For Marti
o4o
Derek waved to Casey and Marti in the car as he walked towards the front doors of the Campus hockey rink. A few of his teammates were walking over at the same time. They lifted their hands for a high-five in greeting. He tried his best to look happy that he was there, to play his favorite game of all time, but he found it hard to move his mouth in any fashion that wasn't a grim frown. Casey was probably right, he didn't have to go to practice. Upon looking in the mirror, he noticed he was in pretty bad shape.
Walking to his locker, he turned the combination word lock. Five letters to a name not easily forgotten: C A S E Y. He had picked up the lock shortly after she moved out of the house and he'd been missing her. At that time, he was coming to the realization that he had feelings for her. Only Sam knew that she was his step-sister, but he was pretty understanding about the whole thing. More understanding than Derek thought he would be, especially since they had dated in the past. The guys on the team bugged him about her, noticing the picture in his locker of her. It was rather odd that he only had two pictures hanging up that happened to be not only the two people that meant the most to him, but the only two females out of his family that were alive.
Pulling his gear out, Derek stared at the picture of his little sister, she grinned out at him, a tooth missing from her happy smile. A pink tiara sat on top of her head with assorted fake jewels glued to it. A purple feather boa was wrapped around her neck, hanging over her bright plum princess dress. A few strands of colourful, shiny beads hung around her neck and fake earrings were clipped onto her ears. A smile tugged at his mouth while he looked at her but was soon replaced with sadness, knowing he was the only real family member she had left. The only person who was alive to care about her for the rest of her life.
His eyes moved up, drinking in Casey in all of her adorable nature. The picture had been taken shortly before one of their heated fights, ending in a warm kiss that left him rather dizzy. Her hair was loose, having been taken out of a french braid it hung in soft waves down to the middle of her back. She was wearing simply pajamas but looked beautiful all the same, clad in pink silk pants and a black tank top. He had made a rude comment about her getting ready for a nightly visitor and she managed to come up with a scathing reply, he clicked the camera when she ran a hand through her hair and grinned at him in triumph. The picture came out looking like an entirely different story though, making her look more like she was giving him a saucy smirk and motioning to him sexily.
The first time his teammates had laid their sights on her, their eyes bulged with excitement. Numerous questions were asked, concerning whether or not she was his girlfriend and if they could meet her. A few comments about her looking ready for something Derek wasn't equipped for but they certainly were, had arisen, soon to be taken back in fear. Sam had noticed the picture with surprise, which is why Derek had explained things to him when they were out of ear shot of the rest of the team. His best friend was actually rather supportive of Derek possibly getting together with Casey, thinking it would be a good thing for Derek to have someone so steady.
Not even Casey's attractive and appealing actions in the picture could bring Derek out of his darkened mood however, so he quickly pulled his gear on and shut his locker with a sharp noise.
Sam's locker was next to his, he didn't know what had Derek angry though, so he got ready for practice while shooting uncertain glances at him. "You alright, bro?"
Derek glanced up at him, shrugging. "Fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You look terrible," he told him, shaking his head. "Like you haven't slept in weeks," he said, his eyes wide. "Something happen with Casey?" he wondered.
"You could say that," Derek said, pulling his jersey over his head. "I don't want to talk about it."
Putting his stuff away, Derek walked down the hallway leading to the ice, holding his helmet in his hand tightly. Gliding out onto the ice, he started moving along with his teammates, pushing his helmet on and moving his stick across the frozen ground. Sam joined them all shortly after, casting unsure glances at his best friend until he became too caught up in practicing.
After two hours of drills, the coach called them in to separate them for a game. Derek was the center for his team, while the captain was playing opposite him. Feeling slightly exhausted, but needing to get his frustrated feelings out, Derek released his anger in the game. He body checked his opponents ten times harder than usual, shot the puck at a greater speed than he had before, and drove his body into overexertion.
Sweat poured down his body, his muscles contracted with pain, and his eyes burned with the need to cry that he continued to ignore. Every time someone came at him, a flash of a car hitting his parents played in his head, and he took the person down swiftly, hardly feeling the pain running through him each time. When he knocked a fellow player into the boards a little too hard, he managed to hit the glass himself, causing his teeth to rip his bottom lip open. Ignoring it and licking the blood away before his coach could see, he continued to play.
