A/N: Sorry it took awhile to upload this chapter, but there was kind of a mix- up. I wrote another chapter that was supposed to be this chapter, but I realized how many aspects of the story I was leaving out, so I decided to give this chapter to focus more on other people who were affected in the story.

This is also means that I have another chapter ready to go for you guys. Hahaa. So I'll upload the next chapter later tonight. And then I have another chapter after that which i will definitely upload tomorrow. Sorry if I don't get to write that much in the next few days after this chapter, because my family from out of town are coming to visit us. But I'll try my best.

And yes, there are no flashbacks in this chapter. It just seemed better this way. Thanks for read and reviewing. I got a lot of reviews last chapter, and I just wanted to thank you guys. 3 :)

April 28th, 2010 (7:05 P.M) {Present- Day}

Laughing, I entered the double doors of the famous town restaurant; Pop's Pizza. My mom and I were snorting at something my dad had said, which wasn't really funny, but just the fact that he thought it was, was enough to send me and my mom over. Things between us had been going great recently. We almost felt like a whole family again. Anything related to the shooting or Liam would always be avoided, and they would never push for information. They had even sent away Detective Wilden a couple nights ago just because I had told them how he had been stalking me for the last few days. Never feeling so grateful, I linked arms with my mom as we followed dad to a booth across the room.

"So what do you want today, Miles?" my dad, Billy Ray, asked as he scanned the menu thoroughly. I did the same and shrugged.

"I'll have whatever pizza has bacon," I grinned hungrily.

"Of course," Mom and Dad said in complete unison, giving each other a knowing look that only caused the whole table to laugh. "So how's school?" Mom asked, trying to keep a conversation going.

I shrugged casually knowing there really wasn't anything to tell. "Nothing really. School stuff. I'm not failing any classes if that's what you're asking."

"Just not failing? That was reassuring," my mom laughed.

"Well, nothing exciting has happened recently."

"What about Selena?" Dad asked after he finished giving our orders to the waiter. "Are you guys still best friends?"

"Um… I guess," I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. I really didn't know what we were at the moment, but I was pretty sure she wasn't mad at me. For the last few days in class, she seemed friendly enough, telling me whatever I couldn't hear and giving me pencils or pens whenever I forgot my own. Just simple friendly stuff.

"What about Demi? Is she still part of your posse?" Dad continued as he tried to make conversation, even though I really wished he would choose a different topic. My friendships weren't exactly a stable topic to talk about at the moment.

"Who's Demi again?" Mom butted in as she slid back into the booth after coming back from the bathroom.

"Demi, remember honey. She's the really pale one. You said she looked like a vampire once."

"Dad!" I laughed, slapping him on the shoulder lightly. He raised his arms as if surrendering and smiled.

"Hey. Your mom said it," he chuckled taking a sip of his ice water.

"Thank for the support, hun," Mom smirked sarcastically as she rubbed his shoulders. "What about that other friend you had? That kid. Awkward. Dark hair. Glasses."

I stopped laughing and brought my gaze back to the cheap table cloth. "Um.. Yeah. We kinda got out of touch." Sensing my uncomfort with the subject, they changed it to telling stories about what had been going on with work. Mom had just finished this huge case with some local attacks, and had already gone full into the story.

As she neared the end, my eyes wandered across the room to a small table at the far corner of the restaurant. I wouldn't have even noticed it if it weren't for that familiar short raven- black hair. I stood up without even thinking, and began to walk across the room.

"Miley! Where are you going?" I heard my parents call out. Their calls broke my stare, and I turned around quickly.

"I, um, see a friend over there. I just wanted to quickly say hi," I explained quickly.

"But our food just got here. Are you sure it can't wait til later?"

"It'll be really quick. Please," I pleaded. My parents gave each other a look before finally giving me permission to go. I broke out into a reassuring smile that I wouldn't take long before continuing my way to the small table hidden in the far corner of the room. I stopped in front of the table and bit my lip not knowing what to say or do next.

