A\N Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July! ^-^ Ahh! Your reviews just make me wanna dance and squeal! Thank you so much, seriously! C:

Mkay, review timee! C:

So to NTA FANFIC, Oh no! Why are confused? :O That's the last thing I would ever want! :(

Also to crabsareamazing14, Hello, and I know! I was so happy when I was writing their little moment, I was all squealy and such ^-^ Hahaha, yeah! You did a perfect portrayal of Dawn right there xD And yes, Jo is very confused about her feelings! I know two people with the last name Johnson and yes, that would be very strange! Oh yes, I don't think I'll ever go hitchhiking because of 'The Hitcher' and of Candy and Cane! XD Oh and thank you, and I'm from the East Coast as well, so I shall give it back...from the East Coast!

And to Spliced-up-Angel, Thank you, and I loves me some character development as well! :)

Proceeding on to Smiles1998, Thanks! :D And yes, I think we all just need to stay on Dawn's good side for a while! XD

Moving on to AgirlWithImagination, Thank you! ^-^ Oh no! :O I would never leave this, I can just never get online because my father does not have internet so I must wait until I can go to the Library where I can get it! :D Oh good, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :) I know, I really hope everything goes fine with everyone and everyone will end up happy! Fear not, for I will never allow poor kittens and pandas and you to cry! :O

Continuing on to 2CrzY4U, Don't worry, you are not a bad person! Haha yes, but he gets it now doesn't he? Now that he knows MPD stands for Multiple Personality Disorder xD Oh good, I wanted B to have some sort of part in their argument, but he couldn't say anything, so it was rather hard! XD Oh yes, goodbye Candy and Cane and good riddance! And yes, I can't eat candy anymore, so I was really craving candy when I made up their names! :D

Also to SailorMarble14, Hello and thank you! :D I will be happy to put in their memories! You got it! ^0^

And to CharlieHarperFan88, Thank you! I love writing cute chapters because then I get all happy and mushy and such :D Ann Maria is still pretty iffy about Lightning only because he used to bully her, and she's getting over her feelings for Brick, but I think you'll be happy pretty soon! :D I will try to do you just by keeping it up! XD

Moving on to SkullsandRoses, Oh don't worry! I do intend on staying with this story! I would never abandon it! I love writing for it, so there's no need to worry! :D Oh yes, sweet little Dawn has a dark side! :O Yes, both Ann Maria and Jo are very confused for their own reasons, but like I said, this story is soon coming to a close, so I think their feelings will be acted upon soon! ^0^

Proceeding on to Might Penguin, Thank you! I love drama as well! :D Oh my Lordlicious! I inspire you? :'D Thank you so much! That made me extremely happy, thank you! :O No problem, I love giving people shout outs! :D

Continuing on to Creepy Sheepy, Thank you! And I love Blainerific so much! XD Okay, well I hope I do the whole movie situation justice! XD So am I! I was so happy when they finally got together! :D Haha!

Also to NerdyBarista, It's because Brick cares so much about Jo, and in his own way, he'd be pretty lost without her as well! Mike isn't angry, he was more just frustrated because he thought Zoey liked someone else, and he was going a bit stir-crazy! XD Yes, since Jo does get angry rather easily, she was getting the worst of the stir-craziness! I loved writing their little moment, it was really nice! :D I know! They finally got together, I was so happy! Hahaha, well Jo herself is a very awkward person, so I think that would definitely be something she's very awkward about! XD Yep, I think Ann Maria is just beginning to see her little Brick crush was just because he helped her. Staci stopped talking about her relatives for Ann Maria's sake, because she feels really close to her, not for Jo :P Oh yay, I'm glad Ann Maria's development is good for her overall character! Oh yeah, Jo is very much in denial well at least for being in love with him. She knows she likes him, but not love! And yes, Dawn did good even if she did get a bit scary! XD Haha, I added that in fear of someone stealing my work because I have seen it happen, and it did happen to me once, but I got the person to delete the story! XD

