Disappointed Coach told me I won't be joining back on the team. The rest of the gang teetered between hating me for putting them in this mess and hating Mike for not manning up and fixing things. I can't say I cared much about it, either way, other than I didn't want my team's chances hampered by me not playing but playing the game itself held no real importance to me.

Adam approached me as I walked down the aisle and up to the stage. He looked awkward and the rest of Crew looked shocked that I requested to see him. Adam came down the few short steps and nodded for me to follow him to the sound booth, located at the back of the auditorium.

He opened the door and I walked inside. "What do you want?"

"I wanted to fill you in on what happened with Brynn and her Grandmother."

"I already know. She called."

"Oh." Guess I should have thought of that. 

"She told me what happened between her dad and you, too."

I look away not wanting to talk about it. Mr. Shelby kept his word when he discovered that I called to check up on Gran with Brynn he filed the paperwork and the Sheriff's office had sent someone to our house to deliver the restraining order. He still had to go to a hearing and prove that I am a threat somehow to his daughter but just the fact that I'm eighteen and she is not automatically granted him a temporary order.

"Yeah, I can't even call her. I can't check up on Gran to see how's she doing because I have no way of knowing if Brynn is there if I'll run into her. If I did I know her Dad would get me locked up." I run my fingers through my hair in frustration and the look of pity on Adam's face didn't help my mood much.

"Look, I'm sorry, because of me you've been kicked off the team. My foster parents thought they should make a stand even though they were away all week not even giving a shit if I came home or not."

"Coach told me." I tell him. "It's okay. Did you? Did they..." I didn't know how to ask what I wanted to know.

"I'm good." He tells me but looks away awkward again. "Finn," Adam looks up at me and I see something I've never seen before written across his features. Respect. "I'll keep you informed about Brynn and Gran. You want to tell her anything, get a message to her. I'll let her know."

I must have had a look of utter disbelief because that's exactly how I felt so he added, "On my honor."

"Thanks, Adam. I appreciate that. This is effing killing me."

Adam smirks. "It's just us, Finn you can curse. It's not like you'll offend me."

"I know. It's just my upbringing sort of negates it. I feel it all the same."

Adam nods his head that he understood. "Any messages for Brynn."

"Just that I wish more than life itself I could be there for her." I turn and punch a locker. I'm so freaking furious. I said I'd be there and I can't.

Suddenly two crewmembers burst into the room. Looking around confused.

"We heard a loud bang and well we were expecting you two were going at it again."

Adam shook his head no. I feel a whole new level of disgust. Of course, it didn't take long for news to get out all over school that I fought Adam over Brynn. The gossips ate that shit up fast, and all week long I've endured the "How the mighty have fallen" looks of my classmates.

"Later, Adam." I push past the other two. "Finn!" Adam calls to me. I look back momentarily. "Consider it done." I nod my head and head home to change. I've got work tonight.

The moment I step into the door, my Mom grabs me and gives me a huge hug. My stomach sinks as I think the worst. "Is Gran okay? Is it Brynn? Mom, what is it?"

"Nothing. I just needed to do that," she says reluctantly letting me go. 

"You've been dealing with a lot, kiddo and your Mom and I are both worried about you."

I look over and see my dad standing in the hall, too. "I'm good," I tell them and head up the stairs to shower and dress to I can get ready for work. I come down the stairs and overhear my parents talking.

"He's trying to be brave but the kids are being downright cruel in school and I know it must be driving him insane not to able to contact, Brynn. Could you imagine if it were you or I at his age, dealing with that."

I hear my dad say, "No way in hell they'd keep me from you."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of," my mom replies and I hear her voice catch like she wants to cry. This sucks, I'm hurting everyone I love and the situations aren't even of my own making. How the hell has my life gotten this far out of control?

I step into the doorway so that they know I'm here. My mom swipes quickly to hide a tear. I walk over to her and pull her into a hug. I never realized how small she is. Her personality always made up for her height. I've outgrown her long ago but at this moment. I just want my mom. She hugs me tight, and I feel my dad hug us both from behind, and wondered if it would be unmanly to cry.

