Donnie Darko:

The end of the day came before I had a chance to see her again but still I held onto that ripped up piece of my slowly dying heart. I kept it folded in the palm of my hand as I went out in a daze from period to period, searching the halls for a glimpse of her face. I had thought Cherita would be easy to find—she did stand out—but to my surprise she had a way of disappearing. It wasn't until the very last period that I decided my only chance of talking to her was writing her some sort of note and asking her to talk me…to give me a chance. I wrote it hastily and sloppily on the verge of tears, begging her…begging her to be the person that made me feel like I had more in the world to live for.

I slipped the note into her locker and sat at the front of the bus, waiting for her to come on so I can grab her and finally set things straight. But she didn't come on. She didn't come on.

"Donnie, dinner's ready!" Mom calls from the bottom of the stairs but I don't make a move.

The thought of eating right now makes me feel like I'm going to puke. I feel like a broken record smashed into pieces on the floor but how can I not keep skipping back to the same track? I remember feeling so lost in that hallway and then seeing Cherita Chen. Even then, right in that second, I had this feeling like I needed to talk to her. I needed to be near her and when I held her face I felt that warmth that was so pure and untainted. My hands remember the smoothness of her skin and the light of her eyes that were so terrified and afraid. And then the books fell.

"Donnie, dinner's ready. Come downstairs."

My eyes drift up to see Elizabeth leaning against the doorframe. My mind hesitantly drifts to Frank but I shove the thought aside. There's something different about her. She looks…nervous?

"Come on, don't make me beg."

"What's going on?"

I can see her taking in a deep breath and I have a sudden urge to scream. Not her. No, it can't be her. She can't be the…it can't be happening to her…As much as I fucking hate it I wouldn't wish it on anyone. That pain, that feeling of your brain being ripped apart by the edges of reality, getting lost in and losing yourself totally and completely until you are spat back out into some former version of yourself. Elizabeth is strong as fuck but it doesn't take strength it takes insanity. A sane person couldn't do what I've done. A sane person couldn't handle it like my mom and Roberta Sparrow.

"Elizabeth?"

"I'm…I'm pregnant."

"What!"

Her eyes bulge outward as she lifts her hands toward me like she's going to strange me, "Shut up! Shit! Not really, but if I tell mom and dad that first they won't freak out about the real news."

"What…" my heart is still hammering in my chest, "is the real news?"

"My…uh…my boyfriend wants me to go with him," she pauses and I can see the absolute joy twinkling inside of her features, "to Massachusetts."

I don't know what to say. Her boyfriend, Frank, is the magical fucking bunny that's been guiding me along into saving the universe for the past millionth time and never EVER does Elizabeth mention him to me or dad or mom or anyone until it's already over and it's way too late. I want to shriek but I don't know if it's from happiness or despair. The only thing I can manage to say is, "Like…forever?"

She rolls her eyes, "No."

"Just for a…while," she has a smile on her face I can't relate to.

"What about college?" I question.

"That's…that's exactly it. If I make it to Harvard we'll be living together already and I won't have to dorm on campus and if I don't," her eyes are dark but she still manages to hold that…that look of peace that comes with reciprocated love, "I don't want to go."

I don't know what to say to her. I don't know how to respond. I want so badly to tell her it's a bad idea but the reality is I don't know what kind of idea this is. It's great. It's different, almost too different and I don't know how to handle it or understand what to make of the situation. I want to say don't go but at the same time I want to tell her to get the fuck out of here.

"You know, I heard you were looking for Cherita Chen today."

"So? Does it bother you?" I snap as I sit up from the bed.

"No, no," she shakes her head and gets that worried expression like we were having a moment and she knows she just shitted all over it, "I just…I think it's nice. I see her walking home alone all the time. No one talks to her. I think it's nice that you're trying."

I'm quiet and I don't make a sound yet. She's not like the same sister I've known. She's different somehow. I shake my head, "You want us to meet Frank, don't you?"

Her eyes get huge as her mouth falls into a thin line, "How…how'd you know his name?"

"Mom said come downstairs right now guys!" Sam yells as she comes up from right behind Elizabeth, "Come on, Donnie, mom made you're favorite. She wants to talk to you."

Sam spins around, sending her hair out to whip Elizabeth and to make her flinch before she calms down and leans against the doorframe so she can look desperately at me, "Please, Donnie, I need you there so they don't flip out on me. Sam's not going to know what's going on. I need someone on my side."

"Fine," is all I can think to mumble as I shove Cherita's ripped up cover into my pocket.

She smiles and motions behind her at the stairs, "No let's go before they rip our heads off."

"ELIZABETH! DONNIE! GET YOUR ASSES DOWN HERE NOW!"

I roll my eyes, "Too late."