The light took me to a glittering house. There wasn't any warmth. Just icy coldness. Like the cooler. Not like the Curtis' house, where it was always welcoming.

I pounded my fist against the door. A man with the same silvery blue eyes as Linh and Tam opened the door. Only his had none of the warmth.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Your worst enemy." I growled.

"Quan, who's there?" I heard a woman's voice float to him.

"I don't know, Mai." he called back.

"Why the hell would you pick your stupid reputation over your kids?" I shouted, "You're no better than a Soc, man!" I was beyond angry at him.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Trying to play the innocent card, are you? Well, it ain't gonna work, man." I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "You messed up your kids, I'll mess up you."

"Now, I'm sure there must be a misunderstanding." he said, trying to pave the road to my good side. Too bad. It's barricaded heavier than you could imagine.

"No way in hell is this a misunderstanding!" I screamed, throwing a punch directly into his face. There was a satisfying crunch as blood started gushing from his broken nose.

"What was that for?" he asked, holding his nose.

"So you could be ready for this, man." I punched him in the gut, wanting him to pay for all the pain he's cause Linh. Tam? Couldn't care less about him. But Linh's my world. I wanted to kill anyone who hurt her.

"Please." he begged, "Stop. Please." He was pathetic, curled up into a ball. He wasn't gonna last much longer. I wanted to kill him, but I knew that Linh would be horrified with me. No matter how much he deserved it. She's too good. You gotta get rid of whoever hurts you, or risk getting hurt again, and again, and again.

"Fine. But only because of Linh." I growled. I kicked him one last time, before stalking into their house. I knew that most houses had that crystal thing. That's what Linh told me. I needed to get back to her. At Havenfield.

"The Leapmaster is over there." A slender woman pointed down a hall. That's what Linh had called the crystal thing. A Leapmaster.

I made a noncommittal grunting noise, walking towards the Leapmaster. There were thousands of crystals, suspended in the air.

"Havenfield!" I shouted. The crystals rotated, and one lowered. I stepped into the light, and concentrated on myself.

"Dally!" Tess shouted, "You're back!"

"Yeah." I said, "So?" I cocked my eyebrow.

"I wasn't sure if you'd come back. Not without murdering someone." Tess said.

"Well, I didn't. Happy, man?"

"Yes. Very." Tess grinned.

"Linh's in the kitchen." Johnny said, "Glad you're back, Dal. No time in the cooler." He grinned. God, he's just like the little brother I never had.

"Yeah, Johnnycakes." I said, grinning back at him.

"So he can make ya smile, but I can't?" Maria said, glaring at me. The glare wasn't super intense, though. It was more playful.

"Maria!" I said, "That ain't true, man!"

"I know. Chill, Dal. I was joking." Maria smirked, happy she'd gotten the best of me.

I grinned at her, and walked into the kitchen. My mood instantly dropped. Soda was reaching for a piece of mallowmelt, while Linh smiled.

"Savvy. Thanks." Soda flashed a smile at Linh. Not just any smile. The one he uses when he's flirting. He knows Linh's my girl. He can't flirt with her. It just ain't done. I could feel my heart shattering. I knew Linh was too good for me. Too good to be true. I still fell for her.

"What the hell are you doing?" I shouted. I wanted to cover up my broken heart with anger. Bury it in anger. Let it smolder and burn, until it really is anger.

"Dallas!" Linh said. Her smile brightened, but I wasn't gonna let myself get fooled. Not again. Not ever. "It's not like that." she whispered, "I've only fallen for you. Only you." I wasn't gonna get fooled.

"Yeah, right." I scoffed. I turned to Soda. "Honestly, I never thought it would be you. Steve or Two? Yeah, I'd expect this outta them."

"Dal, it ain't like that." Soda said, "She's like a sister to me."

"Just get out." I growled.

"It ain't fair to break Linh's heart, 'cause of a misunderstanding." Soda said.

"It ain't right for ya to try to steal my girl!" I shouted. I was shattering more and more.

"Dallas, it wasn't like that! I love you!" Linh shouted, tears streaming down her face. The emotions on her face were too raw to be faked. I stopped, ashamed of myself.

"Linh..." I whispered.

"Only you." she said softly, "Only you." I could feel my shattered heart knitting itself back together.

"I'm an ass." I muttered.

"Hell, yeah." Soda muttered, "You're a huge ass." I really deserved that.

"Dallas," Linh whispered, "I love you. So much." I pulled her close, kissing her like my life depended on it. Hell, it just might depend on her. Her hands cupped my face, bringing me even closer.

My hands moved to her waist. "Linh." I breathed, wanting this moment to last forever. Linh's making me soft, but I don't care. I love her so much. I don't care if I'm soft. Not if it's because of her.

"Dallas." she whispered my name, full of love.

"I love you." I whispered, "I love you." I wanted her to feel it just as much as I did. The way the love fueled your blood. The way it gave you energy and hope. More than I've ever felt. Ever. It was like being drunk, but better. Way better. No hangover afterwards, either.

"I know." she whispered, "I know."

"Get a room!" Two shouted, causing us to jump apart. "My poor eyes! And all I wanted was a piece of mallowmelt!"

"Shut up, Keith." I growled, "Or I'll knock your lights out."

"Dallas, calm down." Linh whispered.

"But-"

"Dallas." Linh's voice was insistent. "You don't want to hurt your family."

I took a deep breath, and the anger cleared.

"Dallas Winston. Get away from my sister." Tam growled. The shadows were swirling.

"Tam-" Linh said.

"Linh! Stay out of this!" Tam shouted, "This isn't about you."

"Yes, it is!" Linh shouted, "Tam, I love him, so you need to stay out of it. It's my life."

"But you're my twin." Tam growled.

"And I love him." Linh said, "Either accept it, or get out of my life. It's your choice."

"Linh-"

"Choose." Linh said. Her eyes pierced Tam's, searching for her answer. I didn't like Tam, but I wanted him to accept us. For Linh. If he refused, she would shatter. I don't know if I'd be able to pick up the pieces and put her back together. I felt a cold whisper through my mind. It felt like a shadowvapor reading, that thing Tam did before, but it probably was just my imagination.

"I choose you." Tam said, "I'll accept it, but I don't want to have to watch you kiss all the time."

"Okay." Linh said.

"But-" I said.

"Dallas." Linh placed her head against my shoulder. "You'll be fine."

"Nobody's ever died from not getting a kiss." Tam said dryly.

"There's a first time for everything." I said.

"I doubt that there will be a first time for that." Tam rolled his eyes.

"Tam. Just stop." Linh's voice was dead serious. No room to argue.

"Fine." Tam said.