Later that night:

Nick felt a chill run down his spine and shivered. Howie looked over at him. "You ok?" he asked gently.

Nick shook his head and stood up. "I don't feel good," he murmured, "Mind if I go home?" The guys shook their heads.

"Go rest and get wel soon, buddy," Brian said softly, patting his friend on the back. Nick nodded his thanks and walked out of the apartment, into the cold night air. On an impulse, he stopped at Jessica's house. The house was dark, shadows played eerily across the windos. He was scared, but shook it off as he walked into the house. He wandered upstairs to her bedroom and cried out.

There, in the middle of the bed, lay a blood red rose, with a note with his name on it attached. A dark crimson trail led to her bathroom. Ignoring the note momentarily, the sixteen-year-old ran to the bathroom. He paled as he felt the bile rise in his throat. His beloved friend lay on the ice cold tile in a puddle of blood which flowed endlessly from her wrists; a river's bubbling rapids. Screaming hysterically, he dialed first the emergency number and then Brian.

"Hello?" Howie asked, grabbing the phone.

"D... put Bri on the phone," Nick said softly.

"Nicky, what's wrong?"

"Please," Nick said hoarsely. Howie put the phone on speaker, so they could all hear- somehow, Howie knew something horrible happened.

"What's up, Nick?" Brian asked gently.

"It's... I... Je..." Nick burst into tears.

Brian heard the sirens in the distance and gasped. "Oh God... Nick.. please... tell me it isn't...please," Brian pleaded, his heart beating faster and faster as he felt himself sit on the ground in shock.

"Bri," Nick whispered, "She.. she left me a note.... I haven't read it yet.."

"Please do," Brian whispered back.

"Allright.. Um, ok..." Nick said, reaching for the note. "Dear Nickers," he began.

"Somehow I knew you'd be the one to find me. Anyhow, this is nothing against you - any of you, my dear Alex included. The only person at fault is me. Yes, I am only 17. But that doesn't change the fact that everytime I seem to get a grimp on my sanity, it all slips away. And I don't want my sufferings to affect you any more, they have allready done far too much. I'm so sorry I did this, but I hope you understand that I did it for you.. Yes, my same exuse as always.

But please, just try to forget about me, and move on with your lives. I leave my heart to you, and I sign this with all my love for you guys.

The porpoise is waiting, goodbye goodbye goodbye. Peace, Jessica."

Nick collapsed into a fit of sobs as the paramedics walked in. "I've gotta go, Bri," he murmured.

"Ok, man," Brian replied, hastily wiping the tears from his face after he hung up the phone. Kevin stood up and wrapped his arms around his trembling cousin.

"Oh, sweet Jesus," Howie murmured, letting the tears flow freeling down his face. AJ sat there, staring out the window in shock. He shook his head and turned to Brian.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered fearfully. "I never meant to hurt her.... really, I didn't... God, how could I have been so stupid?" he looked away, hiding the tears.

"AJ, it's not your fault..." Brian murmured, reaching out for his younger friend, who just pulled away from his touch. "Please don't do this to yourself... she did it to herself. She told you it wasn't our fault, any of ours...." AJ shook his head.

"Maybe not directly," he whispered, "But sure as hell indirectly."

Nick stared at the pale body lying on the cold bed. He felt his eyes water as he icked up her limp hand. Gently, he kissed the top of it. "I love you, Jessica," he murmured, kissing her cold lips.

Suddenly, he felt himself pulled away from her. He looked up to see she had flatlined. "NO!!" he cried, backing into the wall, shaking his head in disbelief.

.Next.Chapter.