"Wow Loran, you have to do this stuff every day," I ask her, doing my best to catch up on my set of towels.

"You bet, though some stuff you don't need to do every day, I just choose to do so. But somehow, I manage."

"No kidding. You might as well hire a house cleaner."

The air starts to become cold, or I'm only noticing now because of Loran. She flips one of her side-swept bangs as her smile turns ghostly pale.

"Now there's an idea, maybe if daddy was still around, then affording one would be a *snap*, just like that.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Lana has mentioned him a few times to me. If you don't mind me asking. What was he like?"

Her ghostly smile gains a bit of color back as she stops folding over her hands not bothering to move them. As if the ceiling was a TV screen, she placed her head on the back end of the couch and closed her eyes. I know the feeling all too well.

"Where to begin? He was an interesting man, to say the least. A little rough around the edges and had a few quirks to him that can be questionable at times. Maybe only because he expected so much for our futures, especially Lincoln's.

But his actions told the story of a man who would always work late nights if only to make sure his wife didn't have to. He and Lana used to work all the time on projects, you know? Just the two of them. He would always try his dang hardest to make sure he bonded with every single one of us."

"How did he bond with you?" I tried catching my words before they left my mouth, but I wasn't fast enough. She doesn't seem to mind my little slip as she shifts her head from the ceiling onto her shoulder, looking my way.

"He would always let me apply makeup upon him." She laughs softly which begins to reshape her smile back into the frame. I can't help but start chuckling.

"Really? His tolerance must be through the roof then."

She chuckles back "You have no idea."

Her voice starts to fade into a light hum along with her eyes. She opens them back a few seconds later. "He was a great man, who cared about this family more than anything else in the world."

"What happened to him?"

She pauses to let the once-warm air fill her lungs with thin sheets of ice. Maybe in a way preparing herself for who knows how many times she had to tell people. With two whiffs, she sighs letting it loudly spread its wings and fly.

"Well Joseph, everyone would tell you that he died in an accidental car explosion. That night, the news hit us like bricks being thrown against a metal wall. For some of us, it still does." She lets out another sigh. "Still, I would tell you that I have a feeling that isn't how he died.

"Why would you think that?"

"It's hard to explain really. I know that Mother and he would always be working on stuff at the Covenant facilities. And with that type of job, accidents can happen, and for secrecy, they'll have to be covered up. And since we never got to see his body. They could have covered that up too."

"I'm sorry" is all I could think at the moment. I expect more to follow but nothing does.

Many of my brothers died in explosions. A quarter of them I've seen with my own eyes. The pain of seeing a person for the last time evaporating to nothing in a matter of seconds is something that latches onto people. In a way, it latches upon all the Foliums. It's due to that, that I owe her a better response than such plain conjunction of words.

"No matter what happened, Loran, a good man like that shouldn't have to die in such a way. Where his grieving family and friends can't even lay the body properly to rest. I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. Not even my worst enemies. I'm truly sorry."

"Thank you for your words, Joseph, but it's ok. My father used to say that it's usually the good people that get what's coming to them."

Those words got me to slowly raise my head from my wavering knees. Only to see her finishing her basket of towels. She then goes for mine which I don't bother interrupting once she grabs half from my pile. A softy chuckle comes from her mouth as she does so.

"It's funny to think about sometimes. If that phrase is to be true. Where does that leave me?"

"You shouldn't be thinking like that, Loran. It's nothing you should be taking close to heart."

"I know, it's just interesting to think about. If it were to be true, I am going to make sure my family is at the best they can be before I get what's coming to me." She looks at me, stone-faced, watching me finish what little towels she had left for me. When I do look up to her, she continues,

"You know my siblings call me the golden girl. For always being the shiniest of colors, even when it hurts them to see it so bright. Sure, I've skipped out on school more than I would have liked. Sure, my social life isn't as mobile as it once was. And sure, my body sometimes yells for me to give it a rest. In the end, it's all worth it because let me tell you, I would sacrifice anything to make sure my siblings remain the best they can be."

"Sacrifice. That's a strange way of describing it," I remark knowing the true depths of what that word can sink into.

"I wouldn't describe it any better. In the end, isn't that what sacrificing is about, to make sure that the people you care for have futures that you hope one day surpass yours?

The weight of her words shifts my eyes back toward my towels. In a way, she does know the true meaning of the word seeing everything she has done. Heck, maybe she only deals with me because her siblings like me enough to keep me around. No matter who says it, those words will always scare me.

"Don't you have people back home where you live, Joseph, that you would sacrifice anything for?"

I do. Lana, Peter, my remaining Ragtags, and even Lisa. In a way, Loran's words are right. I would do anything to see them all in a better world not ruled by Devastator. Sometimes hearing that word, why does it feel like I haven't sacrificed enough? Maybe in those times, I'm thinking of the more physical sense. That would be an explanation that my Lincoln would give me.

Yes, he would.

"Hmph. I guess you could say I do." Short and sweet.

"Then I guess we're both a couple of golden girls, aren't we?" She smiles as the last word rolls from her tongue. If only she knew what I had done.

"Maybe," is all I can say.

She follows suit with a light laugh. "Now let's hope that phrase doesn't mean diddly squat, just like you said."

My mouth abruptly stops from uttering a word thanks to rapid loud banging from the front door. Loran springs up like a dog knowing that something exciting is coming.

"Now he's here early," She mutters not to help hide the friskiness that comes right afterward from her lips. It only accelerates as she opens the door seeing a boy on the other side.

