Epilogue: How to Save A Life.

Shane sat on the sun lounger in the back garden. It's was very hot and sunny day, so they decided to have some friends round. He watched as all his friend splashed around in the swimming pool, laughing and shrieking – he could only watch. He hasn't been back in water since that night... Yes, he had become Aquaphobic. He picked up the abandoned 'Us Weekly' Magazine and once again – there lives were displayed on the front page. 'Connect 3's Parents Charged with cause of the death of Sydney Gray.'

He felt like this heart was being pulled at, he flipped open the magazine and began to read.

'Sharon and Terry Gray, parents of popular teen band 'Connect 3' were charged with the cause of Sydney Gray's suicide early on Tuesday morning. The court hearing was a tough battle for Shane Gray as he had to give his statement in front of the courtroom. It's reported he said that his parents neglected his younger sister and didn't treat her as if she was their daughter, he also told the judge that he tried to help and stop everything that was going on but nothing worked.
Reports have shown that Shane found a suicide note left by his sister moments before she drowned herself in the ocean, outside their house. Her body was found early this month.'
He wanted to stop reading but he couldn't stop himself. 'Sydney Gray, who was just 15 years old, had made newspapers a few months back for self harming – surely, this should have been the first warning sign.' Stop. 'Sharon and Terry were sentenced to six years in prison though sparks are flying that it should have been longer.' Stop. 'The judge said that they neglected her and 'treated her like a slave' – Since both Shane and Nate under the age of 18 years, their legal guardian is now Jason.'

"Shane?" He whipped his head up to see Mitchie, drying off her face with a towel. "What are you reading?"

He stuttered and just threw the magazine to the side. She picked it up and sighed, "It'll calm down in a few weeks." He nodded and smiled softly at her. "Shane... are you alright?" She asked, looking into his eyes.

"Yeah, I mean, I will be." He sucked his breath in. "At least I have you, hey?"

She smiled at him and pecked him on the lips before flopping down in the seat next to him. "Forever and always."

He grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze as they stared contently into each other's eyes. They leaned in but were interrupted by Jason. "Hey guys, up for a game of water volleyball?"

Mitchie turned back and looked at Shane who smiled at her. "Go on, though I may just referee this game."

She smiled at him and kissed him one last time before heading back to the pool. He slowly got up from his chair, taking the magazine with him. He entered the kitchen and chucked the magazine in the bin. He had a glass of orange juice and set the glass on the side as he watched them splashing around in the pool. He wandered into the living room and looked up at the urn on the fireplace, smiling sadly at it. He looked down at his phone on the counter, before picking it up and dialling.

"Hi, it's Shane. I really need to talk to you. Are you free?" Shane waited for a response. "OK, I'll be there in about ten minutes. Thank you." He hung up and slipped his phone into his pocket. He quickly scribbled a note down and left it on the counter. Gone out. Be back in a hour or two. - Shane. He grabbed the car keys off the side and left the house.

"Shane. How are you?" Dr. Nash. Shane came into his office and shut the door behind him.

"Alright." He said softly. Dr. Nash smiled politely at him but Shane just stared into the space.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" He asked

Shane sat down and looked down in his lap. "I want to see my parents."

"Shane-" He started but was cut off.

"No, I need to see them. I need to how they are feeling about all this." He said determined.

"Shane, I really do not think that is a good idea. You're only just starting to get back to normal and seeing them will probably just make you go back to how you were a month ago."

Shane shook his head. "I don't think so. I just need to see them."

"Shane, I really-" Dr Nash started but was cut off once again.

"Please." Shane said softly. He looked down at his little book in his hand, all the progress Shane had made. He couldn't understand why Shane would want to see them, he flicked back a few pages, he skimmed the pages. He hates them, all he has told me today is that he hates them.

At court, Shane broke down. Tortured himself with the thought about his sister being neglected.

He thinks its his fault. He didn't stop her in time. He didn't tell anyone about it.

Dr Nash looked up from his book, looking Shane in the eye. He was desperate but he couldn't figure out why. "OK," He gave in, with a sigh. "When?"

