Alright then guys, it looks like update Sunday is once again upon us and I desperately just want to say 908. 908 and those writers. they make me happy. that is all. (google the press release for 908 if you're okay with spoilers, it's a aslkflgjksdjghgidbfibhgvndhg fnbb moment)

Also, you guys are awesome! I am really enjoying your feedback on this story. I'm so glad you are enjoying it so much. Izzi Creo, webdlfan, alexindigo, saderia, sprog101, rhymenocerous, Gigglesforcsi, dannyandlindsayforeva, Montanagirl2009.

Now, I'm going to leave it there for tonight as I have to be up in 7 hours and 26 minutes to go and teach my precious cherubs lol!

Goodbye, there's just no sadder word to say. And it's sad to walk away with just the memories. Who's to know what might have been; we leave behind a life and time we'll never know again.

-Please Remember, Leann Rimes.

Laid on her side, facing away from the hospital door Lindsay used their ignorance as a good thing. She was getting information that they wouldn't have even dreamt to tell her if they had any inclination that she was awake.

Basically what it boiled down to was he had gotten away. There were no two ways about it. He was gone and there was no trace of him. Nothing. He hadn't touched Kelly, Sarah, Jenny or Brianna after he'd done what he did so there was no DN-something. DNA? DMV? She hadn't quite heard what they had said. Basically though, he hadn't checked their pulses. She was the only person that had checked Kelly's. He hadn't cared. All he had wanted to do was shoot her friends; he didn't care whether they lived or not. She could feel the tears trickling down her cheeks from her closed eyelids and she forced herself to stop crying; if they knew she was awake, they'd stop talking... and she needed to know things. She needed to know why. Why them.

How had he disappeared?! She thought desperately. She'd given the police officer a description of him and they had drawn a picture of him. It had everything that she'd said. The messy, greasy hair; the scary look in his eyes… just, everything. It was exactly him; so why hadn't they found him? What was so hard about it? She thought. How couldn't they find him? The guy was covered in blood. He was covered. With everyone out looking, they should have found him. Not many people would be out driving now. They must not have tried hard enough, Lindsay thought to herself. They must have just let him get away. A fresh batch of tears hit her full force, making her whimper into her hospital pillow.

Maybe it wasn't their fault, maybe it was her fault. Maybe she had waited too long to call the police. Or maybe she waited too long in the restroom. Maybe she should have been out in the diner too. At least then she would have been with her friends. Maybe… maybe… she just didn't know what to think anymore.

After she had giving the police officer a description of whoever had done this, they had insisted she go to hospital; which had sent her into a frenzy of upset and panic. The last time she'd been to the hospital was when her Grandfather had died and Kelly had come when she had heard what had happened. She'd collected Lindsay from his room and she had taken her to the canteen and got her chocolate milk and she'd sat there blowing bubbles in her own strawberry milkshake as they sat in silence together. Initially, Lindsay had sat staring off into the distance as she contemplated life without her grandfather, but was harshly interrupted by Kelly's coughing and spluttering. She'd sucked into the straw, rather than blown and had been given a shock when she had a mouthful of milk that she hadn't expected. After that, although it had been a sad affair at home, Lindsay knew that she had Kelly to lean on to make her smile and laugh again. Kelly was gone now though. She wouldn't be in the canteen waiting for her. She'd never hear Kelly's laugh, or Brianna's desperation in finding the perfect boy, or Jenny's sarcasm ever again. Without them, she was just Lindsay. And what did she have? She was the reliable one. She was the one that broke up their disagreements. She was the one that dished out homework help. She taught them the cheers for the games.

Somehow though, the police officers and ambulance crew had coaxed her into getting checked, just to make sure she was okay. The drive in the ambulance was something Lindsay never wished to relive. It was quiet, and she was getting these… sympathetic looks from the crew. It was like they felt sorry for her. Desperately sorry. They didn't really say much to her, other than asking necessary questions about herself; like if she knew what year it was and other ridiculous things. Who was the president? What school did she go to? What was her address? What relevance did it have to the fact that her friends had died? Very little, she'd thought.

"We can't wake her. She's gone through a traumatic ordeal. Her body needs to heal the physical wounds."

"Well she's the only witness we have. It's imperative we speak with her instantly."

"I'm going to have to get her doctor first."

"I'm awake," she called to the arguing voices, desperate to shut them up with their arguing. It was easier to just do whatever they needed to do with her so she could get back to pretending she was asleep. She sat up on the bed and cringed as she watched the room stare at her, looking for any inclination that she was injured.

"How are you feeling, Lindsay?" The officer sat next to the bed asked her.

Lindsay avoided the question well with a shrug of her shoulders. He nodded in understanding before turning to the person sat next to him. "This is Detective Scott; he's in charge of finding the man that did this."

