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The dragon threw Kimberly to the ground, face first. When she had gotten up on her hands and looked back up, he had his gun pointed at her and pulled the trigger, causing the most universe crashing sound ever.

A gun shot.

Kimberly slammed back on the floor with immense force, and felt the blood gush and the room change colors, in her last few seconds of life. Then everything went dark and silent, as if existance was turned off by a switch.

Kimberly awoke with a jolt. She didn't scream, move or blink. Just a sudden spazem was all that signified that she was alive. When she recovered from the shock of being torn from her nightmare, she gave a hard blink and held her pillow tight.

She left her room without getting properly dressed first, which was something she never did, and went to to bathroom right across the hall. She turned on the shower to warm it up, got undressed, and sat under the spicket. As she sat there, being rained on, she hoped the water would wash away the thoughts of the past.

It was 6:26 AM on a Saturday, a little more then two weeks since the incident. Her staples were taken out two days ago, which was a painful ordeal by the way. She couldn't go out with her friends, because her mom and the doctors were afraid of the staples tearing or popping out. Fortunately there was always someone willing to visit. She had someone over every day she was forbidden to do any excessive walking.

Kimberly had kept her head down to not get any water in her eyes. She stared at the tile and wondered. Why did she have that nightmare? After all this time? She grabbed her knees and pulled herself tight, trying to let go of her thoughts.

When she had finished and gotten out, she wrapped herself in a towel and returned to her room to actually get dressed. The house was filling with morning light, and she felt much better then she did before. Craig or Julia wouldn't be up for nearly more then two hours, and her mother only got home three hours ago from the 9 to 5 shift as the night secretary for an engineering company.

After she had dressed, she got a bowl of cereal, the kind with little oats in it, and lied down infront of the TV to properly greet a Saturday morning. She didn't care for cartoons too much, but there were a few ones she sort of liked.

It didn't take long for her to finish her breakfast and get bored.

Craig awoke once the sun began to glare through his window. He ended up lying there for a bit, staring at the ceiling before finding the actual care to get up. He was going to be going to the DMV today to pick up his Learner's Licence. He had passed the driving test in school and could finally drive their car legally. Every once in a while, he could convince his mother to let him drive someplace. Deffinately not often though.

Once he got out of bed, he still slowly got dressed and went to see who was awake. He found the TV on, but no one around to watch it. Finding this alkward, Detective Craig went to investigate. Taking a peek down the hall, he noticed Kimberly's door open a crack with a light inside. He peeked inside quietly to find her sitting at her desk drawing.

"Mornin' Kim.", he said from the door, trying not to be too loud.

Kimberly put down her pencil and turned in the chair. "Good morning. You gonna hit anyone with that car today?"

"I'm only going for a permit, there is no driving test", Craig said to make her little quirp sound stupid.

"Erm, oh. Nevermind", she said embarassedly.

Craig left with a chuckle and went to go watch that poor, unoccupied TV. They were showing a Road Rules marathon on MTV, so that kept him awake.

It wasn't till Gina got up that they got productive. By now, Julia was making herself an early lunch, since she slept through the general breakfast time. Craig was off getting ready to go, as was their mom. Kimberly on the other hand, still had nothing productive to do. Sheila had left this weekend to spend time with one of her relatives across state, and Kimberly had nobody she would rather be with, other then her family. She sat on the edge of the bed flipping through a book on animal species she kept on her dresser. Even though they were all animals in a sense, their unevolved ancestors still lived, including dragons. She liked reading about her own species and kept a bookmark at the begining of the dragon chapter.

"Kimberly! Craig and I are leaving now, I'll see you later!", her mom called from down the hallway.

"Bye ma'!", she yelled back, returning her book.

"Hey Kim.", said her sister from the doorway. "Why dont just you and I hang out today? We dont get to talk enough."

Kimberly was pretty damn relieved. "Good! No more boredom!"

They went to the livingroom and sat on the couch. Took them a bit to find something half interesting on TV, and just ended up talking anyway.

"You know, I had a dream this morning...I was reliving what happened when I was kidnapped...", Kimberly began explaining.

"That sucks. I have heard of people having to deal with traumatic scenes from their past in their dreams.", Julia found to reply with.

"Well, it wasn't the same. Instead of the guy's gun jamming, it fires....I hit the ground full force...I can feel my own blood gushing and everything looks weird...then it all dissappears...", She said with a chill.

"It's nothing to worry about. Remember, dreams can't hurt you.", Julia tried to reassure Kimberly with, knowing that the nightmare was major creepy and she had all the right to be scared.

There was a knock at the door and Julia got up to answer it.

"Hey there Julia!". It was Frank with some of his friends. "We thought we should stop by before we went over to Ron's place. You wanna chill for a while?"

"Sure, come on in.", she told Frank.

Kimberly wasn't quite expecting that answer. She got up from the couch and went to Julia while Frank and his friends walked by.

"Hey, what happened to just us?", she asked her sister in a very annoyed way.

"Little change of plans Kim. Maybe later I guess.", Julia told her with a sadder note, knowing she was screwing with their own plans. Kimberly just gave her a look. "I'm sorry Kim, things have just come up. They wont be here long, I promice.", Julia said, trying to appease her.

Kimberly sighed and walked down to her room and closed the door, feeling let down. Hoping they would leave soon, she pulled out her species book and tried drawing a picture of a dragon from the European highlands.

After a half hour, she finally made a cute little drawing of the dragon. Not as good as she hoped, but it looked like a dragon. Good enough really. She had gotten a little thirsty and had left for the kitchen. Julia was sitting on the couch talking to some girl and Frank, another was having a cigarette on the back porch, and the last 2 guys were just standing around talking to eachother. She pulled down a glass from the cabinet and filled it with ice. She set it back on the counter and picked a bottle of soda from the pantry. When deciding against Cola or Sprite, the Sprite won. Having her beverage, she left back to her private little domain till Julia's friends left. Sitting at her desk, she stared at her drawings thinking.

Why does Julia always have to do crap like this? I tell her about my dream and it's like she doesn't care. I just wanted to talk to someone about it, and I got blown off again. To her, her friends were more important. So much for sister to sister bonding or something. I'm fucking tired of her cheery additude like she cares! Thats the spirit Kim! Go Kim! Have fun Kim! Anything to shield herself from me.....

Contrary to what Julia said, they were there for over an hour, till Craig and their mom came back. Frank knew his stay wasn't going to be welcome for much longer and gathered up his friends. They all passed Craig and Gina on the way out and gave a nice "Hi Miss Trensetter!" or something along those lines to suck up. When they had all left, Craig piped up with a little excitement he had been storing.

"I got my permit!", he told Julia with a big cheesy smile.

"Don't hit anything", Julia told him jokingly.

"Why does everyone tell me that?!", he said with an irritated look.

"Hi mum'! HoW are Yoouuu?", said a familiar, but not, voice from the hallway. Craig and Julia both raised an eyebrow at the sight. Then their mom turned around.

Kimberly was holding on to the wall to keep herself standing and kept slurring or studdering anything she tried to say. Otherwise she was just laughing.

"Kimberly???!", her mom asked very confusedly, approaching her just in time to keep her from falling. "You're plastered!!"

"I thought I was a dragon", she slurred out laughing.

Their mother looked over her shoulder at the other two. "Craig, I think now is the time for you to go out. I'll take care of things here, don't worry about it". Craig nodded, grabbed the car keys, and left, having persuaded his mom to let him drive to the cafe for the first time since the fight there.

As soon as he left, their mom capitalized on the best time to start yelling. "You let her do drugs Julia??!!"

"No! Never!", she said to defend herself.

"I was going to let having those people in the house when I wasn't home, which I told you to never do, slide. But now, I find THIS! On my twelve year old daughter!! How could you?!!", her mother yelled.

"There were no drugs mom! I swear!", she tried to convince her.

Her mom stood up, pulling Kimberly back to her feet in the process. "You wait here Julia", her mom said sharply, taking Kimberly to her bed.

She lied Kimberly down as correctly as she could get her stupered daughter to lie. She was rather surprised by Kimberly's concerned voice.

"Mom...why do I feel funny? Is there something wrong with me?", she said at a low, quiet tone.

Her mom sat on the side of her bed, thinking if she really didn't know. "Where were you when those boys were over?", she asked.

"I have been in my room drawing", she told her mom with a pause beforehand.

Gina looked behind her and saw the papers. She apparently was telling the truth, even in her current state. This made things even more foul.

"Kimberly, did you ever leave your room?", her mom asked. When she didn't get a responce, she lightly tapped on her muzzle.

"Hrrrumm...I went for a drink...it..over there", she studdered out, somewhat pointing to the desk with the tip of one of her fingers.

Her mom got a notion flying through her head. "I'm going to have to go for a bit Kimberly", she said, getting up and grabbing the glass, walking into the hallway to the livingroom.

Once she got to the livingroom, she barked to Julia, "I think one of those assholes put something in this", holding up the empty glass.

Julia stood up and began walking to the phone. "They went to Ron's place, I'll call him and...", she said till she was commanded not to.

"I will call Ron. You stay here", her mother told her, picking up the phone herself and walking into her room.

By now, she knew Ron's phone number by heart just listening to Julia say it when she dialed it. Dialing his number, she sat on the edge of her bed.

"Hello?", Ron said when he picked up his phone.

"Hi Ron, it's me, Julia's mom", she greeted.

Ron deffinately wasn't expecting a phone call from his girlfriend's mother, but they were close, especially after the whole kidnapping thing. "Hiya. Something you need me for?", he asked.

"There were a group of guys here that just went to your house. They've gotten there by now haven't they?", she asked to make sure Ron knew what she was talking about.

"Yeah, they just showed up a minute ago. Something wrong?"

Damn straight there was, she thought to herself. "Does anyone of them pop pills or anything else you could dissolve in a drink?"

There was a pause. "I just walked into a different room. Yes, one of Frank's friends is a major druggie. What happened?", he asked to know in a concerned matter.

This was easier then she thought. Gina didn't know if he would try to cover for a friend's friend, but she knew how much she and the rest of her family meant to Ron. He was a really good guy, treated Julia right, and would have sacrificed his life for her childeren. If that doesn't make him part of the family, nothing will. "Kimberly is stoned out of her mind. I think someone slipped something in a glass of soda she whipped up", she explained to Ron.

There was no reply, but she heard something like a door fling open. The sounds and voices could be made out.

Ron slammed the guy against the wall and picked him up by his neck. Ron slowly pulled back his arm, aimed at this guys stomach, with something of an evil smile on his face. Frank was yelling for him to stop, which he naturally ignored. Seeing what Ron was about to do, the druggie began pleading and begging, which was pretty much all that Ron wanted him to do before he kicked his ass. He gave him that shot to his gut, plus some, and gave him a knee to the chest when he let him drop. He padded him down and found the little baggie that was to blame. He then picked the phone up off the floor.

"Well he just got his ass beat good", he told Gina.

"So what was it?", she asked in all curiousity.

"This is called Zanny as a street name. You may know it as Zanex. They're little pills, but theres some powder in this bag, so I think he may have ground up a few. Just let Kimberly sleep it off. When she wakes up in a few hours, just give her a big glass of water and a snack to flush this stuff out quicker. By the time she wakes up, she should be a lot more sober. I don't think he put too much in", Ron explained professionally like a Pharmasist.

"Thank you Ron. Savior as usual. You really know your stuff....do you do drugs yourself?", she had to ask.

There was a brief pause, as if he winced at her question. "I smoke pot on occation", he admitted.

"What about Julia....?", she said as what seemed to be the point to the first question.

"No. She wont touch the stuff. I prefer not to myself, especially this pill shit. I really do mean occationally when I say pot. You believe me?", he asked as if he was on trial.

"I would never doubt anything you'd tell me. Thanks", she told him warmheartedly to reassure his discomfort.

After they had said goodbye, both Ron and Gina walked into their livingrooms.

Ron walked out and grabbed the kid that caused this, making Frank and his friends try to get him to let him go. Not wanting them to inteterfere till he told them of this pill popper's exploits, he threw him onto his foyer tile with a slapping thump.

"Frank, your wonderful friend put zanny in Julia's twelve year old sister, Kimberly's drink.", he said to justify if obvious anger.

"H, he, he did d-ddint mean anything by it!", this guy's friend said.

Frank turned around to address the stupid statement he heard behind him. "So you knew he did this?!". When he got no reply, he decked him straight in the nose, knocking him onto Ron's coffee table.

Ron picked up mister druggie and asks, "Anyone object to this guy leaving permanently?". No one replyed, not even Frank. With that, out the door he went. Ron walkes over to his little friend and picks him up as well. "What about this guy?"

"Come on, I didn't do anything! It was funny!", he guy said in his own defense.

"Exactly, you did nothing, and if you think putting something like that in a twelve year old's beverage is funny, get the fuck outta here!", Frank told him.

Agreed upon, asshole number two got tossed out the door.

