The End, or a New Beginning?

Cody ran into the oldest part of X Middle School, it wasn't used anymore and it would be perfect for them to start the fire. He was right, at the end of a hallway stood Jack, Shawn and Derek with a ton of gas soaked rags.

" Stop!" he shouted racing down the hallway intending to stop them right then and there. They turned and Jack simply smiled as he dropped a match onto the gas clothes, they went up in flames instantly. Derek however ran at Cody who ducked his punch, but got the shove into a wall, Jack and Derek ran past him. But Shawn didn't, he pulled Cody up.

" Go after them!" he said, looking back at the fire, " I'll do what I can about this. I'm so sorry Cody, they threatened all my old friends too." Cody nodded, but in the distance they could hear fire engines screaming in their direction, Ingrid! Thank you!

" Forget it!" Cody called as he pulled Shawn along with him, " I knew it, and don't worry about the fire, the firemen will take care of it! Lets take Jack out!" Shawn grinned and nodded as they raced after the two boys, who ran as far as the big tree overlooking the town. They stopped and turned to face Shawn and Cody, who they obviously didn't consider a threat.

" Ha! Your too late!" Jack screamed, " we did it, X will burn!" Shawn tackled him to the ground, but they both hit their heads on the tree so it was just Derek and Cody left. They glared at each other until, Derek saw the police, teachers, Folsom and the safety patrol running towards them, and he knew he had to do something. He ran at Cody, pulling a knife out of his pocket, but concealing it under his shirt. Cody tried to move when he saw the knife but it was too late. Derek left the knife sticking out of his gut, and tried to run by him but the police caught him and handcuffed him for arson. Ingrid ran up to Cody who was just standing there, feeling a rush of coldness flow through his body.

" Cody!" she cried happily, " you did it! What's wrong? Why aren't you moving?" he reached down and pulled the knife out of his stomach, and dropped it on the ground, and his body crumpled. Everyone was yelling and shouting, Ingrid had screamed and dropped beside him.

" What happened!" the police were shouting, as an ambulance came racing across the field towards them. Then they saw the knife with blood on it sticking out of the ground, and Cody managed to whisper a few words.

" Derek stabbed me…. I'm so cold…." he choked out, looking at Ingrid, he felt like he was about to lose her, " I'm sorry, I'm sorry I broke my promise to be okay." Then everything went dark.

He was running, trying to reach Ingrid, but she was always just a few inches away.

" Bye Cody!" she called happily, " don't forget me!"

" No! Don't leave me!" he screamed but she was gone, he dropped to his knees sobbing, " why does everyone I care about always leave me!"

Suddenly he could move his hand, and his chest felt very heavy, he opened his eyes. Looking around he realized that he must be in a hospital room; he was connected to a lot of machines that beeped every few seconds. A nurse walked in and looked very surprised when she saw that was awake.

" So you finally woke up?" she asked walking over and taking his pulse, Cody nodded watching as she sighed.

" What time is it?" he asked looking at where his watch normally was.

" About three o'clock, in the morning," she replied still taking his pulse, Cody just stared at her, " you've been unconscious for about two days." Remembering what had happened he glanced down, and saw white bandages covering his stomach. He was still in his black pants, but his shoes were gone and he spotted them on the floor near the window.

" You know you're a very lucky kid, right?" the nurse asked as she checked the bandages.

" Why? I just got stabbed?" he said sarcastically.

" No," she said smiling as she looked up, " because the knife missed all your organs, your going to be just fine and you can go home, probably tomorrow."

" Oh, that's great," he said softly, he wondered if his dad was here, " is there anyone here, for me?"

" Yes, there is," the nurse said as she scribbled something on her clipboard, "a boy and his father are in the waiting room, hoping that you'll wake up. And there was a girl here in a black dress, but her parents dragged her home tonight, she wouldn't leave your side for the better part of two days." Cody smiled to himself as the nurse walked out, calling Shawn and his dad in.

" Hey kid," Shawn's dad, Chet grinned down at him, " how ya feeling?"

