A/N: AWWW, you like me! You really like me! Well...not really me, just the story. But I was the person who wrote the story! Anyway, thank you Lillei, Yelak, anjel919, Dark Spell, KaitlinBell, laffertyluver23, and Kitty Kat for the lovely reviews you gave! I appreciate them very much and I encourage more...Heehee.

After the Rain

The van had stopped moving.

In front of them was a large brick-red building, with no sign in front of it. Marco already knew what building it was, with or without a sign. Inside his gut, he could feel it.

Ellie met his eyes that stared upward, "Are you ok?" He asked her, trying to hide the shakiness in his voice, "Yeah. I'm fine, why?"

She stated with easiness, "Because you're crushing my fingers."

His brows burrowed and Marco looked at his iron lock grip on Ellie's hand, he let her go as if she was on fire.

"Sorry," he murmured.

She exited the driver's seat without another word and went around the front, opening his door for him. Ellie touched his shoulder as they began walking up the steps leading to the glass doors, "You can do this, breathe, you can do this." Marco knew that she was trying to be helpful, but it was ticking him off slightly and he couldn't help feeling like this.

He nodded, to humor her and they passed through more glass doors, leading into a funeral room setting. A open book filled with signatures seated in front of the doors and Ellie began signing it, handing Marco a pen as well. He signed quickly and looked up to the parents of Dylan Michalchuk.

His mother had beet red eyes that day and patting them every few seconds as gushes of tears streamed down her cheeks.

Her husband had a grim line set in the middle of his forehead and turned cloudy eyes to them, "Thank you for coming." Ellie nodded her red head nervously and Marco continued staring lifelessly at them, Dylan's parents moved forward to him, Mrs. Michalchuk choked, "Marco," and hugged him against her breast, crying her eyes out on his new white shirt.

After a few seconds Mr. Michalchuk took her into his arms and left with her. Marco could still feel tearstains on his shirt as they walked into the room, Ellie stood by the table while he wandered over to two certain people in a corner.

Marco stopped in front of Spinner and Paige.

They both looked exhausted, Spinner had a unusual drawn look to him and Paige's eyes were about as red as her mother's.

She looked at Marco and a fresh wave of tears appeared in her blue eyes. Paige didn't move, but stared at him powerlessly. They both remembered well, the day when Marco took a walk to Paige's house.

He marched right up the steps off the Michalchuk house and without hesitation, was about to knock on the door when it opened. Spinner looked at him, "Dude, what's up?"

"Uh, Spin, is Paige home?"

He nodded, stepping away, "Yeah, I was just leaving. She's really upset, be careful." Marco patted his shoulder, "Alright man. I will."

As his friend left, Marco went inside and up the stairs. Right across from him was Dylan's closed bedroom door, there was no sign with his name on it, he could just tell by the posters of hockey players scattered all over. Childish, but so Dylan-like. Marco found it hard to believe that it had been days since his death.

He went to the door that had the word Paige in pink sparkly words and knocked, her voice screeched, "Leave me alone Spin!" He entered and she was sitting on her bed, bright blue eyes slightly pink.

Paige glowered at him, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Marco spoke up, "I came over, to ask why you've been treating me like I'm the scum of the Earth. Ever since Monday, you've ignored, pushed, and threatened me. What did I do?" She hissed angrily, getting up, "Everything. I hate you."

"Why? Paige, just answer me that," he asked impatiently. Paige had a murderous look in her eyes as she got in his face, "Because you are the scum of the earth."

Marco's voice raised, "Why do you think that, I don't get you?!"

Her voice shrieked, wobbling every so often, "BECAUSE YOU GOT TO SEE HIM!"

"Wh-What are you talking about?"

Her eyes widened, filling with tears, "AT THE GAME, YOU GOT TO TALK TO HIM BEFORE IT HAPPENED! YOU GOT TO SAY SOMETHING TO HIM, I'M HIS SISTER AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO SAY GOODBYE TO DYLAN!"

Paige drop to her knees, shaking uncontrollably. Marco whispered, "Is that why you hate me? Do you have any idea how much this hurts for me too? It hurts a lot more to have seen him those last moments because I could have done something, I keep thinking I could have kept him back and have made him stop playing that game. I'd give anything to have been in your place that day."

She looked up, "I would have given anything to have been in your place."

Silence passed in the room and Marco wiped away a tear on his face, sitting down beside her. Paige murmured, "I miss him."

"I miss him too," said Marco, looking into her eyes. Her blue eyes blinked, meeting his dark brown.