Hey guys, sorry for the delay! Ive just gotten back from a 2 week road trip and now I have time! Hope you enjoy!

When Grant woke the next morning, his head was pounding and his mouth was dry. He rolled out of bed with a groan and made his way to the bathroom, still half asleep. By habit, he stumbled into the bathroom, turned on the water of the faucet and splashed his face with the cool water. The sudden change in temperature was enough to wake him from his hungover-sleep-daze.

The events of the last night flooded back into his head and Grant gave a small gasp. The party, the fight with Skye, Garrett and his deal-shooting Garrett. Grant almost collapsed on the floor of the bathroom. He had shot Garrett. The images flashed in his head, John running toward him, the flash of the gun, and then the pool of blood collecting under the man.

Grant could hear movement downstairs, his parents no doubt. His blood ran cold as he thought back to his father's face when he bailed him out. He had never seen him look so passive. It was as though the Senator was saving all his anger for the home. Grant turned off the faucet and looked up at his reflection in the mirror. He eyes were sunken and bloodshot, and his skin very pale. He could've passed as Casper the friendly ghost.

Outside the door, he heard shuffling outside the door and a tender knock on the bathroom door,

"Grant?" his mother's voice came through the door, "When you're done in there, your father requests your presence downstairs." She paused for a moment, waiting for Grant's response. When she got none, he heard her sigh and make her way back down the stairs, her heels clacking on the wooden steps.

He waited for the steps to die away before he begins to fix his appearance, patting out the wrinkles in his pajama shirt, and patting down his hair. Looking over himself one last time, he gave a sigh and opened the door. He trudged downstairs and into the kitchen. It was early Saturday morning but both his parents were dressed professional, his mother was in a pencil skirt and suit jacket, leaning over the stove grilling up some pancakes, while his father, dressed as though he was going into the office, sat at the table looking over when appeared to be some official documents.

They both looked up when he stepped into the room. His mother switched off the stove, and his father placed the files on the table. The older man gestured for Grant to have a seat. The boy complied and sat in the chair across from his father. He heard his mother shift behind him in the kitchen. Senator Ward looked at his son, his expression unreadable.

"Your mother and I get a call in the middle of the night from an unknown number, to be told that your in lock-up and need to be bailed out. Then when I talk to Officer Johnson I'm told that you were found at the scene of a crime. Not only with alcohol in your system, but a gun and your friend John Garrett shot in the gut." While he talks, the Senators eyes never cease their cold glare. If looks could kill, Grant thought briefly, "Now I'm glad you had enough sense to call Skye instead of the house. If the press got a hold of this-" The Senator closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself down, "Regardless, the police want to speak to you about the events, so they can decide whether to press charges." Grant shifted awkwardly in his chair, his father didn't seem to notice, "But before you go around incriminating yourself, I need to hear what happened last night."

The last thing Grant wanted to do was relive the events from the last night, but the look that his father gave told him that it was not up for discussion. He didn't know where to start. At least, he didn't know whether he wanted to start with Skye or Garrett at the house. He was still ashamed of his fight with Skye, so instead he started with when he got home.

"I got home after a party and John was waiting for me when I get home..." As Grant recounted the events his mother drifted in from the kitchen and took a seat next to her husband, setting down a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. The Senator's face remained passive through the whole story. When Grant got to the part of Garrett running toward him, his mother gave an audible gasp. Senator Ward reached out and placed a comforting hand on hers as Grant finished his story. When he finally finished, it was a minute before anybody spoke. Silence filled the space, and Grant fought the urge to start shaking his leg in anxiety.

Senator Ward sighed and took a sip of the coffee,

"We can work with this." Mrs. Ward looked at her husband, eyebrows arched,

"How so, dear?"

"Based off what Grant is telling us, he was misled about the gun being loaded, and he didn't intend to shoot Garrett. Even if he did, it was an unfamiliar figure approaching him following a fire fight and he feared for his life." Grant could feel himself relax, just a bit, "Honey, please get the car ready to go to the station. We'll get this all cleared up right now." Grant took this as his cue to go upstairs and change into appropriate clothing.

