Author's Note: Hello everyone! I know I've taken two months to update, but I wanted to end everything on Christmas. Unfortunately, considering I'm busy with a few other ends, I am going to end it early. I guess that isn't unfortunate for everyone reading, huh? Please excuse that I don't do review replies this time. There will be no AN on the next chapter, but I will have one last one after the end. It'll be Chapter 48: Author's Note. Please read it.

I hope everyone has a Happy Holidays!


Chapter Forty-Five:
Making Amends

"Festivale!" His mask shadowed his face, but that unmistakable blonde hair gave away the man before he realized.

"Ty, what are you doing?" I sweat-dropped and laughed at the same time. "This isn't even a festival. It's a cookout and the last school function before the rest of the students that don't live here go home."

"I wanted to get in the spirit!" He whisked away towards Serenity. "My sweet!"

"Ty, take the mask off."

"Oh, of course my love!" He snatched it off and leaned down for a dreamy kiss.

I made a fake gagging noise and he pulled her back to her feet. The two laughed as I adjusted my short white shirt, showing off my mid-drift. My shorts were to my knees and white and pink plaid, from PacSun no less. My tennis shoes covered my feet, a white baseball cap on my head, and I was comfortable.

"For some reason, you remind me of Paige." She pointed out my outfit. "It's too sporty for you outside of tennis."

"Shut it, Serenity." I glared for a moment before splitting from them. "I'm going to go see some of the other people around here. Have fun you two!"

"We will!" He snatched her arms. "They have a moon bounce! Let us go! Away!"

Laughing to myself, I grabbed a drink and sat at a picnic table. All my friends were scattered off in pairs or groups and I was bored of the same old routine. Soon, tomorrow actually, I would take a flight to another continent to play a few more Junior tennis teams, then some major professionals that were teamed up for just such an event.

Excited- that was the only word to describe it.

"Having fun by your lonesome?"

I raised my eyes to see Atobe standing in front of me, offering a hot dog, "Not anymore apparently. Trying to make me fat, Keigo?"

"By all means, you couldn't get fat if you tried! Ore-sama wouldn't allow it!" He went to take the food back, but I slapped his hand. He chuckled, munching on his own while I devoured mine.

"No breakfast will make a starving artist even more starving," I remarked.

He shook his head. "So, have you chosen yet?"

"Huh?" I blinked, turning to stare at him.

"Well, it's obvious that there's two different boys you admire. One is that dark haired actor, the other is Fuji Syusuke. Have you decided yet?"

"There's nothing left to decide. I've made my decision long before I ever realized. I just have to set some things straight. I don't plan on doing that right now, either. I'm quite comfortable in my own little world." I adjusted my hat. "I'm surprised you didn't throw yourself into that mix too."

"Ore-sama knows when he has been defeated, arn." Atobe grinned, showing that dazzling smile that makes tons of fan girls' swoon, "Besides, I believe you and I are better off as something equivalent to siblings."

"You buy me enough stuff to where that should be more than true." Yeah, that designer fair we always had at the school, which occurred yesterday, had been pretty eventful for me after all. Atobe had bought me everything I merely glanced at, or anything that he thought would look good on me. As always... I had tried to avoid him for most of the day, but as always he found me lurking in a dark corner and dragged me around.

"Yes, yes, I know." He took my plate, chunking the paper in the garbage. "This also means that you'll be visiting my house pretty often. And, you'll be needing one of these to keep in touch."

And out came a beautiful iPhone with a little red bow on it. I gawked openly, even as it was placed in my hands. My old phone had been destroyed some time ago, but- in Tiffany's words- it had been a 'dinosaur'.

"Keigo... I can't accept this!"

"It's even on a plan. Unlimited texting, unlimited calling, and free over-sea calling. You also have a brand new number. That way, you will keep in touch." He smirked, "Speechless, ne? And if you don't accept it, I'll slip it into your luggage as we go on our tour over the summer."

"Keigo, you've outdone yourself this time!" I leapt up, hugging him tightly before starting to play with my phone. "All my friends' numbers are already in here! You're good, Keigo."

"Ore-sama is always the best," he said with a profound snort. "I'm off to find Hiyoshi. I'll see you later, Kimmy-chan."

