Sorry, sorry!! Homework and essays about killed me, but it's alright now! We are back! Enjoy!

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Earthquake

"'Cause baby I'm not alright when you go I'm not fine

please be all mine

I never want you to go

because I am all yours, so please be all mine"

~The Used~

The only light that could be seen in the pitch black room was the red numbers from her night stand, glaring four o'clock, and the small flashing light on the end of the jump drive connected to her computer. The computer, being abandoned long ago, had shut itself down. A breeze came in through the open window that looked out onto part of the roof and the back yard. The roof is where Gwen lay, face down and motionless. She found this was the best way to not throw up.

The contents of the drive contained only the file itself and was in the same language from all of her old magic books. She was, honestly, the only person that could read it, that was a good guy anyway.

It took her all of a hour to actually read it and then she couldn't believe it. After reading it a few more times, doing some research, and knowing all of the other weird things that has happened in her life, she could believe it... just really didn't want to. It sank in around two in the morning and since then her head had been reeling.

Gwen leaned up and looked at the sky. Only the stars were visible. After a long sigh, she calmed her mind and started thinking from the beginning of the file, slowly this time.

It began with a bunch of old myths, some she's heard before. After talking about it's history for awhile, it finally got to it's actual reasoning. Long ago, apparently a thousand years or so, the Earth's lifespan was up. Basically, doomsday was supposed to happen long ago. Anyway, something decided to take action. This being bound itself to Earth and used it's own life to drive the planet. Thing is, the being had an expiration date, too. In order for the Earth to continue on, every 50 years there would be a human sacrifice to ensure the Earth stuck around for at least another 50 years. Usually, this was a Plumber, the only humans left that knew about this.

After reading it, Gwen had gotten a bit choked up, but that isn't what made her sick.

After reading a little more, she discovered that different beings had different life spans and, in that case, would cause the Earth to live longer if bound to the planet. Anodites were at the top of this list, allowing the planet to go on, without sacrifice, for at least 3,000 years. In about two weeks time, the deadline would be up and someone would have to do something to allow the planet to go on.

The tree started looking wavy. She lay down on her stomach again and took deep breaths. In...... hold it..... hooooold it..... out.

Gwen didn't want anyone to die, obviously. Who could she honestly let die other than herself? Besides, if she died then no one would have to acknowledge any of this for 3,000 years. That meant that brother's children wouldn't have to think about this. Or Julie's, or Ben's, or... Kevin.

She leaned back up, a little too quickly, but her mind was too busy at the moment. If someone found out, they would try to stop her, especially Kevin.

This is way too much right now. That's the only phrase that went through her mind for the rest of the night. After the light of the sun blinded her for about an hour, she came back to. The first thing she thought was, This is way too much right now.

She glided off the roof and without saying anything to her family, started walking down the road. Once she found herself at Kevin's garage, she let a groan slip past., but just couldn't let her feet stop. The garage door was open and the Challenger glistened a brilliant green in the morning sun, but Kevin wasn't anywhere in sight. Gwen sat down on the old couch they had moved in the garage a few months ago and starred at the hood of the car, where it sparkled the most. What do I do now? I know what not to do and what to do, but what should I do? What can I do?

"Third rock to Gwen! Can you read me!?"

Gwen let her eyes slide up from the hood of the car to Kevin's extremely worried face. She faintly wondered where he had come from, but the thought left before she could think on it. Her mind stayed pretty much blank since she last threw up.

It's super early, what's going on? Is she hurt? Was she out all night? She was fine yesterday. Kevin knelt down next to her on one knee.

"Gwen?" he asked slowly, she gave no response that she heard him, "what's wrong?"

He knows something's up. She let out a sigh and looked down. Tell him the best truth I can give. "Just a really bad dream."

Yeah, I'm buying that. "Gwen, what's really wrong?"

She couldn't help but smile. He knows me way too well. Gwen stood up and walked to the Challenger to see her reflection in the hood. "Just a dream. Shook me up pretty good. I couldn't sleep so I came over here. Honestly, I didn't think you were here." Lie... Lie.... Lie...

Kevin's reflection appeared behind hers. Just go along with her. "You want to talk about it?"

"No," she said a little too quickly. Knowing he didn't buy any of it, she took a deep sigh and turned to look at him. "You know I'd tell you if something was wrong. This is nothing big or serious... nothing to worry about."

Uh-huh. He looked at her, up and down. She is soooo lying. I hate it when she lies to me. He looked down at the car. "Maybe so."

Gwen looked at him for a second. The more she stood next to him, the more she realized how much she had to live and die for. Her family was one thing, her friends another, but Kevin was a completly different part of her life. She loved her friends and family, but she was in love with Kevin, and she knew how he felt about her.

"I'm so sorry, Kevin," she said before she could stop herself.

He looked over to her and noticed a tear trailing down her cheek. "Gwen?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him. Well, that startled him. She wasn't crying, screaming, talking, just standing there. After some hesitation he wrapped his arms around her and held on to her tight. Something was going on, and whatever it was, he didn't like it at all.

Gwen finally realized what she was doing and, somewhat reluctantly, moved back slowly. He was holding on pretty tight though. She looked up to his eyes, only thinking that he needed to let go, before someone did something that would go over way too well with the other. His face was barely an inch from hers as it was.

"Kevin...," she was about to say something about how they shouldn't really be so close together. Her mind failed to work again though.

Before he decided to lose his nerve and grow some sense, Kevin pressed his lips against hers. Gwen wrapped her arms around his neck and parted her lips. They each sank in to the other's embrace and held on a little tighter. After a few seconds, Gwen let go for air.

"I should go," she said breathless.

"I'll take you home," he said, moving closer to her.

"No, I'll--" Gwen looked up at him. She pratically read his mind and her scared her that she knew him that well. She smiled, "I'll see you later."

She kissed him on the cheek and left without looking back or another word. Walking down the street, hoping he didn't follow, she realized what had just happened. Kevin had answered her question and now she knew what she had to do, even if it would break her heart and everyone else's, she knew what to do.

Kevin stood beside the car, still holding on to the air that used to be Gwen. Something was very wrong, but she wasn't going to say. Hopefully, she was telling part of the truth. Maybe it was nothing.

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TaDa!! Done! Sorry for the wait. Chapter 4 will come out one of these days. R&R!