Now that's what I call hard working, I had this whole chapter written down in the "notes" on my iPod… and I just copied all this since it didn't transfer when I plugged it into the computer.

Now I warn you this is another sappy downright sad chapter, to you have been warned!

"The Only Exception" - Paramore

It was the infamous day of the family get-together, and there were about 5 more hours of waiting until it started. Sterling was stretched out on the hide-a-bed in his black slacks, his white button-down shirt and black tie, watching an old episode of "This Old House" on KPTS, waiting on the girls to finish getting ready.

"Hey Sterling?" He heard Cori's voice around the corner; He noticed her head sticking out from the corner. "Okay, so you need to be the judge for me."

He nodded. "Yeah, sure… but just so you know, I am brutally honest."

She quickly came out from the corner, he had seen that dress before, it was a strapless red knee length dress, almost matched the color of her hair. "So, what do you think?"

"I really like it; it looks good on you… Hayley let you borrow it?"

"How did you know?"

"She wore it when she hung out with Demi and me for a fundraiser."

Cori gasped. "So, you mean she met famous people in this dress?"

He nodded again, "She shook hands with Zac Efron in it."

"Oh wow." She said to herself. "So yeah, I'll be wearing this one." She ran back into her room, almost hitting Hayley, who was making her way into the room, not yet dressed, still in her sweat pants and tank-top.

"Okay, I'm dressed, what's up with the sweat pants?"

"It's Saturday." She said simply, "I have 5 hours."

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, it's just…" She paused for a moment, unsure of what she would say, she looked away, "…Well. I didn't tell you this, but it was 10 years ago, mom got into her accident."

"And yet you're going to the reunion…"

She nodded, "Yeah, I didn't realize it until this morning that it was today."

"So, do you want to tell me why it's making you so glum this morning?"

"No, you don't want to hear the story."

"What makes you think I don't?"

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Hayley sat in her fifth grade class, waiting for the math test to be handed back. Mrs. Rice was starting to handout the papers, only to be stopped by the secretary in the doorway. She watched as the two looked at her, and the secretary headed her way.

"Hey Hayley," She said as she got down to her level, "Will you come with me; I want to talk to you for a bit."

Hayley cocked her head to the side, "What's wrong? I didn't get in trouble did I?"

"No honey, I just want to have a little talk with you."

Hayley followed the secretary to the office, she notice her Aunt Anita sitting in there.

"Um, what happened?" Hayley questioned.

Her aunt approached her, "Hales hun, your mom was in an accident this morning."

Hayley gulped, her face went pale, "is she… Okay?"

"She's pretty beat-up, but your dad can't come to get you, so I'm here to take you to the hospital." Her aunt quickly signed her out and they left the school.

Hayley grabbed her aunt's hand as they walked to the car. "Mom isn't going to die is she?"

Anita couldn't bring herself to tell her, "Hales. I'm not sure."

They made it to the hospital, and to the 3rd floor, she saw her dad pacing in front of a hospital room door. She quickly ran to him, he swept her up in his arms and held her close. "Please tell me Momma is okay."

Lloyd held his daughter in front of him, "Hales, Moms not doing too well."

Tears started to form in her eyes as she looked into her father's. "Bu-but can I see her?" she stuttered.

"Yeah, if you want to." He set her down and opened the door.

She saw what felt like the world was going to crash down on her. So many tubes and things sticking out from her mother. She walked over the body; she took her mother's hand in hers. She watched for a moment as the machine helped her mother's chest rise and fall for air.

The seconds felt like hours as she looked at her mother. Her face was scatter with bruises, scrapes and gashes. She felt her heart sink into her chest. She pulled up the closest chair to the bedside. "Hey mom." She whispered, "It's Hay-Hay." She waited for a response, but none came. "Please mom," The tears started to show themselves, drop by drop started down her cheeks. "Please, please, don't die. I love you." She laid her head down onto the hand she had grasped in hers.

With that, a long beep emitted from the machine next to her.

Hayley gasped, sobbing. Her father came and swept her up in his arms again and numerous doctors and nurses came running into the room.

"NO! MOM!" The ten year old screamed from her father's arms.

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"Oh, wow." Was all sterling could say, her story was heart breaking to him.

"Dad always told me that she was just waiting for me so that she could say goodbye." She looked up at him with a soft smile. "But its things like that, that just make you feel even worse." She giggles slightly, "I never found out what I got on my math test."

He snickered and shook his head, "You are one kooky girl."

She smiled at him, "Maybe I should go get dressed now."

"Yeah, you should so I don't look like a weirdo here, dress up while you're still in your sweats."

She got up from the bed, "Thanks Ster, for listening to my sob story."

"It's not a sob story… and you're welcome."

Please please read and review, it makes me a very happy zebra!