A/N: Thanks for all the reviews guys! The positive feedback is what keeps me going! Well, I know the last cliffie was pretty evil…but hey, I updated right? Well here's Chapter 25!

Chapter 25: Insanity or Desperation?

Recap:

She felt Marshall's warm breath mix with her hair and soon felt it against her ear, his lips close. It sent chills and shivers down her spine. The sweetest and yet most bitter words uttered so softly. She wasn't expecting this.

"Corrine…will you marry me?"

Corrine felt her heart skip a beat.

"Wh-what?" she asked incredulously, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

Marshall gently led her off the dance floor, out of the gym, and into the deserted hallway. He turned to face her and held her hands with his, his steady gaze meeting hers.

"I know it's sudden…but Corrine…will you marry me?" He asked softly.

Corrine's jaw dropped. For a moment she was completely taken back and speechless, but she finally regained her senses.

"Marshall, are you insane?" was the first question that came out of her mouth. Marshall squeezed her hands reassuringly.

"No, I think I'm completely sane. Corrine, I love you and I know you love me. This just…makes sense!" he said pleadingly as he cupped her face with his hands. She quickly withdrew from his touch staring at him as if he had just sprouted another head.

"Sense! Marshall, you've always been so levelheaded! What happened to that? We're not even out of high school!" argued Corrine, trying with all her might to drill some sense into his head. Marshall just stared at her dumbfounded.

"Corrine…you're the girl that I want to spend the rest of my life with and…"

"…Marshall, are you even listening to yourself?"

"Does that mean no?" he asked quietly, expression solemn. Corrine just shook her head slowly, her gaze cast downward.

"Why now…why this…" she muttered softly to herself, tears welling up in her eyes. She looked back up, meeting Marshall's unfailing gaze.

"I…I can't accept your proposal…Marshall, I love you more than anything, but this is something I just can't do," she replied, voice trembling as she fought to make him understand.

"If you love me, Corrine, why don't you want to do this?"

"Because, Marshall!" she angrily replied. "I'm dying! You know that as well as I do!" Corrine replied, tears gently rolling down her cheeks. Marshall tentatively reached out to brush away her tears. His hand gently stroked her cheek.

"Which is why I want to make every moment I have with you last," he replied so softly she had to strain to hear them. She tore away from his as if his touch burned her.

"Corrine…" Marshall pleaded.

"Marshall, I'm dying! What part of that don't you understand? I don't want to marry you, then die and leave you conflicted and tied to the past!"

Corrine couldn't stop sobbing. How could the one night that had started out so perfectly, end up so sour?

Her body shook from her sobs. Marshall approached her and embraced her sobbing form.

"Shhh…I'm sorry, Corrine. I just thought that…"

Corrine managed to stop crying and slumped slightly in his arms. Marshall looked down at her questioningly. Her eyes were squeezed shut.

"Oh my head…" she managed to say.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," Marshall spoke softly as he gently led her down the hall, up the stairs, and to her room.

He switched on the lamp as she quietly went to the bathroom to change. Marshall sat on the edge of her bed, head resting on the palms of his hands as he recapped the night in his mind.

Corrine returned from the bathroom in her pj's, a solemn expression on her face. Marshall got up as she slid beneath the covers. He kissed her on the forehead and turned to leave. But before he could reach the door he was stopped.

"Marshall? Could you…maybe stay with me until I fall asleep?"

Her voice sounded small and frightened. With a small smile on his face, he climbed into bed with her, his arms protectively holding her close.

"Marshall, I'm so sorry. You don't just how much I wanted to say yes. But…what's going to happen to me is inevitable. And I don't want to leave you bound to the past…"

"Shhh…let's not talk about that right now, love," cooed Marshall as he held her even closer.

"Marshall?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm…I'm really scared that I'm not going to wake up one of these days…"

"Don't think about that, Corrine. Please don't."

He softly began to sing, his voice taking a calming effect on her as she was gently lulled to sleep.

You're here, there's nothing I fear,
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

"Hey! Hey guys! Get up!"

An urgent voice whispered hastily as a pair of hands shook Marshall and Corrine awake. Shaken out of their stupor, the two groggily and reluctantly sat up.

Through bleary eyes and semi-darkness, Corrine could make out Josie standing in front of the two, hands placed smartly on the hips.

"Lucas said the coast is clear. You had better hightail it back to your room before Durst catches you in here!" Josie whispered hurriedly as she yanked Marshall out of bed.

He grudgingly got up and was none-too-politely shoved out the door after Josie had double-checked the hallway to make sure the coast was still clear.

The redhead quietly shut the door behind her as she crept back over to Corrine's bed and seated herself promptly on the edge of it.

"What happened?" asked Josie.

"What time is it?" Corrine asked as she glanced around the room. She was trying to buy time from having to talk about the previous night's events.

"It's 6:01 AM," replied Josie. "You guys slept the entire night, leaving Lucas and me to make sure you two didn't get caught."

