Kel freezes.

Sunny… tried to kill himself? If Aubrey wasn't with him right now would he be…

No right now he needs to focus on making sure such a thing doesn't come to pass. He dashes out the door into the early morning light, the sun just cresting over the horizon, lighting his path. The morning dew flies into the air, blown away by his desperate sprinting as he rushes towards Sunny's house.

Aubrey grabs Sunny, she is still trembling. He almost died. If she wasn't there he would have left her again. She would have been alone again. He said he cared. Was that a lie? Did he simply want to hurt her as much as he could by dying in her arms?

No that doesn't make sense. She asked to cuddle, not him, so why?

"Why did you do that!?!" Aubrey screams, still crying, unable to calm down.

Sunny is MISERABLE. 

Aubrey is clearly hurt and he wants to comfort her but he doesn't know how. 

If only he died earlier he wouldn't have to see this. Aubrey wouldn't be so distressed right now.

Would she still be mad if she knew about… SOMETHING?

No. She's better off without him. They all are. They must be. If he's wrong and there's even a chance it'll be OK then what he just did really hurt Aubrey and he… doesn't know what to do. He doesn't want to hurt Aubrey he…

What does he want?

What makes him happy?

He doesn't know anymore.

Aubrey tries to calm herself down. She tries to think of what to do. Who can help. An adult she can trust like…

"Where's your mom?" Aubrey inquires, "We can get you help. Please! You don't have to do this!"

Sunny looks down at his feet.

"Sunny?" Aubrey inquires, knowing something is wrong.

Kel walks in, Aubrey demanding of him, "Kel? When was the last time you saw his mom?"

"I dunno it's been…" Kel replies, freezing at the realization, "It's… been years… Sunny?"

Sunny doesn't answer.

"Sunny," Aubrey pleads, "You care right? If you care you can tell us."

Sunny sighs. He… does care and he can tell both his friends are upset…

He presses a button on the answering machine…

"Most recent message: Three years ago," it states with the same coldness it always has. His mom's voice speaks, "Hey Sunny! Your step dad and I are on a trip to Cuba! We'll be back by the end of the week!"

"She…" Aubrey can hardly form the words in her shock, "She left you. Didn't she?"

Sunny starts crying. Of course she left him! He's worthless! A selfish rich brat who they don't deserve to have to deal with!

They… don't have to.

Do they?

Sunny starts to walk away, only for Aubrey to grab him, yelling, the tears once more flowing, "NO! I CAN'T LOSE YOU AGAIN!"

Kel tries to reason with Sunny, "Sunny, buddy, come on. You don't wanna do this man. You'll hurt me and Aubrey. Hero's coming back today, how about we all just have a fun day together? Just… all take a day. Like old times?"

Sunny doesn't protest. It would be nice to pretend for a day even if he knows it won't last. Just… one more day. 

One more day…

That's OK.

Right?

Even if he thinks it's selfish, not knowing that sticking around is the kindest thing he can do. Anything but selfish.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Kel asks with a smile, "Aubrey? You hungry too?"

"Sure," Aubrey replies, "Whatcha want Sunny?"

"Dunno," Sunny responds dismissively. What… does he want to eat?

"We'll go see what we can find," Kel replies, smiling to hide the worry, "Come on Sunny!"

Kel begins to exit but Aubrey stops him, "Wait."

"What's wrong?" Kel inquires. 

"Search him," Aubrey demands sternly, "He may have another knife or other sharp object."

Kel quickly pats Sunny down, confirming he has nothing of the sort.

"He's clear," Kel assures. 

"We can't leave him alone at any point," Aubrey adds, taking Sunny's hand in her own, "Understood?"

Sunny feels a soothing warmth spread throughout his palm as Aubrey feels the same. There's a sense of ease that washes over the other, knowing that they're there for each other. 

Aubrey tightens her grip, stating with powerful conviction as the trio exit the house, "You don't GET to leave me, no, us, again. Not like that. Not like Mari did."

The trio carry on, Sunny in silent self hatred. He isn't sure what to do. Clearly they're upset by his suicide attempt but if that's not an option what is?

"We've all had a bad morning," Kel explains, "Why don't we just say to Hell with health for a day and get some candy? Treat ourselves."

Aubrey isn't listening, wondering about why Kel suddenly cares now. Why he's suddenly talking to her and Sunny now. A festering anger lingers inside her, a belief that this isn't genuine that this is…

"Do you pity me?" Aubrey demands aloud, to both of them.

