"Hey dad," I spoke into the receiver as I waited for my bus. I yawned widely. I didn't know how Lucas did late night fights and left the house so early in the morning to do who knows what the next day.

"Hey, kiddo," came the muffled reply. I was sure he was keeping the phone in place on his shoulder as he held onto armfuls of files. "How's work going?"

"Good," I replied stepping onto my bus as it approached. "Random question: do you have to replace pepper spray bottles?"

I heard a shuffle before his voice cut in clearer. Clearly I had caught his interest, "Of course you do. Didn't you get my texts about when to buy a new one?"

"Mmhm," I replied. My dad sent me multiple conspiracy theory texts a day so I was used to ignoring the majority of them. Was I aware that John F. Kennedy's assassination was a conspiracy? Did I know that there had been a UFO sighting in the small town next to my dad's? Sure, the guy who spotted the green alien happened to be drunk at the time, but he could still describe the creature when sober.

"Why are you asking?" He asked in concern.

"I just didn't realize that they oozed a liquidy substance when expired," I joked lightheartedly.

"Emily Johnson, what on earth did you use your pepper spray on? I knew this day would come. The moment I put my guard down and think 'oh, maybe the apartment isn't so bad; maybe the area isn't so sketchy,' this comes to bite me in the ass." My dad rambled as he did when he was freaked out.

"Dad, relax. It was nothing. I just happened to hit the nozzle accidentally because I take it around with me so religiously," I tried not to let sarcasm seep into my voice.

"I swear to you, if I find out something happened and you didn't tell me, I'll camp outside of your apartment for the rest of your life," he exclaimed. I knew he was kidding. Sort of.

"Jeez, you're teetering on creepy there, dad."

"I'll mail you a new pepper spray," he confirmed.

"Thank you," I replied. I was lucky to have him looking out for me. I knew everything hit closer to home for him because of my mom. Her death played a large role on his protective nature.

The bus stopped and I hopped off, "Love you."

"Love you too, kiddo," he responded.

I trekked the rest of my way over into the condo complex, entering the luxurious building and relishing in the heat for a moment.

I knocked on Daniel's door and the door flew open to a grinning teen.

"Emily," he stated staring at me.

I raised an eyebrow, "Daniel?"

"Please, come in," he stated formally.

I laughed before walking inside and taking my jacket off, "What's going on?"

"I wanted to formally apologize to you, mostly because I want to and partly because Lucas told me I had to," he looked at me innocently.

"It's fine, Daniel," I grinned at him walking into the living room, "But, now that I have you on the ropes," I trailed as I opened my bag and pulled out a notebook handing it over to him taking a seat on the couch nearest to where he was.

"What is this?" He asked suspiciously.

I rolled my eyes, "Just open it."

He lifted it carefully as though it was a ticking time bomb and opened the first page, "My goals," he read slowly before looking at in utter confusion.

"Before you say anything else, I think we should remember that setting goals for yourself is important when you're doing anything. It keeps you on track and focused on a larger picture."

"Walk on my own two feet?" He chuckled lightly.

"Write it down!" I encouraged pulling a black sharpie out of my bag and handing it over.

He gave me an exaggerated sigh before scribbling it down. "Anything else?" He asked tossing the pen on the table in front of him.

"They're your goals, Daniel," I reminded him, "but what about school? Or in your personal life?"

"What am I supposed to take my caregiver to school with me?" He questioned bitterly.

"Daniel, your chair doesn't stop you from doing anything you want to do. And I'm not here to be your babysitter. I'm here to help you get to a point where you can be independent and do things on your own."

It seemed like Daniel had gotten so used to thinking he was an invalid if he was in the chair, but he had so much potential for recovery or even just living a normal life in the wheelchair.

"I guess I want to fight again," he stated quietly, "Lucas used to teach me before my car accident."

I shoved the pen a little and he reached out to scribble it down, keeping it in his hand this time.

"And I guess I want to become a history teacher if I graduate. When I graduate." He scribbled that down as well.

After we were finished, we taped it onto the fridge so he could see it everyday and I was giddy to see a spark of hope fluttering in his eyes.

