How can people go on?

When you think about it, human's bodies are strong. They fight for survival, even when the people aren't trying to fight themselves. Any little circumstance can be overcome if the person has a strong enough will. So why can people be broken so easily, in every sense of the word? A normal person could be crushed under the right conditions, so why does it keep fighting?

When you think about it, the answer is simple.

A human's last instinct is to survive.


I kept pedaling, hoping to reach the store soon. It was in a part of town I never even knew existed before today. The store was called "The Basics", a reclusive place that had high reputation on the net for its merchandise. Some of the buildings I passed looked rundown and raggedy, while others were closed down and boarded up. It was a dangerous neighborhood, and I dared not tell my dad where I was going. I was getting a little worried about finding the place when I actually did. The building looked older, like it had been around for a few decades. I hopped off my bike and pushed it into the rack in front of the store and went in, no bell ringing above my head like I was used to.

There was a bell, but it made no noise.

"What's the point of a bell with no sound?" I thought, curious.

No one was inside, but that didn't stop me. Sure I was nervous, but everything made me nervous. I was paranoid like that. I had to practically hold a gun to my own head to convince myself to come down here on my own. I looked around. Tall shelves were everywhere, and I walked down one, looking for what I wanted. It caught sight of it from the corner of my eye. It was on the highest shelf, and I cursed my parents for making me so damn short. I stood on my toes, nearly climbing the shelves before a man's hand reached up from behind me and grabbed it. It was an angry-looking older man. Was he angry at me? Probably. What did I do?

I wasn't sure whether to think that this man got the book for me or he was getting it instead of me.

"Uh, h-hello. Um…th-thank you for getting that sir..."

He didn't look angry at all then. He looked more mellow than before. I relaxed a little.

"You're welcome Miss." He said, handing the book to me. His voice was deep and rumbling, but sounded very confident. "And what may you be reading young lady?"

I was surprised. Not a lot of people were so nice to me, considering practically everyone in town knew that I hung around my best friend Dusty, and he had…somewhat of a reputation for a little shoplifting here and there. Nothing too big, and nobody paid him any mind anymore.

"'Tales of a Time Lost' by a guy named Aleksey Novikov. It's a novel…from the early 1900's I've been looking for forever." I said, getting used to this man.

"I've read it. It's an exceptional story. I hope you'll like it."

This old guy was nice. I could only hope he wasn't dangerous. But he looked too nice to be dangerous. His pure white hair was slicked back in a professional way and his eyes were a dark green and they looked tired.

"Well, thanks again sir." I said, smiling a polite smile.

"Now I'll have none of that. My name is Martin Whitebrooks. You can call me Mr. White."

'O-okay…Mr. White. My name's Shay Phillips."

We exchanged a few happy comments on the book before I went to the counter to pay. The book surprisingly wasn't too expensive. I pulled out the bills I had been saving up and stopped at the cash register. He didn't move to open it and he looked at it, his face rather calm.

"What's the matter? D-didn't I give you enough?"

"Yes, this machine just sticks sometimes… hold on a moment…"

He hit the side of the cash register with his flattened palm and it slammed open. The sound of his hand against the metal made me jump a little. He put my money in and gave me my change.

"Here. You seem like a young lady who enjoys reading, something to encourage to in today's world. Take this. In case you need something else to read. I'll be there for some recommendations." He said, smiling a small smile.

He handed me a card. On the front were the bold words "The Basics" and a phone number and e-mail address, while on the back it said, "We hope you get back to us."

I laughed inwardly at the play on words.

"Thank you Mr. White. I'll be sure to."

I left the store, getting on my bike and riding away. I didn't know that that man would influence me so much.


I hopped off of my bike and put it in the garage, moving inside the house.

"Dad! I'm home!" I shouted at the front door into the house.

"Shay! I thought you got out of school at three! Where'd you go?" he shouted back from his office.

"I stopped off at Dusty's house!"

He rolled on his desk chair out of his office and lowered his glasses, raising an eyebrow.

"No really. Where were you?"

