A/N. (Sorry, I know I said around noon, but I was packing for the weekend)

*disapproving look* I thought we all had a deal: Five day update for you. Not SIX! (Well, if you also count that Saturday update, it's SEVEN!) The five day update finished yesterdayyy!... Lol, I do this because I love you all. XD

Anyways, does Wendell die or not? *evil laugh* You won't know until the next few chapters...

Just kidding, he doesn't die. Durr, he's an Everafter. Of course, he can be fatally injured...

But of course, this is 'the secret's out' kinda chapter. I say kinda because I have to save some stuff for the next few. ;D

BY THE WAY: CORRECTION: Rosebud143, tsk, tsk, tsk. You never pointed out that you weren't the actual person who said they'd be a dogbed. So you lied. DX But you get a prize too: spoiler or dedication? The real winner's Red though. SORRY I FORGOT! DX Don't hate me Red! Oh, WARISHA AND THEYCALLMERED, you still haven't told me if you wanted a spoiler or one-shot because you won the 300th reviewer thing! But now, it's only spoiler or dedication. I just realized doing a one-shot would go into my school time. :/ Sorry. The prize, anyways, expires by the time I announce the next winner of the QoD.

Ummm. Next Time's QoD (I'll accept answers now though): If you could have any power, what would you have and why?

I'll let Puck the Pervert answer this question for me: Puck: Well, I'd get x-ray vision, so whenever Sabrina went swimming, I could use my x-ray vision to, you know. ;) ;) ;)

(By the way, my friend Mark wrote that *bonks him on head* You're just as perverted as Puck, idiot)

I'm back to replying to anon. reviews since *Sniffles* some have left me...(AH! I FEEL BAD! I THINK I MADE WARISHA LEAVE FF! I'M A HORRIBLE PERSSSOOON!)

I promise you all there are no deaths in this story.

Happy Grandparent's Day, by the way.

One more thing: When Daphne said, "Sure." to Sage's, "But you love me," thing, she was sarcastic. I don't want to hear anymore about you guys thinking that they do like each other. Remember: Brother and Sister kind of relationship. XD I'm not mad though, whoever said that. It's just kind of frustrating when you tell someone something defiantly, but then they're still doubting. It's like my brother, haha. I told him you were allowed to wear athletic shorts on his Field Day yesterday, but he kept asking other people, doubting. -_- But I'm only peeved at him, so don't think I'm mad at you. PLEASE. We've had enough drama for one week.

Chapter 34: A Little Birdie Called Me

"Daphne… Daphne. Daphne!"

I jumped, my head snapping towards the sound of the voice. Sage was frowning at me with a worried expression. His expression quickly became bewildered.

"What's wrong?"

The phone slid from my quivering hands, dropping to the floor with a thud. I stared at Sage in horror, unable to form coherent words. Sage immediately got off the chair he was on and stumbled towards me.

"Seriously, Daphne," he started, bending down to my level. "What's wrong? Something in the movie?"

I shook my head frantically, feeling my breath starting to come in shorter and shorter gasps. Sage's expression turned to alarm and he shook my shoulders gently. I took another deep breath, this time forcing myself to let it out slowly. Hyperventilating was never a fun thing to experience.

"Wendell," I choked out, my eyes starting to water. "He… he…"

"Breathe, Daphne."

I nodded, taking another deep breath, and letting it slowly. I repeated the process until I felt slightly calmer. Sage nodded, keeping his hands on my shoulders.

"Now tell me."

"Wendell was shot!" I told him quickly, blinking back tears. "We need to get to the hospital! Now!"

"Who's Wendell?" Sage responded with a look of confusion. "And shot as in?"

"With a gun!" I responded impatiently, carefully removing myself from the girls, and standing up. "I need to go!"

"Daphne, wait!"

Sage grabbed my wrist and pulled me to a stop as I attempted to leave the room. I turned to look at him with wide-eyes.

"What?"

