All right, this chapter was probably one of the hardest ones to right, so sorry if I get the feeling of this wrong. Like I said before I'm not good at showcasing tone within stories, so just be more interested within the characters in this story. As for the actual scene I have a different plan in this story.


Craig's POV

It hurt. I couldn't handle being with Ellie, no less close to each other almost cuddling on a couch at a party. It wasn't right, and I yet again let my fears consume me.

I groaned as I felt myself wanting to just drop on the ground.

"Craig!" I heard her voice call for me, and I stiffened, eventually turning to see Ellie looking at me with concern.

"What happened?" She asked, concern still in her eyes. I wished I could tell her, but I couldn't, especially now.

I sighed, "I just felt uncomfortable, I needed some air."

She seemed to calm down, though a sadden expression was written across her face, "Okay, you want to-"

"Ellie, I just want to be alone for now, can you please leave me alone?" I bluntly told her. I didn't want to come across as that, but I had to. She had to stop chasing after me even when she was finally in a great place. I was no longer needed for her, so I didn't see why she continuously tried to get me back.

I looked back and saw that Ellie clearly was hurt from my reply, but instead of just walking away as how I would have expected, she stepped closer.

With every step, I tried stepping back, but I stayed still, my eyes glancing to the floor, not wanting to see Ellie's face.

When she put a hand on my face, a soft caress, she gently raised my head to face hers. We continued to look at each other, before she unexpectedly leaned in, her lips touching mine.

For a second, I kissed back, the desire to kiss Ellie coming back strong, but after the next second, I quickly realized what was happening, and I pulled away.

Confused, she look at me, "What's going on Craig? Is your bipolar acting up?"

I shook my head, "I haven't had an episode in nine months, I'm fine in that sense."

She didn't seem to buy it, "Well why are you always so sensitive, and careful around me? You always used to be intimate around me, but ever since you've left you've-" Her eyes seemed to go under a realization before she looked at me.

This was a weird feeling; I didn't know what she was thinking.

"What's going on?" I asked Ellie sternly, wanting to know as the silence between us dragged on.

"Who did you meet?" She asked, which made me somewhat confused.

"Some record producers, musicians, it was mostly business ventures, why?" I answered truthfully, but Ellie almost snapped.

"Who have you been seeing? Why didn't you tell me about her?" She yelled.

"Her?!" Did she think I've been seeing someone during my time in Vancouver? This sounded somewhat hypocritical, she had a boyfriend now, why was she arguing with me over a girl I didn't even have?!

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" I asked back, crossing my arms in defense.

She scoffed, "Yeah, but at least I told you"

I laughed at her statement, "Technically I found out, you didn't tell me, why do you care anymore?"

She eyed me up, the concerned look from before gone, and replaced with a fiery passion, for some reason, "Because you're my friend!"

Stupid, just a friend, "Do you hear yourself right now, you have a boyfriend, someone who's there for you, and you think I have a girlfriend, just because I fear that your boyfriend will get jealous."

She laughed unexpectedly, which made me confused, "Jealous of us? Anything that happened between us was gone when you rejected me!"

"I did it because I would've destroyed you! I'm a bad influence for you, can't you see that!" Before I knew it, I was pouring out my thoughts to Ellie, who didn't seem to care, but instead got angrier.

"Then why did you take me in?!" She replied, tears were coming out of her eyes.

"Because it was the right thing to do, and you were my best friend!"

"Were?"

"You know what I mean Ellie." I finished, watching her eyes gaze me like she was going through different episodes.

To my surprise however, she began to raise her voice again, "I don't know what you mean anymore! When I thought we had something special, you had to destroy everything!"

I was shocked, "I didn't destroy it, it was bad, I had to stop it! It was better for bot-"

I was interrupted by a slap to my face, the sound snapping like an elastic band, and I stepped back, holding the place where Ellie's hand connected with my face hard.

I merely just looked at her as I watched her expression change. But not once did I see any remorse or regret. Sure, there was hurt, but no sorry.

My mind went back to when I was living with my biological father, remembering the torture I had endured, how I would tense whenever I would show up home, praying to god that Albert just wasn't home, hoping he would stay at the hospital doing night-long surgeries.