'How'd he…'

"I…stopped off at a bookstore downtown. I know you don't like me going that far through town without telling you, but I had to get this book. Sorry Dad…"

"It's okay." He sighed. "I'm just upset that you tried to lie. You really are a bad liar you know."

"How'd you know?"

"Dustin came by an hour ago asking for you."

I laughed again, and moved to his office, looking over his shoulder at his computer screen.

"How's work going Dad?" I asked.

"Eh, it goes. Could you please make me something to eat sweetie? I would, but if I leave this for even a minute, I'll be behind all night." He asked, pleading with me.

"Sure Dad."

I looked in the fridge for something to make, sighing at the little amount of food inside.

"Ugh…I have to go shopping tomorrow…Do I have enough money?"

As I pulled the ingredients for me and Dad's dinner, feeling a tad moody about having to go out for groceries for the second time that week with not much money, I got a little pain in my head. My temple was pulsating, like my heartbeat was pounding in my head.

"Ow! Ugh…where's the ibuprofen?"

I found the little reddish pills on the table and swallowed them, hoping they would help quickly.


"Here Dad. One barbeque chicken, mashed potatoes and corn platter ala Shay."

"Thanks Shay. You're swell." He said, grinning widely, in that corny way he does.

"I know it." I smiled, my dinner in hand. "I'm heading up for the night, 'kay? Will you be up late?"

"When am I not?"

I smiled, leaving Dad to his work and going up the stairs to my room.

"g'night Dad."

"'night."


I set my empty plate on my desk and moved to my bed with my new book, cracking it open and getting settled for the night.

----

A man can live through battle after battle, scar after scar, nightmare after nightmare, and move on like life hasn't changed. One man struggles to help a world that doesn't want it.

"Sounds cool…"

The swords pierced Halak's flesh, as he did not try to stop his attackers. He knew that only when their deed was carried out would he have a chance to save them from their horrific fate.

I yawned and looked at my clock.

"Crap…2 a.m…better get some shut-eye…."

I couldn't fall asleep any faster when I laid my head down, lying on my side. Everything felt blurry and I guess I drifted off.

----

"Shay. Shay, get your lazy ass up!"

Someone was poking my head. It sounded like Dusty.

"Dusty…what're you…It's like 4 in the morning…What are you doing here? Did you climb through the window again?" I said, rubbing my eyes.

"I didn't see you today. What's the point of us being neighbors if you're not home? Where were you?"

"I went downtown to get a book. What have you been up to?"

"Nothing, just wanted to see you. You know I can't stay away." he said, smirking. I could feel my face get warm. I know he didn't mean it, but it always made me embarrassed. Dusty was very flirty with girls and I could never understand why he continued it with me, considering we had been friends since the second grade. I knew him too well to know that he would make anything of his actions.

"What are you really doing here?" I asked, trying to hide the blush on my face. He shook his head, probably not believing that he got me again.

"I finally got back at Charlie Davidson from the football team. He won't be making fun of you or me anytime soon!" he laughed, taking off his jacket. I shot up from my bed.

"Dusty, what happened? What did you do?" I asked, feeling anxious. "You didn't-"

"Yep. He won't be bothering us anymore. I took him out clean."

"Dusty! You can't keep doing things like this! You already got in enough trouble from beating up that kid from the private academy!"

"You know the only reason I got in trouble for that was because that rich brat was a total candy-ass with the police chief for a dad!" Dusty laughed, keeping his voice low. I sighed. Dusty was always quick to violence, and he never stopped to think about the consequences of his actions. He was the kind of guy who would give me the C.D. I'd been wanting for forever, only to proudly tell me he swiped it from a store not ten minutes before.

"Dusty…you're cool and everything don't get me wrong, but you've gotta stop." I sighed, looking at him pleadingly. Inside, I felt like I was just repeating myself. In reality, it was because I really was.

"You always have to be the voice of reason?"

"Dusty…"

"Shay…you don't get it. As long as those rich snobs and bullies have something to hold over us, they'll never stop the crap they pull! We have to look out for ourselves or no one will!"

