Thank you, Purplechocoholic and Afraid of Silence for your reviews! Hopefully the ending will be satisfying enough for you, rgrimes. Thanks, once again, for commenting, Phatbaby! I assure you, Peperi, that Keith (in my mind) does not have long hair or look anything like some shitty actor from some shitty movie.

And the last chapter...

Amanda's words pierced my panicked thoughts. "He was a crazy mother fucker. I'm glad he's gone."

Then, Kelly's. "He should have never gotten involved with that crazy mother fucker. Lucas isn't sane. He made a duplicate key to Keith's condo. He used to sneak in all the time. I'm surprised he backed off, really."

He didn't back off, it seemed.

Keith held onto my shoulders in a death grip. I could feel my hands trembling.

He had a fucking gun.

Lucas glowered down at me - still on top of Keith - and pointed the gun at my face. "Get up."

Two words. Cold as ice.

My breathing had become erratic. This couldn't possibly be happening to me. But, of course, it was me, after all. I had found some happiness and life decided to take it back. I wasn't allowed to be happy.

Keith gripped my shoulders tighter, signaling that I should probably listen to the psycho with the gun. Once I was up, Keith slowly followed.

"That way," Lucas said as he pointed to the balcony off the living room.

What the fuck was he thinking?

Keith pushed me along, eyeing Lucas carefully. He opened the door to the balcony. We both stood before the door. We didn't take a step further. Until the psycho jabbed the gun into my back. I stumbled forward.

It was cold. It was almost Spring but the wind was freezing. It was dark. There were no stars. I could see the lights from downtown.

"Jump."

My brain stopped functioning. Did he just tell me to jump? Keith lives ten stories up. Is he fucking serious? I'd rather be shot quickly than have to jump ten stories. That's seconds of horror longer than waiting for the car that’s about to hit.

"Jump!" Lucas screamed as he hit me in the back of the head with the gun. I fell to the ground.

What a bitchy psycho.

"Hey, come on, Lucas," Keith was saying as he held his hands up in the air to show he wasn't planning anything. The tone of his voice clearly indicated that he was planning something. "Just let the kid go. He doesn't mean shit to me anyway. We'll talk about this. Just me and you."

"Fuck you!" Lucas screamed. "I loved you, you fucking asshole!"

I tentatively stood back up.

Even if I screamed, no one would hear me. The next balcony was separated by, not only distance, but a large concrete wall. Rich people wanted their damn privacy. If I screamed, I'd be shot quickly, anyway.

Keith's plan of lying to the psycho didn't seem to be working, either.

We were screwed.

"Jump, you fucking whore!" Lucas shouted. I felt cold metal jam into the back of my neck.

The severity of the situation finally sunk in. I was going to die. For more than two years I had wanted to die. For more than two years I had wanted nothing more than to be hit by a car. Or fall on a knife. Or jump from a ten story building.

"I don't want to die," I whispered hoarsely. I didn't want to die? When the hell did this happen?

Keith reached for my hand, but stopped. Lucas definitely wouldn’t like that.

My entire body was shaking. My heart was beating loud and fast. A gun was rammed into my neck! Why the hell did this have to happen?

"Stupid bitch!" Lucas screamed as he hit me for the second time. I fell to the ground clutching my head.

What else had Kelly said? "Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything."

My eyes shot to Keith. I hoped he caught the expression on my face.

He did.

"Lucas, Lucas. Come on, do you really want to do this?" he said as he forced a smile to his face.

Lucas’ tear-filled eyes darted to Keith's.

I reached into my pocket. Menu. Contacts. Kelly. Send.

"Heya, Leland!" greeted a female voice. I hoped it wasn't loud enough for Lucas to hear.

"Lucas, put down the gun! Let's talk about this!" Keith shouted.

I didn't hear Kelly's voice again. I looked at my cell phone screen. The call had ended. Had she heard? I started panicking.

"Why couldn't we be together?" Lucas cried. Fucking asshole.

