A/N: My many thanks to Kristine for her mad beta skills. You are awesome.

It took all my restraint not to push everyone out of the way and pull Zoey into my arms. Everything about tonight just amplified and heightened my feelings for her. Her commanding voice drew me in with her amazing words, her powerful presence that seemed to captivate everyone in the room, and the raw energy that encircled her brought forth a new burst of confidence I had never seen as she embodied the five elements. Just her presence alone was enough to blow me away. I knew I was slowly falling for this girl and there wasn't anything I could do to stop it. I actually didn't want to stop it; I welcomed it.

I took a few steps towards the small group surrounding Zoey. Her friends were buzzing with excitement. They kept glancing from one another to the cement tiles of goo. They prattled on about the cement drying and what they should do to rewet it. I patiently stood just beside a very groggy Stevie Rae.

Her voice was soft but just as Okie as ever when she spoke. "Y'all, let's just make the handprints and get out of here. My stomach kinda hurts and I got a killer headache." My eyes shifted towards Stevie Rae, she did look as bad as she sounded. She had bags under her eyes; they were dark and sunken in. Her eyes drooped as she spoke and I could see her brows pull together as if was actually trying to fight off her massive headache. Normally so perky, I wondered what was making her so… tired.

Zoey announced that we should make the handprints and then get something to eat. I nodded my head in agreement because I could always eat. The airplane food was good but that was almost five hours ago and I was starving. Damien chimed in letting everyone know that there was a taco bar in the other room. My stomach growled at the mention of tacos, another favorite of mine.

I strolled up next to Zoey as we picked out our wet, gooey cement square. I didn't care which one I had as long as it was next to hers. As she knelt down next to the cement tile, I took the one to her left. She turned when I mimicked her move and smiled at me. Her smile melted me as I rested on the back of my heels. I just smiled back as I leaned forward and put my hands in the cold, wet, disgusting cement. I was hoping it would be just like playing in the mud when I was six years old. Let me tell you something, it didn't feel anything like mud - it was just gross. It was cold and slimy between my fingers and the smell of dirt and rock was just making my appetite disappear.

Jack was buzzing around busily. He was handing us wet towels for our hands, and clean sticks to write our names in the cement. My name looked like a five year old had printed it. I threw my head back and let out a loud laugh as I looked down the line and saw that I wasn't the only five year old here.

I turned my attention to Zoey who was laughing at Damien's masterpiece. I had so much to tell her and yet today didn't start off how I had imagined it. I wanted to tell her how I missed her this past week, how seeing her in the front row tonight made my monologue that much better, how she felt in my arms, and how her smile made me feel when she first saw her dress. I wanted to tell her how she looked in her new dress (even though I told her already I was compelled to tell her again and again), I wanted to tell her how proud I was of her tonight, and how utterly breathtaking she looked laughing while her hands were in the cement. I also wanted to tell her how much it meant to me to finally be a part of the Dark Daughters and Sons now that she was leader. I wanted to tell her how I finally felt like I belonged to this group as well as her group of friends, and I wanted to let her know how happy I was to be a part of the Prefect council. I decided to say the first thing that came to mind. I leaned in to whisper in her ear, "I'm really glad Neferet chose me for the Prefect Council." I couldn't believe that Neferet had chosen me over hundreds of students. When Zoey only nodded, I figured she had a small hand in the decision-making. I was just happy to be accepted for me and not for my acting skills.

I saw Zoey open her mouth to say something, when we heard a strange, gurgling, cough coming from her right. We followed the sound to a slumped over Stevie Rae. She had her wet towel up to her mouth and she was coughing. Coughing? I knew that type of cough. I had heard it many times in my three years here. My heart stopped. Not Stevie Rae. Just as I was about to put my hand on Zoey's shoulder to comfort her, she shouted, "Get Neferet. Fast!" I knew she was talking to me. I got up without another word and ran out the door. I quickly glanced back and I saw Zoey getting up from where we were sitting and running over to Stevie Rae as she was lifting the towel to her mouth once again. Stevie Rae was rejecting the change. She was dying.

