A/N: Onto chapter 3! You're back, I hope!

Just a warning, I don't think I handled the grieving characters very well. It wasn't easy! Oi, I was kind of rushing this story as it was. I wrote this over the course of eleven days, and I thought about it when I wasn't writing it, and I dreamed about it when I was sleeping, and...really...I was just passionately writing it and I get kind of blinded when I write that way and...what was I talking about? Go ahead and read the story, I'm off track...

ENJOY!

Chapter 3:

"Attention students," Principle Durst's voice filled the hallways of the school the following morning. Josie lay groggily in bed. She hadn't slept that night. She saw Marshall and Corrine stirring, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from their eyes. The sun shone brightly through their window and the clock on Corrine's bedside stand indicated that it was afternoon. They were all late, a rarity for both Marshall and Corrine, "Due to yesterday's…" Durst drew in her breath haggardly, "…event. Classes have been…cancelled for the week. That is all."

After a moment, Josie turned on her side, studying her friends. Marshall was rubbing his back and face at the same time, grunting with agony. Corrine was staring at the clock trying to understand how she could have slept in so late. Marshall was looking around trying to remember why he was in their room and sleeping on the floor. And then, almost at the same time, they recalled the day before. And there faces washed with grief.

"Now she's calling it an event," Marshall muttered bitterly. His eyes seemed a bit glazed over. Josie didn't know what to say in reply as the announcement was just beginning to register in her mind. Corrine was eerily silent.

"Are you two…alright?" Josie spoke up, her voice soft and uncertain.

"How can we be?" Corrine murmured, before looking about the room in confusion, her face pulled into a taut expression that Josie and Marshall couldn't read, "We…we…need to get to class," she finally said, her voice sounding far off.

"No, Corrine," Josie told her quietly, "Classes have been cancelled." Twin jewel like tears formed in the corners of Corrine's eyes.

"But…but…we need to go to class," she stammered, "I need to go to class."

"Corrine…why don't we go down for some food," Josie suggested, slipping from the bed towards her friend. She extended a hand and Corrine looked at it uncertainly. Josie forced a smile, it looked pained, "Come on. I would think that with 172 IQ points you must know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Corrine was hesitant, but slowly slipped her hand into Josie's. They began towards the door and then Josie paused, looking to the still dazed Marshall sitting on the floor. "Marshall…are you coming?"

"I…yeah."

The cafeteria was buzzing with students, laughing and talking excitedly about the ambulance and the announcement the day before and what it could all mean. None of them seemed to think that the worst had befallen Lucas. In fact, some of the wildest ideas were floating around the room. The wildest being about Lucas getting expelled, and that the person in the ambulance wasn't the shy-guy conspiracy theory geek, but someone he put in the hospital. People would cluck, "it's always the quiet ones".

Vaughn was already seated at a table and the others hastened over to join him. Corrine, clinging to Josie as if for dear life, and Marshall seeming to follow like an icy shadow behind the two girls, his eyes like dark empty holes in his head. They all collapsed into seats. Vaughn didn't seem to acknowledge their arrival, his eyes practically boring a hole through his math text. No one paid enough attention to be shocked that Vaughn was actually doing his math homework. And during lunch, no less. None of them bothered to go for food. The thought didn't even cross their minds.

Josie watched her friends with borderline impatience. She wanted one of them to say something, but her throat was too dry to speak up herself. It took a few moments, but Corrine finally broke into tears again. She collapsed onto the table, gaining unwarranted glares from their peers. Vaughn placed a hand on her back in an effort to comfort her, and Marshall showed no notice, seeming fascinated by the wood grain of the tabletop. Josie fixed a glower on the students at a nearby table who were sneering at the sobbing Corrine.

