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The last night of summer break me and Alice were sitting on the swings of a park and talked about many things. As we were talking Alice asked “you know we’re going to college tomorrow right?” I nodded. She asked “Why?” “Well we need to know the area” I responded in a relaxed tone. She nodded in understanding then I had a thought and voiced it “How do we define our relationship?” She looked at me puzzled. “We kissed once but we’re just friends,” I explained. She responded with a hopeful tone “It's fine we don’t need to figure it out now.” I smiled and we went back to talking about random things. The next day I said goodbye to my brother and parents and got into my car. I picked up Alice and we headed off. Eventually we reached the college and both got set up and went up to our room’s. As I opened the door I saw a tan, brown haired man sitting on a couch. He looked at me and got up to shake my hand. He said his name was Gordon. I got set up in my room and went back to the lobby and waited for Alice. She came down and we looked around the town. It was very good looking and peaceful. A week later classes started. Me and Alice still ate lunch on the roof and it was just like old times. But rumors started spreading and we decided to just hide our friendship. As we were sitting my roommate and Alice’s roommate came up to the roof and they looked at us talking and chilling. Our roommates came up from behind us and said “When did you two start dating?” Both of us were surprised and said “we’re not dating” While slightly blushing. “Then why were you sitting up here together alone?” I explained how we both just like being alone. They both didn’t fully believe us but they were fine with it. I asked who told them and they said a man named Phill told them. Both me and Alice were visibly annoyed. Don’t believe anything he says he’s not a good person. They nodded and left. I let out a deep sigh. “Well now we know there's gonna be problems.” I said in a tired tone. Alice nodded, we sat in silence for a bit before continuing the random talking. After we were both done with classes later in the day, we decided to go out and eat in the town. We got to a restaurant and ordered food. I got up to go to the bathroom and saw a guy talking to Alice. She looked uncomfortable. So I came over and gave the guy a death stare and he left. Then another guy came up and tried hitting on her so I did the same thing. This kept happening over and over till we left. “That was weird,” I said. Alice nodded. She seemed a bit shaken and confused. As we walked she played with her sleeve for a bit until she said “Why can’t people just leave me alone and respect my personal space?” “It’s probably because you’re attractive,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. It seemed like she didn’t hear me and she kept playing with her sleeve but I noticed she had a slight blush. A couple days later me and Alice were sitting on the roof, and I was tired and fell asleep on Alice's lap again and after a bit I woke up because i hadn't finished my lunch yet. Then the door to the roof swung open. It was our roommates once again. They said “you two have to be dating, you were literally sleeping on her lap.” “Are you spying on us and we’re not dating,” I said, extremely surprised. “We weren't spying, it's more observing,” they said with a skeptical look. “Look, that was just an accident, we are just friends,” I said defensively. They still seemed skeptical but left. I sighed and said to Alice “I understand your pain with privacy”. Rumors started to spread that we were dating and it was a bit annoying. One day as I was chilling in my dorm I got a message from Alice. It asked me to come over and help her with something. I went over to her dorm and at first I didn't see anyone, then I heard a cough. I went over to the sound and saw Alice stick in bed. “Hey Ali, you okay?” I asked concerned. She unexpectedly was aggressive and said “does it look like i’m alright?” I shook my head and said “sorry It’s a stupid question, but question why did you call me here”? She looked annoyed and said “I need you to take care of me. My roommate had to go out of town.” I nodded and said “Ok, what do you need me to do?” She just stared at me coldly. So I just did the normal sick stuff like making food, giving medication, or just keeping her company. She was still treating me coldly but I dealt with her. At night time I was getting ready to leave but Alice kept trying to get me to stay. I decided to stay and slept on the couch. I did this for about 3 days till she got better. But she started to tease me and said things like “Do you enjoy playing doctor Adam.” I never answer these teases but I did enjoy them. After a while she got better and her roommate came back. A couple weeks later my roommate invited me to a party. I tried to decline but he forced me into it. I saw Alice at the party and I hung out with her. Eventually someone brought out alcohol. Neither I nor Alice wanted to drink any but other people forced us into it. That was the last thing I remembered before I blacked out. I woke up in a bed with a hangover. I barely recounted last night. I tried