I'm sorry! You guys are just completely going to hate me because this is the last chapter. Thank you to all of my reviewers who stuck with me through the thick and thin of this story. It really makes me said to end the story...but I'm coming up with some great ideas for new stories and this one has gone for a long time but I think it's gone as far as it's gonna go. And if you guys don't like the ending of the story...I'm sorry. :( As I told you...my mood really reflects off the story and right now I'm very depressed so this ending may not be what you all had pictured. But from the beginning this story was meant to be a tragedy. But I hope you liked it anyhow...and I hope you'll review and read my other stories. Thank you for reading "Don't Be Afraid To Be Loved."

-Casey

Shoutouts:
Queen of Doom- Yes, an evil cliffhanger indeed, which I intend to bring you out of this chapter lol. Thank you for reviewing.

elleestJenn-I'm sorry I left you hanging for so long. I don't mean for that to happen when you have to re-read. It happens to me when I read stories that haven't been updated in forever.

Aelia O'Hession-I do make Race suffer a little too much. I think this story might be ready for a turn around. We'll see. YOU MUST UPDATE! It's been a full year! lol, take your time anyway, I'm just being a loser lol...like I have any room to talk when I leave you guys hanging for so long! . Thank you for reviewing as mich as you did.

Chapter 24.

"Race I--I..." Casey started but couldn't bring upon herself to finish. Racetrack continued to stare hard into her eyes. Casey couldn't stand the silent torment she was getting for him. "Racetrack Higgins! I haven't seen you in a year, will you please just speak to me?" She yelled and began to feel tears begin to form in her eyes.

It hurt Racetrack to look at the one girl he loved in such torment. But she had done just the same to him. "Casey," He spoke finally. "What d'ya want me to say? You want me to pretend like it's all alright when it's not? You tore me up when you left me...and you expect me to go on and let you do it again? Case, that's not the way things work! Nothing you can say or do can make me forgive you for what you've done. You left me alone and unloved. You make me afraid to be loved. Because one day they can just be gone just like that."

And with those final words, Casey felt herself die. Maybe not physically, but emotionally. She couldn't hold the tears back any longer. She fell to her knees right in the hallway and cried. She knew in her mind that she had to do something. Race's life was at stake as was the rest of the Newsies...what was she to do?

She pulled the newspaper out of her pocket that she picked up earlier and read the rest of the story.

...Unfortunately for Racetrack, the city isn't buying into his story of, "She was my sister, why would I do it?" So things aren't looking bright for him, or the rest of the Newsies for that matter. The penalty they face for the murder is death. And from the looks of where it's headed, the city may be rid of all its Newsboys.

"I can't let this happen." Casey whispered to herself. She got up from the dusty floor and made a run for it out of the hallway. Race watched as she fled. "Just save yourself...that's all I ask of you." He whispered and leaned his head against the bars, as a tear fell from his eye.

Casey, once she got out of the hallway opened the bag she carried with all of her belongings. She pulled out the knife that Rinoa had killed herself with, dried blood still remained on it. Casey held it close as a tear escaped from her eye. "Rinoa, I know that you wouldn't want Race killed for your murder. Or suicide...or whatever...but, this is for the best." Casey spoke to herself.

Then Casey did what she felt she had to do. "I KILLED HER! I KILLED RINOA HIGGINS!" She screamed towards the hallway. "What is she doing!" Jack yelled. "Casey, stop!" All the boys yelled. But Casey continued to scream it over and over as if it were the lyrics to her favorite song.

"What are you screaming about?" asked guards coming over to where she was. She held the knife up. "It was me...I killed Rinoa...it was me...it was me..." Casey repeated, her voice growing softer everytime she repeated it.

It was as if time had stopped. By the time Casey was handcuffed and taken down to the courthouse, it had only seemed like a second.

The judge called order as Casey was led into the courtroom. The boys were all on the side, guarded by police. Casey gave them a slight smile to let them know she was ok. All the boys had looks of fear in their eyes. But Casey could no longer look as she was led right up to the seat set in front of the judge.

"Casey Matthews...you admit to the murder of Rinoa Higgins?"

"Yes sir, I do."

"What led you to this grisly crime?"

"She got in the way."

"I see...and how so?"

"She took what was mine away from me. All that I had worked for...she took away.

"And how precisely did you kill her?"

"I tied her down and, I slit her wrists, to watch her die a slow death. Which the little bitch deserved."

"How long did you know Rinoa?"

