"Reese? Aren't you still tired? Maybe you shouldn't go out now."

"It's fine. I need to get out though. I'm getting bored."

"Oh, well..." Seth's mother carried Tyler between her arms as she watched Reese put on her Ugg boots beside the door. She called her to come and keep an eye on the newborn while she goes on a 'mission'. "Be back soon, okay?"

"Okay."

"Don't walk, okay? Take a cab."

"It's fine! I can walk."

"Either you take a cab either I call Seth right now!"

"Fine! Fine!" Reese chuckled a bit. She walked up to Seth's mother and kissed her son on the forehead. "I'll be back soon, Tyler, okay?"

"He's drifting into sleep quickly." Reese kissed her mother-in-law on the cheek. "I won't take long."

"I hope."

"Bye!"

"Don't run!"

"Fine!"

Reese left the house and took the first cab she encountered.

"He's growing up so quickly!" Misty giggled loudly as she brushed her finger against Tyler's cheek. He was starting to get used to her and he even smiled and giggled when she carried him or when she touched his cheek. "God bless him."

"I swear he looks exactly like Seth." Reese picked Tyler up and told Misty, "His eyes are the same color as Seth's! Both are blue!"

"Yeah, it's true!"

"Dad is saying it's his eyes but, oh well." Reese giggled to herself. "Tell me, how is school? Are you and Ash doing well?"

"Oh, uhm..." Misty's face expression suddenly changed. "I haven't seen him in a while."

"He has this habit of skipping Monday and Tuesday."

"No, uhm..." Misty shook her head. "He hasn't come to school in, like... fifteen days or so? Even more..."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know."

Reese frowned. "That's really weird. Mom and dad don't let him skip that many days. Is he sick?"

"I'm not sure..."

"Did you call him? Did you go to see him?"

"He doesn't answer my calls..." Misty spoke in a lower voice.

Reese reached out for the doorbell of her parents' house and rang it. She then remembered her mother has tagged along her father's last business trip. The housekeeper came once a day and it seemed like she was already gone. Reese got out her old keys and kept trying keys until she succeeded in unlocking the door. 

She looked around. "Ash?"

Silence.

"He's probably upstairs..." Reese walked up the stairs and headed instantly to her brother's bedroom. The door was locked indeed.

"Ash? It's me, Reese."

She could hear the door get unlocked. Reese turned the doorknob and got inside slowly. She then closed the door after her and stepped forward. The bed was messy and there were books thrown all over the place.

Ash was sitting down on his bed with his knees pulled up reading some sort of a novel. He looked up. "Weren't you supposed to stay home until your wound is healed?"

"Something like that." Reese walked up to the bed and sat down. "But I've heard you haven't gone to school in a while and I came to see what's going on."

"Nothing." He wasn't the lazy idiot his teachers thought he was. He liked to read books when he skipped school; any gender was fine with him. He never told anyone about it. It was his own passion so why bother other people with it.

"Really? Nothing? Really?"

Ash closed the novel and threw it across the room. He then bent down and grabbed another one from under his bed. "Yes, nothing."

Reese felt like she was sitting on something that made sounds. She got off and pulled away the covers. It was a bunch of snacks wrappers. She looked at him but he was still looking down at his book.

"What is exactly happening here?"

"Nothing." He mumbled.

"Why are you skipping school?"

"Because mom and dad are not here." He mumbled and turned the page of his book.

"Isn't that really bad? They trust you." Reese put her hair behind her ear. "I mean, I can always call one of them and tell them what's going on."

Ash shot her a glare.

"But, of course, I won't do it." Reese smiled. "But you have to tell me what's bothering you, first."

He slammed the book shut and threw it across the room. "Is there a moment of the day when you women mind your own business?"

"Probably not."

Ash smiled weakly. "Go back to your books and your baby, Reese."

"Ash." She laughed.

"I meant that it's personal and I can't tell you."

"You usually say that to Lana and Bridget, not me." Reese tilted her head with a smile. "Can we hug just like old times? I'm not sure about you but I miss it."

"Same." Reese and Ash shared a very special bond when she was still at home. He shared everything with her. The age gap is pretty important, so Ash always presumed she was his best source for advice. He really respected her and aspired to become the writer she is. She published under Seth's last name, so rare who knew she was Ash's sister, with the exception of Gary and Leaf. He'd see people read her books everywhere and it made him pretty much proud.  

She was actually the one who bought him his first book for his eighth birthday. Reese got married early back in her college days which made Ash feel left out (he wanted to break Seth's face the first months of their marriage), but she never failed to show him that she still cared. When she went on business trips with Seth, she bought him books. It was the best gift Ash could get.

Ash pulled closer and Reese wrapped her arms around him. "Is it Misty?"

"Everyone. I just don't feel like seeing any of them."

"Even Gary?"

"Believe it or not, I don't want to see him."

"Oh, well..." Reese slowly pulled away. "This is weird."

Ash shrugged. "Suddenly Misty tells Gary she likes him. It's like she was only using me to get to Gary. I thought she was different but... she did what all the girls at my school do: use me to get to Gary. Even Leaf did it before, but I don't like Leaf so she isn't important to me."

"Is this really what happened? She tried to get to Gary through you?"

"Yes."

"Because, if this is the case," Reese began. "It means she was lying to you and playing with your feelings, and that's rude and dirty. It doesn't really look like something Misty would do."

Ash let a chuckle. "You don't know. Girls at my school try everything to get to Gary."

"And now what? Are they together?"

"Of course not."

Reese blinked. "Well... are they like, you know, doing it with each or something? Why did Misty even do this if..."

"No, Gary sleeps with Leaf."

Reese gasped. "WHAT?"

Ash shrugged. "That's his own business."

"Uhm, yeah..." It was hard for Reese to believe that the little Gary Oak she used to babysit was sexually active. "And... you?"

"Why is everyone so anxious by my own sex life?"

"Just answer!" She gasped.

"No, I don't!" Ash's voice was flat. "But it's my business, okay? It's not your problem!"

"I know, I know-back to the topic, okay?" She knew sex was a very touchy subject at his age, especially that Gary was already active and he wasn't yet. "Misty told me she called you but you didn't answer her calls. Is that true?"

"Why would I answer?"

Reese gulped. "Don't you think you and her need to have a serious talk?"

"Maybe, but not now. I don't feel like talking to her."

Reese knew he was hurt, but he had to face Misty. He had to clear things up. "Can I..."

Ash watched his sister take out her phone. "Can I call her so she can come here and you two have the serious talk now?"

Ash bit his lip. He shot her a look. "If you promise not to keep your ear stuck to my bedroom door. Bridget does that."

"I will leave! How's even that?" Reese put a hand on his shoulder. "I should leave soon anyway. I promised Seth's mother to get home quickly. So?"

Ash got off his bed. "But I stink! I need to take a shower first! Don't call her now!"

Reese watched her brother look for a towel in his closet in a hysteric manner and rush to the bathroom. He closed the door and locked it.

"Okay?"