School Days: Sophomore Year

Thank you to all my readers and my home over at SiManiacs. The Sophomore year is over but I hope you all know I'll be back with more. :)

You can find the complete Freshman and Sophomore years here or a SiManiacs so enjoy them in good health. :)
Sophomore Year
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School Days: Sophomore Year

Chapter 20: End of Year Carnival

"So you gonna come visit Gavin during your grand tour of the East coast?" Erik asked. He grinned because he knew he'd be spending the summer with his mom and by visiting Gavin, I'd be visiting him as well.

"I think my dad and I can squeeze in into the schedule." I said with a smile.

"Is your dad taking two months off for this?" Erik leaned back against the picnic table. We should be inside eating lunch but Veronica had disappeared again and Todd was still suspended and Timothy was a no show. Given that it was a beautiful May day, we'd decided to take our lunches outside.

"No, he'll be working while we're there, telecommuting mostly. He actually has a few business meetings set up as well since he'll be in the "area"" I said. "He's got a pretty flexible schedule though so we can see the sights together and move along when we're ready."

"You have a pretty cool dad Gin. Mine would never do anything like that. Not that mine would have a job he could telecommute to." Erik looked sad as he thought about his dad. Before I could figure out how to reply, Timothy approached us.

"I need your help." he said as a greeting. "The Student Council is assisting with this carnival in a couple weeks and we're painting signs this afternoon - except for 'we' seems to be me. Can you two help?"



"You're on Student Council?" I asked combing my mind for any time he might have mentioned being on Student Council. "Since when?"

"Two years, thanks for noticing." he snapped. "Never mind." he started to walk away and then paused and turned back toward us. "That was snappish wasn't it?"

I grimaced. "A bit. But perhaps deserved - I had no idea you were on Student Council; how pathetic am I as a friend?" I said with a small smile.

"Eh it's not all on you, I don't think I mentioned it much - if at all." Timothy said. "So, after school....can you both help? Please?"

"I'm in" Erik said from behind me and I nodded as well. We all smiled at each other and Timothy walked away calling his thanks.

I turned to Erik. "Did you know? That he was in Student Council?"

"Yes, I voted for him this year - he's a sophomore class rep." Erik said shrugging.

"Wow, I don't even remember the elections." I said frowning. "And he was obviously on the Council last year. I am so grounded as his friend." Erik just laughed as we walked back toward the school to get to class.

That afternoon, we met in the cafeteria and worked together to move the tables and chairs out of the way. We laid out large banner size paper and raided the art room for supplies. Before any pain got on the banner, I got a spot on my shirt. I was examining the tube to see if the paint was washable and I guess the lid wasn't on very well because green paint squirted out...speckling Erik with green dots. "Oops...." I said trying not to laugh.

Erik looked down at his shirt and over at me then back at his shirt. "Green really isn't my color." he said. He used his finger to scoop one of the green pain globs from his shirt and then grinned as he wiped his fingers on my shoulder. "But it looks great on you." he said with a laugh.

"Oh no you didn't!" I said shocked. I grabbed another tube of paint and looked at it. "How about blue then?" I said. Before he could reply or dart away I splattered him with blue paint to join the green.



Erik and I both burst out laughing as we stared at his shirt and soon a small paint war was on. From somewhere outside the battlefield, I heard someone talking and eventually turned to see Timothy watching us with a bemused look on his face. "As amusing as this looks...." he pulled a camera out from behind his back and took a few pictures that I had no doubt would end up in the yearbook or something, "the paint should be on the paper."

Erik and I giggled and then looked at each other - now with almost every color in the rainbow splattered across our clothes and faces - and laughed again. "Banner...." I said finally. Erik slowly stopped laughing and nodded. As we worked, we would occasionally glance at each other and smirk or chuckle.

"This is what you do when I'm not around?" Todd said, surprising us both. He was standing next to our banner, looking down at us and clearly amused.

"Join us. Gin was just telling me about how red and blue make purple." Erik said pointing to a particularly large purple spot on my shirt. Todd laughed as he sat down.



"You broke out of prison to come to school?" I ventured a guess.

"Well who would look for me here?" Todd said with a chuckle. "No, I came - with permission from the warden mind you - to see about getting some of my make up work. I'm not officially off my suspension until Monday...and as for the grounding - it's still life without parole I think."

"Maybe you'll get off on good behavior." I suggested with a smile.

"One can only hope. Most of my teachers offered me extra credit if I helped with this carnival and with Principal Watt's approval - here I am to start helping." Todd said picking up a paint brush. Timothy swooped in and started directing his new assistant once he heard this; Todd was put to work on another banner.

The four of us worked for a couple hours. In the end we had made banners that at least could be read - I'm not sure they were exactly visually appealing but they were colorful anyway. Todd returned to school the following Monday and the last real week of school before finals flew by for the rest of us. Todd spent every waking moment doing make up work, extra credit or homework if he wasn't busy at school. He'd also signed up for several shifts at the carnival at the urging of his teachers. It wasn't how he wanted to attend the carnival but he seemed dedicated to passing all his classes despite having missed almost a month's worth of class time.

The carnival was the weekend before finals week and the first weekend I'd seen James in what seemed like forever. He'd finished second at the state tournament and had thus won a spot at Nationals but he'd promised to go to the carnival with me regardless. True to his word, he showed up to pick me up early on Saturday. "I feel like I haven't seen you in months my queen." he said smiling. He gave me a kiss and offered his arm. I took it gratefully and leaned into him.

Todd was one of the first people we saw when we got there. He looked tired and cranky as we approached his concession stand. "Good morning Todd." I said.



"I wouldn't call it good." he grumbled. We each ordered sodas and grabbed a couple candy bars. I tried to give Todd my most reassuring smile but he'd been there since 6AM helping set up so I don't think he noticed.

The farm we'd taken a field trip to had brought out some animals for the petting farm and several kids were crowded around the animals, reaching their hands through the fence posts for a touch. I saw a familiar black mare and wondered if it was the one I'd petted at the farm. There was also a dunking booth that lured students in for a chance to dunk a teacher. Coach Reed was the victim as we passed by. I didn't have a grudge with him but I couldn't help but root for the line of students paying for a chance to see him swim in the small tank. The school had even rented a small merry-go round that was clearly not for anyone over the age of ten. I can only assume it was meant to entertain the children who came with their older siblings and families.

Like all good carnivals and fairs, there were several games of chance with cheap, over priced and over sized prizes. And in spite of the fact that I didn't need a giant stuffed panda bear or tiger or whatever, I couldn't help but want them. It must be the air of the carnival - if I saw some of these toys at the store I wouldn't spare them a second glance.

