LAST DAY OF SCHOOL BITCHES!!

I'M AN 8TH GRADER NOW!!

lol. Anyways, I just wanted to wait until my last day of schoolio to UP. Sorry. I finished this like a week ago...

Okay guys. It's the chapter I've been scared of since this story became my favorite...

IT'S THE LAST CHAPTER!!

I just wanna thank you all for your amazing reviews and support! We got over 1,000 reviews which is a great accomplishment! I never thought I'd even get into the 900's but you guys stayed with this and made it awesome! And yes, this is a happy chapter. Except I answer a question that a few of you have asked, so it's kinda sad but the rest is happy and fluffy! Yay! Lol! Thanks again! :)

AND CALLING ALL JONAS BROTHERS FANS!!

There is one act of irony in this first paragraph. I suggest you look over the titles of the JB's songs and tell me in your review how this is ironic (It's my fave song off their second album) :)

...One Month Later...

Lucy stood in the kitchen, stirring the soup. It was now one month since Troy and Brandon had become friends again and to be honest, everything was exactly the same as it was before they had split. They were, as expected, inseparable.

The two had been out of the hospital for a week now. Their parents wanted them to rest a little more before re-attending East High. Brandon hadn't been in the school for over 2 months now. He found out that would have to attend summer school to make up for all the missed assignments. Reluctantly, he had accepted the consequences of his actions.

Chad didn't tell anyone about Troy and Brandon becoming friends again. He figured that it would be a good surprise for everyone on Monday. He did, however, tell them about their wounds. Everyone took it the wrong way and thought that they fought each other. Gabriella snitched on Chad and Troy planned to kill him when he saw him again.

The door closed. Lucy smiled when she felt arms wrap around her waist.

"Hey honey," she greeted her husband.

"Hey. Something smells good." Jack replied, giving his wife a peck on the cheek.

"Yup. Chicken noodle soup and fried chicken for dinner, Troy and Brandon's favorite."

"Sounds good," Jack smiled, removing his shoes. As he headed for the fridge for something to drink, something crossed his mind.

"Lucy?"

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't you tell the police that Wolf was abusing Troy and targeting Brandon?"

Lucy froze. She sighed and wiped her hands on a spare towel. She turned to her husband and confessed "I found out about it a week after it started. Troy came home with bruises and cuts all over his body. His shirt got ripped off and his pants were nearly destroyed. He was bleeding everywhere and crying his eyes out. I knew that Brandon couldn't have done it even if he wanted to. I asked him about it and I could tell that he was lying to me when he said that he fell down a hill. I pestered him about it and he finally told me everything. I went for the phone to call the police, but he stopped me and told me not to. I thought that he lost his mind but then he said 'Trust me when I say this mom. Wolf's been in jail before and he knows how to get out. He'll come looking for both of our families and kill all of us. You need to let me do this on my own. I know what I'm doing. If things get too out of control, I'll tell you and you can call the police, but right now, you can't. Please Mom. All I'm asking for is for you to trust me.' He was literally on his knees begging me not to tell anyone. It took the whole weekend for me to decide on something, but I finally decided to trust him. Troy's a smart boy, so I knew he would be okay. But there wasn't a day that went by where I regretted not calling the police on Wolf. I feel so guilty for letting Troy get hurt by him, but I figured that it was for the best. You just had to have seen the look in his eyes when he pleaded for me to keep my mouth shut about it. I couldn't say no. Not to him."

Jack stood there in awe. He was a tad bit angry at his wife for letting his son get hurt, but most of his feelings were feelings of admiration. It took real heart to do something like that.

He walked up to her and kissed her softly on the lips, murmuring "Good choice. Now the boys know how powerful their friendship is."

Lucy smiled at Jack and hugged him tightly. When they parted, she looked around and asked "Speaking of the boys, where's Troy? He should've been home by now."

Jack shrugged and walked over to the window where he left his gym bag. Just as he was about to go up the stairs, he caught sight of something outside and grinned "Here he comes."