"You two have fun walking home!", Ron yelled out to them before closing his door. As radical as his actions were, he felt very justified of what he did. Drugging up a little girl? Kimberly? That was far out of the question.

Gina walked into their livingroom to find Julia sulking on the couch. Ignoring her for the moment, having more important things to tend to, she walked down to Kimberly's room to find her already fast asleap. That makes things easy. So one more challenge left to go, she thought while walking back into the livingroom.

She sat down next to Julia, who looked over at her mother, waiting for her to start yelling again.

"Julia, you told me before you left that you were going to spend time with Kimberly while I was out.", Gina began, "She was going to be cooped up here all day, and then you go and let this happen too". Julia opened her mouth to try and defend herself and got interrupted before she even could. "Don't try to make excuses! You let them in. You left one unattended and look what happened. You let people you didn't know into the house! Do you realize how stupid that was and what you've done?! You're supposed to look out for your sister!", her mother said, stabbing her with words.

Julia stared at the couch space between them. "I'm so sorry...I only wanted to be nice to Frank since he came to visit, I didn't expect this to happen"

"You can't expect things to happen. Thats now how it works. You did something stupid like Kimberly would have done a long time back. I'm not going to punish you or anything, you're an adult now, but please, think about your family before you do something.", her mother told her solomly. "I'll spend lots of time with Kimberly this weekend. I won't let any friend's friends in the house anymore either", Julia promiced.

After that the atmosphere lightened up and her mom told her about the druggie and how Ron beat him up. She found that amusing and went off to call him.

Gina thought just maybe she finally said something Julia would adhear to. She sat there, on the couch, staring at the off TV, thinking about her poor daughter.

Craig had made it to the cafe without a hitch. He hadn't been there in quite a while now, and thought he should at least stop by. He walked in and sat down at his usual bar stool and James turned around, seeing who it was.

"Craig! Long time no see! Ya want anything?", James asked with an outburst of happiness.

"Just a soda. The vanilla kind", he said timidly because of what happened last time he was here.

"Hey hey! Its Craig!", called a rocker from a booth. Most of the people who were here during his fight, minus a few, plus a few others, were there. Justin wasn't around so the little stage was empty. Before Craig knew it, he was being shouted questions.

Where've you been? Why haven't you stopped by? Does this have something to do with getting beat by a rapper?

Craig thought he could continue to repress this anger, but he was wrong. "You wanna know why I haven't been here?! Fine! It's because of you people!"

The rockers all looked astonished, even the ones who we're previously not listening.

"Godammit, I stook it out for you! Defended you guys against those asshole rappers! And none of you helped me! Not a single one! I had your backs, where the fuck were you when I needed you to have mine!!", Craig shouted out, getting off his bar stool and storming out of the cafe. James had gotten Craig's drink and was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, wondering what to do with it now.

When Craig got in the car, he stopped, trying to calm himself down. He never told his fellow rockers how he felt about their "betrayal". This is why he never went to the cafe after the fight. When a rocker got into a situation, you helped them. Thats what a friend is supposed to do. But they didn't help him. Craig knew he was in over his head during that confrontation, but a friend is supposed to suck it up and help anyway. If he had help, he may have won. Impossible to know now. He brushed off his anger as much as posible, really being someone who can let things slide and not care, at least for the most part, to be able to drive sanely. Though as hard as he tried, he couldn't fully stop caring.

After leaving he found himself unsure of where to go. Home may not have been the right idea. The other apparent option was Ron's place. He just needed someone to talk to and kept juggling between the two. Mom the neutral, or Ron the true rocker. The final answer was neither. He was going to see Justin. He knew were Justin would be, since he has a weekend job at Guitar Nation during the day. He would be getting off in an hour and would head to the cafe. Being a person who was there that evening, he was the best choice.

Gina began getting very tired of sitting around worrying. She knew she had nothing to fear, but continued to worry anyway. She got up off the couch and went down to Kimberly's room to check on her. Kimberly was actually now partly under the covers and still fast asleap. She walked in quietly and sat down at Kimberly's desk, being the best place for her to be nearby and not disturb her daughter. Noticing Kimberly's drawings again, she turned the chair around to have a look. She had drew a picture of their family, that rapper dragon guy behind bars, and a not half bad dragon. Turning again to look at her daughter, her face looked a little more sad as she began to think. Kimberly had so quickly changed her destructive, arrogant ways. She matured almost instantly, from a mere child, to a miniature teenager. Even so, she was still a child, and it's unfair, having to experience what she has. Throwing away her selfishness to become someone kind and innocent, only to be trampled on, was rather upsetting. If she found this upsetting, she wondered exactly how upsetting it was to Kimberly herself. She crossed her legs and decided to stay with Kimberly, till she awoke.

Craig parked the car as close to Guitar Nation as he could, being that the best parking spaces were already taken. He left the car and walked inside. The shop wasn't too big, but was bigger then most guitar shops. Craig spotted Justin stocking guitar strings in back and went to talk to him.

"Justin, I need to talk to you", Craig said with a serious tone, as he approached from behind Justin.

Justin lifted his head from his work and turned, knowing the voice that just addressed him. "You looking to buy a guitar?" , he asked very inquisitively, almost knowing Craig was here for something else.

"No. It's about that night at the cafe", Craig answered, never changing from his serious tone.

Justin raised an eyebrow, scanning Craig's face and tone of voice. "Well, go for it", he told Craig, curious to what this was about.

"Why didn't you help me?", Craig said as his serious tone grew.

Justin raised both eyebrows now at the alkwardness of the question and got quiet. After being eyed like a hawk by Craig, he had to say something. "...Craig,...you know I'm no fighter...", he said looking away from Craig's stern face.

"What about everyone else?", Craig added, strengthening his serious tone into a hostile one.

"I don't know man. Probbably for the same reasons...", Justin put out, getting a little worried.

"Is that any kind of reason to let what happened to me to occur? To not help a bloody comrade?", Craig said raising his voice to the point that Justin looked aroud to make sure his manager wasn't nearby.

"Craig man, calm down. Just calm down. None of us would have landed a hit on that guy. He was too damn strong ok? Is it a crime to be scared?", Justin explained, gaining his own serious tone.

"You people scared? How do you think I felt? Do any of you fuckin' care?!"

"Trust me, I cared, and I'm sorry I couldn't help. You were possibly to stongest person there, and obviously the one with all the balls or no damn sense", Justin told him, gripping Craig's shoulder with his right hand to calm him, "Either way you put yourself out and possibly saved someone else from getting hurt even worse"

"You guys should have tried. Done something...anything...", Craig said solomly, losing all of his seriousness and hostility, and lowering his head slightly.

"Man you took on three rappers and shamed one of them. Any of us probbably would have had our hands full with just that collie. Nobody there that night was a fighter, and those who did have experience, couldn't have faced that dragon ok? If anyone interfered, they would have been hurt baddily, even if it was just for a second. You don't seem to realize the strength and size of this guy! Fuckin' christ man, he had people kidnap you and used you to try and kill Ron. Fucking Ron! The strongest guy there was had met his match against a bunch of armed rappers!", Justin tried to explain to him, loosening his grip on Craig's shoulder and looking him in the eyes.

"Don't you think I know that...", Craig tried to say angrily, but could not, begining to choke back his own tears to stay composed infront of Justin.

"The boys and ladies there that night loved you. You were their idol, their inspiration. The fight was all that was spoken of while you and Ron sat at the bar drinking. People saying how much they wanted to help, how bad they felt that they didn't try. Don't be mad at them man. If you ever got into another confrontation with any of those people around, they would put themselves on the line for you with double the effort to make up for the time they chickened out on you!", Justin desperately explained to Craig, finally letting go of Craig's shoulder and taking a step back, noticing Craig was trying his best to keep his composure.

Craig closed his eyes for a moment and placed his knuckles to his forehead. "I just yelled at them all and stormed out"

"You what?....No matter really", Justin ended with a mere shrug.

"What do you mean 'No matter'?", Craig asked with curiosity.

"They respect you. You're like top brass now. I get off in a little bit, and I'll be going there to unwind with my guitar. You come with, chill, appologize, and get in on things. Everything will be better then it was before", Justin finished, looking for Craig to give some kind of positive aknowledgement.

"Finish stocking that crap, I'm gonna look around before we go", Craig said, looking up and almost smiling.

While Craig wandered the store, checking out the guitars and nearly vommiting at their prices, he came to thinking about what Justin said. As much as he felt let down by the other rockers, was he really? All he knew was that he got knocked bloody and unconcious. But could he really expect someone smaller and weaker then he to find the courage to step up to this guy, knowing worse would happen to them? He would hope someone, even everyone, would risk their well being for another, reguardless of what happened to them. This isn't the way things were though. People get scared. And even though he lost, he was looked upon as some kind of hero, just for being able to do what he did, and taking the abuse that was dealt. Wasn't it better that he did it himself, instead of innocents taking the fall at the rappers hostility?

Gina was flipping through Kimberly's species book when Kimberly gasped loudly. Startled, she jumped off the chair, dropping the book on the floor to reach Kimberly's side. She put her hand over hers, which was trembling.

"Are you ok Kim?", her mother asked with serious concern.

Kimberly's trembling began to subside, but she was still upset. "I had another dream...", she wimpered, barely not crying.

"Another?", her mother said, not knowing there was a first.

Kimberly went into telling about her new nightmare, to get it off her chest. "I had a dream I was back in that crackhouse again. They beat Craig to death and shot Ron....then they left. It was so dark and I was all alone. I screamed for help but there was no sound"

Gina leaned over a bit, rubbing her hand up and down Kimberly's arm as gently as she could. "You're ok now. Everyone is ok....have you been having dream like this?"

"No. None till this morning. In that one....his gun fires instead of jams....and I die", Kimberly said, as a shortened version.

"I don't know why this is happening now, but it should subside. Don't be frightened", her mother answered.

"What happened earlier?", Kimberly asked, remembering her previous state, or at least some of it.

Gina had forgotten about all that when Kimberly woke up from that nightmare. "Well you see, one of those boys put something in that glass of soda you poured"

"I'm such an idiot...", Kimberly sulked.

"Why? None of this is your fault. Julia shouldn't have let them in, and deffinately shouldn't have left one unattended to play a prank on you like that. But don't worry, Ron beat the kid up for you", she ended with a smile, hoping to get one from Kimberly too.

Kimberly replied with half a smile and dropped back to her sleepy look. "I feel weak and my head feels funny", she told her mother with her eyes half closed.

"You're feeling the effects of that boy's drug. Ron said it's called zanny, and that you will be just fine. Oh, I just remembered, I'll be right back", her mother said before walking out of the room.

Her mother came back to a half asleap Kimberly, who didn't have enough mental power to even move. She just barely was able to help her sit up and asked her to drink a glass of water and eat a few cookies she had gotten. Kimberly complied and lied back down to get some more rest.

"Thanks mom...", she said with a quiet, happy voice, before closing her eyes again.

"Sleep well", her mother whispered, picking up the glass and returning the book she dropped to it's proper loacation, before walking out of the room.

Julia was on the back porch with the phone, so the house was quiet. Needing something productive to do, Gina started cleaning the kitchen. Kimberly acted happy for the most part, but it was all too obvious that she is dealing with some kind of internal struggle. Why would she blame herself for that guy's prank? It didn't make any sense and Kimberly's words wouldn't leave her mind. Kimberly was trying so hard to keep her happy that it seemed like she wouldn't explain everything that was bothering her. Her mother knew she might have to ask her herself, but thought it would be best to give her more time.

After Justin finished work, he and Craig hopped in their cars and proceded to the cafe. Craig followed behind Justin during the drive and he felt uncertain of how the other rockers would react. If Justin was right, all would be well. If he were wrong....well, he didn't even want to think of that. When he arrived at the cafe, he sat in his seat, taking a few deep breaths to relieve his butterflies. When Justin had gotten out of his car and retrieved his guitar from the backseat, Craig pulled his nerves together and got out of his car to join him.

"Just remember what I told you", Justin reminded him before they walked in the door.

They walked in together, with Justin giving a big "Hey!" to greet everyone. Craig found it in his intrests to follow suit. "I'm back", he said happily, but lightly. Sitting farther down the bar then normal, trying to stay near everyone else and Justin's crew, he was quickly met by the people who had shouted to him earlier.

"Hey man, I didn't mean to piss you off with that rapper remark", said one.

"I really wanted to help you that night but I'm a real chicken shit...", said his friend.

"Guys, guys, don't worry about it. I can't expect everyone to jump into a dangerous situation like that. It hurts yes, but I'm not going to hold that against anyone. Sorry bout yelling at you all", Craig told everyone, just trying to drop the subject and appease everyone. When it all came down to it, he was still offended sorta. However, he didn't want to lose any friends or make new enemys on account of a grudge. That just wasn't his way.

