Heya! Sorry about the long wait, I know it was a horrible cliffie, but at least it made more people review! Anyway, this is the last chapter (not including the epilogue), which is a bit of a shock, since it's almost been two years since I started this story. I can't believe it's so close to being over! -cries-

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. Just a measly notebook and a chewed up biro.

ENJOY!

Eye of the Storm

Chapter Thirty Three: The Story Of My Life

It was cold.

So viciously, numbingly cold.

And dark.

Pitch black, almost.

I couldn't see.

I couldn't feel.

I couldn't breath.

But…wait…there was something else…something more important…open your eyes…move…

Something else…someone else…

Open your eyes.

Move.

She's more important.

Open your eyes.

Sis…

Move.

HOLLY!

"…both have serious cases of hypothermia, bruised ribs, this one's lungs were crushed and stopped breathing in the ambulance about two minutes ago, we haven't been able to resuscitate her as of yet, we believe she stopped breathing earlier but the other one performed mouth-to-mouth…"

What the…?

"…she jumped off the South Point cliffs, suicide I think, the other jumped after her and managed to find her, God knows how, it's a miracle, swam around the cliffs for about ten minutes and reached the beaches…"

What…happened…?

"…their friends found them five minutes later…"

I don't…remember…

"…both were unconscious…"

Wait…

"…Holly and Willow Tate, both seventeen…"

Holly? Sis?

"Willow? Can you hear me?"

"Holly?"

"She's being looked after hun, but I need you to stay awake, alright?"

But…Holly…

"Can you do that? Stay awake, sweetie, otherwise you'll—Willow?"

I don't—I can't…oh God, it hurts…

"Willow? Come on, stay awake—"

I can't…Holly…please, Holly, be okay…

"Willow! Stay awake! Come on!"

…because I can't…

"WILLOW!"

And the whole world went black.

So there we go. That's my story. My life. How I ended up in this hospital bed, after an awkward struggle to stay alive. How Holly is in the Intensive Care Unit on a life support machine after her lungs were almost completely crushed.

How I almost lost everything.

From here on out, I can't tell you what happens. Everything in the last seven months has led up to this moment: staring up at a white ceiling with my head thudding painfully. My chest ached, I was shaking and the world seemed blurred. We've been here for a week already; I've only been awake for two days. Holly hasn't woken up at all. She's due for more surgery today.

I was comatose for five days; five days in which my friends and family spent either crying or staring blankly at the wall, trying to comprehend when everything fucked up.

Because everything did fuck up. It got so fucked up no one saw it coming.

Funny that.

"Cass?"

I moved my head to the side, where Fred was kneeling next to the bed with his head propped up on his arms, leaning against the bed as he clutched my hand. Nick sat by my knees, and cradled on his lap was Sky, who stared lifelessly back at me.

It hurt to see the three people I could always count on to be laughing to just lose all their liveliness.

"How're you feeling?"

On my other side, I knew Kara would be curled up in the armchair and getting some much needed sleep. Max was with Holly at the moment.

"Better." I said hoarsely. My throat was still recovering from swallowing too much salt water.

"They're prepping Holly for surgery now." Nick said softly.

I nodded, turning my head back to stare at the ceiling.

The surgery, despite being five hours long, was a complete success.

I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or cry.

Two days later, I was allowed to leave the bed. The first thing I did was visit Holly.

Then I decided it was far too overbearing for me so I left, staggering to the elevator and making my way to the fifth floor where the permanent residents inhabited. Making my way down the corridor, I stepped into a small, familiar room.

"Heya Jamie," I said exhaustedly, "Man, walking is hard in this state. Don't ever try it."

As usual, there was nothing.

I sat down next to him, running a hand though his coarse black hair. It was getting longer now. It had reached his shoulders at the back. His skin was still pale and I missed the sun kissed tan that normally resided on his skin. Jeez, this guy spent so much time outdoors that he could get a tan in the winter.

I missed his golden eyes.

"So, when you waking up?"

Again, nothing.

"Well, hurry up would you? I could use a hand here."

Why was I bothering?

"Has anyone told you what's happened? Maybe they haven't. Suppose that's why you think I'll be fine. I won't, you know. Be fine. I feel crap."

