"Be careful," I said to Emmett, as I watched him throw another pair of socks into his suitcase.

"I will," he promised.

"Do you have your inhaler?"

He nodded.

"And your nebulizer?"

He nodded again.

"What about-"

"I got it," Emmett said, interrupting me.

"I'm just worried about you," I defended. "Have fun."

"I will," Emmett said, standing up and slinging his duffel bag over his shoulder.

"Don't do anything too stupid."

"I'll try not to."

I rolled my eyes, standing up off of his bed and giving him a tight hug. "I'll miss you."

"It's only three days," he reminded me, as we headed out to the kitchen.

"Yeah but a lot can happen in three days," I said, taking a seat on the couch. "You could get an offer from a college. Or you could overplay and like die of an asthma attack."

"First," Emmett said, holding up one finger, "I already have offers from colleges. And two, the only accounted cases of people dying from asthma attacks are when they've been left to die."

"Just try not to let that happen okay?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm leaving."

I waved and he left the apartment.

I sat criss-cross on the couch, the silence stretching.

Parker was still at practice, which left me home alone for another at least 20-

"Walk me through what happened," Parker's voice demanded, interrupting my peaceful thoughts as he came barging into the apartment.

I never even got to decide what I was going to do.

"I understand that," Parker said, tossing his bag on the floor. "But what I don't understand is why I wasn't contacted about this earlier."

I sense a guardian Parker right now, and he sounds pissed.

"I don't care what Lee tells you," Parker ordered, his voice hard. "I'm his legal guardian, and you have my written orders that I am to be contacted after all panic attacks."

Oh shit.

"Okay," Parker said, before placing his phone down on the counter.

"Hey," I said, raising my eyebrows at him.

"Hey," he muttered, ripping open the refrigerator.

"What happened?"

"I'm this close to snapping," Parker said, holding out his index and thumb. "And Cornerstone is lucky that I don't rip Lee out of their student body-"

"Hello?" Lee's voice asked.

"Before I start lecturing you on protocol post-panic attack, how are you?" Parker asked, turning the phone off of speaker and putting it to his ear.

"I don't really give a fuck," Parker informed him. He listened for a couple of seconds. "Yeah Lee, I'm pissed."

Parker shook his head at whatever Lee was saying. "I sent you to Miami because you convinced me that it was a good idea, and that this was the best route for the both of us. But I swear to fucking God Lee, you ever pull a stunt like this again, you're done."

Parker was beyond pissed.

"How are you going to tell me that it's embarrassing?" Parker demanded. "It's a panic attack Lee. I'm not asking you to stand up in the front of the student body and declare your emotions, I'm asking for a phone call."

Parker dropped his phone on the counter and walked away from it.

I had a feeling Lee was still on the line.

"I cannot deal with him right now," Parker said to me, shaking his head. "I'm going to say something I'll regret."

"Just call him back later," I advised. "When you've had time to cool off."

So Parker reached over and hung up the phone.

"I meant tell Lee that's what you're doing," I added.

"Too late now."

"What's got you heated?" I asked, heading over to the kitchen. I hopped up on the counter and began to massage his shoulders.

"Well first he had a panic attack," Parker stated. "And the fucking school didn't call me."

"I got that much."

"He had it last night."

"So the time lapse has got you worked up?"

"Well they only decided to call me today because Lee's been in one of his moods. He clams up and he won't talk to anybody, it's a precursor to the depression." Parker let out a long sigh. "And all of this could've been avoided if he'd had the right advice last night, which knowing Nurse Airhead over there she probably pat him on the back and sent him back to his dorm."

"Well you're driving down to see him tomorrow, right?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"So all of this can be sorted out," I encouraged, patting his back. "You'll both be cooled off and it'll be easier face-to-face."

"I'm just afraid that it'll be too late," Parker stated. "Once he starts secluding himself, the depression hits pretty quick."

"Well you just talked to him, didn't you?"

"Sort of."

When he wasn't yelling at him.

