As she walked home, she couldn’t help but stay out longer. She wandered in the streets as the sky became darker and darker until she ended up in the forest.

The dark forest filled with endless shadows and trees didn’t scare her now. Nothing scared her now. Not the sounds she heard, not the whispers of the breeze, not even the sound of a twig breaking in the far distance.

This was the spot, she remembered, where she met with Jake. What happened seemed like a total life ago, not an event that was completed only a couple of weeks before.

It got colder and quieter. Kim touched the rough bark on the tree next to her. This was the first time back, but still, she felt no fear. She took a seat on a rock, probably the one she sat on when she saw Jake that day.

Kim just sat there, quiet in the darkness. Then she heard footsteps approach. She turned her head, half-expecting to see Gerald or even Jake’s spirit, but she saw Alessandra next to her holding a bouquet of flowers.

Kim watched as she put the flowers on the ground, and then she took a seat in front of Kim. “Do you normally walk in the forest late at night alone?”

“Apparently you do.” Kim answered without any emotion.

Alessandra lost her ability to intimidate people when she returned back to school. Actually, she lost everything. She came back without saying a word to anyone; even began dressing differently. “I come here with flowers sometimes, paying respect to…” she knew not to say his name.

“Respect?” Kim scoffed. “Do you even know what he did? What he wanted to do? How can you even respect someone like that?”

“How can you not? You loved before, he was just…”

“Trying to kill the people I love? Trying to kill me? Yeah, he deserves a boat-load of respect.” She replied bitterly.

Alessandra looked down. “He didn’t tell me what he wanted to do. One night he called me up and asked me to do him a favour. He made it sound fun and adventurous, until you called the cops.” She explained. “At Mel’s party, when you confronted me, I freaked out. I didn’t know who to believe. I told him I was done that night. But he kept coming back.” She paused, and Kim continued to stare with little remorse. “That night at the warehouse, he called me and said you were trying to kill him. Some sort of revenge plot for cheating on you.” Alessandra began crying silently. “I don’t really remember what happened, the morphine blocked it out, but I remember gun shots and crying.”

“Yet you still helped him. Despite the crying, despite the danger, you were willing to risk yourself for him.”

“I was in love with him,” she interjected. “Just like you were in with Gerald. You risked your life for him. That’s what I’m respecting; what I once felt for him. At least that’s what I would’ve wanted if something happened to me.”

Kim looked back at the flowers and felt a tinge of guilt. This could’ve easily been her. Jake said so himself that he would’ve killed her. Would Gerald pay his respect? Would Jake if he were still alive? Did she want him to? She stared back at Alessandra. She looked familiar. She had the same blood-stained eyes that Kim once possessed before the last couple of days. “If it makes you feel any better, Gerald dumped me after the whole fiasco.”

“Not really,” they both laughed. “I know we hate each other, but…”

“Hated,” Kim corrected. “You went through the same thing I did, and we both lost someone, and we know what each of us went through. How can I hate you now? And you stopped being a , so that helped.”

They both smiled. “I should go. My parents aren’t exactly letting me out often. I’m a prisoner in my own house.”

“Try being a prisoner in your own mind.” Kim retorted. “Anyways, I should get going too. But, Alessandra if you ever want to talk. I’m supposedly a really good listener; especially since I can’t take any of my own problems now anyway.”

“Thank you, that’s actually the nicest thing anyone has eve said to me.” She left at that time.

Going home was better. I felt that much lighter, like I closed another page of that horrid chapter in my life.

********First person narrative********

It was Friday, and I’ve seen Gerald for the passed three days. Always at our spot by the fountain. It usually wasn’t more for an hour because some of us did have curfew to stick to. But today was Friday. I had no school the next day and he obviously had nowhere to be, so maybe it would last longer than an hour.

The weather finally started to feel like spring, so I didn’t need a sweater or a jacket or even boots. All the snow finally washed away and the sun was staying out longer than winter. There were even flowers beginning to bloom.