Dusty looked almost frenzied as he ranted. He was always passionate about the things he did and said. Some of what he said seemed right, but still wrong.

He and I were always the "underprivileged" kids, and we didn't get the latest stuff, but we didn't care. Everyone one else seemed to pay more attention to it then we did. As we got older, we started to get teased for it by more "financially supported" kids. Mostly girls teased me a lot for not wearing girly clothes or doing my hair in a more feminine way, but everyone really bullied Dusty. Dusty was the one with the guts to fight back, not to mention stand up for me. To be honest, I had liked him for a while now, a lot.…I was miserable, always feeling sorry for myself. All the kids had turned me into more of a recluse to everyone except Dusty and Dad, and my self-esteem plummeted. My mom divorcing my dad and moving to California when I was five, telling me it wasn't my fault and then having another kid, just made it worse. But Dusty's reaction to being poor and bullied was to be angry towards everyone. Stealing, acting out, anything bad you could think of really. Standing out wasn't the thing for me. Dusty, however, was the epitome of standing out.

"Dusty…c'mon, don't get so mad…" I said, moving towards him a little. I got scared easily, but seeing Dusty like this made me nervous and worried for him.

"Shay! You have to stand up for yourself! You know I'd do everything to protect you, but you need to speak up! Show some backbone! Teach all of them a lesson!!" He put his hands on my shoulders, gripping them forcefully.

"Dusty, just calm down. C'mon, sit down and take a deep breath."

I took his arm, leading him to my bed and waited for him to calm down. He took a few deep breaths and smiled at me.

"Thanks Shay. You always know how to calm me down." he said thoughtfully. I felt my face heat up again. He sighed and laid his head on my shoulder, putting his arms around my waist. I was feeling a little light-headed.

"Shay, I don't know what I'd do without you…I know that I'm flirty and moody and a bit of a pain in the ass, but you can stand me when everyone else can't…" he said quietly.

"Dusty, what are you-"

I couldn't finish my sentence before he leaned his head up and kissed me.

It was very light on my lips, but I felt as if I could faint. He pulled his lips away from mine and smiled warmly.

"I love you Shay. I wanted to let you know that." he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He leaned in and kissed me again. I felt dizzier and dizzier, but despite how out of it I felt, my feelings for Dusty took over. I kissed back, harder than I intended, and Dusty seemed thrilled, smirking into the kiss. He moved one of his hands to my face to cup my cheek, the other one stayed on my waist. I had never kissed before, and I was just guessing on what to do. I put both my hands gently on his chest, not pushing him away. Just to be a little closer.

Dusty was closing his eyes, his hands starting to roam. I was embarrassed, but I loved Dusty, and I was willing to do what made him happy. I didn't know if I was really ready, but being with him like this, Dusty seemed so loving and inviting. His hands were gentle, running up and down my sides, and touching me intimately, but I was so nervous.

"Dusty…" I breathed out, pulling away from the kiss to talk. "I don't know if I…I can…"

"Shay…I know you're shy…I love you so much. I won't go too far, I just want you to know that…some day, I want to…you know…with you. Not until you're ready though…"

My face couldn't have gone any redder. I laid my head against his chest and closed my eyes.

"Dusty…"

He tilted my chin up, lifting my face to his gently. Before I knew it, I was below him as he was holding himself up over me. I lifted my hands to his face, holding his cheeks in them. His shaggy dirt blond hair hung down and brushed my knuckles as he looked at me. He had a smooth face, whether he was too young or he had started shaving it I couldn't recall.

"My Dad is downstairs…" I said softly.

"I guessed. But I'll be quiet if you will." he said grinning. I smiled, loving him even more. Then I realized, I had never responded to him.

"Dusty…I love you too…" I whispered, pulling his head down next to mine. I could imagine his smile as he pushed farther and kissed my neck.

"But no matter what happens, I want us to be together. No matter what…" he whispered what I was thinking.