The sound of a metal golf club hitting my ribcage made my eyes widen, the sounds of me crying for mercy, for him to stop, just to end the pain.

My tales of running, begging for forgiveness and hopelessness were thankfully disappearing, as I snapped out of my trance, watching as Ellie continued to remain silent. My breaths were quick-paced, and we stared at each other for a solid 5 minutes. I just watched as Ellie was trying to move, but ultimately didn't. I myself wasn't any better. Eventually, however, I watched as Ellie began to move.

I watched as she simply walked back, eyeing her as I could have sworn, I saw a single tear dropping from her face as she walked away.

Her departure allowed me to get some time to think about everything that had gone on. Knowing Ellie, she would probably confide in Marco and then I would have Marco berating me for hurting Ellie. Great, as if I needed more drama.

My mind shifted elsewhere as I noticed a large bottle near the edge of the couch. In curiosity I walked towards it, picking up the large bottle. It wasn't until I read the label that it occurred to me that it was alcohol.

"Why was she drinking, doesn't she know how careful she has to be?" I asked myself as I just stared at it, before eventually putting it down.

With that now apparent, and not seeing Ellie anywhere, I sat back down on the couch, putting my hands on my face. In a matter of an hour, I had angered some Lakehurst students, and gotten into an argument with Ellie, and probably one with Marco soon. I hated Ellie, but I also loved her. Why was this so confusing?!

I should've told Sean I didn't want to come, I knew it was a bad idea, but I still did just to support him and Emma.

I got up from the couch, looking for Toby, who I know would have some advice, maybe I should talk to him about all of this, see what he comes up with, after all he was a smart guy.

But so far this party has been a complete disaster. At least it couldn't get any worse, right?


Toby's POV

This was the life. Sitting her kissing a pretty girl, that was my life at this party. While I wasn't sure where Craig or Jt was, I'm sure they were handling themselves just as well as I was. If anything, I would have the most issues regarding parties. But interestingly, it seemed that I was actually the one who had the least of problems.

Noticing at the back of my eyes when I opened them, I saw Craig looking towards me, somewhat confused and in distress. Noticing this, I interrupted the girl.

"Alright that's enough of that, I'll see you later." I merely told her before getting up, and walking behind Craig as he walked somewhere.

"But-" I didn't hear the girl's remark, I knew she wanted more, but I wasn't really interested in that, especially at a party.

Regardless I followed Craig until we reached a somewhat quiet room, with a couch that Craig proceeded to sit on, his sigh present afterwards.

Confused as I eyed him just sitting I asked, "Are you okay?"

Craig sighed again, which made me really confused, he must've done something wrong, but before I could ask him again, he pulled out a big bottle, with the label indicating it was wine.

I raised my eyebrows, "What did you do?" I asked him, hoping he wouldn't do anything he regretted.

"It was Ellie's, she was drinking that throughout the party." He replied, which helped me not worry about the worst case scenario.

I was confused still, why was he worried, it was just one and it's a party. "I don't see where you're coming at."

He sighed again, for like the five hundredth time, "We were cuddling, and then when I back away, because she had a boyfriend, she kissed me, got concerned, then she got mad and slapped me."

Oh, well that escalated quickly. "Do you think she was-"

He nodded which shut me up in my sentence. I thought, maybe she still had something for him.

"What did she say exactly?" I asked him, hoping I was right.

"She accused mean of having a girlfriend during my time in Vancouver." Bingo, that's it.

"Well?" I asked, "What did you reply with?"

"Just that I didn't, and even then she shouldn't be jealous since she has a boyfriend."

I laughed at Craig, slapping him on his shoulder playfully, "She still likes you man."

He sighed, "I do as well, and with our recent altercation I don't know anymore."

I looked at him, with a meek expression, "You can't let one bad conversation ruin that, everyone will disagree eventually, but it's the reconciliation that makes everything strong. Just talk to her when she's' better and everything will work out."

I finished my reasoning, and he looked better, giving me a warm smile, "Geez for someone who never gets a girlfriend, you got some advice."

I laughed, "What about that girl I was making out with?"

Craig turned his smile to a laugh, "touché."

