Author's note:

This is the final chapter, so you might want to read the whole story from the beginning at this point. That way, you'll get a better idea of what the story was all about, I guarantee it. Also, keep in mind that I do not include meaningless details in my writing, so if something seems pointless, it might be something to think about. Enjoy!

Tish and Lor arrived soon enough, with big stupid grins on their faces. I tried to fight the urge, but I smiled like a dope too. This was all Tish's idea, so I waited for her to do all the talking. We had been waiting for this for days, and I just wanted some answers. We all greeted and hugged each other, all of us except for me and Lor, obviously. Just then I realized that me and Lor hadn't hugged in a long time. I know it was because we've never been apart for long, but I resented it anyway. Oh, and of course, me and Carver didn't hug either. We're both grown men and it seemed weird to do that. At least, it did to me.

"I'm glad you were able to make it, Carver." Tish said. "I think all this would be difficult without you."

"I'm glad I could make it too." Carver replied.

"Now. I know you're all wondering. And I didn't plan on having just a simple reunion. I have a purpose with all of this."

"What is it Tish?" Lor said, hiding her anticipation well.

"We've been through a lot together, and I think we owe it to each other to discuss what it all meant. When we were young we must have promised each other we'd be together dozens of times. Rather than just babble on about how we're all doing, we need to talk seriously."

"That sounds fine, but I don't think our friendship was all that unique, Tish. We just took our separate paths." said Carver.

"But you don't even know the whole story, Carver. You left us before things started getting complicated, not that I'm blaming you. You don't know what happened between Lor and Thompson."

"What? What happened?"

Lor had been looking towards the ground as soon as her name came up. She was about to open her mouth when Tish spoke up.

"That brings me to the first part of my plan. Lor, I know it can't be easy for you, so me and Tino will leave while you explain everything to Carver. I know it's not much, but this is important, so will you tell him please?"

"Sure. I was expecting this anyway."

"Tino, lets go."

I was expecting it too. I followed Tish to my car, where I guessed we would decide where to go while we waited. I was wrong though. Tish remained mysterious, which started to bug me at this point. Not because it was annoying, but because it wasn't like her, at least not like the Tish I used to know.

"Tino, there's something I need to take care of. I wasn't sure if I would go through with this part, but now I realize that it has to be done." Tish said.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I said.

"No, you've done enough for now. Can you just wait for me at your place? I'll be there in less than an hour."

"Okay, sure."

"Thanks."

As she was leaving, I suddenly realized that she hadn't mentioned any worm from hell since she had gotten here. I thought she would at least mention it, whether it was true or not. Since she apparently had forgotten about it, I assumed I was right and it really was just a ploy for our attention.

I waited for Tish at my house and she arrived in good time, staying true to her word. While I waited I resisted the urge to call my mom, as I had been doing for the entire week since Tish's first phone call. This is embarrassing, but since I moved out I'd leave a note by my phone that said "don't rely on your mom." I had relied on her all my life, and I decided it was time to rely on myself. I still call and visit her, but not with my problems. Even during this stressful time, I succeeded in relying on myself.

When Tish got there and spilled her guts to me, suddenly all I could think about was calling my mom. Running to my mom and begging her to tell me what to do.

"Hi Tino." Tish said in her monotone way. I remained supportive for her sake, even though I was dying for answers at this point.

"Tish, are you okay?" I said. "You look a little tired."

"Tino, when we were kids, did we ever say we'd be friends forever?"

"I'm not sure, but it's likely."

"Did we ever say we'd do anything for each other?"

"Probably not in those exact words, but it's pretty likely too."

"Do you remember that worm I mentioned?"

"Oh, yeah, the worm. I remember. I thought you had forgotten about that. It was really just your way of getting our attention right?"

"It wasn't."

"Alright. Heh. So was it slimy or scaly?"

"Seriously now. I'll tell you the whole story. Wait until I finish to decide if you believe me or not."

