I didn’t know if this situation was awkward for the other people in the room or not, but it was definitely awkward for me. They were all just talking and then suddenly I walk in and the room goes silent. Don’t you just hate it when that happens? It’s almost as bad as when you open a door to a classroom or something and everyone turns around to stare at you. What’s so special about seeing someone walk through a door?

Now I was just going off topic…

I hadn’t ever been good with meeting new people. When I first went to Bentwood, I almost started hyperventilating in the hallway. If Mr. Ridgeway hadn’t pulled me into the classroom, I never would have went inside. I would have ran for my life.

It was the same at Arkwright, even though I wished that it wasn’t. If I didn’t have River there with me, I would have ran for my life then as well. If I was by myself, I would have made so many different choices… And I didn’t know if it was for better or for worse…

Because right then, I liked all the choices that I had made. It got me an amazing fiancé and great friends, and I wouldn’t even trade them for the world. They were willing to do anything for me, and I was willing to do anything for them. That was how it was supposed to be, and that was how it was.

And I couldn’t have been happier for that.

“Um… hi,” I greeted, looking around the room awkwardly. What were they doing here? And who was the blonde girl that was with them? I was never good around new people… But this girl seemed really sweet. She was cute in a little girl way, but then she didn’t look much younger than the rest of us. But who was she?

“Hi, Delilah,” Marnie smiled at me, not even moving from her chair as she continued to sit next to Seth’s bed. I assumed that Seth hadn’t told her anything about him and me, because she wasn’t crying or yelling at me. I was afraid she would do that if she ever found out… “I haven’t seen you in forever!”

I hadn’t spoken to her ever since I had asked her why she and Seth had broken up. I just found it way too awkward to talk to her after what had happened between Seth and me… They had broken up in what felt like so long ago, but then again it really was. It had been months… Marnie and I used to speak every single day. Now it was almost like we were strangers…

“Um, yeah,” I nodded, glancing over at the blonde that sat next to her. I then looked over at Bekka, who surprised me the most. Why was she here? I knew that we had kind of, sort of made up, but Seth and her had never been friends… And I thought that Marnie wasn’t friends with her anymore.

“Surprised to see me here, I see,” Bekka smirked, crossing her arms over her chest as she sat on the couch across the room from us. “Yeah, I’m kind of surprised to be here, too. Marnie kind of just dragged me along with her. We’re friends again, if you haven’t noticed. Avery’s sure not happy about that, but you know… he doesn’t have any say in who my friends are. But anyway, I have a purpose here. Have you seen River around? I’m sure you have, since you guys are always together.”

I made sure not to look in Seth’s direction when she mentioned River. I still didn’t know how he would react to him… I was afraid that he would show how angry he was and then everyone else in the room found out what happened. I didn’t want any of them to know…

I nodded, staring down at the ground now. “Um… he said he was going to go look for Rex. Rex is probably in Alice’s room, so I’m sure that that’s where River will--”

“Great. I’ll be back,” she dismissed herself, sighing as she jumped up from the couch. She headed toward the door, but then stopped when she saw the confused look on my face.

“Oh, I’m going to go apologize to him,” she told me with a shrug, as if it was no big deal to her at all. But it definitely was a big deal! Bekka was actually going to apologize to River? Had I seriously stepped into a parallel universe or something? That just wasn’t like her! “After everything that’s happened, especially after you tried to get me to get his memory back for you, I guess I just realized that I’ve been a huge bitch to everyone.”

“You think?” Seth quipped from his bed, but Bekka only shot him a cold glare.

I smiled weakly at Bekka, but she only shrugged and exited the room with one last harsh glare shot in Seth’s direction. I could tell that it was going to be tough trying to get those two to get along… But I expected as much. They both were probably the most stubborn people I have ever met.

“Oh!” Marnie cried out after I had turned back toward Seth’s bed. “I forgot to introduce you! Delilah, this is Jenny.”

My eyes widened as I looked at the younger teenage girl that sat before me? Jenny? Jenny as in Seth’s little sister? The one that had practically gotten him thrown into Bentwood for refusing to tell the truth just because she was scared? I didn’t know she was blonde! I expected her to look just like Seth! Oh, my gosh!