We met up with Veronica and Timothy after about an hour at the fair, I looked around for Erik but didn't see him. Veronica was dressed in black and red, outside her normal range of colors and I looked to her questioningly but she ignored my look. "I've seen you eying that panda bear Ginny." James said with a grin. I laughed in reply, he was right - I was eying it. It was almost as tall as I was and I had no idea where I could put it even if I had one. "I'll play." he was saying to the lady behind the counter, drawing me out of the mental redecorating of my room I was doing to incorporate the large panda.

"Wait, no! I don't really need one." I said with a laugh.

James laughed. "Who does?" he said nodding to the game hostess as he put a dollar on the table. "But you want it right?" When I smiled sheepishly he knew the answer was yes.

"I'll play too." Erik chimed in, joining us. He put his own dollar on the table.



Timothy and Veronica looked between Erik and James and I saw them both suppressing grins. "Well then...let the race begin." I said with a chuckle. The hostess handed them each water guns which they needed to use in order to (hopefully) make their horse cross the "track".

It was a close race but in the end, James's horse pulled ahead but a nose. The hostess handed over the large panda bear, which James offered to carry for me. "Thanks. For my bear." I said with a laugh. We had lunch with the others but then everyone went off on their own. The giant bear was taken to James's car for the time being so he wouldn't be dragged around for the rest of the day.

As sunset approached, I knew a concert followed the carnival and found a hand out for it. "Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed, looking it over. Right there in red letters was Veronica's name as an act for the concert.

"What?" James asked startled. I thrust the flier at him and pointed, still trying to find words. Most of the acts were small, fairly local bands and groups - we didn't have some grand headliner coming but still! "Wow, well this is good right? I mean I heard her at the talent show and she was great."

"Yeah it's good. I'm just...in shock I guess. She didn't tell me. What is it with my friends not telling me stuff?!" I snatched the flier back from him and looked at it again. "Come on, let's go get seats now!" I said pulling him along with me. We were one of the first ones there and got great seats.



"This good then?" he said with a chuckle. I looked at my watch and realized the show didn't even start for another 45 minutes but I just laughed it off. "I'm going to miss that laugh. To be honest, I'm going to miss everything about you this summer Ginny." he said getting very serious and somber. My dad and I were leaving in a little over a week and then James would be off for his internship and the National tournament.

"I'm going to miss you too James." I said fighting the urge to cry. I'd stubbornly refused to think about this for the weeks we hadn't really been able to see each other. "Don't get too comfortable in D.C." I said with a weak laugh.

"I'll try not to." he said scooting his chair closer to mine and putting his arm around my shoulders. "And give me a call when you get close during your grand tour. I'm sure I can be spared to show you around the capital."

We both got silent then and just enjoyed being in each others' company. Without realizing it, the seat around us had filled up and the concert had started. Veronica was the third performance and was absolutely incredible. I beamed as the crowd applauded her and clapped so hard my hands ached.



"Okay ow." I said as I sat down after Veronica left the stage.

"A little too much clapping there?" James said taking my hands in his. I nodded and he slowly started rubbing my hands. It wasn't long before they stopped hurting but I didn't stop him from rubbing them. "Still hurt?" he asked when the next act was almost done.

"Mm?" I said looking at him. "Oh no, not for awhile, I was just enjoying myself." I said.

James grinned. "Well then I'm glad to be of service." he raised my hand to his mouth and lightly kissed one and then raised the other and kissed it as well.

We settled back to watch the rest of the concert. I may be biased - okay I WAS biased - but I thought Veronica was the best of all of them. My neck grew sore from being so close to the stage and I turned my head a few times to stretch out the kinks. If I hadn't I never would have seen them. I had no idea she was in town but from what I could tell, I knew why.



Val....

I frowned and tried to look back at the stage, trying to focus on the band or on James's hand that was resting on my shoulder but still I looked back.

Val....and Erik....

Ow, the sight of them together hit me right in the gut and I wanted to run over there and push her away from him. But why? I was with James, if I could move on so could he right? I closed my eyes and took a slow steadying breath. Secretly I hoped with all my heart that she would disappear when I opened my eyes. She didn't.

I turned toward James and smiled. "I'm going to go get....a drink. Want anything?" I offered. He offered to go get it but I shook my head. "No, no I need some air...well, less crowded air." I said with a chuckle since we were already outdoors. When he didn't ask for anything I walked quickly through the crowd of concert goers toward the concession stands.

Todd was working once again and still seemed irritable but he gave me a small smile as I approached. "Hey Ginny." he said.



"Todd....hi." I looked around feeling a little lost. I saw Val and Erik still and cringed away from the sight, I saw James watching the concert from our seats and even cringed away from him, feeling guilty for the thoughts I was having about Erik and Val.

"You okay Gin?" Todd asked examining me.

"Um..." I shook my head. "Not so much." I said simply. "Did I ever tell you about..." Todd held up his hand, cutting me off and pointed behind me. I turned and looked, there was Erik - without the tramp - wait, when did she become a tramp?! - Val. "Erik...um...I gotta go..." I said trying to walk past him.

"Can we talk?" he asked, putting his hand on my arm to stop me. Searching my mind for a reason to say no, I came up empty and simply nodded. Erik led me away from the crowd and away from the concession stands. When he finally stopped walking he turned toward me and looked like he was going to say something.

And then he didn't.

For several moments we just looked at each other; gazed into each others' eyes and I knew in that moment that all my "just friends" talk had been a lie for both of us.

"Gin....I came back..." Erik started to say and stopped.

"Why? Why did you come back anyway?" I said fighting the urge to look for Val. If he had her, why come back. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as so many conflicting emotions collided. I liked James! I'd moved on! And yet here was Erik....and he was, well frankly he was Erik....and he was looking at me with those eyes that were full of adoration.



"For you Gin, even before I realized it, I came back not just because of you but FOR you." Erik said. "I love you...."

"But Val..." I saw him cringe when I mentioned her. "I saw her, and I know you two..."

"Are over. We have been; she's just...persistent." Erik interrupted.

"Right...." I said trying to process the thoughts running through my mind. Erik...James...Erik....Val...James...

As if thinking about him called him to my side, I felt James's hand on my back and I saw Erik's face grow sad. "Ginny?" he said softly, not taking his eyes from Erik. "Are you okay?" he asked.

I turned to look at him and blinked away the few remaining tears. I mustered up a smile and nodded. "Yeah." As I tried to think of something to explain my extended drink run; Val showed up and immediately took possession of Erik's arm. He looked startled but didn't say anything to her, just kept looking at me.

"Looks like the concert is about over, you ready to go home?" James asked.

I looked back at Erik and Val, gazing into Erik's eyes I could almost ignore Val's presence on his arm. Almost. "Yeah." I said not taking my eyes from Erik. "Let's go."



I turned away from them to walk with James but looked back and felt a pang for the hurt I saw in Erik's face. Part of me wanted to turn and run back to him and let him kiss me and hold me. But I couldn't do that... not tonight anyway. I forced myself to look away from them as James led me through the slowly dispersing throng of people.

