Becky's phone rang for the umpteenth time. It'd been four weeks since she'd closed the door on Kane. She had taken to leaving her phone at her unit because at the beginning he hadn't stopped contacting her, begging her to get back together. She had thought about blocking his number but she'd rather the phone calls instead of him knocking on her door.

He really was a good guy and it broke her heart to know he used ICE and pot to study. She just hoped that he'd come to his senses before it was too late and he became completely dependent on drugs.

The phone continued to ring.

Though she'd told Kane their relationship was over she just couldn't cut him off completely. She'd told him that she wanted to remain friends and he had accepted that. Even though the phone calls were regular they only physically saw each other once a week to have coffee and a chat. Becky's biggest regret was, that she'd had to stop going out with Demi because wherever Demi was, Harley was, which meant Kane was, and there was no way she was going to see him at parties or nightclubs. It'd be too hard to see him with other girls, if that was the case, and she didn't want to put herself in a vulnerable position with him, because temptation was hard to set aside as her feelings for him were too strong.

The insistent ring tone stopped just to start again.

As she thought about Kane, Becky asked herself if she'd over reacted. He insisted he only ever touched drugs when he studied and had tried to assure her that he'd never have to use them again as he'd just passed his last lot of formal exams. His finals were going to be based on his practical performance as a vet.

"No. Stop this," she said out loud. "You've been fooled before Becky Bridgestone. How many assurances did your father make and nothing ever changed?" She dug in her bag for her mobile. If it was Kane she was not going to answer it. The phone calls had to stop. The coffee meet ups had to stop.

Shuffling her hand amongst her belongings she found the phone, and then held it up in front of her. Not Kane but Linc. A huge smile spread across Becky's face. So much had happened in the last month. Breaking up with Kane, her mid-year exams, a work experience placement in a coroner's office, her job at the club, the list was endless. A pang of guilt jabbed at her gut. She'd had no time to think about Linc.

"Oh my god, hey bud, I was just thinking about you," Becky cried into the phone.

"No you weren't."

The tone in his voice had Becky pulling the receiver from the side of her head and staring at the screen. She put it to her ear again and murmured, "I'm sorry. I've been so busy but you're never far from my mind."

"I don't care anyway," Linc said. "I'm just ringing to let you know that I know."

A furrow formed on Becky's forehead. "Know what?"

"About you and Rob. Thanks for telling me."

"Oh, Linc," Becky gushed. "I'm so sorr..."

"I don't care." He cut her off. "At least not anymore. I'm ringing to say I've forgiven you. I've forgiven you both and it's taken me a month to get my head around it properly because I was really pissed off with everyone but especially you."

"Linc..."

"Don't cut me off," Linc scolded down the phone. "I have to finish saying what I need to say, and then I'll talk to you proper."

"O...kay..." Becky couldn't help but smile. Linc was really growing up. A wedge of sadness caught her because she realised she wasn't there to see it and wasn't going to have anything to do with it.

"I found out when Rob came home."

"He came home?" Becky's heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah." Linc paused, and then added, "You wouldn't know about that because you never ring."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologising, Becky." Linc let out a little chuckle, and then said, "I've already forgiven you. I just said it. Remember."

"Sor..." Becky stopped herself before the word came out. "So how was it? Like when Rob came home. Like how is he going? And you of course?"

Linc laughed again. "He's alright. At least he is now."

"What..?" Becky's breath left her. "Is he okay? Did he have an accident?"

"No. Nothing like that." Linc smirked at the air in front of him. He knew his sister well enough to know that she obviously still had some feelings for Rob. Maybe he could implement a plan to bring them back together again. He'd give it some serious thought. He said, "Anyway, I didn't ring to talk about him. I rang to say I've forgiven you for not telling me about the break up. I understand why Mum and Dad didn't tell me and seeing Rob made me understand why he didn't tell me but..." he dragged out the word. "It's taken me a month to try and understand why you didn't tell me."

"Oh... right. Well..." Becky was about to explain but Linc cut her off again.

"It doesn't matter now but you need to know that it really hurt me, Becky. You and I have been through a shit load of crap together and I know you think I didn't understand a lot of what went on with Mum and Dad." He paused and added, "Our real Mum and Dad but I know a heap more than you think."

Linc took a breath and continued, "For instance I know what Mum was planning to do to me when she took me in the car that day. I'm glad we had that accident. If she hadn't crashed I'd be wishing I was dead right now so I'm glad she died. I also know that what she did was one of the big reasons Dad was like he was. When he was off his face and you weren't around he'd say a lot of shit out loud. I know what Mum did to you when you were twelve and why she wasn't allowed near us, but I never wanted you to know that I knew." Linc sighed. "I'm sorry that Dad took it out on you mostly and I want to thank you for being there for me. For being my sister and always putting yourself between Dad and me so he'd hit you instead of me. I know you did that for me. I shoulda stepped in but I was a coward."

"No... you were only..."

A sob escaped Linc's month. He fought to hold more back and quickly cut Becky off. "So you did all this for me, Becky, and I know you didn't mean to hurt me by not telling me about you and Rob but it did hurt because you took away my only chance to be there for you, like you've always been there for me." Linc gasped to ease the pain in his chest. "I'm no longer a little kid, Becky. You don't need to protect me anymore. Not like you always have and I wanted to let you know I understand and I forgive you but now it's my turn to take care of you."

Linc stopped speaking and waited for her to answer but all he could hear was struggled breathing.

"Oh... Linc..." They were the only words Becky could get out. She fought for air, and then burst into tears.

Linc let his own tears fall and waited on the line until she grew quiet. "I love you, Becky. Please let me be there for you when you need me."

"I... I... will," Becky sobbed. "I love you and I miss you so much."

Wiping away his tears, Linc sat up straight, took a huge breath and said, "So. Do you want me to tell you about Rob?"

Becky laughed as she wiped her face. "I guess so. Not that I really care."

"Yeah... righto. Whatever you reckon, Becks," Linc guffawed, and then went on to tell her the whole story.

Aw... Linc. Now you're making me cry :(

Photo taken from PNG.com