Finally, the game was over, Derek's team winning by one point in the end. Moving off the ice, Derek barely heard his coach shout out to him saying he was making a lot of progress and coming along nicely. Moving into the change room, after stripping off his gear, Derek leaned forward on his knees and covered his face with his hands. He felt the blood drip off his lip, falling to the ground. Getting up, he pulled his soaked shirt off and decided he need to take a quick shower.
A short while later, Derek strained himself even more while dressing in his regular clothes. Swallowing, he pretended his body wasn't aching all over. He almost liked the feel of it, reminding him that he was alive, but then hated the fact that he could feel while his family were stuck without corporeal bodies. They were all up in some place like heaven, or he liked to think so anyway.
Sam noticed his wincing face but made no comment, rather fearing how his anger was always released.
"Derek, my man," Drew called out, walking over. "That was a mean game you just played," he told him, grinning enthusiastically. "Listen, I'm having a party over in the dorms; lots of ladies, lots of beer, you interested?"
Thinking it over, Derek nodded. He needed to get his mind off things; Casey would end up going home after awhile anyway. If she was in the parking lot, then he'd just tell her he was going out then. If not, he'd call her later so she didn't worry. "Yeah, I'll be there," he said, standing up and pulling his leather jacket out of his locker.
Whistling at the picture of Casey, Drew grinned. "Is she busy tonight, or are you bringing her too?" he asked, pointing.
"She has plans," Derek replied sharply, closing his locker.
"Alright man, fly it solo. I'll see ya later," he said, walking away.
Derek glanced down at Sam. "Are you coming?"
Shaking his head, Sam pulled out a gym bag and slung it over his shoulder. "No, I think I'll head home, get some sleep. I've gotta talk to coach first though. I guess I'll see ya," he said, shrugging.
"Yeah," Derek replied. "Probably pretty soon, actually," he said, quietly. Sam would likely be turning up for the funeral, whenever it was set. Though he and Sam hadn't been hanging out all that much lately, things had been pretty hectic with school, work, and hockey, they were still incredibly close.
Derek waved as he made his way outside, a few of his teammates walking beside him. His car wasn't anywhere to be seen so Casey must not have shown up yet. Deciding not to wait, he followed his hockey buddies towards the dorms. Inhaling a deep gulp of air, he wished the dizzy, exhausted feeling would leave already, it was giving him a migraine.
The party was already booming when he arrived, apparently Drew had called ahead, telling his roommate to start everything up for when he got back. The entire third floor of the building was covered in activity; half dressed girls, and guys quickly drinking themselves into a stupor were running around.
Feeling a cold bottle pushed into his hand, Derek looked down at in anger for a moment; some guy from a party just like this had killed his family. Pulling up the bottle, he pressed it against his lips and guzzled the entire thing back swiftly. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to feel anything. He wanted to slip away into unconsciousness and never remember anything again. Another was pressed into his hand soon after, it wouldn't be long now.
oCaseyo
Pulling into the driveway of the house, Casey stared up at it with apprehension. Marti hopped out of the backseat, running towards the front entrance. Opening her car door slowly, Casey locked everything up and made her way across the lawn to where Marti was waiting impatiently. Lifting her shaky hand, Casey stuck the key into the dead lock and turned it, moving it down to the handle lock, she unlocked it too. She didn't have to turn the handle as Marti already had.
Running inside, the little girl hurried towards the stairs and ran up. "Daddy!" she called out, her little feet taking the stairs quickly. "Nora?" she asked, loudly.
Casey followed after her, her throat closed off and her eyes prickling with tears. She found Marti opening their parents bedroom door and walking in. Making her way over, Casey watched as Marti searched all over the room; checking the closet, beneath the bed, under the covers and even behind the door.
Sighing, the little girl ran out with her hands on her hips. "Ed?" she shouted, running towards the attic door and up the stairs.
Swallowing Casey followed her up, letting her do things so she might better understand.
Marti tore the room apart, checking under every little thing and becoming frustrated with finding nothing. Hurrying back downstairs, she walked over to Lizzie's door and knocked before opening it. "Lizzie?" she asked, her voice now becoming shaky and upset.
Casey wiped at her tears as she stood outside of her sister's bedroom.