The faces of the people around me blurred together as fresh tears stung my eyes. I tried to resist them, I didn't want to have to explain to James why I was crying. I discreetly turned and swiped away tears. As I did so I saw a familiar face in the crowd - a very familiar face. I let go of James's hand and tried to tell him I'd be right back but I don't know if he could hear my words over the noise. I broke through the crowd, all the while, hunting for her.



There! It WAS her!

I climbed onto a bench to track her over the heads of the departing people and saw her break through on the other side, near the concession stands. She'd seen him before he saw her. I ached to be by his side and warn him. Why was she here? She couldn't stay long could she? Would her visit do more harm then good?

"Ginny!" James exclaimed grabbing my hand. "What are you doing up there?" he asked looking up at me.

"I saw someone..." I said still watching Mei-Ling approached the concession stand Todd was working at. I didn't looked down to James, afraid to miss the moment he saw her.

Todd looked up from his registered just as she stopped in front of him. Neither said anything - not that I could have heard the words over the crowd anyway.



End Chapter, End Season

School Days: Sophomore Year

Chapter 19: The Farm

"Well?" I asked after my dad had remained silent for several moments. "Daddy?"

"I'm not sure, to be honest, kiddo. Do I wish you would have told me? Yes, of course." he finally replied and paused then. "But I think I understand why you didn't."

"You do?" I was both happy and surprised to hear that from him.

"Yes. Was it the best choice? I don't know. But you can't always wonder what if." he said with a smile. Despite his words I detected a bit of disappointment In his voice and demeanor. "Come on, it's game night and I plan to win this time." he said with a laugh.

"Oh you are on." I said with a smirk. Dad hadn't beat me at video games in months. We played for awhile only talking about the game and egging each other on. I assumed the Todd subject was dropped but I couldn't get the idea that he was disappointed in my decision out of my mind.

"I did what you're doing for a long time after your mom died." he said with no preamble.



"What?" I asked taking my eyes from the TV to look at him.

"Wondered if I'd done things differently would things have been different. If I worked less, if I was home that night, if I'd spent more time with you two back then..." he trailed off, looking away from me. "I worked a lot back then, too much even. Your mom was always trying to get me to work less but I was ambitious and wanted too much too fast. After that night I questioned everything. If I'd been home, would we have all gone together, stayed longer and thus missed the intersection at that particular moment. Would we have even gone out at all? Or maybe I would have gone out and brought the ice cream back." he stopped and turned to look at me finally. Both our characters were motionless on the video game.

I was sure my mouth was hanging open. Dad never talked about that night. "But a million different things could have happened that night based on a million different things, even if you were home..."

"That's my point kiddo. If you had told me or Mrs. Anderson about Todd, maybe he could have gotten help sooner. Maybe he would have found new ways to hide his drinking, maybe he would have felt so betrayed that he tried harder things like drugs. A lot of things could have happened. You made what you thought was the right decision at that moment. You could spend months wondering if it was the best decision and debating with yourself but in the end, it's done." he said giving me a smile, this time I couldn't detect any disappointment in his face. "And thankfully Todd is fine, for the most part. He's got a lot of healing to do, physically and mentally but he's better off with you in his life and knowing he can trust you.

I leaned toward him and gave him a tight hug. "Thank you Daddy."

The following weeks ushered in the heat of impending summer. The gossip about Todd died out as students and staff turned their attention to plans for the end of the school year and summer plans. Even though there was still a few weeks of school remaining, most people were suffering from summer-itis and it became more and more apparent with each day.

One of the last big projects for sophomore science was a field trip to a local farm in the spring. Aside from the growing crops, many of the animals had recently had babies so the farm was a flurry of activity.
Timothy sat with Bella on the bus ride, they had remained together despite Bella seeming to be at the center of much of the gossip about Todd and I. Timothy claimed she was sorry for it but I wondered. She and Timothy wandered off together as soon as we arrived at the farm. Veronica waved and disappeared as well, I wondered where she was off too for a moment before Todd and Erik took up positions on either side of me.

"Where's V off to?" Erik asked watching her departing figure. With no answer, I merely shrugged. Erik turned to me a smiled. "What should be look at first?"

Todd pointed down the nearest path. "Let's go that way."

"Alright." I said walking between the two of them. We passed Veronica eventually - talking to Lance Caulder of all people. I watched her curiously but decided not to comment. Many smaller groups of students had gathered to chat, explore and gossip during the field trip.



We had to stop a few times due to overcrowding but eventually wove our way through the crowds. Every once in awhile I would catch a snippet of conversation and turn to find eyes on us. Apparently the gossip about Todd wasn't as dead as I'd thought (or hoped). When they saw me meeting their gaze, they would turn away. Todd seemed oblivious to it all.

I had no idea where we were going until Erik and Todd stopped and I bumped into both of them. "Oof, sorry!" I said with a sheepish smile.

Erik smirked. "Care to join us on planet Earth Gin?" he joked.

I chuckled. "Sorry. Guess I sort of zoned there." I said squeezing between them. I felt closer to Erik and Todd than I'd ever felt to Veronica. I glanced around again, wondering where she was and what she was up to. I gave up looking and returned my gaze forward. "Horse." I said, realizing how lame it sounded as soon as it escaped my lips - it's just that horse was right in front of us.



"Very good Ginny." Todd said with a laugh. It was great to hear him laugh, even at my expense. "Can you tell use what the winged, feathery creatures are too?"

"Errr...." I pretended to think. "Cows?" I joked. Erik and Todd laughed beside me and I giggled a long with them. I reached out to stroke the horse gently and after a moment wondered if we were supposed to touch the animals. No one was rushing to stopped me so I kept petting the gorgeous black animal.

After several minutes, Todd turned from the horse. "Everything okay Todd?" I asked looking at him.

"Yeah, just a little sore. Too much walking I think. I'm gonna go see if I can find a haystack to sit on or something okay?" he asked. Erik and I both nodded and watched him limp away. Even though his burns and injuries were mostly healed, I knew he was still hurting at times - and was too stubborn to rest usually.

"How's James?" Erik asked after a lingering silence between us. He tried to seem nonchalant about the question, but as he looked away from me, I knew he didn't really want to know.

"Okay I guess." I said thinking about James. We hadn't really had a chance to talk to each other much, let alone see each other. The state tournament was in a little over a week and his debate coaches were taking up just about every moment of his time. When he'd called a couple nights ago, he'd dozed off while we were talking and I told him to go to bed.

"You guess?" Erik prompted, drawing me out of my thoughts.

"Er, yeah - he's going to the state-wide Speech and Debate Tournament next week so he's been busy and my dad has been insisting on more father-daughter time lately, ever since Todd's accident." I said. "Not much time for dating." I said with a weak laugh.



Erik nodded. "It'll get better in a few weeks, summer's coming up - lots of free time then right?" he said. I sighed. Summer - it should be a wonderful opportunity to spend time with James and my dad but plans were already made. "What? What's the matter Gin?"

