After having a fresh start in a new college, Eden was planning to return home to her small, quaint little town in the middle of Oregon. She had studied across the country in what many would call The Big Apple. Yes New York had been a wonderous experience for her. Life was much different there to say the least but Eden had always enjoyed a good challenge. A little change never hurt anyone.

But those four years had since came to an end. Now the age of 22, she was back in her hometown to not only catch up with family and friends but to also start mapping out her career. Her goal was to work as an architect, granted it wasn't the most steady job when you were just getting started but it was what she enjoyed.

Eden walked out of her home and let out a small breath. The day was cold and raining. Her normally carmel colored skin was now much paler in the cold. She got the color from her mother's side who was latino. Along with that she also inherited pitch black hair. The only thing she seemed to have gotten from her father was her dark green eyes.

Her family was finished with the whole welcome home surprise, that some of her close friends were apart of as well. It had all been plenty joyous and heartwarming but one dear friend had been missing. A person whom she had known since middle school had not shown and when she questioned them about his whereabouts, the crowd warned her to stay away. That he wasn't the same.

Eden let out a small huff. Crazy. Surely that's what they all were. Seeing as everyone refused to speak about him, she decided to go and see him herself. After haggling with another friend, she had aquired his address, despite their reluctance to give it up.

Donovan had never had any grand plans about going away from the sleepy little town he called home. It was perfect to him through most of his earlier years exploring the surrounding woods and making friends when he wasn't. His parents, a strong southern pair from New Orleans, had moved there just before middle school which was a bit of a culture shock for him. He adapted rather well to his surroundings however, making friends and just enjoying life away from the city life he knew. When he had first met Eden it was a special thing to him as she had become a close friend, hell she had been his first real friend while the rest were still warming up to him and he would never forget it. When she eventually left for New York his feelings were understandably mixed because while he was happy to see her going places he knew he was going to miss his dear friend. He had jumped between jobs for awhile before working for a long time at the local lumber mill which he rather enjoyed despite cutting down the trees he enjoyed walking among, but he eventually would try his luck at the local bar with a promise to come back if it didn't pan out.

Walking in the woods had always been a favorite pastime of Donovan because it gave him time to himself when he was stressed. A couple months ago he decided on one such walk to decompress from work at his current job at the local bar, The Malt, but his boss was taking a serious toll on him. The man's daughter, Aya, was all over him purposely to piss off her old man, not like it had been any better without working at his bar, and neither one's attention was well received by the young man who disliked everything about the situation. The stress had been getting to him more than usual and despite how dark it was he decided against his better judgment to continue his walk for longer. He had felt like someone was following him not long after his decision though the forest had seemed different that night to say the lest and he remembers something hitting him, it had felt like a fully loaded tractor trailer, throwing him into a tree shoulder first which he found out later had shattered it. He almost passed out from the pain but managed to get up and start moving at fast as he could back to the small road outside of town where he was actually hit by a truck who he came out just in front of, the crunching of bone, the hellish pain, and finally his skull bouncing off the asphalt before it all went dark.

Donovan shook his head and realized he had been sitting staring blankly across his apartment his memories coming back to him vividly, some new some old, but all in a flood. The six-foot three Cajun stood up moving to the bathroom to looking himself in his dark blue eyes in the mirror, not to mention the numerous scars which followed his recovery, feeling as if something was different though what he couldn't tell. All he knew was since the strange attack/accident everyone seemed to distance themselves from him because of things he'd apparently said or done and he called them out for treating him like some sort of psychopathic asshole he wasn't. He was a large, well built guy, a gentle giant Eden had called him, with a seeming permanent tan being outside so often with dark brown hair to match. So he wondered how if he had been acting this way they described more people hadn't been hurt, those he had remembered were people who had it coming for one reason or another. He felt a bit sick realizing he had just tried justifying violence to himself and got into the shower to numb his thoughts.

Donovan got out chalking it up to the stress and pressure before getting out and throwing on pair of briefs and some old jeans to wear. He wasn't going to work for some hours so he sat down in his favorite chair in the small kitchen of his apartment. He remembered that it hadn't just been the townsfolk unnerved by him but his doctors who were concerned despite his quick recovery which he felt was just his own need to get back up and get moving in action. He decided to try to push the thoughts out of his head and wrap his brain around lunch which came to mind with the rumble of his stomach snapping him out of his negative thinking for which he was grateful.

Eden walked quietly in the rain. She still had yet to get a car, due to the travel mainly, but it wasn't a major necessity. The town was small enough for her to reach most parts within a reasonable amount of time. Once she got reajusted to living here and things felt a bit more solid, then she would talk the time to consider buy a car more seriously.

