Ok guys, extra long chapter today. You know why? Just because!

Yay me! Haha.

Oh yes, and thanks to all my faithful reviewers, some of which have been reviewing since I'm Okay, Really. Thanks you guys!

Also, the HSM Remix came out on DVD today! WOO!

And the HSM concert is coming to Bossier City (which is somewhat close to me) on the 16th! Unfortunately, I can't go. :-( (HAHAHAHAH! The HSM concert is coming the 11th to Seattle, and I might be able to go! –Jordan)

But, enough about my problems (and sad disappointments), on with the chapter! (FINALLY! –Jordan)


Troy sat next to his sister's hospital bed. The scene was all too familiar to him.

The familiar beeping of the heart monitors. The familiar eerie silence of the hospital. The familiar array of odd machines and wires. The familiar drip, drip motion of the IV.

Only the time it wasn't from Emily's destructive behavior. It was from a stupid teenage boy.

Troy tensed up at the thought. His sister had sustained a massive amount of injuries. Emily had about ten stitches on the back of her head, her wrist was broken, her left eye was swollen and bruised, and she had countless bruises and cuts along her arms, legs and neck.

She looked peaceful as she slept, but Troy knew it was just because of the painkillers Emily was on.

There was a soft knock at the door and Chad's unmistakable figure appeared in the doorway.

"Hey," Chad said quietly, "How is she?"

"Sleeping," Troy ushered him into the room.

Troy gave Chad his seat and moved to a chair in the corner.

Chad took hold of Emily's hand. Troy studied him quietly from his corner. Chad's face was filled with worry, care and love. He moved quietly and slowly as not to wake her up. His other hand moved to Emily's forehead where he stroked her hair softly.

Troy smiled to himself as he watched Chad. He felt good knowing his sister was in good hands.

"When does she get to go home?" he asked Troy, but his gaze never left Emily.

"They're keeping her overnight for observation; she'll probably be coming home a little after school tomorrow," Troy repeated the words his father uttered just an hour ago.

The two boys remained silent for a while. Chad slipped into deep thought and Troy continued to study him. The whole Alex thing had put him on high alert of how people – especially boys – acted around Emily, and Chad was no exception.

"I should have done something," Chad whispered.

"I don't think it would have made much difference," Troy sighed.

"It could have put me in that bed instead of her," Chad traced circles on Emily's hand with his thumb.

Troy walked over to his friend and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You and I both know Emily wouldn't want that."

The boys fell into silence once more. The beeping of the heart monitor beeped loudly in Troy's ears. Finally, he couldn't stand it anymore.

"Come on, dude. It's getting late. I'll take you home," Troy broke the silence.

Chad gave Emily a soft kiss on the forehead and walked out of the room with Troy.

Once they drove up to Chad's house, he exited the car.

"Bye, dude," Chad said about to close the car door.

"Hey, Chad?" Troy called.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," he said simply.

"For what?"

"Taking care of my little sister."

"Wouldn't dream of doing anything else, Troy," Chad told him.


"Basketball practice is cancelled today due to family business of Coach Bolton's," the announcement echoed through the school.

"Why don't they put up a big sign that tells all our business?" Troy muttered under his breath.

"Mr. Bolton, do you have something to share with the class?"

"No, sir," he told the sub.

The bell rang signaling the end of the day. Troy raced to Emily's locker only to find Natalie there. She had a stack of papers and text books.

"Here, it's Ems' homework," she gave the stack to Troy.

"You sure you don't want to come?" Troy asked her.

"I would, but I really have to study. I'll stop by later tonight," Natalie said.

Troy nodded and turned around, bumping into Chad.

"Shit," he mumbled as he dropped to the floor to pick up the scattered papers.

"Sorry, man," Chad picked up the text books.

"It's okay," Troy stood up.

"Oops, here. You missed one," Jason walked up and placed a piece of paper on top of the stack. Zeke was behind him.

"You're such a help, Jason," Zeke rolled his eyes, "Here, let me help you with that."

Troy gladly released half of the stack to Zeke.

"We better get going, guys," Troy looked at his watch.

The four boys piled into Troy's car. About 15 minutes–and 5 songs of Jason's horrible singing–later, they arrived at the hospital.

"Hey, Emster," Chad greeted her as the boys filed into the room. She smiled as she kissed the top of her forehead.

"What are you guys doing here?" she grinned.

"Taking home my little sister," Troy hugged her.

"Didn't know I needed a whole posse for that to happen," she said while hugging Jason.

"Too bad, because you're stuck with us," Zeke laughed.

Emily laughed and gave him a hug.

"Where's Daddy?" Emily asked Troy.

"Outside talking to the doctor," he jerked his head towards the door.

"He needs to hurry. I'm ready to get out of this place," Emily groaned. She sat up and was just about to swing her legs over when she put her hand to her forehead.

"Em, you okay?" Troy held his hand behind her back to support her.

Emily squinted her eyes shut as her vision blurred and she became light-headed.

"Yeah, just sat up too quickly," Emily said opening her eyes again.

Troy gently laid her back down against the pillows. Chad shuffled closer to her with a look of concern on his face. Zeke and Jason exchanged nervous glances.

