Bloogoo2's 100 one-shot challenge caught my attention and I decided to do this. I will tell you before every story if it is before or after Phantom Planet, just to make it clear. This one is before Phantom Planet. Please, enjoy.

Remember

Vlad sat in his college room, tears slipping down his face as he looked at a picture only he found familiar. It was a picture of him, his Father, and his Mother. It was a happy day the day they took this picture.

But only a month after this beautiful picture was taken, there was an accident.

His Father had been driving to work to finish up some business that evening, just like any other day. But as he had been driving down the road, another driver came that was coming from the opposite direction came spinning into his lane, slipping on the ice, for it had been winter at this time.

Vlad's Father tried to avoid the accident, but the icy roads caused his attempt to end in vain, both his small car and the other driver's large truck to collide.

Vlad's Father had had no chance. It was instant death.

Vlad had never really gotten over it. He had been only ten years old when this happened. He learned to realize that everything happened for a reason, and even though he missed his Father, he managed to deal with it.

Until now.

Vlad had just received a call from a hospital back home in Florida, informing him that there had been another accident.

His Mother, only about forty-three, had fallen down the steps of her home while taking down some laundry. One of her friends came over knocking about half an hour later, for the two friends had planned on going to bingo today. When she received no answer, she walked in to make sure she was alright.

The moment she stepped in she saw the other woman on the ground, hopefully only unconscious. She rushed to a phone and had called an ambulance.

The ambulance arrived fairly quickly, but on the way to the hospital, his Mother had passed from the injuries she had gotten on her head from the tumble.

So this is why Vlad Masters sat on his college bed, tears slipping down his face, not even worrying that his college roommate could walk in at any moment.

And that is what had happened just then.

"Hey, V-man! What do ya say-what's wrong, Vladdie?" Jack asked, concern in his voice.

Vlad quickly wiped his tears away, having not heard his roommates entrance. He glanced up at the large man, thinking if he could trust to tell him. They were friends-sort of. Of course they had to get along, for they were roomies. He could be quite annoying at times, but right now, he needed somebody to talk to.

"My Mother. She passed away this morning." Vlad said sadly.

Jack abandoned his bags of fudge he had just bought in order to go sit down next to Vlad. The bed creaked and sank lower when he sat down. He put a caring arm around the other man's shoulder and patted him lightly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to here about that Vladdie. Maybe if you talk about it, you'll feel better?" Jack suggested. Vlad blinked in surprise. He had never heard Jack sound this…caring. It was new. He was normally always babbling on about fudge or some other nonsense.

"Yes, that would actually help…" Vlad replied sadly, surprising himself. He was never the one to talk about his feelings, but this just sounded right. So he went on, talking about his two parents' early demises, and about the good things he remembered. And Jack listened to every word.

"See? Don't you feel better?" Jack asked happily, patting Vlad's back in friendly matter. Vlad smiled slightly. Yes, it had helped to talk out his feelings. Why had he never done so before? It felt great to have a friend, just anybody to talk out your troubles. He knew his Mother would be proud of him for finally opening up. Mother…

"Vladdie!" Jack called, waving a hand in front of Vlad's face.

Vlad started, sitting up straight and blinking in surprise. "Huh? What? Oh, sorry, Jack. I was spacing out. Thinking…" Vlad's voice trailed off slightly.

"I was asking if you wanted some of my fudge! I know it'll help you feel better. It sure makes me feel better!" Jack claimed enthusiastically.

Vlad smiled at his new friend. "Sure, Jack. That sounds nice." Jack grinned as he pulled out a small tub of fudge and handed it over to Vlad. And then, they just sat there and talked, some about Jack, some about Vlad, some more about his parents, and they just had a great time, getting to know each other and become friends.

Vlad closed the yearbook in a sour matter at remembering this memory. It had been that memory that had led to their friendship, the accident, then in turn, Jack stealing Maddie away from him.

He slammed the yearbook down angrily, not even bothering to put it away. He stood up with an angry look on his face as he glanced down at a letter he had received from Daniel that read:

Vlad,

I know how much you hate my father. And I know how much you love my mother. But please, I want you to forgive and forget. It's not good for you to be so deep in your hate towards my father. Just, take a moment to remember memories, look in your college yearbook, something. Remember the good times. See how you can forgive him.

He never had meant to hurt you. And I know that he's sorry for the pain he caused you.

Sincerely,

Danny

Vlad scowled at the note and crumpled it up, throwing it away.

No, he could never forgive Jack for taking everything away from him and landing in that hospital for those many years. And he would never stop chasing Maddie.

No. Jack would perish and Maddie would soon be his. It just required some more thinking and a good plan…

So, tell me your thoughts. I almost made this on Ember, but I thought Vlad's bitterness would be better. And I bet your wondering: Why is she working on these one-shots instead of her stories? Well, my dear readers, I have this thing called Writer's Block, and only small one-shots are coming to mind. So please, review and leave me your musings.