Notes: I know I haven't updated again in a long time. And yes, I am asking for your forgiveness again. This chapter is actually pretty pointless. You learn a little more about Bailey and why her mom isn't the happiest around her, but not that much. That has a whole chapter ((or four)) to itself.
Warning: Language and Violence.
Summary: They were her boys. She was their girl. They were all best friends. Together forever. After the Ray Brower adventure, then what? What happens after? Find out here.
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Reminder: Please review!

I wonder how I ever made it through a day
How did I settle for a world in shades of gray
When you go in circles all the scenery looks the same
And you don't know why and I looked into your eyes
Where the world stretched out in front of me…
-Before Your Love, Kelly Clarkson

Baileys POV

I woke up sometime in the middle of the night. Someone, who I think was Vern, was snoring. I closed my eyes for a minute. Then I opened them again and I was just about to roll over to go back to sleep when I noticed Chris was sitting up, looking off into space.

The only reason I could tell he was awake was because he would blink occasionally.

And he looked like he had been looking at it for a while now.

Could the entrance to the tent really be that interesting?

"Chris," I whispered, rising to my elbows.

He jerked his head towards me.

He must have been deep in thought.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I sat up.

He nodded before turning away again.

Sometimes that boy really worries me.

I sighed, then took my blanket off and crawled over in front of him.

"Are…" I paused. "Are things going to be awkward between us now?" I asked.

I really dreaded the answer. He was my best friend. Could a dare like that be powerful enough to destroy that?

I really, really hope not.

If he either said yes or didn't respond, come morning, I was fully prepared to kick Teddy's ass.

Great thing about that is if I wanted to, I probably could. Teddy wouldn't fight back. None of them would. It's all because I'm a girl.

Don't hit girls. That's rule number one.

But if I did it in sight of the others, they'd stop me.

Chris turned to me and looked me in eye for a few moments.

I swear I could feel him looking into my soul.

Another one of those things I think that are awkward for everyone.

Especially for me.

But he just shook his head. "No way."

I smiled. "Good. Because-"

"You would have been forced to kick Teddy's ass." He finished for me with a smirk.

I nodded as I felt myself start to smile.

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

Again, it was the comfortable silence. I don't know if we've ever had uncomfortable silence before.

Then I turned to him.

"Tell me something about you that nobody knows."

He gave me a look that was a mixture of confusion, sadness, and something else I couldn't put my finger on. But he just shook his head and said,

"You know everything about me. That's totally pointless."

I poked him in the side. "Please? You couldn't have told me everything."

I couldn't help but think, because I never told you everything.

He thought for a moment. "I'm scared one day…" He paused and I thought he was going to cry. "I'll become my father because I can already see parts of him in me."

I was at a loss for words for about a minute.

"No, you're not." I said finally.

He just nodded. I could tell he didn't believe me. Then he said, "You go."

"What?"

"Tell me something about you that no one knows."

I thought for a minute, and then reluctantly said, "My mother hates me because of something that happened in Pennsylvania."

Chris gave me a look that clearly said That's impossible but he only said "I'm sure she doesn't."

I shook my head and looked away. "You have no idea."

He nodded in understanding before he turned his gaze back to the tent entrance.

I couldn't help but stare at him.

What horrible thing would he have to have done in his past life to deserve what he was given? It seemed like the only good thing in his life was us.

After a little while, I said goodnight again, went back to my spot, and fell back asleep.

I had some of the weirdest dreams that night. I can't even begin to tell you about them, they were that strange.

We went swimming again that morning. It was a little cold for the first day of summer, but, hell, it was summer! Who's complaining?

Not me.

When we got there, Teddy, Vern and Chris jumped in. Just before he got in, I ran up behind Gordie, grabbed him around the middle, and pushed him and myself in.

I started laughing underwater and had to come up quickly or I would have drowned.

I started coughing as Gordie came up. "Not cool," he said, shaking his head.

"Shut up, you knew it was coming. It's payback." I smirked.

He thought for a minute, and, realizing what I meant, nodded.

Just like yesterday, another splash war started.

Every time we swim, we end up in a splash war. I never understood that. Couldn't we just spend the time relaxing?

Ha! Who was I kidding?

After a while, I climbed up onto the dock again.

The splashing was getting slightly annoying.

"Where are you going?" Chris asked and the splashing momentarily stopped.

"I'm getting away from the splashing." I told him.

"Why, scared?" Teddy laughed in his insane way.

I pointed at him. "Hey!" I paused and for a lack of anything clever to add, I just said, "Shut up."

"Chika Rewind!" Vern yelled.

Teddy dunked him, but I was embarrassed.

A few years ago, I read a book about gangs from the library and became interested in them. I wrote out the outline for a gang-related book once called 15th Street Chika's and Blue Pride Havens.

The guys, unfortunately, have not let me forget this.

With the guys watching, I sighed and stepped to the very edge of the dock. I turned around and then did a decent back flip.

Groups' best back flipper? Teddy.

The splash war continued until we were too tired to continue.

We walked back up to the tent, packed our stuff, took down the tent, and went up for breakfast.

Mrs. Tessio always cooks too much for us.

And that's with four teenage boys and a teenage girl.

I have no idea where Billy was. Probably out with the Cobras.

Not that any of us actually cared.

We finished eating and sat around for a while, playing one card game after another.

It was sometime in the middle of the day when we decided to go home.