"It's you," I sob, wrapping my legs around Chase's waist. "It's really you! I thought I lost you! Why did you- how did you-" "I got your message," he whispers into my hair. "I couldn't just leave all of you broken and miserable. I...I'm so sorry for leaving you." I suddenly start to feel guilty about my situation with Oliver and what we did. "I kissed him," I blurt out. Chase rubs my back, "What?" "I kissed someone else," I sob. "I kissed Oliver! Well, to be honest, he kissed me. But...but I kissed him back! I'm so sorry! I was just confused and-" "It's okay," Chase whispers, stroking my hair. "It's okay. He helped you. I deserved it. You did nothing wrong." I just keep sobbing, "Please don't leave again! Please don't leave again! Please don't-" "I'm not going anywhere, baby," Chase whispers. "I'm staying right here. Forever and always. I promise." I nod, snuggling into his chest, my sobs quieting. "I'm just curious," Chase whispers. "What exactly happened when I was gone?" And so, I tell him everything as he carries me in his arms back to the house, and I don't leave out a single detail. Everyone rejoices when Chase and I arrive, and Chase apologizes tremendously and explains that he has tried his best to get his Commando App under control. Oliver, however, seems a little bitter about Chase's return, and I get the feeling that he's a tad jealous. A few hours after sitting with the family, Chase comes to my room and we chat for a little while. "How are you feeling," he asks me as I lie down on my bed. "Great, now that you're here," I reply, honestly. "I missed you a lot." He sighs sadly, "I missed you, too." He walks over to my bed and sits down beside me. And the next thing I know, he's crying. I sit up and stare at his tear-stained face. "Chase," I ask, softly. "What's wrong?" "I'm sorry," he cries. "I'm so sorry. I can't believe that I just...left you like that. I really am a monster." "Chase, don't say that," I say, cupping his face in my hands. "That kind of thinking is what caused you to leave in the first place." I rub his tears away with my thumbs. "You have to stop looking at yourself as if you're not allowed to get hurt," I whisper. "You can't protect me all the time. You're not Superman." He blinks and more tears run down his cheeks. "I'm sorry," he says again. "I love you." I stare deep into his eyes and soon find myself gazing at his lips. I can't take it anymore. I lean forward and smash my lips against his, running my fingers through his hair. I can tell that I've taken him by surprise because he gives a slight gasp when our lips part for a moment. Then he leans forward and deepens the kiss, wrapping his arms around my waist.

  I can hardly breath, but I don't want to stop, and frankly, neither does Chase. I can tell that he's doing his best to keep his Commando App under control, but I'm probably making it hard for him to do so. He suddenly stops kissing me. I open my eyes and see him looking down with his eyes closed, a pained expression on his face. I lean forward again, preparing to kiss him, but I'm trying to take it slow so I don't screw things up. I rest my forehead against his. His breathing is heavy. I can tell that he's scared. "It's okay," I whisper against his lips. "Don't be afraid." "I don't wanna hurt you," he breathes. "You won't," I say. "How do you know that," he asks me. "I already hurt you once before. If I hurt you again-" "You won't," I say, before he can finish his sentence. I climb into his lap and continue kissing him. The longer the kiss lasts, the more excited we both become. I grip the collar of his shirt and deepen the kiss even more. Soon, I find myself getting lost in the kiss. Luckily, before we can take it any further, we hear the door open and what sounds like the shriek of a scared little girl. Chase and I gasp and turn our heads to see Leo standing in my doorway, looking like he just saw a ghost. Chase blushes and buries his face in my neck, embarrassed. I just laugh and stroke Chase's hair. I can't help myself. "What are you doing in here," Leo screams. I chuckle nervously, "Uh...we are...enjoying our time together now that we've been reunited." "By eating each others faces off," Leo screeches. "We are not eating each others faces off," I say, defensively. "We're kissing! There's a difference." Leo cringes. "Well, try telling that to this poor, damaged little boy," he cries. "I am damaged, I tell you! Damaged!" I scoff and look at Chase to see his reaction. His face is still hidden in my neck and his ears have turned a bright shade of red. I can tell that he's still really embarrassed. I chuckle and pat his head. "Don't you have anything better to do than stick your nose in other people's business," I ask Leo. "Well, excuse me if I can't walk into a room in my own house without being worried that I'm gonna walk in on two lovebirds sucking face," he says, sarcastically. "Leo, this is my room," I say. "If you don't want to be damaged anymore, then I suggest you knock before entering next time." He nods, "Noted." I laugh and hop out of Chase's lap. I open my arms out to Leo. "Come here, ya little rascal," I say, playfully. He scoffs, "Really?" "Yes, really," I say. "I wanna give my brotherly best friend a hug! What's the matter with that?" "All right, if you insist," Leo jokes. He hops into the bed and sandwiches himself in between Chase and I, and we engulf him in a tight hug.

