Chapter Sixteen: Everchanging

There's nothing simple when it comes to you and I, there's always something in this everchanging life.

Marco

The summer just seemed to fly by, without anyone even realizing it. My dad didn't come home at all; not even for any of his things. We found out later that he was staying at his brother's house, and didn't plan on leaving any time soon. I felt so bad for my mother, but she never cried. I wasn't sure if it was because she was too angry with him, or she was just trying to stay strong for me. No matter what, she was a rock, and I was grateful for her.

Things were going great with Tim and I. Ever since we'd had sex three months ago, we were pretty much attached at the hip. We went everywhere together and rarely spent a night apart. My mom was supportive of us, but we still had rules like any other teenagers. We weren't allowed to sleep in the same room, because she thought Tim was too young to be doing anything like that just yet.

While I truly wanted to respect my mother's wishes, I sometimes couldn't help myself when it came to being with Tim. We usually waited until she left for work, and one of us would crawl into the other's bed.

This summer has been the best one I've probably ever had in my life, and I'm dreading school, because after this year, Tim and I will be separated.

Emma

I can't believe it's already time to go back to school. I've spent the entire summer with Ellie and Spinner. After my parents got back from seeing Snake's mom, Ellie and I talked to my mom about her situation. Everyone decided it would be best for Ellie to stay with us, and after much persuasion, Ellie's mom agreed as well. Ellie wouldn't talk to her, and I didn't blame her at all.

Everything with the baby was fine, except for Ellie's attitude about it. She didn't want the baby because she knew how hard it would be for her to give it away, and she knew she couldn't take care of it on her own.

So I did something to help her out, and hopefully she'll be happy about it.

As for Spinner, he's been amazing. He listens to me when I need to tell him something important; usually how I feel. And thankfully, he agreed not to tell anyone else about what happened. I explained to him that I need to get through it on my own, with his support. He told me he'll always be there for me, and I believe him.

JT

The summer wasn't very eventful for me at all. Sure, I had a great girlfriend, but she wasn't around too much. She always had to work, and as much as that annoyed me, I supported her because I knew she needed the money.

When we did see each other, Paige suddenly didn't want to have sex. I didn't really mind that much because it was fine by me to just be with her. We always had fun when we were together; no matter what we were doing. I just wished I would have been able to spend more time alone with her before the summer was over.

For the most part, I just hung out with Toby like I always did, constantly plotting Spinner's demise. Emma wouldn't do anything with us anymore, and she'd only talk to me on the phone if Toby wasn't there. Toby said it was probably because Spinner hates him because of what happened with Kendra.

Jimmy

After a little under three months of fighting with my mother at all, I had enough. My dad wouldn't stick up for me; whenever we got into fights, he said nothing at all. I tried to avoid both of them as much as possible, so Manny and I went out every day.

One night, my parents said they were going to be gone until the next day, so I had Manny stay over. Little did I know, it was a plan for my mom to spy on me, and they came home and walked in on us having sex. My mother took Manny home and lectured her, while my father told me how disappointed he was in me. Then they told me that I couldn't see her at all anymore, and I freaked out.

I really love Manny, and I don't think I could stand being away from her for more than a few days at a time. So I left. I had a serious discussion with both of my parents, which led to them renting an apartment for me. It's on the bottom floor of Manny's building (of course, they don't know that she lives there).

I've been here for only a week now, but I love it already. I can see Manny whenever I want, and my parents just send me checks when I need money. I'm obviously hurt that both of my parents stopped caring about me like that, but I think they'll come around. Once they realize that Manny and I love each other, I hope that my mom will see what a mistake she's made, and beg me to come back.

But if she doesn't, I'm asking Manny to move in with me.

Spinner

Emma has been my only priority this summer. I've been working at The Dot and saving all of my money, but whenever I was off, I went straight to Emma's house and spent time with her. Some days Ellie came along too, and I didn't mind that at all. We were beginning to form a new group of friends, with Jay, Alex, and Craig included once in awhile.

