She was able to mutter a few words before she died. However, I was unable to hear them. All I could hear was one word: "Eclipse.." and with that she died. And now I was all alone, without anyone to help, no one to care for me. Until this point this dead girl was all I had in the world, the only one who would help me when no one would. She was the light in my bleak, black, hopeless past and future. As I stood there, I prayed for a miracle, for a chance for her to return. But in my heart I knew this was not so, that she was as dead as I was inside, the guilt and pain of the act that has just been committed finally, slowly, painfully eating through my sanity. After a long, silent process, I dug her grave, and left her... As soon as I left the chambers, sunlight had pierced my retinas, and despair had pierced my heart. As I looked out onto the desolate plateau, what I saw horrified me- as it always did every time I came here. All I saw were mangled skeletons, some worse than others. The rest was just black. Black skies, black dirt, black everything. It was here, on the 31st of May, no more than 150,000 years ago, that I cast aside my humanity for the human race itself. What I planned to do would benefit humanity, no matter what anyone said. And as I slowly recall the event, on this day, I became known as Eclipse the Immortal.  Now that I look back on the actions that lead me up to this moment, I realized why I needed the girl. She was my partner, my Guide. Well, no time to rest in the past. Time to stride towards the future. And with that, I set off on my journey: to find me a Guide on Earth, and to use that guide to help me end the pain of my world.

A pale baby slept in a pale room. Wailing that had ensued for hours stopped only minutes ago. The infant laid in a thick wooden cradle wrapped in a quilt. A Devon stood over the cradle writing feverishly on a clipboard. He wore a cotton mask over his mouth as to stifle his breath. The last thing he wanted to do was to wake up the infant again.

Folding a page over the top of the clipboard, the Devon scratched out a single word on the next page. With that, he walked out of the room. He removed his mask revealing a salt and pepper shaded beard. It was not until he disposed of the mask in the nearby trashcan that he was approached by a someone.

"How does he look?" Turning around, Devon was surprised to find a woman in a military uniform asking the question. It used to be that he got visitors from the government every other month, but now it was nearly weekly that a military officer or government official checking up on the project.

"For now he has passed all the tests with flying colors, but there are still many more to be done. After all, he is only a month old."

"Yes, yes. I am well aware that you get to keep him until he turns six."

The woman eyed the clipboard. It was obvious to Devon that she was interested in seeing the latest results. If it was not for the expenses being paid by the government, he would never of allowed them into the mix. He knew that because they were involved, that he would have to follow protocol. Following protocol meant that they could be much further with the project by now.

"You'll be happy with these numbers." As soon as this was said, Devon handed the woman the clipboard. She scanned the first page briefly. After she got to the second, she shuttered and stared at it in disgust for a moment before handing it back.

"I will not question your methods as long as you get the job done."

"Nor will I when it comes time to hand him over."

A smile appeared on the woman's face in acknowledgment.

"Have you thought of any names other than that horrid code name, Devon?"

"He will be named Leroy after my son-in-law. After all, it was his dream to do this."

I arose from the sound of a bird, a crow perhaps. Caw! Caw! I looked to my side and noticed Garrett, my lover was gone. I wrapped myself with my yellow lacy robe and slowly emerged from our sunshine yellow bed. The black thundering sky outside and thick mist indicated it was just about midnight. Caw! Caw! At first, I stood there in our spacious room, filled top to bottom with yellow furniture, curtains and paintings. I smiled to myself as I recalled the memory of when we first stepped into this new room; I was jubilantly being held in his arms as he carried me to our bed on our wedding day. I crossed the room and opened the large yellow door only to open into a long, narrow hallway that connected our room to the rest of the house. Pictures of me and Garrett together throughout our lives, from tiny toddlers to high school sweethearts to now, were framed and hanged preciously along the walls. During our twenty years of marriage, we traveled a lot and had pictures of us when we went to Paris, Florence and other romantic places in the world. There were countless pictures of us together that consumed every inch of that hallway and I smiled brightly at each one as I walked down the hallway. Caw! Caw! By the time I reached the end of the hallway, I heard a new noise, the sound of plates crashing. I casually smiled to myself because I knew Garrett ate midnight snacks and got clumsy with dishes. I turned and headed towards the kitchen to see my beloved, the thunder from the long windows illuminating my smile. Caw! Caw! Once I reached the kitchen's doorway I stepped in a dark puddle. I thought it had been water Garrett had spilled so I just continued to walk into our large kitchen. It had a décor of everything yellow as well, our cabinets, our two-seated table, our fridge, everything was yellow. I continued to walk towards a figure in the dark. "Garrett, my love, you must learn to be more careful with the dishes! You might hurt yourself." I said affectionately. Caw! Caw! My foot kicked something hard lying on the floor and the dark puddle is now surrounding my feet. "Garrett, my love?" I asked to the frozen figure standing in front of me. Caw! Caw! I moved to the wall the flicked on the lights. I looked at my feet to find what I thought to be water to be red liquid. I glanced to discover the hard object lying on the floor to be my beloved Garrett. His head was bashed at the top with the skin missing leaving part of his beautiful mind exposed.  A river of blood was streaming from his head down his tan skin and dark black hair and had spread throughout the yellow floor. My beloved's precious blood was everywhere. His eyes were still opened. His emerald green eyes were open wide like they were in a permanent state of shock. Caw! Caw! I stared, speechless, at those eyes that used to look at me so warmly. The memories we shared, our time together, our lives together, our promise we'd be together forever were overflowing in my head. And our promise will not be broken, ever. Caw! Caw! I looked up at the frozen figure who appeared to be a pity thief; he appeared scruffy and held a greasy pillow case in one of his hands. He was stiff and held the Fabergé egg me and my beloved received as a wedding gift in one of his dirty hands. Caw! Caw! I dispatched myself from the wall and approached the stranger slowly. "Stay back! I'll kill you too!" he said, flustered. I passed Garrett's body and walked straight up to him, not less than a foot away. "Get out. No one cares about you." I hissed with narrow eyes and my head bent as if I was going to attack him. Caw! Caw! He seemed confused as to what I was saying. "Do I need to be more clear with you, you stupid street trash? You're not the one. Leave now!" I bellowed. Caw! Caw! He jumped at my words and scrambled out of the kitchen. I stood and listened for the front door to open and shut. "We're finally alone again, my love." I said as I turned to my fallen beloved. I swayed over to his body and kneeled down behind him and put my ear to his chest. Caw! Caw! "Your heart is cold, my love." I whispered, "Allow me to keep it warm so we can be together forever." I moved my lips to his ear and kissed it. I then clenched my teeth around his ear and ripped it off. My beloved's blood sprayed ferociously and painted my face a dark red. I began to eat the inside of my beloved's ear. "Together forever. Together forever." I muffled continuously as I devoured my love.  I delicately licked his head injury with just the tip of my top of my tongue and then sank my teeth into his beautiful mind and drained it of his blood. I ate my love from top to bottom, crunching on the bones in his strong fingers and adoring the "crack" sound when I snapped one of his legs in half to enjoy the tender muscle and tendons inside. Caw! Caw! When I was done I sat on the floor in the pool of blood and looked at the excess bone that remained of my loved one. Caw! Caw! The sunrise's rays shone through the large windows and danced on my cannibal feast. I looked down at my robe that was once yellow but now was the color of dark pomegranates. I looked past my appearance at my right hand. I opened it slowly and smiled at what I held. My beloved's emerald green eyes brightly looked back at me, still in a permanent state of shock. I kissed them and held them over my heart. "Together forever. Together forever." I sang as I rocked myself back and forth.

