A/N: Thanks for all the feedback guys, it means a lot. Hopefully I will be able to continue putting up chapters daily!

Emily plopped down upon the park bench and folded her arms. Of course, she'd known she'd see Naomi at the funeral, but she thought she could handle it. She didn't think it would hit her this hard. She felt selfish for it, too, because the whole affair was meant to honor Effy's memory, and it was stupid of Emily to spend the whole service annoyed at the fact that the blonde standing just a few people away from her didn't even glance in her direction. Emily kicked off her modest black flats and wiggled her toes. Slut.

But Emily's bitter train of thought was broken by a light tap on her left shoulder. She whipped her head around to see a tall, willowy, but beautiful young blonde towering behind her.

"Hello," said the girl, in a dazed, almost musical voice, "weren't you just at the funeral?"

"Hmm?" Emily answered, "Oh, yes." She motioned for the girl to sit down, and before she knew it, the stranger was cross legged next to her, one of her knobby knees almost in Emily's lap.

"You knew her well?" the girl asked.

"I suppose," Emily answered, eyeing her. She was tall and thin and blonde and beautiful, like Naomi, but different. Her hair was wild and curly and unkempt (as opposed to Naomi's polished bob), her skirt and top were black but she wore sparkly pink heels (something Naomi would scoff at), and she had a charming overbite. "You?"

"No, but we used to get totally fucked together, and her brother Tony and I used to be way close" Cassie's voice was enthusiastic and her eyes were wide. "I'm Cassie!" she chirped, extending her hand.

"Emily," the redhead returned with a small smile. She had a hard time taking all of Cassie in, there was something magical about her. It could've been the way her untamed hair blew lightly in the wind, or that perfectly imperfect mouth. Or it could've been that Emily had never seen someone be so cheerful after a funeral. Whatever it was, Emily was having a really hard time absorbing it.

"Poor Effy… I know Tony misses her terribly," Cassie said, "I can only imagine how… as her friend… it must be terrible." Emily nodded.

"It's been rough." Emily wasn't lying, the loss of both Effy and Freddie had torn the entire gang apart. Nothing was the same. Poor Cook had it the hardest, losing both his best friend and the girl he loved. One right after the other. Gone.

"Shit happens. Why did she lose it?"

"What?"

"You know. What made her take the swan dive?"

"Oh. Well… Some psycho killed her boyfriend. Our friend. And after that, Eff just went a little… off kilter," Emily answered, holding back the dry lump in her throat. "And I guess she blamed herself. Because it was her doctor that did it. It destroyed her."

Cassie smiled a weary and sad smile. "Ain't love grand?"

"You have no idea," Emily smiled back.

"I fell in love with a boy once. He made me try to kill myself. And now we live a depressing life together. Together forever. Wow. But I love him so I can't… But I hate him at the same time."

Emily was slightly bewildered, she had only just met this girl, and now it seemed she was pouring her heart out. But all Emily could do was nod and say, "Strangely enough, I know exactly what you mean." Because she did. She knew exactly what it was like to love someone who only caused you pain. Emily didn't know who this Cassie was, but she got the sudden and strong feeling that she was someone who would understand, someone who could help, even.

Cassie abruptly stood up, and, without warning, leaned over to plant a kiss on Emily's cheek. "I have to go. It was lovely meeting you!" she chirped, and much to Emily's disappointment, she walked away. Emily could only stare, speechless, slightly smitten, but mostly confused. She wanted to call after her, ask her where she was going, or get up and follow her, but she couldn't. She mentally kicked herself. Emily's brief love affair with the strange blonde girl on the park bench was over.

"How are you feeling?" Emily asked the curly haired boy, as she sank into the swing next to him, making the metal frame creak. It was a warm cloudless night, and the air was heavy.

"Fine," replied JJ, tracing a pattern in the sand with the toe of his brown sneaker. His mind was obviously elsewhere, and his thick eyelashes were still wet with tears.

"Liar."

The playground had become their spot. Especially the swing set. All their secrets had been shared on those swings. It was their sanctuary, the place they could come and bare their vulnerable, broken souls to one other. Both of them had been walked-on and used and lied to in their lives, but that was just the glue that held their bond together. Emily made JJ feel a little less alone. JJ made Emily feel like she was worth something.

"You're right. It's not fine. It's just me now," JJ went on, "Freddie gone. Effy gone. And now all it is is Cook, but he has nothing to stick around for now. I'm nothing. He doesn't need me. No one needs me."

"Stop that," said Emily, "You're not nothing. And I need you. You're my best friend." She grabbed his arm and jerked it, forcing him to look at her.

"You don't need me."

"Yes, I do, you idiot. Us misfits have to stick together."

JJ smiled. But that smile quickly faded away.

"I miss them, Em."

Emily grabbed his hand, and wondered when their world had become such a dark place.