I wanted nothing more than to see his cocky grin again.

"Holly tried to commit suicide."

There. I said it. I haven't talked about what happened to anyone. I couldn't form the words. But now I just wanted everything out.

"Yeah, shocking huh? She almost succeeded and all. Threw herself off the cliffs. I watched her do it…I couldn't stop her."

I could feel the tears starting to well up, but I suppressed them.

"She fell. She fell, and I couldn't stop her. God, I couldn't stop her. But you know what? I went after her. I jumped off the cliffs. I didn't know what I was doing. Maybe I thought I just couldn't live without her. Without you. It's too much, Jamie."

I took a scolding breath. My throat burned. My chest ached. I didn't care though.

"Maybe I thought I could save her. If I didn't…well, I'd die along with her. I didn't really care at the time. Oh God, I'm just as suicidal as her, aren't I?"

The notion hit me hard. I felt queasy. But I kept on talking.

"But it's alright now. I saved her. There was a point I just lost focus. I couldn't think. Maybe that's when I landed in the water. It was cold. Freezing, even." I gave a small, dry laugh, "Well, it's winter after all. What did I expect? Warmth?"

I sighed. Maybe the proclamation of me being insane was too true.

"Anyway, I found her after a few seconds—she was sinking. But I grabbed her, went to the surface. Swam and swam and swam. It was dark, and cold, and I was tired, and I couldn't think. I got to the beach though. Performed CPR. As soon as I knew she was breathing…I passed out."

I closed my eyes, fighting harder to suppress the tears. Once I deemed it safe again, my eyes flickered open.

"They found us. Johnny, Kai, Tala, Maxie, and Mi…they found us. On the beach, both unconscious…" I snorted, "Apparently, Mirror found us first. Everyone was running along the edge of the cliffs, trying to find us, when Mirror slipped and fell off the edge. Typical klutz huh? It was good thing they were low over there. Still, she broke her leg. She almost gave Kai a heart attack though."

My lips quirked in a half smile at the thought.

It was Mirror and Kai, through and through.

I would go visit Mirror afterwards. I needed her company. Just as soon as I finished.

"Anyway, Holly's lungs collapsed in the ambulance. She's been on a life support machine since…well, until yesterday anyway. She's had surgery twice; the second time was two days ago. They said there isn't any reason for her not to make a full recovery now. But she has to have therapy and stuff, when she wakes up. Go on anti-depressants. You know, everything Sky had to go through when she slit her wrists."

I winced at the memory, the sight of my fourteen year old best friend simply lying in a pool of her own blood.

Not pretty.

"Um, I scared everyone by going comatose for five days. But I woke up. Which you don't seem to be doing, after almost a month."

I pouted petulantly.

He remained completely still. No golden eyes.

"I guess it's not your fault. I just went to sleep when I wasn't meant to." My voice became strangled, "You got shot."

I sniffed, feeling the tears starting to overpower me.

"Jamie," I choked out, "Please wake up. I need you. I need you."

A single tear rolled down my cheek, followed by another, and then another, until my cheeks were wet with tears, leaving hot trails in their wake.

"I love you." I whispered, clutching his hand. "You're one of my best friends, Jamie. I love you. I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I—"

I broke off, sobbing.

He remained as still as ever.

After an hour or so, I got up and wiped my eyes, before fulfilling the promise to myself to visit Mi. I walked into her room only to find Kai sitting cross legged on her bed, drawing things on the cast wrapped around her leg. Mirror was trying to look over Kai's shoulder to see what he was drawing, but Kai didn't let her. She pouted.

I smiled.

"This is so unfair!" Mirror grumbled, before her cherry eyes fell on me, "Willow!"

Kai looked up immediately, abandoning his seat and pulling me into a hug.

"Jeez," I said into his shirt, "I was only across the hall."

"Being bloody despondent," Kai muttered, "S'not the greatest thing to sit with."

I rolled my eyes, and he finally let go. I walked over to Mirror, letting the taller girl wrap her arms around me and drag me into bed with her.

"There," she said happily, "Now I feel better. See, if Holly was to wake up right now, my life would almost complete."

"Huh?" I said intelligently.

