An: NymhadoraTonks: Here it is. The reveal. Although, you might be a little shocked at how Matt finds out. And his reaction. Hehe...if you know me at all...there's gonna be drama. But it doesn't last long. With all of this build-up, there has to be a slight rough patch. I'm going to put in the last 5 chapters. You'll see how.

In defense of my convenient age group, all of their parents were together in high school. And after going through a war together, you don't break up easily. In my extended family, there are many of us who are close in age. I guess that's how I got inspiration ;). Matt is older by a whole year. Derek is actually older too. His birthday was just cut off before he could be in Matt's class.

The ages go like this: Matt (17) 12/11 - Derek (16) 8/12 - Ryder and Donna (16) 9/1 - Catherine, Brandon, Hyde (15) 3/22 - Ally (15) 5/14 - Cassidy (15) 7/2

They are pretty scattered when you think of it that way. As for relationships wise. Well...I think all of these characters are great together. And when you grow up together you can be just naturally close. It may be convenient, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Mia: Mattonna forever! Yes, they were definitely made for each other. I can't wait to explore their relationship more in Forever Broken but Never Alone. I think everyone will really enjoy that story. You might be surprised by the way Matt goes about the book. He's not very calm at first.

PowPow456: Don't worry. The reveal is here. Matt and Donna will grow from this. I promise.

THANK YOU ALL!

On Monday, Donna kept mentally preparing herself. She was going to tell him. She had to. There was no way she could go on like this without telling him. All-day, she had been looking for the perfect opportunity, but they were never alone. At breakfast, lunch, in the library, and in the hall. There was never a moment where Donna could tell him.

Right after school, Donna had lost sight of him in the hall. He did say he had a big test soon and needed to study. She went straight up to her dorm room and plopped herself on the bed. Frustrated.

"When are you going to tell him?" Catherine asked. Donna jumped up. She didn't even notice Catherine was in the room. She was looking up from a book at her desk, giving Donna a raised brow.

"Today," Donna told her. "I've tried. I really have. I feel terrible."

"Where is Matt now?"

"In his room studying, I think," Donna shrugged. "He's stressed about some kind of test soon. Or maybe his stitches are bothering him. I wasn't really sure."

"This is more important than a test," Catherine turned towards her fully. "If you love him, you'll stop with the little chase you have going on with yourself and just tell him."

"I do love him," Donna rubbed her temples. "I just don't want to hurt him."

"You're hurting him right now," Catherine stood and opened the door. "Go, get it over with."

"Can I take the book with me?" Donna asked. Catherine nodded and went to retrieve it from her bag. But when she opened the zipper, her eyes widened, and she paled. "What?" Donna asked in a whisper.

"I had it with me all day, but the book is gone."

Matt was trying to read and study, but it was so hard. Mitchell, his tutor, had said he was ready to try reading himself, but Matt wished he could just have someone read it for him. In the beginning, Mitchell had given Matt recordings of himself reading the text so Matt could try to follow along. Then, Matt just had Donna read to him. He loved hearing her voice, even if it was just listing off facts and numbers.

Donna had been acting strange today. Anxious and very quiet. She stuck by his side when she could. He was wondering why she hadn't come up to his dor with him. They usually hung out after school and helped each other with homework. Donna didn't need much help, but Matt would prefer to stay in her presence and just watch her. Now that they had made up, he hoped that she would be more than willing to come over, but she hadn't shown her face yet.

That was when there was a sudden knock on the door. Matt practically sprinted to the door and threw it open. He was shocked when he saw Eliza standing behind the door. Her grey eyes were wide and teary. Her long auburn hair was swept back into a loose braid. "E-Eliza?" Matt relaxed as he took in the sight of her. She was clinging onto a brown book.

"Matt," Eliza said, her voice was shaky. "I'm so sorry."

"W-what?" Matt was utterly confused.

"For everything," Eliza shook her head. "I should have told you the truth from the start. But...I didn't want you to get hurt because of me. I didn't realize that by breaking up with you, you would be sent into even worse pain."

"What are you talking about?" Matt stepped aside as she came into the room. He left the door open.

"This book," Eliza said, holding out the book to him. He took it from her shaking hands. That was when he saw the gold lettering on the front cover.

Broken Souls

"What is this?"