30 minutes later Grant found himself sitting in an interrogation room with his father, staring down the detective in charge of the interrogation. The investigator, Detective Seeley, was an acquaintance of Senator Ward, and as a result he gave the senator an apologetic look as he began the interrogation,

"Grant, you are aware of why you are here?"

"Yes sir." Detective Seeley looked over his files once more,

"You were found in an abandoned building, following numerous reports of gunfire, with alcohol in your system, a gun and a man with a bullet in his gut from said gun." He closed his files and crossed his arms, looking straight at the boy, "Tell me, Grant, what happened? Help me put the pieces of the puzzle together."

Grant began his story again, glossing over the previous fight with Skye. The doubtful look on Detective Seeley's face never left. When Grant finished, he leaned forward,

"You mean to tell me, you couldn't tell the difference between a real, loaded, gun and a gun filled with dud bullets?"

His father interrupted,

"He doesn't exactly have all the much experience with guns." Seeley clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair,

"Senator Ward, do you know the man that Grant shot?"

"Yes. John Garrett, he's a friend of Grant."

"Were you aware of his numerous arrests relating to the possession and distribution of prescription drugs, specifically to minors?" The senator didn't flinch. Detective Seeley pulled out a packet of papers and slid them over to the older man. He skimmed through them casually, as though disinterested,

"What does this have to do with whether or not he knows the difference between a loaded gun?" The detective raised his arms in mock surrender,

"Nothing at the moment. But until Mr. Garrett comes out of surgery and wakes up, we have no way of corroborating your sons story." Anger flashed in the senators face,

"Even if he knew the gun was loaded, he feared for his life, he shot in self defense."

"Again, we cannot confirm your sons story until Mr. Garrett wakes up." Senator Ward stood up suddenly, and Grant followed suit,

"Well you've got his side of the events, and I do not appreciate the assumption that my son would knowingly try to shoot one of his friends. So unless you're going to charge my son with something, were done here." They walked out of the room and left the precinct without another word. The car ride home was silent as well and when they arrived home, Grant excused himself back up to his room.

He checked his phone for the 4th time. He had yet to receive a text from Raina, and he doubted she would answer his calls. He tried anyways. The phone rang twice before he heard the click of the phone and Raina's soft silky voice,

"Hello?"

"Raina! You answered! Thank god!"

"Grant, hey, li-"

"There's so much I need to tell you, but first I need to apologize for last night. I saw an old friend in trouble and I-"

"Grant." Raina's voice was stern and steady, Grant felt dread begin to gather in his chest. He had never heard her use that tone with him, "I've had this feeling, and I feel it's only right that I be honest with you."Grant remained silent, the headache from earlier began to return, "Since graduation, there's been a lot to think about, and with me going so far away, it would be difficult to maintain a relationship-"

"You're breaking up with me?" Grant couldn't stop himself from interrupting. He had never been in such a situation before. Raina had been his only girlfriend. He didn't have any experience with this, and he didn't know how he should react.

"I didn't want to! In fact, I was going to consider the long distance thing. But then last night, you got drunk and beat up on that sophomore, over another girl no less." He heard a sigh on the other end of the phone, "It just reminded me, that you're still in high school, just an immature boy. I can't have you dragging behind me."

"Dragging behind you? That's what you're afraid of? Me being an anchor? I'm not up to your Stanford standards?"

"No, no, no. Grant, you're taking this the wrong way. I'm going to be a thousand miles away. You still have all of senior year to enjoy yourself and have fun. It would be better for the both of us if we focused on socializing with people closer to our respective interests. You with your football buddies, and I with my Stanford peers."

Grant didn't respond. He wanted to hear the words come out of her mouth.

