Chapter 18: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kasey&Max~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~

Heaven bend to take my hand

and lead me through the fire

Be the long awaited answer

to a long and painful fight

truth be told I tried my best

but somewhere along the way

I got caught up in all there was to offer

and the cost was so much more than I could bear

Though I've tried, I've fallen

I have sunk so low

I messed up

Better I should know

So don't come round here and

tell me I told you so

"Kasey, you aren't falling for Chris again, are you?" Max asked, almost afraid to know the answer. How could he have even entertianed the thought that Kasey would ever like him as more than a friend after what they had gone thorugh.

"What?" Kasey pulled back to stare at him in bewilderment, almost as if he were mad.

"Kevin, he said that you didn't want to get back with him because you moved on. Then he said Chris went here and well, we both put two and two together." Max shrugged. "Are you?"

"No. Not that it's any of your business, but Chris and I were, well, let's just say our boat was sunk before we even left the harbor." Kasey chuckled.

"What?" Max looked at her in confusion.

"Nothing, the point is that I'm not falling for Chris again. We're better as friends, although, he was a great first boyfriend to have, even if there wasn't much romance there." Kasey sighed.

"You're rambling." He pointed out with a grin.

We all begin out with good intent

When love was raw and young

We believe that we can change ourselves

The past can be undone

But we carry on our back the burden time always reveals

In the lonely light of morning

In the wound that would not heal

It's the bitter taste of losing everything

I've held so dear

"Yeah." Kasey wiped the tears from her eyes. "I do that sometimes."

"Why don't you tell me what's really bothering you?" He asked.

"If I do that then there's no turning back." She looked up at him, her eyes fearful.

"What are you afraid of?" He persisted.

"You."

I've fallen

I have sunk so low

I messed up

Better I should know

So don't come round here and

tell me I told you so

"I'm afraid of getting hurt again. You haven't given me one thing that proves to me that I can trust you." She continued, looking at the floor.

"I know I messed up. I can't change the past or the choices I've made, but I'm trying to redeem myself her. If you can't trust in me, trust in this." He grasped her face between his hands and forced her to look up at him. "I love you." He kissed her, full of raw need and pent up emotion. "Always have, ever since that day you led me to guidance. I know I've screwed up big time since then, but I don't plan on doing that in the future. Or at least, I'll try not to."

Heaven bend to take my hand

I've nowhere left to turn

I'm lost to those I thought were friends

to everyone I know

Oh they turn their heads embaressed

pretend that they don't see

that it's one wrong step one slip before you know

and there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed

Kasey began to cry again. "Do you really mean that?"

"Yeah, I do. I can't make up for all the pain I've caused you, but I can spend the rest of my life trying." Max promised.

"You weren't supposed to get off the hook this easy. I wasn't supposed to let you in again, but god damn it, I did." Kasey sighed. "I love you too. God help me!"

Max laughed and crushed his mouth over hers again. "God help us both!" He saidm when they pulled apart. "With all the crap and anger we've gone through we're not supposed to work or fit, but we do. God better help us."

Kasey laughed and wrapped her arms around him. "You're such a jackass."

"And you're a bitch. We fit perfectly." Max held her tight. "This was not how I envisioned us getting together."

"Me neither, but then again. I never envisioned us getting together after highschool." She replied.

Though I've tried, I've fallen

I have sunk so low

I messed up

Better I should know

So don't come round here and

tell me I told you so

Okay, that's Kasey and Max's chapter. It's not over. I've still got to do Andy and Mara's and of course the inevitable Trory, plus there's an epilogue, so don't think this is the last you've seen of Kasey and Max.