Joe Hanson seemed to make up my mind for me. He looked up, finally noticing my presence and just stared at me as if not understanding what I was doing there at all. He didn't tell me to go away, which I instantly took as a good thing. "Um, can I take a seat?" I asked awkwardly, and he just nodded and motioned towards the seat next to him. I thought it would be more rational to sit in the chair right across from him, but instead he told me to sit on the seat to his left where I had to angle myself in order to face him. "How are you?" I asked, not really knowing where this conversation was going.

He shrugged instead of giving me a straight answer.

"Um, are you here with your family?"

For a second, I saw something flash in his eyes. It was a mixture of realization and pain, but before I could read into it any further, it had disappeared and instead took its usual stone expression. He didn't seem interested in answering any of my questions, but I didn't have the courage to leave or even move. Finally, he turned towards me.

"You can say that," he mumbled under his breath.

I looked up at him confused. "What?"

"This used to be the place where I used to always hang out. Nick, Kevin, and me," he explained. "We'd just sit here and talk and talk and talk… Then Nick got into football. It took up his time, so it was only Kevin and me… God, we have so many memories here… It hurts to even go," he whispered out. He gripped the glass of water in his hands tightly as if releasing whatever stress he had locked up. I couldn't meet his eyes knowing that he still believed I had killed his big brother.

"Then why do you go?" I mumbled out.

He looked down at his hands again. "The day he died, we planned on coming here later that afternoon. Our mom was making some horrible pasta, and we just wanted to hang out. I remember we were supposed to watch that new Tom Cruise movie… We were supposed to annoy the guys in front of us by putting our feet on their seats. We were supposed to stuff ourselves with popcorn and candy and soda. We were supposed to take the long way home so we can talk about it, and try to copy all those sick moves from the movie," he explained in a soft tone. I watched as small sad smile crept up on his lips as if remembering made him feel better. "But we never got to... I've been going to this restaurant every night for the past month just wondering what would have happened, what we would have done, what we would have talked about, if he didn't... die that day."

I bit my lip not knowing what to say. Something, anything, to make him feel better, but nothing would come to my mouth. "I saw it all happen, you know," Joe continued. "The shooting, I mean."

I swallowed as a huge lump formed in my throat. "You mean, you um, saw the shooter?"

"No. Everything except that," Joe mumbled bitterly. "It was a pretty big mess once the first shot rang out, but I still kept my eyes open when everyone else was too scared too. I remember Selena ducking under the table first. The whole football team was on the floor shaking. People were screaming and yelling, but the shots just wouldn't stop… I remember seeing Kevin staring wide- eyed at the door where the shooter was, but I was too caught up to even look at that direction. All I wanted to do was get down. I tried pulling Kevin under the table, to catch his attention or something, but then I felt Demi shaking on my lap. I turned to her first and told her to get down. Crying, she grabbed my hand as she dropped onto the floor in the matter of seconds. Before following her, I remember turning towards Kevin to pull him down with me… But it was too late. The shot rang out, and I turned around to see Kevin's head lying on his books as if he were just sleeping. His hair was matted down with fresh blood where the bullet had hit him, and he wasn't moving… or talking… or breathing…" he stopped and closed his eyes taking a moment to himself. I felt myself shaking in my seat as if I was watching the whole scene unravel in front of me.

"The one thing I remember the most were his eyes. They were wide open… like he was just staring at me... Like he was asking me why I hadn't helped him first… God, I could have saved him," he whispered out before shaking with emotion. I looked up to see his eyes watering, and I could feel my own tears pushing through. Out of the past month, I had never heard the actual story of what had happened that day, and right now, I was hearing the whole thing first- hand.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled through tears remembering all the times Kevin had talked to me, and made me feel like a part of the group when I had first started hanging out with Liam. He was just one of those people that you would always remember in life. The one you always wanted to thank for changing you.

I reached over and put my hands in his. For a few moments, he just stared at our hands as if it were the most alien thing to him, but finally he began to cry. I sat there next to him watching as he ducked his head and let tears slide down on his cheeks. It was soft and simple. He didn't make a single noise. He looked up a few times as if wondering if I was still there, but I knew I wasn't going anywhere. I just kept one hand squeezing his, and brought the other hand to rub his back comfortingly.