“Hi, Jenny,” I smiled, stepping forward a little as I smiled at her. What else was I supposed to do? I wasn’t good when it came to meeting new people! “I’m Delilah, a friend of Seth’s.”

I’m sure the girl already knew my name, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t formally introduce myself… I definitely didn’t want things to go off in the wrong direction with Seth’s little sister. That definitely wouldn’t have been a good thing… I wanted her to like me.

Jenny nodded at me timidly, staring down at her lap now as she bit the inside of her lip. “I know. Marnie and Seth told me about you. You’re the reason my brother’s in the hospital right now.”

I blinked at her, surprised that this had come out of her mouth, especially with the way that she had said it. She sounded so innocent and shy, but what she said wasn’t like that at all… It sounded like something Bekka or Arianna would say to me, even Alice before we had become friends…

“Jenny,” Seth scolded, his eyes narrowing at his little sister now. “Don’t say that.”

“But it’s true,” Jenny practically whispered, looking up at her brother now. “If it wasn’t for that girl, you wouldn’t be in the hospital right now! You’d still be safe.”

“Safe at Bentwood,” Seth almost growled, and I saw Jenny scoot her chair back just a little bit. Obviously she didn’t like it when Seth was angry… but who did? “If it wasn’t for that girl, I’d still be rotting away at Bentwood. And whose fault is it that I went to Bentwood?”

Jenny stared down at her lap now, obviously ashamed for what she had said to me. I didn’t really blame her though, because it was my fault that Seth was in the hospital. It was my fault Jay had gotten shot, my fault Kendra was now probably skipping town, and it was pretty much fault that River had lost his memory.

I had caused a lot of things, but nothing ever happened to me. Sure, I dislocated my shoulder, but that was easily fixed when I was unconscious. I always affected the people around me and not myself. Everyone always got hurt because of me… And I hated that there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

“Marnie, Jenny,” Seth sighed, still avoiding eye contact with me. “Could I talk to Delilah alone for a minute?”

Marnie smiled brightly, but Jenny definitely. “Definitely!”

Marnie jumped up from her seat, but Jenny didn’t move at first. I found myself frowning deeply as I looked over at her, afraid that she really didn’t like me. I understood if she was mad over the fact that I had put Seth in the hospital, but still…

“Jenny, come on,” Marnie smiled at the blonde girl, and all I could do was stare down at the ground as Jenny slowly rose to her feet and trudged toward Marnie. Marnie didn’t seem to understand that anything was awkward, and all she did was smile at me.

“Nice meeting you,” I murmured to Jenny quickly, not wanting to be rude to her considering that I might have never saw her again. She already seemed to hate me…

“I’m glad you’re alright, Delilah,” Marnie smiled at me as she opened the door and held it open for Jenny. “I’d be really upset if something happened to you. I’m really glad that you and everyone else is okay.”

I smiled at her. “Thanks, Marnie,”

She smiled at me one last time before forcing Jenny out the door before her. I felt bad for kicking them out of Seth’s room, but then again it was Seth that was the one that had asked them to leave… 

“Um…” was all I could say when Marnie and Jenny had finally left the room. “I’m sorry for… um…”

“I’m sorry,” Seth cut me off, causing me to bite my lip to stop myself from continuing. “I’m sorry for Jenny, and… everything that happened between us.”

“Don’t apologize for that,” I whispered almost to myself, staring down at the ground in embarrassment now. “You’re not the one who should be sorry. I’m sorry, Seth… You fought Mr. Higginson for me and that got you put into the hospital… And I led you on even though I was still in love with River… I’m so sorry.”

“I took advantage of you when you were drunk,” Seth sighed, shaking his head and running his hand through his hair. “I had absolutely no right to do what I did, especially since you love River and not me. I was just being selfish… I wanted you to myself, and when I finally had the chance to have you… I took it.”

“I don’t blame you,” I murmured, still not looking up at him as I continued to stare at my feet. “I guess I understand how you felt. We were both lonely, and one thing led to another… I don’t blame you, Seth. I don’t blame you.”

Seth let out a sigh. “You might not blame me, but I sure do.”