"Well Justin, why don't you pick something uplifting?", Craig said to him with a humorous smile. Justin flashed him a thumbs up and started playing his trademark song. The Jackass theme. As short and sweet was it was, everyone liked him playing it on his acustic guitar.

"Look who came back...again!", said a cheery voice. Craig looked over his shoulder to find James.

"You wouldn't mind getting a glass of vanilla soda...again, would you?", Craig attempted to joke back.

"Nah. I'll be right back", James said, walking into the back.

Craig was surprised how painless this was. Justin was right. They really did look up to him. Getting his beverage and sitting around those he cared for, he sat with a smile listening to his friend's guitar, throwing away his petty worries and insecurities.

Around 7:00, Gina was settling in to relax before she had to goto work. She lied on the couch watching TV, dreading the boringness of her night job. 9PM to 5AM, sitting behind a desk doing late night paperwork and taking the occational late night phone call from some stingy contracter or overpaid lacky. She knows she is fortunate to have a well paying job with the hours she wanted, but that doesn't mean she actually has to like leaving her house.

Kimberly opened her eyes and gave a yawn. She felt better, but still groggy. She slowly slipped out of her bed, using as little energy as possible. She streched, being that she had been lying in alkward positions nearly half her slumber. Leaving her room, she payed a visit to the bathroom before seeing who was around, or even what time of day it was. When she walked into the livingroom, she noticed her mom.

"Hello", Kimberly said, stopping at the end of the couch.

Her mother looked over from the TV to the other end of the couch, where an engery lacking Kimberly stood.

"Hi Kim. You feeling any better?", she asked.

"A bit", Kimberly replied, walking off to the kitchen to whip up a little dinner. Gina hoped Kimberly would want to talk, but apparently she isn't ready yet. After Kimberly cooked a TV dinner, she went to the dinner table and sat there alone. Gina couldn't stand waiting. She had been doing that all day, worrying about her daughter. Not being able to stand it anymore, she went into the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove to make some coffee, and use it as an innocent excuse to sit at the dinner table as well. On her way to the table, she grabbed her checkbook and bank recorder to act like she was balancing her checkbook. When she sat down, Kimberly just flashed a quick smile. Kimberly was so happy the past two weeks. Even being cooped up in the house because of her injuries, she was as happy as could be. It was too sad to see her like this. Waiting a few moments, her mother decided to speak to her.

"Whats on your mind?", she asked, looking to her, pushing aside her checkbook.

Finishing her bite of chicken, she stared down at her meal with an unhappy look. Taking a few extra moments to pull together some of that imaginary happiness, she finally looked up.

"Nothing", she said, using the word as a big shield.

"Please, I know you have a lot on your mind. Just talk to me. I miss the happy Kimberly I've gotten to know over the past weeks", she ended with a happy tone.

Kimberly sighed and gave up the false happiness. Staring down again, she replied, "I don't really want to talk about it"

Her mother frowned. This was going to be tough. Thinking for a moment, she found something that may work. "Well, maybe I can start then". Kimberly looked up again. "You're upset by a set of nightmares you suddenly recieved and were screwed over by your own sister. Lets take it from there"

Kimberly stayed quiet for a few seconds, but did respond. "Yes, Julia and I are a problem, but I need to work that out for myself"

Knowing she had struck a right key, her mother continued. "Earlier you called yourself an idiot for what happened. Why would you blame yourself?"

Kimberly jumped from her seat and yelled, "Why am I being interrogated? I don't know!". With that she quickly walked off upset, feeling sick. Her mother got out of her seat.

"Kim! Come back!", she asked almost desperately. Walking off after her, she saw Kimberly's bedroom door close.

"Kimberly...I'm sorry, I only want you to be happy", she said when she got to Kimberly's door. She didn't want to open it uninvited, as she didn't need Kimberly to be more irritated. She thought she was doing a good job but ended up making them both more upset. Her mother slumped against the door frame, absolutely crushed for what she had caused. Putting her hand on her chest and lowering her head, she relieved a tear of guilt. Slowly walking back to the couch, knowing she had failed for the time being, decided to let Kimberly have more time. Gina lied sofly back onto the couch and flicked on "Friends", hoping that happy group would cheer her spirits up.

Craig was having a good time chilling with his friends. Knowing now why he let his grudge slide, he leaned against the bar's surface, tapping his glass to Justin's guitar. He didn't believe Justin when he heard him say what everyone thought of him, but saw for himself exactly how true his words were. Apparently his sacrafice wasn't in complete vain after all. When Justin took an intermission, Craig lit himself a cigarette, and just listened to all the chatter. The cafe was busy tonight and Craig liked it that way. Then, when you didn't think things could get more comfortable and friendly, like 'Cheers', it does.

"Hi Craig. You been here all day?", asked Ron as he and Julia approached his stool.

"Pretty much. Get yourselves a seat and enjoy the atmosphere", Craig said, trying to be fancy, raising a palm as a gesture.

"Have you gotten into James' alcohol?", Julia said with a tiny giggle.

"Funny", Craig replied with, deciding not to answer that stupid joke.

"Speaking of which, do you wanna drink?", Ron asked.

"Not tonight. Don't need it. I'm driving home with my permit anyways", Craig answered to Ron's inquirey.

They had all sat at the bar talking till it came time for Craig and Julia to head home. Walking outside, they stopped to say thier goodbyes. They wouldn't have left this early, being that it's only 8:30, but Craig needed to get the car home. Julia decided to go along with Craig and let Ron drive himself home.

"So what happened at home earlier?", Craig asked on the way home.

"One of Frank's friends put zanny in Kimberly's soda", she said solomly, "and mom blames me for it".

"Well you did let them in and allowed this to happen", Craig said to stick up for his mother's belief.

"It's not like I put the drug in her glass, it's not my fault!", she yelled.

Knowing she was getting testy, he said his opinion anyway, "You can't devulge yourself of responcibility. She got hurt on your watch because of a decision you made. Thats what mom means and you know it's true too"

Julia kept her mouth shut for the rest of the trip, apparently thinking about her denial. Craig found this to be good and kept things quiet for her, thinking about Kimberly's best intrests reguarding her big sister.

"The car is back and in one piece", Craig said proudly, walking in the front door with Julia coming in afterwards. Their mom appeared from her room, dressed and ready for work. Even though she was going to work, she looked more unhappy then she usually would.

"Something the matter?", Craig asked.

Their mother paused at the kitchen enterance for a second before replying, "Kimberly is rather upset...she's been in her room for quite a while now, probably sleeping by now. I tried to get her to talk to me earlier and I only made things worse. Julia, talk to her in the morning please. I put too much pressure on her and I think she's peeved with me..."

"I can do that", Julia replied to her mother's plea.

Craig felt bad for what happened, finding himself coming home to some kind of emotional mess. They said goodnight to their mother before she left, and Craig went to take a shower. Julia stood at the enterance to her room for a moment to look down the hall at Kimberly's. She frowned slightly and went into her own room. Being asked to talk to an upset Kimberly seemed all too familiar, but this situation was worse. As much as she would like to believe that this wasn't her fault, she couldn't get her mind sent on her denial anymore. She knew she screwed up and talking to Kimberly was going to be difficult. Incredibly difficult.

Gina looked at the clock on her desk, knowing her children were snugly asleap. She was still upset about Kimberly and her productiveness was showing it, being that she worked on the company's papers at half the normal speed. Having no real supervisor, this mattered to no one.

"Hey Gina, it's midnight coffee time, drop that damn pen", said her friend jokingly, getting up from her own desk, to the upper left of Gina's. They were the only ones who worked this floor at this time, even for it's large size. The room was the central room of the floor, scattered with desks, computers, and other office things, with the doors branching out to upper-company worker's offices.

"Bout time", Gina replied, dropping the pen carelessly to the desk and getting up.

While walking to the room where they kept the kitchen appliances, including the office worshiped coffee brewer, Gina's parter in pencil pushing, Michelle, a fox, also in her thirties, thought she should chat for a bit.

"So how's things with you?", she asked, looking to spark a conversation since neither have talked all night.

"I'm a little preoccupied with home issues, but otherwise I guess I'm ok", Gina answered, covering up her concerns.

"That Kimberly of your's giving you trouble again?", she said in a lighthearted, joking way.

"Not exactly", Gina replied solomly, looking to drop the subject. Her wish was granted.

"I still haven't found anyone to be my mate", Michelle sighed as they entered the lounge-like room. Michelle had broken up with her fionce a month ago, and had been lonely since. "What exactly happened to your husband?", Michelle asked in a curious manner.

Gina hated this subject. She was fortunate that her kids never brought it up, at least often. Julia hated him, Kimberly never knew him, and Craig barely remembers him. After she processed the thought of explaining her old mate, she answered, "Well, ok....". While Michelle preped the coffee machine, Gina got the moment she needed to think of how to start. "Robbert and I were together for five and a half years. I'm thirty-four now, so I was really young when I married. Only seventen to be precice...", she said, suddenly stopping from hurting herself with her own words. The coffee was just starting to drip, and Michelle was staring with her full attention. Feeling uneasy, she continued, "Shortly after our honeymoon, a pregnancy test came back positive. Robbert was always trying to comfort me when I was feeling blue. He was so sweet, smart, funny. When I gave birth to Julia, we were so happy. I gave birth to Craig two years afterwards, and Robbert begun to change around then. He was getting promotions like you wouldn't believe, working for this same company as an engineer. He started having less time for me or our children, always being off working. Halfway through my pregnancy with Kimberly, I noticed drastic and terrible changes. By now, he had assended high into the company, and was working on large projects and consulting with people around the world even. I no longer had anyone around to comfort me, and I was awfully alone. Trying to take care of my two babies while already carrying another was no easy job. All he cared about was his job and money....after a trip to Japan, he just came back and told me that he was going to stay there. We had a wonderful estate home, I didn't want to leave it all and protested his making this decision without me. Then he told me.....I wasn't coming anyway. He was moving to Japan to be with this Japaneese dragon he had already been engaged to. I cried, pleading for him to reconcider, to talk to me, anything! I could do nothing to change his mind. When he walked out the door, I had lost him forever. He even mailed me the divorse papers from Japan. I was his play- thing....three children are the proof of that....I was such a fool to do anything like that at such a young age. When I became an inconvinience, a hinderence to his idea of a perfect life, he left. Now he's living in Japan, married to this girl who's name I don't even know, living the ritzy life. I had given birth to my little Kimberly two weeks later, and she relieved a lot of my sorrow, as well as add a few new ones. I had gotten a job at the supermarket to try and make money. Even with Robbert's child support, I had to move out of our house in that nice estate. Thats when I moved to our cozy house in the suburbs. It was too big at the time, but it's just right now, having a room for each of my children. Back then, things were tough. Having an infant, a five year old, and a three year old to take care of, provented me from holding my job, so I left the supermarket rather quickly and went on welfare. Sometimes I had a hard time feeding them, and I would go starving myself so they would have enough. I devoted all the time I could to my kids. They're my life, and I refused to let them not have all the love of a normal family because of my own poor choices. When they had all started school, my mother did their school shopping with them and paid for all their supplies. My parents were always unhappy of what I did, but they weren't going to hate me for it, and I was very grateful that they would put my mistake behind them and give me a hand. I was twenty-eight by then, and with the free time of the day that they were in school, I went to college. Anything my parents held against me was instantly wiped away with that. Thats where I got the know-how on word processors, business, and all the other little things that got me this job. Sometimes I damn myself for screwing up when I was young, but then I just say to myself that I wouldn't have my three wonderful children if I didn't", Gina had explained in full detail, occationally changing her tone of voice to sad or optimistic.

Michelle stood in awe. She had no clue what life for her was like back then, and was amased by her story. "Oh my god Gina, like, damn, I'm sorry, I didn't know any of that. Thats not even close to what my ex and I went through. This makes my breakup look like nothing!"

"I need to tell that story sometimes I think. You will find another guy soon, just give him time to surface. I'm just not interested in a relationship....I haven't looked for a man in five years", Gina told her in order for her to keep that happy spirit of hers. Michelle pulled the pot out from under the machine, turning it off, and pouring two mugs of the black sunshine. Gina grabbed three cream containers that you would get in a resturaunt down from the cabinet above her while Michelle did that task. Gina used one and Michelle used the other two, with both of them heading back to the central office. Things were still quiet, with the few employees working her all being on different floors of their five story building.

"Time for me to keep working on those account graphs. Thanks for the story Gina", Michelle said to her appreciatively as they returned to their desks. Sipping her coffee and tapping her pencil against a sheet of paper, she thought about everything she just said and everything that has happened. Whenever her son or either of her daughters were sick, she would treat them and they would get better. When any of them needed help, she helped them. When they required love, they got it. She was encountering something she hadn't really delt with before. Instead of fixing her daughter's problems, she was making them worse, and found herself not knowing what to do, or what should she have done. If she didn't push Kimberly, would she have stuck around and gradually repaired the issue herself, or was the fact that she got angry and ran off just a big sign that things would have only gotten worse? She sighed and gave up. She would do what she always does. Her best.

