Author's note: SO sorry, I've been gone for forever! But I'm back, yay! I've been so busy with school… but it's ALMOST OVER yayy! Haha onto the story…

Disclaimer: You know it. So shush.

PART 3

CHAPT 2.

Mare, Mac, and Echo are at school.

"Hey, Mare, do ya have any idea what he's talkin' about?"

"Nope." The three of us hadn't been to school since Timid's death, and today was our first day back.

"So Echo… any nightmares last night?

"Nope." I smiled. It was the first time I hadn't gotten the nightmare in a while, and I was in a good mood.

"Good!" Mare smiled back.

"SHHH! It's our first day back and you're already not paying any attention! We're going to get yelled at again."

Mac had been in a constant bad mood since Timid's death. Actually, all of us have changed. I've been quieter, mare has refused to talk about it, Mac is angry, Bitter is depressed, Amuse has been impatient with everyone, and Arrow has been bossier than ever. I guess ya really can't take anything for granted.

AT GIRL'S LODGING HOUSE

"HA! Ya won't beat me dis time Race!" Arrow smiled down at her cards.

"Wanna bet?" Race said, keeping his game face on as much as he could.

I laughed and walked past Bitter who was talking to David, looking even more depressed than usual. Amuse and Mac, who were watching the card game, started arguing over who was going to win. Amuse, of course, wanted her boyfriend to win.

"But you don't see Arrow's hand!" Mac said.

"Yea, and YOU don't see Race's!" Amuse snapped back.

I rolled my eyes and started walking towards Mare until I realized she was not available for talking. (If ya know what I mean) Dat's da last thing I need ta see: a relationship goin' good. I walked past the couple, pushing Mush a little, and started back towards the game.

"Hey Echo, ya lost or seomthin'?" Jack yelled from across the room. Boots, Itey, and Blink snickered.

I grew angry once I realized that he was right: I'd been circling the room for the past 10 minutes. "Shut up Kelly!" I opened the window and breathed in the cool fresh air.

"Hey Echo." I turned around to face the last person I wanted to see.

"What're you doin' here?"

"I have ta talk ta ya about before. We can't just go an' not talk ta each other." Skittery ran his fingers through his hair, like he always does when he's stressed. "So… I left Swifty an' Snipeshoota back at da lodgin' house and came here."

"Oh? Then… talk." I looked him square in the eye.

"Ya have ta move on, Echo. Timid's gone, we just have ta get on wit life. Everyone else has." He returned the same look I gave him.

"I have, I dunno what you're talkin' about." I lied. I ain't a saint. I can lie to my boyfriend every once in a while, can't I?

"Yea, ya do. I can tell ya do by da looks you'se givin' me."

"What kind of looks?"

"Da one you're givin' me right now." I glared at him.

"See Echo! Dat's what I mean! Ya used ta answer me, even when I was annoyin' ya. Ya used ta laugh, joke, sing. You'se ain't Echo anymore. You're someone else, and I wanna be wit Echo. So when she comes back, let me know." Skittery said angrily. He turned away from my shocked face and left. Did he just break up with me? I looked up to see everyone staring wide-eyed at me. I wanted to cry, but no sounds came out of my mouth.

"Ahem. It's uh, gettin' late. We should get goin'. Common fellas." Jack said, awkwardly hugging Kiki and leaving.

"He just broke up wit me." I slowly sat down. "He… I can't believe he did that!"

"I'm sure he didn't mean to, he'll apologize tomorrow, it'll all be fine." Kiki said sympathetically.

"No, it won't be fine. I have ta go ta Skittery. It's my turn ta make things right for once."