to get up but felt something tugging on my side. I looked down and saw Alice hugging my side while sleeping. I was extremely surprised and flustered. I started heavily blushing then Alice woke up. She looked dazed and confused then she saw the position she was in and started heavily blushing. We both got up still bushing but also confused. We were in Alice's dorm room. I tried remembering the night before but I couldn’t. We both stood there nervously for a bit. I then said “I should probably leave.” She nodded, still embarrassed. I left and went to my dorm and asked Gordon about what happened last night. He told me nothing much, just that I went back to Alice's place after getting extremely drunk. I sighed and felt much better. I went back over to Alice and apologized for the awkward situation. We both felt better after lightening the mood. Then a couple months later it was christmas. I stayed at the college during the holiday and so did Alice. There were a lot of events during this time but my favorite one was the day where we did nothing. So I just chilled out at home watching Christmas movies. The snow slowly melted and flowers bloomed as it was now the spring. After classes started up again Alice had made a new friend named Sam. He seemed like a good guy so I let it be. But then Alice started spending all her time with this guy and ignoring me. It all came out on one particular day on the roof. As I was sitting eating my lunch she started talking about Sam and how great he was. I was getting tired and said “can you please talk about anything other than Sam”. She rolled her eyes and I started talking about a local zoo that recently opened and asked Alice if she wanted to go with me. She said “sorry I can't, me and Sam are going shopping that day.” I then started to vent my feelings. “We barely hang out any more and when we do you’re always talking about that guy. She said “Well I have other interests and friends beside you.” I fired back with “Yeah but I basically feel like I’m being replaced. We barely talk or hang out because you’re always with him.” She seemed annoyed and said you’re being possessive and acting like Phill.” “It’s because I feel like I have to compete for time with you.” “Look, maybe it’s best if we take a break from this friendship”. I nodded and I left. I went back to my dorm and just cried for the rest of lunch. Later I got a phone call from Sam telling me to stop being possessive over Alice. I didn’t say anything, hung up and just took a walk to clear my head. I thought about how I had been a bit harsh to Alice and maybe she was right I was being possessive. The next day me and Alice avoided each other as much as possible and people were wondering what happened. I wanted to apologize but subconsciously avoided her. Luckily I randomly met her in the library and was able to talk to her and apologize. She just hugged me and also apologized. So our friendship rekindled. Phill, unknown to this, tried to emotionally manipulate Alice cause he thought she was feeling bad and needed someone to help her. He failed fairly quickly because Alice wasn’t sad and she felt good. Following this he got angerer and started stalking Alice once again but this time fate had different plans for him and Alice. As he was stalking her on a stormy night when suddenly Lightning struck both of them and they were hospitalized. I wrecked my best friend in a critical condition. I was lost and slightly depressed. One night I fell asleep and saw I was back standing on top of that black and white ocean. I saw Mada looking at me from across the way. He looked still emotionless and he slowly came toward me. I thought he was going to beat me down but he just gave me a hug. I cried because I didn’t know what else to do. Eventually I stopped and He started giving me a pep talk. After he was done I asked him “What are you?” He said in a deep monotone “I represent your pain but I'm also your conscience”. I nodded then woke up. A couple weeks later Alice and Phill became better and returned to the college. But things didn’t go back to normal immediately. One day as I was sitting on the roof with Alice, she told me she had a headache. So I gave her a water bottle and continued talking. After talking for a while Alice suddenly went white. I asked her if she was okay but she was just sitting there frozen. I took her to the medical area and they said she was just in extreme shock. After a while she calmed back down but broke down in tears. I let her get it all out until she calmed down and I asked her what happened. She said “Remember how I don’t remember the face of my Ex.” I nodded. “I just remembered it and it was Phill. It took me a second to understand but eventually I got it.”PHILL WAS YOUR EX?” “I guess so,” she said with a worried expression. Eventually a psychologist came in and explained that the event must have been so traumatic the brain tried not to remember it. Alice was understandably depressed and she was a shell of her former self. It hurt to see her like this. One day on the roof I gave her a pep talk to try to help her feel better I said “Look Alice I know you’re hurt but that was in the past we need to focus on the present you’re already