The sun was glaring in the morning sky peacefully, yet it seemed so dreary and sad. A slight breeze would occationally rustle the leaves on the few trees and cause the little blades of grass to twitch. The day was delightful, but it contradicted the unwelcoming atmosphere. Kimberly stood with wonder at the hilly fields of seldom trees and the greenest grass. Hearing noise behind her, she turned around to be startled and confused by what she saw. Wincing with a shock in her chest, she took a step back, knowing who the people were and where she was. In this field of metal plaques attached to marble slabs on the ground, stood her family, dressed completely in black. Kimberly ran to her mother, finding her weeping over a casket, suspended over an open hole. Looking closely at the casket, she noticed it's smaller then normal size. Then it hit her. This was her own funeral. She grab her mothers arm horrified.

"Mom!! I'm not dead!! I'm here!!", she yelled, trying to pull her mother's arm and make her realize her daughter was alive and well, but for all she tried, she couldn't move her mother's arm at all or get her to respond. She pulled at her arm with all her might, but still not having any physical effect whatsoever. Sqeezing her mother's arm, sobbing and lonely, she pleaded for her family to see she wasn't dead, and that it all wasn't true. Getting an ill sense, she looked over the corner of her eye to see other figures approaching. Kimberly screamed when she turned her head to identify the new people, finding them to be the rapper dragon and the two cohorts that picked her up and kidnapped her, and was slowly approaching from behind her family. "Guys!!! Behind you!! It's them!! Ma', please hear me!!!", she pleaded with everything she could summon, squeezing her mothers arm. In complete syncronus with their leader, they all stopped behind Kimberly's sorrowful family and drew their guns, raising them slowly to the back of their heads. "Stop!!!!", Kimberly screamed at the three, jumping off her mothers arm and stumbling backwards onto her tail, right before they all fired at the same time. Kimberly felt an expliosive blow to her heart, as she witnessed her family blown foreward in a tromendusly bloody and disfugured manner. In their foreward fall, they fell into the hole, onto Kimberly's now lowered casket. Kimberly's eyes were wide open with her jaw dropped, with a face of unspeakable terror. Never dropping their sync with eachother, they sheathed their weapons as slowly was they drew them and turned, walking away. Immidiately after they begun, the rapper stopped while the others continued slowly, and turned his head towards Kimberly, glaring at her from the corner of his eye as everything began to get wavey and deformed. With a sudden jar of intense force, Kimberly was blown off her rear off the ground. Screaming, she was sucked into the now dark hole.

Unlike the nightmare yesterday morning, Kimberly awoke with a terrifying scream, jumping up in panic, still holding her pillow. She jumped and squirmed untill her back hit the wall behind her, as if she was trying to escape the fear itself. The room suddenly flooded with light when her door flew open and a shadowy figure ran to her.

"Kimberly, you're ok honey, don't be scared anymore", said her mother, putting her arms around her tight. Kimberly welcomed this, putting her own arms around her mother and squeezing, crying against her mother's chest. Gina rubbed her daughter's back, quietly comforting her.

"Ma' I'm sorry!", she said like a plea while crying. Her mother shushed her, wanting her to not have to say anything. Kimberly continued, eventually trying to let up, but couldn't do it, being crushed by the saddness and fear. Gina didn't expect any of this, but welcomed the opportunity to share her daughter's sorrow. Looking to calm her, he mother decided it was time to say something. "Do you want to talk about your nightmare? You don't have to if you don't want to", she said softly. Kimberly cried for a few more moments thinking, and replied, "I wanna talk". Gina sat down beside her and held her close, allowing her time to compose herself enough to begin. Kimberly began when she calmed herself down enough for her voice to be understandable, and explained her dream down to every last detail. Her mother sat, sharing the pain, and was shocked by the intensity of the nightmare she had. By the time Kimberly finished, she had calmed herself down a slight wimper, and wondered what her mother would respond with.

"We're all still here. You, me, your brother, your sister. As terrible as these nightmares you're having are, you cannot forget that we're still here beside you, weather your nightmare tells you we are or aren't. Those people can't hurt you or me. It's so unfair you had to go through what you did....and I'm sorry I...wasn't there for you", her mother lightly explained, expressing her own saddness.

Kimberly wiped her eyes, looking up towards her mother. "I'll be ok. I'm tired", she said, having stopped her sobbing.

"It's only five-thirty, I got home just a little bit ago. Get some more sleep, I'll see you this afternoon", her mom said, giving her daughter one last squeeze and kissing her on the muzzle. She got up and Kimberly slipped back to the center of her bed and got under the covers.

"Goodnight", Kimberly said in a sleepy and relieved way. Gina smiled, closing the door behind her. Walking down the hallway back to the livingroom, Gina felt pitty for what Kimberly is going through. As if what had already happened to her wasn't bad enough. Even so, she felt much more relieved that she and Kimberly were ok with eachother and removed the pressure of what happened earlier, and knew Kimberly felt the same way. The boy's trial was on Wedsday, and Ron, Craig, and Kimberly had to testify against their assailents. Gina could not be certain if Kimberly having to deal with that would make things better or worse. Giving a sigh, she picked the magazine she was reading off the couch, placing it neatly on the coffee table, and went off to bed.

Having gone to bed early, Julia was up by nine, ready to give appeasing Kimberly a shot. She quietly opened Kimberly's door around nine-thirty, surprised she wasn't up yet. She stirred and woke up, even though Julia didn't quite intend to waker her.

"It's nine-thirty, you going to sleep all morning?", Julia said in a teasing tone when her sister looked over to see who disturbed her slumber.

"Oh why do you care", Kimberly replied, getting nasty against her sister's unwelcome false kindness. Julia knew she was in for it, but didn't expect such a rude remark to start off with.

"Come on Kim, you know I didn't want what happened to you to have occured, and I am honestly sorry I let them in while we were talking", Julia said apologeticly, removing any kind of tone in her voice in order to sound truthful.

"You mean I was talking", Kimberly added for her information. Julia didn't quite get the remark, giving Kimberly a confused look, and waiting for her to fill her in. "I talked. You blew me off. You don't give a damn about me!", Kimberly snapped at Julia's lack of understanding.

Julia stayed quiet for a moment, thinking her sister's words over. "Kim, it's not that I blow you off or don't care. I just don't know how to talk to you sometimes, or how to respond", she tried to explain.

"You're still covering up for your ass! Do you think that all the times you said Kimberly is a twit, Kimberly is useless, or Kimberly is a fucking idiot, I wouldn't have heard at least once!? Then you go off with your happy little voice around me, just trying to live with me. I'm not that little brat you still seem to think I still am. I was nine when I burnt that crap, why does it seem you still hold all my mistakes against me? I'm tired of being your last priority, that you speak to only when asked or feel bad enough to!", Kimberly shouted, shocking the hell out of Julia. She didn't realize she heard the little quirps she said about her on occation, or that she felt this strongly.

"Kimberly...", Julia begun, using her full name, "I do care about you. You're my sister. I...only said those things when you did something wrong or mean. You have changed a lot...and I'm sorry if I come off as irritated regarding the past. I really do want to be friends with you, but you see, I just don't know how. I have known you so long as this destructive little girl, who I couldn't get along with as much as I would have liked, and now you're something different. Please Kim, don't be mad at me for my mistakes either. I screwed up, more then once. Can't we put all this behind us and slowly get to know eachother better?"

Kimberly toned down very noticibly and thought for a moment. When Julia got nervous, wondering what her reply would be, she finally answered, "You forgive me, I'll forgive you", giving a smile.

"Thank you Kim", Julia said relieved, not using any of her upbeat sayings that Kimberly didn't appreciate.

Their Sunday was quiet, with everyone in a good mood. Everyone had stayed in, either watching TV, reading, or just hanging around.

Monday morning, the three were up as usual, repeating the same old process. Craig took a shower, with Julia second. Kimberly took one the night before, so she slept in a little till she had to get up and get dressed. When it came time for her to go, they all said goodbye and she went out front. Sheila was already there, and what a welcome sight that was.

"Sheila! Nice to have you back!", Kimberly exclaimed while walking down her driveway.

"And it's nice to be back. It's boring where my grandma and grandpa live. Ready for your court appearance this Wedsday?", Sheila ended with a question.

"I don't know really. It's not like I have a choice anyway", Kimberly replied, quieting her voice for a moment.

"You'll do fine. Give the bastard the chair!", Sheila joked.

The two got on their bus, talking to eachother along the way about their weekends. Sheila didn't know Kimberly's weekend was that eventful, and her own story sounded even more boring then it originally was after hearing hers. Even so, neither talked much about what happened, and Kimberly mention her nightmares at all. When they arrived at first period, Chris was already waiting to welcome Sheila back. While they all talked, Sharon came in and sat down quietly, now knowing better then to mouth off to a Trensetter.

"Ok everyone, quiet", Mrs. Rodriguez ordered when the last bell rang. Naturally, the students talked for a few more moments, wrapping up their conversations, before they turned to give their attention to the teacher. "Today we'll start the section on topography", informed Mrs. Rodriguez, opening her teacher edition of the Earth/Space science book. With that said, Kimberly put her head down, already wishing her boring ass school-day would end.

When Kimberly arrived home, she was surprised by the sight and sound of nothing. Setting down her things, she found a note left on the kitchen counter, explaining the lack of everyone. Julia had to stay after school for a tiny bit longer to get some extra help with a project, and Craig and Ron are just waiting, having decided they'd stay a little longer and drive home as usual. Her mother herself went grocery shopping, saying both parties should be back within fifteen minutes of her getting home. She also left a cute little sketch of herself giving the peace sign in the bottom right corner of note. Typical of her mother, and Kimberly just found it amusing. Not liking a stagnent house, she grabbed a cookie and flipped on the TV, just so there would be some welcoming sound within the house. Going to her room, she got a little more comfortable, tossing her shoes beside the door along with her socks, and returning the necklace she was wearing to her desk drawer. Having the "Daily tasks" of school completed, she could finally relax. Lying on the couch, flipping through the channels, she waited for her family to return, and eventually heard the beep of her mother's car, signaling that she needs help with the groceries. She really didn't want to get up after lying there peacefully, but she did anyway.

"Hi mom. Wha'd you get?", Kimberly said when she went out to the car. Her mom was getting a few bags from the trunk, and once she turned, greeted Kimberly, "Hiya Kim. Just picked up some stuff for dinner, some milk, bread, and I also got you a bag of gummi bears, like you always ask".

"Sounds good, especially that gummi bear part", Kimberly replied, grabbing the last two bags from the trunk and closing it, allowing her mother to close the garage door. Within a few minutes of putting the groceries away, Craig and Julia arrived home, with Ron tagging along.

"Hiya mom. Ron came in to ask you something", Julia explained to her mother, who was sitting at the desk by the door.

Ron stepped in from the doorway, acting a little nervous. "Um, Hi Miss Trensetter", he greeted with insecurity.

"Call me Gina", she said with an upbeat additude, wanting Ron to feel at home.

"I was wondering, could I speak to Kimberly for a moment?", he asked with the sense that he knew his question was odd.

"Sure. Hey Kim, could you come here?!", Gina agreed, calling towards the hallway for her daughter.

Kimberly appeared in a moment or two, asking, "Yes?".

"Are you ok now Kimberly?", Ron asked her inquisitively and concerned.

"Yeah, it only took a day", Kimberly told him, already knowing what he was asking about.

Ron shifted a foot. "Well, Frank blames himself for what happened to you and he's really sorry. He just wanted to let you know", he sighed.

"It's ok", she replied.

"Not exactly", Ron said in a depressed tone. Shifting his eyes to Gina, he explained, "I didn't tell you the complete truth...". Gina cocked her head to the side slightly, giving him a surprised look. "I myself was also knew this person", he admitted, shifting his look to Julia. "He was Eric's brother, the one that lives across state with his dad. Thats why Eric wasn't around today, he's pretty mad at me for what I did to his brother. Infact, he's pissed", Ron explained further, lowering his head slightly at the end. "Apparently I made a poor choice in friends"

"It's not like you really lied to me, and you shouldn't put any blame on yourself for what happened. Just being friends with someone doesn't make you the guilty party", Gina told him, trying to put his caring mind to rest.

"You'll sort things out", Kimberly added to back up her mother.

"I appreciate it", Ron said, scratching the back of his head.

"Ma', do you mind if we go out?", Craig piped up, finding his chance to ask.

"Sure I guess. Just don't be out too late", she answered.

A lightbulb suddenly turned on in Craig's head. "Say, why doesn't Kimberly come with us for once?"

Gina fidgeted slightly, thinking carefully with an unoptimistic look on her face.

"Hey, I wouldn't mind that! Isn't it for older people though?", Kimberly exclaimed at the thought, looking deeper into it.

"Not really. It's a family cafe that got it's rocker reputation because of us", Ron chimed in, answering her inquery.

