“Andy!” I called, using Stephen’s arm as we rushed into the emergency room toward Cove’s father Andrew after we had left Maddox with my parents, telling them there was an emergency for Cove.

“Cinn oh thank God,” Andrew wrapped me in a tight hug, “thank you.”

“I didn’t see what was wrong. Stevie did,” I gestured to Stephen who nodded, “Stevie this Andy, Cove’s dad and that’s Eddie, his other dad. Guys this is Stevie. Where’s Nix?”

“Talking to the doctors with Cove. Thank you. Truly,” Andrew shook Stephen’s hand as Stephen nodded, “how did you know?”

“I was in the army. We saw a lot of people get hit in the head due to explosions and things of the like. You get used to seeing the signs of damage to the brain. I realize now he managed to get up to the apartment by feel. What happened?”

“We have no idea. Ocean is here too with Roe. All I know is they were at your apartment, Cinny, and were on their way to us.”

“They must have been fighting,” I whispered, gripping Stephen’s hand tightly, “Ocean shouted everything I had… you both know my struggle with self harm and the like. I hadn’t told Stevie yet. I wasn’t ready. But Ocean effectively shouted all of it. Trying to make me feel bad and it worked. When I finally came out of my room they were gone. Nix said they were on their way to your house.”

“Ocean was ejected from the car,” Edmund wiped his face, trying to calm down, “he’s going to be fine. Just dislocated his shoulder. But we don’t know what’s happened to Cove.”

“Hyacinth?” A soft voice came from behind me and I turned my head to find Roe, “Ocean told me what he said to you. What happened. I am so sorry. You… you’re such a good person and he keeps trying to hurt you. I don’t get why but… I won’t let him keep doing that to you, okay?”

“Roe,” I whispered, letting go of Stephen and walking over to him, his emerald eyes filled with tears that he was trying to hide behind his soft honey blonde curls, “Roe please don’t hurt yourself over me. Your heart is breaking. I… I am so sorry this has been happening for almost ten years. Ocean is bad for both of us. Tell me you see that.”

“Mhm,” he nodded, gripping his sleeves, “but I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t have anyone but him. My family is gone, he pushed all my friends away.”

“Do you… want to be my friend?” I smiled and he looked up at me in shock.

Roe barely came to my chest, his frame thin like mine, but his skin was a bit darker, closer to honey like his hair and he had the same smattering of freckles across his nose as I did.

“You hate me,” he whispered again and my eye grew wide.

“No I don’t.”

“But Ocean said you did and that’s why you never… oh… you… I knew how you felt for him back then. So you were just…”

“I was jealous,” I nodded, “but I’m not anymore. There’s nothing that Ocean could do to me anymore. I’m past him. I want to be his friend again but he’s making it really hard. But we could be friends. I’d love to get to know you for real, Roe.”

“Okay,” Roe finally smiled, “then um… can we start over?”

“Mhm,” I nodded and he held his hand out, letting me shake it, “it’s nice to meet you. Im Hyacinth Williams.”

“Robert West. Just call me Roe.”

“Roe,” I pulled him over, coming to a stop next to Stephen, “this is my friend and possible partner? Guy I’m dating? It’s weird. Anyway this is Stevie O’Ryan. Stevie, this is Roe.”

“It’s nice to talk to you finally,” Stephen laughed, shaking Roe’s hand as well.

“Roe,” Andrew sighed, “do you know what happened?”

“What they didn’t tell you?” Roe gasped, “Ocean grabbed the steering wheel. He got mad at Cove for banning him from showing up at Hyacinth’s apartment and they hit a tree. Cove hit his head on the steering wheel and Ocean got thrown out. Before Ocean could do anything, Cove pulled away as if nothing happened and started back toward the apartment. He figured that Cove was ditching him so he called me to pick him up and bring him here. Didn’t realize Cove was hurt. Is he okay?”

“We have no idea.”

“Dad!” Phoenix came running out and Andrew immediately rushed over, “come on. Cove needs you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I just… come on!”

They disappeared, Edmund chasing after and the rest of us stood there confused, looking at each other. Roe sighed softly, hanging his head and I softly touched his hair.

“I should go back to Ocean. Take him to his parents and find somewhere to sleep.”

“Wait, you're not staying with them?” I looked at him surprised and he shook his head.

“I broke off our engagement. So he threw me out of his parents house and I don’t want to be there with him.”

Chewing my lip, I took a small breath and smiled, “do you have your things?”

“I only have one suitcase.”

“Is it in your car?”

“Mhm.”

“Okay… um get it and put… Stevie?”

"Go ahead," Stephen rubbed my upper back and I leaned against him.

“Get your stuff and put it in Stevie’s car. The apartment is small but I have room for you. You can stay with me for now. I don’t think Nix and Cove will be home for a while. So… you can take my bed and I’ll sleep on my couch until we figure something better out.”