"Well for one, my dad and I made plans to do this whole east coast tour over the summer; for like two months. It'll be fun but no time for James. Besides, if James does well at the state tournament, he'll be off to the national tournament and even if he doesn't, he's doing a summer internship in Washington for all of July and August. So even when I do get back, he'll be gone." I said slumping against the fence. "Don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to the east coast thing with my dad!"

Erik put his arm around my shoulders and smiled. "I know you are but you're disappointed about missing time with James - I get that." We fell into another silence, but it didn't feel awkward to me as I leaned into Erik and took comfort in his presence. "Come on, let's go check out the crops - get our hands dirty." Before I could object, he led me over to one of the fields. We'd been told we could harvest and pick things if we liked to eat for lunch or just to take home. I wasn't really interested in taking anything home but looking over all the crop varieties was interesting.

As if triggered by the sight of fresh food, my stomach grumbled. Erik and I laughed. "Guess we better harvest ourselves some lunch!" Erik said with a grin.



"Ow!" I said as I fought the tomato plant for a single tomato. "I don't think I'm designed to 'live off the land'" I said tugging. The tomato squished in my hand and tomato guts covered my hand and pant leg. "Yeah, I am a city girl."

Erik was laughing at me and I turned to give him a fake glare. It was pretty funny, I couldn't deny that. "Okay, I'll harvest your lunch." he said easily pulling a tomato off. He held it up to me like he was going to toss it to me and I flinched away. He burst out laughing again. "I wouldn't throw it! Of course then your shirt would probably match your pants." he said with a wink. He pulled another tomato off and walked over to me, holding one out to me.

"Thanks." I said taking it. "Let's see what else they have, surely I can wrestle some grapes off a vine or something." I said grinning. We wove through the students and this time I didn't hear any gossip until we passed a couple of Todd's ex's and Alan something or other. I followed their gaze until I saw Todd lingering near Timothy and Bella. At the same time I saw Bella watching Todd and barely constraining a giggle of her own.



Erik and I walked past them toward another field and I saw Todd sit down in the picnic area, attempting to ignore them. We'd chosen apples for our next battle and were deep in the trees when I heard shouting, I instantly recognized Todd's voice and soon distinguished Alan's and Kimi's from the mix. "Come on!" I called to Erik before making a dash for the picnic tables, where I suspected they were.

Erik beat me out of the trees and I could tell he picked up his pace as he took in the scene in front of him. "Todd! No!" he called out but his voice couldn't be heard over the cacophony of voices and bellows of the students all around.



Erik skidded to a halt as he neared the edge of the crowd and I skidded behind him. Together we attempted to push our way to the front of the crowd, with Ms. Moore closing in as well. "Break it up!" she called.

"Now!!" bellowed Coach Tyson, pushing through from the other side. "Move! Go!" he said to the students as he made his way to the center where Todd and Alan were brawling. The students parted easily as the teachers came through and allowed them to pulled Todd and Alan apart - although they groaned as the fight came to an end.

"Both of you are suspended for the rest of the day, you'll return to the school and meet with Principal Watts." Ms. Moore said firmly. Alan immediately protested that it was all Todd's doing and that Todd had thrown the first punch. Todd, while clearly annoyed, chose not to argue with the teachers.



Ultimately Coach Reed escorted them both back to the school hours before the rest of us returned on the bus. Shortly after they'd left, I heard a familiar snickering and turned to see Bella giggling. Timothy turned on her. "What do you find so funny?"

"Well you have to admit..." she trailed off when she looked at Timothy. "Or not." she said sobering up.

"Yeah, right." Timothy said rolling his eyes. "You know what Bella, it's over." he said.

"What?! Why?" she sputtered.

"Because you are not the person I thought you were." Timothy said a little loudly.



I cringed just as Bella did. But Timothy turned on his heel and stomped over to where Erik and I were standing. "Sorry." I said quietly.

"Don't be." Timothy said. With still no sign of Veronica, Erik, Timothy and I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the farm together. We didn't talk about Bella. We didn't talk about James. We didn't really talk about Todd. We made jokes and had a few vegetable fights that I'm sure Ms. Moore would not have approved of and we laughed together.

I waited until near dark before going over to the Anderson's that night. Mrs. Anderson told me Todd couldn't have ANY visitors and sent me home. I looped around to the back off the house quietly and looked at the tree that I knew had branches right next to Todd's room. I had last climbed it about six years ago and I wasn't sure if I could do it but I wanted to check on him. After several near misses and a badly scrapped knee, I tapped several times on Todd's window until I got his attention.



"Ginny!" Todd said a little loudly as he scrambled to open the window. "What are you doing here....in a tree? I have a door ya know."

"Yeah except your mom won't let me in." I said quietly. "I wanted to check on you." The wind chose that moment to blow and I dug my nails into the bark and instantly regretted it as small splinters stung my fingers. I grimaced.

"Well that's great - not sure it's worth climbing this old tree but I appreciate it." Todd said.

"Okay, enough - what happened?" I asked hoping each moment that I didn't fall from the tree, break my leg and probably join Todd in the grounded for life department.

Todd sighed. "Suspended for a week, grounded for all eternity now. I shouldn't have swung, I know that! But Alan wouldn't shut up."

I nodded. "Are you going to be able to make up the work from your medical absences and the suspension in just a couple weeks?" I knew he was still trying to make up the work following the accident and I wondered if he's be able to pass his classes for the semester.

Todd shrugged. "I don't know Ginny, I hope so. Maybe if I tell my mom we're studying you can avoid the tree next time?" I laughed and nearly lost my balance. "Go on and get down before you break your leg. I'll see you at school....in a week or so."

I smiled. "Stay strong, I'm just next door if you decide to make a prison break - although I wouldn't advise it." I carefully got down from the tree and was almost spotted by Mrs. Anderson but ducked out of sight and ran home quietly.

End Chapter

School Days: Sophomore Year

Chapter 18: Rumors and Recovery

Todd had the "good" fortune of having his wreck early in spring break. The hospital stay ate up most his break and then he stayed home for a week recovering. Despite the fact that he was grounded, I showed up at his house everyday to visit and Mrs. Anderson let me stay. I'm not sure if she realized I would make a nuisance of myself or if she thought cutting Todd off completely would be bad for him. Either way I was happy she let me see him.

In all the time I'd spent with him since he'd come home, I'd avoided the issue of drinking. I wanted to talk about it but I didn't want to push him. But more and more we fell into awkward silences, like there were things to be said and we were both avoiding the topics. "Truth time." I said during one such silence.

"Oh man." Todd said but I was sure I detected a bit of relief, like he'd been hoping I would break the ice first. "Okay, shoot."

"When?" I asked what I felt was the easiest of all questions. "When did you start?"

"When? That's your question?" Todd asked surprised.

