After school that day, Aimee followed me back home to make up for the missed practice session.

When she saw my house, her eyes widened. "Whoa, this place is huge!"

I shrugged, although I felt pleased inside. "It's okay."

After Tony parked in the garage, we got down.

I savored the look of amazement on Aimee's face as she admired the array of expensive cars. "Damn, try not to look so surprised!"

She stuttered, "Do- do y'all even drive all these?"

I shook my head. "Hardly. Most of these belong to Max-he's kinda a car nut. Now come on, let's go in. This isn't a house tour."

. . .

Pierre was the first person I saw when we walked in.

He nodded at me. "Good afternoon, Angelo."

"Good afternoon, Pierre." Shrugging off my backpack, I dumped it on a chair at the dining table. "Is anyone else home?"

"No. Annie's out, and Max is at work. Oh," Pierre's brow furrowed, "I see you brought a friend home."

"Yes. This is Aimee Jacques. Aimee, this is Pierre."

Aimee smiled. "Good afternoon, nice to meet you."

"Uh...same." Pierre's eyes darted between Aimee and I. "So...I'd just go get lunch now."

Aimee said, "Oh, thank you for offering, but it's fine. We're not hungry."

I scoffed. "Speak for yourself."

She frowned at me. "I saw you eating during lunch today!"

"So? Doesn't mean I'm not hungry now. Have you seen the meager portion of food they serve us in that school?"

"Meager portion? What, was the rice meant to fill your plate?"

Pierre and I exchanged glances before I replied, "Is that a rhetorical question?"

Aimee laughed. "I can see why you'd say that. I mean, who wouldn't think that a full plate of rice isn't excessi-"

Her voice trailed off as she noticed the pitying glances Pierre and I were shooting her. "Wh-you both can't be serious!"

Looking at Pierre, I said, "She's a girl, so it's understandable. It's hard to find one who doesn't eat too little."

Aimee crossed her arms. "Excuse me? Us 'girls' do not eat too little! In fact, it's you guys that eat like dragons! Oh, and I know you like having proof, so I'd just like to point out the fact you ate only about three hours ago!"

"Again, that was more of a snack than actual-"

"You know what, never mind! Stuff yourself till your stomach explodes, I don't care!"

After a slight pause, I said, "You do know that's not possible-"

"Just tell me what I'm meant to do while you're eating!"

I smirked. "Why are you asking? Just stare at me, like you usually do."

Aimee groaned. "Angelo!"

"Alright, fine. I guess you can explore the house. Just don't enter the first three doors you'll see when you get to the second floor."

Crossing her arms, Aimee rolled her eyes. "Wow, exploring your house, I'm pissing myself from excitement."

I turned around, walking to the kitchen. "You didn't sound so sarcastic when you were salivating in the garage. Besides, I have an outdoor and indoor cinema alongside a snack room, so I'm sure you'll find something."

. . .

Before I finished my lunch, Aimee walked back into the dining room. Grinning, she said, So, I think I just found an old friend of yours."

Sighing, I looked up from my phone. "Really, were you thinking about me so much that-"

I froze when I saw what she held in her hands. He might have been missing an arm, but there was no way I wouldn't have been able to recognize him. After all, he'd been my companion on the many adventures I'd taken as a child.

Jungle Buddy.

My stomach lurched as I got up and walked over to Aimee. Nostalgia stirred in my guts. I took him from Aimee, tracing my hands over his features. "Wh-where did you find him?"

Aimee chuckled. "Okay, this has to be the cutest moment I've ever experienced with you."

My face warmed as I glared at her. "Shut up!"

Still grinning, she replied, "Aww, it's nothing to be ashamed of! Anyways, in answer to your question, I'll show you."

I nodded, albeit having a strong feeling I already knew the answer.

. . .

"Here, that's where I got it from."

I was right. Aimee had picked him up from the one place in the house I hadn't dared enter in years.

My parent's bedroom.

Everything was pretty much how I remembered it, except for the stacks of boxes that stood in the room. The large white sofa still stood on one half of the room, the large TV was mounted on the wall facing it. The large king-sized bed still had its mattress on it, albeit it being bare.

The most surprising thing about it all was the fact that the room wasn't covered in dust. In fact, it was actually pretty clean. It was also missing the musty smell I'd been expecting it to have.

Walking across the room, Aimee headed to one of the boxes and reached inside. "I picked it up from inside here. There's tons of your old stuff here as well. Old books, old cards, even..."

Aimee's voice trailed off as she righted herself, holding a picture frame.

Frowning, I walked over and peered over her shoulder. "What?"

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the picture, then I snatched it from her.

Yelping, she whirled to face me. "Hey! The word 'please' still exists, you know!"

I snarled, "Oh, it does? Well then, please mind your fucking business and stop going through my stuff!"

Aimee's mouth hung open for a few seconds, then she shouted, "What's your problem? You told me to explore the house, so I don't know why you're acting like this. What's the big deal in seeing a pic of you and-"

"The deal is, I'd appreciate it if you mind your business!"

"Fine!" Turning around, she began stomping out of the room. "I'd be in your dining room, Your Assholiness. When you're ready to stop acting like such a dick, meet me there!"

I glared at her back until it left my line of sight. Nosy bitch, I didn't mean for you to search through rooms!

I glanced at the picture again, which certainly did nothing to calm my rapidly beating heart. This fucking picture! Now she knows that...that...

I frowned. Holy shit, maybe I overreacted.

. . .

A few minutes later, I walked back into the living room, with the picture clutched in my hand. I stopped in front of Aimee, whose fingers were rapidly flying across the screen of her phone.

Still looking at her phone, she growled, "So? Are you ready?"

"Well, depends. Are you done slandering me to whoever you're talking to?"

She glared at me. "Are you done exaggerating your importance in my life?"

I winced, holding out the picture to her. "Here."

Her eyes flickered to my hand. "You're giving me the picture? Hate to break it to you, but I'd much prefer an apology right now."

I plopped down on the space next to her. "Two things. First of all, don't expect an apology from me."

"Typical," she scoffed. "Thank you, next?"

I grinned. "But, I would explain why I was so pissed about you finding this picture."

She put away her phone, focusing on me. "Good! I mean, I kinda get why you wouldn't want me to know that you and Dylan used to be friends-"

"Friends?" I shook my head, looking at the picture of Dylan and me that we'd taken together years ago. His arms were slung around my shoulders, and we both grinned at the camera. "That doesn't do the relationship we had then justice. 'Brothers' is a much better fit."