"That's why I didn't want to talk to him right then," Parker muttered, shaking his head. "I was worked up and my anger always gets the best of me. But they put the kid on the line anyways, and now I've probably just made things worse."

"Well it's still daylight out," I pointed out. "Why don't you just drive down there tonight?"

"I only get weekend privileges. Well, not just me any parent."

"So drive down there tonight and be there bright and early tomorrow. Get the most of tomorrow with him."

"I need you to solve all of my problems," Parker informed me.

I laughed, shaking my head at him.

"Do you want to come with me?"

I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Emmett's gone," he reminded me. "It's either stay here all by yourself all weekend, or come to Miami with me and deal with my bipolar brother."

"Well both sound so inviting."

"I'll even throw in dinner," Parker said, with a smile.

"Well I can't pass up free dinner."

~*~

"How did you get out of that?" I asked Parker, laughing.

"Easy," Parker said, with a smile of his own. "I blamed it on Lee."

"You did not."

"I blamed about half of my childhood on Lee."

"That poor kid."

"I highly doubt my mom bought it, she was a pretty perceptive woman. But Lee would never deny it."

"You do not deserve him."

"I've done plenty of stuff for Lee," Parker defended.

"Like what?"

"Well not counting the whole guardianship thing," Parker said, taking a sip of his water. "There was this one time we were at summer camp, and some of the older kids were picking on him."

"That's so mean."

"Right? First off, who are you to bully someone else? And especially when it's my brother."

I couldn't help but smile. I love Parker's protectiveness of Lee.

"So I punched the kid in the face."

"Oh my God Parker."

"I got suspended from summer camp."

"Is that seriously a thing?"

"Well it happened to me."

"What about the other kid, the bully?"

"He got a good talking to about the treatment of other kids."

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. "I'm not one to use violence to solve problems, but that bully deserved a harsher punishment."

"Well he had black eyes for the next few weeks, so it was okay with me."

"You blackened both of his eyes?"

"I broke his nose," Parker corrected. "When someone's nose breaks well enough, it creates bruises underneath the eyes."

"I would not want you to punch me."

"I would never punch you."

"Well thank you."

He chuckled.

"Did that bully ever pick on Lee again?"

Parker shook his head. "Not a word."

"Violence is still never the answer."

"Say what you will," Parker said, finishing off his water. "All I'm saying is that it only took one broken nose." He leaned back in his chair. "What about you and Emmett?"

"What about us?"

"I'm sure you two must have some good stories."

I couldn't help but smile.

"That smile gives it all away princess. We need to work on your poker face."

"Okay, so there was this one Saturday. I was at one of Emmett's soccer games, and there was this brunette bitch there, you know the girls that come to soccer games in mini-skirts and tight shirts when it's like 52 degrees out?"

"I know the ones," Parker agreed, with a smirk.

"Shut up."

He laughed.

"So she was standing on the sideline cheering like she knew what was going on, and my mom brings me this hot chocolate."

Parker raised his eyebrows at me.

"And this was about my Eating Disorder time," I filled in. "And hot chocolate has about 138 calories in it, so it wasn't like I was actually going to drink it."

"We're coming back to that," Parker informed me. "Because I'm not sure why you still know how many calories a cup of hot chocolate has."

Doesn't everyone?

"So this bitch starts cheering for Emmett," I continued. "And I was like, can you not? Some of us are actually trying to watch the game."

"Emily snapped."

"She did," I said, with a laugh. "And she was like, excuse me, I'm just trying to watch my boyfriend play."

Parker covered his mouth, trying not to spit out the piece of ice he was currently chewing.

"And so then I had to kindly inform her that she was nothing more than a one-night stand to Emmett, which she didn't take a liking to."

"I wouldn't imagine so."

"So she began to call me all these names right, telling me that I don't know Emmett like she does and they have something special and blah, blah, blah. So then I informed her that I was his twin, and if she was more than a pair of boobs to him, I would at least know her name."

"I want to know this bitch Emily."

That bitch Emily hadn't eaten in probably about three or four days.

