Later, a very excited Lola comes running into the library while Roja is reading there alone, “Roja, we’ve planned the perfect birthday for you!” Roja looks up from her book to see her best friend with a big smile on her face. “We’ve got balloons and fireworks and music and…”, Lola continues before she sees Roja attempting to stop her.

“Thank you, but you don’t have to do all this,” Roja says, almost whispering. The fact that her best friend planned a party for her makes her happy and uncomfortable at the same time.

“I know I don’t have to but I want to. It’s the first time I’m preparing a party for a friend and not myself!” Lola explains. She stops for a moment to see Roja’s reaction before adding in a very serious tone, “But we need your help! Chinese, Italian or Mexican food?”

Roja can’t hold back a little smile while thinking to herself, “This girl is unbelievable.”

“Italian, we all like pizza,” she says to her friend.

“That’s exactly what I’ve already ordered because I knew that’d be your answer!” Lola replies, obviously proud of herself. Roja thanks her again and expects that Lola will leave again now. However, the purple-haired girl isn’t ready to leave yet. She asks Roja about the book she’s reading and all the other ones she’s already read. Lola is more than happy to see that Roja can talk so enthusiastically about her favourite books, just like any other teenager with an ordinary past.

***

In the meantime, Oren continues working on the plan the twins had. Now that their mother knows about it, he has a good feeling about this. The next step is to talk to Jason. The guys just came back from the talk they had with Rover about the mysterious girl in Jason’s guest room.

“We need to talk about Roja’s birthday party,” Oren mentions as they enter the living room. Jason falls onto the couch and lies there, exhausted from all the talking.

“Just do what you think you have to do,” he mumbles.

“Well, we thought you might want to know what we’re planning!” Oren says. After a short break, he adds, “And we could talk about what you buy her as a birthday present.”

His brother sits up on the couch and looks at him, “Honestly, I don’t care.”

“I know you care because I was there when you told Rover about her. Admit it, there’s something about her that makes you like her!” Oren teases Jason, but he gets cut off harshly by his older brother,

“Stop it, Oren. I don’t like her. She’s just here because she was injured and because she’s connected to the Smiths.”

“But she’s not that heavily injured anymore. You could send her to her own apartment and tell her everything. However, you still let her stay here, you still don’t tell her who we are,” Oren replies while trying to hide his smile, he knows exactly what he’s doing here. “You’re trying to help her with her nightmares. You care about her,” he concludes before just walking away and leaving a perplexed Jason behind.

“Is he right?” Jason asks himself while lying down on the couch again. “Is it true that I let her stay here because I don’t want her to leave? Am I scared she’ll get hurt again?” More questions come to his mind while he’s also wondering why this makes him think so much. He gets lost in between his thoughts and doesn’t notice his mother sitting down next to him on a chair and watching him mumbling to himself. Of course, she’s not there out of coincidence but because of the twins’ plan.

“Jason? Are you okay?” Lucia asks, a bit worried about her oldest son. Jason looks over to his mother before taking a deep breath to get his thoughts into a clear order.

As he sits up, he looks directly at her and asks, “Mum, am I a bad person?”

“Of course not! You’re not a bad boy if that’s what you mean,” she answers. Jason looks away and stares into a corner of the room.

“I’ve killed people,” he murmurs.

“People who deserved it!” Lucia tries to defend his actions although she knows that won’t change his opinion right now.

A short silence gives Jason the opportunity to gather his thoughts for a more detailed question, “Do you think there’s a possibility that I can care for something more than for the gang?”

“You mean ‘for someone’? Someone who’s not your family?” Lucia asks with a slight smile. But that smile vanishes as soon as she sees the pain in her son’s eyes.

“It’s not right, is it?” he asks without really expecting an answer. Lucia stands up and sits down on the couch right next to her son.

“Jason, it’s your life. You decide what’s right for you. You have to make the decisions, you decide what’s important to you.”

“How do I find out if she’s important to me?” her son asks. Lucia smiles, she got the perfect opportunity to take the next step in her kids’ plan.

“Take your time, spend some time with her, get to know her!” she lists. To erase every bit of doubt her son might have, she adds, “Your father would tell you the same.” With that, Jason knows what he has to do.

“I’m sorry for not being the way I usually am,” Jason mumbles after a while of just staying there in silence.

“You can’t always stay strong. You also need someone to lean on,” Lucia replies empathetically. “As your mother, it’s my priority to help you wherever I can,” she adds which gets her a quiet “Thank you, Mum.” With that, Jason stands up and walks away, ready to spend some time with this girl that makes his thoughts turn into a hurricane of questions.

Lucia, happy about her achievement, texts Lola that everything goes by plan. The seemingly harmless idea brings some new energy into the house. She’s proud of her three kids, each one of them has their own skills and talents. Lola just happens to be the best at making matchmaking plans… and at influencing her brother.