A/N: This takes place a few days later than the last chapter.

"I'm glad that you were able to come today," The lawyer said, with fake cheeriness. "Now, we must get down to business." I knew that he would try to be polite and pleasant around me, though I knew that we were just another case.

"I will now read the Last Will and Testament of Thomas Lee Carter." He began, but then he frowned. "It...appears there is a party missing." 

"Miss Carter, do you know a Bridget O'Neal?" 

I looked at Adam, and he looked back at me. I shook my head. "No, I'm afraid I don't know her."

"Well, I will have to make contact with her immediately." He said, shutting the folder which held the will. "I'm afraid we will have to postpone the reading until Ms. O'Neal is present. We will make sure to find her as soon as we can."

We thanked him, signed a few papers, and left. When we were in the car, Adam said, "I wonder who she could be."

"I don't remember my dad talking about her." I said quietly. Just saying the word 'Dad' hurt. 

This was just the beginning of a whole lot of court dates and paperwork. There was going to be a trail against the drunk driver who hit Dad. His name was Eugene Ramone. Even though it was normally done, I didn't want to show up for his sentencing hearing. I didn't want to see him. Partially because I was angry with him, partially because I don't like seeing people punished, even if they deserve it.

Even if they killed Dad.

I'm just too empathetic. And sometimes, that isn't always the best thing. 

He hugged me without warning. I wonder if he felt the same way I did when Annmarie died. Why did both of us have to have to go through such terrible losses? 

"I wish I could do something," He said. 

"You've already done so much." I said. "I really couldn't ask for anything else."

He gave a shy smile. I liked that Adam didn't look down on me. He didn't pity me. He seemed to be the only one that didn't. I knew he cared, but it wasn't condescending. Nearly the whole town came by to (a) give their condolences, (b) bring me food, or (c) tell me how they knew my dad and how he was such a dear friend, even though I had never met those people before.

"How about we head over to your house, pack a suitcase for you, and we have a slumber party at my house?" He suggested.

"If that's what you call protecting me from grief, that sounds like a plan." I said. 

"How about we get some dinner first?" He said, taking my hand in one of his. 

"I guess."

We had to drive seven miles to get to the law firm, in a town called St. Mark. It was a lot bigger than Blue Lake, but it's still on the small side. But it had plenty of restaurants and other fun places, unlike Blue Lake.

We pulled into a Noodles and Company and parked. I offered to pay, but Adam insisted that he should. He held my hand like I was a little kid, though I know that he meant it as a reassurement. 

When we walked through the door, it was a matter of seconds before someone recognized Adam. 

"OH MY GOD!" A girl with brown hair and purple glasses screamed. She yanked her phone out of her sweatshirt pocket and leaped for joy. She looked like she was about eighteen years old, but she was as gleeful as a pre-schooler. "IT'S OWL CITY! ADAM, I LOVE YOU!"

A few people looked up. Others just continued to eat their pasta dishes, like international pop-stars walked into Noodles and Company everyday.

She ran over to us, looking at Adam like he was God. "Hi, I'm Lauren. I'm a huge fan. Can I get a picture with you?"

Adam smiled, and nodded. He looked incredibly shy all of a sudden. I offered to take the picture for her. Four pictures later, she was trying (and failing) to hide her excitement. Adam winked at her, and I could practically see her heart melt. 

"It was so nice meeting you." She said, completely mesmerized in his milky coffee-colored eyes. 

"It was nice meeting you too." He said, giving her one last smile. The girl left, practically floating. I stared at Adam like he was another person and not the one I had spent the best days of my life with.

"What is it?" He asked, smiling.

"Nothing," I said. 

A few minutes later, we were sitting at a table, eating in silence. Whenever I looked up at Adam, I had to hide my laugh. He noticed. 

"What is it?" He said, setting down his fork.

"What was with the whole-I winked and gave a flirtatious wave- thing? I've never seen you do that before."

"First of all, I only winked. I did not do a girly, flirtatious wave." He said, forking a noodle. 

"Question, Adam?"

"Yes?"

"Did I act like that when I first met you?"

"No. You were quite normal." Adam said. "Except for the part were you said: 'OMG! It's Adam Young! He's so amazing!' " He said the last part in high-pitched girly voice. 

"I did not say that," I said. "I wasn't flipping out like that."

"You're right. You weren't." He said, smiling down at his dinner. "Fans are cute though. They're so genuine."

I nodded, and took a bite of my macaroni and cheese. Adam's eyes kept wandering to the scrape on my cheek. It had started to heal, but if I touched it, it still stung.

"It's alright, Adam." I tried to reassure him. "It's not infected or anything. It's healing nice."

"I'm just concerned, Hadley." He said, laying his hand on mine for a moment. "I don't want to let anything else to happen to you."

Anything else. My heart longed for my dad to be with us. 

Sometimes, I wished that it was me in the car instead of him. I know you would disagree and say, "That's crazy, Hadley! You've got a whole life ahead of you!" But life doesn't seem to be worth living without family. Maybe if I had died, he would change and go do the things that he wanted to do. What he and Mom wanted to do.

I would never tell Adam that though. 

Once we finished, we went to the car and headed over to my house. I got in there, shoved some clothes, a hairbrush, toothbrush, etc., into my backpack, and ran back out. It was a bit hard to run in a pencil skirt and flats (Adam made me go shopping for it and get a black dress for the funeral, because I didn't own anything frilly like that.). 

Adam held my hand all the way to his house. He's the sweetest person I've ever met. I hope more people are fortunate enough to meet him when he has to leave. 

When he has to leave. I hadn't thought about that for awhile. I seemed to think that he would be mine forever. I won't have anyone when Adam leaves, except for Bridget O'Neal. Maybe she'll adopt me. She's probably a crabby old lady who owns a billion cats. I'll have no one who actually likes me.

The human mind can be the cruelest thing in the world. It's always making the world look bleak.

Once we arrived at the cabin, Adam started pulling back the covers on his bed. 

"I can take the couch, Adam." I said, stopping him.

"You're the guest, Hadley. I insist."

"You need to get some sleep tonight too. You won't be able to sleep on the couch."

After the intense stare-down we had, we ended up smiling and he said,"Fine, if you want me too."

He made a bed for me on the couch. He wanted me to feel relaxed and safe. He didn't want me thinking about my dad. I changed into a pair of pajama bottoms and a tank-top. He made popcorn and put on a scary movie that the renter left in a drawer. 

I hid behind my hands when the monster-demon thing popped out at us. I snuggled close to him and he put his arm around me. This was any female HootOwl's dream. 

I got up to fill the bowl with more popcorn, and an evil thought crossed my mind. I hid in a dark corner of the kitchen near the doorway.

"Adam, will you help me with something?" I called. 

"Just a second." I heard the ruffle of blankets and footsteps.

"What can I help you with, Had-" He began. But I cut him off by screaming and jumping out of the corner. He screamed, and nearly jumped onto the counter. 

I was laughing my head off. Adam huffed.

"That," He said, trying to hide a laugh. "Was not funny."

"You're right. It wasn't funny." I said, pretending to look crest-fallen. "It was hilarious!"

"I'm going to get you!"

"Catch me if you can, Grandpa!"

"I'm not that much older than you!"

He chased me around the piano, the coffee table, and around the kitchen once more before he caught me and pinned me to the ground by the TV. He loomed over me, and for a moment I was worried about what he was going to do, but then he started tickling me. I could barely breathe I was laughing so hard. 

Then the monster-demon-creature thing popped up on the television screen and we both screamed. We laid there laughing side by side, and I couldn't think of a better way to almost forget about my dad. 

Keyword: almost.