It was a while before I released myself from his embrace. Alder didn't speak. He just stared at me. How long had I been crying? I felt... better. "I-I think... I needed that."

"How LONG have you been holding that in?" He asked. When I didn't answer he shifted closer. "Sully... answer me... I want to help." He turned to him.

"Nine years."

"Oh my... Sully..."

"It's fine."

"You shouldn't have kept that in. It was eating you."

"But my mother..." Alder's eyes narrowed.

"Shouldn't prevent you from missing him. Just don't show her you are." I glanced at him and straightened.

"Dinner's ready," my mother called from the kitchen and I went to the bathroom to rid the evidence I'd been crying. Alder went immediately to table. I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. Same green eyes, same pointy nose. My face was red. I wiped off the remaining tears and took a deep breath. I walked off to the kitchen and I saw Alder talking to my mother. I sat down next to him. "Oh hey Sully!" I looked away to hide my red face but Alder covered for me.

"He's just been listening to sad music," he lied. Though, the lie sounded so truthful, I would've believed it if he'd said to my face. My mother frowned.

"Is that true?" I turned to face her, letting her see my face.

"It's true," I said. "I even shed a few tears, but I'm sure you can see that." She gazed at me for a few moments before heading back to counter where I could see linguine being cooked.

"I never knew you to get so emotional over songs," My mother mused while she dished up the pasta. I turned to Alder.

"Thanks," I whispered. He smiled.

"No problem," he whispered back. My mother gave us our bowls before returning to dish herself some. I gazed down at the pasta. "This is actually really good," Alder commented.

"You are too sweet," my mother said, smiling. I also started eating it. I was used to my mother's cooking, so it didn't excite me that much.

"Thanks," Alder said. He gazed at me. "Sully, you have pasta all over your face." I smiled. "Here, let me take that off." He picked up a serviette and wiped it across my face. "There," he said smiling. After dinner, we returned to my room.

"Now, we need to sort out your sleeping arrangements. Do you mind sleeping on the floor?" I asked, guiltily. Alder looked at me.

"No, if I'm on a mattress." I nodded and walked out. I returned with a large mattress and blanket. I took one of the pillows off my bed and placed on the mattress.

"Good enough for you?"

"Yes," he replied. He got onto the mattress to see how it felt. "Soft, and comfortable."

"Great!"

"Let's sing!"

"Wait, what?"

"To get your mind off things. I'll start. You are my fire, the one desire, believe when I say, I want it that way..."

I joined in. "But we, are two worlds apart can't reach to your heart, when you say that I want it that way..."

"Tell me why, ain't nothing but a heartache, tell me why, ain't nothing but a mistake, tell me why I never wanna hear you say I want it that way," we sung in unison and I was surprised how well our voices blended. I solo'd again for the next lines.

"Am I your fire? Your one desire? Yes I know, it's too late but I want it that way." We carried on like that for a while and then we started singing something different. I completely forgot about our previous conversation in my room.