"Well, you've gotten your ass moving, instead of staring blankly at the ceiling, I've got a pretty cast, a pretty boyfriend, and the drama is finally over. Actually, it would help if James woke up too, because that would make you happy, and that generally helps my mood as well." Mirror explained as if it was the sanest thing in the world. Which to her, it is.

Either way, it was really sweet.

"You're utterly insane." I told her.

"You only just figured that out?" she smirked, "Now go write something on my cast."

If there was one person I could always rely on to make me feel better, no matter what, it would be Mirror.

WHACK!

The door slammed open with a large amount of force. The reason as to why became pretty clear within moments. Max stood in the doorway, breathing hard. What he gasped out sent my mind reeling.

"She's awake! Holly's awake!"

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Do you want some water?"

"Maybe you should have another pillow…"

The chaos that followed was a bit crazy. Mom and Dad were all over her, as was everyone else. Me, Max and Kara sorta hung around in the background, me leaning against Max cos my feet absolutely killed with the small amount of walking I had done.

It seemed a bit ridiculous. All this fuss. I mean, the few glimpses I got of her, she was looking very claustrophobic.

"How are you feeling?"

"We brought some magazines for when you wake up."

"Suicide? What are you, retarded?"

"Calm down, let's not get hasty!"

"She tried to commit suicide! How much worse can you get?"

"Judy—"

"SHUT UP!" I screamed.

Everyone started, turning towards me.

"Get out," I snapped, "All you lot are doing are crowding her, and that's not exactly a nice feeling for someone who's just woken up after a traumatic experience!"

They had the grace to look guilty before trudging out, save Mom of course, after all, she never listens to me. But luckily Dad just grabbed her and dragged her out.

Only Tala remained, but he had spent the entire time sitting with her, holding her hand and not saying a word.

Holly looked downwards. "Hi." She said softly.

"Hey." I replied, sitting down opposite Tala.

"You want some water?" Kara asked.

Holly nodded gratefully, and Kara poured her a glass, handing it to her. As soon as she had taken a couple of sips and put the glass down, I whacked her over the head.

They stared at me.

"OW!" Holly whined, her hands flying to her head, "D'you mind? I have enough traffic going on in there without you smacking me!"

"Whose fault is that then?" I said dryly, taking her glass of water and downing it. Instantly my throat felt a lot better.

Holly fell silent, staring at her lap.

"Don't do it again." I said coolly.

"Okay." She replied quietly.

"Good."

And the subject was closed.

So I subjected everyone to a nice, long rant about hospital food and beds and so forth that eventually had everyone laughing…even Holly.

Because no matter what, she's alive. And she knows it was stupid.

That's all I need.

I stood staring at the phone, biting my lip. Thoughts buzzed around my head, and it didn't exactly help. Finally, I pushed a coin into the slot and dialled a number I often used.

Ring…ring…

Please answer…

Ring…ring…

Ring…ri— "Hello?"

I swallowed, hesitating. And then… "Johnny?"

"…Willow?"

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. "Hey, babe."

Over the phone, I heard a low thud. "Fuck, Willow. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Johnny—"

"No, no, I was there for so long, but I couldn't handle it. The day you woke up…you just looked like a shell. You hardly talked, you didn't even cry…" shallow breaths echoed down the phone. He took everything that had happened real hard.

"Johnny…I understand…" I muttered. "I only got myself together today. There wasn't anything you could've done to help me. No one helped me. I just…" what do I say? I sat down next to Jamie and told him what happened and begged and cried for him? Begged and cried for my best friend/ex-boyfriend instead of the one person I was totally in love with?

"I'm just glad you're okay now. Kai's been keeping me updated for the last few days…I'm glad to hear about Holly coming off the life support machine."

I pushed another coin into the slot.

"She woke up today. Just half an hour ago. We left her with Tala…I think there's a few things they need to sort out…" I told him.

"Thank God," He muttered. "Christ, Willow, you and Hols…you scared the living daylights out of everyone. I've never seen Tala cry, never in all the years I've known him, and he just broke down."

Did you? I wanted to ask.

"Yeah," I said thickly, "It was pretty harsh on him."

