Annoying beeping sounded off like a fog horn and immediately I cringed. The pressure from Ender's side that was still pressed into me made it difficult for me to reach over and turn it off but somehow I managed.

"Mph." Ender huffed and I rolled him over so that he would wake up but he just flipped over so that he was laying on top of me.

"Really?" I sleepily mumbled and shoved him off so that he fell back on his side. "We gotta get up." I poked at his ribs.

"I can't want to." He whined and I rolled my eyes.

"I'll buy you candy when we're out today." I offered and he shot up.

"Deal." He accepted the bribe and then ran off toward the bathroom.

I chuckled softly and sat up in the sheets, stretching my arms and shoulders out before grabbing my phone.

One missed call from Ashton and a text to accompany it.

'Hey I know you're probably asleep but call me when you wake up. Sweet dreams Carter.' Read the message and without thinking about if he was awake yet I called him back.

"Morning Car." He answered on the third ring and I smiled.

"Good morning to you too." I giggled.

"Sleep well?" He giggled back and I nodded as if he could see me.

"Yeah. And you?"

"I slept fine. So how was your day yesterday? Did you talk to Ender?" He asked. It was moments like this that showed me how much he cared for my brother and I.

"It was good. I talked to him and he took it really well and we are going for an appointment today."

"That's great. Let me know how it goes okay?"

"I will." I promised.

We spoke a bit longer about Ender and then my conversation with his Mum and then said our goodbyes with vows of talking that night.

I quickly got ready and ate breakfast whilst Ender did the same and we headed off to the shop to get our day started.

Before even scheduling the therapy appointment I had created today as a half day so that Ender and I could get any last minute to-do's done before school started in a few days. So that meant we would work from 9 - 2 instead of our typical 9 - 6.

Ender checked the radar and then scampered off to the boat to restock the below deck cabin with drinks and snacks for the guests while they were on the boat. From his enthusiasm and more than willing attitude towards doing work, I could tell he was happy to be back working the boat with me and I was happy to have him back.

During his leave of absence due to his injury I realised how much I enjoyed his company when working and how much I actually needed him.

The door clanged loudly as he thundered back in and jogged up to the desk counter, plopping down on to the stool next to mine.

"Tour group is coming up the docks." He announced and I nodded, slapping the side of the ancient computer to get it to turn on faster.

"How has that thing not died yet?" Ender remarked and I sighed as the home screen appeared.

"I have no idea."

The chiming of the bell proclaimed the arrival of our first tour of the day, which consisted of a family of four.

"Welcome to Chase Marina Tours! How are you guys this morning?" My voice changed into one of a perky tour guide as I greeted them and began the half day of tours.

At lunch time the computer monitor was making a weird stuttering noise and I prayed that it would make it to the end of the week.

I was aware of the fact that this computer was on its last leg but it had been here since before I was born and I was really hoping that it could be fixed and patched up instead of me having to buy a new one.

"It sounds like an animal is stuck in there." Ender commented along with questioning, side- eyed glances at the computer as he ate his sandwich.

"Wouldn't be that surprising." I shrugged and finished off my food. "Maybe I'll take it to the electronics shop while you're in your appointment."

Ender nodded in silence.

"If you're not comfortable with going I can cancel?" I suggested.

"No it's fine." He sighed and then threw his trash away.

"Just one more tour." I reminded him and he nodded knowingly again.

I folded my arms across my stomach as I watched him walk out to the boat. Guiltiness crept over me like a heavy fog. I felt bad for making Ender go to the therapist but I had given him the option of not going so he had the chance to say no. All I wanted was for him to be able to sleep at night and be at peace with whatever was troubling him about our parents death.

We only had one tour left before closing time and it was a rather large group of eight people so I didn't have much time to ponder the option of cancelling Ender's appointment despite the fact he said he was fine with it.

So when the tour was over and we had closed shop for the day, Ender sulked to where our bikes were and waited for me to finish locking up. I shoved the front door key in my pocket after I was done and got on my bike, Ender doing the same.

Like almost everything in this town, the therapists office was on Main Street, located between a coffee shop and a bookstore. All of the buildings were smushed close together so that either the walls touched or there was an alley between them that was large enough for trash cans but not much else. The fronts of the building were a nonexistent pattern of colours and bricks but that's what gave our little town part of its charm.

The therapist office was specifically a light, powder blue and was two stories tall like all of the buildings surrounding it.

I remembered Ari telling me one time that blue was a calming colour so I figured that's why they painted the building that way.

Ender and I parked our bikes outside and locked them to the post of a street lamp before we both shrugged inside.