I've been really trying to keep Emma's mind off of her problems. A few times, she broke down in tears, and I was just there for her to lean on. Even though she was getting a little better, I was still worried about her. I wasn't sure if what I was doing was working. She had lost some weight over the summer, and I didn't know if she'd been eating enough. She told me that it was because of stress, and pretty soon she'd be gaining it all back.

But if that doesn't happen, I have to tell someone.

On the bright side, I talked to Ms. Hatzilakos last week, and she's letting me back into school. I'd been avoiding my mother for the longest time, but now I didn't have to. Of course, I'd rather be with Emma anyway.

We still weren't having sex; I respected her wish to wait until she was married. All we did was make out from time to time, and we often slept together in her bed. I will never make a move like that on her, no matter what, because I really love her.

Ellie

I probably had the worst summer out of everyone. It was full of me being worried, upset, sad, angry, and so on. I'm sure I experienced every emotion possible except for happiness.

I take that back; I was happy for those few little moments I had with Jay. I didn't know why I felt that way about him. Half of me always wanted to be around him, and the other half just wanted to push him away. He did something to me that I didn't like. I wouldn't call it love, but there was something there.

My new group of friends was Emma, Spinner, and Jay, with the occasional Marco. But Marco was mostly busy with Tim, so I didn't see him much. I was still happy for him though. And lately, Craig and Alex would come with us too. They were an interesting couple, but they seemed to be happy just hanging out, so I guess I'm happy for them too.

Anyway, whenever we'd go to the movies, or just go out, Jay was always invited by Spinner. It was awkward at some times, and at others, it felt like we were supposed to be together. I was completely torn, but I always chose the same thing.

Jay and I had many more moments like that night at his house. I'd let my guard down, Jay would kiss me, we'd make out for a few minutes, but then I'd remember the baby and run off. I felt really bad doing it to him, but I'm sure it doesn't bother him very much. I mean, he's Jay. He's always been with a bunch of different girls, and for all I know; he has a few of them right now.

Craig

Alex has been acting strange lately. We've been having sex for three months now. She'll come to my room in the morning and then it just happens, or some nights I go to her room after Joey's asleep.

We haven't talked about an actual relationship at all; I think both of us like it this way. But I feel like I want something more from her. I think that maybe I'm falling in love with her. I don't know what's going on really, but I just always want to be around her, no matter what we're doing.

She's been hanging out with Paige a lot lately, and I'm glad she has a best friend now. Even though Paige and Alex are best friends, we don't hang out with Paige or JT as a group. We've actually been out a few times with Ellie, Emma, Spinner, and Jay. It's definitely a change for me, but as long as Alex is there, I'm fine with it.

I plopped down on the couch, ready to take a nap. It was the last day of summer vacation, and since Alex was up in her room with Paige, I had nothing to do at all.

"Hey Craig, we need to talk," Joey said, moving my feet so he could sit down.

"What's going on?" I asked, interested. He looked concerned, to say the least.

"Alex's mom stopped by this morning…" he trailed off.

"Really? What did she want?" I was hoping that he wasn't about to tell me that she wanted Alex to come home. I liked having her around.

"She's…getting married," he stated. My jaw dropped and I tried to soak it in. I knew that her mom's boyfriend was hurting her before she came here. And Alex would be crushed if she found out that he was marrying her mother.

"Does she want her to go back home?" I asked, worried by what his answer would be.

"No, actually…" he sighed, pulling some papers out of a manila envelop that was lying on the coffee table. "She dropped these off."

"Custody papers?"

"She wants me to be her legal guardian until she turns eighteen. She said that Alex has made it clear to her that she isn't going back home, not as long as Jordan is there," Joey explained.

"Well, are you going to sign them?" I asked. I didn't know if I wanted him to or not. It seemed like if he signed them, Alex would be more like my…sister. I shuddered at the thought and tried to focus on something else.

"It's not that easy Craig. I have to talk to Alex first."

Jay

This summer has by far been my worst. There's no more partying at the ravine for me, no more girls, and beer, and drugs. It's just been work, work, and more work.

I guess it's better this way. I've been struggling to raise Abby and try to look after Ellie. I have no idea how I'll do any of this when school starts. I'll have to find a daycare for Abby to go to before school too.