"Let's find her, okay Craig?" I asked, to which he nodded at.

Before I knew it, I was on the search for Ellie, or possibly Marco, knowing those two would always be together somehow.

But we couldn't find her.

"You think she left already?" Craig asked me.

I shook my head disapprovingly, "Nah, Marco was still there so there's no way."

Right now, we found ourselves near the open balcony of Emma's house, we had spent 15 minutes looking for Ellie, but failed.

"What if she went somewhere dangerous?" I heard Craig, who judging from his tone was somewhat frantic.

I tried calming him down of course, I didn't want him to make a scene or even think of that. But of course, it's about Ellie, and thus I failed.

To my surprise however, he picked up his phone. Was he going to call Ellie? I thought Ellie didn't have a phone, maybe she got one during University?

But when I faintly heard a male's voice, I back-peddled on my assumptions.

"Hey, Miguel, can you and the boys come to the Simpson-Nelson, it's somewhat serious."

I heard a pause followed by a faint mumble in the phone.

"What do you mean you don't know, track my phone, it's the same place I've been since early afternoon!" Seeing as he snapped his phone, shut he clearly was worried.

"Listen Craig, I know you're worried, but maybe she went somewhere to recuperate, you said she was drinking, right? She can take care of herself, right?"

He seemed to be breathing somewhat quick, which made me put a hand on his shoulder, "Craig, calm down."

It seemed that my attempts were interrupted when I saw Jt coming over, great.

"Uhh Toby, is now a bad time?" Of course it is.

"No, Craig was just taking a breather." I eyed Craig who simply nodded.

He clearly didn't seem convinced but he didn't pressure us on the matter.

Our conversation was interrupted to the sound of soda spilling off. I turned my head to the source of the sound to see the Lakehurst students, two of them I recognized laughing at Jay, who had gotten sprayed by the soda can.

Normally I would laugh at the sight of Jay getting picked on, but for some reason, it didn't feel right. Maybe it was cause of Johnny and Drake were Lakehurst students, and they themselves were huge scumbags, maybe even worse than Jay.

Okay, yeah definitely worse.

"You know what that means? Buh bye!" I heard Jay exclaim as he began pushing Johnny and Drake out.

"Hey relax, it's a party!" I saw Johnny replied being braced up on the wall.

"Yeah, and now it's time to go!" I saw Spinner, not too far away replying to his comment, and I watched as they were pushed out of the house.

"Bad move Degrassi," was all I heard before I turned back to Jt and Craig, who also were looking at them.

I watched intently as I saw as both of them were clearly caught up in drama.

"You guys know what rocks? Kissing, making out." I began to them, and I watched as Craig got uncomfortable and Jt looked pissed.

I looked to Jt, "Seriously, you too?" I said.

Was I seriously the one who had the least of girl troubles?!

"Well I'm glad someone's having fun." Was all Jt said, and I watched as Craig was clearly too distracted to pay attention to our conversation.

I watched intently as I saw Jt just fumble around, before sighing, "We have a situation, Toby."

"Okay."

"Alright, so I got this meatball sub, with zesty sauce, great cheese and I like the sub, a lot." I watched as he ranted about some random food.

So it was interesting by when he backtracked on his statement, "But, somehow I find myself craving oatmeal."

I was very tempted to laugh, but I held everything in, "is this a meatball sub, it's tasty, but the oatmeal has always been there for you, you can depend on it."

I was waiting to hear what Jt was talking about bluntly, and I looked back to see Craig looking out in the outdoor darkness, a certain redheaded freckled girl still on his mind.

I looked back and saw as Jt's facials depression changed to a more somber expression, "I miss her Tobes, and I know I shouldn't, but I do, it's so stupid."

Now normally, Jt calling me Tobes would piss me off, but now I didn't mind it as much as with him also having girl issues I was inclined to reply and not berate about him calling me a nickname.

"It's not stupid," I reassured him, "you can't fight how you feel, go out there and find her."

After a slight pause I watched as he sighed, "You know what, you're right, you're always right! I'm going to go out there and get myself a big bowl of Liberty!"

He looked mortified for a second before correcting himself, "oatmeal." He said finally before running off.