Marti pulled open the closet doors, finding nothing. Kneeling on the ground, she lifted the bedspread, searching out her step-sister and coming up empty handed. Scurrying from the floor, she ran past Casey to the now adjoined rooms formerly known as hers and Derek's. The exercise room had two closets, that Marti checked and then searched around each and every workout item, in hopes of finding them hiding somewhere. Pushing past Casey, she ran down the stairs and searched around the first floor, checking the living room, kitchen, laundry area, and the den. Finally, she collapsed on the couch and shook her head.
Casey sat down beside her, her arms crossed and her throat burning from keeping in her sobbing. "They're not here, sweetie," she said, softly. Reaching out, she ran her hand over Marti's hair. "They're gone and they aren't going to come back."
Shaking her head, Marti's eyes teared up and her lip jutted out in a pouting fashion. "Why'd they leave me, Casey?" she wondered, crossing her arms. "Did I make them mad?" she asked, tears spilling down her flushed cheeks.
Pulling Marti into her lap, Casey hugged her tightly and shook her head. "No," she said, inhaling shakily. "No, don't ever think that. You didn't do anything wrong," she said, nodding. "They loved you very much, Marti," she said, tipping her chin down to look at the crying girl. "They wanted to be here, they never wanted to leave you, but it wasn't their decision. Sometimes," she sighed, her tears falling down her cheeks without end. "Sometimes things happen that we can't stop," she explained, shaking her head. "But no matter what, they're always going to love you. Okay?"
Nodding, Marti buried herself closer to Casey, clutching at her shirt and pressing her tears against her shoulder. It wasn't long before the little girl had nodded of in Casey's arms. Walking upstairs, Casey slipped her into her bed and pulled the covers up around her. Kissing her gently, Casey slipped back downstairs and decided to call Emily to see if she could come over.
Her best friend walked through the unlocked front door and found Casey on the couch alone. Her knees were drawn up to her chest as her eyes continued to fill with tears. Rocking slightly, Casey started when she saw Emily staring at her in confusion. Sitting down beside her, the normally very spunky girl looked at her concerned.
Shaking her head, Casey reached out and wrapped her arms around her, sobbing against her shoulder. "They- They- They're gone," she cried, shaking her head.
"Who?" Emily asked, holding her tightly and patting her back.
"M-Mom, Liz-," she inhaled sharply. "-zie, Ed, and G-George," she replied, let it out in a long shuddering noise. "They were killed," she told her, her chest heaving painfully. "Drunk driver," she managed to choke out. "Oh God, Em," she cried, her grasp tightening. "M-Marti was at Derek's and he brought her- her over."
Emily nodded, lifting her hand to wipe at the tears falling from her eyes.
"And Derek just broke down, hugging me and sobbing," she continued, shaking her head as another round of sobs shook her body. "And I didn't k-know why," she said, her voice becoming high and anguished. "But then he told me, he- he- he told me that all of them were dead," she said, pulling back and running her arm over her face. "I couldn't believe it," she said, her voice shaking and her eyes still watering. "I just sat there on the floor with him, crying until I fell asleep."
"Where are they?" she asked, shaking her head. "Marti and Derek, I mean," she said, quietly.
"Marti's sleeping," she said, hiccuping and inhaling breath quickly and sharply. "D-Derek's at p-practice," she explained. "I- I- I have to pick him up at ten," she said, shaking her head and closing her eyes.
"Oh Casey," Emily said, pulling her towards her and wrapping her in a tight hug and crying herself.
They sat on the couch for hours, crying and hugging each other for some kind support. Emily offered to make her something to eat but she said she wasn't hungry and continued to cry quietly on the couch. Not a lot could be said to comfort her, since Emily still had her parents she couldn't really say anything that Casey could look forward too. All Casey knew was that she needed to hug someone, to feel someone hold them and tell them it would be okay. Derek wasn't there and she wasn't sure if he'd be entirely alright with her suddenly embracing him, even if he was being oddly comforting lately.
Awhile later, at five to ten, Casey asked Emily to stay and watch Marti while she left to pick up Derek. The kind girl offered to pick him up for her, but Casey knew he wouldn't be interested in seeing anyone waiting for him but her and said she'd be fine going.
