by: Halliwellgirls
I own these characters, this story, and all other stories on this site. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.
WARNING: MODERATE ANGST AND SOME ALCOHOL USE, proceed with caution
�Someone�s chipper.� Tara Maclayne, her first best friend, remarked from her perch on a bottom bunk bed. There were two sets of bunk beds in the room, and Alyson and Tara shared, while Siobhan Arintero and Kennedi Limon shared the other.
�Well, I only had one class today, so I went to the park to do a little studying. It is gorgeous out, missy, what are you doing in here?� Alyson asked.
�Needed to use the computer, and Syvanni came in a little while ago, and looked exhausted, so I made her take a little nap before dinner, and then she looked up at me with those eyes and begged me not to leave the room while she was sleeping, so when I got off the computer I just came on my bed to study.� Tara explained. Alyson looked to the next bed, but could only see Siobhan�s dark, curly hair sticking out from under the blankets.
�Poor Syvanni, she just hasn�t been herself. It�s been almost a year, but I don�t think she�s quite the same. More clingy, less giggling.� Alyson said, plopping her books down on a desk, and sitting next to Tara on her bed, avoiding all the clutter. Their best friend, Madison Winters, had died of a brain tumor eleven months earlier, and Siobhan was taking it the hardest.
�I know. I miss her, too, though.� Tara said, sniffling.
�Aww, sweetie, don�t cry. I�m sorry, I didn�t mean to...� Alyson reached for her friend, who hugged her briefly, and then pulled back away.
�I just want to finish this chapter before Kenni comes and we wake up Syvanni and go to dinner, okay?� Tara said, picking up her book again.
�Okay, honey.� Alyson agreed, and went to the computer she and Tara shared to check her email, �Wow, I�ve got 47 emails! I haven�t checked it in awhile apparently.� she said, smiling.
�At least one of them�s from me. I mailed you a few days ago when I thought the email service wasn�t working.� Tara said, looking up for all of two seconds.
�Five of them are from you.� Alyson giggled, �You�ve been busy, honey.� She looked over, but all she got was a nod from Tara, as she was deep in her book.
Suddenly the door flew open and banged against the wall, causing Siobhan to bolt up in bed, and Tara and Alyson to look up quickly. They all relaxed when they realized it was just Kennedi, returning with a stack of books, a flyer, and what looked like a sticker of some sort.
�Heya, guys!� she greeted them.
�Geez, Kenni, must you slam around? Siobhan was sleeping!� Tara said, annoyed, �And I was studying!�
�So-ree.� Kennedi said, �I�m just excited. You know Quentin Davis?� she asked.
�Yeah, he�s head of the Edina State Fraternity.� Alyson said, looking back at the computer screen.
�Well, he�s invited the four of us to their Halloween party on Halloween night. There�s going to be a haunted house and everything.� Kennedi said, excitedly.
�You want us to go to a fraternity party?� Tara asked, astonished.
�I think it sounds fun.� Alyson put in.
Siobhan shook her head, �Nuh-huh, the punch is probably spiked!� she said, dully.
�Some of us are 21 now, you know, and the rest of us are almost 21.� Kennedi pointed out.
�Ally�s 21. The rest of us aren�t.� Siobhan shot back.
�Well you don�t have to go!� Kennedi pouted. She was going to be the last to be 21, and hated that thought.
�I�ll go with you, Kenni.� Alyson said, smiling, taking her eyes from the computer screen.
Tara sighed, �Oh, all right. I�ll go, but I�m not drinking anything. Syvanni?� she asked.
�I don�t know.� Siobhan said, quietly.
�Come on, honey, it�ll be fun.� Kennedi said, sitting down on the bed with her.
�I�ll think about it, okay?� Siobhan said, and then changed the subject, �What�s that?� she asked, pointing to the sticker Kennedi was holding.
�Oh, just a bumper sticker with Tweety on it. Madison liked Tweety so I thought it�d be good for her memorial wall.� Kennedi said, softly.
�It�s great!� Siobhan said, as cheerful as she could, and got up, taking the sticker. She took it off it�s backing and scrutinized the cork board that hung between the two desks. She finally selected a place, and stuck it there, and stepped back to admire it. It was a simple cork board, with �Madison�s Memorial� in purple script, Madison�s favorite color, on the top, and things Madison liked and pictures of her decorating it. They�d started working on it two months after she�d died, when second semester of sophomore year had started and Alyson had moved in.
�It looks good.� Alyson�s voice suddenly cut into Siobhan�s thoughts, and she felt arms wrap around her from behind.
Siobhan leaned back into her friend, eyes filling with tears, �I miss her.� she said, quietly.
�I know you do, sweetie, so do I.� Alyson said, just as quietly.
�She�s watching us, you know, every minute I can feel her presence.� Kennedi said, from her perch on Siobhan�s bed.
�Yeah, I know. I bet she feels silly now, because even though she�s an atheist, she�s gone to heaven. I believe that.� Siobhan said, wiping her eyes.
�Me too.� Tara said, putting her bookmark in her book, �Can we go for dinner now? I�m starving.�
�Absolutely.� Alyson unwrapped her arms from Siobhan and took her friend�s hand instead.
�I�ve still got the keys. We�re gone.� Kennedi said, and she and Tara followed Alyson and Siobhan out the door.
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