I finally let the laugh slide, before I watched as Craig turned around, "What's so funny?"

I shook my hands, "Just Jt being himself."

He merely shrugged, "I'm very worried about Ellie, what if she got herself stuck?"

I sighed, how many friends of mine have girl-drama? "Well, if you think she's really in trouble out there, why don't we go and search for her out there, you already alerted your security, right?"

He nodded, "Yeah, well what are you waiting for, let's go!"

I laughed mildly at Craig's enthusiasm, he was always like that when it came to adventure, and knowing this was about Ellie, he was very excited.

I watched as he eagerly grabbed my hand to bring me outside. But before we knew it, we were outside on the porch, but it was surrounded by rather short fences.

To my left, I saw Jt outside. I didn't really hear what was going on, but to my horror, I saw something I wish was a mirage.

"Run!"

"Put the gun down!"

"Stop!"

"James, look out!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I watched as Drake ran towards Jt, a knife in his hand, to Jt whose back was turned to him.

..,

But it was too late.

While it felt like the whole world froze, with Jt standing there as the knife was plunged deep into his back. I was quick to acting, my adrenaline rushing throughout my body. I jumped over the fence, running towards Johnny, who had just watched everything unfold without stopping him, though he too looked mortified by what he saw.

Craig was not far behind me, though a bit more hesitant.

"You motherfucker!" I yelled as I swung my fist across Johnny's face. Temporarily shocked, I turned to see Craig approaching Drake, who held the now bloody knife. Jt was now leaned up against his car. I watched as Drake dropped the knife as Craig pushed him back.

I heard the noise of a metallic object dropped and I quickly turned to see Johnny had gotten himself aware and looked at me, anger in his eyes, as he began to approach me.

But I didn't fear, I ducked as he tried swinging, and punched his abdomen, knocking him back. I took the opportunity to tackle him, knocking him to the ground, as I began to repeatedly punch him.

I saw him clearly struggling, as he was grabbing me and punching back, which resulted in me pinning him on the ground first, before I started kneeing him.

Keeping him pinned down, I watched as Craig successfully managed to also bring Drake down. Before I could knock Johnny unconscious and tend to Jt, I felt a sharp swipe on my right hip.

"Ahh!" I yelled as I quickly got up and took a step back, only to feel a similar sharp swipe on my forehead causing me to fall back.

"Hey Degrassi nerd." I heard as I lowered my arms up noticing Nic, with a knife in his hand. Judging from the searing pain and blood pouring from my side and forehead, he clearly swiped the knife at me.

"Nic?" I asked him, being under him, I turned to see Craig and Drake were even in terms of fighting.

"The one and only, now it's time for you to take your punishment for insulting Lakehurst." Was all he said before he raised the knife, instinctively, I raised my arms in front and above my head, and sure enough I felt a sharp swipe on my left arm.

Initially reeling from the pain, I looked in horror as I saw Nic approach an unsuspecting Craig, too busy in his tussle with Drake.

"Craig!" Exclaimed, not wanting him to meet the same fate.

He luckily perked to him sound, before attempting to sidestep, but the knife still got embedded in his left shoulder.

Craig stood still out of shock, before Drake pushed Craig back. Eventually, he collapsed on his side.

I was breathing heavily, almost panting, from the blood pouring out and the pain. The pain grunts of Craig and the gasps of Jt were still present in the atmosphere and the Lakehurst students remained silent. I stayed down, my adrenaline slowing making everything more painful.

"Man what the hell did we do?" I heard Johnny finally said what after felt like a minute, but was 5 mere seconds.

Before I knew it, I saw them running away. Before I could think further, however, I noticed Liberty, originally confused, as she saw two bodies on the floor, her face turned to horror as she spotted blood pouring from us.

I myself was in too much pain to move, but I had managed to drag myself towards them, though I collapsed at a weird spot that blocked me from eyesight, due to the darkness and the car shadow.

Running to Jt, she clutched him in her arms, "Somebody help!" She screamed repeatedly, the sound of her begging and yelling prompted more footsteps.

"What's going on? Craig!" I heard the sound of a man, and looking back I realized that this was Craig's security team, about six well built men, two especially tall and large.

