Photo is of Becky.

11 years ago........................

Zeke parked his bike in front of his parents house and swung off, it was early evening by the time he arrived and he planned on staying for the weekend. He took some time off from working at the Animals garage and away from the club, wanting to spend time with his little brother.

Ty was sixteen now and had just gotten his drivers license, Zeke only hoped he was a cautious driver and not some young teenaged dirt bag.

He walked in the front door and his parents moved to meet him, his mother going up on tip toes to try and hug him. He bent to meet her halfway, he dwarfed everyone in his family but at least a foot, his mother included.

"Zeke, we weren't expecting you until later."

"I rode straight through."

"You shouldn't, you'll fall asleep while driving."

"I'll be fine, where's Ty?"

"He's on the back porch with Becky, they're practicing for a talent show at school." His father said.

"Talent? Ty?"

"Don't be rude, your brother has lots of talent."

"He's all left feet and thumbs,"Zeke said with a laugh.

"Becky doesn't think so," His mom said with a shrug.

"I gotta check this out."

He moved passed his parents and through the house to the back door, stepping onto the porch in time to see Ty spin Becky away from him, he pulled her back and she elbowed him in the side.

"I'm sorry," She said.

"No, it's fine." Ty said with a sigh.

Zeke couldn't help but shake his head as he stepped further into the light from the porch.

"You never were a good dancer," He said.

"Zeke!" Ty embraced him in a tight hug.

He released Ty with a wide smile as Becky made her way over as well, she was so tiny he easily lifted her off her feet in a hug as well.

"How are you doing gorgeous?" He asked.

"I'm trying to teach Ty how to dance," She said as he set her back on her feet.

"I see that."

"Zeke, tell her this is a bad idea," Ty begged.

"I would man but you know our Becky, it'd only make her more determined."

Becky laughed and hopped onto the porch railing, dangling her feet and watching the two brothers.

"I can give you some pointers if you like,"Zeke said.

"You?" Ty asked, in disbelief.

"Becky?" Zeke held out his hand and she laughed as she hopped down and took it.

He spun her around twice before pulling her against his chest, she let him lead and fell easily into step with him. He spun her out and then back in flawlessly.

"You have to spin her away and pull her back like your heart will break if she gets away,"Zeke said, repeating the action before spinning her two more times.

"Where's you learn that?" Ty asked.

"Your big brother has his secrets."

He pulled Becky in and into a low dip before setting her upright on her feet again, he stepped away and motioned for Ty to take his place.

"Keep your head up, back straight, arms tight and try again," He said.

PRESENT DAY.................................

They had practiced for hours that night, laughing on the deck. Zeke drinking a few beers and trying his best to help Ty and Becky who were drinking coke. In the end they got tenth out of eleven entries, the only person they beat was a boy who passed out on stage. They didn't win but the memories they made that night were some that Zeke would never forget. That was back when times were easier, when they're friendship was effortless and he didn't think he could love Becky or Ty anymore if he tried.

Becky's parents had came bringing her things and admiring his house, they deposited her things in his room and then left abruptly leaving him and Becky alone again.

"Are you tired?" He asked after her parents had gone.

"Yes, but I'm tired of sleeping all the time."

"It's not like you have anything better to do," He said.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Come on, I'll help you to bed and if you want to watch TV in bed you can."

He reached for her with every intention of picking her up but she stopped him, her hands bracing on his shoulders and keeping him from lifting her.

"I don't want to keep taking your bed," She insisted.

"It's fine, I can crash on the couch."

"No, I don't like it."

"Too bad."

He shrugged off her hands and lifted her easily into his arms, she didn't help any but she didn't need too. He carried her back to the bedroom and deposited her on the bed, more than ready to lock her away for the night. Having her constantly nearby was starting to wear on his nerves, while they used be close they weren't anymore and he felt like he was sharing his home with his enemy.

"Goodnight," He said.

"Don't you want to watch something?" She asked.

"Not tonight Becky."

He closed the bedroom door and was instantly relieved to have the pane of wood between them and some space. He wasn't used to having someone constantly nearby, he was used to solitude, he liked the solitude.

He collapsed onto his couch with a heavy sigh, sometimes he missed the old days. When he happily spent hours with Ty and Becky and didn't want anything else from his life. She ruined that, she changed everything in one decision and now he wasn't even sure they were friends. He fell asleep watching a gangster movie somewhere around eleven at night.

It was the soft noises that woke him up at first, his head was throbbing and his legs were cramped from trying to fit his large frame on the small couch. He blinked and tried to concentrate on the noise, confused at first before realizing it was coming from his room, Becky.

He got up and started down the hall before he realized exactly where he was going and he paused. She was crying and he stood there outside the door, should he knock? Should he go inside? He debated just turning around and leaving her alone, maybe she wanted privacy.

The thought that maybe she was in pain is what had him pushing open the door, she was curled onto her side with her back to the door and she was sobbing. He wasn't sure he'd ever heard her cry and he felt terrible for the way he'd been treating her. He eased onto the bed beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey Becky, are you okay?"

"No," She said with a broken sob.

"Does something hurt? Do you need a pain pill."

"No...."

"Then what's wrong?"

"Who is ever going to want me like this?" She asked sobbing harder.

His heart broke and suddenly any resentment or anger he'd felt towards her in the past ten years melted away and she was just Becky again. His friend, his neighbor.

"Becky...."

"What if I can't walk? What then? Who is going to want me now?!"

"You're not going to be like this forever."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do, because I'm going to do whatever I have to do to make sure you walk again."

She continued to sob until he began to worry about her body breaking into pieces from the shaking. He didn't know how to comfort her and he wished that Ty was there to say or do something.

Before he could change his mind he slid into the bed beside her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his body. She rolled into his embrace, burying her face against his chest and sobbing harder.

"Someone will want you Becky, I promise."

She didn't reply but he didn't expect her too, so he held her until the sobs subsided and she fell asleep. Still clutching his shirt in one hand and pressed against his side, his shirt thoroughly soaked from her tears. He'd been cruel to her for years, but nothing was as cruel as he'd been in the past few days. Treating her like a burden when she was hurting and trying to put on a strong front.

"I've been an ass," He said to her, knowing she didn't hear him.

Tomorrow would be different, even if it killed him tomorrow he was going to try and treat her better. Like the family she almost was and the friend she'd always tried to be, but it was hard to let go of a grudge he'd been carrying for ten years.