Wiping her eyes, she sniffled and pulled out of the driveway, making her way out to the Campus across town. The drive seemed to pass by quickly and before Casey knew it, she was pulling up in front of the rink. It was nearly ten thirty, but Derek said he didn't usually get out until then anyway, so she figured she had awhile. When it was nearly eleven, she began to get worried and walked through the front entrance, hurrying through the halls to see if she could find him. Slipping into the boys' locker room, she ran straight into Sam.
"Hey," he greeted, smiling easily. "You do know that girls' aren't supposed to come back here, right?" he asked, teasing.
Swallowing, Casey backed out into the hall. "Yeah, sorry, I was just looking for Derek," she explained, running a hand through her hair.
Sam shook his head slowly, staring at her rather confused. "I didn't know you were picking him up," he said, shrugging. "Uh, he went to a party at the dorms," he told her, nodding.
"What?" she screeched, her eyes widening. "Are you serious?" Her hands lifted, digging into her hips angrily.
"Yeah," he said, half-smiling. "Not to pry or anything, but why exactly are you picking him up?"
Casey glanced up at him, her face lightening as it dawned on her. "He- He didn't tell you, did he?" she asked, biting her lip.
"Tell me what?" he asked, shaking his head.
Swallowing, Casey crossed her arms. "As you may have noticed, Derek isn't in the best of shape," she said, shaking her head.
"You've got that right," Sam said, frowning. "He nearly body checked everyone on the team, almost taking me out, and I was playing for him!" he said, shaking his head. "And he looked like a complete mess, I haven't seen him this bad since you moved ou-" Clearing his throat, Sam shook his head. "I mean, I've never seen him look this bad."
Nodding, Casey's eyes filled up again and she laughed angrily while lifting her hands to her eyes. "I'm so sick of explaining this," she said, her shoulders shaking.
Reaching out, Sam put a calming hand on her arm. "I don't want to make you upset, but I really have no idea what's going on," he said.
Nodding, Casey wiped her hands over her face, looking up at him. "Last night, there was an accident," she said, trying to keep her voice from becoming shaky. "Marti was over at Derek's, but everyone else was out for their regular Thursday night thing," she went on, sniffling.
Sam's eyes lightened, his mouth opened slightly as he was beginning to understand.
"There was this drunk driver leaving one of the many campus parties," she said, bitterly. "And George, my mom, Lizzie, and Edwin, happened to cross his path," she finished, closing her eyes. "They didn't make it," she said, her voice a whisper.
Dropping his bag, Sam wrapped his arms around Casey, running his hand up and down her back as she cried against him. "Well that explains Derek," he said, nodding.
Pulling back, Casey ran her hand over her face, inhaling deeply. "I need to find him," she said, nodding. "He's not thinking straight and I think he's going to do something stupid," she admitted, shaking her head and sniffling.
Nodding, Sam grabbed his bag and walked her to the doors. "Follow my car, I'll lead you to the dorms," he said, hurrying to his blue '65 Camaro.
Making her way over to Derek's car, Casey slipped in and wiped her eyes. Pulling out, she kept behind Sam's car as he drove out of the parking lot and over a couple blocks, parking in front of a tall, wide, eight-floor building. Hopping out, Casey locked her door and walked to the front, seeing Sam hurry over. "What floor?" she asked.
"Third," he replied. "It's Drew's party, so it's bound to be out of hand," he warned.
Nodding, Casey reached for the handle. "I can handle him," she told him. "You can go home," she assured.
"Alright," Sam said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Tell him to call me tomorrow," he asked her, walking backwards to his car.
Inhaling deeply, Casey made her way inside and up the stairs. Running into drunk kids, half dressed and making fools of themselves, she rolled her eyes. Her feet crushed party foods under her feet, the noise grated on her nerves almost instantly. Passing by numerous couples making out, Casey glared at the elevator filled with a couple taking up the entire floor. Hurrying up the stairs, she ignored the hands that managed to touch her in places worth a slap across the face.
Finally reaching the third floor, she sighed with relief. Pushing past people, she looked in open doors, searching for him all over. Seeing a few people she vaguely recognized, she noticed they were the guys that had met with him outside of the rink. She considered asking them where he was, but their leering eyes stopped the idea immediately. Passing another room, she almost kept going, but then she heard his laugh. Backing up, she lifted her hands to her hips and stepped in.
"Hey," a loud voice called out. "Derek, I thought you said she was busy tonight," some guy shouted, pointing down at her.
