Author's Note: Hey everyone! Thank you for all the continual support. Its amazing. I smile everytime that I see a new review :D Anways, here is Chapter 11...sorry its kind of a cliff hanger (dont hate me) A new chapter will be up very soon I promise. As always, Read/ Enjoy/ Review!

Chapter 11: Gunpowder And Lead

" Just when you think everything in the world seems to be going right, life seems to throw roadblocks in your way. I have learned one thing about life, it's a bitch."-Anonymous.


I stand with the crowd as Caleb and Olivia wave from the window of their town car, the happy cheers filling the night air, and I smile. I made it through the night. I didn't shatter the way I thought I would, and more importantly I spent time with Michael. I wont lie though. It's scary, terrifying really to realize how easy it is to slip right back into what we used to have. What we used to be to each other.

I walk back into the ball room, my hands running up and down my arms as I try to chase away the cold that sinks into my skin. I smile when the I feel a sudden heaviness and warmth over my shoulders and arms, and even before he opens his mouth to speak I know its Michael. The smell of his cologne dances on the air as I turn to smile at him grateful for the warmth his tuxedo jacket gives me.

" Hey," I say smiling up at him, " Some wedding huh?"

" It was beautiful," Michael says smiling, " Their beautiful."

" That they are," I say suddenly feeling nervous as he takes my hand, walking me from the ballroom to the valet. I drop his hand when I'm asked for my car voucher and fumble my way through my purse finally finding the small slip of paper. I smile when the Valet whose eyes haven't left Michael the entire time I have been searching through the abyss known as my purse, takes the ticket with shaking hands and runs off at top speed to retrieve my car.

" Brooke, I," Michael starts saying but then there is a sudden rush of people, and I'm pushed away from his as a group of clearly inebriated women and men shout questions at him, holding pen and papers out to him for autographs. I blink furiously as dozens of flashes start going off from their digital cameras burn my eyes. I catch the pained look in Michael's eyes as he graciously signs everything held out to him, and poses for pictures with his fans and with a small smile I lift my hand and give a small wave. Tonight was beautiful, and thats exactly how I want to remember it. As a beautiful experience. One I shared with Michael. Even if it is the last one.


I am helped to my car as security comes out and clears the ever growing crowd that surrounds Michael, and as I'm about to put the car in drive and leave Michael taps on my window. I roll it down, adjusting in my seat slightly when he leans in through the window his eyes soft.

" I was going to say that I had a great time with you tonight Brooke," he says smiling as he brushes a soft kiss to my cheek before he moves his head so that his lips are at my ears, " I meant it when I said I would wait a lifetime for you Brooke." I watch as he starts pulling away from the car and before I can think of what I'm doing I grab his arm.

" Michael, wait," I say getting out of the car so that I'm standing in front of him, my heart pounding in my chest. " You don't have to wait a lifetime. I don't, I don't know if we can go back to the way things were before, but maybe we can start over."

" Brooke, what are you saying?" he asks his brown eyes lighting with confusion.

" What I'm saying is that I'm done. I'm done being mad at you, I'm done pretending that my life has any sort of meaning without you. I'm saying that I don't want to go back to that big empty house tonight alone. I want you there. I want my best friend there," I admit knowing that at this moment I am trusting Michael with my heart again painfully aware that it could easily blow up in my face. Without a word Michael smiles, and I watch as he walks around the front of my car and slides into the passenger seat and for the first time in a long time I feel like the shattered pieces of me are coming back together.


The drive back to my house is quick, Michael's voice lulling me into a peaceful place as he sings along with the radio, but as quickly and easily as my body and mind is filled with that happy feeling it crumbles around me as I push out of the car and notice the large envelope propped against my front door.

I freeze, panic and fear mixing inside of me as I stare at it, knowing that the moment I open it all it will be is another letter to taunt me. A letter from my nameless, faceless nightmare. I shudder slightly when Michael rests his hand on my shoulder his eyebrows drawn together in concern.

" Brooke, what is it?" Michael asks and I blink slowly, looking up at him, and instead of answering him I rush to the stairs and pick up the envelope. I stare at it, taking a deep breath before turning it over to open it. I pull out another picture of Blake, a big messy red X painted over his face and mine and my heart plummets into my stomach as Michael pulls it from my hands.

" Brooke, what the hell is this?" he asks but his words fall on deaf ears as I read the letter.

' I was going to wait, bide my time, but the truth is seeing you tonight with Michael really pissed me off. You messed up bitch, bad, and if your lucky you wont be around to see Michael fall. He's just as guilty in this as you, his hands just as stained with Blake's blood as yours. The worst is yet to come. I promise you.'

I press the back of my hand against my mouth trying to stifle the screams of anger that fight so hard to tear through the night air.

" Brooke," Michael takes the paper from my hand his eyes scanning it quickly and I turn around my hands on my head as I try to breathe.

" I've been getting these letters, and pictures since, since Blake died," I say my floating into the air, " All of them basically the same. Telling me its my fault that Blake died, that I should have just stayed gone. Whoever broke into my apartment, attacked me, stole my scrapbook. The scrapbook that has all of the pictures, and stories of what happened that night in Wilmington."

" Have you told the police?" he asks and I shake my head fervently as I try to clamp down on the panic.

" I thought it would go away, I prayed that it would just go away." I say and before I can try to explain the situation any further Michael grabs my arm and drags me to the car, " Michael, what are you doing?"

" We're getting out of here, it isn't safe here," he says opening the passenger door for me, " We're going to get to Neverland, and then your going to tell me everything from the start, and after that, we're calling the police." I stare over his shoulder and when the front door of my house swings open everything inside of me seizes up as my fear threatens to swallow me whole.

" Michael, run!" I scream and like a rabbit spooked by a predator Michael slams my door and jumps across the hood of my car and I reach over pushing open the door for him. He slams the door tightly behind him and fumbles only slightly when he jams the key into the ignition, " Michael, Michael!" I scream as the dark figure, dressed in black from head to toe walks slowly towards the car, and under the moonlight whoever the stranger is lifts a gun, the light shining off of it as adrenaline courses through my veins.

" You better hold on," Michael says, and I grab onto his arm holding on for dear life.


Gun shots pierce the silence as Michael throws the car into drive and hit's the gas, the tires squealing as we race down the drive way. Adrenaline continuously pumps through my body as Michael pulls into the busy Beverly Hills traffic.

I press a hand shakily to my stomach, wincing as I shift in my seat, and as soon as the pain registers in my head I know something is wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong. I lift my hand, catching the crimson color that paints my pale skin under the street lights.

" Michael," I murmur softly somehow captivated by the blood that smears my hand, " Michael."