I gave myself a damn headache writing this chapter... I really need to finish this story. It's started to take its toll on my health...

"Dammit, Keely, open the door!" Via shouted, pounding on the front door to Keely's house. She heard light footsteps heading towards the door. It was 35 degrees Fahrenheit outside, unusually cold for southern California, even in mid-December.

"Took you long enough," Via said, walking past Keely.

"Good afternoon to you, too," Keely said, sarcastically.

"What are you up to, anyway?" Via asked, a bit irritated.

"Just checking my e-mail…"

"Mm…"

"Hey, I got something from Ashley," Keely said, smiling.

"Oh really?" Via walked over to read over Keely's shoulder.

Keely--

Sorry I wasn't able to get on here the past few days. Things are a bit crazy over here…

Hey, glad to hear you and Phil are still doing good. You got to see TOOL? You have no idea how jealous I am of you. Really. I probably would've snapped your neck if you were right next to me when you said you were going. Literally.

I'm sorry; I believe I had something crazy fly into my eye when I was reading this. You said Via and Owen are still going out? Is that right? I'm sorry. No offense to Via, but I just don't understand how that's possible. Oh, and no offense to Owen, either… I guess… I don't know.

Anyway, Keely, it snowed up here yesterday. Can you believe it? Do you even know what snow IS? I know we've lived down there in Pickford for all your life, so I'm not sure if you're entirely aware of what it is. It's weird seeing it snow, though. I don't know how to describe it, just that it was weird. Maybe you'll find out one day. You can't possibly live in Pickford all your life…

What else…? Oh yeah, I met some of Molly's family the other day… well, her daughter and her niece, anyway. Her daughter, Marcee… she must be only about four or five. She's so adorable… It's like looking at a young version of Via, almost. It really is…

"That's a scary thought," Keely said, chuckling. Via slapped her on the back of the head.

…As for her niece, Charlotte… she reminds me of one of my old friends I used to have, but moved away. I really miss her… It's funny, though. I hadn't even really thought of that old friend (Rebecca was her name) for a long time until I met Charlotte. Then I started to wonder who she reminded me of. And it hit me last night. You remember Rebecca, right? I used to go to her house all the time when I was your age… then she just moved away one day… funny. I can't even remember where she moved to. I don't even really remember where she moved from, for that matter…

Anyway… you know that guy I told you about a while ago, that guy that couldn't find his room on the first day I was here? I'm almost positive he likes me… I mean, since we're taking one of the same courses, we'll sometimes run into each other and work with each other and whatnot… just the way he acts… it's pretty obvious he likes me. And he's a nice guy and all, Keely, but… I don't know. Maybe I'm just dwelling too much in the past? It's not like I don't like him… it's just… ugh. It's complicated.

Speaking of that… that's pretty weird that you got that letter from Alex… especially considering that it's been over half a year. Just tell him I don't live there anymore, and tell him that he has to live with what he did. I can't forgive him. That's something he'll have to learn. Weird… weird stuff.

Anyway… I guess that's probably it for now. Tell everybody I said hello. And tell Via she can do better…

Don't actually tell her that. It was a joke. I know you probably will anyway, though… Anyway, that's all for now! Talk to you soon.

-Ashley

"Your sister is mad," Via said, walking to the other side of the counter where Keely was sitting with her laptop, and sitting down.

"Oh, but I don't want to go among the mad people," Keely said, opening up a new window to reply to the message she'd just received.

"Oh, we're all mad, here, Keely. I'm mad. Your sister's mad. You're mad."

"But how do you know I'm mad?"

"It's simple. If you weren't mad, you wouldn't be here."

Keely laughed. "And you say I'm crazy…"

"So… what do you think of Molly? Has she told you much about her?"

"I think she's just as crazy as you say I am," Keely replied, typing away.

"Interesting…"

"But, she's givin' my sister company, so…"

"So is that Max fellow."

"Yeah, him too… he seems like a nice guy. Like Phil."

"Oh, please, not again…" Via muttered, knowing what was coming next.

"Phil's great… maybe I should call him…" Keely tapped her chin as she looked to the ceiling.

"Oh, don't, okay? For my sake?"

Keely ignored her and eyed the phone. "I think I will… but I need to finish this, first," she decided, and typed away furiously.

"Could you hold off on calling him? I just got here," Via said, leaning back in the chair she was sitting in.

"I know…" Heaving a sigh, Keely added, "Fine, maybe I'll call him later."

"Great," Via said, folding her hands behind her head. "Uh-oh…"

"Uh-oh" was right. Via had leaned too far back in the chair, and fell backwards to the ground.

"Careful, those chairs are expensive," Keely muttered, clearly not interested in what had just happened.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking," Via muttered, picking herself up off the floor.

"Glad to hear it."

"So… do you think that Ashley's going to start to like Max?"

"Mmhmm," Keely said in a distracted tone.

"…do you think they're going to hook up in the next few months?"

"Mmhmm…"

Via noticed that Keely wasn't paying attention to what she was saying.

"Would it be okay with you if I had sex with Phil on your bed?"

"Mmhmm…"

Via slapped Keely in the back of the head. "Oww! What was that for?"

"You weren't listening to me."

"Whatever, Via, I--" Realizing just what Via had said, Keely got up and said, "I'm telling Owen."

"No! Keely, don't."

A brief silence… "You really like him, don't you?"

"Keely…"

"You love him! Oh, this is so good, it just has to be fattening. I'm telling everyone."

"Keely…"

"Via and Owen, sittin' in a tree! Eff, you, see--"

"Alright, that's enough!"

"I don't believe it," Keely said, typing away again. "You love Owen…"

"I do not love Owen!"

"Face it, Via. You fell for him. You fell for him and those deep blue eyes of his."

"See? He has brown eyes!"

"Ah. I'm sorry. But you're only backing my point up further by saying things like that."

"Come on, Via. Denying your love isn't healthy…"

"Neither is me shoving my foot halfway up your--"

"What's that?"

"Nothing… nothing at all…"

Well. Whatever. I need to go take something for this headache. Review, okay? Complain about the headache I'm sure I gave you...