Notes: Yes, I am updating this instead of studying for my math final tomorrow. But then again, how much can you really study for math? Not that much, at least for me. And because I'm such a nice person, at the end of this chapter will be a little blurb of twenty-nine. Nothing to revealing, but something fun to keep you guessing. As for any errors, ignore them. PS. From chapter twenty-nine to chapter thirty-two, Bailey may go really OOC/OC/MS. Don't be mad.
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!


May he turn 21 on the base at Fort Bliss
"Just a day," he said down to the flask in his fist,
"Ain't been sober, since maybe October of last year."
Here in town you can tell he's been down for a while,
But, my God, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles,
Wanna hold him. Maybe I'll just sing about it.
-Breathe (2 am), Anna Nalick

By lunch, Chris had, indirectly, told the rest of the guys, much to my embarrassment.

Teddy found it funny that someone would want to touch me there. Gordie threw some of his grapes at him. Gordie didn't find it funny at all. In fact, he told me I should go to the principal about him. I told him that if it happened again I'd go and he accepted that. Vern didn't really say anything. He looked a little mad about everything, but he also seemed to find it funny.

Teddy told Chris that he was crazy to get in trouble for me. Gordie looked over at Chris and they made eye contact for less then a second before the bell rang and we had to go to our next classes. I had science with Teddy and Vern. Teddy was still laughing about the entire conversation when we sat down. When the teacher wasn't looking, I threw a balled up piece of paper at his head. He finally shut up about it and let me pay attention.

After science was super advanced college level math with Chris and a whole group of kids that stared at us like we were freaks.

Well…truth be told, they were looking at Chris and only at me because I was his best friend.

As soon as we entered the room, some of the people already there started to whisper. Because heaven forbid a Chambers try to get out of Castle Rock and become something better. No one wanted to believe he was serious because he wore a leather jacket and boots and came from a bad family.

As soon as they started, Chris got a real weird look on his face. I turned to him and said, "Don't let them get to you; you're better than they are."

Chris shook his head. "Okay." You could tell he didn't believe me. The look on his face and his entire attitude was beginning to make me a little angry. So I turned around to face him and said, "You know what your problem is Chris? They say they're better than you and you agree." I turned away from him and looked straight away. From behind me, I could hear him sigh and I immediately felt guilty from snapping at him. I turned back to say something to him, but Ms. Fears came into class and started teaching.

After a few minutes of teaching, Ms. Fears asked Chris a question. What made me upset was that he knew the answer, he just wasn't paying attention and he missed it, causing the people around us to laugh.

Some other boy answered the question correctly. I tore a piece of paper from my notebook and wrote on it: Don't let anyone tell you that you're not that strong enough. Don't give up, there's nothing wrong with just being yourself. That's more than enough.

When the teacher wasn't looking, I dropped it on his desk. I heard him open it and a few seconds later, fold it up again.

After class ended, I turned to him as I gathered up my books. "Are you okay?" I asked.

Chris looked up at me and smiled. "Yeah."

I nodded. "Remember, I'll be in the art room."

We were walking out when Chris asked, "You're still waiting for me?"

"Of course. Just don't forget." I told him.

"I won't." He promised as we split up.

I went to my locker, got my stuff, and headed to the room.

When I walked in, I was greeted by Ms. Neilson.

"Is it alright if I work for a little bit?" I asked her.

She, who Ms. Williams must have been friends with because the first day Ms. Neilson started talking to me about stuff like Mrs. Williams had, smiled and said that it was fine.

I sat in the seat I usually sat in during class. My back was to the door, but it was closed and no one was going to come in here after school.

It was only three minutes later that Ms. Nielson left and, right before she locked the door, she told me to just turn off the lights and close the door behind me.

When she was gone, I turned back to the paper in front of me. It was blank. I had no idea what to draw.

Without thinking about much, I put my hand to the paper and I started drawing. I didn't know what it was at first. First it was just some trees and a triangle.

After about ten or fifteen minutes, I realized what I was drawing.

It was me and Chris. That night in June when I had the bad dream. But it was the next morning. When we were holding hands and I was using him as a pillow.

I stared at it for a second, and then I kept drawing. I looked up at the clock. It was five minutes to three. All I had to do was get rid of it before three-thirty.

Ten minutes later, when I was almost done with the picture, someone said from behind me, "What are you drawing?"

My arms flew up to cover the picture. I knew who that voice belonged to. My head snapped up and I said shrilly, "Chris, what are you doing here? It's not three-thirty yet!"

He shrugged. "Mr. Jonas' wife went into labor. He had to leave, so we got out early." He tried to look around my arms to see what I was drawing. "So, what is it?"

I tried to cover more of it. "Nothing."

Chris laughed and pretended to be uninterested. And I fell for it. Just as soon as my guard was down, he went for it.

I tried to save it, but he poked me in the sides a few times, my only weakness, and he finally got it away from me.

I got up and tried to get it back, but he held it above his head. And since he was a good deal taller than I was, I gave up. I sunk back into my chair and put my face in my hands. Our friendship was over.

Chris didn't say anything for a few moments. When I finally had the nerve to look up at him, he was still looking at the picture. He sensed me looking and glanced up. "Is this us?" He asked.

I started biting my thumbnail as I nodded slowly.

"When?" He asked.

I sighed and looked away. "The night I had that really bad dream at Vern's."

"I don't remember this." He said.

"You were still asleep when I woke up. That's how we were." I whispered.

Then he completely surprised me by saying, "Can I keep this?"

I looked up at him sharply. "Huh?"

"Can I keep it?" He repeated.

I thought of all the reason's Chris would want to keep it. And only one made me not worry.

"Are you going to show it to anyone?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"Not even the guys?" I would die if he did.

"No one."

I sighed a little, and then smiled. "Okay, you can keep it."

"One more thing." He told me.

"What?" I asked, feeling sick.

Chris held it out to me and said simply, "Sign it."

I looked at him for a second, then took it about wrote (in cursive)

Bailey Kristine Warnock

And handed it back to him. Chris smiled and put it away before we walked home.


Part from chapter twenty-nine:

"Since when don't you stand up for me?" I said back, before turning to walk away again.

"What were we supposed to do?" Chris asked. I stopped to look at him. "You never told us."

"It was none of your business."

Nice little part that will keep you on your toes. I'll probably upload it tomorrow or Thursday.

Don't forget to review!!!!