"It's raining! Were you planning on walking?" Sage responded, his face in a frown.

"No one else can bring me," I told him, trying to yank my arm away. "You have to watch the girls!"

"Daphne, even if you go now I'm sure you won't be able to see your friend until he's stable."

"I don't care!" I responded, my tears starting again. "Wendell is like my brother! I'm not going to stay here and wait if he was shot!"

Sage stayed quiet for a moment, pursing his lips. I tried to yank myself free again, but found it almost impossible. Sage sighed and I scowled at him. He finally let go and I started walking out of the room again.

"Shaine," I heard Sage start. "Shaine, I need you to watch Sairi for a little bit."

I paused for a moment, turning back to him. The thirteen year old was rubbing her eyes sleepily and looking up at Sage.

"Why?" she asked.

"I need to take Daphne somewhere quickly," he told her, pulling his keys out of my pocket. "It's very important and I need you to watch Sairi for me. I'll be back as soon as possible!"

Shaine nodded, glancing at me momentarily. Sage turned and walked past me, dangling his keys in front of me. I followed immediately and we hurried downstairs and outside to the car. I yanked the door open and slid in, Sage doing the same. He started the car, and before I even buckled, pulled out into the street.

"Sage," I started, looking out the window into the black. "Sage! We're going way too fast!"

"You said you needed to get to the hospital fast!"

My protest died in my mouth when he said that. I glanced out the front, watching the windshield wipers go across the glass in swift motions. A feeling of nausea came over me and I held my seat tightly. I glanced at Sage, who was focusing intently on the road. I slightly begged for us not to crash.

The sound of a phone vibrating filled the car and I reached for my pocket to grab mine. When I couldn't feel it I panicked for a moment until I realized I had left it at Sage's house. I cursed myself quietly.

"Hello?" I heard Sage say and my head snapped to him.

"Sage! Get off the phone!" I cried quietly, looking at him in horror. "You're driving!"

He didn't look phased. "Yes, she's right here. Hold on."

I gave him a quizzical look as he held the phone out to me. I grabbed it quickly before he took his eyes off the road. When I noticed it was my phone, my expression became even more confused.

"How did you get this?"

"I grabbed it off the floor before we left," Sage told me, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I rolled my eyes, pressing my phone to my ear. "Hello?"

"Daphne!" Ariana nearly screamed into the phone.

"Whoa, Ariana. Quiet down."

She started saying something, but I couldn't make out quite what she was saying because she was sobbing to hard. My chest clenched from the sound, but I forced myself not to tear up.

"Ariana, calm down," I ordered, swallowing nervously. "What are you saying?"

Ariana sniffled and I heard her take a deep breath. "My mom won't let me go to the hospital because it's a school day and it's too late!"

"What?" I cried it outrage. "Wendell was flipping shot and she won't let you go!

"No!" Ariana responded in the same tone.

"Wendell's life is more important than school!" I said angrily, clenching the phone in my head. "He's -Oh my God!"

Suddenly I was thrown forwards and I gasped in surprise, my head hitting the dashboard.

"Sorry," Sage muttered and I was suddenly thrown towards the window. "Almost missed the entrance to the hospital."

I rectified myself in my seat, rubbing my head. "Smooth."

"Daphne, you have to keep me updated!"

"I will," I told Ariana, brushing my bangs out of my face. "But I don't know if I'll have service in the hospital."

"Then come outside and text me every half-hour or so, claro?"

"Si, claro," I responded, looking out my window at the large building. "We're here, so I'll text you as soon as I find out what's going on."

"Okay."

"Talk to you soon."

I pulled the phone away from my head and flipped it shot, putting it into my back pocket. Sage pulled into a parking spot and I quickly flung open my door, jumping out. Immediately, I started towards the hospital doors.

"Daphne!" Sage shouted after me.

"What?" I called back, turning around.

"I've got to go back to Shaine and Sairi, so call me when you want to be picked up. No matter how late, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay… Thank you."

