SIDE C | CHAPTER 1

Andrew Cress

April 30th, 2032

The plane has taken off and Andrew watched as it soared away into the deep blue sky. Aboard was the future of our nation...and it killed Andrew to not be on that flight leading the charge. That was what he was supposed to do—lead. But his fears kept him grounded here in the states. Hiding behind the excuse that somebody needed to stay behind—and that was true—he certainly couldn't leave nobody behind to keep control of their growing country, but he couldn't help but flash back to how right Jake had gotten it when they had spoken about it.

"You don't think you deserve to be the hero alongside us." He didn't deserve it...not yet. He knew that the others depended on him, and that he was happy to be their leader, but he didn't deserve it. He let his own wife strangle with demons until they finally overtook her. He killed Jay in his grief. He couldn't stop Gavin from sacrificing himself to save him. All that and in the end he couldn't even lay a finger on Jack because of his cursed blood barrier. Sarah and Jen were the true heroes—the ones that deserved to be called heroes.

"Three years and not a single call. What's up with you?" Jen's voice stole away his focus—he hadn't even seen her there. She always had the bad habit of interrupting his thoughts, and a part of him felt warm inside from the familiarity, but instantly severed that warm connection because what she had said had been true.

"I'm sorry," He said. "I don't have any excuse. I've been too caught up in my own thoughts."

"I thought we fixed this shit back in Elysium, dude," she said. "We're family, and that means you need to talk to me about the things that bother you. I know that things still do."

Andrew doesn't hide it. He just lets loose a deep breath. "I don't know really what to feel. I'm ecstatic that we're moving on and growing...but it feels like it's not really over for me—like I'm still waiting for my final go 'round with Jack to get back at him for everything."

She cocked her head and understanding filled her face, "Life isn't always neat and orderly like that. Sometimes you don't get closure."

Andrew nodded, "Yeah. It'd be nice though."

"You're doing a good job."

Andrew chuckled, "You're the second person that's used that as an exact response to my feelings about this..." he trailed off, then recovered, "...trouble with Jake?" She was shocked. "I notice things about you, too. You two looked like you had a lot unsaid when you showed up."

Her eyes shifted to the left, "It's...I don't know. I hadn't seen him in a while so I expected...I expected that rekindling would be easy."

"What happened?"

She exhaled, "He just didn't seem all there. I...I'm just scared I waited too long to come back."

"You needed the time away," Andrew said.

"We kept in touch the entire year. I called him and he, me. We texted and things seemed fine, but when we saw each other for the first time since..."

"Yes?"

"It reminded me of our first kiss. Back when we were in Denver. I...I felt really guilty about it because I thought that he enjoyed it as much as I did. I wanted him to, because...I love him. I loved him then, I'm sure I loved him back when we were in elementary school together. I mean, we were best friends for pretty much ever so it only made sense. It made sense that it would feel good to kiss him...but back then I think I knew he didn't like it...I covered that feeling up because I was scared about what it would mean for us. I mean it was easy to back then—we were dealing with Elysium and then immediately after his father grabbed him and I didn't see him until we were back in New York..."

Andrew processed this a little slowly, but he understood. He nodded as he listened and when she trailed off he continued, "Do you think he's gay?"

Jen sighed and placed a hand on her side as she looked at the ground, tears now in her eyes. "I don't think, Andy. I know. He's my best friend..."

"C'mere," he held her tight as she cried.

"And now...I feel stupid for making him feel uncomfortable and I'm probably never going to see him again..."

"He'll be okay." Andrew stroked the back of her head and held her tighter. "I wouldn't let him go on a trip I didn't think he wouldn't come back from."

"...this doesn't mean you're off the hook about not calling."

"...I know," said Andrew. "Listen, do you have some free time today? I want to make it up to you...and I have a lot on my mind I want to get out in the open."

"Yeah, I'm free right now. Come on, I know just the place to go."

"That sounds good," Andrew said. He nodded to her and they walked to Andrew's car. They arrived at Lucky John's—a local ice cream shop/diner combo that rested on the Los Angeles Bay. Lucky John's was the first to pop back up on the coast and it became a very popular spot. It was chock full of nostalgia of better times—and a sign that we could return to those times. Andrew and Jen both got chocolate milkshakes—favorites from their childhood. Andrew stirred his intermittently between sips—a habit also kept from childhood.

"I wasn't fully honest about why I haven't called." Andrew sighed into his cup. "As soon as I realized I wasn't going to get the closure that I really wanted, I distanced myself from everyone involved. Obviously I couldn't keep from seeing Jake, but I couldn't help but feel..." he looked down at the table and tapped. "I couldn't help but feel like I could have done things different. I know that's a dangerous way to think...but it still got to be so much."

Jen nodded, "I know you've been through a lot these past few years, and not all of the blame is on you for keeping in contact, but you have to know that I'm always here to support you. You've lost a lot. Lindsey and Gavin were your two closest friends. Jay was pretty much our second Dad—not to mention Mom..." Andrew looked down as soon as she had said it. "…and I'm sure if we thought about them every single day like you have been we'd never be able to really live. The year I took off was all about learning that lesson."

