Author's Note: First of all, let me apologize for taking so long to update. I've had the worst case of writers block, but I think I'm over it now (Knock on wood). This is the ninth chapter, but rest assured, I've been working on the tenth. It's almost finished (hopefully I can get it up tomorrow) and is the longest one yet. (Four pages on last count.) This chapter is set four months after the last. Dalton and Erica are now an item. Knox and Chris are now married and Knox is able to stay off campus in an apartment with Chris on the weekends. Meeks and Pitts-still dorky, still room mates. A tragedy is about to befall the DPS!

Todd sat on the edge of his bed. It was silent in the halls.

Nolan had done bed check about an hour ago and

wouldn't be around again until morning. The only light in

the room came from a full moon outside the window.

The razor blade sat on his nightstand, stained red with his

blood. Now all he had to do was sit...and wait to die. He

had nothing to live for. Knox had Chris, as it was a

Saturday, he was staying with her. Erica had Charlie, sure

they fought a lot, but they loved each other. Meeks and

Pitts....they were happy alone. But Todd had no one, barely

even had his parents. As he sat thinking, the world around

him faded away.

Down the hall, in room 343, Erica lay in her bed looking at

Charlie sleeping across the way. She'd never

cared about anyone as much as him. She slowly stood up

and tiptoed to the door, careful not to make any noise as

she entered the hallway. There was only just enought light

coming through the windows for her to see herself

down to room 346, Todd's room.

"Todd?" She whispered, knocking gently on the door. When

she recieved no response she tried turning the

knob. When she saw it was unlocked she pused the door

open gently. The moon cast only enough light to show

her where Todd's bed was. "Todd?" She whispered. She

could just make out his still form on the bed. "Are you

awake? I need to talk to you." When he still didn't respond,

she reached out for the light switch and gently flicked

it on.

Dalton quickly sat up in his bed. He turned to look at Erica,

but the room was empty, save for him. The

scream. It'd been so...real. He ran out into the hallway and

saw light coming from Todd's room. The hall was

empty. Dalton figured everybody else had just thought the

scream was in the dreams, or nightmares.

As he drew closer to Todd's room, he could see Erica

slumped on the floor near the door, tears spilling down

her cheeks, a mask of horror covering her face. The scene on

the bed was too much for Dalton. He spun around

just in time, his vomit hitting the cold hardwood floor.

When he was sure he was ok, he ran down the hall and

pounded on Nolan's door. "Hooligans." Nolan whispered as

he slowly pulled open the door. "I should have

known it was you, Dalton." Charlie didn't respond, just

grabbed Nolan's arm and pulled him down the hall to

Todd's room.

Nolan's eyes grew so wide Charlie was sure they would just

fall from their sockets. "I'll call the hospital. I

think it's too late, but I'll call." Nolan muttered. "Get her out

of here, Dalton." Charlie knelt, pulling Erica into

his chest. "C'mon sweetie. There's nothing we can do. He's

gone."

Erica nodded and stood with him, letting him lead her back

to their room. She sat down on Dalton's bed.

"I'm gonna go wait for the paramedics." He whispered,

kissing her on the cheek before moving towards the door.

"Please don't leave me!" He grimaced. It hurt to see her like

this.

"Ok." He whispered, shutting the door, then walking over to

her. "I'll stay here." He sat down on his bed,

leaning back against the wall as she layed in his arms. "I'll

never leave you." He whispered, resting his chin on

her head as she drifted to sleep.