I sat up slowly and then swung me feet over the edge of the bed. I knew that I didn't have long before my parents got back. The doctor had said that I could go home as soon as I could safely walk from one side of the room to the other without becoming winded. I pushed myself up onto my feet and took a slow breath. Taking a deep breath was still too painful, but taking a slow breath in and out allowed me to focus and calm down. I pushed myself off of the bad and slowly struggled to my feet, my arms shaking. My breathing became laboured and my lungs began to burn. I felt like an old man who was stuck in an armchair. Once I was up, I was out of breath. I tried my best to keep in slow and regulated, but it was hard and I was starting to get slightly dizzy. Finally, I managed to calm my breathing back down so that I wasn't gasping for air anymore and I began walking. Each step was agonizingly slow, my body mocking me and reminding me I was an almost eighteen year old guy who can't even get to the bathroom by himself. I took one more step before collapsing sideways against the chair. I leaned over in, gasping with laboured breaths. Despite this, a large grin spread across my face.

"Nurse!" I called out raggedly between gasps.

The nurse came running in. She gasped when she saw me.

"Get the doctor," I demanded, my grin growing. "I'm going home."

*-*-*

I leaned on my elbows against the counter. I had never been more bored in my life. Now that I had my memories back, I could confidently say that and know it to actually be true. People strolled past our booth with Elephant Ears and Cotton Candy, causing my mouth to water.

"This is torture," I groaned. "No one is even coming to this stupid booth!"

Braum raised an eyebrow at me. "Would you rather that we both had lines of people to get through? I'm personally perfectly fine with not kissing a bunch of strangers. I have this weird thing against contracting diseases."

I frowned. "Why would you even say that? I didn't even think of that. Great, one more thing to worry about."

I rolled my bottom lip into my mouth and ran my hand through my hair.

"Don't look too excited there."

I sat up. "Cris?"

She grinned at me. "Hey."

"Are Josey and Ket around too?" I questioned. 

"What, am I not good enough for you?" she joked.

"Of course you are, I just. . ."

"You were just checking if Josey and I are still awkward and avoiding each other."

I smiled sheepishly. "Maybe. I think you'd be cute together, though. I think you should go for it. Plus, you can tell how much he likes you. He tries to cover it up and pretend to be some womanizer, but it doesn't work."

Cris shrugged. "I just don't know. I don't want to ruin an amazing friendship. What if we take the next step and things go south? I know that that is a major cliche, but it's how I feel."

"Do whatever you feel is right. When it comes down to it, it's your heart and your choice, not anyone else's."

Cris laughed. "Okay, this is getting way too cheesy and emotional. So, how did the cop and the amnesiac get stuck with the kissing booth?"

Braum grimaced. "That sounded like the beginning of a terrible joke."

Cris smirked. "And you didn't even let me get to the punch line."

Braum chuckled. "I think I'll live."

"Well, this looks interesting."

I cringed. "Hello, Jessica."

She and Jackson stood side by side, arms crossed over their chests.

"Look what the cat dragged in," Cris muttered.

Jessica ignored her comment and sauntered up to the booth. She grinned up at Braum.

"So, how much for a kiss?"

Braum frowned and looked down at his watch. "Actually, we unfortunately just closed for our break. You'll have to come back later."

He set the 'back by eight thirty' sign on the counter and then backed away slightly.

"That's okay. Did we really need the booth?" she asked, batting her lashes and moving to come around the counter.

Braum winced. "Please don't force me to charge you with sexual harassment, Ma'am."

Jessica's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

"Look, I'm older than you, I'm a police officer, and you're very catty. I'm not interested. As for you, Sir," he continued, turning towards Jackson. "I know you may think you're so cool right now, but I can promise you that you even step one foot out of line, you'll discover how 'cool' being held in a detaining cell while you wait for your mommy and daddy to come pick you up and bail you out is. Or, even better, if you're already eighteen, they may leave you there to figure it out for yourself."

Jackson smirked slowly. "I'm not doing anything wrong, Officer Tight Ass. You can't touch me. There isn't nothing against the law about coming up to a booth with a friend to talk to a pretty girl and potentially get a kiss by giving money to go towards the school. In fact, I'd call that school spirit."

Braum narrowed his eyes. "Have you been drinking tonight?"

Jackson scoffed. "Why would I be drinking? The fair is so much fun, who needs alcohol?"

My eyebrows scrunched together. He did seem to be swaying a bit.