"Yes, that's my question." I said with a small smile.

"Um, okay - last fall, after a football game. I was over at Dirk's house for a post game party and he offered me a beer." Todd said. "I accepted - told myself it was a one time thing."



"But it wasn't." I said.

"It started that way." Todd said turning his face from mine.

"Okay." I said and decided to drop the subject for now. There really was more to say, more to ask, but I would let Todd continue now that ice was broken. I just hoped he would open up eventually. My phone rang then and I saw it was from James. I felt a pang of guilt, I'd been neglecting James to be with Todd lately and hadn't really talked to him for more than a few minutes at a time since the accident.

"Answer it. You've ignored his calls at least a half dozen times while here and that's not good for a guys' ego." Todd said with a small chuckle. "Besides, I'm pretty sure my mom's gonna get you out soon anyway. I'll see you later Ginny."

I laughed and then answered the phone. "Hey James!" I said happily. I waved to Todd as I left, listening to James on the other end. "Yeah I've missed you too." We chatted as I crossed through Todd and my back yards and I sat back on one of the pool lounge chairs. "That's great!" I said excitedly as James told me he'd gotten second at the regional event we'd left early. He was swamped with practices for the state tournament lately. An hour later my dad came out and found me still talking. He tapped his watch to tell me it was time to hang up and I said good bye to James and followed my dad in the house.

Due to the underage drinking and the damage to public property, Todd had to appear in front of a judge a few weeks after the accident. While his burns were not completely healed, they'd healed enough he was able to move around some in small doses. I got up early so I could see him off the morning of his court appearance. "So?" Todd said adjusting his tie again anxiously. "How do I look?"

"Good, clean and respectful." I said brush a stray hair from his jacket. I gave him a reassuring smile.



"I wish you could come, would be nice to have a friendly face." Todd said.

"Just be respectful, honest and good." I said. "Accept whatever he gives you with grace."

"Right, respectful...." Todd said looking at his hands.

I took his hands in mind and gave them a quick squeeze. "You can do this." I said softly. "And I'll be there in spirit." I said.

"Thank you Ginny." he said pulling me into a tight hug. His strong arms nearly crushed me against his body but I didn't stop him or protest. Mrs. Anderson's heels clicked on the tile floor and Todd released me and then we followed her out of the house quietly. I watched them drive away before heading to school by myself.

The rumors about Todd's accident had been flying for weeks but most assumed he'd fallen asleep at the wheel or swerved to miss something. Somehow it hadn't gotten out that he'd been drinking. "Did you know?!" Timothy and Veronica asked me in unison as they approached me that morning. Erik walked up before I got a chance to answer and lingered, apparently wanting to know what I had to say as well.



"Did I know what?" I asked looking around as if the faces of the students around me would have an answer. Half of them were looking at me, the other half seemed to be looking anywhere but me. "What's going on?"

"Did you know Todd was drinking?" Veronica hissed. "When he got in his wreck?"

Ah! "Who told you that?" I asked evading the question, already knowing it was one of those 'A heard it from B who heard it from C's sister....' situations.

"Bella did." Timothy said. "Her uncle works at the police station apparently. I'm not sure as what..."

"She's telling everyone that Todd was driving drunk, which is why he has a court appearance today. Is it true? And did you know?" Veronica asked, having taken over for Timothy.

I glanced over at Bella, who had new victims in her grasp. I saw Erik watching me curiously but I ignored them all as I watched Bella animatedly tell her tale - which unfortunately was true.



I turned away from the scene and my friends and fished out my books for the morning and slammed the locker door shut, drawing attention. Apparently everyone assumed I would confirm their suspicions about Todd seeing as I was his best friend. With another look around, I saw Dirk standing near Mark from the school paper. Mark was watching me, probably already composing tomorrow's article based on my reaction. I stared past my friends at him. "No comment." I said and left them all standing there looking confused.

Erik was the first to react and hurried after me. "Gin, hey Gin wait up." he said as he wove through the crowd. It had parted for me easily but had closed back in as I passed so he had a harder time getting through.

I was the first one in my first period class and Erik slid in right after me even though his class was on the other side of the building. "What?" I asked leaning against the wall and looking at him.

"I wanted to make sure you're okay. There's a lot of talk - most of it is BS, I'm sure but....there's a lot of talk." Erik said.

"There always is around here. Nothing spreads faster than a rumor. True or otherwise." I said.

Erik looked like he was about to ask something, maybe ask if it was true or not but as a couple other students filtered in, he thought better of it. We looked at each other for a moment before he just nodded. "I better get to class." he said. He gave me a quick, awkward hug and then left.

My classmates were staring at me but didn't say anything until Erik had left. "Are you and Todd Anderson a couple? I heard you were."...."Were you in the accident? I heard you were there!"...

I think they asked more questions but I tuned them out and took my seat as more people flowed into the classroom, most of them staring at me. My morning classes felt like they dragged by and even trying to tune people out, I heard more rumors about Todd and myself than I cared to know about. Most of them were false but I worried about Todd coming back to all this. He was supposed to be back in school for the second half of the day assuming his court appearance didn't take long and I knew my experiences would pale in comparison.

"If you knew, and I'm not saying you did, just if you did - you should have told someone." Timothy was saying as I stood absently by his locker. Veronica seemed to be agreeing and Erik was staying silent. I wondered what he was thinking as I stared into the crowd of students lingering between classes.



Without looking at them I spoke as I caught the first glimpse of Todd walking through the gossipy crowd. "If it had been you - for whatever reason - would you have forgiven me if I'd told?" I asked. I pushed through the people to meet Todd half way.

"Ginny!" Todd said, clearly relieved to see me. "What's going on?" he asked quietly, hazarding a glance around. Behind him I could see several of the years' exes watching our exchange.

"Gossip and rumors - and you're - well we are the star attraction." I said quietly. "How did it go?" Before he could reply, the bell rang, sending some of the audience scattering but most were still watching us. I gave him a quick hug. "We'll talk later - try to ignore the sharks." I said with a faint smile.



As we hugged, I could have sworn I heard a whispered "See, I told you!" or two but I resisted the urge to seek out the gossips. The rest of the day was as painful as the start, with Todd there, the gossip became louder and people got braver - peppering me with questions I refused to answer.

I hurried out of school and caught up with Todd in front of the school. We both took one look at the bus and decided that thirty minutes trapped in a cage being stared at was too much to handle so we stated walking in silence. "That was...." Todd started but trailed off.

"Horrifying? Long? Tedious? Annoying? Stop me when I hit the right adjective." I said with a small smile.

"All of the above." Todd said. "I'm sorry Ginny, that you seemed to have gotten pulled in like this."

I shrugged. "Eh, by next week something else will happen and they won't give either of us the time of day." I waited a moment, hoping Todd was speak up. "So...."

