When school rolled around again on Monday I went to class a little conflicted, the conversations with Laura and Martin whilst we were on the yacht left doubt in my mind. I was up most of Sunday night thinking things over, tossing and turning in bed thinking of what I was going to do and how I was going to do it.

Truth of the matter was that I was lost, completely and utterly.

I'd thought that I would go off to university to do something mundane and that I wasn't completely interested in, before settling on something I loved. But Laura had cut straight through all that with the suggestion of journalism. It was something I could do, it was something I was interested in and it was or could be fun and exciting.

"Hey Ilyse, how was your weekend? Missed you," I smiled up at Keelan as I felt his hand drape over my shoulders in that usual manner. He pulled me in to his side, I went willingly and smiled again as he planted a kiss on my forehead.

"It was a good weekend, Martin freaked out when I called him dad. I think he just likes hearing it from me so I say it as often as I can, though sometimes I do revert to Martin without realizing it. How was your weekend? Nat told me your dad is back in town...your bio-dad, did you manage to ask him the questions you'd been saving up?" I had been excited for Keelan when Nat had told me his dad was back in town for a while, she didn't tell me much more than that. But my overactive imagination had thought up all sorts of scenarios that could have happened to Keelan and his dad over the weekend.

"And of course, I missed you too. It was kinda lame that you couldn't come with us, some of the places Martin showed me were amazing! Have you ever heard of Haversham Bay? Martin has a house out there, no one lives in it but we might be going out there next summer break." I knew I was blabbering but something about the house stuck good and proper just from the glance I got over the weekend. It was weird what stuck with a person, I don't think it was the look or feel of the house that stuck in my mind but something else that I couldn't name.

"Ken and I talked a bit, we didn't really get a chance to sit down. He kinda just pulled me up when I was coming back from Cal's place, I kid you not...he was standing in the middle of the pool. So I don't know how serious a person can get when they're standing in a pool like that. He's here for a while though so I guess I've got enough time." If Keelan was excited or nervous about finally being able to talk to his dad he didn't let it be known, I couldn't tell.

"Well if you ever need me to come along for moral support just let me know. Okay? Hey, quick question...have you seen Brock around lately?" I suppose with all the unfolding drama lately we hadn't really hung out with Brock or he hadn't really thought about hanging out with us. Keelan shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, clearly he had no idea where Brock was either.

When I walked into my morning class which I usually shared with Brock I was mystified to see that he wasn't there either.

"Students, this is just a quick announcement. Brock Jammis is in hospital and will not be in school for the next few weeks, can I have a volunteer go to his classes and collect his homework and drop it off at his home?" I shot my hand up as soon as the question was asked, no one else looked like they were going to put their hand up and I was his friend.

I went around to all his classes before lunch and asked to be excused for the remainder of the afternoon as I took Brock's homework around to his house. When I knocked on the door his mom answered and no sh*t, she looked like hell.

Her cheeks were red and puffy, her eyes were about the same and she looked like she'd been crying like she'd just lost her most prize possession.

"Hello Mrs. Jammis, I was asked to bring Brock's homework around. Is he okay?" Mrs. Jammis just took the homework I held out to her and closed the door in my face, at first I thought it was a little rude but I could hear her crying hysterically behind the door.

Did this have something to do with Brock's sexuality? I had to admit, my mind did jump to that conclusion when I'd heard that he was in hospital and would be out of school for a few weeks. I mean, going from the golden boy of the school without a care in the world to someone who was treated like the worst trash in the space of a few days was probably hard to take, even Brock's parents probably took a hit. There were a lot of narrow minded idiots in this town.

Instead of going back to school I went home...home.

That word had a lot more meaning now than it did a few months ago, home was comfortable and safe. Home still involved aunt B, but she had pushed me to see her as an aunt and not as a replacement mom. She had explained a lot of things to me...the most important being that she was a VERY distant cousin to my mom, when I'd asked her why she'd taken me in she'd simply said there was no other choice. Who else would take me in? I could have been in an even worse situation than what I ended up in, but I maintained and always would that she was the reason I had turned out the way I did.

"Hello darling, what are you doing home so early? You okay?" Laura met me at the door, it caught me off guard as she looked like she was just rushing around doing something. I blinked in surprise at the sudden appearance, but frowned when Laura tried to hide whatever was behind her.

"I'm just popping out to get some things, you might as well come with me." Before I could protest Laura caught hold of my arm and dragged me with her. I was suspicious of what she hid inside but went along with her, knowing that I'd find out eventually.

Laura did all the talking while we were out...well most of it. I answered questions that she asked, asked a few short questions but otherwise kept quiet, I wanted to know what she'd just walked out of but any question that I asked relating to it she sort of brushed aside.

It turned out that the 'things' Laura needed were ordinary, every day things. Lettuce, a few light bulbs, some note paper and that was it.

When we arrived home I barged through the front door to see if I could spot whatever it was Laura had been trying to hide. "Where's the fire?" Martin asked, he had just come through into the foyer too. I assumed he was going to help Laura bring her few items inside.

I looked at Martin suspiciously but there was nothing off about him, he was as cool, calm and collected as usual.

"Nowhere, I just wanted to go and send Keelan a quick message." I lied. Seeing Martin all calm I wondered if I had been imagining things or if Brock's situation was messing with my mind or even if I'd been spot on and someone was lying.

Whatever the case I decided to put it aside until after Brock was feeling better, he wasn't answering any of my messages and my phone calls were going to voice mail. He wasn't on Facebook anymore and his other social media accounts had all been closed, it kind of cemented in my mind that he'd tried to kill himself and my heart screamed out for it to be untrue.

The guy that had helped me just as much as Keelan and Martin, the guy who wanted no praise, the one whose life had been turned upside down by one thoughtless human being...it was so unfair.

"Oh Ilyse, this came in the mail today!" I jumped in my seat and turned to glare as Martin came through my door unexpectedly.

He was holding a very official looking letter, one that had my heart skip a beat when I noticed just what kind of letter it was. It really was amazing how quickly a university could respond to applicants if they wanted to...like really crazy.

I had sent the application to Sumner University only a few months back and had totally forgotten about it but now that their response was sitting in my hand it kind of brought things back to center. School would be done with permanently at the end of the year, I'd be going into further study on something that I really wanted to do...I'd be leaving Keelan behind.

Ripping the letter open I scanned the page quickly, my brain wasn't really focusing on what the letter said but rather picking out key words.

'We would like to offer you a position in our 2017 intake...' My brain stalled, Sumner had been my first choice but I had assumed I wouldn't get in. It was even more odd that they hadn't asked for an interview of any sort.

"Wow, I got in to Sumner. Can you believe it?" Though I was excited on the inside my voice sounded a little dull and muted. What were Keelan and I going to do? I couldn't expect him to just follow me to university and I wasn't sure long distance would do either of us much good. We still hadn't spoken about it, I was sure we would soon though.

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So...yeah. Haha, this was a long time coming this update. 

It was a sort of filler chapter but there was a little plot development in there. I'm aiming to have this all wrapped up in another 9 chapters I think?