She glanced down at the small piece of paper in her hand that she had scribbled the address onto. An affectionate smile crossed her lips as she thought of Donovan. It seemed like they had been friends for as long as she could remember, despite only meeting in middle school. The four years away made some of the simple things become nostalgic as she walked now past familiar places. Memories sparked in her mind of different times, both good and bad. As she thought about it, she became much less focused on what others were warning her about and more eager to see him. He was the last person she needed to see in order to make in a proper homecoming.

Turning the corner one final time, the apartment complex came into sight. Her pace quickened just slightly as she approached. Before long se had reached the complex. Once under the building where it was dry, she closed her umbrella, that was now soaked, and put it away so it was just barely sticking out of her purse. She paused, taking a second glance at the paper in her hand, before making her way towards his apartment. The system at this place was relatively easy to figure out after all so it didn't make much to find the number. Once she reached the door, she grinned to herself out of excitement and impatiently knocked on the door before taking a small step back as she waited for it to be answered.

Donovan heard the knocking and figured he better get up to see who it was on the off chance it was important. He made his way over not thinking so much at the time about who could be on the other side, the landlord often checked in to make sure everything was fine, but he didn't get many visitors as of late with all the attitude towards him. He half opened the door and froze up when he saw Eden looking back at him because he had no idea when exactly she was coming back. It also brought to mind that fact that no one had told him which he would tuck away for a later time, now he had important company to attend to which left him at something of a loss for what to do.

"Eden! Please come in find a seat, I'd have cleaned up more if I knew you were coming but it will have to do, I have a spare in the kitchen or the couch either one." Donovan said while opening the door, Cajun accent in full swing with his excitement, he had more or less picked Eden up in a hug before setting her down quickly after to actually let her in.

Donovan hadn't been this happy in a couple years, especially the last several months, which might have explained the outburst of it because he finally had his friend back. He would close the door behind her wanting to get reacquainted without interruptions because he had plenty of questions and time on his hands. Though the thought was lost when his stomach growled giving him a reminder so he would make lunch for the both of them if Eden was hungry. But he would rather her get settled in first beforehand it would take but a moment to make a couple sandwiches, he wasn't a chef and knew it well, to talk over if anything.

This is great! He thought mind and body buzzing with Eden's arrival.

Eden grinned and gave a small laugh at his reaction. "It's good to see you again!" she said hugging him back. Once she was set down, she headed inside the apartment and glanced around. "Sorry I should up out of random. Buttodays my first day back and I wanted to see how you were doing!" she said giving a sheepish smile of apology.

She paid little mind to the mess, she had seen plenty worse. Eden walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch. She was dying to catch up with him and hear about whatever stories he had to tell from her time away. Though she held back from drilling him with questions. "So Don," she began, calling him by the nickname she often used to refer to him by throughout middle and high school, "How have you been? Whatcha been up to?" The previous concern with what people had been warning her about him was gone for the time being, not because she was no longer worried or didn't trust them. It was simply because she had forgotten about it for the time being. She became sweep up in this reunion and focused on catching up with him instead.

Donovan thought about what to talk about first, the accident came to mind but that was another story for later, but he also didn't want to worry her on her first day back.

"Its been alright for the most part, I decided to try working at The Malt for awhile and the pay is decent but not sure its right." He said trying to skin away most of the unpleasantness. "That's how its been recently though just kinda boring without anyone coming around, but they might just be busy or something I can understand, by the way are you hungry? I was just about to eat so I can make us something light."

Donovan would wait a moment for a response and the best part about his apartment was that you could talk across it easily which would let him make a couple ham sandwiches for both of them while talking. The whole recent business was nasty unfortunately but he was willing to play it down for the moment not intending to kill the mood.

"Speaking of interesting stuff how was New York? As grand as they make it sound?" He asked wanting to hear about the city as he had little real knowledge of it.

Eden gave a small nod as she listened to him. "Sure. I'm a bit hungry." she replied.

When asked about New York, Eden gave a small shrug. "It's a whole lot different than here to say the least." she mused before contining in more detail. "It was a good change of pace. Everything and everyone is always in a big rush over there though. In my opinion, there's quite a bit of manners lacking in the people there."

She paused for a small moment as she thought about her college years and experiences there. "Sure was something though. I enjoyed it there most of the time but it's good to be back home finally. It's a great place to visit but I'm not so sure about making a home there." Eden stretched and leaned back against the couch as she spoke to him. "Everyone seems to be the same since I left, huh? Carly still chasing after some poor boy and Evan is up to god knows what." She said amused as she recalled meeting her other friends earlier that day.