"I'm sorry Grant. We can still be friends. This doesn't mean that we should lose contact." Still no response, "Grant? Are you still there?"

"Yea. I'm here. Friends. Ya sure." There was a commotion on the other end of the phone,

"I've got to go Grant. We'll keep in touch, ya?" Grant didn't respond. He just hung up the call. He sat on his bed and stared at the wall for a long while. Suddenly a flash of anger bubbled up in his chest, and his phone went flying across the room. He flinched when he heard the crack of the glass as it hit the opposite wall. He buried his head in his hands and gave a groan of frustration. He kicked off his shoes and climbed back into his sheets. He hoped that sleep would allow him to forget everything.

"Grant, honey?" Grant moaned and turned his face closer to the pillow, he wanted to finish his wonderful dream,

"Grant. There's some news. Its about John." Grant shot up off the pillow, the drowsiness from earlier evaporated. His mother's face was impassive, as though she was trying to keep from spoiling the surprise.

"What is it? Is he okay?" His mother nodded and gave a glint of smile,

"He's alive, and he's awake and talking. Your father went the hospital with the detectives to get his statement. I just got a call from him." She paused and allowed for a relieved smile to break over her face, "He's cooperating, and so far John's story has lined up with your own. Including misleading you about the gun. The police have decided not to press charges." Grant felt a giant weight lift off his chest. John was alive, and he was corroborating his story. "They may need you as a witness against John for his involvement but you're in the clear! Your father is working on getting the arrest record cleared, but now we can put this whole situation behind us." She reached out and wrapped her son in a hug. Grant returned the hug.

His mother pulled away and gave a contented sigh,

"I have to go make lunch, Thomas was asking for some food." She stood and headed for the door. She turned as an after thought and added, "Give Skye my regards. It was nice hearing her voice after such a long time. Maybe under different circumstances we could've caught up, but I appreciate that she called." Grant nodded and she headed out the door. He could've sworn he heard her mumble something about missing Skye as she went downstairs.

Grant went to go pick up the phone from where he threw it. The damage wasn't as bad as he initially thought. There was a small crack on the top left of the screen, but it still looked relatively unharmed. Thank god for good phone cases. He pressed the home button and flinched at he background photo of himself and Raina at the beach. He typed in his code and scrolled down his contact list till he found Skye's name. He briefly considered dialing the phone, but he flashed back to the anger that was in Skye's eyes at the party and decided otherwise.

G: Thank you. For last night. It means a lot.

Grant was surprised when he got a response almost immediately,

S: You're Welcome.

Grant tried again,

G: My mom said it was good to hear your voice. I think she misses you.

Again, an immediate response,

S: I miss her too.

Grant could tell that Skye was trying her best to avoid any type of conversation, but he was not one to give up lightly.

G: You looked good yesterday.

S: Thanks.

G: Any word on Miles?

No response. Grant gave his final attempt.

G: I'm sorry.

G: I was surprised to see you after so long, and seeing you with a guy like Miles, it set me off.

G: I was wrong to assume that after so long, I had the right to step in like that.

G: I'm sorry for losing touch and not keeping up with you. I have no excuse.

It was several minutes before there was any response. Grant was just about to give up on the conversation when his phone dinged,

S: I forgive you.

Grant gave a sigh of relief, and his phone pinged again,

S: I may have overreacted a bit. Seeing you again, and then the whole thing with Miles.

S: You also look good, Mister 'I'm a football star'

S: What you did to Miles...When did you get so bad ass?

Grant smiled at the barrage of texts,

G: So...

S: So...

G: Do you think that maybe, we could be friends again?

The response was immediate.

S: Definitely

G: I missed you

S: I missed you too

So it all works out in the end! Raina and Grant are done, Grant and Skye are friends again, Grant is not going to Jail wooohoo

Now we can start time jumping again!

Let me know what you think!

I'm always looking for suggestions on how to continue!

Should I start to include the rest of the team?

Please send me reviews!

-Alex