Days, weeks, and months passed. The people who were involved with Aymery's drug deal were also the culprits of the gym's mysterious fire. Everything seemed to be back to normal. The days flew by and the school year was coming to a close. Posters supporting the school's prom littered the wall and the lockers.

Sandry tore one off of her locker in disgust. She'd be going alone, and she didn't need glitter panted words to remind her.

Over spring break she did something stupid. Just when things were looking good with Briar, the damn tabloid get pictures of her dancing with one of her uncle's friend's son and writes a whole false love story that shattered any chance that Sandry had with Briar. Briar knew that is was a stupid tabloid, but the interview with the boy that Sandry had danced with, suggested that something more was going on.

Tris, Daja, Sandry, and Briar still hung out, but Briar was starting to slip into the sports world, Daja was working, Tris just wasn't interested, and Sandry was left all alone once more.

Sandry had stopped wearing makeup. She found no reason why she should. She became less social and more reserved. She hid up in her room most of the time and nothing Sam or Hank could do would change her mood.

Tris and Daja noticed these changes and were getting very worried. Sandry was head over heels in love with Briar and Briar was with that preppy Megan snot. Tris and Daja were dating as well, but at least they were happy. They looked at Briar and found that he wasn't happy at all.

The night of the prom came, and Sandry was up in her room staring at the ceiling. Screw going alone, she wasn't going at all. It was when she passed up dinner for the second night in a row, did Hank and Sam take action.

~~~

Briar reached for the phone as it rang.

"Hello?" He asked.

"Brian? It's Hank."

"Hank?!"

"Yes, listen. Something is wrong with Sandry. She' been like this since spring break. Have you noticed anything or do you know why she's like this?"

"No. I don't. I didn't know anything was wrong."

It was a lie and he damn well knew it. He'd seen her in the halls. He'd seen the mess she'd become.

"Well, thanks for trying to help."

"Yeah, you're welcome."

Briar pressed the off button and just stared at the phone.

This was stupid. It was prom night and he was going with a complete and utter idiot. Megan was ok and all, but she wasn't Sandry. No one was Sandry. In that moment he realized what he had to do.

~~~

Sandry was drifting off to sleep when she heard something at her window. She walked over to in it confusion and looked to see what had made the noise.

"Briar!? What are you doing?" She hissed as she opened the window to let him in.

He had climbed the tree outside of her room.

"I'm here to rescue you."

"Rescue me from what?"

"I love you."

Those three words shocked her.

"Shouldn't you be with Megan?"

"Sandry, I mean it. I love you. I should have not gotten all stupid with that damn tabloid. I'm sorry."

"Do you mean it?"

"Yes, I am so sorry."

"No, I mean, do you really love me?"

"With all my heart."

"I love you too."

The two ditched the prom and just spent the rest of the night together in Sandry's room.

The greatest thing to learn in life is to love and be loved in return.

THE END