The interior of the place hadn't changed at all. The same blue walls as outside were mimicked on the inside and cream furniture decorated the slim room.

A young, blonde haired receptionist was perched behind a desk and tapped at a keyboard with her acrylic red nails.

"How may I help you?" She looked up when the door bell chimed as we entered.

"We have a 2:30 session with Dr. Ross Tiernan." I answered her and she typed away again.

"Name of the patient?" She flipped her shoulder length hair behind her shoulder as she spoke.

"Ender Chase." I replied dryly and she clicked on the screen for a few more moments then slid a clipboard across the desk at me.

"Fill out these forms real quick, please." She commanded in her non-authoritative tone and I did what I was told, signing the papers and then handing them back.

"Have a seat and Dr. Tiernan will be here with you shortly." She pointed her long, fake tanned fingers at the sitting area and Ender and I shared a sofa while waiting.

Ender hadn't said a word since we left the house and just sat forward in his seat and stared at the ground.

"There's still time for us to leave, End. Just say the word and I'll get us out of here." I offered one last time.

He silently shook his head no and I gave up, huffing quietly and leaning back in the seat.

We waited about five more minutes and then a door opened and two people walked out.

"I'll see you next week Mr. Ives. Have a good day." A tall man with dark hair and thick framed glasses bid farewell to a younger man with blonde hair.

The young man left and who I assumed was Dr. Tiernan turned to both Ender and I.

"Are you my next patient?" He walked up to both Ender and I and held out a strong hand for us to shake.

"I'm Dr. Tiernan. You must be Ender?" He directed towards my brother and Ender just nodded.

"Alright Ender let's head on down to my office." He walked off down the hall and motioned for me to follow as well.

He led us down a short hall to a dark wooden door with dark green cushioned furniture inside.

"Make yourself comfortable while I talk to your sister for a second." Dr. Tiernan said to Ender and shut the door behind him when he walked inside, leaving the two of us in the hall.

"I see he doesn't talk much is that what's troubling you?" He asked as soon as the door closed.

"No, I think he's just nervous about being here." I looked at the door then looked away. "He's been having nightmares and he's seen a therapist before about them and they went away but now they're back."

"Alright. I brushed up on both of your files with your previous therapist this morning so I would be prepared. Thank you, Carter." He smiled down at me kindly and I nodded politely back before watching him go inside to talk to Ender.

I decided that waiting in the waiting room would just drive me insane so I went outside to the street and walked down a block to the I.T. shop where a boy around my age stood behind a desk, staring at a thin laptop, the glare reflecting off his glasses.

"Hello." He greeted as I walked up to the counter.

"Hey." I smiled back.

As I got closer I read the white plastic name tag pinned to his shirt said Dylan.

"I need to talk to someone about my computer." I said.

"Sure thing. What's the issue?" He pulled a pen out of the pocket of his blue and white checkered shirt and messed with the fringe of his brown hair before grabbing a notepad.

"It's making a weird noise and I would have brought it in but this thing is ancient and weighs more than me so I was wondering if I could get someone to come look at it?" I explained.

"Yeah of course. Just write down your address here and I can send someone out to look at it." He chuckled and handed me the paper to write down my information. "What's your name?"

"Thanks." I smiled. "And it's Carter."

"No problem. And that's a cool name." He sent one back to me. "How about tomorrow at 3?" He looked at a calendar on the wall.

"That should work."

"Alright. Then I will see you then?" He affirmed.

"You do the repairs?" I asked.

"Yup." He popped the p at the end of the word.

"Cool. Well thank you again, Dylan." I nodded at his name tag and he laughed.

"See you tomorrow, Carter."

I waved as I walked out of the store and back up the street. Dylan had seemed like a nice kid.

It was still too early for Ender's session to be done so I stopped in the coffee shop next door and bought a small latte before heading back over.

The sitting area was still empty when I walked back in so I sat in the corner and sipped my coffee quietly. I texted Ashton to ask how he was then scrolled aimlessly through my texts before shoving my phone into my pocket when the door to the hall opened.

Ender walked out, his facial expression was one of defeat and something else I couldn't quite decipher. Instead of walking to me he walked out of the office and onto the street to where his bike was stashed.

My jaw dropped at his action and I whipped my head around to look at Dr. Tiernan.

"What happened?" I seethed.

I wasn't a person to get mad but I did have my moments.

"He's okay just a little high on emotions from our chat. Give him a few hours to calm down and he'll be fine. I think he just needs to come to terms with everything we discussed." Dr. Tiernan said in a calm, soothing voice but I wasn't having it.