The walked slowly through the halls of the jail, after being searched. The jail guard was in front of them and one was slowly behind. They walked into a big room, a few tables scattered around. Dr Nash was starting to think this was a bad idea. They sat down at one of the tables, with the guard, as they waited for Shane's parents to arrive. Shane looked as if he was in pain, Dr Nash placed a hand on the young man's shoulder and gave it a squeeze of reassurance. Just then, a door opened and in came Shane's parents, dressed in bright orange jumpsuits. He felt something when he saw them, a certain emotion he couldn't identify. They sat down, opposite Shane. Sharon, his mother, had bags under her eyes and without her make up on, Shane felt as if he could see the evil within her now. His dad, Terry, hadn't shaved, his eyes were bloodshot, he could see the evil in him too. Sharon reached out and touched Shane's hand gently, he immediately removed his hand from hers as if it was acid. She sat back into her chair, her eyes watching him. However, Shane could not make eye contact with them. "I'm glad you came to see us, Shane." His father said. Shane didn't reply.

"How are you?" His mother asked softly.

Shane finally looked up in her eyes. "OK." He said shortly.

"How are Nate and Jason?"

Shane looked down again. "Better." The awkwardness returned. "How are you two?" Shane asked.

"Not well." Terry said truthfully. He than began to explain to Shane what it was like to be in prison. As he was rambling, Shane looked into their eyes and that emotion returned but this time he knew what it was. He was glad.

"I'm glad." He mumbled. His parents didn't hear though. "I'm glad." He repeated but louder.

The stopped talking and looked at him. "What?"

"I'm glad you're not well, I'm glad." Tears began to pour out of his eyes but he didn't care. "I'm glad you are suffering, I'm glad it's terrible in here." Sharon and Terry shared a look, they didn't understand. "I wanted to come here to see, if you hated it. If you were suffering because you deserve it. And I'm glad."

Sharon had tears in her eyes and Terry was pretty much the same. "Nothing you do could make up for this. Nothing and in six years time, don't come looking for me because I would have moved on. I might even have a family of my own, a family I love and care for unlike you." Shane was now yelling and the prison officers didn't know whether to stop him or let him continue. "I'm glad your suffering, but that's even half as bad as ... as Sydney was! I hate you!" He yelled, but began to sob. Dr Nash grabbed his arm and pulled him up from the table, Shane didn't fight it. "I hate you." He sobbed as he was lead out of the room. As soon as they left the jail and got into Dr Nash's car, Shane began to compose himself.

Dr Nash concluded that was a bad idea as he drove back to his office. Shane was shaking with anger in the front seat but he could sense Shane was trying to fight it. "It's OK, to feel angry Shane." He didn't reply.

When the got back to his office, Shane took off right away. Muttering a quick thank you and goodbye to Dr Nash before getting in his car a driving back home. It had been more than a hour, much more.

When he got home, he could still hear everyone in the pool. They didn't even know. He shut the front door but as soon as he did, Mitchie came out of the living room, worry and relief on his face. "Shane!" She whisper-shouted. "Where have you been?"

Shane looked at her confused, "Why are you whispering?"

"Because, I didn't tell the others you had gone. I didn't want them to worry." Shane silenced. "Where did you go?" She repeated.

"Out, look it doesn't matter, OK?" He said shrugging it off as he placed his keys on the side and walked into the kitchen. Mitchie followed.

"Shane," She started but stopped a took a deep breath. "I was just worried, that's all."

"Well I'm fine so don't worry, OK?" He chuckled and placed a kiss on her cheek as he got a can of soda from the fridge and went outside. Mitchie once again, followed.

"Shane, please." She pleaded, sitting down on the sun loungers with him. He sighed, setting the can on the table.

"OK, but don't freak out. Please." She nodded. "I went to see my parents."

Mitchie's eyes nearly fell out her head. "What?!"

"Mitchie! You said you wouldn't freak." She composed herself as much as she could. "Me and Dr Nash went to see them-"

"He thought this was a good idea?!"

"Mitchie!" She shut up again. "We went to see them and I was happy." Mitchie raised her eyebrows, confused. "They were doing terrible, they hated it and – and I was happy. They're getting what they deserve. Finally."

Mitchie didn't speak for a moment. "Shane I-"

"No, it's OK." He smiled, pulling her into a hug. "Every thing's going to be OK for now on." They both smiled at each other.

"Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life...."

The End