KALEY

Zack has been staying at his parents for the past two weeks. I had to swallow the knot in my throat when I said goodbye to him at the airport, but I'm sure he'll be better there. His mom got hysterical when he told her the reason he was coming home and wanted to come here immediately. She only calmed down when he reassured her that he wasn't alone and we were taking care of him. The moment he messaged me that his parents had picked him at the airport I felt I could finally relax. David has been a great support in this situation. He grounds me. Especially when I came home after spending the weekend at Zack right after his attack. I'm having trouble digesting the news of Zack's addiction. It has been going on for years and what I attributed to his personality was him being under the influence. I began research for rehab places near his parents. That's when David stopped me and made me realize that if Zack didn't accept Cam's help, he won't accept mine either. The need for change has to come from him.

David and I sit in the backyard in this beautiful Sunday where we've cleared enough plants to make space for two chairs and a small grill. He sits with a magazine in his left hand and dozes off as he reads it, half a glass of lemonade hangs from his right. An idea pops in my mind, and with some trouble, I stand up from the low Adirondack. I grab the glass about to fall from David's hand and put it on the table.

"Where are you going?" He sits up straight and rubs the sleep off his face.

"I need to make a call," I kiss his forehead and head inside.

Once sitting on the comfortable couch, I get the house phone and dial a number.

"Hello?"

"Mom, it's me."

"Kaley! How are you? I have missed hearing your voice."

"I have missed you both. Sorry for only messaging and not calling earlier. It has been pretty crazy here in the last months."

"I assumed so from the short messages. How are things going at work?"

"Better than ever. We landed a huge project with a beauty company. It's pretty much taken up our lives."

"Impressive. How are Zack and Elvam? You should bring them around soon."

"Zack is back at the old neighborhood for a while. He got attacked in his apartment about three weeks ago and didn't feel safe staying there."

"Please tell me that he's okay."

"He has a few fractures and bruises, but he told me he was feeling improvement the last time we spoke. It was a case of mixing with the wrong crowd and them assuming he had money. Elvam... I don't know what's going on with him. He seems upset all the time but brushes me off when I bring it up. I'm worried about him."

"That boy's been stuck in my heart since you brought him around for the first time. Sometimes he would go in the living room and sit next to your dad, but wouldn't start a conversation unless someone else did."

"Maybe he missed the company of a father figure. His father kicked him out of his house when we were in college and hasn't spoken to Elvam ever since."

"What a terrible situation."

I take a big breath. It's time I reveal the real reason of my call.

"Mom, I have news, big news. I have a boyfriend."

I hear a squeal at the other side of the line that makes me put the phone away from my ear while I laugh. I hear my dad in the background, then my mom mumbling something and his delighted chuckle.

"Tell me all about it!"

"You sound like a teen," I tease. "I've mentioned him before. His name is David, he manages our projects and I've known him for over two years, but only recently we discovered we have a thing for each other. We've been living together for a few months and I want you and dad to meet him. You'll like him a lot! He's so kind. If I arrange your flights, do you think you can spend the next weekend with us?"

I hear more excited mumbling between them.

"We are looking forward to it!"

"Keep an eye in your inbox and I'll see you soon. I promise we'll have a long chat then. Love you both!"

I hang up and walk outside, and this time I find David actually reading the magazine. I take it off from his hands and sit on his lap, then kiss his cheek.

"What did you do?" He smiles.

"Don't hate me. I've invited my parents to spend next weekend with us. I want them to meet you and tell them about this," I place my hand over my stomach.

David doesn't respond. He stares at nowhere in particular as he pales.

"David? Are you okay?" I stand up and hold his hand. He nods, but looks far from okay. "I will call an ambulance."

"No, I'm fine," he says in a weak but authoritative voice. "This just got me by surprise. That is all."

"I'm really sorry. I didn't want to stress you. I can cancel the plans."

"No... No... You shouldn't. They must look forward to seeing you," the color returns to his face.

"They are also looking forward to meeting you."

"What if they don't like me? What if they feel upset with me for getting you pregnant? You are still in a delicate situation."

"They don't know about my fertility problem. I didn't want them to worry about me. The last checkup went well according to Doctor Lagos. Besides, I'm 30 years old, they've been wanting a grandchild in forever!"

He chuckles and looks better, but I can't say I feel relieved. His reaction to the news wasn't normal.

"I never met the parents in my two previous relationships. I wouldn't even know what to do."

"Nothing in particular. My parents are a bit odd, but entertaining. Let them do the talk," I grin.

He stands up and places his arms around my waist.

"Well, we better get the guest room in order. I'm meeting my parents-in-law."

ZACK

Even when we disagree at times, I miss my parents, and realize how much when I spend time at home. I enjoy having deep conversations with my father while he sips on his after-dinner cognac and can't complain about my mom's constant details and care. I'm understanding my feelings towards Kaley a lot more. Since I left home to study, she's substituted my mother. What I've interpreted as romantic feelings was gratefulness for all she does for me.