A few seconds later, he added "Oh. He's not alone."

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked, washing some of the dishes.

Exactly one second after those words left her mouth, the door burst open. Troy and Brandon came parading in the house, eyes closed and their bodies close together. Troy's iPod was hooked up to their ears and they had one arm around each other's shoulder. They both danced and sang together:

"I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding onto what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

Take my hand, I give it to you
Now you own me, all I am
You said you would never leave me
I believe you, I believe

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding onto what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healed."

After, they both froze and struck a pose. After they couldn't take it anymore, they collapsed on the floor in a heap of laughter.

"That's officially my song!" Brandon laughed, wiping away the tears from his eyes.

"You can have it. It was already mine a few months ago." Troy replied, helping his best friend off the floor.

Lucy laughed at the sight of the two boys and asked "Hey boys."

Troy and Brandon pulled up a stool and sat at the counter, eagerly waiting for something to fill their hunger. "Hey mom." Troy greeted.

"Hey Mrs. Bolton." Brandon politely smiled.

Lucy groaned "Brandon, you've known me for 15 years! How many times do I have to say 'Just call me Lucy'?"

Brandon blushed "Sorry Lucy."

Lucy nodded approvingly. She turned back to the stove and asked "How was your day?"

"Awesome!" Troy pumped his fist in the air. Brandon rolled his eyes playfully at him and said "We went to that new amusement park that just opened. Their rides are sick! One roller coaster goes up 150 feet, stops, and then you just drop down. I felt my popcorn in my throat."

"We went on it five times." Troy added.

"Sounds like fun." Lucy smiled, giving each of them a large spoon with chocolate cake mix on them.

"I thought something smelled good." Troy grinned.

"Well you guessed right," Lucy giggled, placing the cake batter in the oven. "I'm in a happy mood."

"Obviously." Brandon murmured. Lucy playfully shoved his shoulder.

"So mom, is she here yet?" Troy smiled, setting down his now clean spoon.

"Yeah, she just got here about 5 minutes ago." Lucy replied with a devious grin.

"Is she well hidden?" Troy whispered. Lucy nodded.

"Who are you guys talking about?" Brandon asked, finishing off his spoon.

Troy smiled and gave his mother a look, as if saying "Should I tell him?" Lucy nodded and wiped her hands on her apron.

"Am I missing something here?" Brandon asked, getting confused.

"You have no idea..." Jack mumbled in his ear before running off upstairs to avoid his wife's angry fists.

Troy got up from his stool and announced "Brandon, we have a little surprise for you."

Brandon laughed shortly and said "Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think I can deal with anymore surprises from you guys."

Troy and Lucy just smirked and exchanged sly gazes.

Brandon shrugged at their behavior and started off towards the bathroom when a familiar voice called "Even if it's an old friend?"

Brandon froze, his eyes widening. Slow footsteps clicked into the room, sounding like high heels. A giggle escaped someone's lips as Brandon turned around slowly, his eyes widening to their full extent when he looked into the blue eyes that he hadn't seen in months.

"Izzy..." he whispered to the blonde.

Isabelle grinned "Hey Brandon."

Not a second later, Brandon dashed from his spot in front of the bathroom door and took Isabelle into his arms. While she wrapped her arms around his neck, he picked her up off the ground and spun her around like a 2 year old, burying his head in her shoulder. She shrieked and laughed in his ear, obviously happy to see him too.

"You said you weren't visiting until Christmas..." Brandon murmured into her shoulder.

"Troy called me last month and asked me to come down here to surprise you. It took lots of convincing, but my mom let us come down early." Isabelle replied.

Brandon pulled back slightly to look into her eyes and ask "Who's 'us'?"

A very angry 12 year old stomped out from the spot Isabelle had just come out of. The blonde spat "You forgot about me already?!"

Brandon rolled his eyes and smiled "Well, I've never even met you before, so can you really blame me?"