As he walked off, I coddled my new phone. I was beyond happy at this turn of events, meaning I could keep in touch with all my friends at Harrix and beyond during the summer. It had been a concern of mine; I did not have the money to frequent payphones and I did not want to be a bum and borrow someone's all the time.

"Whose is that?" Paige appeared with Tezuka, Vance, and Augusta.

"Keigo just gave me one h-hell of a present," I stuttered. "He's even paying for the plan."

"Lucky!" she grumbled.

Gazing up, I saw Augusta and Vance holding hands. It took me a moment to process, but when it did, I asked, "Are you two...?"

"Yup," she beamed. "Since before the drag pageant."

"Congrats!" I smiled back, hugging the two.

"Ahem..."

My back went rigid as I heard the familiar throat clear behind me. Turning, Ryo was standing there cautiously, eyes locked on us.

"Hey Ryo," Vance greeted. "What's up?"

"I need to speak with Kimmy." He bit his lip, now only focused on me.

"Sure thing." It was about time we talked to one another.

"I need to go talk to Aylin," Paige mumbled and hurried to flee the scene. As she ran from the area, I noticed Ty and Aylin sitting with Syusuke, Serenity, Inui, Kikumaru, and a few other of our friends. They were speaking to each other while looking at the two of us, trying to be discreet and failing miserably.

"Something isn't right," I whispered to myself.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing Ryo."

Everyone had since walked away, leaving the two of us at the picnic table alone. I had my new phone in my lap and sat on top of the table with him sitting beside me.

The silence lasted a few good moments before he broke it, "Kimmy, what happened between us?"

Even though the question was spoken softly, it dug deep. "Honestly Ryo, we just had too many differences."

"They say opposites attract," he reasoned. He was not trying to argue anything, just stating facts.

"They also say absence makes the heart grow fonder," I sighed while worrying my lip. "Ryo, we need to settle everything now. I'm tired of this going on and I'm tired of not being able to be around you as much. It kills me, day by day."

"Do you want me to begin, or would you like to?" He stared at me from the side.

"I'd rather not go first, if you don't mind," I grumbled quietly.

Ryo nodded in understanding. "Alright, so be it." He took a deep breath, "Kimmy Elissa Castille, I loved you more than anything in this entire world. More than the stars, more than the sun, more than acting, and more than breathing."

I clearly noticed the past tense used in there and had to wait patiently for him to continue. My heart was pounding in my chest all the while.

"The times we shared all seem to be worth more than the bad to me, but there's always a flaw in my logic." He turned to me, staring straight in my face. "We dated for a very long time, over a year and a half in fact, but for some reason I always felt you were holding back. And I've realized you were." The soft smile that was on Ryo's face was enough to show he could not be mad at me. Ever... "Someone was hiding in your heart, in the very core. You never realized it, and I realized too late. There was always someone else that held you back, and I now know who it was."

Oh boy, this was getting strange. I felt my heart going a thousand a minute, beating up into my throat and constricting it. I could not speak if I wanted to.

"The first time a couple is said to kiss, they'll feel a spark if they're meant to be. I never felt a spark between us, Kimmy, but I know I loved you." I had felt that spark once before though, with another person. "I still love you to this very day..."

"I love you as well, Ryo," I mumbled. "But-..."

"But we don't belong together," he finished what I was thinking. Had we really grown that close? "At first, I could not stop crying for you, yearning for you. I had all the pictures of us in that book you made me and all the memories behind every last picture. I still hold this ring also."

And out came that gorgeous ring. I stared at it in contemplation; had it looked slightly different before?

"Yes, I had it changed. The largest gem was taken off of it and the band was altered. It is no longer a wedding ring. Inside, I even had an inscription wrote in." He held it up to where I could see it. 'Best Friends For Eternity' was engraved within. "I want you to keep this forever. I never want to lose touch with you, ever. We've been through a lot together and I want us to continue on as friends. I want you to be at my wedding one day, when I finally find the right girl, and I want you to give me a toast. And I want to be at yours the same."

I was crying by this point in time as he slipped that ring onto my right hand. My eyes were clouded by tears and I was greedily wiping them from my face with my left hand. The other stayed in Ryo's grip.

"Friends, forever?" I saw the tears welling in his eyes as well. This was hurting both of us and at the same time, fixing us for eternity.

