Hello!

Before this chapter begins, I just wanted to address something real quick. Well, it actually might not be that quick but I'll try to keep it short.

I want to make it clear that I know I am not a "perfect writer" and that there are going to be people who dislike my writing. That's totally okay! I'm always trying to progress with my writing and am open to constructive criticism, advice, and anything else that can help me improve.

I also want to make it clear that when it comes to reviews, I don't really care if you want to insult me, my writing, my story, whatever it is, but leave my parents out of it. it's sad, and rather disgusting to be honest, that you have to call someone's parents idiots to make yourself feel better.

Also, this isn't addressed to all of the readers. I am very thankful to everyone who has been supportive of this story and giving me ideas and advice. Thank you!

Anyways, I tried to keep that as short as I could manage. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

~Summer

Naia's POV

The next day at school, more students showed up but we still weren't close to having full classes. At the end of the school day, I said good-bye to Nate and met up with Gabby and Matt at the front gates like I usually did when they weren't on shift.

"How was school today?" Matt asked me after he had given me a signature noogie.

"It was good," I replied as we started walking home, "More people showed up today so the teachers gave us more homework than yesterday but it's not too much."

Gabby smiled, "That's nice."

When we got home, I washed my hands before preparing to get my homework done with so I wouldn't have to do it later. I had turned on the T.V. just as some background noise just like I had done yesterday, and just like yesterday, the news channel was on.

"Today many gathered at Millennium Park to honour those killed in Saturday's shooting. People can be seen setting flowers down in front of the pictures of the victims and not just the family and friends of the victims. Complete strangers have stopped by as well," The news reporter was saying as they showed a live recording of the makeshift memorial.

"That's nice to see isn't it?" Gabby commented when she walked into the living room to see me watching what was on the news.

I nodded, "Yeah."

For a moment, we watched them show the memorial on TV and a news reporter interview one of the strangers who had dropped by to put flowers down.

"Can we go?"

Gabby seemed confused by what I meant.

"Go where?" She asked.

"Millennium Park," I replied, nodding my head in the direction of the TV.

I didn't need to explain what I wanted to do. Gabby nodded and said that she would tell Matt.

While she did that, I tried to get some math done but my mind couldn't settle down. When Gabby returned with Matt, we silently put on our jackets and headed back out to the car.

While Matt drove, I gazed out the window.

It was kind of strange how Saturday was such a warm and nice day and now, it seemed like the usual Chicago March was back. I was completely lost in my thoughts and didn't even notice that the car had stopped until Gabby called my name.

I looked away from the window, confused by my surroundings.

It didn't look like we were at Millennium Park.

"I thought we should pick up some flowers," Matt explained as he killed the engine. I nodded and hopped out the car and all three of us headed into the flower store.

As soon as we walked in, I was overwhelmed by the sweet smell. My nose started tingling a little and I sniffed, trying to prevent myself from sneezing.

A gorgeous bouquet of red roses immediately caught my attention and I slowly made my way over to them.

The petals felt cold against my fingers as I traced the edges of them.

"Do you want to get these?" Gabby asked me and I smiled shyly at her before nodding.

Matt took the bouquet and went up to the cashier to pay before handing the roses back to me. We all got back into the car and Matt started driving again.

Once we got to Millennium Park, it wasn't hard to miss the makeshift memorial set up. Matt found a parking spot and I kept a tight grip on the bouquet of roses as we walked towards the memorial, even though the thorns were painfully digging into my palm.

For some reason, I had butterflies fluttering around in the pit of my stomach as we got closer and closer to the memorial. I didn't know why, but I did know that they were starting to make me nauseous.

The lit candles were dancing side to side, lighting up the pictures that showed the faces of those killed Saturday. There were already plenty of flowers and bouquets as well as balloons spread along the whole fence where the photos had been put up.

Swallowing hard, I managed to find a little nook where there hadn't been flowers set down yet and I placed down the bouquet of roses. As soon as I let go of the roses, I quickly stepped back to where Gabby and Matt were standing and looked at all of the photos.

I was surprised when I recognized the brother and sister from the news and found it kind of comforting to see that their pictures had been placed next to each other. Their smiles made me remember how nauseous I just was and I felt like throwing up.

Fortunately, I managed to keep it down and carefully studied all the faces in each and every photo that had been put up.

My head started to spin and I found myself tugging at Gabby's hand.

"Can we go now?" I whispered quietly, unable to keep my voice steady.

Gabby nodded and whispered something to Matt before we started walking back to the car.

The whole drive back home seemed like a blur to me and I felt like I was underwater. It was a strange way to describe it but I wasn't sure how else to put it. As soon as Gabby unlocked the apartment door, I headed towards my room without even bothering to take off my jacket.

I closed the door behind me and slumped down against it.

I still felt like I was going to throw up and for a moment, I wondered if I was getting sick again, but I knew that probably wasn't the case.

At first, it was just a few tears that leaked from the corners of my eyes but it didn't take long.

It didn't take long for me to break down into sobs.