"Come on, Jackson, let's just go," Jessica said, almost seeming panicked.

"No, Jess. This guy thinks he's so tough. He's the big, bad, police officer. He's not that great. He's just trying to show off for Ro. You've got everyone wrapped around your finger, haven't you? Ket, Braum... you know, I bet you're even fooling around with Josey on the side. I don't see why you won't let me have a little fun too."

I breathed in sharply. "Excuse me? God, I can see why Ket thinks you're so pathetic. All you have the ability to do is use your words to make others feel bad about themselves so that you can feel good. I'm sorry that unlike you, I actually have a good group of friends who is there for me. It's kind of sad, isn't it, that the girl who couldn't even remember her own name to begin with made better friends than the boy who is supposedly one of the most popular in school. If you're so popular, where are all of your good friends now, huh? They say that guys like you, guys who have to put others down to feel good about themselves, do it because they're lacking in.... other areas, if you know what I mean. They want at least something to be big, and all they have is their ego for that."

"Well, that was definitely entertaining to listen to."

Ket and Josey had joined the group now, Ket standing with his arms crossed over his chest.

I frowned. "Thanks, Ket, but I wasn't exactly going for 'entertaining'."

He grinned. "Have I mentioned how much more fun you are now that you have your memories back? It's like they sparked a fire that was always simmering just beneath the surface, and let it blaze up like a wildfire."

I shook my head. "You know, maybe now isn't the best time for this conversa-"

"What did you say about me?" Jackson suddenly exploded.

"Bit of a late reaction time there, Jacks. Boy, you're not looking very stable on your feet. Just out of curiosity, how much is the world spinning?" Ket laughed.

"Shut up," Jackson raged, taking a swing.

It was a sloppy punch and didn't come anywhere near Ket. Braum let out an exasperated sigh and hopped over the counter. In one fluid motion, he'd twisted Jackson's arm behind his back and taken him down.

"What did I tell your class about showing up to the fair drunk? There's a zero tolerance policy. Looks like you'll be getting familiarized with the holding cells after all."

Samantha came running up, her clipboard gripped tightly in her hand. "I heard about the commotion at the Kissing Booth. What on earth is going on here?"

Braum gave her a stern look. "Look, I'm an officer of the law. Next time you want someone for an idiotic and demeaning booth, ask someone else. This is my real job, and maybe if you'd let me do it from the start, you wouldn't have drunk students running around the fair causing problems. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to deal with our friend here."

He picked Jackson up off the ground, his arm still pinned behind him, then, he turned to me.

"Sorry that the Welcoming Fair really wasn't very much fun, Ro. Also, if I don't get to see you tomorrow... are you okay?"

I was having troubles focusing on Braum. My lungs were burning and my head began spinning. My knees went weak and I had to lean against the counter for support.

Ignoring everyone's panicked questions, I simply held out my hand. "Phone."

Josey was the first to respond, pulling out his cellphone and passing it to me. I dialled the number by memory and held the phone up to my ear. I placed one hand against my chest, willing the pain in my lungs to ease up.

"He-" Reed began before taking in a gasp of air. "-llo?"

"What are you doing you idiot? My lungs are burning," I complained.

"I'm. . . coming. . . home. I just. . . have to fight. . . with the. . . doctor. . . and our. . . parents. . .first," he replied.

"What do you mean he got out of bed and walked across the room?" I heard someone demand in the background. "Go get his parents. I knew this kid was going to be a troublesome one."

I chuckled at that despite the pain it caused, and based on the wheezing sound on the other end of the line, Reed was laughing too.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Reed?"

"Well, doctor," Reed began. "You promised me that as soon as I could walk on my own, you would let me go home. I walked on my own. Time for me to go. Also, please keep in mind, I am very determined, so even if you don't discharge me, I will run away, get on a plane, and take the four hour flight back to Manhattan by myself. I think we both know that it'd be much easier if you discharged me, the hospital provided the flight back that you promised, and then no one has to chase a lung transplant patient across the United States."

"You are a troublesome one, aren't you. You know if your parents say no, there's nothing I can do."

"They won't say no."

"And if you get hurt because you left too early, the Center is not at fault."

"I won't get hurt, and if I do, that will be my problem."

"And you know that you're just going to be transferred to a hospital in Manhattan. You aren't ready to actually go home to your house yet."

"I just want to be with my sister on our eighteenth birthday."

"Fine. I'll sign the discharge papers. You are one piece of work, Reed Gessman."