Finally, after a few minutes. Joe coughed as he tried to hide any signs that he had been crying. He had always been that kind of guy. Always had to be the 'man'. "I don't think you did it, Miles. I just didn't want to blame myself anymore. If I had just gone to him first…"

"Then Demi might not be here either," I finished for him. He looked up at me meeting my eyes for a quick second before dropping them again. I could tell he had been thinking about it too. "What happened that day, and the people that were hurt because of it wasn't any of our faults. It's just how life goes."

"Nick said the same thing."

I let out a sad smile and squeezed his hand. "Well, he's a smart guy."

Finally Joe looked up and gave me a reassuring smile. "I think I should get going. I'm supposed to be home in like 10 minutes… and your parents over there are giving us a death stare," he explained with a small smirk. He stood up and put on his coat as I stood up right after him. "So I'll see you later?"

As he was about to turn around and walk out, I grabbed his arm gently causing him to look back at me. "One more thing, Joe. When I said that it was no one's fault, I meant it. Don't blame Demi either… I don't want to see her hurt anymore," I explained. Joe gave me a long look before nodding slowly. He raised a hand to wave goodbye, and I watched him push the double doors and make his way onto the crowded streets.

I turned back around and walked towards my table where my parents were waiting with half eaten pizza on their plate. They looked a little worried as I took my seat. "That was a really long talk you had with that boy. Your food is already cold," Mom explained.

I turned towards the glass doors that Joe had just left in, and smiled. "It was worth it."

April 28th, 2010 (1:25 A.M) {Present- Day}

"Hey," I smiled as I picked up the phone to hear Nick's voice on the other end. I eyed the clock that was flashing the numbers, 1: 25 A.M. "What's with this late call?"

"Couldn't sleep," he answered casually.

"And you were willing to wake me up from my beauty sleep because you couldn't find your own?" I smirked as I settled on my bed stomach down.

"Of course I wouldn't, but I know for a fact that you were awake."

I raised an eyebrow even though I knew he couldn't see me from the phone. "And how do you know that?"

He stayed silent for a few seconds. I was about to end the call thinking that he had hung up, but a small tap on my window stopped me. I pulled myself up to a sitting position wondering I was just hearing things, but a few seconds later the small tapping noise repeated itself. I stood up cautiously and walked towards the window, not really sure what I was expecting on the other side. I pushed open my curtains, and opened the small rectangular window to see if anyone was there, but as far as I saw, the streets were completely empty.

Suddenly, a sharp object made contact with the side of my head. "Ouch. What the hell?" I mumbled as I cringed and put my hand on top of the aching bruise forming.

"Ooo, sorry. Did that hit you?" Nick's voice carried out from right under my window. I blinked a few times to make sure I was seeing the right things.

"Nick? Did you just attack me with a…" I picked up the small object and placed it on my palm. "A nickel?"

"Well, I originally started with pebbles, but I ran out. It was the only thing I had in my pockets," he explained innocently. I laughed softly and looked further down to see him with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"What? So you came here to serenade me?" I teased.

"I would, but I really don't want your dad to chase me out with a bat."

"Fair enough," I smiled. "So you're just throwing pebbles at my window."

"Pretty much."

"Awwwww," I laughed. "How Romeo of you."

"The only thing missing is the balcony." He flashed me a huge grin and winked. God. He actually winked.

"Please tell me you did not just wink," I broke out into laughter that echoed through the quiet house. Nick put his finger on his lips indicating me to be quiet even though he was trying to control his own laughter also.

"Shhh. Come out here before you wake your parents up."

"Right now?"

"No, next weekend… YES NOW!" he teased. I smirked at his sarcasm, and turned around to grab a jacket. I tip toed past my parent's room and down the stairs until I finally made my way out of the house. By the time, I got to the front lawn, Nick was nowhere in sight. I blinked a few times wondering if I had just been seeing things until a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind me. He pulled me off the ground and turned me around to face him.

"I missed you," he sighed as he just stared at me.

"I miss you too," I smiled back. "So what have you stopped my beauty sleep for?"

