A/N: Here's Chapter 26. Enjoy. I don't own any songs used. Enjoy. Flashbacks (some of them) are in Normal POV unless stated otherwise.

Chapter 26: Surprises of the Worst Kind (Part 2)

Four days…

I still can't believe she's gone, and the funeral is today. I know my friends are doing everything to cheer me up, but it's like I've given it all up. My mother was a dance teacher in her teenage years, so she fuelled my love for dancing. My CD, the promotion of me and Logan's show…everything has been put on hold.

I'm numb.

I stare at the mirror, and I'm in a simple black dress that stops above my knees. My make-up is perfect…my hair is nicely done…and I wear a wide black hat. I grab my purse stuffed with my cell phone, and my car keys. I exit my room, and the only sound is the sound of my black strap-on heels clicking against the floor as I walk.

"I want you to dance your heart out…"

It's not fair… It's been four days, eight hours, thirty-nine minutes, and two seconds later, and I'm still wondering why.

"Ah, so Michael is his name…"

"Yeah…Michael Barrett," I answered, with a smile. "…remember the pictures of me and him together I sent you?"

"Yes, sweetie…and he looks like he loves you a lot. Do you love him…?"

"Mom, that's an understatement," I replied with a smile. "…I love him so much. And I almost feel like he may be 'the one'…"

"Well, good for you. And you really have good taste in guys. First, Logan Reese, and another cutie?" Wow, it's two for two…"

I blushed, but it was funny at the same time…

"Mo-om!" I whined, while slightly laughing.

"Ok, ok…but I'd like to him sometime, Missy…"

I smiled, "Sure…"

I could hear the music starting, and I say goodbye to my mother and promise to see her soon.

I'll see her alright. In a casket…and I can't even say a proper goodbye to her because the body is decomposing fast so the casket has to be closed. I took a deep breath and enter the girls' lounge to see everyone there and Michael in a black suit and tie. He looks good, really good. Michael saw me, and hugged me.

"Hey…"

"Hi…"

"You ready to go?" he asked, as he smiled gently and brushed the hair out of my eyes. I sighed. I promised myself I wouldn't cry… I swore to myself I wouldn't.

"Yeah…" I replied, quietly. I stole a glance at Logan, and he looks like his mom is the one that died and not mine. I whispered in Michael's ear. "What's eatin' Reese?"

"I have no idea…he's been on edge ever since, you know…" Michael explained. What could possibly have Logan all worked up. What? Did someone break his mirrors again?

"Oh…"

"You have my condolences," Quinn said, as she hugged me, then Zoey, Chase, Stan, Nicole (her's was more like a bear hug but I accepted anyway), and then Dana.

"Take care of yourself, and continue to kick ass if anyone pisses you off," she said, with a usual smirk. I laughed lightly, and wiped my eyes.

"Yes, ma'am…"

We hugged, tightly and the day we met in kindergarten floated into my head. I mean, we always played together but we became best friends when we were five…

The curly haired girl sat in the time-out chair, making a pout as she sat there in her plastic chamber. It wasn't her fault that Tyler decided to annoy her. As far as 5-year-old, Dana Cruz was concerned, Tyler Mansbridge had got what was coming to him.

"Get away from me!" another little girl screamed, obviously not wanting to be in kindergarten either. Her green eyes were sharp and dangerous for someone so young. "No! I don't want your COOKIE! Move before I hit you, you block head!"

"Vanessa, we do not yell in class…" the teacher, Mrs. Tomlin, said sternly.

"You're not the boss of me. SHUT UP!" Vanessa screamed, stomping her foot as if to say 'I run things, lady and your authority doesn't scare me at all'. The teacher walked to the strong-willed five-year-old and despite the little girl's protests, Vanessa was carried and planted on that plastic chair. She crossed her arms and glared, after the teacher as she walked away.

She let out an annoyed sigh as she swung her legs carelessly over the chair. Vanessa looked to her left and saw the curly-haired girl there. She was sure she had seen this girl before.

"Hey… I know you," she said suddenly getting Dana's attention. "…my mommy is always with your mommy."

Dana looked at Vanessa before a small smile came on her face. For someone so young, Dana had recognized her playmate.

"Vanessa!"

"Hi Danny!" the other girl squealed, and they hugged. They pulled away. To this day, Vanessa still called Dana 'Danny' because back then, she couldn't pronounce 'Dana' right.

Dana sighed, "Getting time-outs suck!"

"Yeah, but I gots an idea. Let's be best friends forever and ever and ever, and then the stupid teacher lady can't be mean to us no more…"

Dana thought about it, and with a light shrug she said, "'Kay…and then we'll put sand from the sandbox down Frankie's pants and run."