"You got a problem?" she demanded, and after taking a moment to consider the petite, yet, fiery redhead, they turned back to their meals, mumbling dispassionate "no's". Josie brought her attention back to her friends, looking at each of them considerably, "We should go to the science la….aa…" she trailed off, wincing, as the others gave her strange looks. Corrine even managed a raised brow through her tears, "Oh…whoops." She'd forgotten for a minute that there was really no science lab to go to as at least more than half of it had been destroyed. She shifted uncomfortably, "We should at least find Professor Z…talk to him about what's going on…"

"Yeah…we should…see how he's doing," Vaughn absently mumbled. With slow movements they all rose from the table, heading out into the hallway. The rain still pounded outside against the windowpanes, lightening exploding in the distance. But it was obvious the storm was moving closer.

They thought at first Professor Z's office was their best bet, but were disappointed to find he wasn't there. Half-heartedly they trudged upstairs, thinking to try his private room. They stood in front of the door and after a moment's hesitation, Josie stepped up to knock. There was silence, and then shuffling inside. The door swung open and Professor Z stood before them still dressed in the same suit as the day before, though it was slightly crumpled. He was fumbling to put his glasses on his face and his hair was sticking up in odd places. He blinked out at the four teens before silently widening the door to allow them entry.

The room was small and crowded. There was a bed shoved beside a prison-sized window, a desk overflowing with papers spilling onto the floor, a gargantuan out-of-date computer, and a jammed printer. The closet was obviously forced closed as articles of cloth were sticking out, and there were boxes stacked on the ground. There was barely room to maneuver.

"It's…worse than my room," Josie noted. They'd all been overtaken by a sudden meagerness. None of them had ever come to the professor's private quarters before, and now upon seeing it, they were wondering how the, obviously, brilliant scientist could stand such a crappy teaching position with such a horrible living environment. With his credentials, he could undoubtedly get a far better job.

"Ahem…what are you kids doing here?" Professor Z questioned, trying to force his voice to sound calm and composed, though it cracked slightly with obvious sadness. His students shuffled, looking to their feet for answers that weren't written on the floor.

"…Lucas…" Vaughn finally answered, and Corrine shook, wrapping her arms about herself. Marshall looked to the wall with a disgruntled glare. Josie fidgeted and Professor Z looked warily down to his desk, before leaning against it and folding his arms over his chest.

"It's a lot to deal with now, I know," he began, trying to keep the tremble from working through his body, "He…um…is…was…" his chin dropped to his collar and he used his finger and thumb to wipe away the tears filling his eyes. With that motion, the others slowly broke down once more.

All except Josie, who took a step away from them all, taking a deep breath. After a moment, she moved to Corrine, drawing her friend to her in a comforting embrace. She watched the boys with a weary gaze, sighing somewhat, and fighting the ache in her chest. She closed her eyes, rubbing Corrine's back soothingly. Her mind reeled as she thought back to the explosion. She squeezed her eyes tighter closed, remembering as she had walked down the hallway with Vaughn. They had been talking about something, chatting really, about nothing. She remembered feeling somewhat elated, to have a chance alone with Vaughn. She had been mad at him about his father, but that hadn't changed the attraction she felt towards him. And then they'd heard the boom. Josie had spun around so fast, Vaughn still as a post. She'd raced down the hall, throwing the door open, so many thoughts rolling around in her mind. Each of her friends had flashed before her eyes. Admittedly, and guiltily, she recalled how Lucas had been last to reach her thoughts. She recalled feeling so relieved to see Corrine, and then Marshall, and then Professor Z.

When the Professor had spoken Lucas's name, Josie hadn't reacted. It had felt as though her body, her mind, her heart had shut down completely.

After a while, they all composed themselves. Professor Z suggested that they should get to their dorm rooms, sleep. They'd all agreed, somewhat groggily, and shuffled from his quarters. Marshall subconsciously followed Josie and Corrine back to their room, and Vaughn went his separate way. Josie mentioned taking a shower and slipped off leaving Marshall and Corrine alone in silence.

"I thought it would take longer," Corrine mumbled.