"I didn't think it was possible at the time. I was stupid. I love you!" Keith tried to assure him.

"Why the hell are you with this bitch, then?" Lucas asked as he reached down and pulled my hair. I cried out in pain as he dragged me to my knees.

There was fear in Keith's eyes.

"There's no need to do this, Lucas," Keith reassured.

Lucas let out a sob. Then, he put the gun to my cheek.

I quivered. I breathed. In and out. Everything was going to be fine. Kelly had called the police. They were on their way. This can't be happening. This can't be happening.

"Please... put the gun down. Please, Lucas," Keith begged quietly.

Lucas violently shook his head. Keith took a step forward.

Minutes seemed to pass quickly. Everyone and everything was still.

Then, someone was at the door.

"Open up!"

Lucas was no longer crying. He was angry.

"You called the police?" he screamed at Keith.

Before Keith could reply, Lucas pointed the gun at his chest. And fired.

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Tears kept rolling down my cheeks. They wouldn't stop. I had an endless supply of unshed tears that I had kept bottled up for years.

My head ached. Too much had happened. I wasn't ready for something like that.

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There is a point where Kelly starts to annoy me. That point begins at three hours. After three hours, I feel like strangling her. After three hours, her "yep, yeps" make me want to chop her tongue off. After three hours, her "cute" little nicknames make me want to duck tape her mouth shut, gouge out her eyes, and throw her off a bridge.

It has been five hours.

I fucking hate weddings.

"How did you like the cake, Leland? Was it good? Oh, I hope so!" Kelly pouts. I nod my head. "I'm so glad! Jerr Bear helped me pick it out!"

Jerr Bear is Kelly's husband of three hours. Jerr Bear is the name she gave him. Jerr Bear. His real name is Jerry. That's the name I prefer to call him.

She smiles and hugs me before pouncing on other guests like a hungry tiger.

I make my way to the bar. Do they check IDs? I only have a few more months until I'm 21. If I'm going to stay here and socialize more, I want some damn alcohol.

My cell phone is ringing. I thrust my hand into my pocket and take it out. "Ahole gave me B. Fuck."

Carol is talking about her test. She decided not to study for her Physics final. She now has the first B of her college career.

Stupid crazy bitch. I have plenty of B's this semester.

I decide to sit at my table. There's nothing else to do.

I don't know the woman sitting next to me. She has obviously decided to talk to me because she leans towards me and opens her mouth.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"So how do you know the bride and groom?" she slurs. I envy her slur. I want some damn alcohol.

"She's friends with my boyfriend," I reply.

"Oh, a gay boy? You must be Leland. Kelly adores you," she says as she smiles kindly at me. "Where's your boyfriend, now?"

"In heaven."

"What?" she asks, puzzled.

"Kelly thought it was a bright idea to give out gift baskets. These gift baskets happen to have bonbons. My boyfriend is currently stealing people's bonbons. I believe he's eating them right now."

Her eyes are widening.

"I know. He's a freak."

"Leland, stop crying."

"I can't fucking stop them! They won't fucking stop!" I choked out.

"I was only shot in the arm," Keith laughed.

We were in an ambulance.

The police had broken the door down. Just as Lucas was about to fire another shot, the police fired their own. It missed. Thank you, trained professionals. It did scare the piss out of Psycho. He dropped the gun. He was arrested.

Kelly had gotten the message.

-----------------------

"Where have you been all night?" Keith asks me. He's holding a gift basket in his hands.

"I've been talking to Kelly's aunt. She has ten cats and she hates birds."

"She sounds fun."

I give him a look that means, "No, she wasn't."

He gives me a look that means, "Oh, I'm sorry."

"I think maybe we should go home now," Keith says as he eyes the basket in his arms. He's cradling it like a precious baby.

"I hope the cops come after you," I mutter as I take out my car keys.

"That sounds like a fun, kinky game," Keith smirks.

I try to suppress the smile on my face as I grab his arm. "You're such a fucking weirdo."

Fin (because I can be classy, too).