Rain danced gleefully across the tombstones as if mocking the dead. The now wet moss on older parts of the graveyard made the ground slick. It grew where other forms of life refused for reasons of their own, yet sparingly did the moss do so as if even it respected burial grounds. The only defilement of the graves were occasional children daring their peers to see how far in they could run without turning back.

Simon stood near the edge of the graveyard where the newer graves sat. In his hand was a single white carnation which he rolled the stem between his thumb and index finger. Fidgeting was a nervous habit for him. Inhaling deeply, he bent down and placed it on the ground between two graves.

"Hey. It's me again." He said in a remorseful tone as he straightened up and took a few steps back. Simon's face wore a half smile. A ray of sunshine broke through the clouds and just missed the graveyard. It landed on the pavement behind him, but he saw it nonetheless as he looked up.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier. Mom's been keeping me busy with looking for jobs. I know she means well, but..." A chuckle escaped his throat. He had promised his two friends that he'd visit them before summer was over. Summer had come and gone without a single visit from Simon, though not a day passed when they weren't on his mind.

The sound of rustling leaves from behind caught his attention. There wasn't any wind, which meant someone was close. Turning around revealed a fellow classmate and neighbor, Grace, walking towards him with an umbrella. Why she was here was beyond him. She walked up to him, and held the umbrella over his head protecting him from the rain.

"You shouldn't be out in the rain talking to yourself. People might think you're crazy." Grace said with a smile. She was barely wet, while Simon was, on the other hand, soaked to his skin. It was just then that he noticed how cold he was. A shiver went down his back as water dripped off his chin. Grace pointed to the apartment building that was across the street, and Simon nodded. They walked in silence until the awning sheltered their bodies.

"Who are you talking to anyways?"

"John and Mary."

"But they're dead..." Grace looked at him concerned about his well-being. If he was talking to the dead, what did that say about his mental state? Sure he lost two of his best friends, but so had she and she wasn't talking to the dead in her spare time. Maybe he was crazy. Maybe he...

"I know, but it's my way of showing respect to them; treat them as if they were alive. Keeping them in my memories isn't enough. I have to keep them alive some other way..." He interrupted her thoughts. A drop of what seemed to be water rolled down his cheek, but she knew better. It was a tear drop.

"I'm just worried about you." It was the truth. Lately she's watched him become more detached from the world. On more than one occasion, she had caught him having a full on conversation with himself, but she only heard half of it. It was like someone in his head talked to him and he answered out loud. Grace was told, by Simon, that it wasn't anything to worry about, yet, she couldn't help but get the feeling his sanity was slowly slipping away.

"Don't be."

"Don't be? How can I not? You're not answering my calls anymore. It's like you're shutting the real world out, and replacing it with your own." Simon went silent and his smile faded. Another tear rolled down his cheek. She had verbally slapped him, and there was no going back. Holding her tongue, she waited for him to respond. It seemed like eternity before he did so.

