Notes: Okay, here's chapter twenty-five. Enjoy. I may not be able to upload anymore until Wednesday, so don't be upset if that happens. Um…about this chapter…all I can say is ignore the errors. The next chapter is kind of cute though, so look out for that.
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!

Here's a toast to all those who hear me all too well.
Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon
-Here's To The Night, Eve 6

It was about two or three weeks later when I found myself walking from my house to the treehouse with Chris. We were meeting Gordie and Teddy and then heading to Vern's.

The guys haven't let me go anywhere alone the whole time. It was driving me crazy. It was over. There was a ninety-nine point eight percent chance that something like this would never happen again.

Unfortunately, I was the only one who believed that.

Chris came to get me at three-thirty. I wasn't too thrilled about having an escort and they all knew it. I complained about it every time they were around.

"I could have walked to the tree myself." I told Chris. "I'm not helpless."

He sighed. He was used to this, but I imagine it as getting old. And fast. "I know. We won't be doing this forever. Just until you get your cast off."

"Swear?" I asked, looking over at him.

He looked at me. "I swear." He laughed and shook his head.

"What?" I was getting tired of being laughed at for no reason.

He shook his head again. "Nothing. You just look really bad."

I didn't know whether to be mad or not. "Um…what?"

"You do look like you've been hit by a truck."

I laughed a little, because I knew it was true. "It happens." I touched my nose carefully. It still hurt like a bitch. "I didn't know broken bones could hurt so much."

Chris nodded, and then his eyes seemed to slide out of focus, like he was falling into his memories. I hit his arm and he looked over at me.

"Don't do that." I told him. "It's scary."

He nodded again. "At least your casts will be off before school."

"Yeah, that's the only good thing about them." I narrowed my eyes in anger, sadness, shame, humiliation, etc.

Chris grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop.

"What?" I asked.

He stood there for a second, looking at me for a minute before saying, "Listen, Bailey. I'm really sorry about what Ri-"

"Just forget it." I whispered, and I started walking again.

"How?" He said from behind me.

The intensity of his voice made me stop and look back at him. "Easy." I told him. "Every time you have the urge to talk about it, don't."

He walked up beside me. "Why don't you ever talk about your feelings?" He asked.

His question shocked me.

I thought about it for a second. It was a good question. Too bad I didn't have a good answer. Why didn't I? I mean, the guys talked about emotions more than I did. I don't think that's the way it was supposed to be. Why did I keep my feelings hidden all the time? Probably because I liked the I have no problems, my life is swell front I put up for the world.

Why didn't I tell the guys everything? Best friends mean you don't have secrets from each other, didn't it? But, there must be things we don't tell each other, right? Is having some surprises the foundation for a healthy friendship?

I don't even know what friendship means anymore. Both ideas make total sense.

My eyes slipped back into focus. I looked at Chris and simply said, "I don't know. Maybe because I want to be remembered as the girl who always smiles even when her heart is broken and is the one that could always brighten up your day, even if she couldn't brighten her own." I shrugged.

"That's not very happy." He told me as we started walking again.

"I know." I said.

We pretty much walked in silence the rest of the way there. We were both lost in our own thoughts.

Right as we passed Mrs. Griffith's house, I stopped.

Chris walked on a little bit, then, realizing I wasn't there next to him, stopped and turned around.

I pointed at the sidewalk. "I think that's my blood." I told him, without looking at him.

Chris walked back to me and looked. The spot wasn't big, but it was definitely my blood. "This is where I was tackled, when I broke my arm."

"It's a good thing Mrs. Griffith was home then." Was all he said.

I nodded.

My blood wouldn't be there forever would it? I hoped not.

Chris and I made our way to the tree, and then fifteen minutes later made our way to Vern's.

The guys decided to go swimming, like usual. Even though I had told them it was okay to swim without me, I still didn't like it.

I loved to swim. I don't know how I was going to live.

"I hate you guys. I love swimming." I told them as we walked to the pond/lake thing.

"We won't swim long." Gordie said, though it sounded like a lie.

"Whatever." I told them. "Just don't splash me and get my cast wet. My mom's plenty mad that I was dumb enough to 'fall down that big hill' and that now she has to pay hospital bills. I don't need that added to my long list of problems."

I could literally see Teddy's face fall. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him.

The guys jumped in as I sat on the dock, my feet in the water.

After a while, Teddy told the guys, "I think I'm going to ask Sabrina Parker out this year." He wiggled his eyebrows.

Chris splashed him.

"Why?" I asked from the dock.

Teddy laughed. "She has a nice rack." He smirked.

"Please." I said. "You can't only want to date her for her boobs"

Teddy wiggled his eyebrows again.

"Oh my God!" I yelled. Then my head sudden began to hurt really badly. I made a weird noise and held my head.

"Are you okay?" Gordie asked.

I put more pressure on my head. "His stupid just sucked all the air out of everywhere." I told them. "I'll be fine."

They continued to swim and goof off as I watched. They were all careful not to splash me.

A little while later, they got out and we headed up to the house.

Okay. I'm only going to do this once or twice, so, here goes.

Kyra Moonmist: Thank you for being my 100th review. I hope you like this chapter as well.

Nightcrawlerlover: Here you go. I hope you like it. Hope I outdo myself again!

Sam (for both recent reviews): I think you misread. On chapter twenty-three's notes it said twenty-four was the cute chapter. And I don't have it planned when Bailey becomes like the rest of the Veiw Preps. So, it's okay, breathe :)

Embry: Thank you for not hating my OFC. When I first posted this, I was scare that everyone would hate her. But I've gotten 105 positive reviews, so I guess I'm doing something right, huh?

Chemy: Yes, Bailey is going a little more girly, but not enough to worry the reader. There's a special surprise for chapter 35. Yes, I do have it planned, thanks.

Don't forget to review!