She told me everything, some of which I've already told you. I was humoring Tish at that point, and I know she could tell, but she continued with the story just the same. Now is a good time for the rest of the story.

Tish tried to live as normally as she could with the worm in her house. She did quite well. She got into the habit of making lots of coffee, since she wasn't sleeping much. She got used to eating and watching TV with the worm in the house, but sleeping was a different matter.

She was making coffee when the worm opened his big mouth again. His thunderous cry of "Tish" frightened her like it was something new. She lost another perfectly good mug to the floor as she yelped with surprised.

"Tish, do you know what today is?" the worm asked as thought they were best friends.

"Um, it's Friday..." Tish said, her voice quivering.

"Tish, you write for your magazine, even on your weekends. Do you remember what your weekends meant for you as a kid? They were more than just a few responsibility-free days of fun. They were about having true friends. What happened to those true friends?"

"We kind of drifted apart, but we still talk. Well, except for Carver. I don't know what happened to him."

"Tish, yours was an uncommon friendship. Most children at that age were just beginning to discover cliques, but your friendship remained strong despite your differences. Moreover, you touched others with your friendship. You inspired hope in your and your friends' parents. You were a role model for your lower classmen. You brought a bit of light to an otherwise dark world. You accomplished much in the relatively short time you were active as friends."

"Our friendship had that much of an impact? I don't see how."

"Tish, I will tell you how. I am what you might call a demon, from a place equivalent to what you might call Hell. The world you know operates on a system of balance. There needs to be a certain element of evil combined with an equal element of good. When evil men die, they come to our side and we are allowed to feast on their souls. When good men die, they do whatever it is they do on the other side."

"I don't really understand. We're not dying, so what do we have to worry about."

"Tish, you don't have anything to worry about in that regard. I am simply here to give you the chance to bring a little more balance to the world. By giving something to our realm, you will get something in your earthly realm."

"What do I have to do?"

"Tish, your friend Lor is pretty miserable isn't she? I know you feel a bit responsible for letting her down. Wouldn't you like to do something to help her?"

"Wait a minute, you're not suggesting I... kill Thompson?!"

"Tish, he'd be much happier with us. He's our kind of people. When he dies, do you really think he would want to be floating on clouds with nice people?"

"Is that what heaven is really like?"

"Tish, as far as you need to know, it is. I'm not going to give you anymore information than you need to complete your mission."

"Stop talking like that. I'm not going to kill anyone. I don't care how bad he is, I'm not sending him to hell."

"Tish, I know it's a frightening proposition, but nothing bad will come of it. The world will be richer and you will be protected from all legal and metaphysical consequences."

"How is that possible?"

"Tish, the gun you use to kill him and his body will disappear, leaving you safe from earthly retribution. Metaphysically, you will also be absolved from any condemnation. This was allowed to happen for the sake of balance, so you really have nothing to worry about."

"I think I have something to worry about. I don't care if there's no punishment, I don't want to kill anybody. Why don't you just eat him yourself and get it over with?"

"Tish, you're smart enough to know that if I could do that– "

"–You would have done it already."

"Tish, I know it's a lot to ask, that's why I waited until today. Give yourself a few to decide, then get to Bahia Bay next weekend. I've left the gun in your closet. When you decide to go and finish your mission, we will meet again."

"Stop that! I know who I am and I know how to live my life! I am going to Bahia Bay. But I'm not going to kill anyone! If all four of us getting together is what needs to happen, then that's what I'm going to do. Its something I should have done a long time ago, I just never realized how important it was. I've had enough of you. I know I can't make you leave, but I'm not speaking one more word to you!"

"See you soon, Tish." said the demon, and left as suddenly as he had showed up.

When Tish told me all this, I don't even remember my reaction.

I remember eventually saying, "so, what are you trying to say Tish?"

"I don't except you to believe me so easily, Tino. But I know what happened. The worm was real." Tish replied.