“But what about River?” I had to ask, finally getting enough courage to look up at his bruised face now. I almost cringed, but I made sure to do my best not to. “You guys were best friends… You guys are still best friends! I don’t want you two to keep fighting… I don’t want to get in between you two! Do you still even want to be friends with him anymore?”

Seth shrugged, obviously not knowing what to do. “Of course I still want to be friends with him, but it isn’t up to me. It’s up to him. I betrayed him and had sex with his drunk girlfriend when he couldn’t remember a thing about either of us. I wouldn’t blame him if he hates me forever.”

“River’s not that type of person,” I insisted, stepping forward now and sitting in the chair Jenny had been sitting in only minutes before. “He doesn’t hold grudges on people unless they hurt him or someone he cares about really badly…”

“What do you think I did, Delilah?” Seth asked, his eyes widening just a little bit. “I did hurt him and someone he cares about really bad. I slept with you, my best friend’s girlfriend! My best friend’s fiancée! I had no right to do that, and yet I did it anyway…”

“I’m sure he’ll forgive you if you apologize,” I told him with a nod, making sure to scoot my chair even closer to his bed. “You didn’t apologize when he found out. You made fun of him and got him all upset. If you apologize, I’m sure he’ll forgive you…”

Seth only sighed.

As if on cue, the aforementioned boy popped his head into the hospital room. River looked down at the ground, obviously not wanting to make eye contact with Seth. I let out a sigh, turning toward the boy in the hospital bed and giving him a pointed look.

“River,” Seth sighed, looking down at his lap almost nervously. “River… I’m sorry for what I did.”

River’s head snapped up, and I could tell that he had been taken off guard. He stepped inside now, closing the door behind him as he stared at Seth with wide eyes. “What?”

“I’m sorry,” Seth repeated, still staring down at his lap. “I’m sorry for what I did with Delilah. I’m sorry that I took advantage of her when she was vulnerable, and I’m sorry for making fun of you after you got your memory back. I’m a horrible best friend and I’d understand if you hated me forever.”

“I don’t hate you,” River informed him, causing Seth’s head to snap up at him now. “I’ve never hated you. Sure, I was mad, but… could you blame me? I’m sure you’d be pissed if I went off and had sex with Marnie.”

“Mental pictures,” I hissed, covering my eyes with my hands even though that didn’t do any good whatsoever.

I knew that the boys smirked, but it only lasted for a few seconds. They were getting somewhere, and I wasn’t going to ruin it for them. I quietly crept over to the couch, slowly lowering myself onto it as I watched the two of them carefully.

“I’m sorry,” Seth repeated once again now. “I’m really sorry, Riv. If I could go back in time and change everything that happened, I would. I’m going to try to go out with Marnie again, because I do still love her, but… that won’t change what happened.”

“You’re going to get back together with Marnie?” I found myself almost shrieking, a bright smile plastered onto my face as I jumped up from the couch and made my way back toward them. “Are you serious?”

Seth nodded at me.

“That’s great!” I couldn’t help but continue to smile. “That’s really, really great!”

Seth didn’t say anything.

“I forgive you,” River finally said with a nod, still standing by the end of Seth’s bed. “Of course I forgive you. I’m not going to be a jerk and not forgive you, because I know that would just hurt Delilah. And you really are my best friend, Seth.”

“What about me?” I heard someone wail loudly, and before I even knew what was happening, Rex burst into the room and wrapped his arms around River’s shoulders. “Don’t forget about me, Rivy! Don’t forget about me! I’m your bestie, too!” 

“Don’t use the term bestie,” I ordered flatly, making a face when River pushed Rex off of him. “It’s too girly for you.”

Rex grinned at me. “Glad to see that you’re awake.”

I rolled my eyes at him, shrugging as I did so. “Yeah, well…”

“Did you see Jenny?” Rex now asked, turning away from me and toward Seth now. “I saw her with Marnie and Bekka! Speaking of her… did you know that she totally apologized to River for everything that she did when we were younger? River, Alice, and I were so shocked that we couldn’t even speak!”

“We saw all of them,” Seth said, pulling his blanket a little higher onto his legs now. “Marnie was able to talk Jenny into going to court so I won’t be in trouble for killing those guys anymore… Jenny just really wanted to see me again…”

“Really?” I blinked, my wide smile growing back onto my face. “Oh, my gosh! That’s so great, Seth!”

