Kiara was able to calm Erik down immediately; he started breathing again when she grabbed his hands and said "Please stop Erik, don't do that. You already have a hurt head." Sam sighed "It wasn't your fault I know that now."  She let go of her grip, and Erik was able to relax again.  He realized this whole thing wasn't all about him, but sometimes had had trouble expressing his feelings and thoughts.<br/><br/>"I was all alone in that place for 10 years" Kiara continued.  "I don't know when they brought you to see me, but I just left there a year ago when I came here." Sam tried to smile, "And still your the only one in 10 years I have let in, so maybe I knew back then you were my brother."<br/><br/>Sam threw her arms around Erik's neck and just cried into his shoulder, "I have always loved you, please try to never leave me again."  Realizing the dynamic of their friendship had suddenly shifted, he gently reached across and gave her a hug.<br/><br/>"I don't hate you, and never had. I was just hurt and alone and it wasn't your fault" she finished.<br/><br/>Erik let go of her and looked straight into her eyes.  "Yes, yes I see now.  Eyes never lie.  By the way, when are you going to tell Tim at school you like him" Erik chuckled to try to break the seriousness of the moment.<br/><br/>"When we're in public, should I call you Kiara or Samantha?  I only want to do what is comfortable for you, Kiara."  He sort of realized he wasn't exactly sure what to do next.  "I think Brenda is not going to be happy with you once she finds out you're missing.  What do you think about hanging out in the Theater loft at school tomorrow?  I know how to get in, you just have to climb a little ladder.  There's no rehearsals tomorrow, it should be quiet.  You and me?  Maybe we can make up stories on the stage, or just hang out."  He rubbed his head and realized his anger got a bad hold of him.  "Kiara, I need help with not getting mad sometimes, I'm sorry for scaring you.  Sometimes the feelings overcome me, I feel needles all throughout my body, and the only way to get it out is .. you know.  Oh, there's a couch up in the loft too, so you can take a nap whenever you want" he quipped, returning to the main subject for tomorrow.  "And, there's a pizza place across the street, so our food is taken care of!  And a library if you want to read.  Whatever you want, what do you say?  We have a lot to catch up on."