"How'd you guys pull that one off? And besides, you could have just woken us up," replied Corrine as she yawned, throwing her legs over the side of the bed.

"Well, for one thing, you two could sleep through a hurricane. So believe me, I tried. Lucas even tried whacking Marshal a couple of times over the head with a pillow, but nothing worked. So we left you two and magically managed to pull the wool over Durst's eyes."

Corrine smiled and laughed at Josie and Lucas' trickery.

"Once again, what happened last night between you two? I mean, we heard some commotion from the hallway, but the music was so loud I don't think anyone else noticed. Then we came up here and notice you two in bed…thank God with clothes on."

At this remark, Corrine blushed furiously.

"I'll tell you after we get packed up," stated Corrine as she hopped out of bed and began to pack her things for Christmas break.

"So he asked you to marry him?" Josie asked incredulously for the umpteenth time. Corrine sighed, her patience wearing thin.

"Yes."

"And you said no?"

"Yes," replied Corrine through clenched teeth.

"But why? I thought you really loved him" asked Josie, still quite unable to fully grasp her friend's reasoning.

Corrine dropped her duffel bag on the floor out of frustration. Tears began to gleam in her eyes as she once again had to dwell upon the none-too-pleasant subject.

"I do love him, Josie. More than anything else in the world. But I don't want to be a ghost from his past that'll haunt him continually once I'm gone because we acted impulsively. This is better for the both of us. Besides, we're not even out of high school. If we were to, hypothetically, get married, where would we go from there, huh?"

Josie just shrugged in response. Corrine slung her duffel bag over her shoulder as she grabbed her suitcase.

"Well, now that I've explained myself, we'd better get going."

Outside, the front lawn was covered in a light sprinkling of snow. Cars were lined up in the circular driveway of the school, some with their doors and trunks open as students loaded their luggage in.

Corrine spotted her parents waving at her as Josie spotted her mother doing the same. And much to Josie's surprise, standing and chatting amiably with Z.

"Great…" mumbled Josie. Corrine gave her friend a sympathizing smile.

"It's just Z. He's nice! Anyways, have a good break!" said Corrine as she headed towards her parents.

"You, too," replied Josie half-heartedly as she took in a deep breath before approaching her mother and Z.

The couple smiled warmly as Josie approached them, a smile plastered to her face like always.

"Hey, shortcake! Ready for some r & r back home?" Kelly Trent asked as she encircled her daughter in a one-armed hug. Josie half grinned, half grimaced.

"Yeah, mom!" she replied with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.

"Well, I hope you two have a good winter break! Maybe I'll see you two on Christmas?" pondered Z.

"Of course, Noel!"

Kelly and Z exchanged good-byes and a peck on the lips and on the cheek. Kelly got into her car as Josie loaded her stuff.

"Woah, when did your mom and Z become a couple?"

Josie turned around to see Lucas. Josie simply rolled her eyes.

"Don't ask." Lucas simply shrugged.

"Well, I'll see you in a few weeks. Have a good holiday, Josie," said Lucas as he tentatively gave her a hug. That cheered her mood considerably.

"Thanks, you, too," she said as Lucas gave her one last smile before heading off to find his own family. Josie spotted out of the corner of her eye Vaughn watching her.

Victor was busy talking to Principal Durst so Vaughn was left to stand beside his father's luxurious convertible. Josie timidly raised her hand and waved at Vaughn, offering a smile.

At first, Josie felt like he wasn't going to respond, just continue staring at her with that empty look. But amazingly enough, he raised his own hand and waved back, half-smiling.

Back over with Corrine, she was helping her dad load her stuff into their car. Her dad left to go get in the driver's seat and start the car. As she stepped back after closing the trunk, she was, quite literally, swept off of her feet.

"Marshall!" she exclaimed with a laugh as he spun her around. He rested his forehead against her, staring deeply into her eyes.

"How's my little bride-to-be doing this morning?"

"Marshall…" Corrine spoke warningly. He quickly kissed her forehead and gave her an apologetic look.

"Sorry, Cori. So, you haven't changed your mind then?"

Corrine gave him a what-do-you-think look as she kissed him on the lips.

"No matter how good I think Corrine AnnMarie Wheeler sounds…it's just not a good idea, Marshall. But let's not part on a bad note."

With a final passionate kiss, Corrine pulled back reluctantly.

"I love you more than anything, Marshall. And don't you ever forget that," she said as she departed.

He watched her go, a longing welling up inside of him that made him want to chase her, bring her back in his arms, and whisk her away. But, he shook off the feeling as he waved them off.

A/N: I have a really good idea for the epilogue for this story that is tied in with Corrine's decline to the proposal. But that's all I'll say about that for right now! I hope you guys liked it although it may not have been what you were expecting! Hopefully I didn't disappoint you guys too much! You know what to do! Rate and review!