I dressed in casual wear which pretty much includes regular washed-out jeans and a red, v-neck, long-sleeved shirt. I checked my watch again, only four minutes passed since I last checked it.

We were meeting in half an hour and I couldn’t wait. There were so many things going on in my head. Was I setting myself up for disappointment? We spent the last couple of days speaking about the past, avoiding the future.

I went downstairs and my Mom was there. I decided to eat dinner before I left.

After that last half hour, I walked to the fountain where we were supposed meet. Gerald wasn’t there yet. I took a seat on the bench and wondered what was going to happen. Were we just going to talk? I couldn’t think about it anymore, so I pulled out my mirror out of my wristlet and reapplied blush and lip gloss. I stopped when I heard heavy, multiple scattered, uneven footprints.

I got up and looked behind me, seeing Gerald holding up a familiar face.

“Kimmy!” Chris yelled, throwing his arms around me. His weight almost made me fall to the ground, but I stabilized myself.

“Hey Chris!” I laughed, holding him up rather than hugging him. “Long time no see,” I chuckled.

I could feel him smell my hair, “Oh, you do smell good. Like strawberry fields. Gerald wasn’t exaggerating.” I stared at Gerald who looked away. “That was her favourite song, Strawberry fields.” His voice broke, and he fell onto the bed.

I laughed, “Um…thanks, I guess.” Gerald gave me an apologetic smile. I nodded. “How are you?”

Gerald went to stand beside me, “He was just dumped by his long-time girlfriend.”

“Oh. Eight weeks is a long-term relationship?” I asked to clarify.

“They dated throughout high school, on and off. He broke up with her when – well, you know. And they got back together when we returned normal. But then he caught her cheating.” Gerald shortly explained.

I nodded. Then Chris took my hand and began caressing it. I trembled in uneasiness. “Your skin is so soft, like hers. She always put on hand cream before bed,” he sobbed.

Gerald grabbed his hand away from mine. “Hey, no touching.” I smiled.

“I’m sorry, Chris. We all know what it feels like to lose something,” I didn’t look at Gerald, but knew he was staring at me.

Gerald and I sat at the bench a couple of feet away from Chris who was now lying fully on his own bench. I assumed he was drunk. “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t how you planned to spend your weekend.”

“You mean chaperoning a love-sick man? I’ve been waiting for this moment,” I laughed in sarcasm.

“Yeah, well, I just couldn’t think about leaving him. He’s like a brother to me. He showed up at my work and I couldn’t abandon him.”

I smiled at his devotion, something at I admired. “It’s okay. I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to leave Mel…or Erich.” I met his gaze, “Something you obviously already know.” Remembering Valentine’s Day. “Look, it’s not just my weekend, it’s yours too, and Chris’. Let’s go out. A little distraction might do all of us good.” I proposed.

He nodded, standing up and walking towards Chris. “Get up Chris! We’re going to start moving on.” Gerald grabbed onto him, and put one arm over his shoulder.

Chris put his other arm around me. “It’s like old times,” he slurred.

We ended up at a local pub. Good thing I had my ID that Mel bought me for my sixteenth birthday. I ordered a beer, but an hour passed and I haven’t finished half of it yet. “So, Chris. How you holding up?”

He wiped his face. “Like crap. You know I gave her everything.” He continued his story of this girlfriend of his from when we began walking to the pub. “I gave her beautiful jewels, beautiful dresses. Just to make up for lost time. But it was never good enough. I saw her expression, she smiled, she thanked me, kissed me, slept with me.” I cringed. “But then she left and wouldn’t come home for hours. I should’ve known by then. I even caught her on a park bench with another guy, but it was just kissing. I didn’t think much of it.” He sighed and took a large sip of his beer. “And then I caught her in her bedroom with the same guy. They were ! She only did it to hurt me after I left her. So I said, “I’m not putting up with this anymore” and she said “Fine!”” He sobbed. “She also said we could be friends. Can you believe that? Still friends, after everything! I gave her the world, my world. And she wants to be friends!” He sighed. “God, I’m so unhappy.”