My heart pounded in my chest as I ran even faster to Neferet's room. Nyx's temple wasn't far from the recreation hall so I didn't have far to run, but it felt like it took forever to reach the building. I ran up the never-ending stairs to her room and pounded on the door. Her calm, soothing voice answered my harried knock and asked me to enter. I came in breathless, placing my hands on my knees trying to even my breathing. I barely wheezed out that Stevie Rae was rejecting the change before Neferet turned to grab a vile from her desk. I didn't hesitate and turned on my heels and headed back down the stairs and back to the rec hall. I knew she would be behind me. I ran just as hard and just as fast to get back to Zoey. I knew she needed me right now, like she needed me this past week. She dealt with so much loss this week. First, she lost her two friends from her rival high school and now Stevie Rae. She was strong, but how long before she cracks?

My thoughts went to Stevie Rae. In the last month, I got to know her - the one person that made Zoey feel like she belongs here at the House of Night. Despite my position as Zoey's boyfriend, Stevie Rae was the only person Zoey would confide in when there was something bothering her. I am grateful for her compassion and unconditional love for Zoey. She needs - just like I do - to feel like she is loved and that she belongs. Stevie Rae is the epitome of that love and acceptance.

I opened the door to the rec hall with a great deal of force. I noticed the crowd growing around the horrifying, gasping sounds. They were worse now. I pushed my way through the crowd to see Stevie Rae was curled up in Zoey's arms. There were several white towels drenched in her blood, scattered all around her body. I could see blood pouring out of eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. It was hard to watch. The ghastly, wracking coughs coming from her lungs made me grip my own chest in a silent plea that this would end quickly for Stevie Rae, so she could be at peace.

My eyes drifted up to Zoey face. She was visibly crying as she gently rocked Stevie Rae's weak, limp body from side to side. It was so motherly and so perfect for her. I saw that Damien had a green candle lit and was holding it in front of Stevie Rae's face. I couldn't hear anything except the gurgling sounds that steadily surged from her body.

Neferet came within seconds of my entrance. In her haste, she slammed the rec hall's doors wide open as she swiftly made her way to Stevie Rae. She tried to pull Damien and the twins away from Zoey and reached out to take Stevie Rae's limp body. Zoey's eyes widened with anger as she glared at Neferet. With a commanding, powerful voice that projected throughout the entire hall, she yelled, "No! We stay with her. She needs her element and she needs us."

I never saw Neferet jump back like that. Even she was shocked at the power radiating from Zoey's voice. I stepped closer to Zoey as Neferet backed away, clearly trying to regain her composure.

Having complied with Zoey's command, Neferet handed her the vile from her desk and asked Zoey to get Stevie Rae to drink the milky substance. Stevie Rae's weak, timid voice stated that she didn't need the vile and that she wasn't in any pain. I looked between her, Zoey, and Neferet in shock. It was the first time that anyone has ever refused Neferet's help. Her eyes, blood shot and half closed, looked like she was at peace despite her blood stained face. I only wish there was something I could do the help Zoey. I could see the pain clearly written on her face. I raised my hand to her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her in her time of need. Her roommate, her best friend, was dying in her arms and there wasn't anything she could do. My heart broke for Zoey as she just rocked her friend gently from side to side whispering in her ear.

My mind recalled the two other fledglings that I personally witnessed rejecting the change. They didn't affect me nearly as much as this sweet, loving girl wrapped up in Zoey's arms. Tyler and Paul were the two fledgling deaths I witnessed, while stories of other casualties were repeated to me through school-wide gossip. Their agonizing cries rang throughout the hallways of the school. I could see the pain etched into their tortured faces. It hurt to know that even I could end up rejecting the change. It's a natural fear when a new student first arrives here, but after a few years, successful transformation expectations are high. In Tyler's case, he was a fifth former when he rejected the change - it was completely unexpected with no outward physical signs. From that point on, all thoughts of being free and clear from rejection went out the window. Professor Nolan told me that it could happen for any reason, at any stage in our transformation. Needless to say, it didn't make me feel any better.