" Hey Chet," Cody grinned up at him, he had been more of a father to Cody then his real dad, " much better, they say that I can go home tomorrow."

" Sorry kid," Chet looked down at him, " you're not going home, your going to live with me and Shawn until your all better." Cody grinned happily and mumbled a thank you, as Shawn grinned. A few hours later, they let him go with Chet and Shawn, as soon as he got to their house; he fell asleep on the bed.

" What do you mean he's gone!" Ingrid was carrying a single rose, and was slightly hysterical, " where did he go!"

" He went with his stepfather and stepbrother, I can't tell you where they live," the nurse answered absentmindedly, " he will be fine and back at school within two weeks." Ingrid scowled as she walked out of the hospital. I don't have two weeks to wait, she thought sadly, I'm leaving after the Our School Didn't Burn Down Dance, on Friday. After that I'm leaving to that school, the one that Derek wanted to go to. Derek and Jack had confessed to everything, and Shawn and Cody were off the hook, because they were only doing it to protect their friends. Derek had only agreed to do the whole thing because it might get her mind off the exam. The person, who scored highest on this exam, was offered a place at the best genius school in the country. Ingrid had won, and she was leaving X, to go to school three states away. She sighed, Cody and her had just got together and now she was leaving, she knew that they would have to break up. It was just too far, but she at least wanted to see him one last time.

Anza was at the door, just ready to leave, Cody was sitting on the couch, in shock from what his best friend had just told him. Ingrid was leaving tomorrow, tonight was her last night in X, and he wasn't going to see her.

" You okay man?" Anza asked softly, staring at him.

" I don't know," Cody, answered truthfully, " I want to be happy for her, but it really hurts."

" I know man," Anza mumbled, " look I've got to go, Tehama is expecting me to pick her up for the dance soon, are you going?"

" No," Cody sighed looking at Anza, " I don't think so at least. Tehama?" Anza grinned and waved as he stepped out the door. This was something that could change Ingrid's future, he should support her, but if he did, she would be gone. She probably wouldn't even come back to X, except for Christmas, until after college and by then he planned to be long gone. So this would be goodbye, Cody stood up and walked to his room and fell on to the bed.

The dance was in full swing, everyone was on the floor having a blast, except for Ingrid she was standing against a wall, wishing that she wasn't here. But she had come because Folsom was going to give a speech, just before the last dance, and she was in it. Anza walked over with Tehama, they were both dressed up in good dress clothes, and they each grabbed one of her arms and pulled her to the middle of the dance floor with them. Forcing her to dance, she sighed and went with it until the song was over, and then a slow song came on. It was 'There You'll Be' by Faith Hill, she sighed, now she was standing in the middle of a dance floor full of dancing couples. Anza and Tehama were dancing a few feet away, Fillmore was dancing with Penny a ways away and even Danny was dancing with some girl. Ingrid turned around and lost her breath, he was here. Standing a few feet behind her was Cody; instead of his normal clothes he was wearing a silk black dress shirt, with red flames coming up from the bottom, with black pants. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. They danced slowly, their eyes never leaving the others.

When I think back
On these times
And the dreams
We left behind
I'll be glad 'cause
I was blessed to get
To have you in my life
When I look back
On these days
I'll look and see your face
You were right there for me

In my dreams
I'll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There always be a place
For you for all my life
I'll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you'll be

This is goodbye, Ingrid realized sadly, he knows, and he came to say goodbye. Cody, I'm so sorry, but I'll never ever forget you. I love you.

Well you showed me
How it feels
To feel the sky
Within my reach
And I always
Will remember all
The strength you
Gave to me
Your love made me
Make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me

In my dreams
I'll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There always be a place
For you for all my life
I'll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you'll be

She knows that this is goodbye, Cody thought, she knows that. And I can see that it is hurting her heart, because she really does love me. And I love her just as much if not more.

