PROLOGUE:

"No," she whispered, softly. "This can't be happening. It can't be true. Please, no." She picked up his limp hand and held it tenderly in her own. "Come back. I won't let it end like this."

A tiny tear fell from her eye and fell delicately down her cheek. She wiped it off and looked up at his face. He was so perfect. So beautiful. And she was losing him. Losing him to something infinitely worse than death.

"Death would have been much easier to bear."

Looking away, she put her hand to where his heart was. Beating. Beating and alive. No. She was glad he wasn't dying. She looked over at his face again and bent her head to his so her mouth was by his ear.

"Good bye," she whispered.

And then she kissed him.

CHAPTER ONE:

"I can't believe that you're dating Shane," Mitchie's friend said as Mitchie slipped into her dark blue dress and strapped on her heels.

"You need to get over that," Mitchie said, rolling her eyes. "I mean, it's been what, two years since we started dating?"

"No. That's not what I meant," her friend replied. "I mean, I can't believe that you're still dating Shane."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mitchie asked crossly, whirling around to face her friend.

"Come on, Mitchie. I mean, he's in the show-biz. Guys like him are often really shallow."

"Not Shane," Mitchie stated, crossing her arms in front of her like a five year old. Her friend laughed.

"I'm sorry. And please don't take it personally. Maybe I'm just jealous."

Mitchie put her arms down, and a smile gradually appeared on her face.

"Maybe I don't like thinking about stuff like that because I don't anything like that to ever happen," she said.

Her friend was about to reply when a horn honked from outside.

"That's him!" They both cried at the same time and rushed down stairs. Mitchie was down first and hurriedly opened the door. To her surprise, she saw Shane getting out on the driver's side of a bright red 1950's convertible.

"Wow," her friend said, coming up behind her. "Now that is cool."

"Are you coming?" Shane asked, staring at up at her.

"Oh! Yeah!" she called, and started running down the driveway. When she got to the car, Shane stopped her.

"Part one of your surprise," he said. Mitchie stared at him.

"What is it?"

"Look at the side of the car," he said, mischievously. Mitchie looked down at the white stripe that ran from the door to the back fender. Near the middle, in sparkly, red letters, it said 'Mitchie.' She stared at it blankly for a minute.

"Happy birthday," Shane whispered into her ear. She turned to look at him and then it all sank in.

"You got me a car?!" she squealed. He smiled.

"Well, with a little help from a few relatives and such, but basically."

"Oh, thank you, Shane! Thank you so much!" She reached up and squeezed him.

"Easy there. I need enough breath to show you the other two surprises. Go ahead and get in."

Shane opened the door for her and then circled over to the driver's side. Mitchie made an excited face at her friend and then Shane drove off.

"Where are we going?" She asked as they speeded down the road.

"La Capio's," he said.

"Really?!" Mitchie asked, eyes glowing.

"Of course. I know your favorite restaurant."

"Shane, you're great. Thanks again."

"Don't thank me 'till it's over," he said as they pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. "You've still got more to come."

Ok. That is all that I have so far. It's basically just an introduction to the characters in this new situation. I know it may seem short and kinda' stupid and you may be sitting there scratching your head and saying "What the heck is the point of this thing?" But it gets better. Trust me. So keep reading…(that is, when I get more for you to read….((I'm not promising a certain time or anything so please bear with me, here…….))))