But no matter what's going on right now in my life, I still try to spend some time with Ellie. It just seems like she needs a friend right now. I can't stop my feelings for her, and I know she feels something too.

I just have no idea why she'll suddenly open up, and kiss me, and then just stop and run away. I would understand if I was still down at the ravine every night, turning into a loser and throwing my life away. But I've left all of that. I'm trying to be a better person here, and she still doesn't want to have anything to do with me.

"Jay, my belly hurts," Abby said, pulling me out of my thoughts. She groaned and stretched out on the couch.

"Why don't you just lie down for a little while?" I suggested, pulling a blanket over her.

"I can't," she said, starting to cry. She sat up, then screamed out in pain, clutching her stomach.

"What's wrong?" I asked, getting a little worried.

She wouldn't stop crying then. She just rolled up into a ball and kept screaming and crying.

"I need to go to the hospital!" she yelled.

Alex

I was sitting on the floor, leaning against my bed. It was the last day of summer before school started up again, and I had just realized how much less time I'd be able to spend with Paige.

Ever since the night at her party, Paige and I have been seeing each other almost every day. We take shifts at work all the time, usually in the morning when we know it'll be dead and we can talk.

I sighed and stretched my legs out, trying not to yawn. Paige came back from the bathroom and sat next to me. I couldn't help but smile at her because she was so beautiful. I never thought any of this would be happening to me.

"Paige…" I started to say, but was cut off when she pressed her lips into mine. Not long after that, my tongue was in her mouth and I was gently pushing her down onto the ground. She stopped me though, and sat back up.

"Hun, you know the ground hurts my back," she said, grinning.

"Well then why don't we just go up on my bed?" I asked, standing up and holding my hand out to her. She took it and I helped her up. I locked the door before joining her on my bed, where she got on top of me and started to pull my shirt off.

I never wanted the summer to end.

Manny

Emma won't return any of my calls. I can't believe that I messed up this badly. The only thing that I've done right in my life has to be my relationship with Jimmy. At least he still loves me, no matter how much I've screwed up.

He doesn't live at home anymore, which gives us plenty of time to be together. I usually tell my parents that I'm going over to Emma's, and I just go downstairs to his apartment. I know Emma won't call, so at least my lie will hold up.

I was lying in Jimmy's bed with my head resting on his chest. He stroked my hair while we just lay there, completely silent.

"I don't want to go back to school," I complained. "I just want to stay here with you."

"I know what you mean. I wish I could just stop going, but we have to at least work towards graduation," he said. "You know I'll be graduating with you, right? I missed too much work while I was in the hospital. But I like it better that way, because I get to stay with you."

"I know, and as much as I know it will suck for you to watch all of your friends graduate, I'd rather have you with me," I told him, lifting my head up just enough to kiss him.

"I don't need any friends as long as I have you."

Paige

I sat on Alex's bed, holding her head in my lap, and playing with her hair while we talked. I only had a few minutes left until I had to go home, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I knew that JT would be there, waiting for me. My mother had invited him to our end of the summer cookout.

"You should come," I told Alex, hoping that she'd take me up on my offer.

"No thanks," she said, letting out a huge sigh. I knew she didn't want to be somewhere with me if JT was going to be there.

I kissed her softly before I left, letting myself out. She always got upset when I left, like she didn't think I'd ever be back.

The night of my party, I don't know what I was thinking. Alex was just a friend; or so I thought. I felt so horrible that I wasn't completely freaked out when we kissed. How can someone like a guy and a girl?

I know that what I'm doing to JT isn't right, so I guess I'll have to choose between them. I mean, can I go on like this, going back and forth between the two of them?

A/N: Sorry that the chapter is so late…it's been really stormy the past few days and my DSL was down so I couldn't get online.I won't be able to have the next chapter up on time...I still have to write it. I feel so bad, but I've been working and I haven't had any time to write at all. :(I hope the chapter was okay; I just needed to have a quick summary of the summer so I could move along. There's a POV for everyone in there except for Tim…and next chapter there will be more interesting things going on.The chapter title and lyrics are from the song "Everchanging" by Rise Against and they own it.