"If I told you what was going on, you'd think I had gone crazy, but, at the same time, I don't want to lie to you." His eyes closed and he exhaled deeply before opening them. Grace looked at him with concern. What he was talking about eluded her, but she wanted to know what ailed him; she wanted to help; and most of all he wanted to tell him how she felt towards him.

"We've been friends for basically our entire lives, Simon. I'd believe anything you'd say, and you know that." She placed her hand on his shoulders trying to reassure him. Simon rested one of his on hers. They stood there, waiting for the other to talk. Waiting for someone to break the silence. Waiting...waiting...

"All right. I guess I'll tell you, but not here." Simon broke the silence between them. It was almost refreshing to hear those words come from him. For the first time since John and Mary died, Simon was actually going to have a meaningful conversation with her. Folding up her umbrella, Grace grabbed the hand on top of hers, and led him up two flights of stairs. She knew this place well enough to walk it in pitch black. Taking a left when they reached the third floor, they walked past the first two doors and stopped in front of the one labeled in brass "324".

"Mom and dad left to go on a business trip. I have the apartment to myself for two more days." Grace told Simon as she unlocked the door. Right as she opened the door, the familiar smell of cinnamon rolls hit his nose. Apparently she hadn't stopped baking. After she threw the keys on the table next to the door, they both walked in. Out of sheer habit, Simon walked through the front hallway into the main room and sat on the leather sofa. A smile appeared on Grace's face.

"We kept the couch only because I convinced mom and dad that you loved the thing so much." Simon let out a sigh. He longed for the days when the four of them, John and Mary included, sat on this couch and just talked. It was dubbed "The Honest Couch" because they promised each other that they'd never lie to each other when on it. He knew why she chose her house over his. It was because on this couch she wouldn't have to worry about him beating around the bush about anything. It was second nature to be upfront about anything and everything when on it.

After a few moments of silence, she too walked over to it, and sat next to him. She was closer than usual, but he didn't mind. She didn't seem to mind that he was wet either, and even leaned her head on his shoulder. Grace closed her eyes just taking in the moment. Here she'd find out his feelings towards her, and what had been bothering him recently. Like the old saying said, she was killing two birds with one stone.

Before she knew it, he had placed his head on hers. She could feel him shaking, and thus began her worrying again. The whole reason she had gone to the graveyard was to prevent him from getting a cold. She reached behind her for the blanket that sat between the edge of the couch and the wall. Grabbing it, she wrapped it around both herself and Simon. This was the first time that either of them had shown physical intimacy towards the other, but neither of them objected to it. Minutes ticked by as they just sat there with heads laying on each other. Finally, Grace took her head off his shoulder, sat up, and spoke.

"Before we get to what's been bothering you, there's something I need to know."

"Name it."

"Do you love me?"

This made Simon sit up straight. He knew that she was going to be forward, but not in that sort of way. She had caught him off guard with that question. It was coming from left field as some would put it. Closing his eyes, he calmed his nerves, and collected his thoughts. It took mere seconds to do so and he opened his eyes again.

"I can't lie to you. Yes. Yes I do."

ACT ONE
SCENE ONE

This scene takes place at 11:35 a.m. Present day in the locker bay of Lovegood High. It's about the mental struggle of choosing between being in love with one guy and falling out of love with another.

(Jake started to slowly walk toward Shannon. Shannon started to slowly back away. Jake backed her into a corner; his lips were inches away from kissing, hers. At the last moment; when they were going to kiss, she slapped him.)

SHANNON: (shouts at Jake) WHAT ARE YOU, DOING? I HAVE A BOYFRIEND!

JAKE: (felt his cheek) Well, you honestly don't have a boyfriend who loves you.

SHANNON: (gasped) YES, HE DOES.

JAKE: (shouts back) NO, HE DOESN'T. (blushing) Not like I do.

SHANNON: Oh yeah. (Blushing) Well; you can't go kissing people, it's not right.

JAKE: (scratched his head) I'm sorry. I didn't mean too. It's just that. (blushing) You're so beautiful.

SHANNON: (shocked) That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.

JAKE: (smiled) I mean it. You are truly stunning.

SHANNON: What? Really, you think I'm stunning.

JAKE: Yes I do. I truly do. (leans forward to kiss her)

SHANNON: (slapped him again; then walked away)

JAKE: (thought) She wants me. (smiled to himself and walked in the opposite direction)

SHANNON: (stepped forward and talked to no one in particular) The nerve of that guy trying to kiss me, when I was clearly uninterested. he knew I was dating Sam. darn that Jake. what am I going to tell Sam? (stepped back into scene)

SHANNON: I'm not going say anything to him.

JAKE: He's going to eventually find out about us.

SHANNON: You wouldn't dare!

JAKE: Oh, on the contrary, my dear. I will tell him and he will be tremendously upset.

SHANNON: Jake, don't do it. Don't tell. (Got on knees) Please.

JAKE: I'd hate to see a girl, beg; especially one as pretty as you. But, okay, I won't tell. (Put out his hand to shake hers)

(Instead, he pulled her close and they kissed. Jake pulled away from her; and exits down left, smiling to himself. Shannon was still confused about what had just happened. Until; she heard a familiar voice coming from behind her.)

SHANNON: (stepped forward and talked to no one in particular) Darn it, who knew Jake, was such a good kisser. (Steps back into scene)

(Sam stood in the background, silently awaiting his cue. He acts clearly outraged by what just happen, he angrily walked toward the center.)

