Author's note: Miguel & Ali Castillo and Veronica "Roni" Tubbs belong to xXBalorBabeXx. She has lots of fun stories, check it out!

The day was hot and muggy as fifteen year old Ali Castillo walked home from choir practice, Just another day in South Florida, she thought as she trudged down the sidewalk toward her house. It was almost instant relief to walk out of the blazing sun and up the gravel path to the Castillo home, which was shrouded in shade-giving foliage. She turned the key in the lock and tossed her backpack in the entryway with a thud that echoed. The house seemed cold, dark and empty but Ali knew better. She skipped up the spiral staircase, taking the steps 2 at a time like always, and paused a moment in front of the closed door to her brother's room and sighed sadly.

It had been over two months since Miguel's girlfriend, Sophia Menton, had been murdered by her own father, Dale Menton. Although the bullet that killed her had been meant for Miguel, and he continued to live, Ali knew in reality, it had killed a part of him too. In the weeks that followed, he seemed to isolate himself, at first under the guise of making up missed schoolwork, but now it was obvious that he had fallen into deep despair. He would leave the house for school, and now it seemed as though even playing his violin in the school orchestra, which he had always lived for, had the joy sucked out of it. Ali had overheard her parents whispering about him late at night, at a loss of what to do outside of his weekly therapy sessions. She wished that there was something, anything, she could do, but outside of bringing Sophia back, she felt hopeless.

Hesitantly, Ali tapped gently on Miguel's door. "Mig? You home?" Carefully she turned the knob and entered. Miguel was at his desk scribbling math equations in a notebook. Sheet music and books littered his desk and floor. On his bed lay his violin and bow, and beside that, a framed photograph, which Ali carefully picked up. The picture was of her brother and Sophia in a loving embrace, both dressed for the school homecoming dance and smiling at what should have been a bright future.

Miguel looked up from his work and forced a small smile. "Hey Ali."

Ali set down the picture, and sat on his bed. "You doing okay, big brother?"

"Yeah, sure! I've just got a lot of work these days."

Ali nodded. She knew it was a lie. Leave it to Miguel to hide his own feelings to protect her. "Hey, you want to see a movie this weekend? We haven't done anything together in forever! Maybe we could ask Eric or Christina, or Roni to join us?"

He turned back to his book, focusing downward and shrugged. "I don't know, maybe. I'll have to see. I've got AP exams, and SAT's and a bunch of other stuff coming up, I really should study."

In the past, Ali may have given him some good-natured teasing about being an overachiever. But now, she was just worried about him. He had to get out sometime, but she knew better than to push the issue. "Okay Mig, just let me know." She stood, and walked out the door, closing it gently behind her before she let her silent tears fall. She longed for the days where she and Miguel would laugh together, and even fight together, anything other than this cold emptiness.

Almost on cue, her phone buzzed in her pocket notifying her of a text from her friend Ryan Rivera. It was almost as if he knew when she needed him.

You okay, darlin'?

She smiled slightly. Yeah, I guess. Just feeling a little down for Miguel. He's still not himself.

I know it's not easy to see, but give him time.

She knew Ryan was right. After all, he had certainly had enough experience with death. His own father, Eddie Rivera, had been killed even before his birth.

I know, she texted back, but I just want to make everything okay again. Hurts to see someone I love in so much pain.

Why was life so damn unfair?