Vanessa laughed and it was the start of a strong and beautiful friendship.

I snapped out of it and pulled away from Dana.

"Hey, do you know exactly what's up with Logan?" I asked, as I adjusted my big black designer hat. Michael had given it to me.

"No," she answered, shaking her head. But then she looked genuinely concerned. "…and I hate that he won't tell me. Or anyone else. Ever since he heard about your mom passing, he ran and drove all the way to Santa Barbara… he came back the morning after and hasn't said two words since."

Wow…

I took her hand and gave it a sympathetic squeeze. Dana gave a small smile, and walked off sighing, and plopped herself on the couch. I walked out of the lounge, where Logan was sitting on a couple of steps not to far off.

"Hey…mind I sit with you?"

He shrugged, and I straightened out my dress before I sat, "What's eatin' you?"

He sighed, and the look in his eyes. I've never seen him have that look before. I could almost cry but I've done to last a lifetime.

"I'm going to be an uncle, Vanessa," he told me finally. What? Tommy knocked somebody up? I grew confused, and then the next sentence stunned me, and it felt like I couldn't breathe. "…but you're going to be an aunt…"

"What?" I asked quietly. Please don't tell me that Marissa's pregnant. No… I was fuming mad, and I could feel the tears roll down my face. "For four days, I haven't eaten, slept or even danced and you have the balls to tell me that Tommy fucked my sister got her knocked up?! What kind of sick, twisted person does that!? I'm going to my mother's funeral for crying out loud, and the media is already lined up at my house! You think this bomb you dropped on me helps!?"

The way Logan was talking scared the shit out of me. His tone was calm and it was almost as if my outburst just seconds ago didn't faze him.

"But he denies the kid is his…although I know in my gut it's his. The child your sister is carrying is our nephew or niece," he told me, staring me in the eyes.

What an asshole. I refuse to believe that Marissa would have such a stupid and dumb lapse in judgement, because if she did…that would kill most of the respect I have for her.

"I have to go…" I mumbled without having to look at him and I stood up wiping my eyes. I walked back into the lounge and saw Michael talking with Zoey. Chase and Stan were spread out over the lounge, and Quinn, Nicole and Matt sat on bean-bags. Chelsea and Dana were watching TV, or at least it seemed that way. I walked up to Zoey and Michael. "Hey Chase, you think I can borrow my boyfriend for a minute?"

Zoey smiled, and gave me one last hug, "Hey, you can take him."

"Thanks," I replied, and then Michael kissed me on the lips, pulling away. I stroked his arm, and smiled. "I'm ready to go…"

"You sure, baby?"

I took a deep breath, "Yeah… I'm ready…"

We held hands as we walked across the parking lot. Michael decided to take his car instead. He thinks I'm too 'hysterical' to drive, and if I drive I could end up in an accident, and I could die… I think it's sweet for Michael for worry even though it's small. We got in, and pulled out of PCA, and on to the road. I look out the way to see various things pass me by. Is this really how life is? One minute you see something and it's gone…

I guess so because not even an hour after I talked to my mother, she was killed. Just goes to show you how cruel life really is. I was raised a good religious girl. I mean, God could have saved her. He could have made her feel better, and not make her suffer. He could've brought her home to us.

But when people think of Natalie Stevens, she'll be remembered as pretty, divorced and dead.

"Hey, did you ever find out what ever happened to Logan?"

Yeah, of course I did. Logan's brother knocked up my sister, and now I don't know where Marissa and I stand… Instead, I lie. I flat out lie…

"No."

"Oh…"

The car became silent again for about another hour until we pulled up in my large driveway. Then I realize what I'm doing here. This is the house I moved into when I moved from New York. I had so many memories in that house, so many birthdays…

I'm here for a funeral.

Many of the guests are here, and Michael comes out of the car, and opens the door for me and I come out of the car, slipping my hand in his. I put shades and try not to cry as we walk into the media frenzy surrounding my house.

"Oh, Vanessa! Vanessa! Ms. Stevens! Over here! How did it feel to lose your mother? How do you feel delivering the eulogy? Where does your interaction with the Reeses stand at this point? Ms. Stevens…"

"No comment, now get that camera out of my face before I break it!" I yell and continue walking into the main house with my boyfriend. "Damn paparazzi…"

"It's okay, 'Nessa. I'm here for you, ok?"