"Forever and always," I quoted the Bullet For My Valentine song we both loved so very much.

"I'll talk to you a lot, and visit you even after high school. No matter where we are, I want us to be as close as you and Serenity are, if not closer."

"I loved you Ryo, and I'm so glad you can understand where I'm coming from. I'm sorry for anything I ever said to hurt you. I'm sorry I broke up with you, but I knew we weren't meant for one another."

His tears were falling now and he wiped at his cheeks as I let mine flow. "I'm glad you did."

"I want you to keep your promise. We will be better friends than we were lovers."

"Absolutely. Now, shall we finish up and get back to our friends?"

"Yeah." I took a napkin from the dispenser on the table and handed him one. We lean forward, hugging and kissing each other's cheeks after wiping our tears away.


:{On the Line}:

Aylin Castille and Ty Rivers
Third Person's P.O.V.

"Alright, our bet is finally put into swing." Aylin grinned wildly, sitting next to Ty on the picnic table. Some of their other friends were gathered around, sitting on the benches of the table.

Tiffany, Patrik, Vance, Augusta, Paige, Tezuka, Kikumaru, and Syusuke made up this particular group, along with Serenity and Inui sitting up on the table beside their loved ones.

"What bet?" Syusuke asked suspiciously, that damned smile never leaving his face. Aylin could read this boy by now, though, so his smile was like an open book.

Of course, she had to be able to read him. She supported him, whereas Ty supported Ryo.

"Nothing at all," Ty exclaimed quickly, watching the scene unfold.

Ryo removed a ring from his pocket and everyone fell into different degrees of shock. They knew it was the engagement ring... again.

Aylin, her eyes wide and angry, watched on in reverence as it was placed on Kimmy's hand. Ty was nearly beside himself with glee.

"I lost damn it!" Aylin growled angrily.

"Wait, that was her right hand," Serenity, the ever-observant, interjected.

"Ha! So the bet is still on, bitch!" Tiffany smacked Ty's knee. Oh yes, she knew about the bet alright. She was pro-Syusuke.

"What bet?"

"Nothing!" Aylin replied.

The tears were flowing between the two now. They were finally finished talking with their hug and cheek-kiss moment.

The malicious grin on Aylin's face was growing immeasurably. Ty still looked hopeful, but this bet had been decided.

"We're about to find out who won," Vance cheered softly. Of course, he was another Ryo-supporter.

"We already know who won." Paige rolled her eyes. "You're just dumb, Vance."

"Hey!"

"Hush, here they come!" Augusta snapped. Everyone fell silent.


:{On the Line}:

"Hey guys," I said quietly, dabbing at my eyes again as I approached the crowded table. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing!" they all replied at once, except Serenity.

"Hello Ryo," she spoke to him softly before turning back to me. "Kimmy, I love your ring. May I see it?"

I nodded, handing it off completely to the girl once I pried it from my finger. I noticed how deeply everyone was staring at the exchange, how closely they observed the object.

"Best Friends For Eternity?" She handed it back. "So, the two of you aren't back together?"

"No," Ryo spoke before I could. "We've decided to stay really close friends. Nothing more." He smiled at me. "Besides I know someone that would make her happier."

I mouthed a quiet 'thank you' to the dark haired man, giving him a tight hug. I would never grow away from him.

"Pay up bitch!" Aylin screeched, turning to Ty. "I won!"

"You haven't won yet!" He pouted, clutching to his pocket. "I don't want to give it up!"

"Now! And yes I have!"

"She technically has," Serenity defended.

"No!" He cried fake tears while surrendering his two-hundred dollar gift card to Starbucks. "How could I bet you?"

"You're rich and I'm not; you can buy imported European coffee. Shut up." She snatched the card and pocketed it. "Alright, I'm happy now."

"What bet?" I narrowed my eyes.

She whistled innocently and chirped, "Hey, let's go play in the pool for a while! I want to play water volleyball!"

"Yeah!" everyone agreed, running towards our outdoor, in-ground pool.

"Kimmy?" I stopped running as I heard my name being called.

A smile crossed my face as I saw Syusuke walking, his usual fake smile now a real one. "Come on Syu! You're being so slow!"

I gently grabbed his arm, running towards the pool with the most amazing smile on my face. His eyes were open just barely and a laugh was on his lips as his fingers linked with mine.