Chapter Eighty Six

He flicked on the lamp, which shone into the kitchen. The small overhead stove light was on, with a female figure in front of it.

Her blue bathrobe... it's Eryn, Lance thought as his breath caught in his throat. He rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn't sleeping. I can't believe it... she's actually here. He walked silently across the kitchen floor. And stood beside her.

"I'm glad you are finally home," he whispered.

She turned around, the shadow looming across her face. Lance pulled her close. "I love you," he whispered. He gently kissed her.

"Lance!" she exclaimed, pushing back. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"

"Eryn?" he asked.

"Eryn? Damnit, Lance, are you dreaming?" She grabbed his arms and shook him. "Wake up! Are you delirious?" She flicked on the light.

"Holy shit, Sasha!" Lance said, his face growing red. "Oh, God, I didn't know it was you." He put his face in his hands and moaned. "I'm such a loser."

Sasha smiled. "No you aren't. I understand that you just miss her."

"I swear, maybe I was dreaming or something," Lance said. "And the bathrobe tipped me off."

Sasha grew embarrassed. "I'm sorry. It's just that I needed something to feel really close to her."

"That's okay," Lance said. "So did I. I just used you instead of a bathrobe."

Sasha laughed. "Don't worry about it." She hugged him. "I really miss her," she said softly.

"So do I," Lance said, a lump forming in his throat. "Do you honestly think she is going to pull through?"

Sasha held on to Lance, filled with hesitation.

"Sash?" he asked, pulling back and looking at her closely.

Sasha shook her head. "It doesn't look good, Lance."

Lance's eyes filled with tears. "I'm going to bed." He announced, walking away.

***

Lance woke up the next morning, and walked downstairs. There was a note on the table that Justin, JC and Chris went to the hospital to see Eryn, and Sasha and Joey went for a walk. Lance sighed and walked into the empty kitchen, getting himself a bowl of cereal.

***

Sasha and Joey walked slowly through the park. Sasha glanced around at the trees, and the children playing, but avoided Joey's gaze.

"I'm sick of this," he finally said, breaking the silence. "Why are you mad at me?"

"I'm not," she answered simply.

"Yeah you are," he said. "All you are doing is avoiding me. If you are going to act like this, I'm going home."

"I'm not doing anything wrong!" she exclaimed. "Can't you just... just... bask in the sunlight?"

"Bask in the sunlight?" Joey repeated. "What's with you?"

"Nothing," she said.

"Do you want to go visit Eryn this afternoon?" Joey asked.

Sasha forced a laugh. "Joey... don't be stupid. Eryn's going to be home by this afternoon."

"Come with me," he said, pulling her out of the park and started walking down a side street.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"I need to get some sense into you," he said. He grabbed both of her shoulders. "Look at me in the eye and tell me that you honestly think that Eryn is going to be alright. Tell me that you aren't worried at all. Tell me that you don't want to open up to me... that I don't matter and you are just going to keep everything inside. If you tell me that, I will leave you alone, and bask or whatever you were talking about."

Sasha focused her eyes on Joey's forehead. "I believe everything I say."

"Damnit, Sasha," he said. "Stop it."

"I'm not doing a thing," she mumbled.

Joey let go of her shoulders. "I don't care about this anymore, you know that? Ever since this happened, you've changed, you're a totally different person. I've tried about four different approaches on you. First I tried to be there for you, when you were opening up. Then I tried to be extra caring, for when I thought you would really need me. Then you changed into someone who can't express herself. Then I tried to ignore it, just to see if you would come to me. Now, I just want you to talk to me, and you won't! I'm sick of this. You know, if you don't like me, if you don't want to talk to me, just say it, because I am really tired of it."

Sasha just stared at him, a blank look on her face.

"And yet again, nothing," Joey said with a sigh. "I'm sick of trying to reach you, Sasha."

Sasha looked down at the ground, then back up at Joey. "I'm sorry," she whispered, then she walked away.

"Wait," he called after her, running up beside her. She looked at him. "It's your turn to stop it," she said, speeding up and walking away from him, leaving him standing in the middle of the road watching her.

End of Chapter Eighty Six

*Author's Note*

Please copy this into your email and send it to me. I made the font red so it would show up, because otherwise it would be white. PLEASE FILL IT OUT! It's really important, and you only need a few word answers. Thanks. (Erin, you too)

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A Story Line I Could Use After Chapter 100:
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Thanks!