"Ever since she was eight."

"Did you act alone?"

"Yes sir."

"Did the Newsies help you?"

"No Sir."

"You plead guilty?"

"Yes Sir I do."

"Miss Matthews, you take FULL responsibility for these actions you have commited?"

"Yes Sir, I do. And I'd do it again!"

It hurt Casey to yell these horrible things. When in reality she had not killed Rinoa. She knew it was hurting Racetrack just as much as it hurt her. And This judge really didn't like to waste time because he moved right on to the sentencing.

"Well, in state of this new evidence. The knife in which commited the murder... I find Casey Matthews guilty of the murder of Rinoa Higgins, and I hereby sentence Miss. Matthews to death. Tomorrow at dawn."

The Newsies couldn't have led a greater uproar. They all yelled, "No!" In unison and tried to fight off the police...which had not gone successfully. Casey just shook her head and smiled. 'Race, please just let it go...'

It seemed nothing else mattered in the world. All that mattered in Casey's mind was that Race and the Newsies got to live what they had left of their lives. Rinoa had died a useless death. A stoppable one at that...and Casey felt responsible for Rinoa's suicide even if she wasn't. She never could tear the feeling out of her mind. She would rather end it then have to live with the guilt forever.

Casey was grabbed up from her seat and taken towards the door. She watched as the police un handcuffed the boys and told them they could go.

"No funny buisness fellas. Or you'll be joining her." One cop said as he roughly un handcuffed Racetrack.

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Casey was thrown into a cell. She was all alone. She had never felt more alone in her life. "I die tomorrow...I die tomorrow." Casey kept repeating and hugged herself. The room was cold and damp. There was no blanket on the hard bed she was laying on. "I'm all alone." She cried to herself softly.

"No you aren't." Came a voice from the window. Casey jumped as the silence was ruptured by the voice, and wiped away a tear. It was Race. The window was right above her bed.

"Race!" Casey cried. She reached her hand through the bars and race held it. "You aren't alone Casey. I'm here, I always have been. Why'd you do it Case? Why did you sacrifice yourself for us? You didn't do it." Race said with a tear rolling down his cheek. Casey wiped it away with her other hand.

"I'm more responsible for it than any of you. I don't want you all to die for something you shouldn't die for." She said.

"I--I wont let them do it. They can't take you away from me." He said starting to really cry.

"Race...I wont be taken from you. Just think of it...as a long seperation. One day we'll find eachother...it'll be warm...and bright...and nothing else will matter...just you and me." Casey said trying to make Racetrack stop crying. She didn't want him to know that she was scared about it. She wanted to be brave for him.

"Race...I want to tell you something. What you said to me when I came to the jail yesterday...I wanted to tell you this... Don't be afraid to be loved...don't. You will never be alone. Not as long as I live will you ever be alone. Don't you ever think it. Nothing in this planet means more to me than you do. And you know that." Casey said with her voice shaking.

"Who's that crazy bitch talkin' to?" A guard yelled to another as they unlocked the door down the hall.

"Race, you have to go, now. They'll find you."

Racetrack looked into her eyes. "I can't leave you."

The guards got the door unlocked and they started to make their way to her cell.

"Please Race, run for me. I love you, and I put my life on the line to save you. Now please run. And one thing, please promise me you'll be there tomorrow. Promise me." Casey said, the tears welling up in her eyes.

"I promise." Racetrack said, more tears flowing out of his eyes. "I love you..." He said softly.

"And I love you." Casey said kissing him through the bars. "I always will."

And with that he ran. Ran until he was completely out of sight. "I love you..." She whispered.

"Just talking to herself..." One of the guards sneered. As they made their way out of the hall.

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Rain poured lightly from the sky the next morning as Casey was woken by a rumble of thunder. It couldn't be past 5 in the morning. 'Perfect weather to go with the day.' Casey thought. She knew she couldn't get back to sleep. They'd be coming for her any minute. She watched as the sun was rising from the distance. The sky was gray mixed with slight patches of purple and yellow from the sun rising.

After what seemed like an eternity she heard the door lock click from the hallway and footsteps coming towards her cell.

Four guards came in as her cell was unlocked and she was picked up from her bed roughly, and dragged out to the back of the jail where the executions were held. A crowd had gathered. Mostly made up of rich families, or just some sick people who liked watching people put to death. Casey found it sickening. The Newsies were near the front, right by the platform.