'Cause I always saw in you
My light, my strength
And I want to thank you
Now for all the ways
You were right there for me
You were right there for me
For always

In my dreams
I'll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There always be a place
For you for all my life
I'll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you'll be

As the song ended, Cody looked down at Ingrid; she saw the sadness in his eyes. He took her hand and they walked outside, and walked over to the big tree, where Derek had stabbed him. Ingrid opened her mouth to say something but Cody cut her off.

" No, let me talk first," he said softly, " Ingrid, Anza told me about you getting the top score on that essay. The whole Derek thing made more sense then, he wanted to go so that he could have the best future he could. And that's why you're going to go, your going to be someone who makes a difference in the world Ingrid. I know it, and I want you to go to that school."

" But…that means that I'll be leaving you," Ingrid said sadly, " I don't want to do that, I just found you. I know that it will help me in the future, but it's going to hurt knowing what I gave up to go."

" Ingrid, you can't not go just because of me," he said firmly, " if you stayed, I would wonder everyday what would have happened to your future if you had gone. Your going, you have to, no matter what, you have to make a difference. So don't worry about me, just worry about yourself for right now. I can't promise that we'll meet again, but I can promise you one thing, I will never forget you. And no matter what the future holds for us, I'll still love you."

" I'll never forget you either," she whispered as he held her against him, " I'll still love you too." He finger was under her chin and he lifted her head so he could see her eyes, and he leaned down and kissed her softly. As they broke apart, they stayed in each other's arms.

" We should go back in," he said after a few minutes, " Folsom's speech will be soon and you have to be there." They walked back to the school, hand in hand. When they walked back into the gym they realized that Folsom's speech had already started and was half over.

"…. She has brought great honor to our school," Folsom said proudly, " not only with helping to save our school, but she will be attending the best high school this country can offer. And here she is, Ingrid Third!" Ingrid felt herself being pulled towards the stage, and Cody's hand was suddenly gone. She reached the stage, and was pushed up the stairs toward Principal Folsom.

" Congratulations Ingrid," Folsom beamed as Ingrid stumbled towards her, and Folsom pushed a plaque into her hands, " you've made X school very proud. I always knew that you would go far. You have chosen to accept the scholarship haven't you?"

Ingrid scanned the crowd, until she landed on Cody's face, " yes…. yes I have decided to accept, thank you very much."

" Okay kid," Ingrid's older sister Ariella grinned down at her, " make me proud, and make sure you do all your homework." Ingrid nodded as she hugged her sister goodbye, then she hugged her parents and walked outside to wait for the bus. She took one last look at X while she waited, wondering when the next time she would set foot in this town would be. The bus came and the driver put her bags down below and she went to the back of the line, so she could give the driver her ticket and get on.

" Ingrid! Ingrid wait!" she spun around as someone shouted her name, and she saw Cody running towards her, he skidded to a stop in front of her and held out his hand, there was a bag dangling from it, " sorry I'm late, I kinda forgot to buy the bag." He blushed and grinned at her. She took it and was about to open it when he stopped her.

" Don't open it yet," he said softly, " open on the bus. I want you to have a good time at this school, so I think that we should break up. That way you can date other people there."

" I kind of figured that would be it," Ingrid said sadly, the bag clutched in her hand, " Cody I still…."

Cody shook his head and smiled softly, " don't ruin the perfect goodbye." He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and a hug.

" I hope we meet again some day," he whispered into her ear and then turned away and walked down the street. Ingrid got on the bus and opened what was in the bag. It was just a burned cd; she looked at it curiously and then put it in her discman and hit play.

" Uhhh, hey Ingrid it's me, Cody, just wanted to tell you something. No matter where you are, just listen to the song that is on here and remember that I still love you. So you'll never be alone, I'll be there with you." then the song came on, it was the song that they danced to. 'There You'll Be' by Faith Hill, Ingrid had tears running out of her eyes as she listened, she looked out the window as the bus drove through town, and saw Cody standing on a corner waving, she waved back and as the bus drove by, she vowed to make him proud of her, and she vowed to see him again.

It's done! Hope you liked it and do you think there should be a sequel? Review!