He stands and buttons his top suit-jacket button. “I’ll get out of here and let you rest. But we’ve started the process to release you and your mother from witness protection. Your mom just has to sign some stuff and you’re officially Thea Kennedy again.”

My eyes tear up, but I force myself not to cry. My voice comes out high and cracks when I thank him. He nods once and strides from the room, leaving me staring at him in wonder.

I’m Thea Kennedy.

Two weeks after I’m discharged from the hospital with some meds and care instructions, Mom lets me invite my friends over. They all visited me in the hospital, and Charlotte, Julian, and Chase were given the full story. They were surprised, but eventually understood that I’m still me, just with a different name that they’re still getting used to, and now I’m allowed to be in pictures.

I’m relieved they’re not mad at me for keeping such a big secret from them, but they were understanding and knew what I was running from and why it was so important to keep my secret a secret, especially after seeing me in the hospital.

My friends crowd around a board game on the floor, where we have been for hours, arguing over unofficial rules. It’s weird to be myself around them, but it also seems completely normal. I’m glad everything is out in the open and I can finally just be with the people I was most worried I’d hurt. We’re all here together: Annalisa, Charlotte, Mason, Noah, Chase, Julian, and Aiden. I have love for all of them. I basically stumbled upon them by accident, but that accident was probably the best thing to happen to me.

The television is on in the background and I hear someone say, “Ew, I hate Siren of the Heart, who would even go to their concert?”

I look up from my cards. “Hey, they’re, like, my favorite band, don’t trash them.”

An incredibly loud gasp comes from Noah as his head slowly turns to look at me.

“You’re a fan of Siren of the Heart? How did I not know this?”

“Um, yes. They’re my absolute favorite!”

“Me. Too.” Noah stresses each word. “Did we just find our thing?”

I feel a slow smile spread across my face. “You know what, Noah. I think we just did.”

“Ha!” he exclaims. “In your face Mason. I have a thing with Thea! Hey, do you think if we tell them you were in witness protection they’ll write a song about us? Or invite us up on stage?” Noah asks, arguing with everyone else when they say that would never work.

It took us a while, but it looks like we finally found our thing. I hear the front door open and soon Brian is standing in my living room with Mom.

“Hey, guys, you think we can get some time with Mason and Thea?” Brian asks, standing with Mom, his arm around her back. She looks happy, her features relaxed, her shoulders not holding their usual tension.