Sarah too rolled her eyes and ran over to Troy. Troy took his little cousin in his arms and hugged her close, saying "Hey Blondie."

"What's up Troysie?" Sarah giggled back.

Troy kissed her forehead and said "I have a surprise for you..."

Sarah's eyes lit up as she excitedly said "Ooh! I love surprises!"

"Yeah, me too." A voice came from the doorway. Sarah looked over Troy's shoulder and gasped as Matt and Andrea stood in the doorway, smiling at her. Sarah jumped down from Troy's arms and ran over to her two best friends.

"Guys! What are you doing here? How'd you know I was coming back?" She asked, giving Andrea a hug.

"Troy can't seem to keep his mouth shut, can he?" Andrea replied with a smirk.

Sarah smiled and turned to Matt. He had a soft look in his eyes and stood with his hands in his pockets. He brought them out and outstretched his arms, saying "Good to see you again Sarah."

Sarah gave him a tight, bone crushing hug and muttered into his chest "It was like forever, wasn't it?"

Matt kissed the top of her head and replied "You have no idea."

Sarah looked up into his eyes and leaned forward with him doing the same. It only took seconds for their lips to connect in a sweet kiss.

"You're only 12!" Troy playfully bellowed from behind them. "What are you doing making out?!"

Sarah parted from Matt for a second to spit back at her cousin "I clearly remember a morning where you and Gabriella were getting nasty in your bedroom. Remember? I broke you two up before it went any further."

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Brandon and Lucy glared at Troy. Troy just gave Sarah a dirty look and mouthed "You better run."

"Whatever, I don't care. As long as you don't get her pregnant or hurt her in any way, shape, or form, I'm fine with getting a little nasty." Brandon told his best friend.

"You mean like us?" Isabelle seductively whispered in his ear, sending chills down Brandon's spine.

"When have we ever been nasty?" Brandon grinned.

Isabelle kissed his neck and whispered "We haven't yet, but I'm all for creating new...memories." A shock of electricity flew through Brandon's body.

"You're evil." Brandon whispered, trying to hold himself back but was failing miserably.

"You said you hated good girls, right?" she finalized, knowing that she now had full control over him.

"Oh God." Brandon gave up through clenched teeth. He spun around so that Isabelle's back was now against the wall and he crashed his lips onto hers. Her arms were already around his neck, but that didn't stop her from pulling him closer to her. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, which she used to her advantage. Her knees would have given out on her if she was standing on her feet.

Troy groaned "I thought you two broke up."

Brandon replied into Isabelle's lips "That doesn't mean a thing to me."

"I don't remember breaking up." She pulled back from Brandon and winked at him.

Brandon smiled lovingly "Yeah, me neither."

"Are you saying what I think you are?" Lucy piped up.

Isabelle nodded "Count us as back together."

Brandon nodded slowly "I don't have a problem with that. I can handle a long distance relationship. It's almost summer time anyways."

Isabelle smiled and pulled him into another kiss, murmuring "I love you enough to keep this together."

"I love you too."

--

...Monday...

Monday. 2 weeks before the end of school. The day that Brandon had been afraid of for a week. It was the day he would have to go back to East High.

"No!" he yelled from inside Troy's car. "I'm not going and you can't make me!"

Troy groaned and turned to Gabriella. Gabriella smirked and whispered something in Troy's ear. Troy smiled and nodded.

He went over to Brandon's door and called "Okay, have it your way. But just to let you know, Isabelle went back to California and I could just, you know, tell her you met someone else and-"

That did it. Brandon dashed out of the car with all his stuff and stood beside his sister. Troy closed his eyes, grinned, and shook his head slowly. Brandon was so desperate to keep his relationship with Isabelle.

"Okay, can we please go now?" Gabriella giggled after seeing Brandon's face pale when he saw everyone staring at him, some giving him dirty looks. "We're gonna be late for class."