And to Aradomperson, Oh yes, a lot, of tension! :D And yes, I loved all the coupling in here! And Zoey did feel pretty terrible afterwards though so I think Jo won't hold that comment on her forever! XD I know, she didn't outright say it, but I think she now knows that her feelings are very, VERY deep! Ever since Jo's talk with Dawn and Zoey, she definitely feels a lot more comfortable with them, so yes the hug was very out of character, but she felt like she needed to show Zoey that she forgave her, and that she appreciates and loves their friendship. Yes, seven chapters, but they are FINALLY together! Woo! ^O^ Jo is being very defensive of her feelings right now because she's very iffy on them. She's not sure how she feels and she hated when Ann Maria thought that she was in love with Brick, when Jo herself doesn't even know. Haha, I think Jo, even if she was comfortable with her feelings would ever be the one to ask Brick out! XD Of course I will continue this story, I love writing for it! :D

Also to Guest, Oh no :( Well I'm glad you like it now! So keep reading and I hope you continue to like it ^-^

Finally to Amanda, Hello! :) Well, here it is! :D

Okay, so here is the story! Sorry for the long wait! :P

Jo POV

After Dawn yelled at me, and Zoey repeatedly apologizing to the guys after inviting them back in, we were on the road again, Brick driving this time. I couldn't seem to sleep because of Dawn's words pounding in my head. She was right, some part of me realized Dawn had never once lied to me. So why now, would she lie about something so important to me?

I finally forced my eyes to shut and just to relax. We would be at Cedar Point before I knew it. I just had to calm down...and sleep...

Dream-Flashback Sequence

My kindergarten class seemed so large to me when I was only five. I guess it must have seemed big to every small child that stepped foot in there. My hair was long, at least to my shoulders. My mother insisted that my father would approve it I left it alone, though back then, I protested against her wishes. I wanted it fixed in pigtails like that of the other girls.

"Alright Jo, you'll be a good girl to everyone, right?" My mother asked, leaning down towards me with an overly worried tone to her soprano.

"I will! Mommy, can you call me Mary?' I questioned her, as she stood up.

"You know your father likes to call you Jo, so we call you Jo. It's a nickname, sweetie," She cooed. Before I could insist anymore, she disappeared out of the doorway and left me completely alone and confused. I sighed, my breath wavering before me.

"No, please Grandma,I don't wanna go...I'm 'fraid!" A voice exclaimed, breaking me away from my thoughts. I sharply averted my gaze over to a tall boy, well at least taller than me, with an old woman smiling warmly at him. She pat his buzzed cut hair gently and crouched down to him.

"Now, now, you know better than to whine. You're brave, right? Just like your daddy, you'll do just fine," She reassured him with a knowing tone. I could tell he was holding in his cries and as soon as she left, he finally let out a chortled breath. I felt my eyes narrow at the direction the old woman exited in, and I slowly made my way to him with a curious expression plastered on my face.

"Why are you sad?" I asked, feeling unusually concerned for him. I didn't even know him! So why was I so sad for him?

"Oh...hi, I'm Brick," He greeted, sniffling a bit.

"Why are you sad?" I repeated, though it came out more of a demand than anything.

"My daddy's in the army, and grandma says he's real brave, and I gotta be, too. But I'm just 'fraid...and I think I'm making daddy sad 'cause I am..." He frowned, tears returning to his eyes. I cocked my head in utter confusion.

"Why would he be sad?" He looked at me, his eyes now brimmed with hot tears and he hung his head in unneeded shame.

"'Cause, daddy saves lives everyday, and he's not scared...but I'm going to school and I am," Brick explained. He sat down on the floor, not ready to go in yet and breathed heavily.

"My daddy's a bum...or at least that's what Aunt Faith says. You should be happy that you're daddy's brave...'cause now you don't have to have all the brave, just some of it," I soothed. I couldn't figure out why I was being so sweet to him. Sure, I wasn't evil, but I wasn't this friendly or soothing. Brick was bringing something out in me that I didn't even know was in me.

"T-thanks! You're really nice. Can...can we be friends?" He asked cautiously. I bit my lip, it wasn't everyday I was getting a pleading offer to be my friend.

"My name's Mary, but I like Jo," I said, extending my hand as I saw my father do countless times before.

"Why Jo?" He asked, shaking my hand eagerly. I shrugged, not sure what he wanted to hear.