"He isn't a man." Lindsay said quietly as she looked down to the blankets on her bed.

"Lindsay, you told us the person that did this was a man." The Detective blinked, worry displayed all over his face that they had been out searching for the wrong person.

"A coward did this," she finished. "A monster."

Both men nodded in understanding, settling somewhat in their seats. "We wanted to ask you a few more questions. Do you feel up to it?"

"When can I see my Mom and Dad?"

"After this," the officer standing at the door smiled at her. It was Officer Jeffers; the man that had been looking after her at the scene. She narrowed her eyes at him softly. He hadn't left her. "I promise, Lindsay."

"Okay then," she nodded. "Whatever you need. So long as you find him, that's all that matters."

"Exactly Lindsay, good girl. I know this will be hard, but I need you to think clearly and carefully. Take your time... we can take as many breaks as you need, okay?"

She simply nodded in response.

"Okay, now you've had a little time; do you think you have ever seen this person before Lindsay? Have you see him at school? In the park? Where did you and your friends used to hang out?"

"At the diner," Lindsay replied. "We were always really busy so other than each other's houses, we only really went to the diner."

"Okay, so let's think. At school he could have faded into the background. He could be a janitor or a lunchtime assistant? Close your eyes for a moment Lindsay."

"Whenever I close my eyes, all I can see are my friends covered in blood, dying on a dirty floor. I'd rather not close my eyes if it's all the same." She snapped uncharacteristically. "I'm telling you; I have never seen this man n my life. There was something in his eyes that would have made me remember him if I had."

"Are you sure you've never seen him before? Even just for a millisecond in the middle of the street?"

"How many times do you want me to tell you that I haven't ever seen that man be-," she stopped mid sentence and her jaw dropped. She had seen him before. "Outside the diner." She whispered. "He was outside the diner."

The Detective and officer looked at one another with a look she didn't understand, "Outside the diner? When did you see him outside of the diner, Lindsay?"

"When I was going in, I had just parked my Mom's car in the parking lot and he was parked on the street, looking at the diner. It was like he was watching the place. I thought he was lost."

"Lindsay, are you absolutely positive you saw him? Sometimes the brain can play tricks on us and make us believe that things have happened that didn't. Sometimes you can even place people in a situation where you never even saw them."

Lindsay narrowed her eyes at the detective. "I don't know how old you think I am, Detective Scott but I'm not a baby. I know what I saw. I saw that man outside of the diner. I told him to get the apple pie if he decided to go in. He had Detroit plates on the car because I commented on them. He had a military bumper sticker on the car, but it wasn't one like the usual ones you would see from the Army recruiters or something. It was like he had actually served in the military kind of sticker. His car was messy. He had a lot of clothes on his back seat, like he had been living out of his car or something. He had really messy, greasy hair, like I told you guys before. He asked me my name so I told him and then was polite and told him to have a good night. Go and get me a bible and I'll swear on it right now. I know what I saw. He was outside that diner. He was out there all night. I promise you. "

Lindsay could see the grown men study her face; although she didn't know it, utter determination was etched onto her face.

"Lindsay, did you tell him your full name?"

"No, I gave him a fake name. I remembered something that one of the girls said… That if a stranger ever asked your name to give them a fake name but be confident about it. I always give the same name."

"What name did you say, Lindsay?"

"Lydia." She answered. "I didn't even think about it. Should I have told him my real name or something?"

"No, no, God no. You made a very wise, grown up decision there Lindsay. Be proud of yourself."

"Why?" she furrowed her brow.

"Because now, if he for whatever reason thinks of you and wants to find you, he's going to be looking for the wrong person. Did you give him a last name?"

"No, I didn't want to be too weird." She answered. "I just said Lydia. I've done it a thousand times. I didn't think this time would be any different."

"It just might have made all the difference, Lindsay."

Lindsay sighed as a tear trickled down her cheek. Even with Kelly gone she was still looking after Lindsay. She had told her to use a fake name if ever somebody she wasn't too sure about asked her for her name. Something she'd gotten from her brother's girlfriend. She was in college and Kelly had always been in awe of her. Kelly had said it a while ago and it had struck a chord with Lindsay. It made sense; she just wouldn't have thought of it on her own; which was why she needed Kelly.

"I think I need a break," she said as he tears overwhelmed her. "I just want my Mom."

Officer Jeffers frowned sadly as the men that had been asking all about the worst night of her life stood to give her the break she'd asked for. "Your Dad is right outside Lindsay, let me go get him."

Poor Linds, she's being pulled through the ringer here; I hope you guys don't mind a tough journey, because we're only just getting started. But... we have major plans. So stay tuned :) thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it - as ever, I'd love to know what you thought.