AN: Hey everyone! I just finished It All Started With A Bet, yesterday. I was planning on getting the sequel up yesterday, but it didn't really work out.. lol.

Communication Is A Two Way Street

New York, NY

Caitlyn Gellar loves life. To Caitlyn, the sky seems bluer, heck, even cookies taste yummier! This feeling may have something to do with the fact that her boyfriend proposed last night, which she accepted happily. Her boyfriend, now fiancé, is none other than Nate Grey. Yes, the one who all those years ago was a complete jerk to anyone and everyone, including his brothers.

Of course, he's changed so much since high school. Caitlyn's just grateful he forgave her for making a bet that actually changed him back into the nice, caring guy his brothers knew before he became "Mr. Popular". So, according to Caitlyn, life is wonderful. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, Mitchie is standing on the side of the road completely drenched, even—woahh. Back up!

"Mitchie?" Caitlyn asks to herself, and then rushes across the street.

Dodging a taxi, Caitlyn rushes to Mitchie.

"Mitchie? Is that you?" Caitlyn asks.

Mitchie, turns to face Caitlyn, "What's it to you—oh! Caitlyn! Oh my gosh! It's really you!"

Although, most may have thought Mitchie and Caitlyn stayed in contact after the dance fiasco, it turned out to be quite the opposite. When Caitlyn moved, Mitchie and Caitlyn IM'd, Texted, even e-mailed each other for a while. Eventually, when both girls had made new friends, the constant communication stopped on both ends.

Caitlyn smiles and says, "Yep! It sure is. What the hell happened to you, Mitch?"

As Mitchie's bright smile fades, Caitlyn sees Mitchie tense up and can tell there's a long story behind it.

"Hey, you wanna come back to my apartment. I'm sure Nate would love to see you again." Caitlyn smiles.

Mitchie's smile returns and says, "You still with him? Wow. That's .. um.. that's great. I don't think I should, I'm looking for a job right now.."

Caitlyn notices Mitchie is carrying a guitar case and a backpack. If she didn't know any better, she would've thought…

"Mitchie, you're not homeless are you?" Caitlyn blurts out.

Mitchie looks down at the ground, obviously feeling ashamed, but that feeling quickly turns into anger.

"Why the hell do you care, Caitlyn? I mean, it's not like you cared to keep in touch!" Mitchie snaps.

Caitlyn takes a step back and narrows her eyes at her former best friend, "Hey, communication is a two way street! It wasn't just me who stopped."

Mitchie turns away from Caitlyn and replies sarcastically, "Well, it's been nice catching up," then adds, "I've got to go."

Without another word, Mitchie holds up a hand to hail a taxi. Caitlyn bites her tongue to keep from saying how she doesn't think homeless people could afford taxis.

Caitlyn rolls her eyes and mutters, "Whatever. Have a nice life."

The almost twenty-one-year-old walks away from her former friend, sadness clearly in every step she takes. She suddenly wonders how life could go from happy to bad, all in a mere minute and a half conversation.

--

Nate happily walks down the sidewalk of New York. He almost starts dancing, that's how happy he is. He has a beautiful fiancé waiting for him at his apartment, plus he just aced his last final before Christmas break. Life, Nate decides, is good.

Many people would have thought that Nate and Caitlyn would have had trouble with the long distance relationship. Caitlyn had moved to New York, right after summer let out at West High. Nate stayed in California, except during breaks either Caitlyn would go to California to visit him and his family or he would come visit her in New York. Both were overjoyed when they found out they both got accepted to NYU.

He still keeps in touch with his family, of course. All except, Shane. Nate has no clue as to his brother's whereabouts, and doesn't really give a shit. Shane's life went downhill after Mitchie left the dance that night. Shane still graduated high school, but just barely passing. He wouldn't ever say anything to his family. Ever. At family events, like Christmas, Shane wouldn't even bother to show up. Communication goes both ways, so Nate blames himself every year on Shane's birthday. Then again, Shane probably has forgotten Nate's birthday by now. Needless to say, if Shane doesn't give a crap about him, why should Nate give a rat's ass about Shane?

Quickly dismissing the thought about his brother, Nate turns a corner and walks up the stairs. He opens the door and walks inside the small lobby area of the apartment complex. Nate decides against checking the mail and walks up one flight of stairs.

He stops suddenly when he comes face-to-face with his older brother. At that very moment, he wonders how life could turn from an awesome day to an extremely, awful, horrible, sucky, day.