"Let's negotiate here."

"No thanks."

"Come on—I'll give you thirty dollars if you give me that?"

"No."

"Dammit gimme it, please?"

"No!"

I growled at Chris as I rolled the dice. We were sitting on my front porch playing Monopoly and sipping lemonade. It was a hot day outside and my face was burning with heat. School was almost over—it kind of scared me. Next year I would be a senior. Just the sound of it made me cringe. I wasn't ready for the real world in only a year.

I moved my hat piece to the 'Go to Jail' square and frowned. I always lost at Monopoly. It was like my weakness-whereas Chris kicked my ass every single time. He smiled happily and took a sip of lemonade. His face was tanned a bronze and his blonde hair blew in the wind. The sun cast a glow about him and every time I looked at him I was afraid I'd stop breathing. Dammit.

"Sigh," I said. "It's hot. And I'm losing at Monopoly. And there's a butterfly that keeps pissing me off!" I swatted at the damn insect, but it flew out of my reach just as my hand was about to clasp it's blue wings. I wasn't going to hurt the butterfly—just put it somewhere else. It was annoying me.

Chris laughed as the butterfly danced away and he took another sip from his drink. As he watched the butterfly dance about I saw a fresh scratch just under his ear. It worried me and broke my heart once again.

"How did everything work out yesterday?" I asked subtly, trying not to be too direct. I honestly just wanted to know how badly Chris was hurt, but I couldn't come out and ask him. I was afraid he'd get angry. Chris looked over at me and immediately a dark, creepy look overtook his features.

"It went just like every other day goes, Lark," he said, sighing and leaning back in his chair. The wind played with his hair and his eyes were so...sad. I felt so bad...I couldn't really do anything. I just sat there and looked at him; wanting to hold him and tell him everything would be okay—but how could I do that when the truth was everything wasn't going to be okay? The truth was Chris would always be beat by his father unless some miracle came along and his father realized what a pig he was...truth was Chris was broken and bruised, and he always would be. I could only offer my love for his pain.

"Chris—I'm sorry," I muttered lamely. What was I supposed to say? I had no idea—what did Chris want to hear? "One day you won't feel anymore pain, Chris. I know how strong you are and sometimes it scares me because I know you don't need anybody to survive, but maybe you should let people try and help...you're not alone in this."

Chris shrugged indifferently and ran his fingers over his eyebrows...it looked like he had a headache. I felt bad ever bringing the day up—I should have learned from experience to just keep my mouth shut about these kinds of things, but sometimes I blurted things out before I thought about them...and the regret was immense. Chris needed to know he wasn't alone—how could he be alone? I was there for him, Gordie was there for him, we were all there for him. But perhaps that wasn't enough—Chris had people there for him...maybe he needed more. And something jabbed at me, daring to haunt the question that I wanted so desperately to ignore...Was I truly the right person for Chris?

"I feel so helpless," I said. "Please talk to me."

Chris looked into my eyes and frowned. "What do you want to hear Lark?" he snapped. I winced inside, but didn't show it. "Do you want to hear that I'm okay? That this I'm getting used to his beatings and his rage, and that you can maybe change everything? It's a part of life, Lark. This is who I am. I get beat by my dad. Oh well, what am I supposed to do? I just have to help my mom and sister and brothers, because they are so much more important. I can take his beatings, I'm numb to them. What do you want to hear?"

I looked dead on into him and saw how tired he looked. He looked so...old. So different than the Chris I knew and cared about. The Chris I loved was strong, and funny and sensitive and KIND. But this Chris—this Chris was tortured and sad and alone. And as much as I wanted to refuse it, this Chris was the one I loved too, this Chris was mine. I took a deep breath and looked at him. I didn't know what I wanted to hear...of course I wanted to hear that he would be okay and that I could change everything, but that wasn't the truth. I couldn't change anything. I was merely a catalyst in this ever turning formula.

He took a breath and looked at me tenderly, almost regretfully. "I didn't mean to blow up on you. I'm sorry...it's just...don't expect me to pour my heart out to you every time my old man has a mean-streak. That's just the way it is."

I looked at him skeptically, and I knew he could read my eyes. "I'm okay," he said, answering my unvoiced question. "Please stop worrying about me so much...I'm strong, I promise I won't lose it."

I didn't smile at him, but offered him a tainted look. "I know...but that's what scares me the most...you being so strong. Maybe you should not be so strong sometimes...maybe you should depend on someone more."

Chris shook his head. "I can't. I just can't. I fight my own battles; I'm not depending on anyone."

I nodded, knowing how stubborn Chris could be and knowing I couldn't change his mind. I reached across the table and took hold of his hand. My own hand looked so tiny against his rough, bigger ones. He looked at me sincerely.

"I don't know what I'd do without you Lark."

I grinned at the irony of it all...here Chris was telling me a minute ago that he couldn't depend on anyone, yet he had just said he needed me. I smiled at him and played with his fingers in mine.

"You'd lose it," I said, laughing a bit. He looked at me tiredly and grinned also. I stood up and walked over to him, sitting down beside him on the rocking swing, and loving the feeling of his body against mine. He placed his arm around me and I leaned my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes.

The sky was turning pink, and the summer air hung around us, entrancing us in a magical beauty so breathtaking. A butterfly danced around, and the faint buzz of insects set me at rest. I was finally at peace with the world, at peace with the world I hated so much yet couldn't live without. We sat in silence, Chris and I, just enjoying his company and hoping the night would never end.

My life was a constantly moving story book. It was disturbing, yet fairy tale like, and beautiful. It was somewhat sad, but uplifting all the same. I realized as days passed and as I grew older that no matter what I couldn't control what my story had in store for the next chapter. What would come would come, and I'd just have to meet it when it did. My life was my life, and I had to love it regardless of what happened. I fell in love with my best friend, and with some crazy turn of the stars, he loved me back, and that feeling was worth my whole life. It's kind of crazy how my story worked out—how I, Lark O'Reilly, got the guy. It's funny and yet beautiful at the same time. Everyone had their own story—mine just happened to have some twists in it. But no matter how fucked up my story was, it was my story, and Chris was in my life, and that was worth everything to me.

I don't know how my story is going to end. I don't know if Chris and I will be together forever, for a month more, or even for a year more. All I knew was that Chris and I were together then, at that moment, and I didn't care about the rest of my story. I had Gordie in my story, I had Chris in my story, I had my beautiful family in my story, and that was all I needed at that moment. I desired no more. I was in love with my best friend, and I knew no matter what came between Chris and I, no matter what life had in store for us, one thing would always hold true: We would always be best friends.

Chris was my best friend, and he had always been there for me. I could only hope I could return all those times he'd been there. And I knew, at that moment, as I loved him with a passion so strong it caused my heart pain, that I would always be his best friend, and he'd always be by my side. As Chris held me that night, and kissed me I knew he loved me.

Me...the platonic girl. Me...boring Lark. Me...his best friend.

. . . . . . . . .

THE END!!!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed throughout this story!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! Thanks to those who stuck by this story from the very, very beginning. It's been one hell of a ride...well I'm still debating on an epilogue or not, and how to write it, so send me some feedback!! I love you all!! I hoped you liked the ending...This story was dedicated to all of you!! May you all find the beauty in your own story. Love and Strawberries, The Good Girl. :)