"And then she tried to insult me, saying something like at least her extensions aren't fake or some white girl insult like that. So naturally I splashed my hot chocolate in her face."

"Naturally," Parker agreed, trying to bite back his smile.

"And that's when the game ended, and Emmett had to come and kindly inform her that it was nice of her to come, but he didn't remember her name."

Parker shook his head, laughing. "Your brother is a class act."

"Tell me about it."

~*~

"Wow," I said, standing in the hotel lobby as I peered outside.

It was pouring buckets outside.

"Well that was not on the agenda," Parker said, his hands shoved in his pockets.

"So what now?" I asked, looking over at him.

Parker shook his head, staring outside.

"Well Lee likes art, right?" I asked, as we continued to stare at the rain.

"Loves it," Parker agreed.

"Is there an art museum near here?"

"Yeah, the Perez Art Museum Miami."

"I love how just know that off the top of your head."

He laughed. "I know Lee's dying to see the Beatriz Millhazes: Jardim Botanico."

"Right."

"It's abstract art, more Lee's thing than mine."

"So I guess we're going to see that then."

"You hate art," he pointed out.

"I don't hate it," I defended. "I just don't have the same appreciation you and Lee do."

"Okay, I'm going to go and pick Lee up and drop him off at the therapist," Parker said, checking his phone. "And then I'll swing back by for you."

"I'll be here."

It took less than 20 minutes for Parker to come back. I spent that time on one of the hotel lobby couches, reading a book I'd just bought on my Kindle.

Sarah Dessen had a way with words.

Parker came back inside, soaked to the bone.

"So I see it's still pouring," I commented, flashing him a sympathetic smile.

"I'm going to go upstairs and change," he informed me. "And then we'll go pick Lee up."

I nodded and Parker disappeared upstairs.

He changed unbelievably fast. If it were me, I'd be thrown off because I'd need to re-plan my entire outfit for the day.

But Parker just throws on a new t-shirt and shorts and calls it a day.

"So are we ready to make a run for

it then?" Parker asked, looking over at me.

"I think you need to carry me, princess style."

"Yeah, you might as well throw out that idea."

I laughed, nodding. "I'm ready."

We ran out of the hotel lobby, throwing our arms over our heads as we sprinted to the car.

Parker obviously beat me, by a long shot too.

The boy runs multiple miles for fun.

"Okay, so I have to pick up Lee's medication this morning, which will take at least half an hour because I'll have to fight the insurance company," Parker informed me, as we headed to Starbucks. "And Lee will undoubtedly want McDonald's for lunch. And then we can do the art museum in the afternoon."

"How was Lee this morning?" I asked.

"Quiet," Parker said, a concerned look on his face.

I reached over and squeezed his forearm. "I'm sure he's okay."

We swung through Starbucks and made our way back to Lee's therapist's office.

Lee was just stepping outside as Parker pulled up.

"Impeccable timing," Parker commented, as Lee opened the door.

Lee climbed into the passenger seat in silence.

"How'd it go?" Parker asked.

Lee didn't answer.

Parker glanced over his shoulder at me, and I just offered him a supportive smile.

Parker had always worried that Lee would resent him for making him see a therapist, and I think Parker was worried that Lee had reached his breaking point.

"Well if you're not going to speak to me, I guess we can go to Subway for lunch," Parker stated, knowing full-well that Lee had an addiction for McDonald's.

And then Lee thrust his arm out, revealing two fresh cut marks.

Parker let out a sigh, silence filling the car.

Lee folded his arms back over his chest.

"It's okay," Parker promised, wrapping one arm around Lee's shoulders and kissing him on the top of the head.

"It's not okay," Lee muttered.

"What happened?" Parker asked him.

"I don't fucking know." Lee braced one elbow on the car door, massaging his temples.

"Did you talk to your therapist about it?"

Lee nodded.

"Okay, well that's a good starting point," Parker encouraged. "I mean, obviously I wish that you would've talked to me about it, but it's okay."

"Everything isn't always okay Parker."

Parker let out a sigh, silence filling the car again.