"Anytime," Sage responded with a grin. "Oh, and do you want me to call Matt?"

I looked at him in shock by his offer. He raised an eyebrow at me, waiting for an answer. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. After a moment, I finally managed to speak.

"What? No! Why would I want you to do that?"

"Support?" Sage offered.

I shook my head. "No… I don't want him here. I'm okay."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Positive."

"Don't hesitate to call if you need anything," Sage told me, a frown still loitering on his face.

"Okay."

"See you later, Daphne."

For a brief second I did wish Mr. Firay was here, but I quickly dismissed the thought. My thoughts were now solely on finding out Wendell's condition. I burst through the hospital doors, sweeping my now wet hair out of my face. I went to the reception desk and the receptionist looked up at me with a startled face.

"May I help you?"

"Wendell Piper," I told her, tapping my foot anxiously. "Where is he?"

She looked to her computer and typed something quickly. She scanned the computer screen, a frown appearing on her lips. "Right now he's in the ICU, and no visitors are allowed in."

"The ICU?" I responded, feeling my heart drop into my gut. "What's wrong? Will he be okay?"

"I don't know," the receptionist told me, shaking her head. "I don't know what's going on, I'm sorry."

"When can I see him?" I demanded, clenching my fists. "Soon?"

"I don't know."

I groaned in frustration. Didn't this girl know anything? "Where can I wait?"

She pursed her lips. "Are you his family?"

"Close enough."

"Only family members will be allowed to see him when—"

"I'm close enough," I snapped, glaring at her. "Please, let me at least wait by the room!"

"I'm sorry," the receptionist apologized, shaking her head. "Only family can wait in that area."

"I already told you I'm close enough!" I shouted, surely gaining the attention from everyone in the area. "Gosh! Is it really so much of a problem to let me go wait? Are you even—?"

"She's part of the family," a new voice interrupted, their voice heavily accented. "I'm Anna Piper."

My eyes widened and I turned to see a familiar woman with blonde hair frowning at the receptionist. When she noticed I was staring at her she smiled.

"Are you family?" the receptionist asked Anna, pursing her lips.

"I'm his mother," Anna responded coldly.

The receptionist looked flustered and I smirked. "You may go up then," she said, looking around. "Do you need someone to lead the way?"

"No, I've already been up," Anna responded quickly. "I'm going now, and taking this young lady with me."

"Of course," the receptionist responded.

I scowled at her. "Thanks," I said sarcastically.

Anna chuckled and put a hand on my shoulder, steering me away from the counter. I looked up at her, my eyes filling with tears again.

"Is he okay?"

The smile automatically dropped from Anna's face. My heart dropped once again and I stared at her in horror.

"He's not… He's not d-dead, is he?"

Anna's eyes flew open in shock and she shook her head frantically. "No! No, no, dear. No."

Relief brought new tears to my eyes and I scrubbed them angrily. They really needed to stop! I hated crying, especially in front of people. But the sad part was, I cried when I was sad, relieved, and angry, so I ended up crying a lot.

"Do you know what happened?" I asked Anna, following her down the white corridors of the hospital.

She frowned. "The only thing I know is he was shot twice; once in the clavicle and once in the chest. But not in the heart," she added quickly upon hearing my sharp intake of air. "I got the call maybe an hour before you did, but I haven't been let into the room yet… The doctors have been keeping me updated on his condition though, so I know he's not dead."

We entered the ICU and Anna turned left, walking down another white hallway. I dogged after her, unsettled by the quietness of the place. I had been expecting the ICU to be full of frantic and shouting people. The silence seemed deafening.

"Ms. Piper!" someone shouted and I looked up to see a tall man in a doctor's cloak waving over to here. "Come quickly!"

My eyes widened and I glanced at Anna, who looked alarmed. She hurried forwards at once and I followed behind quickly. The doctor let Anna into the room I assumed Wendell was in, but he held me back.

