask her out," she said.

Link's eyes widened and he looked off towards the entrance. He looked back at Carter.

"Really?"

Carter buried her head in her hands and let out a groan. Donovan almost laughed at how mirrored their reactions were on the subject. When she raised her head, she looked at Donovan. He understood her before she even spoke but again she didn't understand, he'd tried. A lot.

"I blame you for this," she said.

Donovan shrugged. He wasn't going to humiliate Link by explaining that this was an old struggle. She shook her head at him.

"Yes," she said to Link. "You would be more prepared for this if your friend over here didn't attract drooling girls and hold all their attention. Link, how many dates have you been on?"

Link shifted awkwardly and adjusted his glasses. Link could admit to at least one. He had gone to the Winter Dance with Aubrey Troy but Donovan wasn't sure if that counted or not.

"That's what I thought," Carter said.

"I've been on a few," Link amended.

"Then this should be fine. Just ask Maddy out when she gets back."

Link nodded, but the movement was jerky and he paled. Carter placed a hand on top of his shoulder and he tensed. A natural reaction, she had punched him a minute earlier. But at least this gesture was comforting.

"You got this," Carter said. "It will be super easy."

Link nodded again, but he didn't seem mollified by this encouragement. Donovan didn't blame him, something about girls made him forget that, despite Donovan being his best friend, he had a lot of good qualities that any girl would like.

Maddy reappeared and took her seat. Link's tense state didn't lessen and his hands become clenched fists.

"What were we talking about?" Maddy asked, looking at Link, then Carter and Donovan.

Donovan knew that look Link had. He was seconds away from panicking and fleeing the scene. It wouldn't be the first time.

"We were talking about how this weekend is the perfect time for a double date," she said. "What do you say? You and Link, Donovan and me?"

Not only did the other occupants at the table freeze at this announcement, but Donovan did as well. Double date. That's what she'd said? Something about the suggestion made Donovan want to instantly reject it and laugh at the same time. Link whipped his head towards Carter but she was completely at her ease.

Maddy's mouth fell open as her eyes darted between the three of them. Every girl looked at Carter, their surprise and frustration plain to read on their faces. Some of them even looked to Donovan as if expecting him to refute what Carter said. But he said nothing. It meant a date for Link but for him...

Carter raised one eyebrow in question at Maddy and she blinked.

"Yeah, that sounds great," she said.

Link looked at her, disbelieving, all his panic vanishing in a flash.

"Really?" he asked.

"Of course," she said.

She chuckled, the sound softening pulling out a goofy grin. When Carter turned her head to Donovan, he stared placidly back at her, though she didn't seem to buy his calm exterior. She rolled her eyes.

"Oh calm down," she whispered.

Donovan was calm, after all it was a double date to assure that Link and Maddy could go out. Why wouldn't he be calm? Why did this minor detail of going out with Carter as a ruse make him feel completely unsettled?

Donovan clenched and unclenched his hand under the table, needing to disperse some of his strange agitation. He didn't feel unsettled. It was merely one more part he would play, a double date for Link's sake.

"So," Maddy piped up. "What do we want to do?"

Link looked at her then Carter and Donovan lost for ideas. Donovan tried to remember the last date he'd been on and felt thrown by realizing it had been before signing on to protect Link. Six years, it had been since years since he'd dated. Now his first date in a while would be with Carter. But then again it wasn't a real date so it hardly mattered.

"What if we went and saw the new romantic movie that just came out, Loving All of You?" Maddy asked.

Carter cringed and Donovan fought back a laugh at her reaction. He had to agree with her sentiments, romantic movies were not something he cared to watch.

"Okay," Link said.

When Maddy grinned, Link responded by shifting closer. A date and he found a bit of confidence.

"This will be fun," Maddy said.

Donovan saw as Carter fought a grimace and figured she would be willing to do anything other than see a romantic movie. Well, maybe watching her as she watched the movie would be Donavan's entertainment. After all, she'd left him to have his arm fondled for longer than necessary. Her discomfort would be payback.

Maybe Donovan was looking forward to his double date.

The bell rang and the cafeteria became a storm of students standing as they pulled on backpacks and split off to their different classes. As the table emptied, the girls all sent Carter pointed looks. Donovan didn't understand why, he'd never shown them any attention.

Maddy linked arms with her friend and waved to Link. "See you in free period."

Link waved back, beaming. Carter slung on her messenger bag and turned to leave but Donovan hooked his hand around her arm, pulling her back. He might have come to terms with this double date but he needed to know where she stood on it. There was the added fact that by announcing it, Carter made him available. Something didn't want to be seen as in the eyes of the girls at that school.

"What?' she asked.

Donovan crossed his arms, he didn't understand why someone so smart would think she could play dumb.

"You know exactly what," he said.

"Seriously?" Carter said. "I do you a favor and you get mad at me. Remind me never to be nice again. Insults have better and more entertaining results."

"From where I'm standing this only benefits you," Donovan said.

Carter nodded her head in a patronizing manner. "You're right, I love having girls glare and sneer at me. This really is all in my favor," she mocked.

Link cocked his head, looking too much like a confused puppy with his messy hair.

"Then why suggest it?" Link asked.

Carter took a step forward and lowered her voice. "As far as I see it, it's not really possible for Donovan to let you go out with Maddy on your own. So instead of him having to explain himself when he is spotted trailing you, I thought this would be a better option."

Donovan scowled. Did she honestly believe he would be spotted? Spotted by Maddy, a teenage girl who wasn't trained or expecting a tail? How low of an opinion did she have of him?

Carter carelessly slapped Link's arm and laughed, the sound warm with affection. Donovan reined in his irritation.