"I don't know yet," he answered smirking. He wrapped his arm around my waist, keeping me close as we walked around the neighborhood just talking and enjoying each other's company. Finally, we stopped at the local park.

"SWINGS!" I grinned as I ran towards the old swing set that had two vacant seats right next to each other. Nick followed laughing behind me. "Shut up," I grinned as I took a seat on one of the swings. I rocked myself back and forth gently, letting my feet graze the ground softly each time. Nick took the seat next to me quietly and just sat there watching me.

"What?" I asked suddenly self- conscious of myself. He twisted his swing so he was facing me.

"Joe told me about what happened tonight," Nick explained slowly.

"Oh," I mumbled, continuing to swing myself back and forth a few inches.

"And I wanted to thank you… Whatever you said to him helped," he smiled a sweet smile that made my heart ache.

"How's your family doing?" I asked remembering how close everyone had been. I had met the Hanson parents once at a charity event at school, and they seemed like perfectly nice people. Their mom as I remember was named Denise, and their dad was named Paul. They were those kind of parents that were just kind to everyone, and would probably welcome into their home if they needed a place to stay. They were good hard- core Christians.

"At first it was hard… really hard," Nick mumbled looking out at the park playground instead of me. "My mom locked herself up in her room. My dad wouldn't even talk to us… No one would talk. It felt like taboo to even mention Kevin's name. Soon, Joe started disappearing at the middle of the night, and he wouldn't come back until the morning after. And he would never tell us where he was going… And eventually, everyone kinda just stopped caring too."

I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear to see him clearer. His face wasn't like it usually was. It had a more gentle look to it, maybe even tragic, and I felt something in chest tighten just from seeing it.

"That's why I've been spending a lot of time at work and going to the warehouse. Home wasn't really home, you know?" I nodded slowly remembering how it had been when I had spent the first two weeks after the shooting at home. My parents couldn't even look at me, let alone talk to me.

"What about now?" I mumbled as I pushed myself up a little higher.

"It's better. Definitely better. Mom went back to almost being an actual mom a few weeks ago. Dad's happy by just seeing Mom getting better, and Joe… Well, after tonight, I think he'll be better. But there's still these moments at home where someone will say something or do something, and it'll just remind us all of Kevin… And it'll feel like we just went backwards again. My mom would just cry and lock herself back up in her room, and my dad would just sit in front of the TV all day, and Joe would disappear… It was like we went back to step one."

Not knowing exactly how to respond, an awkward silence slipped into the conversation. I pumped my feet a little faster as I felt my feet rise of the ground higher and higher with each swing. I feel the warm air blowing against my face as I fly forward and back, forward and back, forward and back. I close my eyes feeling myself fly higher and higher, but it's no use. It's always the same. No matter how far I go forward, I swing back just as hard and fast.

I keep trying anyway.

Nick sits next to me, and I could feel his stare piercing into the side of my head, but I don't care. Instead I just squeeze my hands on the swing's chains and felt as it swing forward one last time. I felt myself let go of the rusting chain as my legs kicked freely in open air.

The next thing I knew, I was on my back after a hard thump, and Nick was screaming my name. I opened my eyes to see him hovering over me with a hand caressing the back of my head. He gives me this look of worry as if wondering whether I was okay or insane, but I just open my sand covered mouth and laugh.

Laugh like I've never laughed before. Until tears are rolling down my cheeks, and I have to hold my stomach together to make sure I don't laugh myself to death. Nick stares at me like he really does think I'm insane, and I just lean forward and kiss him on the cheek. "I need to do that again," I laughed never feeling so good in my life.

Finally, Nick's lips tugged into a huge smile as he began to laugh. He pulled me into his arms and kissed my hair. "You are crazy, Miley Stewart."

I giggled as I pulled away, and sat up in a sitting position. Sand from the playground was all over my hair, my arms, my legs, my clothes, my face, but I didn't care. I just pushed my loose sandy waves of hair out of my face, and brought my knees up until it touched my chin. "I'm just tired of being sad."

Nick sat down next to me and wrapped a secure arm around my shoulders as we watched the now vacant swing set we had just been sitting on rock back and forth alone.

"I know," he whispered.