"You guys, I'm fine," she said noticing the looks on their faces. "Really," she added to Chad.

Troy looked up at Chad and saw his face was drenched with worry.

"She's fine, Chad," Jason reassured him. Moments later, Jack Bolton came through the doorway.

"Sweetie? Time to go home," her dad said quietly.

"About time!" Emily threw off the thin hospital covers and stood up – making sure to take her time.

"Not so fast!" her father pushed her gently back on the bed. He rolled in a wheelchair.

"Oh come on! You've got to be kidding me!" she practically yelled.

"Hospital policy."

"Come on, I can walk!"

"Here, sis," Troy slipped his arm under her knees and his other arm behind her back and lifted her up.

"That was nice of you, son," his dad patted Troy on the back as he ducked out of the car. Emily was fidgeting in the backseat.

"I just didn't want to hear her whine," Troy rolled his eyes.

The middle-aged father laughed. "You and me both."


"Emily will you please be still?" Troy pleaded. The gang was stuffed onto the couch. Well, Jason and Kelsi were sitting on the floor. They were practically inches away from each other.

"Oh, shut up, Troy. Shouldn't you show your injured sister some sympathy?" she gave him a fake pout.

"Not when she's all snuggled up with my best friend!"

Emily laughed and cuddled up further in Chad's chest. Chad tightened his arms around her.

Troy aimed a finger at them and started stuttering words of objection.

"Troy, sweetie, they're a couple. Face it," Gabriella giggled.

Troy crossed his arms – which is not an easy task with seven other people crammed onto the couch – and mocked a pout.

"Oh my poor baby," Gabriella said in mock sympathy. She threw her arms around his neck.

Troy's pout immediately melted away. He gave her a soft kiss on the lips.


"Can't I just kick Jason to make him hold her?" Emily whispered.

"No," Chad responded shortly.

"Ok then, you kick him."

"Em! We can't make them be together."

"Fine," she huffed.

She waited for Chad to turn away, then put her foot into position and…

"Emster, I mean it!" Chad caught her.

"Yes, dad," she put her head back on his chest.

Chad chuckled gently. "Don't worry baby, one day they'll come to their senses."


Emily couldn't stand the feeling of East High's stares on her back. She felt like that part in Beauty and the Beast where Belle walks through the village and all the people are singing about her, but when she turns around they all go back to their normal stuff.

"Daddy, can't I just go home?" she pleaded with her father during free period.

"Em, you've missed enough already…"

"But I can't focus with them all staring at me!"

Coach Bolton looked into his daughter's eyes and sighed. "Fine, but you have to complete all the work you missed before you go do anything else."

She nodded and scurried out the doors of the school.


Emily sat on her bed staring at directions for an essay. She read the paper over and over, still not understanding a single word. She finally pushed the paper away.

"Did the paper insult you, baby?" Chad joked and sat beside her.

Emily looked up at him, and he could see she was stressed.

"What's wrong, Emster?"

"Stupid essay on Animal Farm," she grumbled.

"Ah, Animal Farm. Written by George Orwell. A satyr about WWII Russia. Napolean represents Stalin, the evil dictator, who abuses his power in many ways, including breaking his own rules then changing them to make it seem okay."

Emily stared at him in disbelief. "How did you get so smart?"

"Internet cliff notes, my dear friend," he grinned.

"I hate you," she grumbled.

"No you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"Whatever," Chad said in a sing-song voice.

"I'll show you whatever," Emily smirked and picked up a pillow and whacked him over the head.

"That's it!" Chad picked up a pillow and the two were engaged in a pillow battle.


"Cha-" Troy started, but stopped when he stepped into Emily's room.

The two were on Emily's bed. Feathers were everywhere, apparently from a pillow fight.

Both were sound asleep in each other's arms. Troy decided not to wake them and slowly backed out of the room.

"Troy?" Emily's voice called out softly.

"Em, you're awake," he came back into the room.

"Yeah," she said groggily.

"Something wrong?"

"Just a headache."

"You want your medicine?" Troy asked.

"No, I'm fine," she said.

"Why don't you go back to sleep?"

"Doesn't Chad need to go home? It's late isn't it?"

"Don't worry. I'm telling his mom he already crashed on my bed," he smiled.

"Thanks, Troy," she put her head back on Chad's chest and fell back asleep.

"No prob, sis," he whispered and stroked her hair softly.

He walked to the doorway, but turned around before exiting.

He studied the picture before him: Emily sleeping soundly in Chad's arms.

"About time we get used to it, huh?" Jack's voice sounded from behind Troy.

"Yeah, guess so," Troy said quietly.

"She's growing up."

"Unfortunately, yes," Troy sighed. His father walked down the hall, leaving Troy standing in the doorway. "Guess so."


This chapter was mainly from Troy's point of view. I thought we needed to see from his side how he feels, since I don't really do that.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Also, if you have any suggestions on another point of view I could do, please feel free to tell me!

Wow, on Word this thing is 7 pages long. Whoa, baby! (Yes, it's quite true…-Jordan)

Ok, the author's note is getting way long! (Ya think? –Jordan)

Please review!