Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OCs. :)
A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates lately, I truly do apologize. I'm either busy as hell with homework, or too exhausted/no ideas to write for my fanfictions. BUT. I will be posting another Shannon/OC story either later tonight, or tomrrow. I won't be updating that one as much, for reasons you'll see. I'm predicting about 15 or so more chapters in this story, if I get it to go the way I want. I want to thank littlerascalash for letting me get into a little deeper of Matt's mind for this...she doesnt' even know she gave me an idea for this chapter...but I guess she does now, HA. AND OMG. Did anyone see the pics of Shannon Moore and his puppies? SO CUTEEEE. ZOMG. :) End fan girl moment. And again I ask: check out littlerascalash's stories! They deserve more credit. She writes like whoaaa. :) Anyway, enjoy. ;)

Next day… (Day six…Charity leaves at end of day seven)

"I can't believe I leave tomorrow night," Charity says willfully, sighing at the lunch in front of her with a large sigh too. She smiles at me, eyes sad probably for more than one reason. "This week has gone much too fast…way too much has happened."

I smile at her, nodding my head. "We'll miss ya, kiddo. But, we will keep in touch. I'll give ya our cell numbers, and of course there is myspace…but that'll be tough. You have my address, if you ever wanted to send something," I ramble on, not really realizing I was doing so.

There are tears in her eyes. Oh jeez, not at Cracker Barrel. "Sorry…this is just…still so surreal to me. I can't believe I'm talking to you…and not dying," she adds with a smile. "Do you know how many people probably want to kill me right now?" she jokes.

"A lot," I reply with a smile. Jeff and Beth are talking across the room, doing something with their food, dunno what. I study Charity, wondering if she's just putting a strong barrier up and she's really hurting badly inside, or she really feels okay. Lord knows it takes more than two days to move on from something like a sibling dying. I couldn't imagine my life without Jeff the more and more I think about it. We might fight and disagree at times, but without him, I would not be whole. Which is why the fire was almost a wake-up call in disguise: be thankful for what you have, right?

"Hey Charity?" I ask finally, shaking my head of all fire thoughts. Everyone wanted to forget the fire, to move on and rebuild, especially Jeff. He told me a few days before Charity arrived about becoming focused and really stopping his using. I hope he sticks to this. I want to one day be a champion with my brother, both of us holding separate gold's, and smiles on our faces, not Jeff sitting at home from being released because of stupidity. But, it's his life, and he is the only one who can follow through with what he says.

She nods. "Yeah?"

"How are you really holding up?" I ask her, studying her face some more, but the expression doesn't change. Her face is almost expressionless, just there and waiting for my next word or so. "You seem to be dealing well…"

"I am," she admits. "I just try to remember if Penn was here, he'd be strangling me if I wasn't having a good time." She pauses, looking around. "And I do believe in spirits, so I can imagine him sitting next to us right now, ready to pinch me or something if I do otherwise," she explains, a tiny smile emerging on her face. "Do I look sad?"

"No," I reply quickly, shaking my head. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Her smile warms into a full force grin. "That's sweet, Matt. You're a real sweetheart."

One that you wouldn't mind dating? I think, but resist answering that question. She's a baby…but she's wonderful in so many ways. My best friend is in love with her…but he's confused. She may like me…but she may not. How the hell am I supposed to know what to do? How come suddenly trying to figure out what to do when it comes to a girl is so hard for me? It's never been this hard before.

"You're different, Charity." Maybe that was it. That had to be it. There was no other explanation to why this young girl I've known for six days suddenly makes me into an inexperienced teenager-feel again. She giggles at my words and shakes her head. "Yes, you are."

"No, but whatever. Beth said something about a surprise tomorrow to me. So, are you going to be a big bad man and continue to hide it, or can I bribe it out of you?" she asks sweetly.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but that secret is private until tomorrow." I finish off my food and sit back, a cocky smile on my face. "You'll just have to wait and see…"

Thank you everyone. :D I love all the reviews so much. :3 Read and review my pretties, and update I shall. :D