SAM: (enraged with fury as he shook Shannon) HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?

SHANNON: (shouted back) DO WHAT?

SAM: (crossed his arms) You know what you did.

SHANNON: (starts to play with her hair) Jake and I were just talking.

SAM: You're lying, I saw you kiss him.

SHANNON: Sam, you got it all mixed up. He kissed me. Come on Sammy; you've know me, since the first grade. I'd never in a million years; dream of hurting you.

SAM: (stood there in disbelief) Do you really think that I'm going to believe you; just because our parents were best friends.

SHANNON: (shook her head) No. I believe that you're going to believe me, because we're best friends.

SAM: (scoffs) WELL, CONSIDER OUR "FRIENDSHIP" OVER.

SHANNON: Sammy, don't do this. (Starts to cry, got on her knees) Please.

SAM: (ignored her)

(As soon as tears started to fall from Shannon's cheeks, Sam turned away; he exits down right; leaving Shannon without a friend and boyfriend. Shannon quietly sobs to herself, and exits down left.)

(The next day was going to be tough, due to the fact that Shannon would not only have to face Sam, but Jake as well. The choice best for her is to move. That is she wouldn't like to do at all. Fair enough, she's left with this dilemma.)

SHANNON: (muttered quietly to her) What am I going to do? I mean Sam is well.My boyfriend, but Jake is a very good kisser. (gets mad at Jake) If Jake hadn't kissed me, then I would still be with Sam. Now, Sam hates me. (shouts) DARN THAT JAKE. Well, there's nothing I could do now, darn it. I wish I could but .I can't.

JAKE: Aw, Shannon, don't be so gloomy, it was just a kiss.

SHANNON: Just a kiss.JUST A KISS. That stupid kiss ruined my relationship with Sam.

JAKE: So?

SHANNON: So, I want you to never come near me ever, again.

JAKE: You don't mean that.

SHANNON: (Crossed her arms) Oh, yes I do.

JAKE: Fine! (Storms off-stage)

SHANNON: Wait, Jake.I'm sorry! (starts to follow him)

SAM: (enters from the right) Shannon.

SHANNON: (turns around) What!

SAM: I'm sorry. (Looks down at the ground)

SHANNON: (crossed her arms) I'm sorry too, Sam. (Walked off-stage)

SAM: Wait. (Starts to run after her; then stops he sees Jake)

JAKE: Hey, Sam. Long no time no see.

SAM: (punches him) THIS IS ALL; YOU'RE FAULT.

JAKE: (smirks) I don't know what you're talking about.

SAM: Dude, you kissed my girlfriend.

JAKE: Yeah, so?

SAM: So.SO, you going to pay. (Tackles Jake)

(They fight, and then Jake takes out a knife, stabs Sam.  Sam fell to the ground. Jake drops the knife then runs off-stage. Shannon runs on-stage, she see Sam.)

SHANNON: (looks at Sam.holds his hand) Sam.Hold on! Please, Sam.Don't die.

(Shannon starts to cry, Sam doesn't respond.  Shannon calls 911. Apparently she stays with Sam, until help arrives. However, when help arrived she was treated like a suspect. Its two months into the trial, Shannon's on the stand.)

SHANNON: Your honor, I didn't kill my boyfriend.

JUDGE: It's not up for me to decide, it is for the jury to decide.

SHANNON: (looks over at the jury) Do you really think that I wanted to kill my boyfriend?

JURY: (stares at her with the puzzled faces of twelve men and women)

(Suddenly Jake walks in. A woman in the jury stood up.)

JUGDE: Jury. How does the suspect pleaded?

JURY: (stood up) We the Jury, find Shannon Angel Baker in the murder of Samuel Marshmallow Pillow.Guilty of first murder.
 
JUDGE: Shannon Angel Baker, you will be sentence to life in prison without patrol. (grabs his mallet slams it on the totem)

(The audience gasped the family members of Shannon and Sam wept. As Shannon, now, is handcuffed.)

SHANNON: What.I didn't do it!

JAKE: (stood up out of the audience and shouted) I DID IT! I KILLED SAM PILLOW! IT WAS ME!

(The audience gasped the family members of Shannon and Sam wept. As Jake is handcuffed.)

JUDGE: Shannon, you free to go and all the charges had been dropped.

(Shannon walked passed Jake and stops.)

JAKE: Shannon, I'm sorry.

SHANNON: Why? Why did you kill him?

JAKE: I killed him out of my love for you.

SHANNON: (blushed) Shut up, I can't love you. Not after all the pain, you caused me.

JAKE: Shannon, I did this, so we can be together.

SHANNON: (walks away) Goodbye, Jake.

JAKE: Shannon, wait.

(Shannon stops walking.)

SHANNON: (turns to face him) What!

JAKE: I love you!

SHANNON: (starts to walk away again) Goodbye, Jake.

JAKE: Shannon.Wait, let me explain, please.

SHANNON: I don't want to hear it.Just leave me alone.  (exits left)

JAKE: (enraged with fury) Hey, get back here.

(Bailiff walks toward Jake, Jake whirls around the bailiff grabs his gun and shoots starts to shoot the people in the jury. He then stuffs the gun in his pocket and runs after Shannon, also exiting Left)

(Jake runs after Shannon. Shannon ran toward him, carrying a sword. Jake screamed like a girl and ran off stage. Offstage, Jake is handed a sword. He charged at Shannon, swinging his sword. Shannon swings hers. The swords clash and sword fighting begins.)