"I'm okay." I heard Craig mumble sorely and quietly, before putting his head down to rest.

Clearly looking distressed and confused, the main security guy clearly got formal and started giving orders around.

"You tend to the people, you call the ambulance and paramedics."

Hold on James!

Rockstar Manning!

There's another!"

So long…

After about 5 minutes, the sounds of ambulance and police were present, and one by one with stretchers, they grabbed Jt and Craig.

Not too long after, they noticed me behind Jt's old car, "There's another one!" I heard her exclaim, before rushing towards me, turning me to my back.

Having been turned around to watch the girl, and I was shocked. She was very pretty, with her long wavy hair, which was black with brown stripes, clean thin eyebrows. I watched as she looked down to me, her brown eyes piercing my soul, her tanned skin, red medium lips and a small necklace on her. She looked surprisingly young for a paramedic, Asian too.

Too busy with her looks, I failed to notice her gasp of shock, "He's awake and responsive!" She exclaimed as she looked and scanned and tended to my injuries. Having noticed the forehead and arm, she put a strong tape to stop the bleeding.

Snapping out of it, I attempted to get up, with her putting her hand in front, her smile so pure, "Let me help you." I looked up at her for a bit too long before grabbing her.

I was limping, the blow to my right hip was a lot more painful than I previously thought. Of course, she looked at me concerned, before helping, putting more strength on her side.

Naturally, the sound of police sirens and ambulance were a concern for partygoers, it could mean their party was going to be shut down, but little did they know it was much more severe.

"Liberty! What happened?" I heard Emma exclaim.

"Jt…" was all she said, judging from Manny and Emma's crying, they knew what was happening now.

"Jt!" I heard Emma shriek and I could hear the quiet sobs of Liberty.

"Craig!" I heard from Marco and Ellie, which did make me sigh that Ellie was safe. In general, Craig was more looked at due to his Rockstar status, as more mumbling was occurring.

"Here, let's get you in the back." Was all the young paramedic said before taking me to the crowd. My limp was much more pronounced, as my right hip injury wasn't tended to.

I watched as the atmosphere of many were confused and terrified. Emma and Manny naturally seeing me in my state rushed to my side.

"Toby, what happened?!" I heard her exclaim frantically.

"Lakehurst." Was all I could say with the paramedic rushing me in the back of the ambulance.

Time seemed to become a huge mess. For others, it probably had sped up immensely, whereas for me it was a never-ending stalemate. Just like how a black hole rips time up; the thoughts of a traumatic experience were just as mad. But unlike the possibility of a black hole swallowing Earth was none, a traumatic experience was more common.

I had thought that the shooting would be it, but at least in that scenario I could take solace in the fact that I myself wasn't physically harmed in the altercation.

This, however, I wasn't so lucky. Not only was I traumatized, watching two of my friends getting stabbed, but I was mentally unfit now and had marks for this moment. I knew that the injuries would be a remembrance or this exact day. For Liberty, she would now remember her birthday as seeing all of us unconscious.

But at least we all seemed to be fine. Craig was still conscious and Jt was still breathing.

I was at least lucky not to have been stabbed, but rather cut. I wasn't on any machines with it checking my heartbeat at least.

Looking at myself at a nearby mirror, and seeing a huge bandage on my forehead and my right hip, and looking down I saw a cast covering my left arm.

I couldn't really remember anything else prior as I fell unconscious at the back of the ambulance, the event tiring me out.

Before I knew it, I saw the same young girl who I remembered as the paramedic who found me.

"Tobias Isaacs?" I heard her say.

I scratched my head at her appearance, "yeah that's me, but please call me Toby."

She smiled back at me, which immediately brought butterflies in my stomach.

She walked towards me, before sitting down near my legs, "So during a party at your friend's house, you and three others were attacked outside the house. Luckily, you didn't suffer too much, just some deep cuts on your right hip and forehead that required stitching, and a serious laceration on your left arm, which explains the cast."

I sighed, "how long will this be on for?" Indicting the cast.

She smiled, "About two months at most."

"Did they catch the people who attacked us?" I asked, hoping Drake, Johnny and Nic were caught.