I've been on the phone with Cameron and couldn't apologize enough for being a dick to him at the hospital. Seeing that counselor was confronting. I have nights when I don't know what to do with myself, that's what I told Cam. I feel as if being myself, Zachary, is boring and need those pills for my alter ego to surface. Zack is fun. Zack knows how to talk to people, how to flirt. He's admired and sought after. Cam told me to exercise, even a simple long walk would do me good on the moments when I crave a hit.

There had been plenty of moments when I have been on the brink of telling everything to my mom, but I don't go through with it. Maybe I should just do it like with a bandage, say it, cringe at the pain and get over with it. My conscience will feel a lot better when I say the full truth.

Mom comes in the living room and places a cup of coffee on the table in front of me. I give her a grateful smile as she sits on one armchair and picks up a book from the basket next to her. I had been trying hard to catch up with work and didn't realize she had placed a sandwich and cookies in front of me as well. I've packed a few pounds since I got here and they don't look bad on me.

"Mom, can we talk about what happened?" My own words surprise me. I can't go back anymore.

"Of course," she marks the book, puts it away and gives me her full attention.

My hands shake from the nerves. My mom sits on the couch next to me and holds them in hers.

"It was my fault I got robbed."

"How was it your fault?" A worried crease forms on her forehead.

"I..." My mouth has gone dry, so I take a sip of my coffee before continuing. "I've been buying pills, drugs, from a guy, and a girl saw me there. I met her at a party sometime later and invited her to my apartment. She had alerted her friends, and they appeared at my door, turned everything upside down while looking for money, and when I tried to escape, they gave me a beating. I would have been more daring, but she was pointing a gun at me the whole time."

Mom looks at me with disbelief and disappointment. My heart races. What if she kicks me out? What if my parents never speak again to me? Elvam's experience crosses my mind and I get a bitter taste of what he went through.

"Let's keep this between you and me," she pats my leg. "If your father finds out... Will you get help?"

"When I return. I'm so sorry, Mom."

"Are you going back soon?"

Mom returns to her armchair and her reaction doesn't surprise me. My parents are excellent, gave me affection and everything else I needed, but they'll never make a big deal out of stuff, good or bad, unlike Kaley's parents did.

"I have a presentation soon of what I'm working on and don't want to miss it," I say and she only nods as she picks her book up. "I'll go for a walk, then to the mall. Should be home in time for dinner."

I've made it a habit to take a walk in the afternoon to clear my head and stretch my injured muscles. Exercising has never been my strength, but I admit that sitting inside all day doesn't make me feel better either.

As I'm reaching the corner of my street, I find a woman looking at the phone in her hand and then squinting at the street sign.

"Excuse me! Can you help me?" I hear after I've walked past her.

I turn around to see a pair of big blue eyes looking at me with hope.

"Sure. What can I help you with?"

"I just moved into the neighborhood and can't find my way back after going for a walk. Not all the streets have signs, and the idiotic app on my phone froze," she sighs.

"Where do you have to go?"

"Oak Street. I see this is Pine, but I don't know which direction to take?"

"You are quite far from Oak. I can give you directions, but I think it's more efficient if I walk there with you."

"You are not a psycho, right? I have pepper spray in my bag, and I'm not afraid to use it."

I laugh for the first time in weeks. I'm the victim of a crime and she thinks I'm a potential criminal.

"I'm not. If it makes you feel more comfortable, I will give you directions when we get close by so I don't see where you live."

"Oh, well, that sounds better."

"My name's Zack. My parents live in this street and I'm visiting," I offer a hand to her and she shakes it.

"Mila."

We begin our walk and I show her places to use as a reference in case she gets lost again. She is funny and dorky. I learn she's a kindergarten teacher, loves paper crafts and lives on chips and candy, just like me. After half an hour of walking, we reach the corner of Oak Street.

"Here is your street. It was a pleasure to meet you Mila."

"Would you like a cup of coffee? I mean real coffee, not slang for sex," she blushes.

"You are offering coffee to a potential psycho?" I tease her.

"Only if you promise you are not one," she laughs.

I follow her to her home, two houses from the corner. Most of her stuff is still in moving boxes. I wait in the hallway for her to direct me somewhere. Instead, she takes my hand and pulls me into the kitchen.

"I had to vacate my apartment so fast that I didn't have a packing system. No way I would live with that mice infestation. Now I don't know where anything is anymore, but I found my coffee maker and the coffee this morning. Now I need to find the mugs," she searches through a few boxes.

"Maybe that one?" I point to a box labeled Dinnerware.

"What is most likely the only box I labeled," she laughs. "Hopefully I'll be able to sort them soon."

She prepares the coffee while I take a look around the living room. Piles of crayon drawings, a few toilet paper rolls decorated with glitter, and macaroni art covers her coffee table. When she walks in with the mugs, something calls my attention. I reach to her face to pick the little blue sequin glued to her cheek. Her eyes close at my touch and her lips part slightly, and I kiss her.