Reed let out a sigh. "Thank you. I'm coming home, Ro. I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, he hung up. I handed the phone back to Josey.

"Reed's coming home," I announced.

"Your brother?" Cris clarified.

I nodded. "Reed and my parents are coming home. I'm getting my family back for my birthday."

"That's amazing!" Cris exclaimed. "We should go celebrate!"

"I should probably get Jackson out of here. Congratulations, Ro and happy birthday," Braum nodded.

I grinned, although I could barely acknowledge what he was saying. "Thanks." 

"Have fun with your booth, Lady. We're leaving," Cris told Samantha.

Then, she hooked her arm in mine and began pulling me away. Ket and Josey fell in step on either side of us. 

"We're going to get ice cream," Cris told me. "It's a tradition of ours, and now more than ever, it is very necessary."

Josey was winking at a group of girls as we walked past them.

"Josey," I reprimanded.

He gave me a sheepish grin. "What? I probably just made somebody's night."

"Wow, you definitely don't sound too full of yourself. You almost sound as bad as Ket," Cris joked.

We all turned to look at Ket, but he didn't seem to be paying attention at all.

"Hello? Earth to Ket?" Cris asked. "Anybody in there?"

Ket blinked a few times. "What?"

Josey raised an eyebrow. "The great Ket Thomas, Analyzer of all situations, and creepily observant guy is confused about what's going on? Usually by now you would have read all of our minds as well as all of the people around us and been able to guess at least the next five movements that would take place amongst the group."

Ket frowned. "I don't read minds, Jose. I'm just very good at reading body language."

"Whatever you say, mind reader."

"Well, sorry, I just got. . . distracted. My mind is on other things. I promise, I'm super excited about ice cream, though," Ket mumbled.

"You sound it," I commented. "I feel bad that Braum got stuck dealing with Jackson while we get to go get ice cream."

"It's his job," Ket shrugged.

I frowned at him. "Still."

"So, are you excited about tomorrow? I guess you'll finally be going home, eh?" Cris grinned, pulling my attention away from Ket.

I nodded. "I think I'm excited. . . it's hard to tell. I spent so long not remembering who my family even was, and even though I have my memories back now, it almost doesn't seem real. It's as if I have two different lives, two different sets of memories that are fighting against each other. I'm not sure how I feel about my two lives finally coming together."

Josey had his eyebrows scrunched together. "That must feel really strange. It's kind of confusing."

"Everything is a little confusing to you, Jose," Cris quipped.

She couldn't hide a small affectionate smile, though, when she looked at his expression. I wished her and Josey would just work out their problems. They would be good together. Cris was just being a scaredy cat.

"I just. . . I'm worried that even though I remember them now, it will still feel awkward being around them. I'm worried that my home won't feel like home anymore."

We were at the ice cream shop now, and I reached for the door, but Cris stepped in front of me before I could, grabbing my arm and looking me straight in the eyes.

"Ro, they're your family. They love you, and you love them. You have the memories of almost everything you've been through with your family over the years, everything that you and your twin have shared and been through together. Even if you couldn't remember, that still wouldn't take away what you feel in your heart. You would still be excited to see them, and comforted. You wouldn't understand why you felt that way, but you would feel it. You have nothing to worry about. Be happy. You have your memories back. You have your family back. You have your life back."

I took a deep breath in. "You're right, Cris."

She grinned. "I always am. Now, let's get some ice cream."

*-*-*

"Alright, here's your stop."

Cris folded her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrow at Ket in the rearview mirror. "This is a block from my house, and two blocks from Josey's."

Ket nodded. "I know. You can both get out now. Josey will walk you home, and both of you will talk out whatever is going on between you two. Josey, you like Cris. Cris, you like Josey. Stop being so whiney."

Josey choked and began coughing while Cris's cheeks went red.

"Now, get out of my car," Ket demanded.

"Someone is being snippy tonight," Cris humphed. 

Ket simply unlocked the car doors in response, signalling the end of the conversation. Josey, who had stopped coughing but whose face was still bright red, let out a sigh, shook his head and opened the car door, stepping out into the night. Cris paused for a moment and bit her lip before slowly following. As soon as the car door was closed, Ket drove off.

"I really hope those two work it out. It's starting to piss me off. They'd be perfect together, and if Cris turns Josey down, it'll ruin him. He acts like such a ladies man, but he's really more of a lady man, because there is only one girl for him."

I paused for a moment. "That sounded a bit. . ."

