My eyes snapped open as loud banging sounded from downstairs.
I lay unmoving, checking to see if it was just my imagination, but after hearing it once more, I climbed out of bed. Grabbing a jacket off the floor, I slipped it on and zipped it up. Letting my paranoia overwhelm me, I twisted the charm on my bracelet. I gripped my bronze trident with one hand and slowly tiptoed into the hallway, creeping down wooden stairs and toward the noise.
I heard it again coming from the front of the house, and the closer I got, the harder the pounding became. Peeking out the window, I saw two shadows standing outside of my door. Tightly gripping my trident in front of me, I unlocked the door. After counting to three, I swung open the door and pointed my weapon toward the beings outside.
"Whoa!" Kyle threw his hands up, surrendering.
"What are you doing?" Dylan yelled.
I stared at them as they stood in the pouring rain. Kyle's clean white T-shirt and jeans were soaked, and the rain flowed down his favorite black leather jacket. His charcoal hair was drenched and stuck flat against his head.
Dylan's soaked navy-blue jacket and jeans clung to his skin, and his drenched brown hair hung over his eyes. "Aren't you going to let us in?" Dylan asked.
Suddenly lowering my weapon, I nodded. "Yeah, sorry." I moved out of the doorway and let them walk through, before shutting the door behind them. "What's up?"
"I have some things to say..." Dylan said.
"Yeah, and he couldn't mention anything until the three of us were together," Kyle chuckled, throwing an arm around my shoulder.
The son of Zeus walked across the room and sat on the couch, clasping his hands in front of him and taking a deep breath. Kyle and I watched him, eagerly waiting for his words to be spoken. "I'm sorry," he confessed. "For everything." He searched our eyes, begging for forgiveness.
"Dylan..." Kyle started.
"Let me finish," Dylan interrupted him. "Please."
Kyle bobbed his head and gestured for him to continue.
Dylan looked at me, giving me his full attention. "I'd do anything to go back in time," he spoke. "I know I treated you like garbage...and when Drake was attacking you—I wasn't thinking straight. I was frozen—in shock from Aidan—and I still am, but I didn't mean for everything to happen the way it did." He transferred his attention to Kyle. "Kyle, I'd pay any price to take back those words I spoke to you in the woods. I was in a panic and didn't think before I spoke. I think of you as more than a best friend...you're my brother. I'm sorry for treating Riley the way I did and I understand if you don't want to forgive me." He looked back to me. "When I saw you dying today, I panicked. I realized in those moments that you thought I wanted you to be gone. I realized how much of a jerk I have been lately. I saw Kyle crying and doing chest compressions...he wanted to save your life. He cared about you and I realized I hadn't acted like that toward you," he told me. "I'm truly sorry. For everything." His eyes were glassy and his hands were shaking. "Please forgive me," he begged. "Both of you."
I nodded and answered instantly. "I forgive you."
Dylan hugged me. "I'll make it up to you, I promise." After releasing me, he shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and looked at Kyle.
At first, they only stared at each other; I was afraid they weren't going to make any progress. Then, Kyle sighed and hugged him. "Dilly, you know I do. I always do."
Dylan laughed. "You called me Dilly again."
"I think it's catching on." Kyle smiled, releasing him.
Their laughs were contagious. Kyle's dark-brown eyes were cheerful and he was smiling from ear to ear. The past week he had been constantly running his fingers through his hair as stress overtook him. He was regularly worrying about something. But now things were getting better again. Terran was gone, the gods were safe, and the three of us were friends again.
Dylan's eyes were glassy, but out of happiness. He was sorry for everything he had done, looking past the death of his best friend and managing to straighten himself out. I had a good feeling he was going to start acting the same as he did when I first met him.
"What's that look for?" Dylan asked me.
I shrugged. "I'm just happy things are getting back to normal."
Kyle's laugh filled the air. "Stick with us and things will never be normal," he said, making my smile widen.
"I know it's late, but how about I make you two some dinner?" I asked for their approval.
"As great as that sounds, I have to go talk to my dad before it gets too late," Dylan told me.
"What about you?" I asked Kyle.
"I'm not hungry, but I'm up for some sweet tea."
I nodded. "Dylan, are you sure you can't stay for a little while?"
"Yeah, I have to catch my dad before he leaves," he insisted, standing from the couch. "I'll see you two in the morning."
"Bye," Kyle and I spoke in unison. Dylan told us goodbye before walking out the door.
I walked into the kitchen. "Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?"
"I'm sure." Kyle followed me in and sat on the kitchen counter. He was quiet while I gathered all the ingredients; the only sound was raindrops pounding on the rooftop. Looking down at his hands while fidgeting with his fingers, he looked like he was mentally struggling with something.
"Are you okay?" I asked, placing a pot of water on the stove to boil.
He didn't answer for a long moment. "We need to talk," he said uneasily.
I continued making the tea. "Oh yeah? What about?"
"Things..."
I bent over to place the tea bags back into the cabinet and winced as streaks of pain shot through my stomach. Placing a hand on my stomach, I was happy I had my jacket on so Kyle couldn't see my torn, bloody shirt. Luckily, he didn't hear my struggle and continued with his silent contemplation.
"What happened as you were dying?" Kyle asked. I raised an eyebrow, needing him to be more specific. "What I mean is...what did you see?"
Shoving my hands in my jacket pockets, I turned to face him. He was still sitting on the counter and staring into his hands. "My mom," I answered.
His surprised eyes found mine. "Really?"
I nodded. "She told me you were trying to save me."
"I was."
"Thanks again," I told him, turning back around to check on the tea. In the corner of my eye, I caught him looking at me, but I avoided eye contact.
"I've been thinking," he started. "You saw how I acted when you were almost killed by Terran."
I nodded. "Yeah, you freaked out like any good friend would."
"I care," he spoke louder. "I care a lot." I finally made eye contact with him and let him continue. He wanted my attention and now he had it. "I've saved your life twice in two days." He laughed. "I think I deserve some kind of reward."
"And I will forever be thankful."
He smiled, but it quickly faded. "I'm serious," he said, shaking his head. "Seeing your life being taken away was killing me."
My thoughts drifted back to my mother. I saw her life draining away—every second of it.
He opened his mouth to continue, but thought better of it. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair. "Just forget it, I don't know where I'm going with this." He jumped off the counter. "You can just forget I said anything."
He turned to walk out, but I quickly stopped him. "Don't leave," I pleaded. He turned and looked back at me. "It's okay, I think we're on the same page."
"Really?"
"Yeah." I nodded. "I do."
#
After Kyle left, I was left alone in my quiet home once again. I walked back upstairs and into my bedroom. Walking past my full body mirror, I caught a glimpse of my appearance; I was shocked Kyle or Dylan hadn't said anything.
My jeans were splotched with red, my chin was spotted with dried blood and there was a red circle on my stomach where blood was soaking through my jacket. I grabbed a pair of maroon joggers and a plain white T-shirt from my closet and started changing. My stitches were loose and my stomach was bleeding again.
I tightened them myself and bound my stomach tightly with a wrap. Deciding to wait and shower in the morning, I put on my white T-shirt and made my way into my bed. I was in pain again, but ignored it and forced myself to clear my head and rest. Almost immediately, I closed my eyes and had a dreamless sleep.