"I know and thank you for coming," I said, with a grateful smile. I saw it… The mahogany coffin draped in sky blue. That was her favourite colour. I gasped and placed a hand to my mouth, and Michael wrapped his arms around me from behind. My hands are trembling, as I run my hands over the coffin. "She's really gone, Michael. She's never going to help pick out the perfect dress or the perfect wedding dress. My mother isn't going to be there as I walk down the aisle… or when her grandchildren are born. My mother has really gone this time…"

I turned to Michael, and I felt my bottom lip tremble and my breathing get shorter and shorter… Oh, God I can't take this. I fall into Michael's arms and sob painfully.

"Shhh…" he whispered, stroking my hair. "…it's okay…"

I miss you, Mommy…

I walk away from the lounge (not before giving Dana a kiss goodbye), and now I'm at the basketball courts. I don't get Vanessa's reaction but I don't care about that. I looked up to my brother, and he just killed whatever faith I have left in him.

I grab a basketball and do a lay up, catching it on the rebound as it goes in the net with a swish.

Yep, nothing but net…

"Can you believe it? Some chick got knocked up, and now that whore's tryin' to pin it on me," my brother said with a laugh. I just finished giving it to my parents, and my brother is the only one I can turn to now.

"Who is she?"

"That Stevens' girl…her older sister…"

I nearly choked on my Blix. The hell?

"Marissa?"

"Is that her name?" he questioned. Was he high? He shrugged. "I always thought it was Melanie, or Melissa…"

"You didn't sleep with her, did you?"

"Yeah," he answered, taking a sip of Blix. "…but it was only one time. There's no way in hell that kid could be mine. I used a condom, I think…"

"You think?! Tom, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Whoa, ease up, Logan. I don't know why you're getting wound up over this… going to PCA really made you soft."

"I just got Vanessa to trust me after a year, and I'm dating her best friend!" I screamed, snapping. Am I really the only sane one in my family? I understand that. A man has needs he needs to satisfy, but even I'm not that crazy. "Her mother is stone cold dead…she just found out tonight!"

"Ouch…"

I almost feel sorry for the ass-kicking he's out to get when it goes around.

"You know something when this goes around, Marissa won't able to kick your ass…again, but I know from experience that Vanessa will," I told my brother crossing my arms. "…and this time I won't defend you."

"There's nothing to defend, man! That kid isn't mine…"

"And if it is?"

"Logan, you're my baby brother. I swear, Marissa's kid isn't mine. We only had sex one time…"

I look at him and shake my head. Sex Ed is obviously the only class I'll actually pay attention in because it's my favourite class, and the teacher's not too bad to look at. In fact, Michael, Chase, Matt, Stan and I are acing that class (don't tell. Our girlfriends will kill us…well, Mike and I will be killed first).

"It only takes one time though," I said, and wordlessly walked off. I walk up my driveway and get into my car.

The tires screech as I drive off, really not caring anymore.

I snapped out of my flashback, and did a free throw, but I miss. I heard someone calling me, and turn around and I'm surprised.

"Mother?" I questioned, staring at the woman in front of me…

Dana's off in her dorm.

Chase went to finish off some work. Something tells me English. He can be in his dorm for hours doing straight English work, and considering the whack job teacher we have I should be doing that too, but I'll pass.

Nicole and Zoey are off at the new pizza place that just opened up. I heard they have good stuff there.

Quinn and Matt are at the beach, testing the kelp and seaweed…something about blue-green algae. I was kind of scared to ask. So it's just me and Chelsea, unfortunately.

"Uh," I said, starting to scoot away from her. "…can you not sit so close to me considering we're not dating anymore?"

"Look Stan, I love you…" Chelsea started to get closer. Ah! Where's holy water when you need it, and there's nowhere to run. She gave me a seductive look, as she ran her finger down my chest. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. "…I can give you something Nicole can't. I hope you remeber. Remeber those nights we had alone. Maybe this will help rekindle that..."

"No Chelsea… I'm with Nic–"

The worst unthinkable thing happened.

Chelsea kissed me. Right on the lips. I tried to pull away, believe I couldn't. Finally she pulled away going to her and Quinn's dorm.

Then I heard it. The voice sounded so familiar and it sounded like it was in tears. Oh, God what have I done?

"S-Stan? How could you?!"

I turned around slowly, silently praying it was who I thought it was.

Guess, God didn't answer this one.

Because I came face-to-face with a teary-faced Nicole…

A/N: Well, hope you like this chapter. It was somewhat eventful. I thought it was about time someone got cheated on. In future chapters, we'll have more of the funeral, we meet Marissa's sister and Logan and his mom have a serious talk. Another couple hits a rift in their relationship. Stay tuned.

-Erika