Hey, readers! I'm finally putting up the next chapter. I can't help but remember when I used to post a new chapter every day. That was a much simpler time. But after this week I'm going to be on winter break so I won't have any outside obligations. I only have two or possibly three chapters left, so hang in there! I want to take the time to thank everyone who's been reading my story since the very beginning. You guys are way to patient, and way to cool.

By the way, I have another reference in this chapter. My sister Andrea is NOT allowed to give it away, because this one is pretty difficult to get. Well, good luck with that.

This chapter is a bit less angsty, which is quite different than the previous chapters. The main essence of it is not all that emotional at all actually. It's a little more fun, humorous and… optimistic? Well, anyways, I hope you like it. I remember someone leaving a review saying they liked the Jay interaction at the party, so I decided to bring him into this chapter as well. Happy reading!


Chapter fifteen-

Everything that's been happening within the last few weeks has been a blur. Everything was happening so fast, I couldn't grab hold of anything to stop the spinning that is my life. I was not that kind of girl. The things I did—or said. Yet they're all still here, with open arms. The people I hurt remain by my side which I find completely ridiculous. I mess up and somehow my friends and family are the ones to pay; suffer for my actions. They're willing to give so much up for my well-being. I am disgusted with myself for being so selfish, and part of me wishes that they didn't care enough to come and visit me each day. At least then I wouldn't have to see their sad eyes that have been haunting my subconscious and feel their broken hearts. I am not this kind of girl.

If I were in any position to make requests, which I'm not, I wish above all else that people would stop action so god damn serious around me. God, I just hate it so much. I want to spend my time laughing, not crying like those around me. I like to think I've gone beyond that—or possibly haven't gotten there at all yet, I'm uncertain. I've always known I have spent the better half of my life being bitter and sarcastic and I don' want to do it anymore. I've been saying that for year but this time I'm going to make it stick. Maybe if I'm positive for once in my life, people will stop acting to maddeningly sulky. Especially Sean, whose been brooding around my room for days.

I hate myself for putting Sean through this. I hate myself for bringing the best thing in my life to sorrow. I hate myself for a lot of things now. I thought he would be angry at me for what I have done, but I should have known he wouldn't. Instead he has been sweeter to me then he probably should. Each night he knows I'm alone, he's been sneaking in against regular visiting hours to lie in bed with me, never uttering a word. I loved enjoying that peaceful silence with him. It's been one of the greatest things to look forward to each day that could be my last. As he holds me, the gentle rise and fall of his steady breathing reminds me that's I'm not dreaming because it's simply to content for my imagination. The rhythm of his heart beating against my own chest is my only anchor to this world now. He always sneaks out before the nurse checks up on me in the morning, but I never catch it as he leaves me sleeping. Something tells me he's not quite as stealthy as he seems, and the sweet nurse who sees me every day is a bleeding heart and has been in on it all along. I've always liked her…

The gentle click of a door lock woke me the next morning,. I looked around and sure enough, Sean was nowhere to be found. I smiled and shook my head. As I looked up at the door, the sickeningly beaming face of my nurse Mary-Rose was grinning down at me. I took in her appearance as it overwhelmed me, being the first thing I saw in the morning. She looked much too young to be working here—that much was obvious. Her golden locks were tied back in a messy bun held in place by two black plastic chopsticks. She was, as far as I could tell, genetically gifted. Her baby blue eyes with dark rims sparkled in the fluorescents, and her rosy cheeks against her porcelain skin gave her a beautifully natural flush. As she sat in a chair next to me, renewing my I.V fluids, she continuously smiled.

"So," She finally said, checking the position of the needle in my right arm. "That boy that keeps showing up here sure is cute. Not that you haven't had a quite a few boys in here checkin' up on you all the time." Her tone was something of a fourteen year old girl's, hungry for gossip. I smile beside myself, for what she must think of me.

My reply was a weak chuckle as I blinked away the sleepy tears in the corners of my still sore eyes. This was apparently not what she had in mind of a response, as she continued to speak.

"Now, you just can't leave me hangin' like that." I suddenly recognized the very light hint of a southern accent in her tone. "You know the boy I'm talkin' about. Don't you deny it. Tall—blond hair—blue eyes—bit of an attitude."

I decided to cut her off there. "That's Sean." I smiled at the thought of him, and suddenly found myself wishing he was with me. "My boyfriend." That last statement even caught me off guard. 'Boyfriend,' I thought about how the word sounded so foreign now, like I was back making puppy-dog eyes at my high school crush. But it was true, wasn't it? We may not be 'official' as the kids are often calling it these days, but the emotion behind it is undeniably accurate.

He was always coming to see me at night, he brought me coffee from the cafeteria, played messenger when there was someone I wanted to see, and even ran back to the house if there was something I needed. I finally feel like there's someone who truly cares about me again, and this time I won't run away from it. I love Sean, and there is no doubt about it.

Suddenly, a knock at the door pushed my thoughts away as I snapped back into reality. I sighed as Mary-Rose eyed me convincingly. I nodded and she hollered, "Come in!" through the closed door. As the door opened, revealing Jimmy, Jay and Spinner, my nurse snickered as she shook her head back a forth in fluid motions. "More boys to see you miss Nash? What a very lucky girl you are." What can I say? Most of my friends were guys. The only best friends I have ever had that were girls were Ashley, Paige and Alex—only one of them still left. Mary-Rose eyed my friends approvingly before exiting the room. Jimmy took in a deep sigh as Spinner and Jay watched her exit, not so subtly interested in her ass. When she was gone, their attention was back on me, smirks still plastered on their faces. Disgusting, if you ask me.