"I-it's the story," Eliza said, still quivering. "Laura's story. Oakley's story. Our story. Last year." Matt flipped through the pages. He could decipher his name on one of the pages.

"Where did you get this?" Matt asked.

"It appeared in my locker this morning," Eliza admitted. "As soon as I started to read, I couldn't put it down. I finished the whole thing. I don't understand how they got our thoughts written down. But it's real. Nothing is a lie. That all happened. And I think you deserve to read it too."

"My thoughts? My...accident?"

Eliza let a single tear run down her cheek. "Yes. It's all there. Oh, Matt, I didn't realize your pain. I'm so sorry." She suddenly wrapped her arms around him tightly. Matt was in a state of shock.

He slowly accepted Eliza's embrace. "I hope when you read it, you'll learn to forgive me someday," Eliza whispered into his shoulder. The memories that flashed in his mind suddenly became weights. His own tears began to spill.

There was a knock on the propped open door. The two separated. "Matt, I—" Donna walked into the room, then stopped talking when she saw them. Her eyes widened at the book. "Where did you get that?"

"You know what this is?" Eliza asked suddenly.

Donna paled. That look confirmed everything. Donna had read this. She knew everything, and she didn't tell him.

"Y-yes," Donna bit her lip. "I found it a few days ago."

"And you didn't tell me about it?" Eliza asked before Matt could get a word in. He could tell a small fury had risen within Eliza.

"No, bec—"

"You didn't think that I would be interested in what truly happened to my best friend that night? You refused me to have the only piece of Laura that's still here! Don't you think she affected my life too? I've wondered for over a year what had truly changed in her. I haven't gotten a restful night since she died! And here you are reading about our thoughts and feelings without even telling us!"

Matt wanted to stop Eliza from getting worked up, but he was still in his state of shock.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," Donna shook her head. "I wanted to know the truth. Both of you refused to tell me. What else was I supposed to do? I couldn't be left alone in the dark forever." Her eyes became wet as she looked at Matt.

"You should've told me! Or even your boyfriend at least!" Eliza was about to say more, but Matt grabbed her arm.

"Eliza, stop," Matt finally spoke words. She raised a brow at him.

"You're going to just let it go that simply?!" Eliza was fighting his grip.

"No," Matt shook his head. "I need time to think."

Both girls froze. "What?" Donna managed to whisper. The pain in her voice brought pain to his heart. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Leave," Matt instructed. "Both of you." Eliza gave a final glance at Matt. He let go of her arm as she walked out of the room quickly. Donna still stood there, frozen in place. What he meant to say harshly, came out softly. "Get out, Donna, please. I can't look at you right now."

"Then don't," Donna shook her head. "Matt, I was frustrated with you. I didn't think you were ever going to tell me the truth. I was going to tell you about the book yesterday. But then we were on the balcony and I just couldn't hurt you."

"Well, you did, just now," Matt turned away from her. "I trusted you. But I don't even know what to trust anymore." He could hear her footsteps going out of the room, but then they stopped.

That was when he felt her arms wrapped around his middle, and her body pressed against his back. Her face pressed lightly against his shoulder. He stiffened, not fighting or accepting the embrace.

"'I love you too. More than anything in Ever After, in Wonderland, the world.'" Donna said so quietly, Matt hardly heard it. "You told me that yesterday, and I believed you. I don't deserve it. Your love. Your trust. I don't. But I only read that book because you deserve to be loved, Matt. You may read it as a tragedy, or downfall in your life. What I read was the shaping of the man that I love."

Matt bit his lip. Her words were beautiful. He had never thought of himself that way. He had been playing a game inside of his head for over a year now. Just trying to forget what happened to him. This dyslexia was a constant reminder of the accident. Eliza was a reminder of the pain. And Donna was a reminder of hope.

"I'll go," Donna whispered. She began to let go of him. He could feel the warmth of her touch fading away. He couldn't let her go now.

"Donna," Matt turned to her. Donna was almost out of the room when she froze mid-step. Matt clutched the book in his arms as he took in the sight of her. Her violet eyes were searching his face. That was when he saw that girl from the first day of school. And then the girl holding onto his hand for life. And then he saw her now, looking at him the same way she always had.

"What?"