(Two hours later.The sword fighting continues. Jake suddenly gets tired.)

JAKE: Wait, Shannon! What are we really accomplishing if we fight like this? (Drops his sword)

SHANNON: Nothing, I guess. (Drops her sword)

JAKE: My point exactly, so, let's be friends.

SHANNON: Jake, I can't. You killed my boyfriend, and framed me for it. So, no we're not going to be friends; I'd suggest you turn yourself in.

JAKE: I'm not going to do anything.

SHANNON: But, Jake.It's only a matter of time before they find you.

JAKE: They won't find me in Canada. I'll only ask you this once, Shannon, will come with me?

SHANNON: I'm sorry, Jake.I can't. Just turn yourself in.

JAKE: I'm sorry, I can't do that. (Kissed her and exit left.)

SHANNON: Hey, get back here. I'm not finished with you, yet. (Runs after him, exits left.)

(Apparently, while running after Jake.Shannon appears to be back in the courtroom.Jake is seen a disguise and later caught. He is seen being handcuffed. The authorities and a handcuffed Jake walk past Shannon. Then they stop.)

JAKE: Goodbye, Shannon.

SHANNON: Goodbye, Jake.

JAKE: Are you going to miss me?

SHANNON: (smiles) Take him away, boys.

(The officers push Jake, lightly. The three men exit left. Two years after that incident, Shannon is seen walking on stage, carrying flowers to a mysterious grave.)

SHANNON: (talking to the grave) So, here we are. (sighs)I should've stopped Jake when I had the chance. Now, you're gone. (long pause) I wish there was some way to get back at him, but, I don't want you to think.(laughs) Look at me, I'm talking to a grave. But, before, I was talking to you. Darn that Jake. He messes everything up. Oh, Sam. I miss you, so much. (cries silently to herself)

(The light faded out and the curtain closed.)

The End

Tears, they stream down my face. People, they are staring at me; I can't stand the pity in their eyes. I lower my face and walk faster, wishing that they would all just go away. Everyone but him; I want him, I need him. He is the only one who could stop the tears and tell me "It's going to be ok." But it isn't. It never will be again. I run, as hard as my legs will carry me along this old gravel road; up my driveway, past my old 73' Silverado that he salvaged and taught me to drive. I fumble up the porch steps and open the door, thanking God that Mom still isn't home; I can't deal with her right now. I stumble up to my room; I don't bother to close the window, still open from when he left the night before. I fall onto my bed, clutching to my stomach the picture of us on my seventeenth birthday; as tears begin to soak my pillow I remember just how clueless we were. Not knowing just how little time we had left. I finally slip into a comatose sleep, grateful that for a few precious moments I could forget. Forget that he is in a better place. While I'm stuck in a living Hell.

Jim didn't really think many deep thoughts. Or at least, that's what he tells himself. What's deep, anyway? Profound..philosophical. Too much for Jim. That's what people made him believe, anyway. Have you ever realized that the next minute of your life is never a granted thing? That everything could be gone in a heart beat? Jim let himself start to think about those kinds of "deep" thoughts, but then he got nailed in the face with a trash can full of crap. Good morning to you, Jim. Jim was a trash man. Nothing fancy about him, and he pretty much minded his own business. He didn't have any family, it was just him and himself. He had a girl, thought she was the one, but, like usual, Jim was wrong. He hated his job, but what did you expect, right? He was a trash man, after all. He didn't go to college or anything like all his high school friends. That's just how he turned out. His mom didn't mind, she called him something fancy. Maybe "Waste Engineer" or something like that. She made him sound important. That wouldn't mean a thing at his 10 year high school reunion that's coming up, though. Right about then, he was going down Keirling Street. He had got all his routes memorized, knew which houses put out the most crap, and even calculated shortest routes through the neighborhoods. Maybe he wasn't so stupid. But people wouldn't listen to him anyway. Anyway, the reason he was thinking about all that profound stuff is because of his previous worry, the high school reunion coming up. What's he supposed to tell people? Jim Peloski didn't make anything out of himself. No surprise there. Maybe Jim's whole life is made out of trash. Maybe that's why he's so good at it. That's what he thought when he was feeling really down. He could lie. He could say he invented Google, or the Post-it Note. Like that one movie. See, that just proves it. He was off thinking again, and something bad happened. The bag he was picking up ripped. That's what happens when stupid people shove too much crap in one bag. Now there's banana peels and greasy crunched up tabloids and papers everywhere. One of the perks of being a trash man is if you find something out with a person's trash that you want, you can keep it. One time Jim found a sweet old Nintendo console. But that doesn't happen much. The gross part is picking all the stuff off the street with bare hands. It gets everywhere. But, something was different that day. Something snagged onto his finger. He thought it would be one of those plastic ring pops or a pop tab off a Coke, but it wasn't. A ring. It kind of looked diamond. Maybe even real. A diamond ring in a pile of trash. That's kind of like Jim. Maybe he could tell that to those people at the reunion. Maybe they would listen.

Life is good." Thought Tara as she walked under the ivy covered breezeway by her back door. "Despite the fact I'm grounded, I'm doing okay. Oooh, I hope Michael doesn't care that I'm five minutes late."

