I pulled up in front of the strange house that I found for my father's address. My head hurt like none other, and all I wanted to do was go get stoned. But, my mom's funeral was tomorrow, and I had something I needed to take care of.

I walked up to the door, and nervously knocked the door. A woman opened the door, and narrowed her eyes to slits.

"I'm not interested in buying anything," she said, closing the door. I stuck my hand in the doorway, catching it before it could close.

"If you don't mind, I would like to talk to Sam Mcguire."

The woman looked at me, suspiciously, but called for my dad. He ran up to the door, but when he saw me he stopped.

"Matt..."

"So this is the woman you left Mom to be with. When she needed you the most," I said, angrily.

"Listen, I would prefer that you would leave. Just tell your mom to sign the papers, and get out of my life," he replied, slamming the door shut.

"THERE WILL BE NO SIGNATURES, OR DIVORCE!" I yelled as the door shut.

He immediately opened the door back up.

"What do you mean?"

"Your 'papers' caused Mom to overdose, and committ suicide. Thanks a lot."

"I don't understand."

"Of course you don't. I came by to ask you to come to her funeral tomorrow. It's the least you could do."

I slammed the door shut on him this time, and calmly walked back to my car. I could not wait to meet the gang, and get stoned out of my mind.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Victoria Smith."

I tugged at my skirt, and walked into the counselour's office.

"Hi."

We shook hands, and he offered me a seat.

"What do you want to talk about?" he asked calmly.

"It's about a friend I have. He goes to this school, and he really needs help. He has relapsed into pot, and I don't know what to do."

"I see."

"His sister died in a hit-and-run accident, his dad left them, and his mom just committed suicide."

"Is this friend...Matt Mcguire?"

"Yes," I replied reluctantly.

"Just try to be the best friend that you can be, and try to urge him to get help. If he doesn't want to do this on his own, I will help him myself. Matt is very troubled right now, and we can make it our mission to help him."

I smiled, and stood up.

"I have to go now. I'm going to go his mom's funeral."

"It was nice to meet you, Victoria."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Matt looked around at the guests at his mom's funeral. His dad actually managed to show up, bringing his new girlfriend with him. The nerve.

He looked around some more. He saw Victoria, with her mom and dad. She timidly waved hello, but Matt turned his head away.

Miranda and Gordo also walked in, with their families. Miranda was obviously ashamed of her bulging stomach, as she tried to hide her stomach with her arms.

The funeral began, but to Matt, it was a blur of speeches and tears. He was too high to even make a distinction of what was happening.

It seemed that the funeral ended in no time, and before Matt knew it, everyone was standing up around him, going to the graveyard. Matt told his grandparents that he could not see his mom being buried, so he left, and locked himself in his car.

Matt wanted to smoke some more, but as he looked out his window, he saw a familiar figure running towards his car.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Great. It's Victoria. Like I really wanted to talk to her.

I did not open the window or door, instead I just sat there. But she also stood there, until I caved in.

"Matt, we need to talk."

I started to laugh. What could we possibly need to talk about?

"You need help, Matt. You are destroying yourself, and your future."

I raised my eyebrows in her direction.

"Does it look like I care?"

"I didn't think that you would, but please, go talk to the guidance counselor. I don't like seeing you like this."

I could not listen to her any longer. I had to meet Melina, Lanny, and the others in five minutes. So I rolled the window back up, and sped away, leaving her in the dust.

I could have been mistaken, but as I looked back, I thought I saw her crying.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I walked into the school just briefly, but the second that I walked in, an office aide handed me a pass to go to the counselor's office.

Great.

I decided to go ahead and go. I might as well suffer through another lecture about "wasted potential." Hey, it's better than going to class.

I walked into his office, and he immediately stood up.

"Matt. We need to talk."

I looked around, and saw Victoria sitting there. I glared at her, and she tried to manage a weak smile.

"There is nothing wrong," I replied angrily.

"Matt, I know this has been a tough time on you. But please, we are here to help."

I hesitantly sat on his couch.

"Now, normally what I should have done, was report you to the proper authorities."

"Then why didn't you?" I asked sarcastically.

"I know that it obviously did not help the last time, and I guess I could say that you don't really need it right now."

I rolled my eyes.

"I really don't need this right now."

Suddenly, Victoria stood up, extremely angry.

"Then what do you want to do, Mcguire? Go get high?" she exclaimed, but sat back down, embarassed that she let her emotions take over. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay, Victoria," the counselor said, and then turned his attention to me. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

I tried to act nonchalant.

"Doing what?"

"You know what, Matt."

I looked at the two concerned people in the room, and figured I might as well tell the truth.

"I don't know. It's just everything that has been going on lately. I guess my mom's death just sent me over the edge again, and reality is hard to deal with."

"So, you think that smoking pot is the only way to escape reality?"

"I guess. Nothing else really seems to help."

"Have you tried anything else? Is there something you like to do?"

"I like soccer."

"Is there anything else?"

I shook my head no, but Victoria spoke up.

"He is an awesome musician."

The guidance counselor smiled.

"Really?"

"I'm not that good."

"No, he is just being modest," Victoria said.

"That's good, Matt. Maybe songwriting could help? Have you ever performed?"

"I never have performed anywhere in public. I never really told anyone about it, either, besides Victoria."

The counselor thought for a second, and came up with a conclusion.

"My sister owns the Digital Bean, and she wants some type of live performance every Friday night. Would that sound good to you?"

I thought about it for a second, and I thought that it might be fun.

"Count me in."

"Good, Matt. Now, I have another meeting with a student, but we can talk the same time on Thursday. How about it?"

"I think I would like that."

He shook my hand, and I departed. But, Victoria tried to get out as quickly as she could.

"Victoria, wait," I yelled out to her, but she walked on.

"Victoria....wait."

The second time she turned around, and gave me her attention.

"What do you want?" she said icily.

"Thanks. I mean it."

She looked at me for a second, and her icy cold glance warmed a little.

"You're welcome."

I wanted to talk to her for a second, but she walked on to her car. Obviously this was going to take a lot more than just a thank you.

I got into my car, and put my key into the ignition. I watched Victoria as she drove off, and I could not help but think how much I wanted her back.

"I completely ruined it with her. I am such an idiot," I said aloud.

"You got that right," a voice said from behind. I turned around to look, and I could not help but gasp in amazement.