"Would you read this to me?" Matt asked, holding out the door. Donna looked surprised by his request but gave him a small nod.

Over the next few days, Donna would read, and then leave when Matt was tired or they went to dinner. They talked about it very little. Matt would make a few comments here and there, but otherwise, he said the book captured it all truly. They just sat in his dorm room after school. Matt laid on his bed with his eyes closed as Donna read aloud, sitting at his desk chair. She would often wonder what would've happened if he could read by himself. Would he have even talked to her over the course of the reading?

When they had gotten to the chapter after the accident, Donna hesitated to read. Matt opened his eyes and sat up from his resting position. "What's wrong?"

"It's..." Donna looked up into his eyes. He seemed to understand.

"I'll be fine," Matt gave her a curt nod before laying down again. Donna took a deep breath and began to read. She could hear his body tense as she began to read in his perspective. This was the last part she had read before she gave up the book herself.

Hermon had already died. It seemed to take Matt by surprise. Like he hadn't known it was Eliza who had killed him. He didn't say anything. Only a single tear ran down his cheek. Donna wished she could comfort him. But she was uncertain about what he was feeling.

As she began to read about the flashbacks, Matt's breathing quickened slightly. Ignoring the doubts in her mind. Donna placed her hand on Matt's. He didn't do anything. She didn't expect him to. But she wanted to remind him she was there.

Perhaps in a dream, he saw another girl. She seemed familiar, but Matt felt he had never seen her before. At least not in this light. Her long brown hair framed her pale face. She was beautiful, even though her features were blurred. The only thing he could see clearly was a pair of violet eyes.

When Matt felt himself slipping that night, only a distant whisper kept him alive.

"I need you."

Matt hadn't gone back to that night in months. Matt's brain refused him access. But the gates flew open as the image of Donna's violet eyes flickered in his brain. he had seen her that night. She was the one that pulled him through it all, and he didn't even know her yet. Her voice whispered to him when he was fighting for life. He had forgotten about them but then they were brought back to him last fall. When he thought he had lost Donna.

I need you." Donna said with her own lips. That's when Matt let the tears fall.

"I know," Matt said. He knew this all along. He was the one she needed, and he threw her away.

Those three simple words meant a great deal to him. When Donna told him those words, it made him strong, cable, and made him feel like he could do anything for her. But perhaps, Donna wasn't the one who needed him. He needed her.

"But when you find someone and love them truly, it's no longer just a want, it's a need."

As Donna concluded the chapter, she kept silent. Her hand was still laying on his gently. She was about to pull away, but Matt instantly laced his fingers with hers. Donna's eyes were wide when he opened his own. That was when he understood why she did it. When he understood why he kept the past a secret for so long. The fight within himself was over because she had saved him.

"I'm sorry," Donna said quietly.

"Me too," Matt answered.

"It's okay," they both said at the same time. They laughed in unison, then there was a small silence.

"Come here," Matt pulled Donna's hand. She crawled on top of the bed to him, laying her head on his extended arm. They laid like that for only a minute before Matt scooped her into a full embrace. She giggled into his chest. He held her tighter until she squirmed.

"Must breathe," Donna's muffled voice called. Matt finally let her go just enough so she could face him.

"Must you?" Matt raised a brow.

"What do you think?" Donna laughed then matched his expression

"I suppose you do if I'm going to keep you around," Matt grinned before he kissed her forehead lightly.

"What a burden," Donna rolled her eyes.

"Tell me about it," Matt chuckled. "Although, you have your perks, snoopy."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"You do have an amazing boyfriend."

"That's a given."

"Not to mention his whole heart."

Donna's cheeks turned a light pink. "Really?" she asked. Matt nodded and she grinned. She twisted a single mint gree curl around her finger. "Then I better be gentle."

"I'll be the judge of that." Matt let his fingers trail down the edge of her cheek. Breaking the anticipation, Donna gave him one of the softest kisses he had ever had. The slow burn of his blush reminded him of their first kiss.

"There's still more to read," Donna reminded. "I understand if you want me to stop. I haven't read past that chapter."

"No," Matt shook his head. "I want to finish it. You deserve to know the truth."

As Donna pulled the book open, she took a deep breath. Matt kept his arm around her as they sat up on the bed. Looking back down at the pages. Donna began to read...