A/N: Hey guys it's been AGES! I know I know, I should be updating more often but I swear AP Euro and Chemistry have eaten my soul…or actually they've just eaten me entirely. I wish I could go back to the days of middle school where grades don't matter and even if they did, the works easy enough not to have to worry about it. Ah well, enough of my rant, here's chapter 29!

Chapter 29: Learning to Breathe

Josie had been out running errands for her mom. It was New Year's Eve and in a matter of four days, she'd be off to Blake Holsey again for one final time to finish up her senior year.

Turning off the engine of her car, she carefully got out and shut the car door behind her while carrying a grocery bag. She carefully walked up her snowy driveway and up the front steps.

Josie stuffed her free hand into her coat pocket in order to pull out her house keys to unlock the door. The door swung open and Josie hurried inside and shut the door behind her, blocking the blistering cold out.

"Hey, Mom, I'm back!" she yelled, making her way into the kitchen.


Vaughn was outside jogging along the sidewalk, his breaths instantly becoming condensed into foggy patches. Now why was Vaughn Jody Pearson running, of all times, on New Year's Eve out in the icy, snowy cold when he could be inside enjoying a nice hot drink in front of a roaring fire in his cozy living room?

One, because he needed to stay in top shape for college football scouts. And two, because he was extremely stressed.

Unknowingly, Vaughn skidded on a hidden patch of ice and fell face first into the snow.

"Shit," he mumbled as he brushed the snow off of himself. He felt his phone vibrate in the pocket of his hoodie. He pulled it out and flipped it open.

"Hello?"

"Vaughn?" It was Victor.

"You have a letter here for you. It looks officious. Hurry up and come home. Oh, and I'm having some business associates over for dinner tonight so where something nice."

Victor hung up and Vaughn slowly closed his phone. A letter? Officious? From whom?


Lucas stood in the front yard with his little sister. She was happily making snow angels as he finished up the snowman that he had promised her.

Suddenly, a large snowball crashed into the back of his neck, showering the back of his head with snow. Giggling ensued as the sound of footsteps crunching on snow began to slowly fade.

"Emma! I'm going to get you!" he exclaimed in a mockingly scary voice as he chased his little sister around the front yard.

He finally caught up to her and scooped her, tossing her over his shoulder with ease. Emma squealed in delight.

"Let me down, Luke, let me down!" she demanded all the while giggling. Lucas's dad's head popped into view from behind the front door.

"Hey, Lucas! Can you check the mail?"

"Sure thing!" he yelled back in reply as he dropped Emma onto a drift of snow and headed towards the mailbox. He opened it up and took out a stack of mail.

"Bills, credit cards, letter from Aunt Becky, card from Aunt Leah and Uncle Joe, blah, blah, blah…what's this?"

The last letter in the stack had no return address and was addressed to him. But from the neat and distinctively legible cursive writing, Lucas instantly knew who it was.


Marshall sat at the island in his kitchen. His mother was busily cleaning the kitchen and preparing food for that night's get-together with the family.

Marshall had been slightly mopey lately, mostly due to the lack of communication with Corrine.

His mother had left the kitchen as his phone vibrated. He hastily pulled it out and flipped it open to see that he had a new text message from Lucas.

Dude check ur mailbox.

"What?" Marshall pondered out loud.

"Marshall, dear, there's something in the mail for you," his mother said as she reappeared, placed the letter in front of him, and hurried off to the tidy up the living room.

No return address but the handwriting was a dead giveaway. It was from Corrine.

He hurriedly tore off the envelope, revealing a neatly folded letter. Nervously, he opened it up and began to read her precise and orderly handwriting.

Hey guys,

I'm sorry I kind, well, shut myself off from you guys. I really, truly am. But I knew I just had to.

I'm sorry to say that I won't be returning to Blake Holsey for the rest of my senior year after winter holiday. My doctors have told me that I have less than three months now to live. I know I should be telling you guys this in person, but I know if I tried to, I just wouldn't be able to. Writing a letter would save some of the emotional breakdown.

I know it's not fair or right to say that this must be harder for me because I'm the one dying. But I bet it's just as hard to lose a friend for good.

Can I ask you guys one favor? Please try and have an amazing last year and term at that crazy school we all love so much. Because you know I'll be right there with you guys no matter what.

I know I'm the one in the group who always sticks to the rules and nags you to do the same, but live the rest of the year, and the rest of your life, to the fullest. Be spontaneous, fun, crazy, impulsive! But don't do anything stupidly life threatening, ok? I love you guys too much for you to do that.

Josie, you're such a rebel, but you have such a good heart. You helped me to see that life isn't all about sticking to the rules. It's about doing what's right. You're that sensible, flexible conscience that I never had but desperately needed.

Vaughn, you're not that die-hard jock that everyone makes you out to be. Not only are you loyal, but personable, intelligent, and a great friend. You're like that big brother that's always watching out for the rest of us and me. Even if you try to pretend like it's nothing.

Lucas. You and your crazy theories! Although, you crazy theories somehow prove to be true when it comes to that crazy school of ours! You and Vaughn really are like the brothers that I've never had but, not to sound completely cliché, have always wanted.

Marshall. What a roller coaster ride we've been on. Us and everyone else, too. You made me feel like I could be who I really was and not be afraid of doing just that. And I thank you greatly for that. You know I would have accepted that proposal in a heartbeat if it wasn't for this unpleasant complication that's been tossed into the mix. I will always love you. Forever. But remember, there's always room for others in your heart, too.

I'm really going to miss you guys a lot. I'll try and visit you guys at school when I feel well. So, this is bye for now. Don't forget what I said now! New year equals a fresh start!

Love always,

Corrine

Marshall was a complete and utter wreck. His head in his hands, his elbows on the counter top, tears rolled in quick succession down his face. He wiped away the tears quickly as he looked once more at the letter. He really was losing her. There wasn't any hope now. At least none that he could see.


Lucas sank down in the snow as he was overwhelmed by the contents of the letter. He began to cry softly as he clung tightly to the letter. Emma cautiously came over. Somehow, she knew not to disturb him and, instead, just crawled into his lap and wrapped her little arms around his neck and let him cry.
Vaughn stared at the letter in disbelief and shock. So, this was officially a reality now. My doctors have told me that I have less than three months to live…

It was all so unfair. Vaughn knew he should be tough right now, unemotional. Be the man he was. Or tried to be. But he just couldn't. Tears dappled the letter as his thoughts traveled from Corrine to Lucas to Josie and finally to Marshall. Marshall.

"God, he must be going through hell right now."


Josie couldn't believe it. Actually, she refused to.

"There has to be something," she spoke quietly as she reread the letter. She was not going to cry because that would admit defeat to the truth. She simply would not let that happen.

Then Z walked in carrying several empty trays. He saw Josie looked shaken. Setting them down, he cautiously walked over towards her.

"Josie, are you alright?"

His sincerity broke down and through the wall of denial and disbelief she had been trying to build up. Her eyes welled up as she leaned over and softly cried into his shirt. He timidly patted her back and tried to calm her. But he managed to catch her barely audible words.

"Corrine really is dying…"

A/N: Alrighty so there you go! I finally updated in like forever! I hope you guys liked it! It's a bit angsty/dramatic…is it a tad too much? I kind of wanted to capture their reactions and emotions to Corrine's announcement in this one to the best of my ability. I think the only person I could have done better on is Vaughn. But tell me what you think! Read and review!