"Besides," she said, "I figure with Donovan and me there we can keep you from doing something stupid or make conversation if you run out of topics halfway though. I was thinking of you, you idiot."

Link dropped his gaze and fidgeted, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked up at Carter with an apologetic look. At least that reasoning felt more realistic. Spotted while tailing Link and Maddy, ha!

"Uh...thanks," Link said.

Carter shook her head in exasperation. "Why I do favors for people is beyond me." She turned to Donovan, leveling him with an accusatory stare. "Speaking of doing favors, why couldn't you bail yourself out? One annoying girl can't be that difficult to handle."

"You would think that, but if I respond in any way, positive or negative, they take it as progress and become more annoying."

Donovan had years of experience to back up this claim.

Carter scowled as she looked between the two of them. "What did you do before you had me?"

Lived peacefully without the presence of a very stubborn and invasive girl. Though Donovan had to admit she did make his life slightly less boring.

"We had known the students in our last school for years, so it wasn't this big of a deal," Link said.

Carter nodded in understanding. "I get it, new school, new group of girls. Well, I guess that's why you have me."

The bell rang and Carter smirked at Donovan. "Do you think you can safely get to class or should I walk with you to make sure no girls try to jump you."

Never mind, maybe she didn't make his life more interesting, just more vexing.

******

As Donovan headed towards the school parking lot with Link, he couldn't help but feel the dichotomy of the day. Entering the school that morning, they'd stood on opposite sides of the line. Now at the end of the day, they'd crossed that line and all stood together. It felt unnerving but somehow...

"Is it weird to give a guy flowers?" Link asked.

Donovan eyed him skeptically and Link flushed, realizing how his question came out. But Donovan understood what he meant and who he was thinking of.

"No," Donovan said. "Flowers can be enjoyed by everyone. Do you want to send them or deliver them ourselves?"

Link scratched the back of his neck. "Do you think it would be okay if we delivered them? I mean, do you think Carter would mind if we brought flowers."

"I don't think so."

Nodding, Link let out a breath. They climbed into the car and Donovan looked up the closest flower shop. Beside him, Link tapped his knee in an off-beat rhythm. Donovan glanced at him but Link stared out the window. Donovan put in the directions and started the car.

Only when they were on the road and Link still hadn't stopped tapping his knee did Donovan speak.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"She knows," he said. "Someone else knows."

Donovan spotted the hint of a tiny bemused smile. He wanted to join in with Link's happiness over someone else knowing but Carter was still Carter and he didn't know what that meant entirely.

"You don't have to lie," Donovan said, knowing he spoke Link's thoughts.

"I don't have to lie to someone," he echoed, quietly.

They drove in silence, Donovan letting Link sit in the comfort of that thought.

When they arrived at the hospital, the only hospital Donovan knew someone with Carter's father's status would be taken to, Donovan felt a niggling sense of apprehension.

Yes, Carter knew who they were. Yes, she'd shared the fact that her father had been shot. Yes, she opened up a little. But if Donovan had learned anything about this girl since their first meeting was that vulnerability was something to be hidden at all costs. Would she actually want them to see her right then?

Good intentions didn't matter if they were unwanted.

With a stop at the front desk, they were directed to the elevators with a room number. As they walked down the hall, Link clutched the vase of flowers, ones that were bright and contrasted the washed-out colors of the hospital. When they approached Agent Owens's room, Donovan slowed their progress.

Through the window by the door, Donovan spotted Carter sitting beside her father's bed. He reached out to Link and stopped him with a hand on his arm.

Donovan watched as Carter looked at her father. In her expression was more than the love of a daughter, there was an intensity Donovan had seen before in soldiers, an intensity that came from a bond formed by facing hardship together.

In that moment, he saw a vulnerability in her he hadn't imagined existed. The man in the bed was her whole world and though she smiled and even laughed, Donovan could still see that she feared he might slip away even while she sat beside him.

"You know what," Donovan said, guiding Link back to the nurses' station. "Let's leave them here for him. We'll let Carter be."

Link gazed back over his shoulder at the door but didn't argue. They left the flowers with the nurse, asking for her to deliver them later. As they left, Donovan didn't say anything.

"He'll be okay, right?" Link asked.

Donovan thought of the way Carter smiled at her father, the complete openness and love in her face.

"Of course he will," Donovan said.

But he knew it was a lie. Nothing in life was certain. No matter how much for Carter's sake, he wanted it to be.

**********************************************************************

Bang!

(Annyeonghaseyo Bangtan Sonyeondan! 😂 Sorry I had to. Moving on.)

Thoughts! Share your thoughts. Could be about the story, the chapter, the world, the life of living things, or the reason the chicken crossed the road. Whatever you prefer. 💬🗯💭

Now!

Am I rewriting history?
No, no I am not...
Okay, maybe a little.

(That should be heard in Gru's voice from Despicable Me)

I feel like this rewriting/non-rewriting is actually true. Cause if you think about it, Steve did take a bullet for Link's dad, why wouldn't he want to send Steve flowers?

Also they don't deliver the flowers and Carter doesn't see them so yeah, I'm not actually rewriting history I'm just showing the side of history that hasn't been seen before.

You should find it new and exciting and exclaim: Oh my gosh! I never knew it!! Wow! Joy is so amazing, and adorable, and cute and I just can't handle it! How does she manage to do it all!

*coughs and waves hand bashfully*

Oh stop. You'll make me blush but please do go on. 🙂

*coughs*

Or you know, do whatever works for you, possibly a vote, comment, follow.

But if that doesn't fit your fancy well that works too! You do you, boo boo!