After a few minutes of silence, we pulled into the pharmacy.

"Here," Parker said, tossing me the keys. "Go down to McDonald's and pick up lunch. I'll probably still be arguing with them by the time you get back."

I nodded in agreement, taking his keys and climbing into the driver's seat.

Lee was silent on the drive to McDonald's, his arms folded across his chest.

I knew all three orders by heart, and Lee continued to remain silent on the drive back to the pharmacy.

My heart was breaking for him. I wanted him to open up, to talk about his pain. But I knew that he was a lot like Parker, trying to deal with his pain on the inside.

And then Lee suddenly gripped the side of the car.

My eyes shifted over to him, alarmed.

"Pull the car over."

And so I did, unsure of what was happening.

Lee fumbled to open the passenger seat door, his jaw trembling.

And that's when I realized that this could very well be a panic attack, one that I had no idea how to deal with.

Lee climbed out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him.

I waited a couple of seconds before climbing out of the car as well. I walked around the car to find Lee sitting on the ground, his back against the car. His arms were folded on top of his knees and he was hyperventilating.

"What can I do to help?" I asked, quietly.

Lee didn't answer.

I didn't know anything about panic attacks, but I did know a thing or two about asthma. And I know that when Emmett is hyperventilating, it's important for him to slow his breathing.

So I took a seat a few feet away from Lee, my back leaning against the car as well.

"Why don't you try counting your breaths?" I suggested, looking over at Lee.

He didn't answer, but I could tell that he'd heard me.

"I understand that you're upset," I said, my heart breaking for him. "I'm here for you."

After a few more minutes, Lee's breathing slowed, and he moved his arms to wrap around his shins, keeping his head bent low.

"I'm here for you," I repeated.

Lee wiped some tears off his face, his breathing returning to normal.

I stood up, dusting myself off before offering my hand down to him.

He grasped my hand, and then surprised me by hugging me, letting his head droop into the crook of my neck.

I wrapped my arms around him, giving him a tight hug.

"Parker's got to be freaking out," Lee said, in a hoarse voice as he pulled away.

I couldn't help but laugh. "He probably thinks I got us lost."

Lee let himself back into the passenger seat, and I went back around to the driver's seat.

As predicted, I had two missed calls from Parker on my phone.

"Three," Lee bragged, showing me his missed calls history.

I called Parker back as we merged back onto the highway, headed to the pharmacy.

"What's going on?" Parker demanded, answering on the second ring. "Where are you guys?"

"We're on our way to the pharmacy," I promised.

"What happened?" Parker repeated.

I didn't want to be the one to talk about Lee. "We'll see you in a few." And then I hung up.

"He didn't ask what happened?" Lee asked.

"He did," I said, with a smile. "I just ignored him."

"He's going to love that."

Parker was waiting outside the pharmacy when he pulled up, a bag dangling from his arm.

I left the car running, climbing over the center console into the backseat.

"What the fuck happened?" Parker demanded, taking the driver's seat.

He took one look at Lee, and his anger melted away.

"We had a mishap," Lee filled in, his voice still hoarse.

"Are you okay?" Parker asked, his eyebrows wrinkling with concern.

"Fine," Lee agreed.

"Was there a trigger?"

Lee shook his head, turning to stare out of the window again.

~*~

"It looks like a bunch of pretty colors," I stated, as I stared at the paintings in front of me.

"These paintings are inspired by Brazilian and European modernism, Baroque forms, popular culture, and the decorations of Carnival," Lee informed me, as he studied the painting I'd been staring at. "The artist used acrylic paints to execute images like peace signs, flowers, and arabesques onto canvases to reflect collage, graffiti, and plastic decals."

I felt like I was talking to a mini-Parker.

"Right," I agreed, with a nod.

"This is Mariposa," Lee said, after a few moments of silence. "Painted in 2004."

"I feel like I'm in the 60's when I stare at this."

He smiled as he continued to study the painting. "I love Milhazes's style of painting."

"What do you see when you stare at this?" I asked Lee.

I saw some flowers all mashed together with bright colors.