“Really?” Roe looked at me in shock and I smiled, pushing one of his curls away with a nod, “th… thank you, Hyacinth. I… I’m sorry we never…”

“Stop it. We can be friends now. Go on. Take Ocean back to his parents. Mine live next door. If you’re scared to leave the house because of Ocean, tell me. My father Thomas will be happy to stand there and watch Ocean leave your car so he knows you’re okay.”

“P… please.”

“Well now hang on,” Stephen shook his head, “we have to go over there too. Max is with them. So. Let’s follow them, I’ll wait with Roe and you can go get Max for me from them. Then I’ll take us all back to your apartment. It’ll be fine. Roe, are you actually worried for your safety? Has Ocean ever hurt you?”

“Not physically… no. But mentally. Quite a bit. He’s manipulative.”

“Stephen and I will be sitting right there. Ocean only scared me once but he wasn’t trying to. He’s also hurt so I don’t think he’ll try much of anything. I’ll send a text to Andy and let him know Ocean is there. Everything is going to be fine, Roe. I swear it.”

“I trust you,” he smiled and turned on his heel, heading into one of the exam rooms.

“Am I doing the right thing?” I whispered and Stephen wrapped me in his arms.

“Does it feel like you are?”

“Mhm.”

“Then you are. Come on, Cove is safe with everyone. Let’s go get Max and head to your apartment.”

“Deal.”

After picking up a very sleepy Maddox and watching as Roe helped Ocean into his parents house, followed by grabbing Roe’s bag, I laughed gently when he stared into the backseat of Stephen’s car.

“There is a small human back here,” Roe pointed.

“He’s my small human. Maddox,” Stephen laughed, “why are you leaving your car?”

“It’s not mine. It’s Ocean’s,” Roe climbed in next to Maddox, staring at him, “this is not your child.”

“He’s legally my child. But biologically my nephew. I adopted him.”

“Got it,” Roe smiled, resting his chin on the back of my seat, “hey Hyacinth?”

“Hm?” I looked at him over my shoulder.

“When did you start talking to people?”

“About 4 years ago.”

“So when we graduated?”

“Mhm.”

“Man I wish I had known,” he huffed, flopping back, “it was so lonely walking around Melba. Ocean left me here for the first three years. Barely came to see me. We talked everyday but it wasn’t the same.”

“I probably would have avoided you to be fair. You didn’t like me, Roe.”

“No I didn’t like the way Ocean treated you as if you were better than me. He compared us a lot. Asked me why I couldn’t act like you. It never made sense to me. I didn’t want to be like you. I just wanted to be your friend.”

“Well Ocean ruined all that when he kissed me without asking.”

“Huh? When!” Roe shot forward again and I continued looking at him surprised as Stephen reached my apartment.

“When we were 16. That Christmas. He asked me if he could use my parents den to fool around with you and I was pissed off since he’d stolen my notebook. I told him if he brought it back, he could use the house since my parents were taking Phoenix out of town. He asked me if we could hang out after and I told him no because I didn’t want to hear details about you… sucking him off. Anyway, he found me at the park punching a tree because I was pissed. Grabbed me to make me stop and I swung on instinct. It’s how I was back then. I shattered his eye socket before running home. He chased me and coaxed me into letting him clean my hands. When Ocean was done, he told me I was being blind and naive. That I was ruining everything by not paying attention and he… kissed me. It was my first and well… my only kiss. So I slapped him across the face and told him to never talk to me again. He held to that for a long time until our parents forced us to talk it out and we became friendly again. Then he was gone to Scotland.”

“But… but I remember that night. I wanted to spend it with him because my parents were fighting and I was too scared to be home. He told me he was too busy…” Roe hung his head and I looked at Stephen, my heart dropping.

“But he absolutely brought someone to my house.”

“How do you know that?”

“I found boxers that wouldn’t fit any of us. I’m a large because I’m so tall. Ocean and Cove are an extra large. These were a small. So, I assumed they were yours because you’re… well shorter than all of us.”

“I’m five foot seven,” he grumbled, “so even back then… Ocean was cheating… huh. That doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Abba?” Maddox babbled, interrupting the conversation.

“What’s wrong, Maxy?” I poked his nose and he yawned, “oh… Stevie he’s so tired.”

“I know. Why don’t we just head upstairs. I’m not ready to go home yet,” Stephen squeezed my thigh and I nodded.

We headed upstairs and I had Roe leave his things in my bedroom before we settled around the living room, Maddox sleeping in the travel bed that Stephen had brought over a few days ago.

“So,” I patted my legs, “this is weird.”

“Little bit,” Roe laughed, “Ocean is pissed. I guarantee he’ll come over here.”

“He doesn’t scare me and I promise to keep you safe, Roe. Just… promise me you won’t go back.”

“Only if you promise me you won’t go after Ocean now that we’re over.”