With something of a sigh, Gina submitted. "Ok, you can go"

"Cool!", Kimberly exclaimed, showing her enthusiasm and walking off to her room to get ready.

When she left, Gina found it appropreate to give the group special instructions. "This might not be such a bad idea for her. She got better since Sunday, but she still seems different. I can't put my finger on it", she informed the trio. Shifting her look to Julia specificly, she requested, "Julia, if she needs to go to the bathroom, go with her. Don't let her out of your sight. All of you, just make sure there are no recreations of past traumatizing situations ok?"

They all promiced, with Ron swearing he wouldn't let anyone do anything to Kimberly. Gina was uneasy about the whole idea, but she thought it might be a good idea, especially since she would be well supervised. Being in a social environment, or just the idea of getting out somewhere, might help her. Gina gave Julia extra cash for Kimberly, and once Kimberly returned from getting ready, having put her shoes, necklace, and whatnot back on, they left, leaving Gina to finish her work at her desk, and hope for her children's safety.

After a car ride of curious inquerys from Kimberly, they arrived shortly at the cafe.

"We generally sit at the bar, so you grab the stool next to me ok Kim?", Julia instructed Kimberly, who nodded in responce. The trio gave their friends a hearty welcome, with Kimberly staying quiet, not wanting to draw attention to herself. She took a seat next to her sister as asked, with Ron sitting to her other side and Craig next to him.

"Hiya guys", James said happily at their arrival. "Who might this be?", he asked, noticing an extra fourth person that didn't seem to fit as another rocker.

"Our sister", Julia answered on behalf of her siblings.

"Well thats different. Can I get you all anything?", James questioned.

"Chicken would be nice", Kimberly piped up all the sudden, liking the idea of food.

"And I guess vanilla coke for all of us", Ron added, seeing that it was too early for a beer.

Justin was in the house as well, but just not playing his guitar at the moment. The place wasn't crowded because of the time of day, yet there was still plenty of people to chat with or listen to. Kimberly was amused by listening in on people's conversations, being that they weren't topics discussed in middle school, funny, or curiously adult oriented. It was damn nice getting out of the house and seeing the quaint cafe her brother and sister were always at. The chicken breast tenders also kicked ass, so that was yet another plus for the cafe in Kimberly's eyes. Getting in on Ron, Craig, and Julia's conversations were also new. The whole setting made her feel older and all. They had been asked a few times about who she was, and they would always smile or wave at her, which she didn't quite care for. She disliked being concidered a child, even though she still was one for the most part.

"Justin, play something new", Craig asked when he got up on his stage. Before he could start plucking the strings, he was interrupted by a familiar face storming in the door.

"This is what I should have done in the first place!!", shouted the familiar voice to the trio. Ron was already standing next to his stool, and turned around as soon as he heard the booming voice, only to be slammed across his muzzle and cheek. The blow knocked him backwards, making him knock Craig off his stool, but managed to retain his balance. The angered opponent was a stoned Eric, who had apparently lost all of his rationality. It wasn't easy to knock Ron hard enough to make him reel backwards, since he was large and strong, with not one fat cell whatsoever to be seen, but Eric was an exception. Though Eric was bulky, he was still large, proving that size does matter. Ron found himself in a disadvantage, being that his foe was stoned out of his mind, and he himself was sober. Knowing Craig was fine, he enguaged his attacker, delivering his own blows while he recieved new ones. Craig got up off the ground, knowing not one person who would be able to assist Ron in this fight, and this reminded himself of his own night. Not wanting to let Ron do this on his own, Craig leaped after Eric, giving him two shots to the side of his head. Eric moved backwards, away from Ron, and gave Craig a strong shot to the side of his face, sending him a good distance, till he caught his balance on a booth table. Holding a paw to the point of impact, he cringed and squeezed his eyelids at the pain. He wasn't injured, but knew he didn't stand a chance if he continued. Ron and Eric were throwing heavy handed punches, using power over speed. Both were bleeding from a nose or a gash, but neither were going to give up. While the spectators stood in near fear at the two strongest rockers fighting eachother, James was shouting for them to decist, even though he knew Eric was too plastered to concider it. He found this to be one of those times when he should call the police, and picked up the phone on the wall behind him to do so. Craig loathed only being to stand there and watch, and felt how everyone else felt the night of his fight. Both Eric and Ron were begining to stagger from the power of their blows and the pain. Eric was still too stoned to feel it all, and it appeared that Eric may brake the stalemate and overpower Ron. Ron gave it all he had and slammed Eric in nose and solarplexus a few times, trying to use power and speed at the same time together. They both staggered backwards, nearly falling, or hunching over in agony. Eric stumbled for the door, running outside, with Ron trailing shortly behind. It is unsure of where Eric planned on going, because the squad car that was called pulled into the parking lot. Eric stopped dead, and turned to run the other way, giving Ron the time needed to tackle him. The police officer, and rabbit in his twenties, aprehended Eric with his help. With Eric soundly in the back of his car, he offered Ron an ambulance which he naturally declined, even though he was bleeding rather baddily. Most of the other rockers, including Craig, Julia, and Kimberly beside her, came out to see what had happened. Ron answered the officer's questions, and he let him go, being that he needed to clean himself up. Ron walked carelessly past everyone and went into the men's bathroom. Julia and Kimberly returned to the bar, still worried about Ron. Craig told Julia that he would check on him for her and walked down to the men's room and knocked on the door. Finding it unlocked, he opened it. Ron was leaning against the wall, trying to rest as he wiped off blood and tried to find cuts in the mirror.

"Hey man, are you ok?!", Craig asked very concernedly.

Ron grunted in alknowledgement, as he continued to wipe his wounds in the mirror. "I can't believe this happened. I really did have a problem picking friends, didn't I?", he said in a candid manner once he leaned away from the mirror to get another paper towel to clean the dried blood on his muzzle.

"I didn't see it coming. We couldn't have known", Craig replied to his painful question. Walking in from the doorway, he closed the door behind him and walked infront of the mirror, next to Ron.

"Thanks for trying to help by the way. I did notice", Ron said, trying to be appreciative.

"I've never seen you try so hard in a fight, or get hurt like this. Are you sure you're gonna be ok?", Craig felt he needed to say and ask.

"Yeah, but I totally need asprin....could you ask James if he has any? I'll be out in a few minutes. Oh, and tell Julia I'm fine", Ron finished.

Craig nodded and did as requested. James did happen to keep a bottle of asprin in back, and got two for Ron. When Ron came back, he had cleaned all the blood, and all that was noticible was a few cuts. He and Julia hugged, since she was so worried about him. During the whole fight, she didn't know who was holding who; Kimberly or her. Ron got back into his seat and took the asprin that was left for him, right before he recieved congradulations by almost every rocker in the cafe. Justin returned to his stage and began playing Stairway to Heaven when the other rockers slipped back into their normal routines.

"That was scarey, but you did real good", Kimberly commented when everyone else left.

"Just barely....man I hope I don't have to go to court twice now...", Ron depressedly responded to Kimberly's compliment.

"Don't be sad about Eric. Obviously he was just an asshole all this time, and you don't need friends like that", Julia encouraged.

"Yeah man, he was a friend and all, but they don't always last", Craig added to show his support.

"He was just a good pal.....don't worry about it, I'll get over it. I agree with you all, and this is primarily caused by my own judgement, so I'll deal with it", Ron tried to explain.

"Thank you for what you did to his brother for me. I think your judgement was in the right place", Kimberly added with light happiness to show her appreciation. Ron half smiled for her, guarding his discomfort.

After another ten minutes, everyone was talking normaly, exept for Ron. Kimberly finsihed her chicken, and discribed the cafe as the best place she's been in a while, even though what happened earlier dampened things. Craig and Julia we're a little worried over Ron's silence, but thought they shouldn't bother him further after the crap he's been through.

"I'm pretty tired. You guys wouldn't mind leaving early would you?", Ron suddenly asked, with a tone of guilt.

"Not at all", his group replied.

"Sorry", he replied, feeling even more guilty for cutting their fun short. He slipped off his stool and walked out with them.

The four piled back into the car and Ron set off for his guest's house.

"Would you like it if I stayed with you Ron?", Julia inqueried curiously.

Ron thought for a moment. "Yeah, that'd be nice"

He dropped off Craig and Kimberly in their driveway. Kimberly thanked him for the trip, and Craig said his goodbye. Once Ron had started for his own house, Julia found it to be a good time to talk.

"I feel bad for what happened", she expressed to him. Ron gave a solom sigh.

"Don't worry about it Jul. Like Craig said, friends come and go. I'm just not feeling too well, thats all", Ron told Julia caringly.

Julia knew how tired and in pain he must be, and really did feel bad for his predicament. Having to fight one of your closest friends just sucks. He had a heart of gold in that powerful chest of his, and it made him seem like a diamond in the rough. Someone so strong and looked up to as a dangerous fighter, just so happened to be the nicest and most loving person Julia could think of, and she felt lucky that they shared the bond of love. As much as she cares for him, and worries about him, she doesn't believe she could ever match the feelings that Ron has for her. Deciding to leave him be in the last few minutes of their drive, she rested her head on the window, bathing in her wonderful thoughts of passion.

When they pulled into his driveway and got out of the car, a question popped into Julia's head. "What did the officer get Eric on?"

"Public intoxication and battery", Ron answered, closing his car door and pulling his house keys out of his pocket. Ron walked up his walkway and opened his door, waiting for Julia to come inside. His parents work together from four to midnight, so they left for work only twenty minutes ago, leaving the house to himself as usual. He closed the door for Julia and being that his front door enters directly into his livingroom, he only had to take a few steps before flopping on his couch.

"Ahhhhh....", Ron let out, finally being able to relax and rest his head. Julia quietly giggled at Ron. Ron turned on his side, grabbing the TV remote, and flicking the device on. Before he could offer his girl a seat, she had climbed on the couch, squeezing behind him, and laying her muzzle on his neck to snuggle. Ron smiled, nearly chuckling from having his mood changed so quickly.

"It's easy to see who my real friends are", Ron said, deciding to speak his thoughts to the person most important to him.

Julia put an arm over him, placing her hand on his lower chest. "I'm glad", she said softly.

Ron found a movie on comedy central and tossed the remote to the nearby coffee table, as to not disturb Julia. "It shouldn't upset me any, since Eric turned on me and all, but we've had good times, and it's sad to know that he would let his brother get away with what he did....it's like I knew someone, but didn't. Do you understand any of my ramblings?", he ended with a chuckle.

"Of course I do. It's only natural to feel uncertain after you have been forced into a fight with a friend, even if it was them who attacked you", Julia compassionately replied.

They stayed quiet for a few moments, basking in the warmth of their company. "I don't know how my life would be without you Jul", Ron stated, full of passion and appreciation for what he had.

"And lets never find out. I love you Ron", Julia told her mate, filling her words with all her love.

"I love you too Julia", he replied, not even having the words to express how lucky he was to have someone like her. Julia gave him a loving squeeze, and they snuggled in more comfortably to watch the movie together and relax.

Craig and Kimberly walked in their house, to find their mom watching TV.

"You weren't gone as long as I thought you'd be", Gina said, signifying her curiousity to why.

"Ron wanted to go. I'm gonna take a shower, I'll let Kimberly tell the story", Craig said, ending with a laugh and walking down the hall.

Kimberly sat down next to her mother on the couch and removed her necklace. "Ron got into a fight with some big guy", she blurted out.

"What? With who? Do you know?", her mother asked with much concern for Ron.

"It...was the brother of the guy who drugged me. Eric wasn't it?", Kimberly replied, unsure on the man's name.

"Yes, Ron said Eric....poor Ron...he's always willing to screw things for himself to help another", Gina stated, saddened with appreciativeness for what Ron had done for Kimberly. "Is he alright?", she then asked.

"He got hurt, but he's ok", Kimberly began with a sigh, fiddling with her necklace between her fingers. Gina leaned back in relief.

"Julia is with Ron then right?", Gina asked, suddenly noticing Julia didn't come in with them.

"Yeah. She didn't want to leave him alone, since he wasn't feeling well", Kimberly answered.

Gina fixed her position, sitting up straight. "Go ahead and go take off your shoes and whatnot", she said, giving her daughter's knee a pat.

"Okie", she replied, getting up to goto her room. Gina put her head down in thought. Ron and Julia were such a cute couple. Ron was so perfect. I wish the relationship I had at her age was that great. Well, it was really, but I just know Ron wouldn't do what Robert did to me. I know how close they have become, but neither even has the thought of marrying yet, and that pleases me to no end, knowing that neither of them would make the mistake that I did. Robert...he was good and all, but I was just....to easy, arrogant, and manipulated. Julia is a rational girl, and Ron is a fine gentleman. I love Ron like a part of the family, and I think he thinks the same way about all of us. I could only wish....that Robert was like him....full of true love and care....TRUE love....

"That movie wasn't bad", Julia commented when the credits rolled.