Donovan could hardly disagree with her thoughts having lived in New Orleans, it sounded like it just without the southern hospitality, but he was glad the stay was at least interesting. If he ever went out to there himself at some point he might state his own opinion on it but that was to be determined and he could live with it. He got the sandwiches on plates and handed one to Eden before he sat down and thought about some of the good days before everyone started distancing themselves.

"I still remember the time you tried to set a blind date up for Carly, though using me hadn't been exactly where I thought it was going." He said chuckling about what was more or less a gag between friends which brought a good laugh afterwards. "Evan was always a character but a decent guy, just more adventurous than the rest of us I suppose."

Donovan dimmed for a second comparing times but he cleared his head with a few mouthfuls of food wondering what happened to change all of his old friends as quickly as it did. As annoying as it were he still cared and respected most if not all of them but he supposed it was just something to brush to the side for now.

"I'll agree with you that most things haven't changed around here though but it makes our little town special and I can't imagine being anywhere else." He said more thinking out loud that addressing anything as he spaced out for a second scratching his formerly bad shoulder.

Eden thanked him for the food as he handed her the plate. She took a bite of her sandwhich, finding herself rather hungry. She smirked mischievously as he brought up the blind. She swallowed her food before talking. "Well it could have worked out if you two were more open minded!" she joked with a small laugh. Eden usually wasn't much of a prankster but sometimes there had been opportunities she just couldn't pass up when it came to playing jokes on her friends.

Eden nodded in agreement with him as he thought out loud. She took a few more bites of the sandwhich. She fell silent for a moment as she ate. She thought back to the friends she had seen earlier. She thought about their reaction to when she brought his name. She frowned slightly, bothered once more by the thought of it.

"Donovan... Everythings ok?... Right?" she asked him hesitantly and with concern. She placed the plate down for the moment as she looked at him. "I was talking with Carly, Evan.... even Jackie... and when I asked where you were, they acted strangely."

"Its been a bit stressful lately...ok more than a bit but I know about a much as you do about it." Donovan said feeling rather pained at the silence about him from some of his closer friends, in particular him and Jackie had dated the last year of middle school into the start of junior year in high school but broke up amicably not long after, so is struck him pretty deep.

He took a few breaths to settle himself because he knew this whole issue was going to take a lot out of him, there really was no avoiding it he supposed. There was a judgment call to make here for him, to bring up the accident or not, and him staring at his own scars was not helping him to think of something else.

"Had an accident of sorts before all this started, ever since its just gotten worse to the point no one talks to me." Donovan said feeling a bit less steady than before, the incident had an strong impact on him physically and the head injury he sustained left a few parts cloudy or not there at all. "I thought it would be fine once I got out but apparently not."

Eden frowned at his words. As brought up some accident, her eyes widened a bit. "An accident?" she echoed sounding confused. She reached over and touched his arm lightly. She could tell that just by talking about it was having an effect on him. "I don't see how that would lead to everyone just.. ignoring you like that." she said shaking her head.

"That's just wrong." Eden added, sounding slightly annoyed. Not with him but with everyone else. She trusted his story to be true enough and, despite how many times she had asked, they never went into detail about it or gave excuses.

"I stayed out walking later than normal and I don't know what hit me but it was big enough to throw me and break my shoulder...then I ran for town to the road no less out in front of a truck but that's all I remember for awhile." Donovan said unable to stop himself from speaking despite every part of him hurting. "Not sure why but the doctor and nurses sort of got nervous too, I healed quick for what happened so maybe they were just curious or something..."

Donovan sort of trailed off after a bit having heard Eden but he was just unable to react but his state gave some insight to how everything was effecting him. He was worried in one part of him, severely worried, that the same would happen with Eden like the rest of them and for what reason he had no explanation. He was hunched over being more visibly upset than before wanting more than anything just to keep what he saw as his last actual friend.

"If that's the case then, I'm glad you're ok." Eden mumbled sounding a bit shocked that he had been hit by who knows what and a truck on top of it. As he haunched over she fell silent for a moment. She moved her hand to rest on his back, moving slightly closer to him as she attempted to comfort him in someway. She didn't like seeing her friend like this.

"I'll tried to find out why the others are acting so strange towards you... Especially since you don't even know... It doesn't make sense to me but may they have some sort of reasoning... However crazy it may be." she told him with a soft sigh. "You're ok though right? I mean... Healed from the accident?" she asked him becoming more concerned with his physical health.