She nodded, which made me sigh. It wasn't until then when I realized I was staring at her.

I shook my head in response, "Is there anything else you need with me?"

She checked her board, grabbing a pen before marking something down, "Nope, your good, you can sign yourself out."

I nodded, but I watched as her leave the room and I acted unexpectedly, "Wait!" I exclaimed to her, to which she stopped and smiled at me, "Is there anything else you need?"

I shook my head, this was difficult, "No, I kind of just want to get to know you."

She smiled warmly at me before walking back and sitting down on the bed I was in. She looked really good in a white nurse dress, she looked well-built, being around 5'3".

"What's your name?"

She smiled to me, before pointing towards her name tag.

"Emiko? That's a cool name."

She smiled, "It's Filipino."

That surprised me, she was Filipino? "Not to be mean, but I thought you were something else. You don't really look Filipino to me."

Originally thinking I was going to get scoffed, I wasn't instead rewarded with a laugh instead which made me smile, "You're half right, I'm half French."

I smiled, "ooh, okay now that's cool, you look good."

She smirked, "You don't look half bad yourself Toby." She replied touching my muscles arms. I took a deep breathe, it felt weird, but also right.

I smiled at her as she rubbed my arms, she smiled back.

"So, Emiko, how old are you, you look young to be a paramedic."

Chuckling at my assumption, she corrected them, "Well you'd be right, I'm eighteen, I'm volunteering here."

Well that made sense, "I'm eighteen as well, you're in grade 12, or post?"

"Grade 12, I go to a high school in Ajax."

I nodded in response, as we stared at each other intently, eyeing each other's frame.

After what felt like minutes, I quickly remembered the situation I was in. She was still rubbing my arms feeling the muscles, whereas we continued to look at each other.

"So..." She began, "What kind of workout do you do?"

I shrugged, trying to remain humble, "Mostly weightlifting, cardio and fighting."

"That's great." She replied, still eyeing my body frame.

"So, what about you? You look good as well."

I could have sworn I saw some light red in her cheeks, which made me smile slightly, "Well, I mostly dance and swim."

"Wow," Was all I said as I stared intently at the beautiful girl in my sights.

But before I could ponder further, a thought came to my head.

"Oh crap, I need to check on my other friends!" I exclaimed before I rushed out of the hospital bed, ignoring the calls of Emiko.

Running to find anyone I recognized, I quickly found Emma, Manny, and Sean.

Emma was the first to see me, "Toby! Thank god you're okay!" She exclaimed before grabbing me in a hug, Manny and Sean not too far behind.

"Where's Craig? Jt?" Was all I said before I looked up to Sean.

He nodded, "Craig's in the second room to the right of us, doctor said we couldn't visit him yet."

"What about Jt?" I asked intently.

"I don't know about him yet."

"Where's Liberty?"

"Talking to police," Manny but in, which made me brace up against the wall and slide down.

"Toby!" I heard the yell of Emiko, who ran towards me.

"Huh?" I was confused, didn't she say I can go?

"Uh, hey?" I asked meekly, to her expression which I couldn't identify. Was she mad or worried?

"Why'd you run off like that?" She asked, putting a hand on my arm.

I sighed, "Sorry about that, my friends were also hurt, worse than me, so I have to check up on them."

She smiled at me, moving her arms to my check, to which I brought my head down on, closing my eyes, "Okay, just, don't take off that abruptly, you can really scare a doctor with that move."

"Sorry," I mumbled, to which she reassured me it was fine.

"And Toby?" She asked.

"Yes?"

"..." I couldn't hear what she was saying as an older doctor came and went towards Manny and Emma.

"Excuse me, I need to speak to a family member." She said, asking to Emma.

Emma, for her part, responded with, "His grandma is coming but it won't be for quite a while, maybe a few hours."

The older doctor nodded showing a worried face, before turning back. I took the opportunity to step in.

"Wait!" I called out to her, to which she responded to by turning to me. "You can talk to me." I said, taking a breath, "I'm his brother." I said finally, to which she nodded.

But that facial expression of sorrow. When a doctor expresses that, only bad news can come.