Casey looked up a the boy confused, stepping away quickly when he grinned at her in a suggestive manner. Pushing her way through the rest of the people, she stopped in front of Derek, sitting on a chair and holding a half empty beer. A cheery blonde sat on one of his legs, one of her hands buried in his hair and the other trailing a finger across his neck.
Turning to the girl she gave her a very nasty glare. "Off," she said, sharply.
"Uh, I don't think he wants that," she said, leaning up slightly and glaring back at her.
"I'm completely sober, you're half drunk, who do you think is going to win in a fight?" she asked, lifting her brow in annoyance. She didn't really care that he had a girl on his lap, but it would make it a lot harder to drag him away or talk to him with someone else around.
Huffing, the girl slipped off his leg and stumbled over to some other guy.
"If you're going to scare my entertainment away, at least replace it," Derek said, pulling her over and placing her where the other girl had been. Lifting the beer, he tipped his head and guzzled it back.
Pushing it out of his hand, she smiled when it clattered to the floor.
Sighing, Derek looked over at her with glazed eyes. "You're being no fun," he said, lazily.
Shaking her head, she felt an overwhelming anger surge inside of her. "And you're being a real asshole, you know that?" she asked, grimacing.
"Oh, little Casey swearing," he said, smirking. "How out of character," he said, shaking his head. "Then again, you tend to be that way around me, don't you?" he asked, his eyes half closed. "Fighting with me and then kissing me senseless. Letting me comfort you last night and hold you this morning. Those aren't normal Casey things, are they?" Shaking his head, he leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling. "No, usually you would've slapped me by now." Laughing with self pity, Derek ran his hand up her back. "You haven't even flinched while sitting in my lap. This is a real record, Case. How much longer do you think it'll last?" he wondered.
"This is the reason nothing ever went past our kissing," she replied, glaring at him. "You always manage to turn into a jerk at the worst time," she said, sighing.
"I think I deserve this," he replied, his temper seemingly under control. "After all, my dad and brother died," he reminded. "Why not let me drink myself away for a night, huh? Just one fucking night," he said, his voice beginning to rise. "One night where I don't have to think about how it must've felt for him to see that car coming at him. One time where I can sleep without dreaming of them all screaming and dying," he went on, swallowing.
His friends must've heard him now, as they had all become somber, turning to watch their teammate as he went on about his dad and brother, while staring at the roof and half yelling at her.
"Can't you just let me have that, Casey?" he asked, sitting up and moving his face near hers. "I promise I won't do anything stupid," he told her, his face so close his eyelashes were actually brushing over her forehead. "I'll only sleep with a couple girls," he said, smirking. "Drink until someone has to rush me to the hospital. And maybe, just maybe I'll choke on my own vomit." Laughing with his eyes tearing up, he pressed his face against hers. "If I'm lucky," he said, quietly.
Lifting her eyes as tears began sliding down her cheeks, Casey shook her head. "Fuck you, Derek," she said, through gritted teeth.
Running his lips up her face, he brushed them near her ear. "Any day, Case," he whispered.
Turning around, she slapped him hard across the face.
"No Guinness World record for you," he replied, not even grimacing.
"I'm calling Sam," she told him, shaking her head and walking to a phone.
"Oh sure," he said, picking up his fallen beer. "Call the Saint up, I'm sure he'll help you pick up your- what the fuck am I to you, anyway Case?" he asked, going off subject and guzzling his beer.
Ignoring him, she dialed his number and quietly asked him to come back and help her. Seeing as he had waited awhile before leaving, he wasn't far and told her he'd be there soon.
"So, is your super ex going to come and drag big, bad Derek home?" he asked, smirking. "Because, really, I'd love to see him try," he said, nodding. Turning the beer up, he kept his eyes on her as he took another swig.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, shaking her head. "You were alright this morning," she said, sighing. "At least, you weren't this destructive or angry."
"Things change," he said, slumping in his chair. "One minute you're alive, the next you're not. One moment you think the girl of your dreams cares, the next she's slapping you. This morning I was still reeling from it all, now I've accepted that my little brother and father are dead. That I'm left raising a six year old girl all by myself, and that you're going to bolt as soon as you get the chance," he said, leaning his head back.
