Howie was miserable. He'd only wished for one thing: For all of them to reunite for the most momentous event of his life. It had been maybe two months passed since he'd sent out the invitations for the guys and only one party had responded. The Richardsons.

Kevin, his whole family for that matter, always believed in promptness.

Good ol' Kevin, Howie smiled.

Howie had talked secretively to Chelsea, Brian's wife, maybe a few weeks before.

"Are you able to attend?" he asked.

"I'm not sure if Brian's up to it."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, he started to cry when we first received it, " she told him, "poor baby."

Howie sank in his chair. Brian had cried over it. He must've been the most timid person of the group that fateful day. Yet he was holding back.

Howie knew it instantly. From his actions. Brian had hardly said a word, but when he did, it was harsh, yet soft-spoken. His eyes gave it away most of all. They were more pale, if possible, than they were usually. They never looked at anyone, they were focused on something --- something like the carpeted floor of the bus, or the walls, but never their faces.

Howie tried to think back. He knew neither AJ or Brian had anything to do with it. Kevin and Nick were always at each other's throat. Right from the start. Nick thought Kevin was too up-tight, Kevin thought he was obnoxious and childish.

Howie couldn't really suspect anyone, though he thought it was obvious. Something clearly went down when they had that break.

Who did it?

They'd been best buds from the get-go. Brian had been about eighteen or so, Nick was thirteen. No matter, they clicked easily. And they were inseparable. Brian and Nick. Frick and Frack.

But something got between them and caused an exceedingly amount of friction and conflict. The "destruction duo" had a new object to destroy: each other.

"Kid Nicky," he sobbed between tears, "what went wrong?"

"Guess what, D?" Rena ran into the den.

"What?" Howie had been practically pulling his hair out. No news could help him at that point.

"The McLeans are able to come!"

"What?!" he repeated, but now in a more energetic tone. "That's great!"

Rena leaned against the door frame. "Y'know, I talked to Denise, AJ's mom, the other day. She and Alex talked before and he was having a rough time, too. She hasn't heard from him since that call, which was, like, a week ago. He's with this really nice girl named Sophia."

Howie stopped and turned to his fiancee. "What is her last name?"

"I think it's Good, why?"

Howie tried to seem nonchalant about it. But it was hard, knowing Sophia was going to get AJ in deep sludge. Howie didn't like the thought, but didn't tell Rena.

Why did Sophia have to come back?