"Hm…?"

"Missing him. I thought it would take longer," she clarified, seeping into her comforter and staring up at the pale white ceiling.

"She…she's not going to accept it, is she?" Marshall questioned, jerking his head in the direction Josie had went. Corrine was silent a seemingly long time before finally nodding.

"It's Josie," she half-chuckled, it turned into a soft sob.

"Everything seems to be happening so fast," Marshall murmured, "I don't think I can hold on."

"Marshall…"

His eyes flickered up and lit with some strange realization.

"My laptop," he said suddenly and Corrine stared at him in stun, "I…don't have it. I must have left it downstairs in…" he trailed off.

"The lab," she finished for him. He nodded solemnly. He stood abruptly, beginning towards the door, "Wait…where are you going?" Corrine demanded in surprise.

"I have to go get it," he answered, and she was on her feet after him.

"What do you mean? Marshall…what are you talking about? You're going down there…?"

"Yeah."

"Why? Don't. Come back here," Corrine cried, chasing after him down the hall. He was making quick strides towards the stairs, but paused to let her catch up. He turned to her, his eyes, so hollow and desperate, burned into hers.

"I have to," he said, almost pleadingly. She held that gaze, heart pounding rapidly against her chest, before slowly nodding.

"Okay," she agreed, "But I'm coming with you."

-00000-

Lucas had taken to sitting on one of the desks that hadn't been destroyed or knocked over in the blast. He was staring at the door impudently, rubbing his forehead. He couldn't understand it. After a hundred or so unsuccessful tries at going through the door, trying to open the door, and trying to go through varying walls and even once the floor, he'd finally given up. Every exit attempt only brought him back to the dreaded lab. He sighed.

As the clock had been on the side of the room that was completely devastated, Lucas had no idea how much time had passed. It had been awhile, that much was certain. But he realized, he wasn't tired or hungry. Now, after so long alone, he was beginning to formulate theories as to his current predicament. He was favoring an alien conspiracy, but at a close second was a slowly developing idea that he was actually on a different plane of existence. It would explain how Professor Z couldn't see him. Maybe, he was on such a thin, fragile dimension, that it allowed him to view the plane he'd come from. But he wouldn't be able to affect or alter it. Because he wasn't really there. As well, the dimension was so small, that it only encompassed the area of the lab, which would explain why he couldn't leave the lab.

The only problem with that idea was how to get back. No solutions came to mind. Lucas knew if he couldn't figure out a way to contact his fellow Science Club members he could very well be stuck in that proverbial limbo. He sunk down, resting his elbow on his knee and cupping his chin with his hand, still focused on the door. He was beginning to wonder if his friends even missed him, what they were thinking, how they felt. He realized, they must all think he's dead, like Professor Z. It would only make sense. He wondered how they were all taking it. He wondered how Josie was taking it. A frown settled on his features. Vaughn was probably comforting her at that moment. And she probably wasn't protesting. In fact, they were probably just using his "death" as an excuse to spend time together alone. He felt sick and all the less determined to get out of that room and back to normal. Maybe it was better this way, he thought. No more bullies. No more being unwanted. He smirked slightly. No more fifteen page English essays. And then his face fell. No more getting overlooked by the girl he wanted more than anything in the world to just notice him for some suspicious and, definitely, untrustworthy but popular and apparently heartthrob-ish jock.

And then the door began to move and Lucas straightened, startled. So consumed by the solace of that room, he'd begun to forget there were other people out there. He was surprised to see Corrine and Marshall tentatively step into the darkness. And then Marshall flicked the light switch beside the door and the overhead lights flickered on. Lucas watched them closely, waiting, almost hoping for them to notice him. Corrine's eyes washed over the room…over him, and they passed unflinching. His heart sank. She couldn't see him either. But he wasn't ready to give up that easily, hopping from the table and hesitantly making his way over to them.