"I'm sorry, there's not enough room…"

"Oh," I responded, my heart sinking. "No… it's okay. I'll wait out here."

The doctor nodded, before going back into the room and closing the door after him. I didn't move for a moment, staring at the closed door with my thoughts racing. My heart felt like it was about to burst from my chest.

Was there something wrong with Wendell? Did he take a turn for the worse? What was happening? I needed to know!

I let out a frustrated groan and walked over to a bench against the wall across from the door and slumped down on it, resting my head on my hands. I resisted the urge to scream. I wanted to know what happened now to Wendell! But no one would know exactly until he woke up probably.

Shootings didn't happen around here! And certainly not involving Wendell! He hadn't done anything to deserve this! So why was he in the ICU now? I clenched my fists, taking slow breaths. It wasn't fair…

My phone stated to vibrate in my hand and my eyes snapped onto it. Coldness ran through my veins when I realized the phone call was from Wendell's phone. With shaking hands, I slowly flipped it open and put it to my ear.

"H-hello?"

"Daphne, right?"

"Who is this?" I demanded angrily. "Why do you have Wendell's phone? Are you the one who did this to him?"

"Yes, this is definitely Daphne," the man on the other side of the phone said with a small laugh. "And to answer your questions in order; Bryant, because I took it from him, and yes, in a way."

My breath caught and my eyes widened. Bryant? Bryant from the gang, Bryant? And he was the one who did this to Wendell? I clenched my jaw, my eyes narrowing.

"You shot him," I stated, clenching my phone so hard I was afraid it was going to snap.

"Is he dead?" Bryant asked in a casual voice. "I aimed for his heart…"

"Why?" I almost screamed, but immediately quieted myself when I remembered I was still in the hospital.

"You should know—" Bryant started, but suddenly stopped talking.

"I should know what?" I cried, grounding my teeth together.

There was no reply and I groaned in irritation. I pulled the phone away and glanced at it, noticing the call ended. My eyes then went to the service bars, and I realized that I didn't have service anymore.

Cursing under my breath, I jumped off the bench and rushed for the exit of the hospital. A few doctors gave me wary looks as I sped by, but I paid them no attention. I needed to get out of the hospital, and fast. Would Bryant think I hung up on him and not answer when I called back? I had to talk to him!

Torrential rain greeted me as I stepped outside the building. I looked at it briefly before turning back to my cell and waiting for reception to come in. After a moment three bars appeared and I quickly called Wendell's phone. On the second ring, my call was answered.

"Where'd you go?" Bryant drawled.

"I lost service," I told him flatly. "Why did you attack Wendell? He has nothing to do with Mr. Firay or myself!"

"Isn't he the closest person to him?" Bryant responded, sounding bored. "Don't try to lie to me. Lately I've seen them together more than with you."

"What? What the heck are you talking about? They barely even talk!" I cried in outrage.

"Where have you been?" Bryant asked in an amused tone. "They're together a lot."

"I would have noticed," I started, though now I doubted myself. If that was true, how come Wendell never mentioned it? I thought he hated Mr. Firay!

"Apparently not."

"Why did you shoot him?"

"I didn't shoot him—"

"But you said—"

"I said in a way," Bryant told me, sighing. "Don't you listen when people talk to you?"

I scowled, clenching my fist. "Then why does he have two bullet wounds?"

"I only meant to threaten him a little bit and maybe rough him up," Bryant explained. "But another guy that was with me suddenly pulled out a gun and before I knew it, he was shooting at the British boy."

"Why didn't you stop him then?" I asked, growing angrier by the second. "Wendell could have died!"

"If he did, so be it. It wouldn't be on my name."

"You're a bastard." I was so angry right now.

Bryant laughed. "Like I said, I was only threatening him. If anyone is going to die, it'll be Matt."

"Then why did you go after Wendell? Why not me? Why him?"

"Because I have different plans for you."

My next question stuck in my throat as Bryant's words processed in my mind. He had different plans for me? I quickly scanned the area around me, panicking slightly. What was that supposed to mean?