"Yeah, and the best part was when the guy got the perfect girl", Ron said happily, raising his arm to stroke Julia's muzzle.

Julia giggled. "I don't quite remember that part being in the movie", she said to tease his loving remark, moving her head slightly to kiss his cheek.

"You know what, I'm taking you out to dinner. The fancy kind. It's not often we have so much time to ourselves, and I want today to be special", Ron suddenly came out and said.

"Aww, thats sweet", Julia exclaimed, sliding out from behind Ron. "I'll give my house a call and let them know I'll be back after dinner", she added, hopping over the side of the couch.

Ron sat up and stretched. While Julia was on the phone, he walked down to his room to freshen up, change his blood stained shirt, and grab a small wad of cash he kept hidden in a metal box. Fourty-Five dollars, plus the twelve already in his wallet, should cover the place he was aiming for. He and Julia have never had one of those dinner by candle-light evenings, and being that they would be busy tomorrow and in court the day after, this was probably the best time to enjoy themselves. Now that he looked spiffy, he walked back to the livingroom, where Julia was lounging on his couch, awaiting his return.

"I'm all set. You good to go?", he checked.

"Yep", Julia replied, sitting up and getting off the couch.

They left the house, with Ron locking the door again and heading out to let his girlfriend in the car.

"So where are you planning?", Julia asked curiously when Ron got in the car.

"Bellenapolies. It's a very upscale italianish restaraunt, but they have just about everything", he informed her while pulling out of the driveway.

"Yikes, that sounds expensive", Julia said surprisedly.

"I got it covered. The place is dimmed with candles at every table, I think you'll really like it", he reassured with a smile.

"I would like anyplace I went with you", Julia smiled back, poking at Ron's airfreshener.

Kimberly was lying on her bed, somewhat bored, and somewhat not. Not having anything she needed to do, she felt like taking it easy, and just lounging alone for a while. Lying on her back, she played with the tip of her tail, poking it and wagging it back and forth with no purpose. She felt weary that the day of the trial was coming nearer with every metrenome-like flick of her tail. She didn't like the idea of having to see that dragon's smug face again, but didn't actually have anything against going. It was only the wait that gave her butterflies. She stared up at her ceiling fan and her cream colored walls, endulging in the personal comfort of her own domain.

Craig on the other hand, was a little weary of going. Formal court garbage, where he gets to be put on the spot and interrogated by some overpaid fuck in a suit, was not very comfortable. He wanted so much to put that rapping bastard away for good, but was nervous about the process of doing so. Sitting on the side of his bed, listening to the radio and doing his Biology homework, he couldn't help but be constantly destracted.

"Craig", said another destraction from behind. He turned to find his mother in the doorway. "Dinners ready. Julia is out with Ron so it'll just be us", she informed him.

"Alrighty", Craig replied, tossing his book on his pillow and cutting the power on his stereo.

Gina continued down the hallway to Kimberly's door. "Hey Kim, it's dinner time", she said when she reached her door.

Kimberly sat up to address her mother. "I'm not all that hungry. I already had some chicken and all", she said appologeticly.

"Well if you get hungry, there's plenty", Gina added before returning to the kitchen. She had that chicken two hours ago, and it didn't make sense that she just "wasn't hungry" now. This being one of those things she couldn't put her finger on, she decided to let it go for now. "Hey Craig, it's just you and me, so I think we have a lotta food", she told Craig while she fixed herself a plate.

Kimberly sighed, for what reason, she did not know. She slid of her bed, finding the act of playing with your tail to get boring fast. Finding nothing productive, or even not productive to do, she pulled out a pair of clothes from her dresser and left to go take her shower.

Craig spent most of the evening in the livingroom, doing his Biology homework. For some strange reason, the TV was a lot less destracting. When eight-thirty rolled around, Julia arrived home, full of bliss and puppy love. She sat at the dinner table with their mother, talking about and discribing her evening, without missing a single detail. Craig knew Ron was a real nice guy, and he loved Julia very much, but the thought of his best friend and his sister being together wasn't something he cared to hear about. Having completed his homework anyway, he picked up his book and utensils and went back to his room to stuff them in his backpack. Craig switched on the light on the little table next to his bed and lied down comfortably to read a magazine. Things were quiet and normal after the earlier incident at the cafe, and it just seemed eerie. He kept trying to tell himself not to be frightened by wednesday, especially since he didn't think he was. Not being able to admit it to himself, he really was scared of courtrooms and the idea of everyone staring at him, scanning his every word for truth or lies. Of course he wouldn't lie, but would the Judge and Jury know that? Would they scrupulate upon his every word? Annoyed and frustrated by his own thoughts, Craig threw the magazine to the floor and turned the lamp off in a huff, falling asleap from his own self inflicted exhaustion.

The household awoke routinely in the early morning, with the three getting ready as normal. Craig had gotten over last night's thoughts, or at least he believed so. Julia took longer then usual to get ready, still being love struck from the previous day's excursion. Once Kimberly left, Julia sat at their dinner table, staring out the window. Craig thought it was great that his sister was so happy, but the sappyness wasn't something he cared to watch in the morning. Once Ron pulled up, Craig and Julia quickly turned off the TV and lights and piled into the car, where the two lovebirds kissed to greet eachother.

"Isn't that cute", Craig said sarcasticly to poke fun at their sentiments. Ron and Julia chuckled at the remark, and they set off for their campus. Their high school was a ten minute drive, but it would be well over a half hour on a school bus, so they were fortunate.

"Hiya girls", Chris greeted when Kimberly and Sheila walked into first period and took their seats. "Kimberly, you're gonna be out tomorrow aren't you?", he quickly asked, even before either of the two could greet him back.

"Hi Chris. Yeah, I'll be out for the trial tomorrow", Kimberly answered.

While Sheila talked to Chris, Kimberly thought it would be a good idea to pull out her book and the worksheet she did in class yesterday. Sheila really did most of it, but Mrs. Rodriguez didn't need to know that.

Later in the period, when Mrs. Rodriguez was picking up papers, she stopped at Kimberly. "We'll be watching a video while you're out, so you won't miss anything. Good luck by the way", she said, adding Kimberly's paper to the pile. After the whole Sharon thing, she really became something of an ass kisser, being supportive of Kimberly whenever possible. Kimberly understands what she's doing and appreciates the effort, but still recognizes her as the prick she is.

"I can't believe you fought Eric!", Amber shouted at Ron.

It was lunchtime, when the group of rocker dragons met and left for lunch, execpt the new cafe fight was delaying this. The whole group, Ron, Julia, Frank, Amber, and Justin were present, not including the MIA Eric.

"He attacked me, I don't know what you're getting so huffy about!", Ron retaliated.

"You got Eric arrested! You started the whole thing, and it's all your fault!", Amber exploded.

Julia put her foot down, stepping close to Ron's side. "Eric got what he asked for! He got angry because of Ron beating up his brother, who drugged up my little sister! Eric is the one with a problem!", she shouted back to support her mate.

"As much as I would like to support you Ron, I don't believe it was a good call to take on Eric", Frank suddenly came out and said.

Ron glared at him angrily. "What do you mean?! You were there the day I whooped his brother, and you decked his friend! You did the same as me!", Ron shouted, no longer restraining the tone of his voice.

"That was different, he deserved what he got. Taking on Eric, our good friend, was to tell you the truth, very arrogant and nasty", Frank answered clearly, keeping the tone of his voice to near normal, but still expressing his angered feelings.

"What the fuck, how can you say he didn't get what was coming to him!! I didn't attack him! He walked in and attacked me!", Ron yelled in frustration till he was interrupted by Amber.

"He was completely stoned out of his mind, literally, and you have the fucking nerve to fight back! You should have backed off or ran, but no, you and your pride stayed to fuck up everything! He was a friend! A friend Ron!!", Amber screamed, trying to stab Ron in the heart with her words.

"WAS a friend! The moment he defended his asshole brother and attacked me AND Craig might I add, he left my circle of friends, and it sickens me that you would defend him after what he's done!!", Ron again retaliated, deflecting her attempt.

"Are you saying that you've never become drunk or stoned, and did something you didn't want to?", Frank added in.

"If I ever attacked you, I would sure as hell expect for you to fight back! When he attacked me, it wasn't a stupered foul judgement; he came there specificly to attack me for what I did to his brother. I can't fucking believe after everything we have been through, you and Amber would turn against me!", Ron ended with a burst of rage.

Julia was getting very angry and she let them know. "He did what he had to do and it's not right for you to tell him how to make decisions! Standing up for this dugged up asshole is..is..just fucking insane!!", she shouted at the two.

"Justin, don't you agree with us?", Frank asked, turning his head towards Justin, who was trying to stay out of this, being that he was frightened by situations like this.

After a moment of Frank staring at him, he applied a defensive look to his face and stood up from the brick planter he was sitting on. "No", he affirmed, glaring straight back at Frank, who was surprised to have recieved such an answer. "This is Eric's doing, Ron got forced into it whether you like it or not!"

Frank growled. "I should have expected nothing more from you. You're such a fuckin' follower!", he insulted.

"Fuck you! I make my own decisions!", Justin forcefully informed him.

"Ron could have backed down and waited till he was sober, but he didn't. Now Eric is in jail, just because Ron jumped the gun and used his primal instincts instead of his goddamn head!", Amber again explained in Justin's general direction.

"Back the fuck off bitch! You weren't the one put in that situation!", Julia screamed at her, unable to hold her silence.

"And you're the primal whore!", Amber screamed back.

Julia took off from Ron's side, taking only a few quick steps before she slapped Amber clear across her cheek. This sudden action felt like a mallet to the other's chests, but they pretty much expected this to happen. Ron moved to break up the two, but before he did, Amber retaliated, whoping Julia's left eye with her closed fist. Reeling a foot back and grabbing the side of her face with her left hand, she looked to grab Amber with the other, which just wouldn't reach. Ron had gotten between them and pushed the screaming girls apart, only holding Julia, and giving Amber an obvious shove, showing that he was going to play sides if thats what it has come down to.

"Knock it off!", Ron commanded, looking straight in Amber's face.

"Fuckin' bitches!!!", Amber screamed at the top of her lungs in a tantrum, before storming off towards the building. Frank shot them a piercing look, letting his expression speak for him, and followed Amber in suit. Before Justin or Julia knew it, Ron was already hurrily walking to his car.

"I'll wait here", Justin said to Julia with a nod, knowing they would need to talk together.

"Thanks...we'll be back shortly", Julia replied solomly, quickly walking off to catch up with Ron.

Julia got in the car within a few moments. Ron was sitting in the driver's seat, completely silent, with his head down against the steering wheel and his arms over his head, in a very depressed position. If Julia didn't know any better, she would think he was actually crying, though she couldn't tell.

"Ron...honey, are you ok?", Julia asked softly in a sigh. She didn't get a reply for quite some time.

"...I'm fine...", he eventually said, lifting his head slightly, just to move his mouth. "I'm so sorry...did she hurt you?", he asked, with his voice flooding with sorrow.

Julia couldn't stand him being so upset, but replied to his question none the less, rubbing her eye. "It hurt, but I'm ok", she answered lightly. "If they don't wish to be our friends, then so be it. You did what you had to, and you did the right thing.....I love you so much", she comforted him, scooting over and placing her arm around him and snuggling close. Ron again stayed quiet for some time, occationaly making a sigh of some sort.

"The whole groups been disbanded and I may have scarred my image as a rocker. I wonder if they're right...", he said saddily, raising his head from the steering wheel to talk.

"Only you can decide if they're right, but I'll give you a clue: Amber and Frank are complete assholes. They blame you for turning on friends, but what did they just do? They're no better then Eric. Just because their rockers, doesn't make them good people. Don't worry about them, you don't need em'", Julia explained caringly, giving him a little intellectual insight.

"Yeah, I know....but I try so hard to be nice and friendly to everyone, it just pains me so much to lose half my main circle of friends", Ron replied.

"Well.....yeah, I do know what you mean. Amber and Frank were quite good friends of mine as well...but like we agreed upon yesterday, our true friends are what matters. Me, Craig, and Justin will always be there for you, as well as my mother and Kimberly too. Other rockers will come and go, but your family is forever", Julia expressed as lovingly as she could, holding Ron tight and kissing him twice on the muzzle.

Ron smiled and rested his head on hers. "I'm sorry I walked off. I just hate pissing people off you know"

"Yep, I know. It's something that just makes you cute", she happily told him. They closed their eyes for a moment, allowing their love to intertwine in an array of wonderful mental fireworks.

"Let's grab Justin and see if we still have time for a lil' lunch", Ron said, full of reawakened glee.

"And if we don't have enough time, we'll make some", Julia quirped with a laugh, as Ron started the car.

"As most of you know, Miss Trensetter will be in court tomorrow to testify against her primary attacker", Mr. Manus, a badger and Kimberly's 6th period teacher, began when the class settled in. Kimberly blushed embarassedly, with a few people looking at her because of Mr. Manus' mentioning.