"It…it's so quiet," Corrine commented, and Lucas froze at her voice. Nothing sounded better at the moment.

"There it is," Marshall replied, and he stepped through the debris, weaving into the far back where him and Corrine had sat no more than a day before readying research on complex equations. He passed right by Lucas, and if the conspiracy theorist been tangible, they might of even brushed against one another.

Lucas watched with interest as Marshall picked up his laptop, closing it and clicking his tongue. He waited for some sign, some indication, some way of knowing how they felt. Did they know that he was "dead"? Corrine's eyes were moving about the room again, taking it all in. She paused at that gaping hole, staring openly at it.

"The batteries dead," Marshall noted, and something about that statement caused him to grimace. Corrine paid him no heed, her eyes still studying the mess before her.

"You guys," Lucas began, though his mind was screaming it was futile, "Please…" he begged, stepping to Marshall and holding his hands up, palms pressed together in a prayer position, "See me. Look at me. Marshall, my best friend. I'm here. Just look at me!" But nothing. He moved to Corrine, waving his hands in her face, "I'm right in front of you! I'm right here! Corrine! Marshall! Please…" He stepped back, staring between the two of them, "What am I doing…? This is useless…"

He jumped, as did Corrine, when the sound of metal slamming wood ricocheted off the ruined walls of the science lab. They turned wide-eyed to Marshall, another BAM exploding in their ears. He was raising his laptop up again, the paint chipped on the bottom where it had impacted against the table top. The durable compact PC didn't even appear harmed beyond that, but he was readying to bash it again. His eyes were burning intensity, his teeth gritted. Corrine rushed forward, grabbing a hold of the laptop just as it was coming down for anther bit of undeserved maltreatment.

"Marshall, it's not going to bring him back!" Corrine cried, and the passion and hurt in her tone carried through to Lucas and he faltered in his uncertainties. Marshall hesitated, and then let Corrine take the laptop from his hands, arms falling to his sides.

"I…I'm sorry," he stammered, "I…don't know what came over me." Lucas took another step back. That voice…it wasn't Marshall's. At least, not the Marshall he knew. It sounded so dead, so lifeless. There was so much pain and misery in it. Corrine placed the laptop on the desk. She was visibly trembling. Lucas watched the scene unfold before him with mouth parted and eyes wide, his brow slightly drawn together.

"Marshall…"

"It's not going to help, Corrine."

"Don't act like that," Corrine whispered, turning to him with tear filled eyes, "He's gone, Marshall, you're not the only one dealing with it. I…I…" she crumbled then, sobs overtaking her, "I…just…can't…stop…crying," she gasped, "It was…all…so…sudden."

"I know," Marshall replied, his own eyes damp around the edges. He turned his back to her, walking a few steps forward while massaging the bridge of his nose, and Lucas couldn't pull his eyes away. He watched with an almost perverse interest. He knew it was wrong, listening in on their conversation in such a fashion, but he couldn't pull himself from them. He felt almost like Tom Sawyer, staring down at his own funeral. If only Josie was there to proclaim, "If Lucas were standing here right now, I'd give him a kiss."

"What…do we…do?" Corrine demanded, staring down Marshall's back, her eyes and face imprinted with tears.

"What is there to do?" Marshall retorted, shaking his head before turning back to Corrine, "I'm thinking of calling my parents," he finally relinquished, and Corrine met his eyes with uncertainty. What was he saying? "I can't stay here, Corrine. In that room, in these halls…"

"You're going to leave," Corrine realized, then shaking her head and narrowing her eyes at him, "You're going to leave? How can you?"

"How can I not?" Marshall shot back, pausing, then taking a deep breath, "He was my best friend, Corrine. I need to get away from this place…because only here, at this school, at Blake Holsey High, would I lose my best friend like that!"

"But what about solving the…"

"Black hole mystery?" Marshall cut her off, "Right now it doesn't seem that important to me."