"Community service, rehab program and a fine." Todd said. "My dad was there and paid the fine but I'm sure that won't be the end of that. He barely looked at me all morning and he and my mom were fighting when they dropped me off for school. Nothing new there." I took his hand as we walked. After a few minutes of silence he paused and turned to me. "Thank you Ginny - for being here, just...for being here."

"I'm always here Todd." I said with a smile.



"I wished I'd figured that out six months ago," he said looking away and starting to walk again.

"Why?" I asked, but he didn't answer me, just continued walking toward home. As we approached his house, I saw his dad's car in the drive way and could hear arguing inside. I knew Todd had to get home due to grounding but I pointed toward the back where we could sit and talk without having to go inside. The old swing set Mr. Anderson had built for Todd and Meghan was still there so Todd and I sat down. "What did you mean Todd?" I asked finally.

"Hmm?" Todd evaded my gaze for a few minutes. "When Mei-Ling and I broke up, you were there and having you there made it easier for me. And when my parents started talking divorce, you were there. You were...you were the only light in a dark room. And then we weren't talking to each other and there was just..darkness. My parents were fighting more and I felt like I was grasping around in total darkness. I tried dating - to get over Mei-Ling, to get over you, to distract myself. They were fun I guess, but none of it lasted obviously. And then Dirk offered me that beer and the darkness seemed like more of a fog - and that wasn't so bad. So I drank again. By the time you and I started talking, I was drinking three or four times a week just to avoid everything." he paused and must have detected something on my face. "I don't blame you Ginny - please don't think I'm putting this on you. It was all me. I realize that now anyway."

"Are you sure?" I asked.



"Ginny, you are the best friend I have. Sometimes I think you're the only friend I have. After we started talking again, I told myself I wouldn't drink anymore. And for a couple weeks, I didn't. Then over the holidays, more and more boxes started piling up as my dad prepared to move out and I would come home and see my mom crying and it hurt, for months I had been numbing the pain with alcohol or girls or just being busy but I was angry with my dad for putting us through all this and I was feeling all the pain I'd been avoiding and I went to Dirk's and drank a lot for the rest of the school break. I spent as much time away from home as I could. And then my birthday happened and my dad picked that day of all days to move out. He never even acknowledged my birthday other than giving me the keys to the car. And that card...." he stopped and looked pained as he recalled it.

"And you got drunk, and stumbled to my house." I said finishing for him.

"I didn't mean to, I don't think. I'm kind of glad I did but I don't think I meant to come to your house that night." Todd said. "I loved her." he said switching tracks slightly. "I don't think I realized how much until she was gone."

I was silent, not sure what I could say to comfort him or if he wanted me to say something.

"You are the only one I can talk to Ginny - my parents..." he paused a second and we both listened to them continuing to fight inside. "Well they are so involved in their own crap that until the accident I wasn't sure they even remembered they had a son."

We sat quietly together for several minutes, listening to the arguing inside. "Are you going to do the rehab?" I asked finally.

"Yeah, I don't really have a choice but I think it would probably be good. Right?" he looked over at me.

"Probably." I said. "I hope it helps." I realized the sky was turning pink as the sun started to set. "You should probably go inside before they start wondering."

"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow?" he sounded nervous, like I might say no after all he'd told me.

"Of course, I'll always be there for you." I said as we both stood. I gave him a hug. I was halfway through his gate when he called out to me.

"Hey Ginny?" he called. "Why didn't you tell anyone - after that night? Why didn't you tell your dad or my mom?"

"Wasn't my secret to tell was it?" I asked. "Should I have?"

"No, I don't know, maybe...." he said confused. "Thanks though, for being a friend." I smiled at him and waved as he headed inside to face his parents. I walked through my own yard considering if I should have told someone or not.

At the time, I thought being a friend was keeping him out of trouble. In hindsight, if I'd told maybe he never would have gotten in the wreck, maybe it would have gotten help sooner. Oh maybe he would have hated me for betraying him and would have gotten worse faster. When I walked into my house and saw my dad reading at the table I was still conflicted. "Hey kiddo." he said looking up from his book and giving me a smile.

"Hey." I said meekly. I walked up beside him and he stood to give me a hug. "I knew." I said before he even got turned to face me.



"I knew Todd had been drinking. And I didn't tell. Was I wrong?" I asked, hoping my dad - who always had the answers - would have the answer this time.

End Chapter

School Days: Sophomore Year

Chapter 16: The Talent Show

"And now we have Erik Langston and Veronica Meyer performing a duet!" Principal Watts announced. The audience clapped with what little enthusiasm they had left. The talent show was almost over and I think most everyone was just ready to be done.

Veronica strode confidently onto the stage and Erik trailed behind her. I could see he was a bit tense at the prospect of performing on stage for such a large (and apparently unappreciative) audience. I stood in the wings and anxiously twirled my hair around my finger as Veronica adjusted the microphone. "We'll be performing 'Two is Better Than One'" she said and smiled. She turned to Erik and gave him a reassuring smile.



The song started with Erik playing as well as singing. He had a wonderful voice and I thought back on the first time he'd song for me. I smiled as I watched Veronica join in the song as well. While she couldn't play a guitar - she had a wonderful voice. She always had but it wasn't a talent she shared often.

So maybe it's true
That I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one

As the song continued, I could tell that Erik was tuning out the audience and the tension rolled away from him. "They're good. Has she always been able to sing like that?" Timothy asked quietly.

I tried not to jump as his voice and presence jolted me out of the song. "Hmm? Yeah, yeah she has."



"How did I not know that?" Timothy asked looking annoyed.

"She doesn't share it often. The last time I remember her singing in public was in third grade." I said with a laugh, thinking back to the third grade performance. Veronica had wowed the audience with her solo and then tripped and fell as she returned to her place in the crowd of awkward third graders.

"Ah. Anyway, we're up next and I don't know where Todd is." Timothy said.

"What?!" I said a bit loudly. I peeked around the corner but none of the audience seemed to have heard me so a wheeled around to face Timothy. "What?" I hissed. He just shrugged. I hurried away from him in hunt of my Romeo. "Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou Romeo?" I muttered to myself as I pushed through the backstage crowds of acts - most of whom had already gone. "Have you seen Todd?" I asked several people but most only shrugged or shook their heads.



I found him crashed out in one of the side dressing areas. I knelt down beside him and prepared to shake him awake when I caught a strong whiff of alcohol. "Damn it Todd!" I hissed and whacked him on the shoulder but he didn't so much and grunt.

If he weren't snoring loud enough to be a freight train I would have checked his pulse to make sure he was still alive. I was standing there trying to figure out what to do when Timothy walked in and spotted us both. "Oh there he is!" Timothy said. "Hey Todd! Wake up!" Timothy said reaching down to shake Todd.

"No! Leave him." I said quickly, hoping Timothy wouldn't notice the smell of alcohol. Todd couldn't go on stage. "You know Romeo's lines right?" I asked.