"Ouch!" She yelped as a branch caught in her new blowout. "At least I didn't get an up-do. It would so be ruined by now. I bet Kelly's is." Tara's best friend Kelly had gotten hers into an up-do and then was a total spaz all day because she was afraid it wouldn't hold.

"Hi Tara!" squeaked a voice from behind her.

" Oh, hello Daniel.", talking to the dorky fifth grader from next door was not exactly number one on her To Do List. "Why were you in the bushes?"

Tara saw Daniel flush. "I was just, um, admiring the flowers. Here this is for you!" He held out a single crumpled rose. Tara was about to laugh at him, but when she saw the hopeful look on his face; she couldn't bring herself to do it. Tara stifled her laugh as she took the rose from Daniel.

"Ouch!" she said for the second time that night. "Thanks. It's, um, really pointy." She said as the thorns bit into the skin on her hand.

Daniel started to smile shyly. "You look nice."

Tara was about to roll her eyes and tell him to get lost, but thought it would be nice to have a second opinion. Sara had said she looked nice, but family doesn't count. "I hope Sara can cover for me long enough." Tara thought. "I can go to the prom, pig out on cookies and punch, dance my heart out, and be back before anyone notices." Tara mentally reassured herself.

"You don't think the rhinestones are too much?" she asked Daniel. She had started to chew her nails but remembered too late; she had already ruined her nail polish. As she blew on her nails she said to Daniel, "It was hard to decide between them and the turquoise." As soon as the words left her lips, she was disgusted with herself. But then again he is Michael's brother; he might have some good tips, even if he was ten.

"The rhinestones are better." Daniel nodded wisely at her like girls were always coming to him with their jewelry dilemmas. "The blue in your dress would have diminished the impact of the turquoise. The rhinestones enhance the coloring and go better with the emerald brooch that you have pinned to the material resting on your voluptuous hip."

"What?!?" Tara exclaimed. "Daniel if you could stop crushing on me for one moment, you might not be so annoying!" Instantly Tara regretted saying that. Sure he could be annoying, but he did come in handy. Who else was going to deliver her messages to Michael when she was locked in her room? Tara still couldn't understand her parent's harsh punishment. Tara was five minutes late for her curfew, and they went all Alcatraz on her. She wondered what would have happened if she was ten minutes late. "Sorry Daniel.", she said quickly when she saw the tears in his eyes. "I am really stressed right now. Where on earth is your brother? He is twenty minutes late!"

"He was in his room when I left. We had Reubens for dinner and he said his didn't agree with him. I also think he bathed in cologne or something. Now the whole house smells. When I told him that, he got all freaked out and is probably trying to scrub it all off. He will probably be another half an hour."

"What?!? The prom starts in twenty minutes!" Tara shrieked. "Shoot. I hope my parents didn't hear that." She whispered, after she realized what she had done.

Thirty minutes passed but there was still no sign of Michael.

"Daniel! Why isn't he here yet?!?"

"I don't know!" Daniel wailed. "He said he would be here by now!"

Tara was finished being patient. She whipped out her cell phone and dialed Michael. "Where the heck are you?!?"

.

A weak, raspy voice on the end whispered "Help. Help me."

Alarmed Tara asked "Michael what's wrong?!?"

"Help me. Can't breathe. Dead."

"Dead! Who's dead?!?" Tara screamed into the phone. But all she got was a dial tone.

" Oh my god! Daniel call 911! We need help! Be as quiet as you can." Tara started to sprint away. "Whatever you do, don't follow me!"

The wind felt cold against her face, and seemed to freeze the tears in her eyes. Tara was frightened of what she would see, but her legs propelled her through the bushes, the garden, and across the McKinsey's front lawn.

"Be okay! Please be okay!" Tara sobbed, her tears no longer frozen. "Oh god, Michael, be okay!"

Suddenly the leaves shook on a nearby bush. Tara gasped and then screamed in horror. A person was crawling out from behind a bush! The person moaned in pain. Tara swallowed another scream. "Sam! What happened to you?!" Daniel and Michael's older brother drenched in blood lay facedown in the dirt.

Epilogue

It turned out that Michael had a psychotic break due to ergot poisoning, which is caused by a fungus in the rye bread which he ate for dinner in his Reuben. He murdered both of his parents by brutally stabbing them with a carving knife while they were doing dishes. He then went after his brother Sam who was washing his car. Sam was also murdered. During a brief moment of sanity, Michael realized what he had done, and attempted to commit suicide by slitting his own wrists. Michael did not succeed in taking his own life and is now in custody at the Hampton County Correctional Facility. Daniel was safe because he was at Tara's house when the murders happened, and is now staying at Tara's house as a foster child. Sara, Tara's older sister was going out with Sam at the time and is now in intensive therapy. Tara, was both heartbroken and horrified at what her what her boyfriend had done and is also now in intensive therapy, and her prognosis is fair.

Even after years of knowing her, I still remember the first time we met. The first time I saw her. The first time we spoke. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. I guess that’s what you do when something has happened to someone you love—you remember the best moments that you ever had with that person. To me, one of the best moments of my life was when I met her.

She had been a teenager then, doing what she did best—solving a case. Helping other people. I remember the explosion that happened that morning. And of everything going on, the one thing on my mind was getting her car out of the way. I remember the anger in her beautiful blue eyes as she tried to stop me. Looking back, I realize that she had a reason to get mad without knowing what I was actually doing. But if I wouldn't have had a sudden need to save a total stranger’s car, I never would have met her.

