The next thing I know I'm on a gurney, being wheeled down a hallway. There's lots of commotion, several doctors walking at either side of me. One of the EMT's is rushing after them, telling them my vitals that were gathered on the helicopter, and physically what appears to be wrong with me. I think they might have given me some sort of pain med because my side doesn't hurt as much.

"Is Orion here?" I mutter.

"Everyone is being brought to this hospital," a woman in scrubs says.

"Is he alright? Amy--what about Amy--"

"Shh," the woman says, "we're bringing you to get a CT scan and then bringing you to surgery. You're going to be fine."

"But what about Amy? And what about Ben--was he hurt?"

"We'll tell you all about it when you're done with surgery, okay?"

I can feel tears dripping down my temples. It tickles. I hate it. "Please--can you at least tell me if Orion is dead? He's my boyfriend, I love him--I need to know. Please?"

She takes my hand, and I never thought I'd be so grateful for a simple gesture. "Everything is going to be fine, Tristan."

I hate her non-answer. So I'm happy when my vision goes blurry again and then black.

~

"Alright, Amy, if we're gonna do this, we're gonna do this my way."

Orion shuts the door behind himself, leaning against it and crossing his arms. I stand besides him. Looking startled, Amy lifts her head from where she sits on the bed.

It's the following day. I've kept to my promise. Orion and I had walked out of the forest, not saying anything. We had gone to bed wordlessly, and I had fallen asleep holding him close to me.

This morning was normal. He was in what I could only describe as a good mood. Upon wakening he had smiled at me, planting a chaste kiss on my lips with a giggle.

I'm not sure if his good mood was forced. A part of me would like to hope that it wasn't, that maybe opening up to me eased some of his silent burden. I'll never know, though, because I'm never speaking of it again. I consciously don't comment on his good mood one way or the other, and our day has moved along smoothly.

"Um, doing what, exactly?" she squeaks.

"I've decided that you can join the band."

She jumps up and squeals loudly. Orion holds up his right palm and she freezes.

"Under a few circumstances."

She rushed to him, grabbing his hand and holding it in her own. "Anything! Anything, tell me Orion!"

"We have to talk to mom first."

To my surprise, she nods enthusiastically. "That's fine!"

"And," he continues, "if she says no, it's no dice, you're not joining."

She drops his hand and narrows her eyes. "Orion--"

He crosses his arms and throws the look right back. "I'm serious Amy. If she says no, that's it."

"Then I'll run away!" she says stubbornly.

"Then I'll return you to her doorstep myself, or I'll call the cops."

She growls loudly and stamps her foot. "Ugh! This isn't fair!"

"It's actually really fair, Amy," I tell her.

She glares at me. "Who asked you?"

I raise my eyebrow to Orion but he ignores us. "Well Amy, what's it gonna be? I'm serious--if you don't agree to these terms, I'm not doing this for you."

Her shoulders slump and she looks down. "Fine."

He takes a step forward, lifting her head by the chin. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

She shoves his hand away and glares. "Yes, Orion."

He breaks into a grin. "That's actually wonderful progress! You're showing me you're serious about this."

"Of course I am," she mumbles, looking off to the side.

"One last stipulation."

She moans. "Now what?"

"You have to get your GED while we're on the road."

She looks surprised. And then upset. And then suddenly she looks like she might cry.

"Orion! I suck at school! I'll never be able to do that!"

"No," he tells her earnestly, "you don't suck. You're one of the smartest people I know. You just don't apply yourself, Amy."

She blinks.

"Your brain is off in the clouds too often. I've noticed it runs away with you. If you were in a one-on-one setting, you'd be able to focus better, I think."

She looks at her brother hopefully, and I can tell no one has ever shown her this sort of dedication before. It's a really tender moment, and I suddenly feel bad for being here. But Orion asked me to be here, so here I am.

Orion takes her by the shoulders and tilts his head down so he can look at her in the eyes. "I'll pay for it. It doesn't cost much, but I got it. I'll tutor you when I can, and if I can't I'm sure Jake and Ben would be willing to help, too."

"And me," I offer.

Amy looks at me and gives a small smile.

"Amy," Orion says, and she looks back at him. "I'm not going to have you be stuck in life. I'm not going to have the only avenue for your life be music or waiting tables. I want to keep as many doors open for you as I can, alright?"

Her face crumples, and as she tries not to cry I notice how this expression looks just like the one Orion makes, too. "Why are you being so sweet?"

Orion pulls her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. "Because I'm giving you something I never had. My little present to you, yeah?"

She looks up at him and smiles, still stubbornly holding back tears.

He smiles. "Plus you're my only sister. You deserve a chance, Amy."

--

Amy is fidgeting in her seat. Orion and myself flank her on either side. Their mother is sitting across from us, sipping tea from an orange mug.

I love how she loves bright colors. It makes me a little sad though--maybe if Orion had grown up in such a bright environment he would have some light inside of him, instead of the darkness that seeps out of every pore. But then again if he did grow up here, who knows what life may have brought him. I might not be with him then, and I don't like that thought, as selfish as it is.

"What's this about?"

"We have to talk to you about something," Orion tells his mom.

She looks at her daughter. "Are you pregnant, Amy?"

She looks absolutely mortified, turning bright red. "What?! Mother!"

"If that's it, it's okay."

To the other side of Amy, I catch Orion's shoulders shaking in barely contained laughter.

"MOM! I am NOT! Jesus Christ!"

Their mom sits up straighter, looking indignant. "Well I'm not stupid, Amy. I wasn't born yesterday. If anything else I found a box of condoms in your hamper once--"

Orion bursts into laughter and puts his head on the table, pounding his fist gently on the table a few times. I cover my mouth with my palm, concealing a smile. I think Amy might actually implode in embarrassment.