"And Max…I thought he would have a nervous breakdown if it wasn't for Kara…"

I winced. If there was one person I was most sorry for hurting, it was Maxie. Our brother. Imagine having to watch your two younger sisters fall to what seems like certain death…at the same time.

"And, God, I don't think I've ever seen Fred and Nick so serious. And Mirror…she had the most violently physical reaction. If it wasn't for Kai…and the fact she broke her leg…I think she would've blown Ray into pieces. She was furious. They had to sedate her."

I thought about how relaxed Mi had seemed as Kai drew on her cast. Then the image of her screaming and yelling and spewing out a million and one ways to kill Ray floated in my mind, and it seemed exactly like her.

I'm just glad she's all right now.

"I didn't mean to hurt anyone," I mumbled.

"I know," he replied, "You only did what you thought was necessary. And it worked, Lils. You saved her. You saved your sister."

I did.

I saved Holly.

It never occurred to me to look at it like that. I was too busy feeling the pain of her attempted suicide.

"Of course," Johnny continued dryly, "That didn't stop me having my own breakdown."

My breath hitched. There was the answer to my question.

"I…"

"The day you woke up," he muttered, "I couldn't handle it. I went home, and I broke down. I couldn't go back. I couldn't see you like that. It hurt too much."

"Johnny…"

"Mom and Jessie went to visit," he said, abruptly changing the subject. I let him. "When you were still comatose. They didn't take it so well, either. Jessie thinks of you as an older sister, and Mom…well, you know how much she dotes on you…"

"Johnny, I love you." I said unexpectedly.

There was a pause before he replied.

"I love you too Willow."

"Good," I sniffed, "Now get your ass over here. And Anya and Jessie. I don't want them worrying."

"Alright." He said with a slight laugh. "See you in a few."

"Yeah. See you."

I hung up, replacing the receiver and smiling slightly to myself.

When the McGregors arrived, I hugged Jessie first, assured her I was going to be okay. I was then swept up in the tight embrace of Anya, who grumbled at me for scaring the hell out of her before letting me go and pushing me towards Johnny.

For the next ten minutes, all we could do was kiss each other desperately in a crowded hallway of the hospital. He pulled away and whispered,

"I love you."

And I knew everything was going to be all right.

"COME ON!"

"FUCK!"

"DON'T SWEAR!"

I laughed as Holly's indignant shriek echoed behind me, no matter how much she had changed, she still refused to say the word 'fuck'.

"Are you sure you got everything?" I asked Holly as I jumped over a stray bag, "Passport? Phone? Plane ticket? Knickers?"

"WILLOW!"

I giggled.

"I've got everything, THANK YOU!" she said huffily, struggling to keep up with my fast pace, even though she wasn't carrying anything except her shoulder bag, whereas I had her sports bag and Kai and Tala were carrying her suitcases. "You were there when I packed, remember?"

"Enough chat, MORE RUNNING!" Tala yelled over his shoulder at us.

Both of us burst out laughing, but we picked up our pace. Finally, we all skidded into the check in area, tripping over each other and the bags and ending up in a knotted pile. Holly seemed to be the only one that had avoided it, leaping over us and slamming her plane ticket onto the desk of the check in.

"Close call." The attendant smiled, taking her plane ticket and passport. "Don't worry, you have another half hour until boarding starts, its check in you nearly missed."

Holly gave a relieved sigh, and I managed to untangle myself from Kai and Tala.

"Jesus," I muttered, "Who would've thought that Holly wouldn't be early for anything?"

"It's Tala's fault!" Holly protested.

"Yeah, having one last shag when you were meant to be leaving the house!" Kai grinned, dumping a suitcase on the conveyor belt.

Both Holly and Tala turned red.

I followed Kai's example, ditching the sports bag, and Tala followed suite.

"Alright," Holly said, once she had been checked in, "Now we just have to wait for the others to get here."

As soon as she said it, a crowd of teenagers appeared in our line of sight, walking rather briskly, despite the fact that one of them, namely Kara Hiwatari, was six months pregnant and incapable of walking very quickly.

"Heya!" Mirror crowed as they approached us, "Did you get here on time?"

"Yeah." I replied.

"Good, good." Mi said happily, hugging Kai even though she had only seen him five minutes ago, just before Holly, me, Kai and Tala took off in a run because we realized the time.