"Well," I said, cutting into the silence like a knife, "I haven't been surrounded by so many strapping young men by my bedside since that night with the lacrosse team." At first, nobody laughed. They were unsure of how to react around me as if I were some sort of fragile time bomb prepared to detonate at any moment. I inhaled deeply, annoyed by their actions. "That was a joke," I mumbled encouragingly. Jay was the first to chuckle as he sat down in a chair to my right. Spinner followed suit sitting opposite him, and Jimmy remained where he was. If there's one thing I can count on Jay for, it's never losing his sense of humor, and that was something I was in desperate need for; laughter.

"So—let me guess." I said with a sarcastically dramatic sigh. "You're all here to admit your undying love for me, right?"

"That's been happening a lot then, eh Red?" Jay asked me with his usual smirk.

I sat up and relaxed my back against the spine-tingling chilly wall behind me. "No, not really. Just lately, I suppose."

"Makin' up for lost time, then?" This was a joke most wouldn't find the least bit humorous in my situation, but I on the other hand, found it extremely amusing. Even Jimmy shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"It's really funny you should say that, because I was thinking the exact same thing a while ago." I responded with a light smile. It was quiet once again, everyone interested in a different part of the room. I decided to break the silence, once again. "So, Jay—I heard you're dating Manny now." I couldn't help but laugh out loud at the thought of it.

Spinner nodded and joined into the laughter. "Yeah he is." Once everyone was chuckling at him, Jay glowed a bright pink. Regardless to if it was out of anger or embarrassment, I have never seen Jay flush before, which made everything that much funnier.

"Whipped," Jimmy fake-coughed, causing Jay to glare at him murderously.

"But seriously, Jay." I said, now suppressing my giggle -fits. "Manny? I mean, what exactly is it that makes guys so crazy? Wait—I don't want to know. Anyways, you guys are like polar opposites. I mean, could you even imagine the rebellious, hell-spawn, prom queen children? One week they'll be stealing from a video store and the next they'll get drunk and flash a video camera. That'll result in a couple calls home, don't you think?"

"First of all, if the kids are anything like myself, they'll be fantastic drunks. It takes a lot to get the quarters champion drunk, I'm proud to say. Secondly, I know you're a chick, but have you seen Manny? That girl's fine as hell in my book." Jay was doing the typically guy thing. He was trying his best to sound cool and boasty, but I saw right through him. Like hell I'd leave it at that.

"Come now. We both know that's not all it is." I replied eying him suspiciously. "The way Sean tells it, you're totally smitten. So what did little ole' Manuela do to convince the infamous Jason Hoggart to settle down?"

"Well, for starters, I don't think Sean has his story straight, and I also highly doubt he used the word smitten." He then crossed his arms over his chest defensively.

"Yeah right, and you spent a few hours in a jail cell over spring break for kicks?" Jimmy muttered under his breath. I looked to Spinner for confirmation and he nodded. When Jay appeared to be making a decision on whether or not to jump across the room to throttle Jimmy, I decided to leave the Jay-teasing at that.

"Why do you care so much anyways, Elle?" He asked in his attempted seductive voice, trying to get on my nerves—succeeding to get on my nerves, rather. Payback, I suppose. "You're not jealous, are you? I knew it. Sean can't hold a candle to me."

I laughed and shook my head. "You caught me. I've been secretly wanting you for some time now. I don't know what's gotten into me." I said sarcastically.

"I know what can get into you if you play your cards right, Red." Spinner chuckled, but neither me or Jimmy found this to be in the least bit funny.

"Bleh," I released my sounds of disgust as a shudder went through my spine for dramatic effect. "That's repulsive."

"You know, Jay." Spinner began, turning his focus towards him. "A certain fiancé of yours would be upset to hear about you putting the moves on someone she's already insecure about. Even when you're joking." I couldn't help but cling on to what Spinner had just said. I never knew Manny was insecure about me. In fact, I spent most of my high school career being insecure about her.

Jay scoffed, "Maybe if she hadn't been making googly-eyes at Mr. Big-Time Rock star all day I'd give a damn." I looked downward uncomfortably, realizing Craig was probably a soft spot for Jay. "Speaking of which, I should probably go bring her home and make sure she doesn't have her tongue down his throat."

"It is in her nature." I mumbled. As Jay stared at me with a smirk, I added, "Sorry Jay—I hate your girlfriend. Can't help it. I honestly don't feel that bad, since you can't even trust the girl you're dating."

"What can I say, Red?" Jay asked, getting to the door. "It is what it is." I shook my head as I thought of the messed up relationship they must have. If they actually do get married, their life could be like some sort of bizarre sitcom.

Well, there it was! The long awaiting 15th chapter. Oooh. Anyways, I really hoped you liked it. I love Jay, so I had to bring him in sooner or later. By the way, if you like Jay/Ellie pairings you should check out my story Crash the Party. It's still in the making.

I'm done with shmancy gimmicks to get reviews. Okay, that's a lie, but since I'm not feeling particularly creative at the moment, I'm just going to leave it at that. But none the less, reviews are greatly appreciated as always.

Once again, a great big heap of thanks to Greg Styles, hudsygurl, S.L. Gunn, ScreamsInTheDark, Brooks's-Babey, Dahlia Faith Black, XALLOWspuffyBuFf, breathe-in3, rocklesson86, carrebear14, tribalranger, 1992, sparkle587, Chelsey, Allie, fiercebiatch,Laylabelle, willowtaramagick, iLoveyou and MAGRADY03! Your reviews are lovely and so are you! And also thank you to the 8 people who have added this story to there favorites list, and the 13 people to add it to their alerts. I'm up to 2,349 people who have read this story, so let's try to make it 3,000!