We left the apartment to head to Daniel's doctor appointment - a check up to see how his spine was progressing and sat in the waiting room. Lucas was supposed to be meeting us at the doctor's office, but I assumed he was running late.

There were a couple other people waiting as well. Daniel picked up a magazine humming to himself. I noticed a young girl who looked to be about Daniel's age looking at him.

I nudged Daniel's arm before whispering, "I think that girl is checking you out."

His eyes darted to the girl who blushed and turned away, "No way."

I shrugged, "Looks that way to me."

The girl peeked over again before standing up and walking towards Daniel. My heart clenched in excitement for Daniel and I felt like a total creeper staring at these two teens flirting awkwardly.

"Hey," she blushed looking at him, "can I sit here?" She gestured to the opposite side of where Daniel's chair sat.

"H-hey," Daniel stuttered, "uh-sure."

The girl sat down and stuck her hand out, "I'm Rebecca,"

Daniel leaned in and shook her hand limply, "Daniel Miller."

The girl looked over at me, "I'm Emily!" I exclaimed a little too excitedly. She looked taken aback. Keep it together, Emily.

"She's my uh, sister," Daniel replied and shot me a look. Don't mess this up for me, his eyes glared.

"Oh yeah, Daniel's my little brother all right. We're tight." I rambled before Daniel jabbed his elbow into my side, "Oof. You know, I need to make an important business call if you'll give me a moment." I shot up and ran into the hallway so I was a little out of sight.

They looked adorable, both blushing and awkwardly talking. The elevator to the doctor's office dinged and out walked Lucas. He looked like he had freshly showered, his hair still a little damp and dressed in a snug black t-shirt and grey sweatpants despite the cold weather. His clothes just enunciating the fact that his body was so perfectly sculpted. The cut on his face was still open, but less so than the night before.

He shot me a quizzical look, "Where's Daniel?"

I put a finger to my lips shushing him and pointed discreetly to where Daniel sat. His eyes followed my hand as he looked in himself before chuckling quietly. A beautiful, beautiful sound to my ears.

He made a move to walk inside and I reached out for his arm to tug him back, which did absolutely nothing to stop the giant from making his way. His arm was rock solid and I pulled it back before any more inappropriate thoughts could filter into my imagination. He turned to look at me, waiting for an explanation.

"You can't go in there!" I whispered.

"Why not?" He whispered back gazing at me with his electrifying blue eyes in a way that made me feel self conscious.

I turned away from him to avoid his gaze before looking back quickly, "They're hitting it off! Give him a couple minutes."

I was surprised to see that he listened to me and hung back in the entryway next to me. I could feel the warmth radiating off of him and I recalled his muscular arm for a moment before shaking my head out of my reverie.

"Were you in another fight today?" I asked making conversation, but a small part of me was very curious.

"No," he replied shortly looking straight ahead.

We stood in an awkward silence and I could almost laugh out loud at the picture of two adults sneaking peeks at an underage flirting session.

"I train at the gym," Lucas stated out of the blue looking at me quickly before focusing back on Daniel.

I nodded, "Daniel said you used to teach him how to fight."

A look of surprise flashed across his face before it returned back to the stoic face that I recognized, "I used to."

"He was saying he wanted to do it again," I added.

I could see the fear behind Lucas's eyes as he responded, "I won't be training him anymore. I think they've had enough time." He walked forward and I followed suit shooting Daniel an apologetic look when he glanced up at us.

"Rebecca, this is my brother, Lucas." Daniel muttered.

"Hey," Lucas grunted, sitting down next to Daniel placing both his elbows on the chair handles, clasping his hands together and leaning forward. Rebecca looked terrified of his large stature and his curt tone.

Rebecca frowned before I cut in, "Sorry, Rebecca, our brother has serious mood swings." I joked and she smiled gratefully at me.

Lucas looked beyond confused as he furrowed his eyebrows at me, "What are you talking about?"

I forced a laugh, "oh, Lucas. He never remembers his crazy mood swings after the fact."

Daniel muffled a chortle and Lucas turned to his brother with a puzzled expression on his chiseled face.