He only shrugged again.

“Mr. Ridgeway and Ms. Vierra were both upset when none of us showed up to their wedding,” Rex informed us suddenly after silence had kicked in. “They got really worried when they heard what happened. They said that they’d come and visit us as soon as possible.”

“Oh,” I groaned, my eyebrows furrowing at him. “I really hope they don’t visit before their honeymoon or anything. I don’t want to ruin it for them. Especially since none of us are seriously injured…”

Rex shrugged at me, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall by the door. “I’ve been thinking… What are we supposed to call Ms. Vierra now? I mean… she isn’t really Ms. Vierra anymore…”

I had been wondering the same thing, but I didn’t want to seem like an idiot for asking…

“I’m sure they’d want us to call them by their first names now,” River told him with a shrug, plopping down onto the couch and pulling me down to sit next to him. “So Dan and Courtney, I guess. They’re not our teachers anymore, so it doesn’t really matter…”

“That’ll be too weird,” I voiced, my nose wrinkling at the thought of calling my former teachers by their first names. “They’ve always been Mr. Ridgeway and Ms. Vierra. I don’t think I could call them anything else…”

River shrugged.

“You’re all shrugging an awful lot,” I observed, crossing my arms over my chest and sticking out my bottom lip just a little. “It’s getting annoying.”

The three boys started laughing, and I couldn’t help but laugh along with them. Things were starting to get back to normal, and I couldn’t have been happier for that. I hoped that it would be able to stay like this for a long time, and nothing was going to stop us.

“I love you guys,” I said randomly, just feeling like I had the need to. “I know it’s random, but after everything we’ve been through… I want you to know that I love you.”

River leaned over and kissed the top of my head. “I love you, too.”

“I love you too, Deli Sandwich!” Rex cried out, jumping forward and wrapping me in a bone crushing hug that almost caused me to stop breathing. “Don’t you ever forget that!”

When he finally let me go, I stile a glance at Seth. He smiled at me, but said nothing. But I knew what he was thinking, and that was good enough for me.

“I think we should take a picture!” Rex announced, grabbing onto my wrist and pulling me up from the couch. He was going to grab onto River’s wrist as well, but he had already jumped up from the couch before Rex could have touched him. “To commemorate the start of the rest of our lives! A new life!”

I rolled my eyes at him, but followed him over to Seth’s bed anyway. I sat on the edge of it slightly, and River stood next to me while Rex positioned his camera (where the hell did he even get that…?) at the edge of the bed before getting on the other side of it.

River wrapped his arm around my waist, and I wrapped mine around his shoulders. I wrapped my other arm around Seth’s shoulder, making sure to rest my hand on Rex’s shoulder. Rex wrapped his arm around Seth’s shoulder and rested his hand on my shoulder much like I was doing to him. Seth wrapped his arm around my waist and then his other arm around Rex’s shoulder, so we were all connected somehow that still looked good.

“You’ll know the picture’s been taken when you hear a clicking sound,” Rex informed us quickly, as if the clicking could have come at any second.

It was kind of hard to believe that I had known them for a year and a half. They were closer to me than anyone else in the entire world… There was no way I’d ever be able to live without them. I loved them more than anyone else on the entire planet.

I’d only known them for a year? Hah, it was more like I’d known them for my entire life. They were my best friends, and it would be the four of us forever.

And nothing was ever going to get between the four of us ever again.

And this picture was the start of our new, better lives together. It would symbolize that all the troublesome things were gone and past us. Just as soon as we heard the click.

“Say cheese,” Rex told us through his teeth, trying his best to smile while he did so.

“Cheese,” we all said in unison.

Click.

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The end. :')

Epilogue is the only thing left, and then it's officially over. :(

It's been nine months since I started Hey, There Delilah... I started on writing it on December 24th, 2010 and put it up on January 1st... and now it's pretty much over. :(

But it's so weird... I just realized that I had a teacher named Courtney Vierra at my middle school. And then I also had a teacher named Cynthia Davis (Delilah's new music teacher at Arkwright, in case you forgot... ;D) and she was the crazy teacher! xD

Please COMMENT, VOTE, and FAN! :D