Looking at him, I see the sadness in his eyes. Fuck. He did see the needles.

"I didn't realize you've been living like this, Danny."

I hide my head in shame, mumbling

"I know, I'm sorry I haven't told you at all. Life has been rough for me ever since the shooting."

Reed is silent for what feels like forever. The silence is broken by him putting his hands on my hips. Oh shit. This is happening.

"I promise you won't live like this any longer."

Then, he surprises me with the longest kiss I've ever felt. His lips on mine, our snouts touching. This feels right. It feels good to be back with him.

But there is still one question that's at the back of my mind, burning like the deepest pits of hell.

"What happened to the rest of the band?" I feel my throat choking up as I ask that question.

Reed looks down in sadness.

"After Fang got put in jail, Trish started her business. I've been selling carfe, now that it's legal, I don't have to worry about being thrown in jail with her."

I can't stop, a single tear falls down from my eye.

"C-can we at least see Fang? I know I hate her but deep down, seeing her again might just help."

I can hear the pathetic squeak in my voice. I'm totally vulnerable here. Something I didn't have in high school.

"We can, maybe tomorrow though."

After getting ready, we sleep in my bed together. It feels weird having Reed in my bed, but it also feels good.

------------------------------
The next morning, I was up already. Checking my clock, it was 8:30. Looking at Reed, I couldn't help but chuckle.

He looks cute when he sleeps.

Getting into my wheelchair, I clean up my apartment. It was extremely dirty but I got it clean in two hours.

While cooking, I hear footsteps. Good, he's awake.

As I'm drinking some milk on the couch, Reed finally comes out and I can't help but spill my milk on my face as I get a good look at him.

He only has his jeans on. He was jacked. I'm drooling at the sight. Sensing my hunger, he flexes his muscles.

"What do ya think? Like what you see?"

I can't answer him, I'm shocked.

After a delicious breakfast, we get in the car and drive to the county prison.

Using this tiny bit of peace, I decide to think about this situation. I'm seeing someone who put me in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I'm angry but also excited to see her. Before I could think through some more, Reed speaks up.

"I forgot to tell you there is a surprise for you."

Shocked, I find myself to say

"W-What surprise?"

Reed looks at me, a slight smirk.

"Fang got out of jail! She and some others are waiting for you."

SHE WHAT.

She killed fifteen kids. How did she get out?

Reed, sensing my anguish speaks up, a coolness and collectedness in his voice.

"Don't worry, she won't kill you. She is a changed woman. She feels remorse for disabling you."

But who else is there?

As if Raptor Jesus was hearing me, I see the country prison hone into view. A large campus of old, derelict concrete prisons. After going through the checkpoint, Reed turns down a road and there I see the entire group. Fang, Trish, Stella, Rosa, Anon and ... Naser and Naomi?

I couldn't believe it. How did Naser and Naomi survive? I thought they were both killed. I saw their bleeding bodies on that day.

Before I could finish my thoughts, Reed stopped the car. Looking back, we both realize I forgot my wheelchair at home.

"Fuck me. I got so excited to surprise you that I forgot to grab your wheelchair."

Hearing Reed's regrets, I comfort him

"It's fine, I got a cane that I can use on my left side to help me walk. But how did Naser and Naomi survive?"

Reed looks back at me "Naomi barely survived being shot and all, but when Fang shot Naser, she did hit one of his organs, but it was a minor injury, the doctor was able to stop the bleeding."

As I get out of Reed's van, Rosa runs over and hugs me. Holy shit, she is still strong as ever. Never expected a girl that was into gardening in high school to be this powerful.

Sensing she's squishing me, she lets me go. That's when I unfortunately lock eyes with Fang. Fuck, so awkward.

Before I could try and talk to the others, Fang steps forwards. I felt my anger growing and before I know it, I feel myself lashing out at her.

"Danny? is that yo-"

"SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP. FANG."

My cold tone shut her up. I can't believe I'm doing this

"My life has been hell thanks to you. I've lost the ability to walk and now I'm stuck working a low paying job I hate and I'm limited in what I can do."

Fang looks like she's about to cry. Good. She deserves it. Five years of my life has been wasted learning how to use a wheelchair and working a low paying job while being addicted to heroin.

But yet, I feel worse inside. She did cripple me, but she feels remorse.

I can't help but hug her. Whatever shit she did in the past, we can fix together. Before I know it, we are back in Reed's car, the group wanted to see my place. Glad I cleaned it. But the car ride is silent. Everyone knows the weight of the situation. Anon seems to be the worst. He's doing that mumbling to himself thing he did back in high school.

--------

Before I know it, we are back at my apartment. Time for a hard task thats twice as hard now without a wheelchair. That is, until Rosa picked me up and put me over her shoulders. Huh. Thats whats being tall is like.

Oh my god I just realized.

DONTLOOKDOWNATHERTITSDONTLOOKDOWN

Luckily, my eyes avoid looking down. That is, until we get to my apartment door. I accident see her cleavage when I'm let down. Stumbling with my cane to my door, I carefully grab my key and unlock my apartment. The motions I've gotten used to doing in my wheelchair. Finally, I get to my wheelchair inside my apartment. Holy shit. I hate this thing sometimes but after using my cane, life feels better when I sit in it. As soon as the group sits down, Naomi starts asking a million questions about my personal life. Fuck me. I wish she was dead. This pink lump of chatterbox cancer never shuts up. She is worse then Stella sometimes.

The constant barrage of questions gets interrupted by Naser who noticed something in my cupboard while he was getting a drink.

"Hey Danny, whats this?"

He pulls it out. Oh no. My "escape plan", a M1 Garand I bought 3 months ago when I intended to kill myself.

Doesn't help that its in a box labelled "Escape Plan." Please Raptor Jesus, let me get out of this.

"I uh-uhhhh like hunting."

Naser tenses up.

"Danny. This was in a box labelled 'Escape Plan'. That tells me all I need to know."

FUUUCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Everyone is looking at me now, very visibly worried. Fuck my life. Why do I keep trying to lie my way out and it always backfires on me?

With all the thoughts running through my head, I did the first thing I knew, run. I wheel to my bedroom and slam the door, dragging myself onto my bed.

I can't help but tear up into my pillow. Why was I such a failure? I want to leave this planet peacefully but these people care about me still. Even the woman who crippled me.

I wish I could go back in time and stop Fang from shooting up the school and try to fix things between her and Anon. Life could've been different.

Why, Raptor Jesus? What did I do to deserve this?

My soft sobbing and self hatefest is interrupted by Naser and Anon.

"W-why are you two here?"

"We wanted to come check on you. You seemed like you're going through some desperate times." Wow. Surprising to hear from Naser.

I can't help it. Saying in my most sarcastic voice

"Oh yeah, everything is peachy!"

That struck a nerve with them. Naser has already taken out his cell phone and starting to call someone. Fuck. He's probably calling a suicide line or a mental hospital.

"We are getting you help. It's obvious you can't live on your own like this."