"Vinny!!"

She yells that name like a little girl and goes to hug him. Though this was no little girl getting a pony. But a boy, tall, tan, and slightly thin with a sparking black leather jacket that covers him like a blanket. I consider it too shiny, but by the way, Loran hugs him, I can't blame the jacket for having a reason to shine.

"What's sup goldy locks," he says with a high Italic accent afterward pecking her a quick one on the right cheek. She then playfully pulls him fully inside and shuts the door.

"I'm surprised that you are here so early, especially all dapper up like that."

"What can I say, it would be rude to keep a lady waiting. Especially if she'll be needing one of these."

In his hands waving around like a little finger is a red shiny book with golden letters spelling out calculus on the cover. Loran takes the book and scrolls rapidly through page after page until she slams it close, letting the tiny bits of dust float in the air.

"Wow, Vinny. I don't know what to say." Loran pulls him in for another hug. "Thank you so much. This is going to help me big time."

"Forget about it. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you. I will say that I did my best trying to simplify the notes our teacher gave. Though some stuff it would be easier for me to teach you myself." He suddenly pauses, peering down at the girl who's still hugging his waist.

Looks pretty tight if I might add but he doesn't seem to mind.

"Jeez Loran, you're starting to make me blush over here, and I wouldn't want to go completely soft in front of your guest."

As if she hears glass shattering from behind her, she quickly turns to where she left me. Idly and shifting from one person to the other. With her eyes bulging bigger than ever, she takes her arms frantically away from Vinny, trying to cover up the fact that for a moment, she forgot I was here.

"Where are my manners? Joseph, this is my boyfriend Vinny Aguilera. And Vinny, this is Joseph Arrowson. He's been helping me around the house."

I slowly rose from my position and went to shake his hand.

"You got a strong grip their bud," he tells me taking a few extra seconds to shake my hand even further.

"Thank you," I note that my grip isn't practically strong, or at least my now fleshy one. Loran doesn't need to know that.

"You know, Joseph. Lincoln mentioned you a few times back at my place. You're one of his comic book mates that's staying with him for a month or two?"

"I guess you can say that." Afterward, I can't help but slide in a cheeky grin that neither one of them seems to notice.

"Let me tell you, Joseph. You're doing a good thing helping my girl maintain this place. Because between you and me." He pauses to lean in closer and doesn't even try to whisper. "She doesn't like to admit it, but she can be a bit stubborn sometimes. Don't get where she learns it from."

I guess that was the point as he lightly squealed from Loran jabbing him in his right shoulder. He laughs it off while Loran gives him a slightly annoyed look that still seems more joyful towards him than anything else.

"Oh yeah babe, I figured I would ask. Before I arrived, Jessica wanted me to ask if you would want to meet her and Zack at Zolecki's for a quick bite. She hasn't seen you in a while. Then afterward we can crack open some books back at my place for an hour or two. Especially since it would be hard to study when your siblings start running about."

"Hehe, you have no idea. But Vinny I don't know if I can. They are coming home soon, and the little ones need someone to look after them. Then with a few more things to do around the house. Then things I got to do with the little ones, and...am I starting to ramble?"

"A little, but I find it cute when you do so."

"Aww Vinny, thank you for understanding."

"No worries. They'll be other oppru-"

"Wait Loran," I yell cutting Vinny off. "Why don't you go and hang out with your friends for a couple of hours? I could look after the kids and finish up what you need to do."

They both look at one another with squinting eyes and from the way Loran squints hers. After all, golden girls have to look out for one another, and besides, she deserves a break more than I do. For how much she does.

"Are you sure, Joseph? I can't put this all upon you."

"It's ok Loran. Go take some time to have fun and let me fulfill my agreements to the utmost ability.

With her now knowing my full-on commitment, she turns her face slightly upward towards the ceiling as if she is looking for an answer from someone above. To trust or not to trust. Frankly, if I was in her shoes, it wouldn't be so black and white either.

"I wouldn't be opposed to such an idea," Vinny mentions, once again not trying to whisper. Maybe that was the push she needed. Her body which has been consciously shuffling back and forth for some time stops in front of Vinny, but her face turns toward me.

"Vinny dear, tell Jessica that you and I will be a few minutes late."

"You got it, babe," he says racing out towards the door more animated than I've seen him so far. "I'll meet you in the car."

Then that leaves me. She takes about ten minutes to explain what I must do in her place. I gulp but manage to hide the spit from screaming down my throat when she mentions that I must be a part of Lola's tea party. Everything else for Lana, Lavender, and Lisa seems straightforward enough.

After the click of my pen disbands, she speeds towards the door as quickly as her boyfriend did. However, she makes sure to give me a bunch of gratitude before disappearing. That moment when the door closes behind her, an uneasy feeling comes over me. I try sitting on the couch, but it doesn't stop there. Worst off, I can't start explaining why.

Maybe it was seeing her vigorous locks sway singing past the door. Or it was when I watched them both from the window, dynamic in their movements cruising down in some type of red and silver convertible. Or it was that flourishing open smile that Loran gave to him, it must have melted his heart because it for sure did mine.

Vinny is a lucky guy to have a girl like her. Heck, this world is lucky to have something like her. Mine can't have something like her. Then it hits me. I never did get to comment on Loran's final notion about her father's phrase. Like she never left, I look at the pile of neatly folded towels and say.

"I hope so too Loran. I really do."