Witnessing it first hand, knowing that the person lying on the floor, pouring out his or her lifeblood was a friend, a classmate, a roommate, a brother, or a sister was excruciating to watch. Time would slow down, minutes would seem like hours. And soon they would be gone.

My eyes shot to Stevie Rae; she wasn't crying, she wasn't pleading, and she was just… calm, peaceful. In Zoey's motherly arms, she was at peace. Her voice was so serene, I wondered if Nyx was with her. I could faint smell bales of hay and sweet, tall grass. It was faint but I could still smell it. Was she was using her newly acquired affinity to ease her pain, or was it Zoey?

Why would Nyx allow this to happen when she had just given her such a special gift? Why was she rejecting the change? Why was she leaving Zoey? Her best friend, her roommate - it didn't seem fair, not to Stevie Rae - and not to Zoey. Not when she finally felt like she belonged. She needed Stevie Rae and I was pretty sure Stevie Rae needed Zoey as well. I think we all needed her.

Neferet's voice broke me out of my thoughts.

"Help Zoey lift her onto the stretcher. Keep them together. Let's get her to the infirmary."

Without a second thought four sets of hands reached out to lift Zoey and Stevie Rae up and onto the stretcher. I didn't even see when Neferet brought it into the rec hall. In one graceful movement they were both on the stretcher. We were then quickly led out of the rec hall and into the dark, cold night. My hand never left Zoey's shoulder as we walked in an intense silence.

As the snow fell around us, I could see Stevie Rae looking up into the dark night. She had a half smile on her face as a snowflake fell, melting immediately against her warm, bloodied face.

Zoey was quietly whispering in her ear; hopefully giving her words of encouragement and saying her goodbyes. Just before we entered the infirmary Stevie Rae leaned forward and vomited blood onto the newly fallen snow. The contrast in colors only made me realize that she was nearing the end. It wouldn't be long now. My heart sank in my chest as my body tightened with the knowledge of what was coming next.

Zoey's eyes closed as she brought her best friend back into her protective embrace, whispering in her ear once again. My heart broke for Zoey at her impending loss. Stevie Rae was everything to her.

Once we were in the infirmary, the four of us lifted their stiff bodies form the stretcher to the empty, pristine, white hospital bed. Neferet motioned for us to huddle around them. Again, there wasn't any hesitation as each of us climbed up onto the bed inching closer to Zoey and Stevie Rae. I settled close to Zoey's right side, placing my hand on her shoulder once again. I was waiting for the moment when she would need me. I would be there for her.

Damien lifted the candle he had brought with him from the rec hall. Suddenly, I could smell the sweet scent of apple blossoms and hear the faint twitter of a bird chirping in the background. It was fascinating even now, regardless of the current situation, that I could feel and smell the earth element. I looked past Zoey's shoulder and I saw Stevie Rae's weak, half smile. She was at tranquil again. Her voice was low and hushed as she gave Zoey her last wishes, knowing she was close and only had moments left.

I barely heard her say something about cookies and then she made everyone promise to 'stick with Zoey and don't let anything pull you apart.' It was a weird request, because we would ever turn our backs on Zoey or let anything pull us apart. I nodded my head in silent agreement. I could make that promise.

She mumbled something to Zoey and in response she tightened her grip and told her softly that she wasn't going anywhere.

"Kay," was the last thing out of Stevie Rae's mouth before her eyes finally closed. Her breathing slowed down as if she were merely drifting off to sleep. After another silent minute passed, she was gone.

Okay *wipes tears* that was a sad chapter to write. I hope you like it. Please review and tell me what you think.

Thanks again to LexLogikk for suggesting more of Stevie Rae. This one is for you. :)