Chapter 1: The Shock of it All Lauralee stared out of the window of her old bedroom, wishing this day had never come.  Sure, she had wanted to be back in New York, visiting family and friends, or possibly here to perform and do some promo work for the album, but that wasn’t why she was here.  It wasn’t the reason for many people to be here on this day. She took one look around her room, recognizing the familiarity of the space—prom pictures on the dresser, a calendar on the wall and old stuffed animals on the bed.  Her room had stayed the same, but was it reflective of her now, or of her past?  Her mother had kept it meticulous for her, hoping that when she had made one of her many trips back she was going to stay at home.  This trip home was different, one that she hoped she would never have to make again, and her mother knew it too. A soft knock was on her door.  “Lau?” “Come in.” It was Alex.  “Babe, the limo is downstairs and everyone is waiting.” “Just a minute, OK?” “Sure.”  He closed the door behind him, came behind her and put his arms around her waist.  “This is it.  Are you ready?” “I don’t think I will ever be.  God I never thought this could happen.”  She leaned back into him, hoping to gather strength just by falling into his arms. “Lau, you have to be the strongest person I know.  You’ve been everyone’s rock for the past week.  It’s OK to fall apart every once in a while." Lauralee closed her eyes, fighting back tears, and managed to do so.  “Can’t now.  Can’t let everyone down.” “This isn’t a show, you know.” “I know, but if people count on me for something as small as that, how can I not have them count on me for something like this?” She turned around to stare at his slightly red eyes.  Everybody had done his or her share of crying.  “It’s not my time yet.” “Well, when it is, I’ll be here like I always am,” he said as he caressed her cheek. She grabbed Alex’s hand and followed him downstairs and outside where the limousine was waiting.  Reporters were there, watching her get into the car.  A shower of questions came upon her like a thunderstorm. “How do you feel Lauralee?” “Do you have anything to say to your fans to console them?” “Will this affect the album?” “How are the others handling this?” Lauralee just ignored the “clowns” as she always called them, as Mario, her bodyguard, blocked them from her path as she entered the limo with Alex.  The rest of the crew was staring at her as Mario closed the door and rushed to the front with the driver: Laura, Kevin, Nick, Bianca, Brian, and Elizabeth. “Hey girl, you OK?” Laura asked as she took her hand. “Fine,” she responded softly.  “Where’s…” “He’s in the family car,” Brian said. Lauralee just nodded.  She took a long look at her friends in the car: Alex, her arm around her as if he would never let go.  Laura—molded to Kevin’s torso, letting a lone tear escape and quickly wiping it away.  Elizabeth, resting her head against Brian’s shoulder.  Bianca, holding Nick’s hand for dear life.  Each was in their own world, not knowing what today, or the rest of their lives would be.  No one dared to speak, as if they did they would throw their emotional roller coaster off the track. She wondered what everyone’s train of thought was.  She turned to Alex, who smiled at her.  She knew he was trying to read her thoughts, wondering what she was going through. She appreciated it, but no one could.  She smiled back, patted his knee, and stared at the world go by her.  She didn’t know what her friends’ thoughts were, but hers reverted to the past; events that led her here, it this car, with these people, on a way to a place that would be a beginning or an end… Contents Chapter 2