Just as I was getting dressed, Sarah called to tell me that the doctors had given Brooks another round of pain medication and he would be out for the rest of the night. I'd tried to argue with her when she told me to stay home and get some rest, but when she noted gently that visiting hours were over and the staff would send me home anyway since I wasn't immediate family, I'd sullenly had to accept my fate.

I hung up the phone and sat down miserably on my bed. I was mentally and physically drained, but the thought of closing my eyes and going to sleep by myself in the house sounded laughable. Instead I wandered into the kitchen to fetch a glass of water and made myself somewhat comfortable in the den.

I turned on the tv and found myself staring blankly at a sitcom, not taking a single word in despite the surrounding silence. When my phone rang again a few minutes later and woke me from my reverie, I was surprised to see Dallas' name on the caller ID.

"Hey. Everything okay?" I greeted him, my raw throat causing my voice to be hoarse.

"Yeah yeah, I just... " Dallas sounded jittery, as if his words weren't working properly. I knew how he felt. "I was just, I mean... I tried to visit Brooks and they wouldn't let me in and... and I thought the same had probably happened to you too and I'm not sure if you want to be alone but I was thinking I could—"

I released a whoosh of air as I realized what Dallas was proposing, and I nodded vigorously even though he couldn't see me. "I would love some company, Dallas. I don't want to be alone right now." I admitted, toying with the edges of my t-shirt. Dallas sounded like he needed a friend as much as I did, and the thought of there being another warm body in the house already set me more at ease.

"Oh okay, good. I'm on my way so I'll see you in ten minutes, alright."

"Sounds perfect, see you Dallas."

When a knock on the door sounded exactly twelve minutes later, a surge of energy rushed through me as I went over to open it. Dallas stood on the porch, his white hoodie dotted with raindrops, face a ghastly shade of pale and his lips pulled down into a frown. The hollow look in his blue eyes was heartbreaking, and I couldn't help but reach out and fold him into a hug. He rested his chin on my head and pulled me tighter against him.

"Everything's going to be okay, Dallas. I promise."

"I just..." He trailed off unsurely, unable to find the right words, and I patted his back soothingly.

"I know. Me too."

We made our way into the warmth of the den, sitting together on the L-sofa. We talked about mundane things, like the storm and school— things that were unimportant but strangely provided a brief reprieve from my own thoughts. It wasn't until Dallas mentioned Mia in passing that I decided if there had ever been a time to meddle, it was now. Tomorrow I would be gone and I needed to at least try to lead two of my friends towards a happy ending before then.

"Dallas, don't take this the wrong way, but what are you doing?" I asked, chewing on my lower lip.

Dallas' shocked blue eyes found mine, and he watched me with confusion. A ghost of a smile found my lips.

"With Mia, I mean. It's so clear how much you care about her, why haven't you made a move?"

Dallas made a sound halfway between a sigh and a groan and lay his head against the wall behind the sofa. "Is it that obvious?"

I thought about all the times I'd caught Dallas giving the youngest McCormack longing looks, how he'd tease her playfully whenever possible, and the devastated look on his face before Christmas when Mia had admitted to not liking anyone in our group during the game of Never Have I Ever.

"The only way it would be more obvious is if you wore a flashing sign around your neck."

Dallas groaned. "Mia is the most amazing girl I've ever met. And I say that as I sit in the same room as a literal celebrity." He told me, and I couldn't help but smile despite myself. "She just doesn't see me that way though. I tried to tell her how I felt that day I got knocked out on the football field, but she freaked out and left."

I knew the exact scenario that Dallas was describing, remembering how Mia had burst into the den and interrupted Brooks and I as we'd sat in this very position.

"She spent so long obsessing over Luke" He continued, "that the only way I could ever get her attention was by annoying her. I feel like she's labelled me as her brother's irritating best friend, and nothing I do can change that."

Dallas ran a hand through his hair, releasing his breath slowly. I understood his confusion. One minute Mia was telling me she was going to invite him to the Sadie Hawkins Dance and the next she was infuriated by him.

"I think Mia would be more than lucky to be with someone like you, Dal." I informed him honestly, laying my hand over his. "And I think you should just be completely honest with her. Lay all of your cards on the table. Life's too short not to tell people you love them when you can."

Dallas watched me through heavy-lidded eyes, seeming almost calculative. "Are you going to tell Brooks that you love him before you leave?" He asked slyly.

I blanched, freezing in surprise. Mia must have told him about my impending departure. My stomach roiled and my hand tightened unintentionally on his. I knew what I felt for Brooks wasn't just friendship, but I also knew that there was no point in questioning whether or not it was love. It wouldn't make a difference and would only cause us both more heartache.

"I can't go there Dallas." I admitted, releasing his hands and curling my knees up under my chin. "I'm going to Florida tomorrow and nothing will change that."

We were both silent for a moment and there was a heaviness in the room that hadn't been there before. After what felt like an eternity, Dallas spoke up, his voice quiet against the hammering of the rain outside. "Not even if he loves you too?"

I squeezed my arms even more tightly around my legs, to the point where it started to hurt. The possibility of finding out that Brooks loved me would make it impossible to leave, and even just the thought sent weakness to my knees. But that was just more of a reason to go. I couldn't stand for the people I cared about to get hurt because of me. I struggled to find an appropriate response to Dallas' question, so instead I stood up and faked a yawn, which quickly became a real one.

"I'm going to try and get some rest, you should too. There are fresh towels in the linen closet." I wandered away before Dallas could respond, but instead of turning into my bedroom, I found my feet leading me towards Brooks' room. I left the lights out, taking a moment to take in everything I saw.

I ran my fingers over his clothes in the closet, pausing on the soft grey Nike hoodie that I knew was one of his favourites. I pulled it from it's hangar and tugged it over my head, creasing up the sleeves so that they weren't quite so long. I inhaled deeply, smelling daisy-fresh fabric softener and the subtle scent of Brooks' cologne, and my body instantly relaxed. Craving more of the peace that my wrecked body associated with Brooks, I crawled into his neatly made bed and snuggled into the comforter.

It wasn't until a few moments later that I allowed the tears to fall freely, and I cried myself to sleep.