  "Leo, get in here and help me get dinner ready," Tasha yells from the kitchen. Leo groans, "Well, I guess I gotta go." We let go off him and he gets up. "I'll see you guys later," he says. He smiles and starts to walk away. "Wait," I call after him. He turns around. "I'll help you out with the dishes if you want me to," I offer. "Me, too," Chase adds. "Oh no, that's okay," Leo says. "You don't have to-" "Oh, I insist," I say, getting up. "Yeah, I honestly don't mind helping out," Chase says, getting up with me and intertwining our fingers. "Well, thanks," Leo says, cheerfully. "I appreciate that." "No problem," Chase and I say in unison. We walk hand in hand as we follow Leo into the kitchen. "Hey, look," Bree says, pointing at Chase and I. "It's Romeo and Juliet. I'm surprised you two haven't suffocated each other yet. How long can you two hold your breath for?" Chase and I glare at her playfully and she giggles. Chase goes to help Leo with the dishes while I decide to go help Tasha. "Hey, Auntie," I say, walking over to Tasha, who is wiping the kitchen counter. "Want some help? I could sweep or something if you want me to." Tasha sighs and kisses me on the forehead. "Be blessed, child," she says. "I would love some help. Thank you so much for asking." I smile and give her a hug. She hugs me back. "Actually, if you could sweep, that would be a huge help," she says. "No problem," I say, cheerfully.

  After helping Auntie Tasha clean the house, Chase, Leo, and I, go sit in the living room with the rest of the family and Auntie Tasha puts on a movie. It's a romantic comedy called While You Were Sleeping, one of my all-time favorites. Once the movie starts and everyone is settled, Chase puts his arm around me and I rest my head on his chest. I hear someone give an angry 'humph,' and I look over to Oliver and see him glaring at us. I do my best to ignore him, but it's getting kind of difficult. Skylar rests her head on Oliver 's shoulder, trying desperately to get his attention, but he won't give her the time of day, which, according to Kaz, is quite unusual. Halfway through the movie, I hear light snoring. I look up at Chase and realize that he's fallen asleep. I chuckle and continue watching the movie. Suddenly, my whole head starts throbbing and I let out an ear-splitting shriek, pressing my hands tightly against my head. Everyone gathers around me, panicking, and Chase tightens his arms around me. "Lyrica, are you okay," Ash asks, worried. I can't answer because I'm still screaming. "There is no escaping me," says an eerily recognizable voice. It's Tanya. "You and your loved ones are fools," she says. "I didn't have to locate you. I just had to get inside your head." The throbbing gets worse and I scream louder. There is a flash. And it's over. I open my eyes and see everyone looking at me, their faces full of worry. Chase is stroking my hair and kissing my temple gently. I bury my face in his chest and cry. "Are you okay," he whispers into my hair. "I don't know," I reply, breathlessly. "Lyrica, what happened," Bree asks, rubbing my back. "Tanya," I gasp. "Tanya happened." "Your sister," Uncle Donny yells at Auntie Tasha. "Again!? Okay, you are done complaining about my brother!" "Hey," Daddy Douglas says, frustrated. Tasha rolls her eyes. She sits down next to me. "Well, sweetie, what do you mean 'Tanya happened'," she asks. After catching my breath, I reply, "She was talking to me. I heard her voice inside my head. Her exact words were, 'There is no escaping me. You and your loved ones are fools. I didn't have to locate you. I just had to get inside your head.'"

  Auntie Tasha sighs, "I'm so sorry. I feel terrible that my own sister is causing you-" She gestures toward everyone, "All of you-so much pain." "I-it's okay...T-Tasha," I say, still shocked from my recent episode. "It's n-not y-your...f-fault." Tasha, it seems, is on the verge of tears. "We have to put an end to this once and for all," she says, shakily. "No, please," I beg. "Not right now. I'm too shaken up and...and I just wanna relax for a little while. I'll be okay. Just...don't worry." "Oh, honey," Auntie Tasha says, sadly. "It's okay, Auntie," I whisper, as Chase strokes my hair. "I'll be okay. Can we just...can we just finish watching the movie please?" Everyone looks at me with sympathy and gives each other worried looks. "Okay," Uncle Donny says, softly. "Yeah. Yeah, let's finish watching the movie." By the end of the movie, I start to feel sick and Chase carries me into my room and lays me down. "Get some rest," he says, kissing my forehead. "You'll be better soon." I smile at him. He gets up and starts to walk out the room. All of a sudden, when he starts to leave, I get really nervous. "Chase," I say. He stops in his tracks and turns around, "Yes?" "Can you stay," I ask, gently. His eyes show sadness and love. "Yeah," he says. "Yeah, of course." I make room for him in my bed and he climbs in next to me, wrapping his arms tightly around me. I feel myself relax and sink into his touch. "Oliver doesn't seem to like me very much," Chase says, suddenly. I start to feel nervous again. "Oh, that's nonsense," I say, lying to Chase and myself. "You two are gonna be great friends." Chase chuckles, "I hope so. Oliver really cares about you. I can tell. I've seen the way he...looks at you. Sometimes he looks at you the way I look at you. Like you're the only thing that's keeping him alive and breathing. Like he can't live without you." "We only just met," I say. "It's you I'm in love with, Chase." He chuckles, "I know. You care about him though. I know you do. Don't let me get in the way of you being with Oliver." "I wanna be with you, Chase," I say, but if I'm being honest, I'm starting to second-guess that statement now. He looks down at me and smiles softly. "I want you to be happy, Lyrica," he says. "That's all that matters to me." "Chase," I whisper. "I don't know what to say." "Don't say anything," he says. "Just...just stay with me. Right here. Right now. And we can...figure everything out tomorrow. Okay?" I snuggle into his chest and whisper, "That would be wonderful." As I fall asleep in Chase's arms, my head is full of thoughts. I'm not sure of anything right now, except for the fact that nothing is the same anymore.