I remember not knowing if I’d ever get a chance to see her again, but praying that somehow, someday, I would once again be with her. And finally, I did see her again. And to my surprise, we actually went out.

It started out slow at first, with us going out to a small café near her home occasionally. But after about a month, it got more serious. Our ‘dates’ turned out to more than going to get coffee once a week. We began going to restaurants and movies together and staying out until midnight. Then the day came when she took me to her home to meet her father. It was then that we were truly considered a couple.

As we continued to see each other, I began to realize that Nancy Drew was not just an ordinary teenager. She was adventurous. Dangerous. She was a risk taker. All of that scared me as I began to care more and more about her, but I couldn’t do much about her personality. It’s just the way she was—there was no changing her. So I went along with her for a long, long time. But soon, I realized something else. Solving cases was important to her—and it seemed as if it was more important to her than I was. Our relationship changed until the day came that I couldn’t take it. No one believed it at first, but I really did it. I broke up with Nancy Drew.

We were apart for months. It broke her heart, and it did mine, too, but it had to be done. The separation didn’t last long, however, and soon, we were together once again. We agreed to take it slow again, and try to start over. Not much changed in her personality, but something must have changed with me because this time, I wasn’t willing to let go of her. No matter what people told me, no matter what my friends said, I wasn’t going to let go of her. Not this time.

As months turned into years, cases kept coming. Each one brought her into danger and introduced yet another enemy, but I stayed by her side to help her when she needed someone there. When she was in danger, I did what I could to help her. When she was injured, I was there for her—which was often with so many people wanting to get rid of her. No one would have ever seen Nancy’s real fate coming. Nancy might have seemed strong, and to everyone else, it might seem as if there was nothing that could kill Nancy Drew. She had been through it all, and nothing had gotten to her yet.

But nothing could save her from what happened that night.

We had been dating for nearly four years and finally, I announced to my parents that I would ask the question they had wanted me to ask for a long, long time now. I would ask Nancy to marry me.

They were excited by the fact, needless to say. They had been waiting for years, through everything that had happened—the breakup, the making up, the long-distance relationship, the troubles, the bad times, the good times…everything. They had waited for years for this moment, and finally, it was near.

I prepared several days before the date for what I would say. How I would bring the topic up. When the right time would be. Once I got that down, I went to the jewelry store to find the perfect ring for her—one that she’d absolutely love. Finally, I did the most important thing of all.

I asked her out.

She was excited to go out that night. She had been bored since it seemed that no one needed help just then, and going on a date was the most excitement she had experienced in a few days, at least.

I was relieved by the fact that she had accepted my invitation, and soon began to prepare for the final moment. The moment when I would ask the woman I love to marry me.

I knew I needed to prepare for rejection along with her possibly accepting. There was always the chance that she would reject my proposal. But I had a good feeling. I had a good feeling that she would answer with a ‘yes’.

I picked her up at seven o’clock that night. I was a little nervous, but I didn’t show it. She was looking beautiful, as always. She was wearing a short, tight black dress that stopped right below her knees. Her high heels made her about two inches taller than she actually was. She had pulled her hair back loosely but so it still looked good. She wore silver hoops in her ears and a bracelet that I had given her long ago. A silver bracelet I had given her during one of her cases. I tried not to remember the case as I smiled at her and opened the passenger door. When we got in the car, she gave me a quick kiss before I started the car and began what seemed like the longest trip I had ever been on to the restaurant we were going to.

The date went very well. We ate and talked about regular things for once—not her cases or some close call that she had while trying desperately to catch a criminal. We talked about normal things.

When we were finished, I asked if she wanted to take a walk outside. There was a small lake not far away from the restaurant and a paved patch leading to it the entire way. Most couples went there for alone time. She agreed.

As we walked, I rehearsed in my mind what I would say to her. How I would ask her the question that had been burning in my mind for a long time now.

We walked in silence for a long moment. She rested her head gently on my shoulder as we walked and I put my arm gently around her shoulder. As we approached the small lake ahead, I knew that it was time.

I began just as planned. I talked to her a little about all of the great times that we’ve had together. Then, I knelt and pulled out the diamond ring I had bought for her. She got tears in her eyes as she realized the reality of it all—tears of happiness. And, to my surprise but delight, she accepted.

No one could have been happier at that moment than the two of us. I’m sure of it. The look on her face would have made anyone’s day. She couldn’t have been happier.

Until we headed home.

We were so sure we would make it home safely. But everything went completely different.

Because it was late—it was nearly midnight when we finally decided to leave—there were less people on the road. However, there was also a higher chance of reckless driving from those few who were on the road—especially if they were drunk. We were one of the unfortunate drivers on the road.

The accident wasn’t my fault—that’s what everyone tells me. It was the other driver. The drunk driver who was on the wrong side of the road. The driver who was speeding, going in the wrong direction. But deep down, I feel like it was my fault. I remember the hospital visits, the praying, the hoping, the crying…the devastating news. And deep down inside me, as I think about it all, I realize that there had to have been a way to prevent the accident.

I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself for her death. No matter how much time passes, no matter what everyone says. I’ll never forgive myself for what happened that night. The accident took more than a life. It took away hopes. It took away dreams. It took away all that Nancy had been looking forward to—including marriage. All of that at such a young age.

