"Okay baby girl, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Why do you keep calling me that?!" Mateo exclaims while I laugh. I started calling him baby girl just to mess with him and it is so funny every time.

"Because you're my baby girl," I lean across the booth and peck his lips. I start to pull away but Mateo grabs my face and kisses my lips again. He then starts kissing all over my face and I blush at the fact that we are in public.

"Okay," I grab his shoulders and push him away. "That's enough baby girl."

"Stay longer please." Mateo picks up his water and takes a sip. We've been at the diner for almost two hours already. I mean we got most of our assignments done which is good. But it's already getting late and I need to go home. I know he wants to avoid going home because of Marisela. He's told me he hasn't entered her room since before the accident and it hurts him just getting to his room.

"It's already late Mateo. I'll facetime you tonight if that makes you feel better." I tell him and his eyes sadden.

"Hey," I grab his hand. "Look I know it's hard going home. But you can't avoid it forever." I send him a weak smile hoping it'll make him feel better. I can't even imagine how he feels. I always say that I can't feel what others feel because it's true. I don't know how he actually feels and he doesn't know how I actually feel. But when we talk to each other, we understand what's going on in each other's minds.

"I know I know. It's just really hard V. I talked to my Mom and she said maybe therapy will help. But I don't want to go." He rubs his forehead with his free hand and closes his eyes.

"Well don't force yourself if you don't want to go. I'm sure your Mom will understand Mateo. Look I know sometimes it's hard to open up and talk more about it, but it helps. A lot. And I know I sound like a broken record, but you know I'll always be here for you." I lean across the booth once and catch his lips. The soft lips that make my days better.

He hums against my lips and seems to relax. He pulls away and has a smile on his lips. "You always manage to make me feel better Veronica."

"That's what I do baby girl," I smirk at him and pack up my stuff.

"Really V," He rolls his eyes. "We were having a moment and here you come with your 'baby girl' I might as well start calling you princess." My head shoots up and I look at him with furrowed brows. He has a grin on his face and his shoulders are moving up and down as he's laughing quietly. I've told him before that I don't like that name. It just sounds weird to me.

"Oh please don't call me that." I step out of the booth and move to Mateo's side. He scoots over to the edge of the seat and pulls me in for a hug. I rub his back and put my chin on the top of his head.

"Are you gonna stay a little longer?" I ask him as I pull away.

"Yeah, I have to finish this essay and then I'll head home. Might as well get it finished." I nod my head and adjust my backpack strap higher up on my shoulder. I run my hand through his soft hair and bring it down to his cheek. My thumb rubs his cheekbone softly as he looks up at me.

"Text me when you get home V."

"I will. I'll see you later." I peck his lips once again and smile against them. I pull away and make my way towards the exit. When I get there, I turn around and see Mateo looking at me with a smile. His elbow is on the table and he rests his face on the palm of his hand. He's so cute. I wave at him and he waves back.

I can't wait to grow old with him.

~

As I'm unlocking the front door, I see that Mom and Dad aren't here. Honestly I don't mind that Mom isn't here. She's probably just working at her shop. But Dad, honestly I wish we would talk more. The last time we had a sit down family dinner was when Mateo came over. And Christopher wasn't even there so I guess it was a semi family dinner.

I step inside the house and close the door. After dropping my backpack at the entrance, I make my way to the kitchen. I need some water. Mateo and I ate at the diner so I'm not hungry right now. I open the fridge and take out a water bottle. When I close the refrigerator door, I almost have a heart attack.

"AHHH OH MY GOSH!" Christopher is just standing there not saying anything.

"CHRISTOPHER. You scared me. Don't do that," I say while putting a hand over my heart. It's beating ten times faster than it was before.

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you Veronica," he says and rubs the back of his neck. He looks tired. His skin is paler than usual, his hair is ruffled and sticking up, and he just looks bad in general.

"You okay?" I step closer to him and he has a nervous expression on his face.

"I uh... I wanted to talk to you. Let's go to the living room," I nod my head and follow behind him. We take a seat on the couch and I set my water bottle down on the coffee table.

"So what's going on?" I question him and he clears his throat. "Well I feel like it's time to tell you the truth, no more hiding." Okay well this is good. I mean it's scary at the same time because I don't know what to expect but at least he's opening up.

