K.O. - This may just be the shortest chapter yet!

Sonic- Then what's the point of even doing one review?

K.O. – Because I got a new reader, perv!

Sonic- I'M NOT A PERV!

K.O. – Not according to the third chapter!

Kai-senpai- You are my newest reader up to date! And just so you know, I have read your stories. All of them very funny!


RECAP: Everyone just stayed quiet for a minute, until Airie broke the silence once more, saying that she was going to sleep. But before she went up the stairs, she said one last thing:

"If my presence here causes any of you to get hurt, I'd gladly take the blame."


It was at least past midnight, and Amy couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about Airie and everything that had happened. It was crazy and hard to believe, but she could tell that Airie was telling the truth. Sometimes a girl just knows these things.

But Amy couldn't wait till morning to talk to Airie about this. She climbed out of her bed and into the hall towards Airie's room.

She slowly opened the door, just in case Airie was sleeping. Lucky for her she wasn't.

Airie had opened the window in her room all the way and was sitting on the sill, staring at the night sky. She must have heard Amy coming, because once she entered the room, Airie got off the sill to greet her visitor. She had a sad smile on her face and was crying a steady stream of tears.

"Can't sleep?" she said simply. "Airie is something wrong?" Amy asked. "Not really." Airie said. "It just happened again. I guess I should be used to it by now, though." "What happened again?" Amy asked again. Airie sighed. "Again. I lost my home again." Amy felt sad for her other-worldly friend. "You must have had a really hard life so far." She placed a hand on Airie's shoulder. "Tell me about it." Airie nodded her head. She wanted to get this off her chest for a long time.

" 'Come home safe.' Why couldn't I just tell her that?" Airie asked herself.

"After my father died, my mother started working more so she could pay for everything. To help her out, I got work at a hotel as a custodian. Once before, I thought that maybe I should just quit school and work full time. But Mom always said the same thing:"

"I was never able to go to high school." She said. "I only graduated from junior high. So I want you to stay there. I want you to finish school, so you can tell me what it feels like to hold that diploma in your hand."

"I promised her I would do that for her. It was the only thing she ever asked me to do for her. But I think, because of that promise she…well you see, one day, the day that she-um...y'know…died-I had to study for my school finals, and I overslept. That was the one day I forgot to tell her 'Come home safe'. And just like that, she was gone."

"I can't believe finals are really over!" said a happy Airie. "I have a feeling things are gonna get a lot better now!" said one of her friends. "Yes, although I think I failed all my tests. But the re-tests are always easier." another friend said with a gleam on he face. "You should be worried. I mean, you say that like you're proud of it…" her first friend said.

Unknown to Airie and her classmates, one of the principal's assistants had come in to talk to Airie's teacher. With a dread and uncertain look, he called Airie over. "Miss Keys, could you come here for a minute?"

"Huh? I wonder what he wants…" Airie said. "He probably just wants to congratulate you on a job well done!" "Ha! I wish!" She walked over to her teacher while her friends watched. They saw her tense up at his words. Airie ran out of the room with the school assistant.

"Airie? Airie! Airie what's wrong!" her friend called. "Airie has left due to a family matter." the teacher explained. "What are you talking about?" "Airie's mother is in the hospital." "What? Why!" "A car crash."

"It never occurred to me that someone so strong could be taken away so easily." Airie finished. "But I still can't help but feel a little guilty about it all." "I…I'm so sorry Airie. I didn't know." Amy said. "It's not your fault, silly. Just thanks for hearing me out." "No problem."

Amy yawned, which caused Airie to chuckle a little. "It's late. You should get some rest." Airie said. "Okay. G'night." Amy said as she walked out of the room.

Amy saw someone standing there. She sighed and said, "Were you listening to that, Knuckles?"

Knuckles solemnly nodded. "You'd never guess that she's been through so much tragedy." he said. "How can she still smile like that?" Amy shrugged. "Who knows? But at least she hasn't given up her hope yet." Knuckles nodded again and then walked off.

"Where are you going?" Amy asked. "Her things were still in that tent when the landslide hit." he said. "I'm going to go get them out." Amy sighed. She knew she couldn't stop him. "Alright. Just be careful." Knuckles smirked. "You won't need to worry about that."


K.O. – Hmm…I thought it would be pretty short. Oh wellies! What can you do at times like this?

Sonic- Cliffhanger?

K.O. - Exactly! –dodges rapid weasels thrown by reader- Goodbye for now!