“I swear,” I smiled, leaning against Stephen who wrapped his arm around my waist, “I don’t need that.”

“Yeah I can see that,” Roe snorted, “lucky you, Stevie.”

“What do you mean?” Stephen tilted his head at the same time I did.

“Hyacinth, do you not realize how much people in town talk about you? You’re famous and still live in Melba. You’re beautiful and considered unobtainable. Everyone had a crush on you in high school. But no one could get close but Jenna and you weren’t interested in her. It was a… competition no one ever won. I’m sure you realized how much people stared.”

“Well I just… thought it’s because of my eye and hair,” I chewed my lip, staring at Roe.

“No. Well I mean I know there are some people that stared because of that, they’re just assholes. Most people did and still do because you’re gorgeous. It’s also well known you’re a good person. I’m sure if you had made it known you were interested in finding a partner people would have scrambled for the chance.”

“Huh. I wish I could believe that. I just don’t really see what you’re talking about but thank you.”

“Oh I’m one of them. I had a crush on you in high school,” Roe laughed, “but you avoided me at all costs. Even before Ocean.”

“Did I? I’m sorry. It wasn’t personal. Mental health got in the way.”

“Mhm. I know. Ocean told me everything about you. I’m sorry I wish he hadn’t. I’d rather have learned now.”

“It’s not your fault,” I laughed softly, rubbing Stephen on his thigh, “just be my friend now.”

“Deal.”

“Hyacinth?” Stephen softly kissed my hair and I smiled up at him, “can I… talk to you for a minute?”

“I’m gonna use the bathroom,” Roe jumped up, running down the hallway, “oh I found it. Good.”

“What’s up?” I poked Stephen’s nose and he took my hand, lacing his fingers with mine.

“I don’t like this,” he whispered, “I don’t like Roe being here. It… it’s making me nervous.”

“But why?”

“He had a crush on you. Feelings. It… what if…”

“I’m not interested in him. He’s cute. Really fucking cute but… but I wouldn’t want to be with him. Not after he was with Ocean. I simply want to be his friend. It’s clear he’s alone in the world. But he doesn’t have to be.”

“Are you going to keep collecting stray humans?” He finally smiled.

“Apparently. I collected you after all.”

“That you did,” he cupped my chin gently and my eyes fluttered closed, the soft rubbing against my jaw wonderful.

“Fuck,” he whispered and I opened my eye, “you… are so beautiful.”

“Stevie?”

He slowly licked his lips and I followed his tongue, “sorry…”

“Oh my god kiss them,” Roe grumbled before the bathroom door closed again and I started laughing quietly.

“Can I?” Stephen swallowed thickly, “can I kiss you?”

I nodded slowly and Stephen leaned in, his lips gently pressing to mine. There was a small amount of warmth, a tingle and then nothing.

This isn’t what I expected.

What the fuck!

I’m attracted to you so why…

“Oh,” Stephen pulled back, a strange expression on his face, “I…”

“That was… weird. Why was it weird?”

“I don’t know but I’m glad you thought it was too. Hang on.”

Stephen kissed me again and there was nothing there. No sparks, no butterflies or panic. It was almost as if I was greeting him the same way I did Jenna.

“We aren’t compatible?” I whispered, “that’s what it is. Everything has been a whirlwind between us. But I don’t want you to leave my life. I adore Maddox. I’m so…”

“We can be friends and not date,” Stephen laughed softly, “I don’t want to go anywhere either. I like being around you. I enjoy our time together. So instead of dating, let’s just be best friends. I’m okay with that. It doesn’t hurt. It’s nice to know this now. Not when we decide to be partners and suddenly it doesn’t work because there’s no… electricity between us. You’re beautiful, don't misunderstand that. I quite like you. But that pull isn’t there for me.”

“Me either. Thank you, Stevie,” I hugged him tightly and he squeezed me back, “for understanding.”

“Well it’d be stupid if I didn’t because we’re the same. So instead. We’ll be best friends. Nothing will change between us. We just won’t hold hands anymore.”

“Exactly.”

Roe joined us, a small smile on his face as he cuddled into the armchair, “so?”

“We’re just going to be friends. Thanks for the push to get us to kiss,” I snorted, “it’s been a weird day.”

“Yeah I need to get sleep,” Stephen yawned, “I should take Max home I have to be at my salon first thing in the morning then he has a doctors appointment. I’ll call you?”

“Absolutely. We promised nothing would change. So it better not or I’ll kick you.”

“Fine,” Stephen laughed and hugged me again before picking up Maddox and leaving with a wave.

“I’m gonna sleep. There’s blankets for you over on the other couch, get some food or whatever you want. I’ll be in my room,” I smiled at Roe as I jumped up and he nodded.

“Thank you… for this.”

“You’re very welcome.”

It’s nice to have these answers.

I’m glad I didn’t put everything into Stevie.

I’m glad we’ll still be friends.