distanced from Phill and you have me if you need anything from me just ask alright?” She gave me a small nod. A couple days later Alice had been feeling better but was still depressed so I advised her to get therapy. Which she did and got better. Soon the college offered a break for students to go see family. I decided I would take them up on that offer and Alice came with me. I arrived at my old house and saw my brother sitting outside waiting for me. I got out of the car and gave him a hug. He then looked over and saw Alice then asked “is that your girlfriend?” I replied frantically “No she’s my best friend and just asked if she could come with me during the break.” He looked skeptical but said it was fine. He let me in and it had only been a year but my room was filled with trash. I asked my brother where I was supposed to sleep and he pulled out an air mattress. He said he only had one and couldn’t get anymore at the moment. I sighed and we all talked for a bit until night time fell. Me and Alice both got on the mattress and it felt very awkward. But we both quickly fell asleep. We repeated this process a couple times then we left back to college. It was very awkward back at the house and I was glad to have my own bed back. It was the morning of valentines day and I wanted to visit my oldest brother's grave not to grave just to apologize and I was walking down the street I blacked out. I woke up on top of the black and white ocean once again. I saw Mada standing near a guy with a black robe and a scythe. I went over and asked “What's going on?” Mada looked over at me and said “Well you got hit by a truck and are now in a coma to get out of it you must defeat this man here.” I looked over at the man and realized I was fighting the grim reaper. Mada gave me a sword. Then the fight began and he swung at me. I dodged it and tried striking behind him but he disappeared and threw his scythe at me. I nearly dodged and tried to find him. I saw him and tried to slash him again but he dodged and knocked my sword out of my hand. Then continued slashing me until he cut off my arm. I fell to the ground but didn’t surrender. I couldn't let my friends and family down. With adrenaline coursing through my veins I dodged and weaved until I was able to grab my sword then I slid under him and stabbed him. He surrendered and Mada gave me a slow clap “well done you have defeated death itself.” I then woke up and saw people standing around me. It was my brother, Alice, and a doctor. I was dazed and confused and Alice filled me in on what happened. I was hit by a car again but this time it was bad. I was in a week-long coma. I hugged both my brother and Alice. After a while I was able to leave the hospital and when I got to my dorm I drew the place in which I fought death. A couple weeks later it was my birthday and I wasn’t planning to do much but my roommate surprised me with a big party. After the party I was sitting on the roof with Alice and Phill came up there. I saw him sighed and got up to see what he wanted. He looked at Alice and said “Look I’m tired of being a jerk and just want to become friends.” I asked him, “Why should we trust you?” He ignored me and said to Alice “Please just give me 1 more chance.” Alice, slightly irritated, said “Why did you cause me so much trauma and pain?” Phill responded slightly shaking “That was the old me the new me hates myself for that”. Alice glanced over at me and I nodded. She then said “Look I'll forgive you but this is your only chance, try anything and I'm leaving”. He then excitedly left. I looked over at Alice and asked “Do you really think he’s changed?” Alice wasn’t listening and was just staring off the balcony. “What's on your mind?” She still didn’t answer and kept just staring off into the void. The following weeks Phill acted like a normal person but I still felt off about him. Then he started to have Alice push me away. I felt like she hated me or I had done something wrong but in the end I knew it had to have been Phill. One day when I got some time with Alice I explained my concerns to her and she understood Phill had not changed. So we started hanging out again and Alice pushed Phill away again. Phill got extremely mad and one day confronted us. He yelled “Why aren't you hanging out with me.” Alice replied “Look I tried being your friend but you just tried to make me push everyone away again.” Phill got madder and said “Well i’m the only friend you need.” Alice replied in an irritated tone “You’re so self centered.” I then tried to jump in but as soon as I did Phill said “Stop you’re the one who started this whole ordeal you’re the reason me and Alice aren't friends.” I yelled back “No I'm not, you’re the one who abused her and mentally scarred her. Did it occur to you that that could be the reason?” He looked at me and then angrily left in defeat. A little after the incident I heard Phill was angry and crazy. He was being so crazy he got sent to a mental health facility and a couple years later me and Alice graduated from college and then I confessed my love to her and we got married and a little after that we had 4 kids Tom, Sam, Kathrine, and Sarah. And those kids is how I met your mother.