"Yes," Ket cut me off. "I realized after I said it that calling Josey a "lady man" was not necessarily the best choice of words, but I stand by it."

I frowned. "What's up with you? I may not be an amazing mind reader like you, but I can tell that something is definitely wrong."

Ket glanced at the clock. It was 11:42p.m. I raised my eyebrows. We were in the ice cream shop for hours.

"I have something I have to do," he replied finally. "And I'm not sure how it's going to go."

"You have plans that start at midnight? With who? Cris and Josey both just went home," I pointed out.

"The plans are with you, if that's okay. It's almost officially your birthday."

I blinked. "Plans for my birthday? What are we doing?"

Ket pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. "Follow me and I'll show you."

We made our way into the house. When we got inside, I could see through the kitchen that Kendra and Jarod were sitting on the couch in the living room, watching a movie together. I smiled as I watched Kendra snuggle closer to Jarod.

"Come on," Ket urged, taking my hand and leading me up the stairs.

He led me into his bedroom, and sat me down on his bed.

I raised an eyebrow. "Um Ket. . . what exactly is my present?"

He sat down beside me and took my hands. "Just listen. I've always been considered popular at my school, and because of that, people believe that I therefore must be good with words. The thing is, I am good with words. . . except for when it comes to expressing myself. I find it hard to just say how I feel. You saw how I kept my feelings about my dad in for so long and took the anger out in all the wrong ways. You know that I can't just come out and tell people that I feel a certain way. I couldn't do it even if I wanted to; even if I tried. I only have one way of really expressing myself."

I frowned. "I don't really know what you're talking about. Where are you going with this?"

"I need to tell you how I feel, but there is only one way I know how," Ket answered.

He got up and made his way over to the piano bench, sitting down and taking a deep breath in before closing his eyes and resting his hands gently on the glimmering keys. After a moment, his hands began gliding across the keys, moving surely and fluidly. 

The song started out slowly and softly, before starting to grow slightly, become full and lively. Then, it took a turn. As the music began to build more, it became sad. It was almost overwhelming. His fingers flew across the keys as if he was barely even touching them, and yet a strong, haunting tune rang out from the instrument.

I was filled with sadness, longing, betrayal. I couldn't explain how it was that notes on a piano strung together into chords were making me feel so much, but they were. I wasn't even sure if this was what the song was supposed to be making me feel, but I also couldn't dispel the emotions that were welling up inside me.

Finally, the song came to an end, slowly fading out until a few tinkering high notes ended it. It almost felt incomplete, as if I had moved too far away from the piano to be able to hear the rest.

I slowly stood up and went to join Ket at the piano bench.

"It was beautiful, and I understood the emotions, but I don't understand what you meant by them," I told him, shaking my head slightly.

Ket ran his hands through his hair and stood up. He began pacing.

"I told you, I'm not good at expressing myself verbally. I can see how confused you are, though. The tilt of your head, the biting of your lip. You didn't get it, did you? I'm scared, Ro. I am so scared. That's what I was trying to say."

I stood up but didn't try to move towards him, yet. He was still pacing frantically.

"Scared of what? What are you so afraid of, Ket?" I asked slowly.

"You!" he cried. "Don't you get it? You terrify me. I am so afraid because when you first came, I hated you, but then I discovered that I couldn't hate you anymore, and then I began to care. It was great, because even though you couldn't remember who you were, but I knew. I knew that you were the smart, beautiful, incredible girl who stood up for what she believed in even though she couldn't remember where those beliefs had come from or who she even was. I'm scared because now you have your memories back, and your family is coming home, and I'm afraid I'm going to lose you. I'm afraid that just like how when you started this new life here, you forgot your old life with your family, now that you're going back to your old life, you'll forget this new one you've formed. I'm afraid because I think I might have feelings for you, but you're leaving me!"

He practically shouted the last part. Immediately, he froze in place as it seemed to hit him that he'd actually said it allowed.

I slowly walked up to him and looked up into his eyes. He was breathing heavily and his eyes were flickering feverishly over my face. He was trying to read me.

"You're Blanket Thomas. How could I ever forget you?" I whispered. 

Then, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pushed myself up onto my toes, and I kissed him, trying to share every emotion I felt, just as he had with his song. I shared my fear for what it would be like to go back to the family I hadn't even remembered existed mere months ago, my pain at having to leave what had become a second home to me, and the small butterflies that were now fluttering through my stomach as I realized that I completely reciprocated Ket's feelings. I liked him, and it was beautiful.