Lucas felt his heart sink. Was he really hearing right? Marshall was leaving? Marshall was giving up on finding the answers to the weird things going on at Blake Holsey High?

"Don't do it, Marshall," Lucas heard himself saying, "Not over me…they need you, Josie needs you. She needs all the help…all the allies she can get!" He stepped forward, raging, "Who's going to watch out for her? Who's going to watch her back against Victor…against Vaughn? They can't be trusted!"

"I'm sorry, Corrine," Marshall muttered, brushing by her to pick up his laptop. He left her, disappearing out the door into the hallway that was suddenly so forbidden to Lucas.

Corrine was silent, standing alone, fighting back the sobs that had overcome her once more. She sniffled, wiping away her tears with the palm of her hand. She took a deep, steadying breath.

"Lucas," she started, and he knew better than to get his hopes up, "I don't…I don't know if you can hear me…"

"I can," Lucas muttered, stalking back towards his seat, the last standing desk in the room.

"I just want you to know, that we all love you…and…and…" she shook her head, her words catching in her throat, tears threatening to pour like a boisterous waterfall once more, "…we all love you…and …oh god, this is stupid. I'm sorry, Lucas. It's not fair…none of this seems fair, at all. Why were you taken from us? I wish I knew. I wish you were back here…but you're gone. Oh god…" she rushed to the door, swinging it open and it slammed shut behind her.

Lucas let out a sigh, deep and frustrated. He pulled himself back up on the desk and resumed staring at the door trying to figure out a way to fix everything.

-00000-

Josie relished the feel of the water cascading down her bare form. Her shower had gone cold somewhere around half an hour ago. She didn't even bother thinking about how unhappy the other girls in her dorm would be when they discovered she'd used the last of the hot water for the night. But then, it was edging on late and she didn't think many girls would be taking showers as it was. She closed her eyes, just breathing in the fresh soap smell. There was something healing about a nice long shower.

But as the water hitting the porcelain floor started to sound eerily reminisce of the water pelting outside, Josie's thoughts were drawn to Lucas. Gone. It seemed like such a simple word. An adjective, a verb, what was it? It was describing Lucas. Lucas was gone. Gone Lucas. Never coming back.

"Stop it," Josie commanded herself, eyes wide, jaw set firm, and hands clenched in tight fists. She ran her hands though her hair, knocking the water to the floor. It had seemed so surreal, watching even Professor Z break down in that tiny room. With all of her friends misery and tears, it was getting harder and harder for her to keep it together. She turned the water off then, reaching for her towel and wrapping it about herself.

Josie wasn't unaffected by the incident and Lucas's "death". In fact, it had affected her so much, it scared her. She felt sad, like the others, on the brink of tears that she would never let spill in front of her friends who needed someone to be strong, she knew. But then there was something else, something she'd never felt before. Like she'd forgotten something really important. She felt as if she had needed to tell Lucas something, it was bursting inside her, and now she no longer had that chance. But she didn't know what it was she had wanted to say. But it felt as though it were tearing her up inside that she'd never said it.

And then there was something aching inside her. Some curiosity. A question she needed an answer to. She just needed to be sure of something. She frowned, drying herself off and slowly redressing. She had to go down to the lab. She had to make sure, just to ease that uncertainty in her mind, that this wasn't a black hole mystery. She slipped back into her dorm room, finding Corrine curled up in bed, tear stains on her pillow case. Josie sighed, shivering against a non-existent breeze.

She took a seat on her bed looking to her roommate wearily. Laying down would only taunt her with the sleep she knew she wouldn't be getting that night.

"I can't go down tonight," Josie told herself, "Or tomorrow…Corrine needs me…" But the heaviness in her heart suggested that she was only making excuses.

ENDA/N: I'll try to upload more tomorrow, but this is all for today.

Please excuse any grammatical mistakes or typing errors, please REVIEW! And...thanks for reading!