"It was a couple months ago...I'm fine." Donovan said sort of mellowing out after letting everything out but feeling mild guilt at damn near breaking down on Eden's first day back. "I hate to dump this on you but I guess its better to get it out and hopefully you can find what I can't."

He put an arm around her afterwards to help acknowledge that she was helping even if he couldn't express it with words. In a strange way it felt better now that he had gotten to tell his side of things to someone who would believe him and really it had probably what he needed. Donovan was not used to being helpless in any way shape or form which made the situation all the worse for him but there was a chance for it to get better now and it was what mattered to him now. He managed a weak smile for Eden's sake and gave a bit of a squeeze of the shoulders before letting her go. The little ordeal left him pretty drained but he figured it wouldn't last and despite it all he had no intention of missing work even if he planned to leave.

"Sorry for dampening the reunion but with you back I think things are looking up." Donovan said with a sigh of relief feeling like an empty balloon.

Eden gave him a small, encouraging smile before shaking her head as he apologized. "No need to apologize. I'm the one that brought it up afterall...Sorry.." she told him. Now with things beginning to settle, she straightened up a bit, trying to think of a better topic to move onto.

"We should go hangout somewhere tonight. Or tomorrow. I'm not very busy yet anyways. Just a little bit of unpacking but I can procrastinate like usual on that." she said giving a more cheerful smile as she attempted to lift the mood. It was a hard thing to do since what he told her still hung heavily on her mind but she was willing to try and not focus on it for now.

Her habit of procrastination definitely hadn't changed over the years. To this day she still did her work in a very last minute, rushing fashion but it always seemed to come out well.... Or at least well enough.

Donovan nodded in silent agreement about the whole ordeal being pretty much unavoidable between the two of them. He knew neither of them would really let the other take blame for such a thing it just wasn't like either of them especially given the situation. However figuring time to hangout would be a something that could be a simple arrangement though it all depended on Eden.

"Well I'll be working around 6pm but its usually pretty slow on Thursdays so you could drop by if you want and it wouldn't hurt anything. Honestly it would help make it better than normal, a lot better come to think of it." Donovan mused finding what he thought was a decent enough solution.

He ended up chuckling a bit at the poke at her procrastination which had been something that was always good for a laugh but something he had never managed to pull of himself, he either did it quick or on time or forgot about it until it was too late. He was relieved in a way that everything had managed to switch gears to enjoying the reunion again but he would keep wondering what she might find in the mean time.

"Alright. I'll drop by sometime then." Eden promised with a small nod as her told her the time when she could drop by his work, making mental note of it. She smiled as she managed to make him him laugh a little.

Eden stood up, grabbing her plate. She wasn't that hungry anymore. "I'm just gonna go put this in the sink." she said as she walked off into the kitchen.

Her mind wandered back to their other friends. Part of it made her stomach a bit queezy as she thought about what they might say. What excuses or stories would they tell her? Unconciously, she frowned slightly, wondering a about what her own reaction would be. Eden glanced over at him. Whatever came at her, she found herself rather determined to be there for him.

"Sounds good." Donovan replied satisfied with the arrangements.

He had to admit he was worried for Eden hoping she didn't get treated harshly for trying to help him. If anything he would appreciate the help but if anything bad or worse happened there was no doubt in his mind he would get very involved, he already was really but it would be more direct. When Eden got up to put the plate away she was a bit quicker otherwise he would have done it but she might have needed a second so he said nothing to stop her. He decided to try and just put it out of his mind until later because there was nothing to be done until then so he would do his best to be patient.

Eden came back from putting the dish away. She glanced briefly towards the clock and paused. "I guess I should be going." she mused. She had only stopped by for a short visit anyways but not she also had the reason for investigating the actions of the others now as well, something she wanted to find out as quick as possible. Of course she could call them on her phone but part of her didn't want to do so with Donovan around right now. Too much was unpredictable for that.

"I'll see you soon though!" she added in with a smile. And hopefully with some answers... Eden thought to herself.

"You try to enjoy the rest of your first day back, and I'm looking forward to it." Donovan said as a goodbye, he hated goodbyes.

He would at least get up to get the door for Eden and close it after she left, he didn't need to go out yet nor did he want to. Sometime to sort himself out would be good so he could keep face if anything. If there was a way to speed up time he probably would take it because as much patience as he had it was doing nothing that would drive him crazy. It was going to be a good night most likely though or more eventful at least being able to make his work fun for once, maybe get some issues sorted even.