Skye

Exams were almost over and to my relief, and English was last subject. We could finally relax a little. I think we did well so far. For the difficult subjects we held short study sessions all four of us, Abby, Timothy, Ethan and I which made it easier for all of us and gave us some time to reconnect.

Ethan took his exams in a separate class-room with an assigned assistant, he was confidant with his work and that made us both happy.

With Hank travelling, Ethan's father drove him to school and later we would take my car to either his house or mine. My mini-cooper wasn't his most preferred method of transportation with Ethan being tall and broad shouldered. Even with his seat reclined and adjusted to it farthest point, his knees would still rest uncomfortably against the glove compartment.

Sometimes Matt tagged along when Aunt Sophie worked the evening shift and he loved hanging out at Ethan's house. I swear, if this boy could live there he would.

Why wouldn't he? George and Clair adored him and Edna baked him his favorite chocolate-chip cookies every time he came and told him stories, absolutely spoiling him. The boy was living the dream. Not to mention, Matt looked up to Ethan and respected him a great deal.

I went back to my car to fetch the English notes that I've forgotten there, by the time I got back Matt and Ethan were talking. Those were some of my favorite moments, when I watched Ethan become a big brother to Matt, so, I lurked in the shadows, shamelessly watching them.

I didn't hear what they were saying before, but from the wide-eyed expression on Matt's face and the way his jaw hung open, I'd say Ethan had a surprise for him. Not sooner I saw my brother jumping exuberantly.

"Are you sure I can have your Xbox?" Matt asked hugging the thing to his heart.

"Of course. There isn't a better person that I could think of to give it to." Ethan smiled lightly. "You're the best man for that."

I silently 'Aww' -ed when Matt hugged him.

As far as I could remember Matt has always wanted an Xbox. Dad promised him that he would buy him one, but then the accident happened. Matt never spoke about it again.

I've never told Ethan about that story, I didn't find it me yet to speak about my parents. But to witness him unknowingly fulfilling dad's promise to my brother had my heart swell with infatuation towards him. And he sweetly did it behind my back.

"Thank you!" Matt mumbled.

Ethan grinned and ruffled his hair before patting his shoulder, "You're welcome."

Then Ethan's voice took a serious big brother tone, "But you have to promise me that you will finish all your homework and chores first. We don't want Sophie or Skye to be mad at us".

Matt looked at him with a cute determination on his sweet face and vowed, "I promise."

"There are some CDs for you on the shelf over there." Ethan pointed his thump behind him.

Matt almost fainted from sheer happiness as he grabbed the box. He wanted to say something, but turned shy. His none-blurted question recited in shuffling his feet.

Ethan caught on the sound of Matt's shuffle and he laughed, "You can go ahead and try it out. Ask Edna to help you set it up, she an expert on that, but don't let her kind face fool, she can kick butt when she plays."

The look on that kid's face was like he has just found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

"Th-ank yo-u!" He yelled as he ran downstairs, he didn't even notice me standing by the door. His legs took the stairs two steps at a time.

Matt started to chant with every pace, "Edna... Edna... Edna..." and kept on all the way to the kitchen.

Ethan laughed and shook his head.

I could feel my heart melt just by the sound of it. I smiled as I peeped at him.

Soon after, his laughed dimmed to chuckles then to a smile that slowly got lost in deep thinking. He has been doing this a lot lately. We would laugh, argue, talk, study but as soon as whatever we were doing was over, Ethan would disengage and drift away in his own thoughts.

He didn't realize I was in his room until I sneaked under his arm with both mine wrapped around him and gave him a sideway hug. This always seemed to make him smile.

"Hey, you" Ethan cooed and encircled my shoulders pulling me closer.

"Hey." I looked up at him, "That was nice of you what you did for Matt." My voice choked a little.

He shrugged like it was nothing, but his face changed color a little that I caught that, "He's a good kid."

"Well, that good kid's sister says thank you." I beamed.

"Tell her you're welcome." Then he changed the subject, "So, ready to hit the books?"

He always became a bit bashful when he got caught doing something for someone. Ethan preferred his good deeds to stay hidden and went on unnoticed.

I tightened my arms around him resting my cheek on his shoulders feeling the strength and warmth of his body and softness of his shirt, "In a minute." I mumbled.

Ethan's fingers ran through my hair and he sighed, slightly swaying us left and right. Something was really consuming him. Even though he kept lulling me softly, his mind was somewhere else.

"You've been drifting off a lot lately," I spoke softly. "What are you thinking of?"

Ethan snapped out of it at the sound of my voice. His focus returned to me and he apologized, "I'm sorry."

My head was still on his shoulder when I looked at him, "You know you can always talk to me."

His arm tightened around me for a moment, "I know."

Ethan didn't move for a long moment and could see the debate clearly in his face. Then he nodded like he has made his decision.

"But first, I want to ask you this." He cleared his throat, "Well it matter to you if I stayed blind forever or if I got my sight restored?"

The question felt like an unexpected blast that had me flinching inside out, shocking me from head to toe, before dropping me into a well of confusion. It had my brain trying to configure his words, but came up with nothing. I wasn't even sure if I hear him right.

"What?"

Ethan's body twisted between my arm until we were standing face to face, "Will anything change between us if I stayed blind or not?"