"Seems to be a long time for one lesson."

"That's how you know it's important," she said. "It took me that long because it was a hard lesson to learn. I know it isn't easy, I'm not even really fixed. I don't think I really ever will be, but I'm a lot better than I used to be."

Andrew sighed, "I believe you—you look better. There's an energy in you I miss in myself."

"It's not a one-thing fix. There isn't something you can do to make things hurt less, it just comes with time by doing healthier things and surrounding yourself with people who care about you...which reminds me. I've called some people here today."

Andrew looked up and stopped stirring his milkshake. He saw Iris and Sarah enter and greet them both with a smile. "What are...you two doing here?"

"Well, hello to you two, Mr. President," Sarah curtsied. She was nineteen years now and has grown a few inches taller. She wore here hair in a bun and now wore a thin pair of glasses on the bridge of her nose. "Or should I say co-councilman Andrew Cress?"

Andrew smiled, "You're supposed to be upstate looking after your mother."

Sarah's smile faded, "She passed a month ago unfortunately. She had complications with her legs and it spread."

"I'm so sorry," said Andrew.

Sarah returned her smile with a vigor, "She passed happy. And I was more than happy to have a few more years with her. I've been doing a little exploring since so I can location scout for my next book, but that was put on hold the second I got the call from Jen."

"She put her literary career on hold for you Andy, you ought to be honored," Iris joked. "It's nice to see you again."

Iris hadn't been joking, the year she went back to New York Sarah wrote fervently. She released her first book, "Dream of a Day" to what Andrew heard was a bright success. He had a copy himself, but hasn't opened it yet—he could tell immediately it had been inspired by the Radical-9 Incident and thought it would be too much. Since then she's released a sequel and was currently working on a third and end novel to the trilogy.

"Wait a second...when did you call them in, Jen? It couldn't have been before we got here..."

Jen let loose a devious smile, "I had planned on organizing an intervention for you a week ago."

"Well, your honor, may we sit or are you going to let two beautiful ladies stand for our entire meeting?" Iris asked, grabbing Sarah's arm.

Andrew gestured for them to join the table, "And enough with this your honor business. I'm just Andy here."

"Well Just Andy, I wanted you to see the positive effect you've had on some of the people we've met through the years. Something to keep the bad thoughts from becoming too much."

Sarah sat next to Andrew, and Iris took the seat next to Jen, setting the pocketbook strung over her shoulder down beside her. Her reddish-brown hair had grown, but her fierceness in her gaze remained. "I want you to know that you were one of the main reasons why Sunrise is the foundation it is now. I can't ever believe that it would even exist if not for you. You were the one who inspired me to face the public with a brave new idea. I saw your commencement speech and just knew I had to do something to help the people that were like me...people who didn't know where they belonged. And if we're going to be extremely literal—you were the one who saved me back in San Francisco, don't forget. Gavin called out to you—and you came for us."

Andrew nodded his head slowly, "I'm extremely happy that Sunrise is doing you and others some good, but I can't take the credit for your great idea."

"I'm not giving you credit, I'm cheering you up," Iris said, leaning back in her seat. "I'm giving you...hmm, okay I guess it's sorta credit, but just take it, will you?"

Andrew chuckled and sipped some more on his milkshake. "Fine, I give."

"You helped me too, Andy," Sarah said. "I couldn't have done what I did back when we fought Jack without you there. Knowing that you had stood against him and fought him back...I believed it was possible, no matter how strong he was or how low the odds. John was a lot like you, and that is something to be proud of."

"And next you're going to say I inspired your writing because of my wonderful speeches as well? How succinct and witty they are?"

Sarah smiled, cocked her head and laughed, "Oh, no. That's all me. I'm afraid I can't give you credit for that one."

Andrew laughed too. "I guess that's fair. I was joking anyway. I know they're a bit blunt and dry." He took a deep breath. "Thank you...all of you. It really helps knowing that you're here. It's been a tough time for all of us, we've each lost a lot back then..." he looked at each of them and thought about each of their losses. "...but things will always get better."

"I think you're saying that more for yourself," Iris said.

Andrew nodded, "Yeah, but I actually kind of believe it."

"That's good. It's important to keep it in mind. You'll have good days and bad days, but we're your friends," Sarah said. "I'm gonna be traveling still so I won't be physically around, but I'll give you my number if you ever need to talk."

"Thank you Sarah," Andrew nodded.

"And you work down the street from me so you have no excuse not to come see me anytime you have a heavy mind," Iris said. "Although I can't guarantee that I'll be as helpful, but I'll certainly try my damnedest."

"And I'll light your ass on fire if you don't keep in contact with me," Jen smirked. Her look was one Andrew was nostalgic for—it instantly brought him back a decade and he felt a warmth in his chest.

"Yes yes, I hear you," Andrew said. 'Thank you all again for coming here to cheer me up. I'm not going to let you down."