While seeing a sorrow expression from anyone is terrible, seeing that from a doctor was heart wrenching, knowing they are the ones who can save those in need. I knew exactly what she was going to say when her face turned serious and a tear was coming out.

I didn't want to believe it, but her words cut through me, revealing the teary part that was an onion.

"His aorta was punctured, it's a main artery, and we couldn't repair the damage,"

No, please no.

"He didn't make it."

I didn't want to believe this; this couldn't be happening again! Not again... please...

"What, no, you're joking." Was all I managed to say, still in denial, as I heard the quiet gasps of Manny and Emma.

I wasn't believing it, so I repeated to her again, "You're joking, tell me right now you are, James is still alive." I raised my voice slightly, the seriousness in my tone more present.

But when she didn't say a word, I snapped, "Tell me your joking!" I pretty much yelled at her, begging for the slightest chance he was alright at this point. My yelling, bringing some attention from bystanders, even Emiko, who looked at me with a saddened expression, knowing the fate of Jt.

I looked intently at the doctor, who's head was done, a tear present in her face, "I'm sorry, your brother's gone."

Once she said that, the world seemed to stop, but keeping myself formal, I asked her one more question, "What about Craig?"

She shook her head, "I wasn't assigned to Craig, so I don't know."

It was here that Emiko but in, "I can take care of this, but you'll need immediate family for Craig's condition."

I looked at her beauty, but under stress I was more focused on the wellbeing of my friends, so I sighed telling Emiko, "Both of his parents are dead, please tell me if Craig is alright?"

She took a breath, "Craig's in stable condition, the knife punctured his left shoulder, so there's the possibility of some nerve damage for his arm, but otherwise he'll make a full recovery."

I sighed at that, at least Craig was alright, "Thank you," I told Emiko, who nodded.

Turning to the other doctor, "and I'm so sorry for the outburst." I said finally.

She simply nodded before giving us the time to mourn. Emiko was beside me, clearly looking upset at my current state.

I still didn't want to believe it, Jt was gone, no...

I looked back to see them. Emma was still in shock, Manny was tearing up, and Sean was clearly pissed, punching the wall of the hospital.

Soon enough, I saw Liberty approach me. "What happened, is he okay?"

I didn't know what to say, "I-" I looked towards Emiko, who gave me room, not wanting to break the news.

She was clearly getting impatient, "What did the doctor say, Toby!"

I couldn't say anything, the thought of Jt actually gone was becoming more real, and judging from Liberty looking at Emma, Manny and Sean, she quickly began to realize what had happened.

I couldn't take it, he was really gone, and there was nothing I could've done. I tried to stop it, tried to fight it, tried to treat it, and I failed at all of it. If he hadn't come and speak to me, this wouldn't have happened.

"Toby!" I snapped and saw Liberty on the verge of tears, and before I knew it, I was too.

Not knowing what to do, I stood there, in disbelief, as I saw Sean, Manny and Emma going to hug Liberty.

To me, however, this was very similar. The death of a best friend, I've gone through it before, another one, though, and just like him, I was there, and there was nothing I could do.

For the second time in my life, I had watched my best friend die.

Another one of my best friends were gone, to violence, just like that.

Why is god punishing me? Why! Am I destined to lose everyone I love! No, this has to be the last time.

I was getting teary, I knew I was, and I couldn't handle it. The loss of Jt was eerily similar to my other best friend. Looking to my side, I saw Emiko, the person who spotted me, the person who brought me to help, the person who had cared for me, and the person who had talked to me.

"I'm sorry Toby." She told me as she rubbed my shoulder, which helped me calm down slightly.

"Don't be, it's not your fault, you saved me." I merely told her before I hugged her. Her arms wrapped around my neck and head.

As I let my tears out in Emiko shoulder, hearing her quick heartbeat from our close proximity, I didn't care about that. I cared about Jt. My best friend, who I had spent hating for a while after the death of my other best friend, was now gone.

Only this time, I had no one to blame, and no one to hate, other than myself.

I cried in Emiko's shoulder, as the rest of our group did the same to Liberty's.

"When am I going to stop losing everyone I love?" I mumbled; tears still present in my eyes.

When was this going to stop?