"It's smaller for Josephine, my middle name," I explained, removing my hand. My face was flushed with red from the contact and I tried to remove the feeling from my conscious.

"Well Jo's nice, but I like Mary more," Brick stated, standing up.

"Is Brick small for something, or a nickname?" I questioned.

"Nope, just Brick," He smiled. I just gave him a nod in return and gestured for him to join me in the classroom. He took a seat near me, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the giddy feeling within me. The feeling of utter happiness as Brick had just become my first ever friend.

Ending the Dream-Flashback Sequence

I woke up with a jolt and a light smile upon my features. Even when I was five, I still had feelings for the lunk-head. I looked over at him, and saw his face fixed in pure concentration. He was so intent on everything he did, and he did it for the right reasons. He was sweet and caring about everything he did, and everyone he knew. I really didn't deserve such a sweet guy as my best friend, but he was and I loved every moment of it.

Maybe that was what was scaring me. The fact that when he left, and every other person in our group who I had hesitantly called my friend, left, I would be alone and terribly lost without them. And sure, I was Jo, I was fearless, and brash and strong-headed. I could do things on my own in a heart-beat. And if I had never met Brick, my life decision wouldn't be so hard. But now it was, because I had feelings for my best friend, my best friend who was enlisting into the army and he was going to be gone for only the Lord knows how long. And what if he got shot, and died, died for our country, and I could never see him again?

Dammit, emotional stuff just gets me worn out.

I sighed and leaned my head against the window in hopes of clearing my mind for a few moments of peace. Maybe I was just over thinking all of this. It probably wasn't as bad as it seemed to me. I was just tiring myself out again. I had to stop thinking about all this, we were going to be at Cedar Point in a matter of time, and I couldn't be frigid when I still had a few more days with Brick. I was only fooling myself for all those years I had with Brick. I knew the day would come when Brick and I would have to part, and even if I did confess my feelings for him, his commitment to our country was much more than his commitment to me. I didn't want to be conceited and think that something was going to change and he would stay just because I told him that I loved him.

And I still had to contemplate whether I did love him or not. He really was everything to me, as girly as it sounds, but nevertheless, he got me. He knew what got me angry, what drove me completely nuts, he knew what made me laugh, what movies I preferred, why I will never go to Vegas, he knew anything and everything about me. No one else even came close to how special Brick was to me.

"Jo? Jo?" I heard multiple voices yell.

"What?" I asked.

"We're here!" Zoey squealed, the excitement oozing from every word. I sat up straighter in my seat, before looking out and seeing the many roller-coasters on the horizon, right there in front of me.

"Holy shit, I didn't think..." I mumbled incredulously. They all grinned like mad men and jumped up and down crazily.

"Dakota's here!" Sam exclaimed.

"Then go, Sam! Run and hurry! We'll be right after you!" Dawn encouraged him with a bright smile. Sam nodded and charged towards the door. He ran out, before yelling:

"Dawn, B! I need money!"

"Coming! See you all in a bit! To avoid further complications, here's your money for the tickets! Enjoy yourselves!" She smiled, running with B. To make a very long story short, everyone else besides Brick and myself went to the park.

"So..." I said, lingering near the door.

"Jo, are you okay? You seem confused..." Brick remarked with a worried expression.

"Uh, yeah actually...I kinda am..." l said, chuckling a bit. Brick sat down and gestured for me to as well. We sat down on the bed across from each other, not sure on what to do or say.

"So what's wrong?"

"N-nothing!"

"Jo..."

"It's nothing!"

"Jo,"

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders uselessly.

"It's a serious question, so don't laugh at me, okay?" I warned menacingly. Brick just smiled and I realized that if it was anyone else, they would have freaked out, but Brick knew I wouldn't do anything. Why did he have to know me so well? I mean, what if we were together? We know everything there is to know about each other, so what would happen if we got tired of each other? If we got bored with our routine, so we broke up?

"Jo?" Brick questioned me, tearing me away from my worries. I sighed and gulped a bit. I didn't want him to laugh at me...and on normal circumstances, Brick would never. But this time, that could be the exact thing he would do.