"So today, we're going to put a hold on our lesson and discuss the judicial system and the things Kimberly will face", he continued, with his students giving a cheer when he said he was putting lessons on hold. Mr. Manus was a history teacher, so this event fit well into what he wanted to teach. Kimberly thought of Mr. Manus as her favorite teacher, so she didn't mind the embarassment of having her trial used as the main topic. Mr. Manus took a seat on top of a desk in the first row of the center of the room, to have a "Lesson plan free" session with his students.

"Basicly, this is probbably not the kind of trial you're all thinking of. You know, with lawers and garbage. Kimberly and the others involved are there to testify against the accused. A prosecuter would call them up and ask questions, like a witness. The boy would have an attorney of course to defend him, but basicly the person he is defending him from is the prosecutor", he explained. "I'm going to show you a video of a real trial, similar to what Kimberly's will be. This man was arrested on attempted murder charges and this is his trial. Tomorrow, we'll be watching none other then Kimberly's own trial, and the cafeteria TV's and some classes will also be tuned in for the verdict; just to let you know Kimberly", he ended with a chuckle. Kimberly was afraid they would be watching the trial here, since it's on public access and all, but took it lightly, not wanting to be embarassed because of what has been forced upon her.

By the end of the day, the class designated "Rocker", was in chaos. Ron was possibly the highest brass, so the story of Eric and the collapse of Ron's circle of dragon rockers spread like termites. Rumors and squabbles amoungst the rockers caused a severe feedback through their ranks. While some sided with Ron, others sided with the, quote, "Screwed over" rockers. In less then a day, the class of rocker was in turmoil, with people leaving the social aspect of things, or forming smaller isolated circles and factions. The normal way of a "Rocker", is to express your love for the guitar, your hate for cheap rap, and be kind and very social to all. Now, everyone is drowning in their own self created controversy, and backing far away from openly social areas. It's amasing how one turn of events could affect so many, by making them turn on their own kind. Ron was torn appart by the hate he caused, even though he had convinced himself what he did was right, and knew it for truth. Even those who sided with him, would still only turn their heads to whisper to their comrade when he walked by, and those who opposed him would give him a eye that would wound his very soul. Not even rappers would piss eachother off this bad, and Ron could only wonder how his actions left such an ulcerating wound in their social society. Eric's latest actions and the fight could have stayed out of most of the conversations, but it was very likely that the scuffle with the dragon circle caused this shockwave. Ron was labeled something of a traitor, someone who turned on his friends at the flip of his pride, and he knew, from every cell at the tip of his tail, to his giant but docile heart, this was the most disgusting and hurtful thing he ever had to bear. He no longer had the courage to face his friends and ex-friends, feeling that all reason and friendship had been lost due to the efforts of Amber and Frank. Even the listeners of the tale told by the exiled half of the dragon circle knew there was falicy and exaggerations within the story, but they took it to heart anyway. Those who knew the tale was a crock and thought they were assholes, told them that and sided with Ron, and those who sided with the other side, just wanted to stir trouble or for some reason also thought Ron was wrecking things. Ron knew that with time, things would mend, and took this as an opportunity to point out the callus jackasses he thought were good people.

Ron leaned up against the side of his car, talking to Julia, Craig, Justin, and a few other friendly rockers. While many got pissy over what was never their problem in the first place, many rockers and of course, the Trensetters, we're only confused by the sudden cry of panic.

"I think this bullshit won't last a week. Frank and Amber are only stirring the pot, and once it settles, you'll be standing over it like usual", Justin told Ron with the best of his knowledge.

Ron made a huff before he spoke. "I know that as much as you do, but it still upsets me, and for all we know, this may leave quite the scar", he spoke monotonely.

"We're surrounded by bitches. It's apparently always been this way, and we can continue the same as we were before", stated a fellow rocker.

"Come on, let's get out of here", Craig said, not wanting to be on campus any longer.

"I'm with Craig. It'll help your mind by getting away from here", Julia agreed.

"Then lets go. I'll see you guys later", Ron replied, saying goodbye to Justin and the others, and getting in his car.

Kimberly arrived home with Sheila beside her as Ron's car pulled into their driveway, much later then normal. Craig and Julia got out and went into the house, while Kimberly sat on Sheila's front lawn, where they went to talk for a few minutes before departing their seperate ways.

"Everyone is making such a stink over the trial", Kimberly stated, showing she was annoyed by it.

"What happened to you was incredible, and so are the charges against this fellow. You can't blame them really", Sheila said, trying to explain why things are so.

"I don't blame anyone....I...well, nevermind", Kimberly ended saddily, to the dismay of her good friend.

"It seems you are upset about the court thing. I would be too. I want to cheer you up, like you have done for me, but I don't have any words of assurance....", Sheila told her friend with remorse.

"I just don't wanna deal with it. I guess I am a little scared", Kimberly admitted, shifting her tail.

"It's probbably better to fully admit your fear, then you will have less pressure on your mind", Sheila said outright.

Kimberly paused a moment. "Ok, fine. I don't want to see that man again. I really am scared of him, and more then just a little ok?", she fully admitted, with the tone that indicated she didn't like being put on the spot.

"And it's ok to be scared. You should be really, after what happened. Sorry if my advice came off bossy", Sheila replied, sensing Kimberly's distress.

Kimberly sighed and shifted her tail again. "I should head home. Thanks for the chat Sheila, I'll see you later", Kimberly said while getting up and going back towards her own house.

"Take care Kim", Sheila replied in goodbye, masking her thoughts. Kimberly didn't mean to be snippy, she's just nervous. It's rather easy to tell with all the tail flicking. I just hope she'll be alright...

Kimberly walked in to see Craig on the couch, talking to their mother about his day, and Julia grabbing a snack in the kitchen. "I'm home!", she cheerfully greeted.

Craig and her mother said hi, but Julia seemed to be too occupied by yelling at whatever she was trying to cook for the moment. Kimberly walked down to her room and closed to door till it was only open a crack, and routinely tossed her shoes off from the end of her bed. She sighed exhaustedly and flopped on her back to stare at the ceiling. Sheila only wanted the best for her, and Kimberly felt bad for getting snippy with her. She knew Sheila didn't mind, but that wasn't the point. The pressure she has been feeling as of late has been just getting to her. The things going on were too much for a twelve year old.

Later when the evening came about, the family was together watching TV in the livingroom. Craig and Julia decided to stay in today, since they were going to have such a difficult day tomorrow. Gina and Julia sat on the couch, while Kimberly lied on her side infront of the coffee table, and Craig sat infront of the couch's left arm rest, reclined up against it to read his magazine. The group was startled by the sudden knocking at their door for a split second before they realized what it was.

"I've got it", Julia proclaimed, getting out of her seat briskly to answer the door. She opened it to find a distrought looking Ron. "Hey, come on in", she welcomed.

Ron stepped in nervously, clenching his black jacket like a securety blanket. The others had turned around or sat up by now to greet their visitor as well, also noticing that something was wrong.

Ron fiddled a bit with the jacket in his hands, and swallowed hard, looking half at Julia and half at the rest. "My parents just kicked me out of the house", he finally admitted, with his voice full of frightened remorse.

"Thats terrible!", Julia emotionally exclaimed.

"Why did they do that?", Gina asked with concerned curiosity.

"We got into an argument....they brought up my fights, some other things, and probbably the most important thing, the money I had spent on our night out", Ron explained, looking at Julia for the last sentence. "I wasn't supposed to spend that money, and they were even more pissed when they found out it was for my girlfriend", Ron continued with a deep sigh.

Julia lowered her head slightly, feeling guilty.

"It's my fault, don't feel bad", Ron reassured Julia, having easily noticed her look of guilt. Ron cleared his throught, acting like he was scared. "I uhh...well...wanted to ask you if I could...maybe...stay here?", he managed to ask, studdering nervously throughout the sentence.

Gina thought for only a second before she replied, "Sure". Ron wasn't expecting that answer, especially not that easily.

"I can't believe it! Thank you!", Ron exclaimed with unforseen happiness.

"Come have a seat and join the family", Gina said joyfully, waving Julia and Ron over to the couch. Both Ron and Julia seemed to pleased, and Gina couldn't be more satisfied to see it. Having Ron around was no problem at all, and it really made her feel like she had a chance to repay Ron for his unlimited kindness and sacrafices. The things Craig and Julia explained happened in school today sounded horrible, and now she hears that Ron has been cast out of his own house even. One could not help be feel bad, watching the world crush that big dragon's heart.

When it came almost time for Gina to leave for work, she thought she should talk to Ron before she left. Kimberly went to bed early, Craig was off in his room, and Julia was getting a few things ready for morning, so Ron was sitting on the couch by himself. Gina took a seat on the opposite end of the couch, and Ron greeted her with a smile.

"I can't thank you enough for letting me stay....I don't even know how long this will be for", Ron said now that he had a chance to.

"You can stay as long as you want, so don't worry about that. Do you have clothes and things?", she assured him, ending with a question.

"I grabbed as much as I could before I left, including my court attire, so I'm good to go", he answered. "I'll sleep on the couch and help you out as much as I can", he added, trying to show is graditude.

Gina didn't want him to sleep on the couch for the duration of his stay. "I can't just let you sleep on the couch, that'll suck for you. Lemme think....", she stated, trailing off in thought. "Well, I actually wouldn't mind you and Julia sharing a room, but I know how Julia can be. I have evesdropped on her phone conversations, and with Kimberly next door, I don't think she needs to hear all that", she said with a laugh. Ron smiled embarassedly. "Heres an idea. I can get Kimberly and Julia to share a bed, that way you can use Kimberly's room for a while. It wouldn't be right to make you sleep out here with no bedding and a suitcase. Kimberly keeps her room pretty clean, so you should be able to put your things up, you need the space more", Gina explained for her master plan.

"You sure it's ok?", Ron asked out of concern for Kimberly.

"She won't mind. I'll go ask her to move", Gina said, getting up.

"No no, don't wake her. I'll stay here for tonight, trust me, I don't mind really", Ron assured her, not wanting to disturb those who were already sleeping anyway.

"Well alright. I'm going to get going for work, I'll see you in a little while. I'm going to get a few papers straight and I get to leave early so I can sleep before our court appearance. I'll be back around midnight, so look after the house for me eh?", Gina finished, walking down to the kitchen to get her keys off the counter. "Bye everyone!", she yelled out while walking for the door. Ron said goodbye, and Craig and Julia shouted theirs from down the hall.

Kimberly was the first to wake in to morning, just before her mother did. She got temporarily dressed before she would change into the nice stuff for the trial, and walked out into the livingroom. Ron was asleap on the couch, with a foot dangling over the side. He looked comfortable enough, but not really.

"Mornin' Kim", her mother whispered suddenly, appearing from her room.

"Hello. When does everyone need to get up?", Kimberly whispered back.

"Eight o'clock, so they still have ten or so minutes", she replied, walking into the kitchen to start her coffee.

At eight, Kimberly went around waking everyone up so they could get ready. Ron was easy and didn't mind being awoken, with Julia similar, exept Craig didn't really want to get up, but did get up eventually.

"Kimberly, Julia, I need to talk to you two for a moment", Gina said when everyone was awake. The two sisters walked to the dinner table, where Gina was sitting with her coffee. "Julia, I'm going to need Kimberly to share your room with you", she instructed. Julia's facial expression told her she didn't like the idea.

"Ron needs a place to stay, and I thought you and Kimberly could stay together. That sound ok?", their mother explained further, looking for their responce.

"He does need a place to stay, so, I guess it's ok", Kimberly replied, unexpectedly forfitting the personal refuge of her room.

"You want us to share a bed?...", Julia asked annoyed-like, surprised by having this thrown upon her.

"You have a twin size bed, there is more then enough room for the both of you. Kim, could you start moving the things you need to Julia's room this morning so Ron can settle in and get changed?", she told the two.

"I sure can", Kimberly replied, going off to her room to grab her usual stuff to bring to her new domain.

"You wanted to get to know Kimberly better. Well, heres your chance", her mother told Julia when Kimberly left.

"I feel like this has been thrown on me, but I guess it's alright. I'll go help her so Ron can get in there", Julia replied, giving her approval as well as her disgust. Gina knew the two wouldn't like the idea all that much, but they could live with it. Those two need a little more quality time, and what better way to do it then make them share the same room. Getting Ron a room was the main goal, but unexpected benifits might come out of this, she thought.

Julia found Kimberly gathering a few articles from her desk when she entered her room. She walked over to assist her in picking things out and carrying them, and also to talk. "Kim, I think I need to go over a few ground rules here", she began. Kimberly stopped her work to give Julia her attention, waiting for her to continue what she knew was going to be nagging. "All I ask is that you leave me my privacy. That means, no snooping around in my drawers and places you have no business in. I'll make room for all your things, so don't worry. Also, keep in mind it's really my room", Julia went over.