“Well, do you still love her?” I asked him.

He nodded slowly. “I do.”

I sighed, “Well, maybe you just need to tell her how you feel. Imagine I’m her. What would you say?”

He looked at me weird. “Okay…‘Um…Jenifer…we have had so much fun the last five years. You’ve been my best friend, my only friend…and you’ve grown to so much for. You’re the first person who I said I love you to, and now I want you to be the last…I know we fight, I know we say things we don’t mean. But that’s because…we have so many feelings for each other. We have done stupid things in the past, and we have forgiven those stupid things in the past. And that’s what you do when you’re in love…you forgive and you trust past the mistakes…and that’s what I want to do now…I am so sorry…I’m so sorry I couldn’t hear you…I just couldn’t, and I couldn’t help but hurt you. We belong together…and I need…I need all of your dreams to come true. So please…can we go back to the people we were…” his voice broke. “The smart, the talented, most beautiful girl in the entire world, and the boy with funny hair. I love you so much, I love you so much,’” he put his face in his hands and I heard him sob. He took a deep breath before returning. “I need a drink,” he got up and left to the bar.

“Wow…” I said watching him leave.

“So how have you been?” He started after a while.

“Since last night, I’m good.” I smiled. “I spoke to Alessandra last night. I ran into her in the woods. We had a good talk.” I told him.

His eyes widened. “You were in the woods…alone?”

I bit my lip, “I didn’t want to go home yet when we left. I just kept walking.” He sighed and looked away, “But I’m still here. I’m still alive.”

“Kim, you can’t just go into the woods late at night alone. It’s dangerous. I’d assume you’d know that by now.” He explained.

“Anyways, we spoke, and I found out she was paying her respects for Jake.” He scoffed. “She didn’t know anything about what was going on, so I didn’t think I could hate her forever.”

“Well, you’re putting everything behind you, that’s good.” He looked down, and finished his bottle.

“At least mostly everything.” I told him. “Can I ask a question that I know will make everything awkward, but it’s a risk I have to take?”

He nodded.

“Okay, what exactly are we? I mean, we broke weeks ago, yet we’re seeing each other again. Talking like civilians. I’m not exactly sure what to classify this relationship; if it’s even a relationship.” I rambled.

He had to think for a second. “Friends? I think its called friends. We can be friends, right? I’d like to be.”

I nodded. “So I guess being friends, we can talk about things?” He didn’t answer. “Because one of the things I miss about being with you is the talking. I miss talking to you, about everything. You just made everything so easy. You’d have this philosophical explanation that helped a lot. But also because I knew I could unburden on you, yet not burden you…” I chuckled. “If that made any sense. But it just…you made everything easy, without judgement.” I looked down and took a sip of my bottle. “I guess there’s no point in saying that I miss us. I wouldn’t be here talking to you if I didn’t.” We’d always have these little admissions at least once every conversation we had.

“I do too.”

It was quiet again. Chris stumbled towards us looking half afraid. “I am so drunk!” He slurred.

I laughed, “Yeah, you look…” I closed my eyes at the stench, “and smell of alcohol. Maybe we should get going.”

“I knew you were smart. I didn’t like you in the beginning, but you did look smart.” Chris said. “And because those guys want to beat me up,” he looked at the middle of the dance floor where three big guys stood staring at us.

“What did you do, Chris?” Gerald ordered.

“I might have kissed some of their girlfriends. I might have got caught.” Chris explained once the guys began making their way towards us.

We all stood up. “Kim, get behind me.” Gerald said. I obeyed. The three men were in front of us now, cracking their knuckles getting ready for a fight. “Gentleman, my friend here is extremely drunk and heartbroken--”

“Thanks for the dignity, man,” Chris whispered.