"If I asked you to stay and not go to the army, would you?" I asked, feeling stupidly embarrassed. I hated feeling weak, and that had to be the one complete moment in my life where I felt very weak and vulnerable. Brick stared at me, before a small smile emerged on his face.

"Yes, of course,"He answered.

I think I must have looked like someone just ate a bunny in front of me, because Brick started laughing hysterically at my shocked face.

"You said you wouldn't laugh!" I yelled.

"Yeah, but that wasn't a serious question," Brick explained with a smile.

"It was to me!" I exclaimed with an incredulous look upon my face.

"Why?"

"I don't know...so will you stay, then?" I asked.

"Sure," Brick shrugged lazily.

"Then can I ask you another thing?"

"Shoot,"

"Okay...you love the army, so why would you just stay for me?" I asked.

"So now you don't want me to stay?" Brick asked. I shot him a murderous look and he turned sheepish before putting up his hands in defense. "Because you know I'd do anything for you, Jo," I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, but that can't be it, can it?" I sighed wearily, wanting to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible. "I mean, you've always dreamed of going to the army ever since you little. You just wouldn't stay for me,"

Flashback

"Alright, what do you wanna be or do when you grow up?" Our teacher asked. I shot Brick a 'Get me the hell out of here!' look, while he just laughed at me. We were thirteen years old and she was treating us like we were four. "Ah, we'll start with Ann Maria," Ann Maria shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She hadn't gotten her make-over yet, but she was planning on it. I had liked her better when she was an unmemorable, plain-Jane. She was sweeter that way, or at least, in my opinion.

"Oh, okay. Well, I've always wanted to be a supa model, ya know? Be on magazines and pose, and be in crazy outfits..." Ann Maria breathed, earning a couple chuckles from Lightning and Scott.

"Yeah, the magazine for the people who wanna go blind!" Scott exclaimed, cracking up at his cruel joke. Ann Maria sank in her seat, feeling stupid for her dream.

"I'm gonna be a teacher!" Zoey announced smiling broadly.

"Suck up," I muttered to Brick. He rolled his eyes good-naturedly and brushed it off.

"Scott and Lightning are going to be football players!" Lightning said snootily to everyone around them. No one paid attention mostly because everyone hated them to begin with.

"What about you, Jo and Brick?" The teacher asked, barely being heard over the loud teenagers. I shrugged in response.

"I'm only thirteen, what makes you think I have my whole life planned out, yet?" I said.

"My father died four months ago. It stills hurts a lot, but I wanna be like him and go to the army," Brick explained, his eyes glistening with pride, "I wanna protect everyone around me,"

"You could die though," I protested with a scowl.

"Yeah, but I'd be protecting everyone here, so who cares if I die?" Brick shrugged. I felt myself growing angry, so I slammed my fist down on my desk.

"I care!" I yelled, the rage radiating off of me. Everyone stopped and stared at me, so I quickly shut my mouth in fear of embarrassing myself any longer. Brick and I didn't talk about that subject for the rest of the day.

Dammit.

Flashback Over

And that's when it clicked. Brick, ever since he was little, he wanted to be in the army, because he was selfless and kind. He was brave enough, and he didn't care if he died or not. As long as everyone else was safe. And I couldn't take his dream from him. And I knew that whether if he returned my feelings or not, he would stay if I told him I loved him.

I looked at Brick, at his eyes boring into mine, and I knew it. The thought didn't scare me anymore. I was in love with Brick. He was sweet and funny and pure, but he had a dream, one that if I took it away from him, I'd hate myself forever. I felt tears prick my eyes at this thought. I was completely and hopelessly in love with Brick, but I couldn't let him stay. He had to go, and I had to stay in Delaware and be alone with him by my side.

And I was willing to do that for him.

A\N So sorry for the lateness, but I REALLY needed to get this out! And yes, it is short, but I hope you all liked it just the same!

So please review and tell me what you think! And yes, the end is drawing near!

Love you all!

(This has been a product thing of TheGamesICause. Any person who steals this or copies it with small changes in any way will be written a strongly worded letter with many frowny-faces. The author of this is now putting this at the end of every chapter so that everyone knows she means business. The final draft of this chapter is seven pages and three thousand words long)