Casey ignored the crowd of people that had stopped partying and were now watching their interaction. Walking over to him, she kneeled by his side. "I told you," she said, shaking her head. "I told you I'd help you with Marti. I'm not going anywhere," she promised.
"You say that now," he replied, sighing. "But you have college too, Case. You've got a job and all that homework to do. You don't have time for a six year old and her bastard of a brother." Shaking his head, he lifted his beer but found it empty, so he dropped his hand and let the bottle fall to the floor.
Shaking her head, Casey reached up and tipped his head down to her. "Listen to me, Derek," she said, rather sharply. "I'm not going anywhere," she told him, staring into his eyes. "I'm going to be right there helping raise Marti the entire time!" Standing up, she took his hands. "You, on the other hand, you're leaving this party," she said, nodding. "And you're not going to another one until you've gotten yourself some help. Because there is no damn way that I'm coming back here, dragging your sorry ass out again."
Sam broke through the crowd then, looking back and forth between Derek and Casey.
"Oh look," Derek said, glaring at his friend. "It's Sammy boy," he said, grimacing. "Come to save the day," he said, shaking his head.
"Come on Derek," Sam said, walking towards them. "I think it's time we left," he told him, nodding.
"No, you know, I think maybe it's time you two left and I stayed to finish what I started," he said, pulling his hands from Casey's.
"Not tonight," Sam said, shaking his head. "I think tonight, you're just going to go home with Casey and sleep it off."
Snorting, Derek shook his head. "Wouldn't you much rather go home and sleep with Casey? I know she doesn't want me in bed with her," he said, running his hand over his face.
"Derek," Casey said, sharply, her eyes thinning. "Stop being a bastard and just come back with me."
"What a warm sentiment, but I'd really prefer not," he said, reaching for another beer, sitting on a bed, unopened.
"I could knock him out," Sam offered. "It wouldn't take much, maybe one really hard punch to the face."
"You wish," Derek said, snorting.
Shaking her head, Casey walked over to him, staring down into his face. "You know what Marti did when I took her home?" she asked, crossing her arms.
Derek stilled in his motion to lift his beer and glanced at her. A moment later he turned his eyes away and continued to drink.
"She ran through every room of the house, looking everywhere for her family," Casey continued. "She checked under beds, in closets, under the couches, everywhere." Inhaling deeply, Casey bit her lip. "She called out for them, hoping they'd respond but obviously they couldn't."
Derek knocked back half the beer, his eyes closing and his free hand curling into a fist.
"She asked me if she had done something wrong, if it was her fault that they were gone," Casey said, her voice wobbly. "And I told her it wasn't, that they loved her and they always would." Sniffling, she wiped her hands over her cheeks furiously. "Do you have any idea what she's going to do when she realizes you're not there?" she asked, her foot tapping to keep her mind off of crying.
Whipping his hand back, Derek threw the bottle at the far wall, unflinching when it smashed all over. Crossing his arms, he glared ahead, his eyes only reaching Casey's stomach. "Leave," he said, fiercely.
Throwing her arms up in defeat, she glared at him with watery eyes. "My pleasure," she said, turning on her heel and stomping out of the room. Pushing her way through the people around her, she hurried down the stairs and into Derek's car. Waiting for it to warm up a bit, she made her way back to the house.
It wasn't long before she pulled into the driveway, relieving Emily of her duty. Waving goodbye to her friend, Casey walked around the house, turning off lights and feeling chills run down her back at the emptiness that surrounded her. Crawling onto the couch, she pulled her knees up to her chest and closed her eyes. She didn't want to venture anywhere else, keeping clear of the places that reminded her most of her family. Feeling tears burning her eyes, she shook her head and begged a dreamless sleep to take her away.
A/N I know, I know, I'm terrible. I will get to "What Happened to Happily Ever After?" I swear! It's just, I've been overcome with writing this story, I just can't help but write it. Likely because it's so angry and sad, whereas "W.H.T.H.E.A?" is more funny and ligth hearted, at least for now. It gets pretty sad and dark around the middle - what with the crisis and all.
Also, to those of you who might think I'm a guy, I'm really not. lol. I'm a girl, wholly and completely. My name is actually a tribute to my best friend, who was actually killed in an accident by a drunk driver last September. God rest his soul. Just thought I'd clear that up for you though.
Please review, I really, really appreciate it.