"And what did you discuss?" I popped off.

"Ender will tell you about it if he wants and feels like it." He tried to calm me down again.

"I'm his sister! Tell me!" I pleaded but my voice came out harsher than I meant.

"Carter. For his sake right now do not make a scene. We can discuss this at a later point in time of you feel it's necessary." He said in a steady manner.

I took a moment to calm myself down and breathe deeply. He was right. If Ender was really emotional right now I didn't want to trouble him or compromise any chance I had of his talking to me.

"I'm sorry. I'm just worried." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"I know. But he will be fine. Just give him time."

I nodded and then said goodbye before leaving and joining Ender at the street. He had already unlocked his bike and was waiting for me.

"Do you still want to go shopping?" I asked as I unlocked my bike and instead of an answer Ender just rode off in the opposite direction from the clothing store and towards the house.

Taking that as a no I followed behind, praying in my head that this silent treatment wouldn't last long.

But I was wrong.

He hadn't said a word let alone make eye contact with me since we had arrived home hours ago. When we had arrived he leaned his bike against the house then went inside and directly to his room.

I didn't know what he was thinking and that was bothering me the most. I just wanted him to talk to me.

By dinner time I still was receiving no response from him. I had called him downstairs to eat and he came down five minutes later, silently pushing the food around his plate in circles. He barely ate anything and then went back up to his room.

Knowing he would probably be hungry later, I boxed up his leftovers and put them in the fridge, then cleaned up the kitchen.

When I was done I stood awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs, debating on whether to go up or not. Dr. Tiernan said Ender would talk to me when he was ready but I didn't know how much longer I could stand it.

Deciding against it, I made my way to the sofa, throwing myself down onto the cushions and sighing loudly in defeat.

I pulled my phone from my pocket to see that Ashton had replied to my message hours ago and I had not responded.

'Day is good. How are you babe?' His message read.

'Ender went to the therapist today and now he won't talk to me.' I texted back.

Seconds later the bubble appeared at the bottom of the screen that signified Ashton was texting me back.

'What happened? Why won't he talk?' It read.

'Dr. said he was emotional right now and needed time to think about what they discussed in the session but it's been five hours and he won't even make eye contact. I'm really scared.'

'It's going to be okay. Have you tried talking to him?'

'Yeah, but I get nothing from him.'

'I'm sorry baby. Is there anything I can do?'

'No. I'll try to talk to him again.'

I dropped my phone onto my chest and sighed, I seemed to do a lot of that today, and collected my thoughts before sitting up and tossing my phone onto the table then making my way upstairs.

Ender was sitting on the floor of his room, aimlessly rolling around a toy monster truck. I leaned myself against the door frame and folded my arms across my chest and watched him for a few seconds.

"Hey bro, can we talk for a minute?" I asked.

Ender didn't seem to acknowledge my presence so I cleared my throat and spoke again, this time louder and more authoritative.

"Ender, can we please talk for a minute." I didn't leave room for question.

Still nothing.

"Ender." I barked.

Him not even flinching when I said his name enraged me but I tried to calm myself down.

"Fine. If you won't talk to me I'll go call Mrs. Riley right now and see if she can watch you while I go to Sydney next week alone." I popped off, I knew I didn't mean it but he didn't and I needed something that would make him talk back to me.

I turned to walk out but only got two steps away before he responded.

"NO!" He literally yelled at me and I spun around, my eyes wide.

"Then spill whatever your pissed at me about because I'm really getting tired of this Ender. I try and try to help you and care for you but all I get is silent treatment in return and I'm done!" I all but yelled back.

"I'm not mad at you I'm mad at mom and dad!" He shouted.

"What?" The word came out exasperated as I tried to wrap my mind around what he just said. "Why are you mad at mom and dad?"

"Because they left me, and they left you! I don't know why you're not mad at them either!" His face was pink from all of the yelling he had done.

"Ender, they didn't leave us by choice, it was an accident." I slid my back down the wall so that I was sitting on the floor.

"It doesn't matter. They still left." He pouted and turned to look away from me.

"You died too. In my nightmare I mean. You died too and I was alone." He said after a minute of tantalising silence.

"Ender..." I cooed.

"I don't want to lose you Car, you're all I have." He started to cry and I knew that he was scared and emotional and just needed to be held.

I beckoned him over to me and pulled him into my arms, rocking him back and forth as he sobbed and little tears pricked at my eyes.

My hand ran across his back and arms as I soothed him and consoled him the best I could. My words came out hushed and mumbled as I said them into his hair.

"I know how you feel. You're all I have too."