"Me too…I…I want us to be…together…"

I wasn't going to give myself to Dusty just yet, but being with him like this, being intimate with the boy I loved as he kissed me deeper, I felt so close to him. His hand slipped under my shirt, and his fingers were cold. I took in a sharp breath against his lips and he laughed, making his chest rumble. It made me smile softly. I shuddered as he teased me, and I slipped my hands under his shirt, scratching his abs with my nails gently. He moaned softly into my mouth and I smiled.

The thought of how fast we were moving and how shy and excited I was at the same time, my face heating up and feeling Dusty near me, the thought of him loving me after I had liked him for so long, all these emotions moving through my system and being dominated by the feeling of Dusty against me, my head started to pound.

The emotions I was experiencing swam around in my head, clouding my mind. I couldn't see clearly, and my head was hurting like crazy.

"Shay? What's wrong?" I heard Dusty asked, sounding panicked. My head hurt too much to even open my eyes and look at him.

Something happened at that moment. There was no time. Just flashes and clouds. Not in front of my eyes, but somewhere deeper. I heard a crash and a scream out of the shrouded darkness, and then, nothing.


"Sh---!! --ke u-! --at hap---ed?! --hay!!"

Someone was screaming and crying. I felt scratchy stubble on my cheek. It was wet.

"Shay!! Wake up! What happened? Please Shay, wake up!!"

I opened my eyes slowly, despite how sore I felt. Dad was holding me off the floor, crying.

"Dad…what…what's going on?" I mumbled, loud enough for him to hear.

"Shay! Thank god! You're okay!" he said, his eyes still wet, but smiling. But…where was-

"Dad…where's Dusty?"

"He's in the other room! The wall's smashed to pieces!! What the hell happened in here!?!"

I tried to push myself up out of his arms, my vision kind of blurry as I stumbled towards him. I could see an outline of a huge hole in my bedroom wall. I could see Dusty, lying against the wall in the next room, his head bleeding a lot from a gash over his eye, going up to his head.

"Dusty!! Oh my god!! Are you okay!?! Dusty!!!"

I kept shouting his name, shaking his shoulders, anything I could think of to try to wake him up. Nothing was working.

I started crying into his shoulder, my body feeling almost as lifeless as his looked. Then, I felt his warm breath on my neck.

"Dusty!! You're okay!!"

"What…h-happened…"

"I'm not sure…there was a scream and-"

"What…Shay…I can't under…stand you when you're…crying like that..." he groaned.

I wiped the tears out of my eyes and sobbed one last time, looking straight at him.

"I…I don't know…Dusty, please tell me you're okay! Something weird happened to me and I just-"

"Shay, don't…don't be upset…I hate to see you cry…My head feels funny…and…my…my ribs hurt a lot…Shay, you've got…blood on your hands…"

The blood was his. His eyes were half-closed, and he reached his hand to me. I sniffled and held it against my cheek, confusion and wooziness plastered on his face. I tried to say something to make it better.

"I…I never…I never meant to-"

"Shay," Dad started. "I'm calling an ambulance!! Stay here with Dustin!!"

He ran downstairs and I was with Dusty, alone. I held onto his hand crying softly until he passed out and the ambulance came, rushing him to the hospital.


-Face turns red and hides under desk-

I…can't believe I just wrote that…scene…I will never write anything like that again if I have a say in it!

We will never speak of this again, agreed?

Anyway, I wanted to write an X-men Evolution OC fic that was mostly centered around the life of a teenager, then a teenager with a few extra problems. I.E.: mutant powers. So, a teenager such as myself, will have a great time writing as a character around my own age. I just recently turned 16, so, I may be a little naïve of a writer, but I'll try my damn hardest to give you a fic to be proud of. I actually wrote this about…¾ of a year ago, but I edited the good parts from the bad stuff and posted it.

My most popular story is my first, An Unpleasant Encounter, A Johnny the Homicidal Maniac fan fiction. People tell me all the time how much they love my OC Danielle, and how non Mary-sue-ish she is, but it inflates my ego all the more…-sigh…-

The first chapter of it isn't that good, but that was practically the first thing I typed up, and it was so long ago I can't bear to change it.

Anyway, I hope that Shay will be as great as Danielle, and that you will enjoy her all the more. Ask if you have any questions so far and from now on.