"Yeah, we're going. Come on." Troy took Brandon's shoulder and Gabriella grabbed his arm to make sure that he didn't run off when they got to the doors. Brandon gulped and dragged his feet. He hoped that everyone forgave him like his friends did.

Just walking up to the doors seemed like running four miles around the school. The whole way, people on 'Brandon's side' were giving the trio strange looks, trying to figure out why Troy and Brandon were within a foot of each other and not fighting. The others on 'Troy's side' were glaring at Brandon. They just thought that Troy was luring him into a trap or something.

When they entered the school, the halls went silent. Troy ignored it and just started talking with Brandon, who was talking back. Troy's elbow was propped against Brandon's shoulder, which confused the students the most. It was like middle school all over again.

"Hey guys," Troy greeted his pack of friends gathered around his locker. "What's up?"

"Nothing much," Chad replied shrugging "Everyone's surprised to see you two together again."

Troy's eyes darkened "Yeah, remind me to kill you for not telling them that earlier."

"Sorry. I thought it would be a good surprise." Chad mumbled.

"And how'd that work out for you?" Brandon asked sarcastically.

"Shut up."

"Guys," Sharpay interrupted "We could go on for days about this, but we need to get to homeroom before Darbus bites our heads off."

The gang nodded and walked to homeroom side by side, getting glares and stares the whole time. When they arrived to homeroom, the room went silent. They didn't seem to care. They just chatted and laughed with their best friends, accepting Brandon into the group. No one understood it.

"Remember the time in 5th grade when we got ice cream spilled all over us because the girls got pissed off at us at Brandon's party?" Chad laughed.

Brandon nodded "I remember that. Then we threw chocolate cake at them and ruined their clothes. Man, that was awesome!"

"Didn't that start a food fight?" Sharpay asked.

"Yeah. My mom was laughing so hard at us." Gabriella thought back.

"We had to clean it all up though," Brandon shrugged.

"And I helped." Troy proudly said.

"Yup. That's what best friends are for, aren't they?"

"Right on bro." With that, the two did their secret handshake.

Whispers formed around the room, everyone trying to figure out what happened between the two over the last month. Chad told them that they were in the hospital for serious wounds. They thought that they gave them to each other.

Seconds later, Ms. Darbus walked into the room and announced "Good morning students! I'd like to make an announcement. Are Troy and Brandon present?"

Troy and Brandon raised their hands.

"Good," Ms. Darbus continued "We're all happy to have you back. May I ask what happened?"

Brandon shrugged "Let's just say that a few wires were crossed and some misunderstandings were resolved." Troy laughed shortly and have him a high five.

Ms. Darbus's eyebrows flew up at the boys' behavior. She shook her head quickly and stuttered "O-okay. Are you two alright?"

Troy nodded "Yeah, why wouldn't we be?"

Ms. Darbus remained silent for a few moments before shaking her head and replying "No reason. Glad to see you again."

Troy and Brandon exchanged amused smiles. They knew that they had lots of explaining to do later.

--

...Lunch...

Troy and Brandon sat at Troy's table at lunchtime, chatting it up with their friends. The school had still not gotten used to the new situation, but they were trying.

Troy gave Brandon a look that said "Should we do it now?" Brandon nodded. Troy nodded back and stood up, Brandon following his actions. Brandon put two fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly, getting the students' attention.

"Thank you Brandon," Troy told his best friend. He then announced "Okay guys. You've probably noticed something different going on with me and Brandon."

Everyone nodded.

Brandon continued "Well we're just here today to tell you that we made up a month ago."

As soon as he said that, the entire student body erupted into loud applause. Troy and Brandon smiled at them and at each other.

"So you two aren't fighting anymore?" Amy piped up from the middle of the room.

Brandon shook his head "Nope. We're brothers for life again."

Troy nodded "Anyone who has a problem with it can the fattest part of our asses."

Everyone in the room laughed, including Brandon. Troy just stood there looking out at his classmates. He felt good for them. Now they didn't have to worry about accidentally getting hit with any fists or flying objects. They were safe now.