"Well, whether it was real or not, I'm glad you decided not to listen to him."

"I did tell him off pretty good. But, to be honest, I started to think about it seriously and when I got here and talked to Lor, I thought maybe it wasn't such a bad idea."

"Are you crazy Tish?! I can't believe you would even consider it! You'd rot in jail forever!"

"Stop yelling, Tino. The worm said nothing would--"

"I don't care what your stupid worm said! It's doesn't even make sense!"

"Oh really?! It doesn't make sense?! Does it make any less than a store that sells t-shirts by the pound?! Or chocolate covered french fries?! Or an obviously mentally challenged girl, obsessed with pointy things, going to a public middle school?!"

"...even if you truly believe it, Tish. I can't let you do it. I care too much about you to let you do it."

"Tino...I already did it. Right before I came here."

"No. No, you didn't! Please tell me you didn't, Tish!"

"It'll be alright, Tino. Everything the worm said was true. I passed through both airports just fine with the gun in my purse. How could that be possible if the worm wasn't real? Nothing bad will happen, you'll see. Things are going to be better for Lor. For all of us."

"I don't believe this." I said to myself as I broke down on the floor. I was way too confused and way too scared to even stand. But I don't think I cried just then.

I wasn't surprised that Lor had mixed feelings of grief and relief when she heard the news. Even though Thompson had been a jerk to her, they had a lot of good times together. She was also worried about herself and Nell's well-being. Lor doesn't have any skills that could get her a good job. Something in retail is probably the best she could hope for.

Tish was expecting that, and she decided to stay in Bahia Bay to help her out. She doesn't lose her job, but she is a lot less involved because now she just sends in her articles as opposed to going into the office every day. I don't know what was said between them when Tish told her what happened, but now they're doing great. They're as close as they ever were. Like sisters again.

The most surprising thing was that Carver decided to stay as well. He said he wanted to quit his shoe job and find something he could really be passionate about. I know his sympathy towards Lor had something to do with his decision, but I know he really missed this place. I know his shoe job, his whole shoe life, was bugging him. To be honest, I don't know if we'll still be friends, even with something like this bringing us together.

None of us are sure about the whole worm thing, except for Tish. If Tish really brought a gun, there's no way to know, because it's gone. Thompson's body was never found, not even a drop of blood. The worm said they would meet again after it was done. And maybe they did meet again, but we never asked her anything about the worm ever again.

ONE MORE FINAL...

There's one other thing I should mention about that week. Before Tish told me that she would be staying in Bahia Bay for good, I was feeling bad. She had only just gotten here, and the prospect of her leaving so soon was making me a little depressed. I took her aside to tell her how I felt.

"Tish, I know everything that's happened this week is strange, but you being here has made me realize something. Every day since you left I've been regretting not telling you how much I want you here. Tish, will you marry me?"

"...Tino. You didn't think this through. I've missed you too, but you really need to figure out what you really want from life. Don't worry though, I already decided I'm staying here, for Lor's sake. And our friendship."

Alright, so I had a small lapse in sanity there. I know asking Tish was a mistake and not truly what I want, but it seemed right at the time. I guess it was because of what she did that week. She really took charge and changed all our lives for the better. It doesn't seem that way now because they're all still a bit depressed, but it'll all change. If it hadn't been for Tish, Lor might been beaten by Thompson, Carver might be an alcoholic, and I might be out on a ledge somewhere from stress. I guess I see some part of my mom in her, which I guess makes it pretty silly to think about marrying her.

It was a strange weekend. So many changes in such a short time, I just can't get over it. It's pretty exciting, but still I worry about everyone. As long as we all try hard and help each other, I know we'll make it though. That's pretty much the end of my story. But I'm not going to end it saying the thing you think I'm going to say. Nope. That chapter's over.

FIN

Final note: thank you all for reading! Please review, even you don't have an account, just shoot me an email. So long!