A/n: I was really tired when I wrote this chapter so sorry if things don't sound right or I misspell things. My formatting had also been of latley and I'm sorry for that too. I wanted to write more than I had a chance to this week, but the weeks not over yet right? Next week I should have more time. I have also done a more in detail story outline for this. We have a while to go. I never meant for this to get so long but try and stop me now. Please Read and Review!!!!!I cannot stress this enough. I like to know my story is appreciated it makes me keep writing. So if you want me to use my clever outline then review. It takes like 2 seconds. You can spare me that surely! That's all I want from you. Tell me what you think and where you want to see more of! Thanks to all that have already reviewed. Do it more! I know I'm demanding, but hey I'm a dude and I can be. (sorry that chapters are short)

Luke was at school. Where the hell had everyone else gone? He suddenly

felt extremely out of the loop. Had they gone on a vacation together and not only not invited him but also failed to mention they were going? He found it hard to believe that it was chance that Seth, Ryan, Summer, and Marissa were all gone on the same day. Why was he left out? He did not like being left out. Was something serious going on? If so, why hadn't anyone bothered to call him about it. Damn it. He was bored. He had other people to talk to in his other classes but he knew after his father's closet was opened that they would not stand by him. Why was he here now if everyone else wasn't. He should skip, but he had already been seen. Damn teacher. Damn day. Could it get any worse? His cell phone rang. The teacher looked at him.

"Hand it over Luke. No calls in class." Luke groaned and gave the phone to

the teacher.

Sandy hung up the phone. He had been trying to call the people that Ryan

cared about. Luke hadn't picked up. Sandy still felt it was odd that Luke

and Ryan were friends now. He wasn't sure about Luke, but he had to let and support Ryan's decisions. He knew that. Still....Anyways..who should he

call next. Crossing out Luke's name passed a long ago crossed out Teresa's. Then he saw Marissa signaling him that Ryan was awake.

Teresa rushed into the hospital. She had said goodbye to Oliver at the last bus station. She did not notice him following her. She did not see Eddie

lurking in a corner watching her go by him. She did not see him start to

follow her. She had Ryan on her mind. Everything else around her was just

a scene she didn't have time to analyze.

Ryan was sitting in his hospital bed. Marissa was still getting his family. It was still hard for him to comprehend that they were his family. He felt

like a part of them, but at the same time a huge chunk of him said he wasn't. He didn't like that they had to worry over him. He knew he would

be fine. Eddie hadn't really meant to do this. Ryan was sure that Eddie

had been shocked and appalled by his own action. He had a clear memory of

Eddie's moments before he ditched the scene of his crime. Ryan didn't want

Eddie to pay his entire life for this mistake. He knew were Eddie had come

from...he came from there himself. The Cohens had offered Ryan a chance to

right his life. Why couldn't he do that for Eddie? He knew people were

going to ask him who had hurt him. He knew it was coming. Ryan didn't know what he would say. Man, it hurt to think. There was just to much floating

in his head. How in the world was he supposed to figure everything out? It was all too much for one person. Why did Eddie have to do this to him? Why couldn't Marissa have believed him about Oliver? Then they would still be

together and none of this would have happened! That wasn't fair to her and

he knew it. This wasn't Marissa's fault, it was his own. He should never

have become involved with Teresa while Eddie was still in the picture. But

he truly cared about Teresa. But as much as Marissa? He didn't know. Why

did he have to think? Why did his mind keep floating back to this subject?

This incredibly annoying unsolvable subject. He couldn't make up his mind

and that was that. Why did he feel so terrible? He felt vulnerable. He

had been shot. Someone had tried to kill him. Someone had wanted the only

life he will ever get to end. He couldn't comprehend that. Had what he did

with Teresa made him fit to die? What was so wrong about him that someone

wanted him dead? He thought he was an alright person. Why did he always

get in trouble?

Sandy entered the room.

"I was just trying to get a hold of Luke." Sandy smiled at him.

"So how are you holding up?"

Ryan didn't know what to say. He didn't know the answer.

"Fine. I guess." He mumbled quickly.

"You know, getting shot can be a traumatic experience. Are you sure your

okay. Do you want to talk about it?" Sandy asked him gently.

"I don't know.... Not yet. I can't.. talk about it yet." Ryan fumbled out. He couldn't face facts. He just wasn't ready. He needed more time to think, to comprehend.

"I'm here whenever you're ready Ryan." Sandy said reassuringly.

"Thanks." That was all he could get out.

"Anytime.....there is one thing we do need to face now." Sandy said slowly

while studying Ryan's face for a response.

"What?" Ryan knew what was coming. He wanted to know about Eddie.

"Who did this to you. The sooner you can tell us the sooner we can have him arrested." Sandy meant for his words to be comforting and reasonable. He

could tell be the look and Ryan's face he had failed.

Ryan was conflicted. Eddie and he were all that was left of the old gang.

The rest were in prison. By sending Eddie there...wasn't he in a way

sealing his own fate? If Eddie couldn't stay out...how could he?

"I don't know who did it. I didn't see him." Ryan lied through his teeth. He hoped it wasn't as obvious as he felt it was.

Sandy could tell Ryan was protecting the bastard. Damn it. He was afraid

Ryan would do this.

"Ryan it is important that whoever did this is caught. They could strike

again and maybe this time kill you. This person is a criminal who might not even make you his last victim."



Ryan thought of all the times in the past he had spent with Eddie. He was

not the kind of person to kill without real reason. This was probably why

Ryan felt so bad that Eddie had tried to kill him. Eddie wouldn't hurt

anyone anymore...Ryan was sure of it. Eddie didn't need to go to jail to

learn his lesson. Ryan wanted Eddie to have a full and happy life. Ryan

couldn't give him away. He just looked at Sandy and turned his head.

Sandy sighed and decided to try again later.

Marissa was listening in outside the door. She shouldn't she knew, but she

couldn't help it. She wanted to know what they were talking about. Then

Marissa remembered seeing Eddie. It had completely slipped her mind. She

had seen him flee the scene. Why hadn't she told anyone? How stupid could

she has been? Did Ryan really not know? He had to have known. They were

face to face when Marissa had turned the corner and laid her eyes on that

horrible scene. Why was Ryan covering for Eddie? She would have to ask.

She needed to know. Summer was standing at the door with her. She was

mumbling about something Marissa had no intension of listening to. She

needed to eavesdrop!

"Coop. Coop. Coop. Marissa! Are you listening to me?"

"Hello? Earth the Marissa?"

"Marissa!!!!" Summer wailed.

"Oh that's nice Summer." Marissa said half heartedly trying to get her ear

closer to the door.

"You're eavesdropping!" Summer exclaimed!

"that's nice Summer."

"I won't be a part of this. At least not right now. What fun is it when no

matter what I say I get.."

"That's nice Summer." Marissa said again.

"That response. Nice demonstration. Thank you Marissa. I'm going to the

Cafeteria. Maybe there will be a hot guy or something that will actually

enjoy the ultimate pleasure of my company!" Summer turned around and left

for the elevator.

"Bye Summer." Marissa mumbled as she enjoyed the silence now allowing her

full access to the conversation in Ryan's room.

Summer was strolling down the hallway cutely to attract male attention when she saw Teresa bolt out of the elevator.

"Hold up." Summer yelled pulling an arm out to keep Teresa from bolting past her.

"Where do you think your going?" Summer said bluntly while scowling up

at Teresa.