I leaned back as far as our arms would allow me without breaking the embrace to try and read his stern features for a hint of what this might be about. Ethan kept his expression trained and free of any emotions. Yet I could feel how taut with tension his muscles were against my body and under my hands.

It was only then that I felt the weight of his imprisoned thoughts for the last couple of weeks.

I had no idea what caused Ethan's question to surface or for it flare up. 'Will it matter?' 'Would anything change?' As I repeated those words in my mind I realized I didn't need to know the reasons. It was more important that I gave him an answer and I knew what mine was. I already knew the answer for a long time.

Both my hands cupped his face, his skin was tight under my touch and I wanted to vanquish any doubts that might be concerning him. My thumps stroking the rigid muscles of his cheeks hoping to chase away his worries.

"Nothing, Ethan," my voice held strong confidence that came from the core of my heart, "There is nothing changing between us."

He kept a passive front like he always did yet his brows pinched closer, "Even if I had another surgery?"

My eyes widened and my hands fell from his face to his chest, "Really?"

The jolt that ran through my body died quickly. There was more to this than he was telling me. That last failed surgery left him depressed and spiritless, it wasn't a subject he wanted to discuss or mention. "What changed you mind?"

He shrugged, "I have my reasons." The determination was unmistakable in his voice as well as his features, "Now... now I want this. I want to try again."

A realization spiked inside my head and I asked hoping I could silence the doubts than came with it, "Ethan, are you doing this because of the flat tire thing?"

His lips pressed in a scowl as his head turned away for a moment grinding his teeth before facing me again. Ethan hands closed over mine, "That's one of the reasons," then his head tilted and he continued, "To be honest, all my reasons are because of you."

Was I the cause of his pain?

My heart jolted in my chest so hard that I physically flinched. It felt like I was about to break down and shatter into a million pieces. The only thing that held me together was the utter tenderness emanating from his features that I've never seen before.

Ethan's fingers traced their path until they gently touched my face, "You gave me the will to try again."

Then his smile widened to a wholeheartedly one as he continued, "Skye, I don't want to give up. I'm willing to try again, and again. As many times as it will take. You... you're constantly proving to me that there is nothing I can't do. If there is a solution to this I will take it." Ethan inhaled deeply then heaved heatedly.

The words that left his lips afterwards had me trembling, "Most importantly, I want to see you."

I stared long into his eyes. If he could see me. Me! I melt into his arms hiding my face in his chest. My heart shook in its cage as I locked my arms behind him. He wanted to see me.

Ethan kissed the top of my head then rested his chin there and sighed deeply as he hooked his hands behind me. "You won't be disappointed if the surgery didn't work?"

I shook my head sternly in his chest. I really wanted Ethan to have his sight restored too. Hopefully, he would still like me after he has seen me.

"Wait a minute!" I leaned away suddenly, "Did you meet up with the doctor? How did you find him? Did he set a date yet?" I piled the questions one on top of the other as soon as they popped in my head.

Ethan laughed getting excited as much as I was, "I met with him yesterday. As for how I found him, for the past three weeks Hank has been meeting up with the list of doctors Sophie put together using her connections. Two doctors agreed on doing the surgery."

He chuckled lightly when he felt me swaying in his arms in a happy dance.

"However," He continued.

And I halted, alarmed by the contrast and trying my best to keep my thoughts from jumping to conclusions.

"One of the doctors is currently abroad, but luckily the other is in town for a medical convention. His name is Dr. Pendny. I didn't want to tell you until I was sure and the exams were over, but things were moving a lot faster than I expected."

"That's great news!" I exclaimed.

He took a deep breath and a hint of worrisome crossed his face, "We set a date a week from today."

As I gazed at him I contained my excitement and asked, "How are you feeling about it?"

He thought for a moment and then scoffed, "Frankly, I don't know. Glad, worried, don't want to have my hopes up there in case the surgery failed. At the same time hopeful that Dr. Pendny will be able to fix this. I can't point it out."

I stroked his arm, "That's understandable."

We both fell silent for a moment and when we spoke it was at the same time.

"Can I come?" I was saying at exact moment that Ethan asked, "Will you come?"

We froze, smiled and then laughed. It always surprised us how similar we were.

"It will mean a lot to me." The smile lingered on his lips showing those dimples.

"I will be there." I promised.

"That makes me happy." He entwined our fingers slowly filling the space between mine, "I want you to be the first person I see if this worked out."

His movement was slow and with great focus like he was trying to distract himself, "And if the surgery didn't work I'll still..." he shrugged the rest in defeat that broke me.

I would not allow his spirit to be let down. Not on my watch.

I leaned closer, confidence marking my words, "You will still be you and I will still be me." Then I added enthusiastically, "It will all turn well."

Ethan smiled a little, "Everything happens for a reason, right." He twisted our joined hands until he had them behind my back and then he used them as a leverage to bring me closer as I was a few minutes ago, "You are all my reasons."

I was so close that I was lost in those eyes and my spin quivered.

Would it be awkward if I sighed?

Right then, as Ethan leaned in- I made a silent promise to him that I would be there with him, no matter what happened.

And I prayed with all my heart that he would get what he wanted.