"What?" Kel demands, baffled by this question. Of course he doesn't. He cares deeply for Aubrey and-

"Do you pity me?" Aubrey demands again, more irritated now. 

He's not denying it. Why would he genuinely care? Huh? Why would anyone-

"Of course not," Kel replies, "I get after Mari… left… I wasn't there for you and I'm sorry. I was trying to help Hero who didn't take it well and I just… assumed you didn't care cause you had new friends. You're strong and despite it all, I know you're kind at heart. I admire you if anything."

Kel places a hand on Aubrey's shoulder, speaking genuinely, "Aubrey, I am genuinely sorry I wasn't there for you. You're a sister to me and I love you as such. I should have been there."

"I didn't exactly reach out I suppose," Aubrey sighs, "Sunny, what about you do you-"

Sunny is gone, having slipped away while the two are talking. Aubrey begins to panic.

Kel yells, sprinting down the strip to try to find him.

Aubrey rushes into the store, look for any sign of him. She can't lose him. They can't lose him. Not now. She finally has Sunny and Kel back. She's finally free from her abusive mother. She can finally mend these old wounds and burned bridges and move on but if Sunny dies…

Sunny exits the candy store, running into Aubrey who grabs him, anger in her eyes at him for scaring her once more.

"Stop walking away!" Aubrey demands. "God dammit! You can't keep doing this! You can't keep scaring me!"

Sunny looks down at his feet. He hates seeing Aubrey upset. He hates seeing Kel upset. He hates it more than anything in the world. 

Though of course he keeps upsetting them he's a sack of shit.

Sunny hands Aubrey a Kat-Kat candy bar and a Professor Pepper soda, her favorites.

"You remembered?" She asks, "After all these years?"

Sunny nods, repeating in his damaged voice, "I…care."

He blushes slightly and avoids eye contact, "I...care…a...lot."

"Then stick around," Aubrey demands, "If you care then stay alive. That's what I want. Want everyone wants."

Sunny doesn't respond. He thinks she thinks that's what she wants but he knows that's not true. He knows he's not worth having around…

He doesn't realize that's the truest thing Aubrey has ever said.

"See…" Sunny adds, recalling his promise, "Basil…"

"Sunny can we maybe do that later?" Aubrey requests, "Basil…"

"See. Basil." Sunny states sternly. He knows he's going to die soon but if he can get them to accept Basil first then the job is done. Then he can leave… right?

If only he saw they needed him too.

"OK…" Aubrey sighs, "But you need the truth first."

Aubrey turns away, shame in her eyes, "When you shut yourself away… I tried to connect with Basil. He… drew all over the photos and I just… saw it as abandoning me like everyone else did. Like he abandoned our memories. I… lashed out when I should have talked to him tried to understand. But I bullied him and now he hates me. He-"

Sunny takes Aubrey's hand, the warmth of his palm soothing her.

"Make…" Sunny smiles, "Amends…"

"You think he'll forgive me after all this?" Aubrey asks, trying not to cry.

Sunny nods.

"I'll try then," Aubrey replies.

The two exit the store, Kel spotting them, the fear in his eyes being replaced by relief as he sees Sunny is OK.

"We need to go get Basil," Aubrey explains.

"Yeah he could use a good day too," Kel agrees, "But aren't you two like, not getting along?"

"I at least need to apologize," Aubrey states, hiding the self loathing for her actions.

"OK," Kel replies, "Sounds fun! Just like old times!"

Sunny prepares to lead the way only to be stopped by Aubrey who grabs his hand tight and states firmly, "No. You don't leave my side until we know you're safe. Period."

Sunny is led by Aubrey, who keeps her hand tight around his so he doesn't sneak off again, to Basil's house. Kel knocks on the door. Basil answers, greeting the group timidly, "Oh… hey guys."

"Hey you…" Aubrey inquires, "...OK?"

"Uhhh…" Basil replies, lying anxiously, "Yes? What do you care?"

This hits a nerve with Aubrey. Basil… how long did he feel like no one cared. How long did he make him feel just like she hated everyone for making her feel like? How do you even begin to apologize for that?

"Hey Aubrey-" Kel tries to vouch for her.

Aubrey steps up through, collecting her resolve, deciding to say only what she knows to be true, to be genuine and accept what happens. She owes Basil an apology but she accepts Basil doesn't owe her forgiveness.

"I'm sorry," Aubrey sighs.

"What?" Basil asks, baffled. Did Aubrey… apologize? After all this time? 