"What? Well yeah I do but...why?" Timothy asked looking confused and a little frustrated.

"Todd doesn't look like he's up for it, we'll cut the Friar out and you can be Romeo. Come on." I said ushering Timothy out of the room and closing the door firmly behind us, hoping no one would stumble on Todd.

We were back in the wings just as Erik and Veronica were finishing up their duet. They looked like a couple in love as they sang the final lines to each other as opposed to the audience.

'Cause, baby, two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
But I'll figure it out
When all is said and done
Two is better than one
Two is better than one



"Are they...?" Timothy asked, leaving the question hanging.

"I don't think so...are they?" I asked looking at him.

He shrugged. "Not that I know of...I thought you would know."

I shook my head and looked back at Erik and Veronica as they received much more enthusiastic applause. "I don't know." I said feeling another sting of jealousy. 'I'm seeing James, I'm seeing James - I shouldn't be jealous....' I told myself over and and over again as Timothy and I rushed in behind Erik and Veronica to set up our little tomb set. Erik put his guitar down and helped us, a few times our hands brushed each others' and I fought to urge to giggle or blush. 'James James James...'

The last of the set was staged and Erik jogged off stage as I took my place in the fake tomb bed and quickly draped the blanket over myself. Timothy was waiting just off stage to make his entrance and I could hear him whispering his new lines as Romeo to himself.



Timothy entered the stage and took in the sight of me as his departed Juliet. Considering he should have been playing a different role entirely, he had the lines memorized and gave his speech well.

Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death!
Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!
Here's to my love!

He took a drink from an imaginary bottle in his hand then and started to fake stumble.

O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.

Timothy leaned forward and gave me a quick, gentle stage kiss before pretending to fall to the side of my tomb and die. I ran through the lines that should have happened between Juliet and the Friar in my head quickly and began to rise from my bed, looking happy and refreshed to meet Romeo.



Leaning forward from the bed I gasped at the sight of Romeo on the ground and hurried to the floor beside him.

What's here? a cup, closed in my true love's hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end:
O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after? I will kiss thy lips;
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them,
To make die with a restorative.


I leaned forward to return the kiss Timothy had given me before. "Thy lips are warm." I looked up, pretending to hear a noise from outside the tomb. "Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!" I said snatching a pretend dagger from Romeo. "This is thy sheath;" I thrust into my chest to stab myself, "there rust, and let me die." With a final, perhaps dramatic, flourish, I collapsed into Timothy's arm and played dead.



I kept my eyes closed and tried to feign death for a moment or two. Slowly the audience began to clap and Timothy and I got to our feet and took a few quick bows. The clapping got a little more enthusiastic as we got up and Timothy and I grinned at each other and then cleared our set for the last act. "Not bad...considering." I said with a smile.

"You did great." Erik said as he helped get the tomb setup back stage.

I left Timothy and Erik to deal with the setup and went back to the dressing area hoping to find Todd awake - or gone even. When I walked in he was moving at least so I jabbed him a few times. "Get up!" I said loudly.

"Gah, wha?" Todd muttered as he rolled over and put an arm over his eyes.

"You need to get out of here or pretend to be sober, you're at the talent show damn it!" I said poking him again just because I was upset with him.

"Could you stop poking me?!" Todd shouted, now fully awake. "I am sober..."

"Yeah right!" I said as I heard footsteps and the door opening. I stood and smiled as Erik, Veronica and Timothy came in laughing together. "Good show everyone! You two were incredible!" I said to Erik and Veronica, trying to ignore Todd.

"We were weren't we?" Veronica said with a laugh and gave Erik a hug as James came in holding flowers.



"Ah there is my fair Juliet." he said with a smile. I turned to him and grinned, trying to keep my focus from Todd or Erik. He held out the flowers to me.

"They're beautiful." I said taking them. "Thank you, and thank you for coming." I said taking his hand in mine.

"You are beautiful." he said leaning into me and whispering in my ear.

"And you're a charmer." I said with a laugh.

"Always." he replied pulling me into a tight hug.



"Why don't we all go out for a late dinner." he suggested, squeezing my hand and addressing my friends. "Or just a late snack."

"Sure." Timothy and Erik said at the same time. I caught Veronica looking from me to James and then to Erik and back again. I wasn't sure what was going through her mind and I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to know.

"We'll get changed." I said looking around and most everyone was nodding, Todd was holding his head and looked like he was in pain. 'Good' I thought to myself. "We'll meet out front." I said aloud to everyone as they dispersed to change as needed. Veronica threw a coat on and walked out of the dressing area with Erik and Timothy. Okay maybe it was really only me that needed to change...I smiled at James, "I'll be out in a flash." I said as he left and Todd soon dragged himself out as well.

End Chapter

School Days: Sophomore Year

Chapter 17: The Wreck



Blink.



Blink.



Blink. The bright lights swirl under the eyelids even as they close again.

I was sitting in another school, an hour from home, getting ready to for another awards ceremony. There was no chance of me ending up on the stage this time but James, who was sitting next to me, looked anxious for the first time since I'd met him. This wasn't like any other speech and debate tournament though, this was a regional tournament which could lead to the state tournament and eventually the national tournament - if he placed. I smiled at him and gave his hand a squeeze as my cell phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw Veronica's name on the caller ID but slid it back into my pocket as one of the hosts walked on to stage. Several minutes later my phone buzzed again - Veronica. It was unusual but not unheard of for her to call me several times in some sort of imagined panic about what to wear to school so I ignored it again. She knew I was out of town and couldn't be much help to her anyway. As the awards were being presented, the phone buzzed again - this time it was a text message from Veronica. "Call me now!" Three little words that suddenly made me very anxious. This wasn't an imagined panic on her part. "Be right back." I whispered to James and slid past him and quietly out of the auditorium, punching in Veronica's number as I walked.

"Todd has been in a wreck!" Veronica all but shouted as a way of answering her phone.



"What!?" I said loudly, slipping into an empty classroom. "What happened?"

"I don't know exactly, but there was fire and he's on his way to the hospital. When will you be home?" Veronica explained quickly. "No that way!" she added, clearly not to me.

"Um..." I said trying to process it, the ceremony would take at least another hour plus the drive and waiting on the rest of the team and everything else. "It could be a few hours." I said finally.

"Well you should get home, we're at the hospital now, I gotta go." she said and clicked her phone off.

I stared at the phone confused and felt warm tears form in my eyes. "Ginny?" I jumped as James appeared behind me. I hadn't even heard him come in the classroom. I turned to face him and he took in my tears and wiped them away with his thumb. "What's wrong?"

"A friend of mine...Todd, remember him?" I asked knowing he would. "He was in a car wreck tonight. Veronica doesn't know anything really." My brain was trying to figure out how to get back home as fast as possible. "I need to get home, I need to see him...." I said mostly to myself as I prepared to dial Information and get a cab.