"You still there?"

"Why can't you leave us alone?" I whispered, my eyes starting to water once more. "We didn't do anything! I don't know what Mr. Firay did, but it doesn't involve Wendell or myself! Stop attacking us!"

"So you want me to just go straight for Matt?"

I paused, clenching my jaw. "No…"

"Why not? I'll leave you and your boyfriend alone. I'll just get a whole group of us and surprise Matt while he's least expecting it and that's that. I'm sure even he can't take on twenty people at once."

"No!" I shouted. "Are you a coward? Why would you do that? What did he even do to you? It doesn't even matter, actually! Just stop!"

"I'm not going to stop until he's dead."

"Why?"

"He hasn't told you? Really?" Bryant asked. "I guess I'm not that surprised."

"What did he do?"

Bryant laughed. "I'm not telling you. I'll let Matt tell you. But it's the reason why he needs to die, you'll get what you deserve, and British boy was shot. It'll all make sense when you know."

"What did he do?"

"I'm going to go for now, I'll call you later to see how your boyfriend is doing."

"Wait!" I demanded, but there was a click and I knew he had already hung up.

I glared at nothing for a few moments. What did Mr. Firay do? What could be so bad that someone would be willing to kill someone not even related because of? A wry smile came onto my face. Well, it was a gang we were talking about, so it could actually be something not that bad. But I had to know. There was no more time for secrets. Wendell's accident had crossed the line.

Mr. Firay was going to tell me what happened, no matter what. I wasn't going to wait either.

I flipped open my phone, scrolling down to Mr. Firay's number. I pressed the talk button and waited. It went directly to voicemail. Scowling, I pressed the end button. Why wasn't his phone on? I tried Sage, only to find his phone was off too. So much for calling him when I needed anything.

I needed to talk to Mr. Firay. Now. There was no way he couldn't tell me what he did was none of his business. Wendell was shot, and now it was my business. I wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Pulling out my phone once more I texted Wendell's mom, to let her know I was leaving and to keep me updated. Sitting by and waiting for Wendell to wake up wasn't only going to make me frustrated and anxious. I would go talk to Mr. Firay right now, and demand he told me. He couldn't say no!

With my fists clenched, I stepped out into the rain and headed towards Mr. Firay's house.

A/N. So. No more updates 'til Monday, okay? You guys got almost seven in one week. Well, really, you got six. So, wait a few days. Also, I'm going to New Jersey (my mom says that the guy we had to talked to so we could get into Disney never called back, so change of plans -_-), so I have no time to write. :3

Anon. Replies:

TCMRed: SORRY SORRY SORRY! YOU GET A PRIZE, TOO! Spoiler through FB or dedication? I say spoiler just cuz it's so much more filling. See my top A/N., please. And I plan everything, but I write as I go -'sides from the five day update thing. I planned that whole thing out and wrote it ahead of time. Most of it. Today and yesterday's were not written ahead. Lol, Sairi's awesome.

Cat: Rochelle? Nope. I don't even know if she's going to appear in this story...eh, maybe. See my top A/N., brother and sister relationship, dude. He was just messing with her. (Sage says, "Daphne's cute, but I need a hot Latina." ;DDD Hint hint) Lol, I'm glad you like her. What? You still don't like Sage? 0.0 Lol. Oh, phew. I thought I was going to have to make another chapter with ONLY Sage in it...XD I love that word too. Lol, funny! I'm supposed to show you? I don't think so. Doesn't every sibling think their brother/sister(s) are annoying? No evidence is needed. Aw, thanks.

squirrrel101: Lol, sorry about that. Thanks for pointing that out. Sage is awesome. New Jersey -it was a change of plans. :3 Thanks!

Alexie112: He's not, don't cry. :D

Y. (yellow.r0se): How are you confused? Please be detailed. :D Thanks for reviewing.

Um... So, hopefully you hear from me again when I'm back from NJ!

~Lara