A/N: I think the next chapter is going to be my last in this fic. Unless anybody has an idea for me. I got an idea for another DPS fic that I'll start working on once I'm done with this. Just thought I'd let you guys know. Also, the poem "written by Charlie in this chapter is written by Sarah Sparrow at
Dalton's tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and his heart pounded in his
chest as he looked around the cave at the familiar faces. After several long, silent
minutes he folded the paper up and shoved it in his pocket, sitting down quickly.
Erica's eyes shimmered with tears at the words he'd just spoken. Knox, who'd been
sitting with his chin resting in his hand, finally spoke up.
"That was incredible. You actually wrote that?" Charlie nodded, his head
down, trying to avoid their gaze. "It was amazing." Meeks whispered. "Beautiful."
Pitts announced, blushing even as he spoke the words. Charlie raised his head, just
enough to look at Erica. "What did you think?" She searched his eyes, trying to
etermine
what he thought of his own work, before saying, "I think you should read it at the
funeral tomorrow."
Dalton raised his head fully now, eyes wide. "No way! It was a miracle I read it
for you four." The glimmer of a smile Erica'd had on her face melted away. "What are
you afraid of? Being laughed at? I can assure you, with a poem like that nobody will
laugh." Charlie rolled his eyes and stood up. "I'm gonna head back to the room."
As he turned his back to them, Erica too, stood up. "You guys will be ok without
me, right?" Without waiting for an answer, she followed Charlie out of the cave. Upon
her exit she blinked rapidly, adjusting her eyes to the glaring light. She jumped when
she realized Dalton was standing in front of her. "You don't get it, do you?" He began
shouting. "Not everybody needs to know my feelings. I know how I feel and that's all
that matters!"
Erica raised her eyebrows incredulously. "That's why you're afraid?! You
Don't want people to know how you feel? That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
People smile when they're happy, cry when they're sad, but you're afraid to do those
Things because people might think you're stupid for doing the same things they do?"
Charlie laughed a tight, high pitched laugh. "I'm so sick of this." He held the paper up high in his hand before tearing it in half. "This will never be read again." With that he
turned, brushing branches out of his face as he ran. When Erica was sure he was
gone, his footsteps no longer reaching his ears, she bent and retrieved the torn papers.
She folded the pieces of paper and put them gently in her pocket.
Amanda Vaughn pulled her long auburn hair back into a ponytail as she ran to
answer the door. She forced a smile until she realized who it was. "Can I help you?"
Erica took a slight step forward. "I really need to talk to you. Bianca's not here, is
she?" Amanda shook her head and stepped away, leaving the door open for Erica to
enter. Amanda cat cross legged on her bed and stared at Erica expectantly. "Yes?"
Erica sat down next to her, placing the box in between them. She'd stopped at
her room to get it. It'd been pushed underneath Charlie's bed next to his pornos. "I
know you and Bianca don't like me, but I need your help." Amanda smiled. "Ok, with
the statement you just made, and believe me, it is true, why would I want to help you?"
"Please," Erica begged. "It's not for me."
Amanda took the box from Erica's hands and pulled the lid off. "What are
these?" She began sifting through the pictures that lay within. "They're Charlie
Dalton's friends." Erica replied, picking up a picture of the DPS as it had been not so
long ago. The six smiling faces stared into the future as they'd seen it. "So what do you
want me to do?" Erica let the photograph drop back into the box and looked up.
"Here's my plan."
The great hall of Welton Academy was full for Todd's funeral. As Erica, Meeks,
Pitts, Dalton, Knox, and Chris made their way to their seats behind Todd's parents. As
they sat down Mr. Anderson turned to look at them. "I want to thank you all for being
such good friends to Todd." Erica leaned forward and patted him on the shoulder.
"Todd was a great kid. We all really loved him." Mr. Anderson smiled through his
tears, nodding gratefully, before turning back to face the podium.
Slowly, Nolan approached the microphone. "Any time a tragedy befalls us here at Welton
Academy we like to start out with a contribution from one of the.
Students .This morning a tape was left outside my door, and after watching it, I
thought it was something that could honor not only Todd Anderson, but one of Todd's
friends who was lost to us last year, Neil Perry." Nolan stepped away from the podium
as a screen lowered over Todd's casket. Words appeared on the screen. "Gone too
soon. A tribute to Neil Perry and Todd Anderson. Featuring a poem by Charles
Dalton." Images flashed on the screen, one followed by the other. The DPS together,
Todd doing his homework, Neil in the play. Charlie's eyes widened when he realized
the words being spoken over the pictures were of the poem he'd read the previous
morning.
The Tears Never Come:
I just don't understand
Why my eyes always stay so dry When I go through so much frustration
Such anger, sadness, lies
You'd think I'd have some tears to shed
Just to get it out
But not matter how long I sit and wait for them
They never come about
Some people say I'm lucky
That no tears are the good tears
But it's building up inside me
All my pain and all my fears
I'd give anything for one day
Of only tears and sorrow
To just let the crying come
So the feelings can all go
But the raging fountain that's inside me
Rages more every day
I'm afraid one day it'll overflow
And throw my life astray
I'll do something rash
Something senseless and naïve
I'll kill all my chances and my future
Cause damage beyond retrieve
That's why I need to cry now
I beg God for the tears
I need to let them out now
After all these tearless years
How can everyone around me
Let their grief so easily outflow
When I'm stuck here in my desert
Where happiness cannot regrow
But if I could shed a single drop now
Maybe I'd be saved
From something I would regret later
That could send me to my grave
So grant me my one wish
You know what I've paid
I think it's time I get my life back
I promise to cherish every day
As the video came to an end Charlie prepared himself to yell at Erica. He'd
Begun to turn in his seat when Mr. Anderson turned around again. "Thank you,
Charlie. That was beautiful." Charlie nodded. After Mr. Anderson turned around
again he took Erica's hand in his. "I love you." He whispered. Erica just smiled.