James put his hand over mine to stop my dialing. "I'll take you home Ginny." he said simply.

"But the awards' ceremony, you could win..." I protested.

"And it can be accepted by one of my teammates or a coach. There will be other award ceremonies. Come on, call your dad to make sure he doesn't have a problem and I'll go tell my coach I'm leaving." James said. He kissed me quickly on the cheek and left before I could protest anymore so I did what he said and called my dad.

My dad said he was on his way to the hospital with Mrs. Anderson now and it was fine. "Just be careful kiddo." he added, I suspected he was thinking of Todd as he said it. In the background I could hear Todd's mom crying.

"I will" I said as James returned carrying my bag and his. "I'll be home soon Dad." I said and ended the call while following James out to the parking lot.

I was quiet during the return trip, thinking about Todd and worried for him. I wondered if he'd been drinking or not. I wondered if he was okay. I wondered a lot of things as I stared out the window into the night. James didn't try to interrupt my thoughts. Occasionally he would put a hand on my hand and just hold it tenderly but he never said anything, clearing sensing that I wasn't ready to talk. Before I realized we were close, James was parking the car and came around to open the door for me.

I ran into the hospital and saw Timothy and Veronica standing awkwardly together while Mrs. Anderson, my dad and a couple of medical staff were talking near the desk. Veronica saw me and pointed to the room where Todd was - I knew they'd stop me if I tried to go in so I just walked over to look in the windowed ICU room.



At first, he seemed mostly unscathed but as I watched him I noticed small things like the bruise forming on his head, and the tip of the cut I could see on his neck. I wondered if most of the damage was under the covers and found myself staring at the shape of the lump under the blanket. Was his arm at an odd angle? What about his leg? Did he break something? I realized I wouldn't be able to figure it out and slowly backed away from the window. My dad saw me and nodded but stayed by Mrs. Anderson's side. I could see her trembling as the doctor spoke and wondered what he was telling her.

James was sitting in the small waiting area and Timothy and Veronica were sharing a bench together, Timothy had a comforting arm around Veronica. I wanted to smile at the moment but I couldn't so I simply sat down next to James. He immediately put an arm around me and pulled me close to him.

"Thank you." I said softly.



"Anything for you." he said quietly.

The four of us sat there in silence for several minutes while the doctors continued to talk to Mrs. Anderson. I wanted to badly to know what was wrong with Todd but no one came to update us. Eventually my dad came over and took a seat, followed closely by Mrs. Anderson. "You guys can go in and see him now, but only one at a time." she said, her voice breaking with each word. The others turned to look at me, clearly expecting me to go first.

James and I stood in unison. "Thank you for bringing me home James..." I said. I knew his phone had buzzed a few times and he was ignoring it, I suspected his parents were waiting on him. "You should probably get home." I said with a weak smile.

James nodded but didn't move, reluctant to leave. "I should." he finally said.

I gave him a tight hug. "Thank you, I really appreciate it." I said holding on to him.



"Anytime m'lady." he whispered. "I'll call you." he said, kissing my cheek once more. He waved to the others and was gone before I'd made it to the door of Todd's room. I slid the door open quietly and was thrilled to see Todd's eyes open, though dazed looking.

As I was about the slide the door shut, I heard a couple of the nurses talking at the desk. I lingered a second longer in closing the door as the words "drunk" and "driving" reached my ears. I closed my eyes briefly, collecting myself and finished closing the door and turned back to face Todd.

"Good to see you awake." I said. "How do you feel?"

Todd struggled to sit up some as I got closer to his bed. "Been better" he croaked. His voice was rough.



"What happened Todd?" I asked, hoping the nurses had been talking about another patient or something completely unrelated to Todd.

"What do you think?" Todd asked still fussing with the bed and trying to get comfortable.

"I don't know what to think. I don't like what I think might have happened." I said adjusting the blankets around him. "We're you drinking?" I asked finally.

Todd stopped messing with the blankets and bed and wouldn't meet my eyes.

"We're you drinking Todd?" I asked again. Todd didn't reply and I knew. "You were. You were driving drunk...did you hurt anyone else?"

"No!" Todd shouted. "I ran into a tree!" he said and started messing with the blankets again. His right leg was exposed for a moment and I could see that at least the foot was wrapped for a burn. I gasped and stumbled back.



"Oh Todd...." I said softly, shaking my head. Todd followed my gaze and quickly covered his foot with the blanket.

"Just go Ginny." Todd said leaning back and looking away from me.

I hesitated for some time, trying to find the words - any words really but I couldn't. I stepped forward and took his hand in mine and squeezed it gently. "Please get better soon." I whispered and then retreated out into the waiting area. Veronica and Timothy looked at me expectantly but I just waved them to his room so they could see for themselves. I didn't know what to say or maybe I didn't want to say anything.

Eventually we all went home. I sat quietly in my dad's car as we drove home feeling lost and confused about Todd. I felt my dad's eyes on me several times, but like James he didn't try to interrupt my solitude. He didn't ask me about Todd or the tournament as we walked into the house together and he didn't try to stop me as I retreated to my room.

Several days later, Todd was finally released from the hospital. He had burns on the lower part of his legs but chances were they would heal for the most part. His bruises were turning a sickly golden color and the deeper cuts had been stitched up and treated. Everyone said he was lucky to be walking away at all. I'd watched from a couple lots away as his burnt, still new car was towed away from park where he'd crashed. The tree now bore scorch marks and the grass and bushes where the fire had been were blackened and dead or dying.

I'd heard from Veronica that Todd had been grounded once his parents learned about the drinking. I wasn't sure Mrs. Anderson would let me see him but I took a chance and rang the doorbell - something I couldn't remember doing in years. Todd and I practically lived at each others houses as children - we joked that we had two families and two houses each. "Ginny!" Mrs. Anderson said, surprised to see me waiting on the doorstep. Clearly she was remembering the same things I was. "He's grounded - but you can go up an see him." she said giving me a weak smile.

"Thanks." I said quietly. I walked past her and took the steps two at a time until I reached the door to Todd's room. I stopped in my tracks and wondered if I could go in. I knocked once and without waiting for a reply, I pushed the door open.

"What are you doing here?" Todd asked.

"Making sure you're still alive." I said with a faint smile. I sat on his bed near him and saw a small bit of the darkness in him disappear.



"I'm pretty sure my grounding includes being grounded from death." Todd said with a chuckle, then he grunted and held his chest - he was still sore from the wreck.

I smiled. "I hope so." I said. "My world wouldn't be the same without my best friend."

"Are we still friends?" Todd asked seriously.

"Yes, always." I said. "You killed my egg baby - we recovered from that, we can survive anything." I said grinning.

Todd laughed again and then groaned. "Don't make me laugh, it hurts."

"I'm here Todd - if you need me. I'm here." I said seriously, reaching out for his hand as I spoke. "Please need me, talk to me..."

End Chapter