"Take your time," I let him know while I take my shoes off and put my feet up on the couch.

"Umm do you know what Schizoid Personality Disorder is?" I'm taken aback by the question. Well this conversation is not going the way I thought. I shake my head and he continues to talk.

"Well it's basically a condition where one starts to avoid any social activities. Even talking to people including family. Basically distancing themselves."

"Okay but what does that have to do with you? You're not trying to tell me you have that right?" I sit up straight and start to get concerned. It makes sense but why wouldn't he tell me sooner? Do Mom and Dad know? If they do, why didn't they tell me?

"Yes that's what I'm trying to say Vero."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He stays quiet and turns his head towards the front door. Oh no he isn't going to avoid me right now.

"Christopher," I scoot close to him and put my hand on his back. He turns to look at me and has tears in his eyes. "Chris the only way I'll find out is if you tell me. You don't have to tell me. I can see that it's hard for you."

He immediately shakes his head side to side and wipes his eyes. "No I need to tell you. I can't wait longer and it's not fair to you." His eyes are red and still filled with tears that are being contained. Just looking at him like this makes me sick. I don't want him to feel like this.

"So the ending of senior year which was the year you were about to enter high school. I started feeling different. I hated going to school but it wasn;t because of the assignments that were given or the fact that we have to wake up early for it. But it was the fact that I had to be around people and talk to them. At first I thought it was the people I was hanging out with. So I stopped talking to them which left me just being alone during school. When I would get home and hang out with you. It wasn't the same." Sadness fills me up as he says that. Well I didn't know he felt that way.

"This is gonna sound bad but," his voice shakes and I see a tear slid down his cheek. "It's like I just wanted to be alone. Everyone felt like a bother. I hated going out and I hated sitting down at the dinner table. And you would always ask to hang out so I started ignoring you because I felt bothered. It felt consistent whenever you asked." Tears accumulate in my eyes and I take a deep breath in. Gosh this hurts. I know he's telling me the truth and I'm happy but it hurts. The best thing to do is stay quiet and listen to him. He's been silent enough and I'm not going to interrupt him.

"So one day I asked Mom if she can take me to a doctor. She tried asking me what was wrong but I didn't want to talk to her about it. She ended up taking me and that's when I find out I have this disorder." He sniffles and turns once again to face me. When he looks at me, I turn my head away so he doesn't see my face. I can feel my bottom lip start to tremble. I can't start crying now.

"What did the doctor say?" I squeak out trying my best to keep my voice steady.

"She said to start going to therapy. I have been going ever since. That's why I was never home during the day. But sometimes when I was home I just parked my car in the back so you wouldn't see."

Anger starts to bubble up in me. How come I didn't know? What was so bad about me knowing? I turn to face him not caring about the tears starting to fall down my cheeks.

"Why didn;t you tell me? Why couldn't I know? How were you at the party then?" I raise my voice but it still sounds shaky. He looks at me and shakes his head. "Veronica I couldn't stop how I felt. And I was drunk at the party. My therapist told me to try going out more and when someone said the party was going to happen I talked to an old friend and we went together. But I was drunk and when I saw you laughing and having fun with friends I got jealous. I wish that was me. It sucks but I can't stop how I feel."

I nod my head not knowing what to say. This is a lot to take in. I'm upset but I know I have no reason to be.

"I'm sorry Veronica." Christopher says.

"Don't say sorry," I grab his hand. "What matters now is that you told me. You aren't alone anymore. I understand if you want to be alone though. Just know that I'm just across the hall if you need someone to talk to." I squeeze his hand and wipe my tears with my free hand.

"Thank you Veronica," his bottom lip shakes and tears start to cascade down his tinted red cheeks. He brings me into a hug and I can't hold in my emotions anymore. My cheeks are getting wet by the second and Christopher hugs me tighter. It's crazy to think that this was the reason why we stopped talking. It breaks my heart. I only want the best for the people I love and it seems like something bad is always happening.

"I'm gonna try my best to get back to how I was before. I know it can't be cured but it can be treated, and therapy is helping." He pulls away from the hug and rubs his eyes. I let out a breath and clear my throat. It's like everything is slowly getting better and better.

"I love you my dear brother." I laugh a little at the memory that pops into my head once I say that. We used to tell each other this every night before going to sleep. He laughs and leans back against the couch.

"I love you too my dear sister."