But there is something that I do know. I know that no matter what, she’ll always be with me. I’ll always love her with all my heart and I will never forget her. Nothing will change that. And now, as I kneel in front of her grave, saying one last silent goodbye for the night, one thought keeps me going. One thought gets me up in the morning and makes me force myself not to give up, not to let go.

One day, we will be together once again. One day, I will be with my love forever. Forever together in Heaven.

“I'm so bored,” Joe Hardy groaned. He was sitting in the middle of a room with several girls surrounding him. Any other time, he would be happy. Now, however, was a completely different story.

The girls were made up of a sleepover group—Nancy Drew, Bess Marvin, George Fayne, and Iola Morton. They had apparently gotten bored and had decided to kidnap Joe just for fun.

“You're bored?” Iola asked. “Just think about us. We've got a guy here, but we can't think of anything to do with him.”

“You'd better not touch me or you'll regret it,” Joe replied.

“You're tied up,” Iola replied. “How can you do anything?”

“I think you got a little bit too into this kidnapping thing,” George said. She looked up from the magazine that she was looking through.

“I don't think so,” Bess said. “I think this is perfect. All we need is a little bit of makeup…”

“I said don't touch me!” Joe said. “Can't you do something else?”

They were silent a long moment before Iola and Bess replied, “No.”

“Great,” Joe mumbled. “I hope Frank called someone.”

“He better not have called the police,” Nancy said. “We're going to get in really big trouble if he does.”

“I don't think he will,” Iola said.

“Iola, he saw you come in with a ‘gun’, hold it up to me, and say that if he comes after us, then you'll severely hurt me. You did all of this while you had a mask on and screaming, "GO WEIRD KIDNAPPERS!!". Do you seriously think he won't call the police?”

“It was a squirt gun!” Iola said. “Anyone should know that unless they're totally stupid.” She paused. “Oh, wait…maybe he wouldn't catch on after all.”

“You're calling Frank stupid?” Nancy asked.

“Um…yeah.”

“Frank isn't,” Joe said. “In fact…I'll bet he called the police as soon as you left the house with me.”

“That was kind of stupid,” George said. “For all we know we could get charged with kidnapping or something like that.”

“Hm…should we make a ransom?” Bess asked.

Iola’s eyes lit up. “We should!” she exclaimed.

“What should we ask?” Bess asked her.

“We're not going to do anything like that,” Nancy said. “I think we'd better get Joe back before it gets dark.”

“I think not,” Iola said. “He’s perfectly capable of walking home once we let him go.”

“But we're the ones who kidnapped him,” Nancy said. “We should at least get him a ride back home.”

“If he goes home,” Iola said with a grin.

“Right,” Bess said. “If.”

“I don't like the sound of that,” Joe said.

“I'd say run, but you're tied up,” George said. “I really don’t feel like getting up right now so all I can say is…you'd better get used to being a girl for the next few hours.”

“Oh, no,” Joe groaned as Bess grabbed the makeup.

“Oh, yes,” Iola said. She pulled out bright pink nail polish. “Let’s get this started.”

“Wait!” Nancy said. Both girls froze. “We should do something else. You can't just dress him up as a girl and put makeup on him, but not take him out somewhere. Am I right?”

A grin came over Iola’s face. “Oh,” she said. “I know!”

“You know what?” Joe asked. Iola ran out of the room. “Where is she going?” he asked.

“I’m assuming to get you the perfect outfit,” Bess said.

A moment later, Iola walked in with a long, flowing dress and high heeled shoes. She also came with hairspray, headbands, and more.

“Oh, no,” Joe said.

“Oh, yes,” Iola said, walking forward. “Let’s get started.”

Frank Hardy stared at the phone. He had received a phone call earlier from someone who claimed to be Joe’s kidnapper. She had sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place the voice. All he knew was that he was supposed to wait for yet another phone call for further instructions.

He can't be in too much trouble, Frank thought. They were using squirt guns as weapons. Suddenly, the telephone rang. Frank answered it quickly.

“Hello?” he said.

“Mu-ha-ha-ha-ha,” a voice said.

Frank rolled his eyes. “Iola, where’s Joe?”

“This is not Iola,” a woman’s voice said.

“Who is it then?” Frank asked.

“It’s…” the voice got quiet. “Okay, it’s Iola. But we've got Joe. Before you get him back, turn on the television.”

“What? Why?” Frank asked.

“Just do it,” Iola said.

“Fine,” Frank replied. “You better not have done something stupid.”

“Oh, we did,” she replied. “Did we ever.” Iola hung up. Frank watched the blank screen for a moment. The news came on just then. He listened for a long time. He was about to call Iola back when suddenly, the newscaster said something that caught his interest.

“We have a breaking story. Apparently, there is a young man dressed as a woman standing on the side of the highway jumping and screaming, ‘I’m Weird and I’m Proud’.”

Frank looked as the camera focused on the person better. Then at the same time, he burst out laughing.

As said, a young man was certainly standing at the side of the highway. But he was in a long, elegant dress with high heels. His hair had been spiked up and he was covered with makeup.

It was Joe.

When Frank was finally finished laughing, he sat back and continued to watch as his brother continued to jump up and down idiotically.

Maybe it was best that he got kidnapped, Frank thought. As he watched, he grinned.

You couldn't get much better than this.