"Yeah yeah, ok. Just help me out here", Kimberly agreed, picking up some things she wanted to move. Julia gave her use of the top of her desk and a shelf of her bookcase by the door, so she had room for her necklaces and books. Julia quickly cleared space in the closet for some of her clothes and one of her dresser drawers that were full of old clothes anyway. Once Kimberly and Julia finished, Ron wandered into his new home for the time being to unpack. Kimberly left the top of her desk, dresser, and some of her closet as clean as Gina had said it would be, so Ron unpacked in no time. He managed to grab his alarm clock, a few CD's, his chain, and a big pile of most of his clothes before he left his house, and placed them about the room in an attempt to make it resemble his own. He adored his "family" for allowing him to stay in their house, while his parents went on a pissy fit. The past days haven't gone right at all, and Ron felt helpless but to just allow time to take it's course. Having his belongings put up nicely, he got the toothbrush and deodorant from his suitcase and put them in his own little spot in the bathroom. After all his tasks were completed, it was time for him to get ready to go.

Gina stood in her bathroom mirror, making sure the collar of her shirt was right. She hated fancy clothes and all the effort that came with them. While topping off the look with a small gold necklace, she began pondering about the trial. She was curious to see what this boy looked like, and how he would react. She made a quick and easy sigh to signify she had completed the ordeal of getting all that crap on, and walked to Julia's room to give Kimberly a hand.

"I think I can pick out my own clothes ma'...", Kimberly stated, unsure of why her mother was rummaging through her clothes for her.

"You gotta look real nice for this sort of thing. Ah, here, wear this and ummm, this", Gina replied, handing Kimberly a newer shirt and a pair of pants.

"Works for me", Kimberly said happily, seeing her mother didn't pick something stupid.

Gina turned towards Julia's bed. "Julia, are you about ready?", she asked.

"Just need to get these shoes on", Julia answered, struggling with one. "So you and I will be sitting behind Ron, Craig, and Kim?", she asked her mother before she walked out.

"Thats how it works", Gina answered back before walking to Craig's room. Craig was already done, and was just sitting on his bed trying to deal with the butterflies, and by now Ron was done too. Everyone came out into the livingroom, waiting for Gina's call to assemble.

"You all ready?", she asked, turning off the kitchen light. They four replied and went out to the car. Gina offered to drive Ron so he wouldn't have to follow her the whole distance there. The federal courthouse was a good fourty minute drive, and Gina quietly wished for it to be a quiet and peaceful drive into Carser City with no traffic or bickering.

Once they had set off, Craig for some reason felt a little better. He stared out the window, watching the businesses and houses pass by, and felt like he was going off on some unforseen adventure of a sort. The city was a nice place to look at, living in the suburbs and all. For reasons completely unexplainable to himself, he actually felt excited to be going to the court and putting that rapping bastard behind bars.

Kimberly sat staring out the left rear window herself. She wished the car would stop going in the direction it was, with the street lights steadily whizzing by, reminding her of the time ticking flicks of her tail. Finding the window to be unsettling, and her thoughts making her restless, she decided to just listen to Ron and Julia who were sitting beside her. The backseat was a little crowded, but neither of the three cared to complain. They talked of Ron's parents, school, and some other more positive things, with Craig sometimes chiming in. Though she wasn't a part of the conversation, she felt much less alone.

Though some didn't want to be there, the entire party was glad when they reached the federal courthouse. The courthouse was brown bricked with interesting slants and curves in the archetecture. A larger then normal stone staircase led up to the glass enterance and doors.

"Goddamn do I have to take a piss", Craig suddenly exclaimed when he saw bathrooms.

"Remember to tuck your shirt back into your pants", his mother reminded him as he walked off. While the group waited for him, Gina tagged along with Ron, who had already walked down to the reception desk.

"Hi miss. We're here for the kidnapping trial today, could you tell me where we should go?", Ron asked pleasently.

"Top floor, the securety guard will direct you to the proper court room", the middle aged ardvark answered.

Ron turned to Gina as they walked back to the rest of the group. "I really hope this is going to be easy"

"It better damn be. It's not like any of you are actually on trial", she ended with a chuckle. Once the party had reformed itself, they took the elevator to the fourth floor. To their right was a curve in the walkway, leading to offices, and to their right, the floor ramped upwards slightly, leading to a metal detector and a securety desk. Obvious which direction was right, they walked down to the securety officer who stood up upon their arrival from the elevator.

"Good day", greeted the guard, a skunk in his late twenties, "Just put anything you're carrying onto the tray". Ron placed a set of keys into the tray and Gina put her purse onto it. The five walked through the detector fine, and the guard handed their articles back to them. "The court room you want is that one right there", he pointed, knowing who they were and why they were here. The doors he pointed them to were slightly bigger then the rest, with a fancy door frame. They walked in and a woman in a uniform directed them to their seats. As Gina guessed, she and Julia were sit directly behind the three in the spectator's area. Ron, Kimberly, and Craig sat at a table at the right side of the central walkway, with the defendant's table on the left. Directly infront of their table was a witness' stand, which was connected directly below the judge's stand, with the defendant's questioning spot on the other side. This courtroom looked like something from court TV, and was not the most welcoming place any of them had been to. They waited twenty minutes before the courtroom seemed busy, and like a sudden blow to their comforts, the defendant was brought in through a side door with police escort. Kimberly and Craig immidiately sneered with a small growl at the sight of their tormenter. Ron just stared with his eyes burning with hate, as did Julia and Gina, who finally got to see this person. Craig looked away for a moment, holding left paw to where the dragon had struck him with his gun. He nearly shattered the bone of his muzzle, and Craig remembered all the blood. That was undoubtably the most painful thing he had ever felt in his life, and it was unnerving actually knowing it. Kimberly stared at him from the corner of her eye, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists, untill his attorney sat down beside him and blocked her view. An officer-looking person in a tan uniform next to the judge's stand spoke aloud.

"November fifth, case 743 is now in session, the honorable Judge Payton presiding", he announced. "All rise", he commanded in monotone when the judge arrived from his office in back. He made his way to his stand and took his seat, giving his gavel a crack to allow everyone else to do so. Taking a short glance of the courtroom, Kimberly noticed some reporters in the audience, as well as the local access channel's crew near the enterance, remembering that people were watching this. The judge was a fennec in his late thirties, which was pretty young for a judge of his rank. Everyone sat quietly at the upmost attention when he began speaking.

"Mister Derek Ramos, you are charged with two counts of kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder. How do you plea?", Judge Payton begun.

The dragon whispered to his attorney for a second and replied, "Temporary insanity". All the spectators and especially his victims didn't expect that plea.

"This isn't going to fly", Gina whispered softly to Julia.

"Please present your insanity defense", the judge asked of the attorney.

His attorney arose and began, "My client was not of sound mind when this act was committed. He has history of previous arrests due to temper related issues, quite possibly psychologicly related"

"I see. But do you have substantial evidence to support this?", the judge asked.

The attorney whispered to his client again. "I have papers here from a psychologist that state mister Ramos may have mental issues", he replied, handing a form to Judge Payton. He looked over the papers and requested an aid to show it to the jury.

"Prosecution now has the floor", Judge Payton stated. A man who was standing to the side in a suit, stepped into the center. This was a German Sheppard in his fourties, and presumably the prosecutor.

"I would like to call Craig Trensetter to the stand", he said, glancing at him. Craig really didn't want to be first, but had to problem going to the witness' stand. "So Craig, how old are you?", he asked when he had taken his seat.

"Fifteen", Craig answered confidently. The dragon, now can be identified as Derek, was staring at him while trying to keep his face expressionless, as to not be noticed by the jury, but still get his sneer across to Craig. Craig ignored him completely and awaited the next question.

"You were the first person to encounter mister Ramos, could you discribe this confrontation to the jury?", the prosecutor then asked.

"Yes. I was hanging around a local cafe, known for it's affiliation with the high school niche called "Rocker". Mister Ramos showed up to cause trouble because he was the opposing niche called "Rapper". He got verbal with a large number of people and I stepped up to defend them. One of his friends attacked me, and when he failed, mister Ramos attacked next. He ended up shattering a bottle over my head, knocking me unconcious. Thats when I was told Ron ran in and knocked him one for me", he explained as clearly as he could.

"Would you say his decision making capability was any different from your fight to your kidnapping?", he continued.

"No. If anything, he began using his head more", Craig responded, hoping to have whacked the rapper.

"That will be all", the prosecutor said, allowing Craig to return to his seat. "I now call miss Kimberly Trensetter to the stand"

Kimberly hoped this would never come. She slowly got out of her seat and went to the witness' stand.

"How old would you be?", the man asked.

"Twelve", he replied with a hint of nervousness.

"And when might your birthday be?", he asked continuing, making Kimberly wonder why he asked.

"April seventh", she answered anyway.

"Being so young, this must have been a troublesome time for you. Could you discribe to the jury how it was like to be kidnapped?", he stated solomly, continuing further.

"I was frightened. I had no idea why it happened or what was in store", Kimberly replied.

"It was also stated that the defendant pointed his gun at you and pulled the trigger with the intent to kill you, and caused a severe wound to your leg with a blade that required immidiate medical attention to stop the bleeding. Is this true?", he explained in a question.

"Yes, it is", she answered, noticing the jury wasn't liking the dragon's actions. Good!

"Thank you, that is all", the man said kindly, allowing Kimberly to return comfortably to her seat. "I lastly call Ron Balger to the stand"

Ron stood up and went to his spot, ready for whatever he asked. "Mister Balger, you are 18, an adult, am I correct?", the prosecutor began again.

"Yes sir", Ron answered professionally, noticing the now obvious sneer on the rapper's face.

"The entire kidnapping was designed to lure you and kill you, correct?", he asked.

"Objection your honor! This is not back up by substantial evidence", Derek's attorney barked.

"Over ruled, allow the witness to answer", Judge Payton ordered.

"Derek Ramos himself stated that", Ron replied, having the chance to.

"And what are your thoughts on mister Ramos' psychological state at that time?", he asked, looking for ammo.

"To have organized a scheme of this scale, would require competance and a clear mind, which the defendant had", Ron replied, giving the man what he asked for.

"Prosecution rests your honor", the man stated, walking back to his spot and letting Ron return to his table.

"Taking prosecution and defense's evidence, the jury will deliberate on whether he was sane when he made his actions, or if he was not. If not, mister Derek Ramos will be charged as an adult, with a minimum of twenty-five years in prison to fourty-five maximum. The court will recess for the jury's deliberation and will rejurn this time tomorrow", Judge Payton stated for the court, ending with a tap of his gavel and leaving for his chamber.

The five didn't think this would continue to tomorrow. Coming once was just enough, but at least they wouldn't have to speak again. Gina and Julia got up and rejoined with the three, all tired from being eyed and intrerrogated. The dragon was lead back out of the courtroom the way he came, and the group of dragons all hoped he would get what he deserved.

"What a creep", Julia commented when the rapper left.

"It's off for home then I guess", Gina said, already tired of the courtroom. The group walked out much faster then they came in, yearning for home. The group stayed quiet till they were on the road, and had the mental energy to speak.

"Looks like we get to miss another day of school", Craig stated very upbeat.

"Oh glorious day", Julia replied to goof off, having gotten into a good mood.

Ron felt fine but didn't feel like talking at all. Now that the distraction of the trial was pretty much gone, the worries of his parents and school was slowly returning. Craig and Kimberly talked most of the trip, leaving Julia and Ron to quietly relax. Ron wasn't sure, but maybe Julia sensed his impending anxiety.

When the car pulled into it's garage, it's passengers made a sigh of relief to finally be home. The phone was already ringing, and Gina rushed in to answer it before the person on the other end hung up. She ran to the phone that sat on the counter next to the enterance to her room and grabbed the reciever.

"Hello?", she quickly said in her haste as everyone else came inside. "I just ran in the door........we just got home......you're what?!...", Gina continued speaking to the person, but Kimberly who was listening, got tired of it and went to her new room. Julia's room had pinkish tinted walls with a wallpaper boarder going around, which was too much for Kimberly's liking. Plain cream colored walls were just fine in her oppinion. Though Julia didn't want her snooping, it wouldn't hurt to wander around and check things out she presumed. Everything was pretty standard and didn't catch her intrest, untill she noticed one of their photo albums on the bookshelf above her own. Being that Julia didn't specificly own it, she didn't hesitate to grab it off the shelf. She slipped onto the bed, lying on her side and resting her head against her pillow she brought over, and opened the album. Within, she found most of her baby pictures, as well as Craig and Julia's. Julia was an ugly baby, but she turned out very pretty, and with Kimberly being a cute baby, she wondered if she would look even better. She laughed at this thought, finding all the memories that happened before she was born to be funny. Her mother had some very cute pictures of her when she was small. A picture she specificly adored was one of her and her mother together. Her mom was playing with her very happily, and by the looks of the picture, she was pretty happy too, sitting in her little baby seat, not even one year old.