WHEN I FINISHED, EVERYONE STARTED TO CLAP. I WALKED OFF THE STAGE AND RAN OUT OF THE JAM. I COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND AT THE PIER AND STARTED TO CRY. THE REASON WAS; BEFORE I WENT ON, I GOT A PHONE CALL. MY DAD WAS KILLED IN ACTION. AS I CRIED, I HEARD MY BROTHER RUNNING TOWARDS ME. HE SAT ME UP AND HELD ME WHILE I CRIED. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT MY DAD HAD DIED. MY BROTHER CARRIED ME TO MY CABIN AND LAID ME ON MY BED. CAITLIN CAME IN AND HUGGED ME. I WANTED TO HOLD MY DAD IN MY ARMS, BUT I COULDN'T NOW. THEN, THERE WAS A KNOCK AND MY BROTHER WENT TO THE DOOR. I BURIED MYSELF UNDER THE COVERS AND CRIED SOME MORE. THEN THE BLANKET DISAPPEARED FROM MY HEAD AND THERE WAS SOMEONE STROKING MY CHEEK IN THE MOST COMFORTING WAY. I TURNED MY FACE SLIGHTLY AND SAW THAT SHANE GRAY WAS THERE. I SAT UP AND SLAPPED SHANE'S HAND AWAY. HE GAVE ME A DISAPPROVING LOOK. I DIDN'T WANT SHANE'S COMFORT AT THE MOMENT AND MY BROTHER KNEW THAT. I WANTED TO BE LEFT ALONE. SO MY BROTHER TOLD SHANE TO LEAVE AND HE LEFT TOO. CAITLIN WALKED OVER TO MY BED AND SAID, "RAVEN, I'M SO SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN." I NODDED AND LAID DOWN BACK ON MY HEAD. I DRIFTED INTO A DREAMLESS SLEEP.
THE NEXT MORNING, I HEARD A SONG AND WENT DOWN TO THE PIER. I SAW SHANE GRAY PLAYING HIS GUITAR AND I WENT OVER TO HIM. HE STOPPED PLAYING AND STARED ANGRILY AT ME. "LOOK, I'M SORRY THAT I SLAPPED YOU YESTERDAY. IT'S BECAUSE MY DAD...DIED IN THE WAR TWO DAYS AGO. I GOT THE PHONE CALL YESTERDAY." I EXPLAINED AS HE GLARED AT ME SOME MORE. "WHY DIDN'T YOU YELL AT ME YET? I THOUGHT YOU WOULD START YELLING RIGHT ABOUT NOW." "WHY SHOULD I YELL AT YOU?" HE ASKED. I SHRUGGED AS I SAID, "I DESERVE IT." HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND WALKED AWAY. I SIGHED AS I WALKED TO MY DANCE CLASS. WHEN I GOT THERE, I REALIZED WHY SHANE WALKED AWAY. HE TAUGHT THIS CLASS. I WALKED OVER TO MY SISTER AND STRETCHED WITH HER. SHANE SAW ME AND WINKED. MITCHIE SAID, "YOU KNOW SHANE GRAY? HOW?" I EXPLAINED MY STORY AND SHE LOOKED SHOCKED. THEN SHANE WANTED US TO GET THE MICS AND HATS. I JUST REALIZED THAT SHANE AND ME WORE THE SAME OUTFIT, EVEN THE HATS MATCHED. HE STARTED DANCING THE DANCE FROM THE NEW CONNECT 3 VIDEO AND I KNEW ALL THE MOVES. WHEN HE TURNED AROUND, HE SAW ME HELPING MITCHIE AND THE REST OF THE CLASS OUT. WHEN I CAUGHT HIS EYE, HE SMILED AT MY PROGRESS.