“There’s no need for a fight.” Gerald continued.

“Your friend just invited my girlfriend to a hotel room, with three other girls who happen to be my friend’s wife.” The bigger of the three explained. “I don’t think I’m just going to let this one go.”

Gerald glared at his friend. “Well maybe your girlfriend’s shouldn’t be so easy to agree.” Chris said.

The bigger man threw a fist at Chris, but Chris ducked and the fist hit the table in a bang, causing it to dent in the middle.

“No one threatens my friend,” Gerald said, throwing a punch straight to his jaw.

A brawl began, and almost everyone around us was involved. But they weren’t fighting us, they were fighting each other. I thought this happened only in movies. But the three kept they sights on us, and began throwing punches. I didn’t know what to do. Gerald and Chris didn’t look like they had it covered. They didn’t have the abilities anymore.

So I grabbed my half-full beer bottle and hit it against the guy’s head who was beating on Gerald. He went to the ground. Gerald pushed the guy who was beating on Chris away and then we ran to the door.

Gerald grabbed my hand, and pulled me along behind him. We heard Chris behind us, but also the men chasing us. We continued running until we couldn’t breathe anymore. We were panting, and when we looked behind us, there was no one.

We must have ran for a mile or two. Gerald stopped and began fanning out his hands to relieve from the pain. “Are you okay?” I asked him.

He nodded. “What the hell is wrong with you, Chris? You confess your love for your girlfriend, and then you go and kiss another girl…three girls?!”

“Shut up,” Chris said, coughing.

“She cheated on you! How can you still want her back!? And get in a fight over her!?” Gerald continued.

“Guys…!” I felt a fight brewing.

Chris got up and went to his face, “Shut your damn mouth! You don’t anything!” He pushed Gerald and Gerald pushed back.

“I know that we could’ve gotten our asses kicked back there if it wasn’t for Kim!” Gerald said, pushing a drunk Chris around.

I grabbed onto Gerald’s arm. “Stop it, both of you!” I sighed. “I just stopped you guys from getting killed by other guys, I don’t want to stop you guys from tearing each other apart too!”

Gerald sighed, “I’d do a lot for you, man. I’ll stand up for you, but I won’t watch you do this to yourself over a girl! It’s pathetic! You’re now even a loser anymore, you’re a shell of a loser.”

“Yeah, you’re one to talk,” Chris said after spitting up blood.

“Meaning?”

“The last time I saw you two, you were just about to abandon her after she risked her life for you,” I looked away at the reminder. “And you destroyed yourself for weeks over this one. And now you’re back making starry-eyes at each other like nothing happened. Makes me want to puke.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said to Chris.

He scoffed, “Oh, right…you’re just friends.”

“That’s right,” Gerald said.

“You’re not friends. You’ll never be friends. You’ll be in love till it kills you both. You’ll fight, and you’ll shag, and you’ll hate each other till it makes you quiver.” Chris said. “But you’ll never be friends. Love isn’t brains, children! It’s blood. It’s blood screaming inside you to work it’s will.” He sighed. “I may be love’s , but at least I’m man enough to admit it.” He spit again, and began walking off onto the empty streets.

Gerald and I just stood there, not being able to move for a little bit. But then thunder rumbled and rain began pouring down. Gerald grabbed my hand, and we began running again towards the nearest motel.

Gerald rented a room since his apartment was in another town and my house was more than a couple of miles away. I called Mom and said I was sleeping over at Erich’s, and even called Erich to set up my alibi, and then changed out of our wet clothes. I sat on the bed shivering, and he handed me the towel he found.

I was hesitant to take it considering this was a motel. “I asked for the cleanest, freshest room. The towels’ are clean.” He said.

I nodded taking it, and wrapped myself in its warm cotton. He then took off his shirt, and put a towel around him also.

Great, I thought. I’m locked with a shirtless Gerald, soaken wet, in a room with a bed. This is definitely not what I imagined my weekend to be.