Basil's heart races. He always cared deeply for Aubrey and the others, particularly Aubrey and Sunny, but he assumed those days for other. Could this be a second chance? Even after… SOMETHING? It nothing else just… one good day? One more good day?

"I wasn't there for you," Aubrey explains, "I was confused and angry and I took that out on you and I should have just… talked to you and you don't have to forgive me but I want you to know you're a good person Basil and I'm sorry I-"

Basil breaks, hugging Aubrey and crying, speaking through sobs, "I missed you… so much… I heard the sirens and I was scared you got hurt…"

Aubrey hugs him back and assures him, "It's OK… we can go back to the way things were…"

Sunny feels… strangely happy, of course there's the joy of his two friends being happy and making amends but...theres something else. Like… The two of them belong together in a way…

Eh it's probably nothing.

Aubrey lets go, offering, "We're heading to the hangout spot. Wanna come?"

Basil nods, "Yeah."

"Oh keep an eye on Sunny," Kel requests.

"What do you mean?" Basil inquires, slightly concerned.

Sunny looks down at his feet. Now Basil is gonna be upset. Why? If Aubrey had just let it happen…

Then something occur, a connection in his brain…

If he did it, would… They be more upset? Would they be even worse off if he did it?

…

This scares him.

This terrifies him.

He can't buy their smiles. He can't buy forgiveness he can't buy their happiness. He knows cause he tried to buy such things for himself for four years! This money is fucking worthless! Why can't he buy the things he actually wants!?! 

He can't even buy a way for them to not feel pain when he dies.

…

He hates money.

"A lot has gone on just keep an eye on him," Kel explains. 

Basil takes Sunny's hand, nothing something is wrong and she spots it, his shirt, torn slightly at the stomach. 

"Did he try to…" Basil inquires.

Aubrey silently nods.

"Sunny…" Basil pleads, trying to look him in the eye, only for him to turn away.

Basil grips her hand more tightly, assuring him, "Everything is going to be OK…"

Sunny feels a soothing warmth in his plam, and he's happy to have Basil back. Happy to see him so why…

Why does he still want to hold Aubrey's hand too?

Is…

Is it OK to want both?

…

No that's not allowed right? That's never happened before… has it?

He needs to think.

Aubrey is having a similar issue. 

Basil is holding Sunny's hand. She would understand if she was jealous of one or the other but… She feels jealous of both in a way. That… that's weird right? How does she mention something like that?

So she doesn't. She doesn't say anything due to fear of being seen as odd or disloyal, unaware it's not as far-fetched a feeling as she believes.

The group heads to the hangout spot, Sunny hands Basil his favorite, skinny mints and a Grape Joe before handing Kel a classic chocolate bar and an orange joe. There morning birds chirp as the four sit there, talking about little things. There's such a simple joy in this moment, a simple joy in the dew upon the grass shining in the sunlight, the cool Summer morning air.

They all feel… happy. They all feel happy to have the others, even if for Basil SOMETHING haunts him, lingering, he's mostly happy. Everyone is happy right now.

But not Sunny.

Sunny feels a bittersweetness. Everyone has each other now. Even Basil, and he's happy for them. He finally has what money can't buy. Aubrey's laugh. Basil's smile. The joy in Kel's eyes. 

This is it. This what he wants. This is what money can't buy. Love. Happiness. The people cares about. He wonders what to do now. Tries to think of what his next course of action should be. His eyes wander towards the lake…

That cold water which he could use to flood his lungs and return to Mari. He could make it before Kel, the fastest, could react. Just a quick sprint and…

No.

He can't do this. Not right now. Everyone is so happy, and they were so upset when he tried to last time. He… He can do it later.

He should just enjoy this moment. Basil snuggles up next to him, dozing back off as the warmth from Basil calms Sunny down. He yawns. He finds himself so tired…

"You can go to sleep," Aubrey assures, "I get we've had a rough morning but it's OK. I'm not danger and I'm here. Why don't you get some sleep."

Aubrey holds him, echoing what Basil once said, "Everything is going to be OK."

Sunny feels the warmth of Aubrey's embrace. He feels… happy. At ease. He's so tired. 

So so tired…

…

Welcome to Green Space. 

You have been coming here for as long as you can remember...

Aubrey tells Kel, "I need to tell my other friends I'm OK."

"I'll pass it on," Kel assures standing up, "Also make sure Sunny eats what he wakes up."

"Oh could you tell them one more thing?" Aubrey inquired.

Kel nods. 

"Tell them to keep an eye on Sunny until we know he's not a danger to himself," Aubrey requests sternly...