It was cute, anyway.

"Bloody hell," Kara huffed, a significant bulge in her stomach, "That reminds me why I get driven to school nowadays."

Everyone laughed, and Max grinned and kissed her.

There was a pause, in which Kara pouted and then suddenly groaned. "Maxie, get me some picked carrots would you?"

There was a collective amount of eye rolling; everyone was well aware of Kara's sudden cravings, especially for anything pickled. My older brother sighed as he reached into his bag, and pulled out a half empty jar of pickled carrots. Kara happily started munching on them.

I looked around, and then looked at Fred. "Where's Sky and Nick? I thought they were meeting us here?"

"Probably making out in some corner, knowing them," He replied, grinning. "Nick isn't all too happy that Sky's going away for a whole month."

"I don't see what he's complaining about," I grumbled, "Holly's going for ages."

"The joys of University, huh?" Fred smiled, patting me on the shoulder, "She'll be fine."

See, Holly passed her senior exams early. As in, with Johnny, Kai and Tala and them lot. So she's off to Harvard. I know it's really early, as in she's several months early, but because she's younger than everyone, she has to take a few supplement tests and stuff. There's a lot of paper work she needs to sort out, so she's leaving for America and is going to stay over at Danny's house until Uni starts. So I won't be seeing her until school ends for me, when I go over there for the holidays.

Since that entire fiasco five months ago, she's been aiming for this, and I'm glad. She's back on track, and off the anti-depressants, finally.

"C'mon, lets get to the boarding gates, yeah?" Holly said, and we all followed her and Tala.

By the time we got there, there was only another fifteen minutes left and Sky and Nick had finally rejoined us.

"Okay," Holly sighed, "Lets do this."

Sky and Holly went around everyone, saying goodbye. There were plenty of hugs and a few tears, especially from Kara, who tended to get over emotional at times, and not to mention violent, as she would hit anyone who mentioned anything about it.

"See ya soon, buddy." Sky muttered in my ear, hugging me tightly.

"Keep in touch. Don't lose your phone!" I told her sternly as we pulled apart.

Sky grinned, and then latched herself onto Nick again.

Figures.

As Holly said goodbye to Kai and Mirror, which consisted of a group hug and a few wise cracks from Mi, I looked up at Johnny, who had an arm wrapped around my waist the entire time. He smiled reassuringly, kissing me on the forehead.

I smiled contentedly, before I saw Holly walk towards me.

"Well…"

I pulled her into a hug. She giggled.

"Go stun some old professors for me, huh?" I said.

"I'll try." She whispered.

Eventually we pulled apart, and Holly reached up to hug Johnny. She muttered something in his ear, and he nodded. I didn't ask.

"Well, I'm just glad New York doesn't have any cliffs…it doesn't, right?" Johnny said, grinning. Holly turned pink and whacked him over the head.

"Flight 213 to Los Angeles, continuing to New York now boarding at Gate 15. Repeat, Flight 213 to Los Angeles, continuing to New York now boarding at Gate 15." Echoed an automaton voice through the tannoy system.

Holly and Sky both groaned.

Sky gave Nick one last kiss before having to literally grab Holly, wrench her away from Tala and drag her to the boarding gates.

"Love you!" Tala yelled after her, as she disappeared from view.

There was silence for a moment, before Holly came hurtling back, crashed into Tala, kissed him thoroughly, muttered a "Love you too." Before Sky appeared as well, sighing as she dragged my sister off again.

Typical.

Tala looked a little dazed.

Aww!

"Come on then, mate." Kai said, grabbing Tala and pulling him away from the gates area.

Johnny took my hand, and we followed the others out of the airport. It was bright out, and quite warm for May. I sighed at the sight of cherry blossoms fluttering in the breeze.

Johnny wrapped his arms around me, and as the others went about trying to remember where they had parked the cars, I stood in my boyfriend's arms. So maybe Jamie wasn't awake. So maybe Holly had left for America to study, leaving me here.

The main point is that I was about as happy as a girl could get.

Considering the circumstances, anyway.

Well, that's it. Shouldn't be long until I post the epilogue, certainly not as long as a wait for this chapter. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and...

...please review!

Ciao!

Chiya