"Just so we don't get confused here, my dad is Joshua Poller and mum is Juno...you know? The two parents I have in this house right now, my uncle in this story is my biological dad. His name is Kenneth, go figure. The guy that murdered my mom...well he's step-dad in this whole, stupid story." I nodded, if Keelan had to clarify before he began telling this tale then I figured it was going to be one of the most confusing stories I'd ever heard.

"Oh and bio-mom is Renee, just so we're clear on that." If this wasn't such a serious thing I would have laughed at Keelan's choice of words but instead just gave a quick nod.

"So Renee and Ken had known each other for ages, like they had been best friends in high school and all that. But for some reason or another they never got together, so Ken joined the army and Renee just sort of carried on with her life. She was at university when she met step-dad and they got it on together, they ended up graduating in the same year and got married. Somewhere between getting married and my birth, Ken and Renee met up a few times and ended up bumping hip bones and out I popped. Dad said that Renee must have hoped that I looked enough like step-dad for me to pass as his. But the older I got the more I looked like Ken and dad and he figured that was the day mom was killed." I was following the story avidly, the feeling of dread wouldn't shift from the pit of my stomach. It sounded like Romeo and Juliet, two lovers that could never be together and it made me weep a little because of the tragedy that was Ken and Renee.

"Kenneth was the guy that picked me up from the home I'd been placed in, I remember him pretty well too even though I haven't seen him since he dropped me off. Dad said it was easy to love me because I looked like I could pass as his kid and mom...well she always said I was lovably mischief. I'm just kinda glad that Ken dropped me off here and didn't insist I go with him, you know? I never would have had half the life I've been able to have and I would never have met you." I felt myself blush heavily, Keelan was looking at me in the strangest way. It never made me uncomfortable whenever Keelan looked at me this way but I'd never experienced it with any other guy.

"Is Kenneth married? Why did he not want you? I feel like even if you had a really great life here with your mom and dad that you missed out on something special with Kenneth. Why didn't he want you?" It reminded me of Martin a little bit, though I was slowly realizing that Martin had really good reasons for why he never came to collect my siblings and I.

How Keelan didn't feel the same way that I did was a mystery, maybe one day he would find out or better yet he would get to meet his dad and ask him all those sorts of questions.

"He couldn't take me with him I guess, I don't know. Kenneth is coming back in a few weeks so dad said I can ask him whatever I want. He never stopped being in the army, he never gave up his career for me and I'm kinda glad about that. Could you imagine stopping someone from going for their dream job because they had to stay behind and look after you? I'd feel so much guilt over that sort of thing, so in this way I am glad." My heart broke a little for Keelan, he was glad that his dad had been selfish, he was glad that he'd missed out on something special with his dad?

I wish I could have felt some sort of joy and understanding when I'd been dealing with Martin. But I hadn't, instead I had let the negative thoughts overtake me and fester for as long as I'd been or felt abandoned. And yet, here was Keelan in the exact same situation but he had managed to find a much more positive light to shine than I'd thought was possible.

"Hey, don't look so sad Ilyse. It's good...it's all good." I was snapped out of my depressing thoughts my Keelan's hand on my cheek. I guess I was feeling and reading way WAY more into this than he was, I made a mental note to take a step back once I'd processed everything and sort of look at his life with the rose tinted glasses on.

"Sorry! I can't help it, my mind just does it without me knowing." The look Keelan was giving me had me smiling before I knew it. Obviously it was a terrible lie, one that he could see straight through.

Before Keelan or I could do anything else the door burst open and Mrs. Poller stood there looking a little stern. I tried to hide in Keelan's lap but it didn't help me much, for his part Keelan wrapped his arms around me and laughed a little as he swung the chair around so that he was facing his mom. I was a little mortified, he'd had a boner only a few moments ago and now he was turning with me in his lap to face his mom.

"Why can you two never use the front door, Ilyse you're welcome here any time. But if you're planning on sleeping over then you're sleeping in Nat's room for the night. And it's almost lights out, so shower and pajamas for the lot of you." I tried not to blush, willed my cheeks to stay the same color. But the sudden burst of heat and the smile on Keelan's face...I had failed miserably.

"Yes Mrs. Poller." I mumbled, Keelan gave me a quick peck on the cheek before I went out the door down to Nat's room. She jumped on me as soon as I was clear of her mom and began laughing like a mad woman, it was so weird because Nat did it almost every time I came over or slept over at their house.

"Oh my gosh, I thought I would have to hit Keelan over the head for being so stupid the other day. Sometimes I want to smack Cal too but he's not as oblivious as Keelan can be, also I'm super excited that you're staying over tonight...you are staying over, right? I mean, I don't want to make you feel like you have to. I just assumed you would be." I laughed as Natty pulled away from me, either she was excited or she was nervous and by the looks of things she was a bit of both as she grabbed hold of my hands and pulled me into her room.

She locked the door behind us, which I thought was a little weird and had a small moment of panic.

"I didn't want anyone barging in because...well, we kinda need to talk." I sat down, a little unsure of what Natty wanted to talk about. She was nervous but serious at the same time, she fidgeted a lot which was starting to unsettle me a bit and set panic in the pit of my stomach.

"I..uhm. God I don't know how to say this any other way but I want to do it with Cal." What? I was expecting Natty to say a lot of things but her wanting to sleep with Cal was not one of them. Considering my actions a few moments ago with Natty's brother I don't think I was in any position to go against or discourage her.

"Why?" The single word question came out a little more forceful and judgmental than I had wanted which made Natty frown a little as she went to her bed to sit down.

"I don't know, I kinda feel like it's the right time. You know? Like, I'm comfortable around Cal. He looks at me like I'm the most beautiful person he's ever seen and he's always calm and patient with me. He's also a total nerd, we talk about all sorts of books and televisions shows and we laugh and just chat and hang out. He even told me the other day that I was his best friend. Can you believe it? Me! His best friend? I don't know how Keelan is going to take that." I smiled, Natty looked genuinely worried at the thought of Keelan finding out that he was no longer Cal's best friend.

Something told me though that it wasn't that bit of news which would upset Keelan but something else completely.

"If you think it is then you're probably not ready...when you stop questioning, that's when you know. Or so I've been told! I don't know Natty, I don't know what to say." I felt my face going red again, I had promised myself that I wasn't going to lecture Natty on anything regarding the opposite sex and...well, sex.

"Oh my god! Have you and Keelan done it?!" Natty exclaimed so loudly I swear Mrs. Poller would have come barging through the door at any moment. I was mortified by the sudden question, like it being asked out loud made me feel like I had to do it now.

Clamping a hand down on Natty's mouth I shook my head. "No, we haven't done it. Can you keep your voice down? I don't want your mom or Keelan hearing anything that we're talking about! I wouldn't be able to look your mom in the eye again," Natty kept trying to talk, despite my hand covering her mouth. It was like she had gone from having a silencer on her mouth to having absolutely no censor anymore. Whatever was on her mind usually came flying out of her mouth like she was just talking about the weather.

_______________________

Two things.

I have a sequel planned for Ilyse and Keelan, which will be called 'Dust.'

And...there is some foreshadowing in this chapter.

Also, it's going to be a little longer than I anticipated (which means there's at least another 6 or so chapters left to write). But I don't want to leave too many loose ends and the ending has changed a lot, so it's added extra to the story.