"I don't want either of you to worry about me. I'll abide by the order. Adam has promised to let me know what's going on with Brynn and Gran. I'll have to be satisfied with that. Soon we will have graduated. Brynn will be eighteen and then none of this will matter. I'm willing to wait. I'm willing to be patient. I promised I wouldn't walk away and I haven't."

My mom brushes her fingers against my cheek. She's so lucky to have you to love her. 

"No Mom, I'm the lucky one and because I know just how lucky I know better than to press that luck. Okay?" My mom nods yes. She and my dad let me go.

"I work late tonight. So don't worry about waiting up."

"Okay, kiddo. Be safe out there."

"Will do, Dad."

I get to work and am grateful it's another super busy night. I had so many orders I didn't have time to think. Paris forced me to take my break. I didn't want to slow down even if I understood the sense of it.

"Go! Now! At least fifteen minutes. You need the time. I'll make you a mini pizza."

"I'm fine, Paris." But she just put her hands on her hips and pointed for me to leave so I had no choice.

She brought out a pizza a few minutes later and some water with ice, as she knows I don't like drinking soda. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"I'll be able to take you to your prom." I offer not really wanting to get into the rest.

"You and Brynn broke up?" I saw a flicker of hope that she quickly squashed and I wondered, not for the first time if Paris has a crush on me.

"No, Paris but her Dad did get a restraining order put out on me."

Her eyes grew wide. "What? Why?" She sat down next to me, put a piece of pizza on a plate, and shoved it at me. Obviously, she didn't want me to get distracted from eating.

"The night I ran out of here, Brynn got a call that her grandmother was in the hospital but she had no way to reach her. I get her there and thankfully her grandmother was weak but okay."

"Oh, thank God!" Paris said, "but what does that have to do with her dad?"

"I'm getting to that," I say and she looks pointedly at the pizza and back to me and I grin slightly before taking a bite. After I swallow, I continue. "Her dad was at the nurses' station making a huge fuss. He didn't realize it wasn't Brynn who was hurt. I brought him back to the room. Since there are only two visitors allowed at a time I went out to the waiting room."

I take another bite, not realizing how hungry I was until I started eating. I quickly devour the piece and Paris adds another. "My parents and her parents didn't get along after a dispute over Brynn's mom dating Brynn's dad happened."

"Who didn't like Brynn's dad?"

"My mom. Brynn's mom and my mom were best friends and my mom thought this guy was bad news. I'm not entirely sure she was wrong."

Paris made a face, "Yeah, he doesn't really sound like a winner."

I shrug. "I don't know. I know he cares a lot about Brynn but when he realized I was a Nash, my mom his hated enemy I didn't stand a chance."

"This sucks!" Paris says and I smirk at her tone of annoyance, once again she reminds me of a mad Tinkerbell. She just has that look. Maybe it's the hair.

"Good news for you though. Now there is nothing to stop me from taking you to the prom. So see, it's not all bad."

She grimaces at me. She is obviously a big proponent of happily ever after.

"I've waited this long, Paris. In a few months, Brynn will be eighteen and then it will be up to her to decide what happens next."

"Well as happy as I am that I'm going to my Prom, I just think this whole situation sucks."

"I couldn't agree with you more."

"Eat up," she tells me and heads back into work. I check my time and finish up to get back to my deliveries.

The end of the night comes and I stay to help her with the side work. Before I leave she hands me something. "What's this?"

"Your ticket, dummy. You'll need it to get in." I hand it back to her. "You hold on to it. We're going together, anyway. This way I don't have to worry about losing it."

She shrugs and puts it back in her purse. She takes out a notebook and writes down the information of when and where the prom is, when I should pick her up by, and hands it to me.

"Thanks!" I say, taking it from her.

"So I guess that will be the next time I will see you."

Surprised I look down at the paper and see that prom will be next Friday. "Uh, yeah." I had a lot to do to prepare. "I'll see you then."

"Looking forward to it," Paris said with a smile.

I wish I could say, me too, but I could only offer her a smile in return.