"Can I have just one request?" Casey asked the guards that were handling her. "And what might that be?" One asked. "Can I say good bye?" She asked.

"Goodbye huh? And why should we let you do that?" Another asked, roughly. "Please?" Casey asked looking up at them. " You have one minute." The first one said. "Guess, I'm just going a bit soft." He continued, gruffly.

They took her to where the Newsies were. She ran up to Race and hugged him. "I love you." She whispered into his ear, and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. It didn't last long but Race savored it. Then, she tore away from him and looked at all the guys. "This isn't how I wanted it all to come out, and what you're all about to see is anything but pleasant...but guys remember, I love you all and...please...just keep living for me...will you?" She asked, as they all nodded sadly.

After that, Casey was dragged up to the platform and had a rope fitted around her neck. Then, one of the guards came forward and read,

"Casey Leigh Matthews,

You are found guilty by the State of New York for the murder of Rinoa Higgins, and are hereby sentenced to death on this day, January 20th. And may God have mercy on your soul." He finished rolling up the scroll and turned and gave them a nod to place her on the door that would drop her to her death. They placed her onto it and tied her hands behind her back.

Casey's heart pounded and her mouth grew dry. Any minute now she was going to feel pain beyond anything she had ever experienced. It would either be an instantaneous death from her neck breaking,or she would be dying slowly as she was choked to death. She scanned the crowd and saw Oscar. She was rather surprised to see him there with his hat off and his head lowered and Morris patting his back. After what she did to him she expected him to be glad that she was dying.

She looked over at Race, his face full of tears, his eyes red from crying. The wind made his cheeks pink and the rain made him look soaked and positively chilled to the bone. Soon the rain turned to light snow. Casey smiled. She loved snow. All the thought of winter made her heart soar. She looked up at the sky and could hardly believe that this was the last time that she would see it again. She looked back at Race and cherished the last time she would see his face until they met again

She saw the guard nod to the executioner. This is it...goodbye Race...goodbye Newsies...goodbye world...Then She felt herself drop. Her heart fell as she did. Goodbye everyone...

Race watched as she slowly died. His tears fell to the ground. He couldn't stand it. He screamed in misery and fell into Jack's arms. He probably looked gay but he didn't care. Jack was his only stability from falling. All the boys watched their friend, the one girl who lit up their world, die just like that. Soon her body grew limp. She was gone...gone forever.

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"Casey was a good friend to all who knew her. And now she's in a better place." The priest finished and closed his book. All The Newsies were standing in the graveyard. It was snowing and everyone was there. Kloppman, All The Newsies, The Delancey's, everyone.

All the Newsies stood near her casket. It was an open casket funeral so they all stared at her sadly. She looked like she was sleeping and wouldn't wake up to the morning call. Racetrack stepped forward and grabbed her hand. 'I would give anything for her to open her eyes...' he thought to himself and held her hand up to his cheek with both hands. He grabbed the rose off the ground that he left on the ground and put it next to her. And then let go of her hand and took his pocket watch out of his pocket and placed it in her hands that layed on her stomach. "I will always be with you." He whispered and leaned down and kissed her cheek. It felt so cold...he couldn't help but lean against the side of the casket and cry. She was gone forever.

"She saved us...we owe her everything..." Jack said sadly wiping a tear away with his sleeve.

"She made me realize something." Oscar said coming up to the boys. "She made me realize that there is good in the world...and that I was a fool for not seeing it sooner. She really put me in line...rather painfully." He finished with a smile remembering how much she used to beat him up.

"She actually put you in line?" Bumlets asked a bit amused at the fact.

"Well, before her...all I ever thought about was hurting people...I never thought this was a compassionate universe and when you do good things...good things can come back...I know that now...and I have her to thank for it...God, I'll miss that girl." Oscar said sighing.

"We all will." Mush said brushing away a tear.

Race hadn't been listening to all of them. He was just embracing the last moment he would see her face. He would never see her angelic smile again...never hear the sound of her laugh. Never fell her warm lips brush against his. Never again...

Then he looked up and something came to mind. It was as if he was back at the the day Casey was killed and her voice rang through his head like it was being said right then. "This isn't how I wanted it all to come out and what you're all about to see is anything but pleasant...but guys remember, I love you all and...please...just keep living for me...will you?"

"Fellas..." He started.

Everyone grew quiet and looked at Race. He picked up his hat from the ground and then said, "As long as you live...don't be afraid to be loved." And with that he started towards the newspaper office.

The End.