"Party at my place on Friday?!" Sharpay screamed excitedly. Everyone screamed with her, obviously saying yes.

Troy and Brandon turned around and mouthed "Thanks." Sharpay replied "No problem. You guys deserve it."

Brandon shook his head "No. Troy does. He's the one who saved me anyway."

Troy smiled "Thanks bro."

"No problem bro."

--

...The Party...

It was finally 8:00 on Friday night. The night of Sharpay and Ryan's party for Troy and Brandon. Everyone was invited obviously. Isabelle told her that she would catch a flight, not wanting to miss anything. Her mom had been reluctant of letting her leave again, but she finally caved in and let her go see Brandon again.

The party was in full swing. Everyone was dancing and laughing, just trying to celebrate Troy and Brandon's make up. Couples were dancing, friends were chatting, and Chad was the DJ, taking requests by people.

Troy was dancing with Brandon, Gabriella, and Isabelle to the song Closer by Ne-Yo. Gabriella was all over Troy while Isabelle was the same way with Brandon. Troy and Brandon gave each other pleasured looks, eyeing the girls with them.

"So," Brandon started "You having fun Izzy?"

Isabelle replied with a kiss on his lips. "Yup. Especially since you're here."

Brandon smiled and swept her up bridal style and carried her over to the wall. He pressed her back against it and pulled her into a rough kiss.

"I've missed that." He mumbled.

"It's only been a week." The blonde giggled.

Brandon attacked her lips again "I know. That's how much I love you."

5 minutes later, Troy walked over to the couple and broke up their make out session. "Excuse me!" He bellowed "Romeo and Juliet!"

Brandon pulled back and glared at Troy, his eyes screaming "WHAT?!"

Troy waved for Brandon to follow him. Brandon gave his girlfriend one last peck on the lips before following Troy out the door.

They just stood there in a comfortable silence, staring at the dark Albuquerque sky and watching the stars twinkling in the sky.

"Dude?" Troy started.

"Hmm?"

"Do you regret the last 5 years of our lives?"

Brandon stayed silent. He had that distant look in his eyes that showed that he was thinking hard.

"No," he finally confessed "Not at all. It really showed how strong our friendship is, didn't it?"

Troy nodded with a grin "Yeah. It showed that we never really hated each other."

Brandon smiled at him. "You know what?"

"What?"

"After all these years, you've kept your promise to me."

"What promise?" Troy asked, utterly confused.

Brandon reminded him "Remember when we were 11? We were at the park and we promised each other that we would stick by each other's side no matter what."

Troy smiled "Yeah, I remember. I asked you why you gave me a second chance unlike everyone else. Now I really know why."

Brandon nodded "I just feel bad because I didn't keep that promise to you."

Troy shook his head "Yes you did. You kept fighting for the things you wanted the most. I was just forced to fight harder and steal them from you. Sorry about that."

Brandon shrugged "Don't worry about it. You were just protecting me. That's what brothers do, right?"

Troy smiled and nodded "Yeah. Brothers forever?" He held out his fist, asking Brandon to do the same.

Brandon smiled back and pounded Troy's fist. This was one of his dreams that he had had 2 years ago. He and Troy reunited, standing under the moonlight with no problems between them. He never thought that dreams came true until now. Troy made him believe in miracles again.

"Brothers for life."

(Sniff sniff) This has got to be one of the saddest days of my life. I'm sad that this story has ended, but I'm super glad to see that you all enjoyed it so much. Thanks again. And if you haven't already, put me on author alert until you get an email about a story called either Burning Ashes, Burning Memories, Haunting Memories, or Haunting Ashes. I'll put up a poll as a chapter in a few minutes that will let you decide for us (Me and shortytori322821 are writing the sequel together :) Gotta love her) Thanks again :) REVIEW!!

Rachel :)

The song is part of "All Around Me" by Flyleaf :)

Bye guys! See you at the sequel :)