"Which, by the way," their mother continues over Orion's hysterics, "I'm very happy you're being sensible at least. The pull out method doesn't work, let me tell you--"

"OH my GAWD, MOTHER."

Orion literally falls off his chair and now I crack up. Amy then glares at Orion.

"And what're you laughing at?! I assume that's a reference to you."

"I don't care." He snorts. "Worth it."

Their mother rolls her eyes. "Oh for Pete's sake, children. This is not that funny."

Orion points at his sister. "Yes--yes it is. Her reaction is the best."

She growls at him.

"I don't see what the big hub bub is," Mrs. Price says, her eyebrows raised and drinking her tea. "If you think you're mature enough to be having sex, then you should be mature enough to talk about it without having this--" she gestures to all of us, "sort of reaction."

Amy puts her head on the table and covers her head. "Can we please just stop talking about my sex life now and move on?"

"Well if you don't want to talk about it then don't leave a empty, single-use condom pack in the hamper, Amy!"

She moans again. "Can we move on? Please."

Orion gets back in his chair, wiping his eyes beneath his glasses. Amy punches his arm. Once Orion clears his throat, he speaks.

"Okay seriously." He takes a deep breath. "Amy wants to join the band. Now look, before you say anything, let me lay it all out for you. I don't know what you know and what you don't know--I mean, you clearly know she's having sex--but she's partying. A lot."

Amy gives him a nasty look and folds her arms.

"And I don't know if you know about her grades, but I kinda assume you do--they're really bad. So I understand that her joining the band would be a really stupid idea at face value. But keep in mind--I'm sober now. I take my sobriety very seriously. She would be under my wing, and I wouldn't let her do anything stupid. Furthermore, the second she does do anything stupid, I'm bringing her ass back here."

His mother glares as the word 'ass', but doesn't interrupt.

"I don't care if I have to cancel a show or postpone it. I'll drop what I'm doing and bring her back. It's a zero tolerance policy." He swivels his head to Amy. "Understand?"

She nods.

He looks back at their mother. "Also, I would be paying for her to take online GED courses, and I would make sure she gets her GED."

Their mother looks surprised at that.

"I'm not going to have her throw her life away, which is the current trajectory she's headed towards now. I want to give her an environment where she's free to explore her musical gifts, but also one that provides proper structure. I want to show her that even doing a job you love is still hard work and you have to be dedicated to it, and you can't just goof off. I will provide her with the tools she needs to flourish academically because a school setting is too disruptive for her and she can't concentrate, and her grades suffer because of it. I think a tour bus environment with some one-on-one tutoring will be exactly what she needs."

As he was speaking, his mother's facial expression turned from surprise to looking impressed. Orion looks off to the side and holds up his palms.

"But, if you say no, we will both respect that." He glares at his sister. "Won't we, Amy?"

"Yes," she says quietly, looking down.

Orion looks back to his mom. "I hope you don't see this as going behind your back, but I've already discussed all this with Amy. I wanted to feel the water for how serious she was, and where her dedication to this lied before approaching you. She knows all the stipulations, and she knows she's walking on thin ice. She knows the second she screws up I'm bringing her back here. She knows how serious I am--don't you, Amy?"

"Yes Orion."

He smiles then and speaks softly. "She really, really wants this, mom. And honestly, I've never come across anyone so musically gifted as she is. It comes so naturally to her. I have to practice my as--my butt off. She hears a song once and she can play it perfectly. I want her with me, honestly. I think she'd be a wonderful addition to the band."

Her head shoots up and she looks at her brother. He's grinning at her. Her eyes turn glassy and she makes that face they both do when they're trying not to cry.

"So--what do you say? Whatever you say I respect."

Their mom grins and she sets down her mug. "Has anyone told you you articulate very well, Orion?"

He looks embarrassed and rubs the back of his neck. "Er, n-no. Not in so many words, but I'm a lyricist, so..."

"This sounds like a wonderful idea."

Amy immediately jumps to her feet and squeals. "What? Really?!"

"It sounds like Orion is going to take good care of you. And he's right about your schooling--you care more about hanging out with Chole and checking out hot boys than focusing on school. When you're home all you want to do is listen to music or go out so you don't do your homework. I work--I can't hold your hand and make you do stuff." She glares a little. "Although I'd love to..."

Amy isn't phased, still looking too excited. Her mom waves her hand.

"I gave up getting into screaming matches with you over your homework awhile ago. You skipped sessions with the tutor I hired so I was paying him for nothing. I can't do anything more."

Amy comes around and gives him mom a huge hug. "I'm sorry I've been a shitty kid."

She laughs, patting her daughter's arm. "Language. And you're not, you're just...unruly. A free spirit. I just feel bad I can't be a better mom for you."

"What! No! Mom--you've been perfect. You're nothing but perfect. It's just been...hard. Since dad." She looks off to the side and tucks her hair behind her ear.

Mrs. Price smiles. "I know. And that's why I want you to do this. I don't want you to think I'm rewarding you for bad behavior. This just seems like your best shot right now, short of sending you to a military school."

Amy makes a face.

"I'm serious--the thought has crossed my mind lately."

"Oh ew."

"See," Orion points at her, "that's even more motivation for you to fly right. You'll have boot camp waiting for you if you screw up."

Amy lets go of her mom and looks at her. "So, you're serious?"

"Yes. And I expect weekly phone calls, from both of you."

Amy squeals and jumps up and down. She hops over to Orion, pulling him into a tight hug and burying her face in his hair. He chuckles, patting her arm. When I catch a look of her face as she kisses the top of his head, I see she's crying. I look away and I hear her whisper to Orion,

"Thank you."

I smile.