A/N: I didn't get a chance to finish my last story, and I realized that I included some details that did not make sense and were nearly irreparable. So, here's a new fanfic with a different story line, hope you enjoy!

October 16th, 2004

High school junior Sofia Jackson stood with her boyfriend—and best friend—Jeremy Haspiel backstage in a community auditorium. Jeremy was preparing to give a very important speech to a large group of people, pertaining to the poor condition of the schools in the area. His ideas were well-liked among the student body and all his teachers, and they suggested that he bring it up with the board of education, along with the entire community. Sofia could tell how nervous he was by his body language alone— his shaking knees and the sweat forming on his brow were just extra giveaways.

"You'll do fine," she told him reassuringly.

"I-I don't know i-if I c-can do this," Jeremy said. He had always had a stutter when he spoke. This didn't normally keep him from talking in front of people, but he had never had to give a speech to so many people before. She didn't blame him, though; the quick head count Sofia took earlier at least two hundred people sat, waiting to hear his words.

Sofia's blue eyes gazed into Jeremy's brown ones. "You can do this. You are the strongest, bravest person I have ever met. Have faith in yourself."

"Hey, so when does the clown perform?" came a cruel voice from the background. A tall figure emerged from the door leading outside. Sofia and Jeremy immediately recognized him as Raymond Gardner, the varsity quarterback on their school football team and one of the meanest people alive. He would pick at a person's every flaw until they had no self-esteem left in them.

"You know, I don't think you're on the schedule, Gardner," Sofia replied.

"Very funny," he responded sarcastically. "I mean stutter boy over there. Honestly, this should be a good laugh. H-he c-can't g-get t-two w-words o-o-out," he laughed in cruel mockery.

"Don't," said Jeremy. "S-stop, or I—"

"You'll do what?" he said, stepping forward, sizing him up. Face to face, their size difference was even more noticeable than it normally was. Gardner was six-foot-three, two hundred fifty pounds of pure muscle, while Jeremy was five-eight and barely one fifty.

"Stop it, both of you," Sofia demanded, stepping between the two boys. "Gardner, you have no right to talk to him like that. Why don't you do us all a favor and get the hell out of here."

"Sofia, why are you here with this loser anyway? With boobs that big, you could have any man in this city," Gardner responded, reaching for Sofia's chest. She slapped him hard across the face, and stopped Jeremy from doing worse.

"Get out. Now."

"Fine. I've gotta go anyway, before I'm caught talking to you." With that statement, Gardner left the area, leaving the two others alone.

"I-If he ever tr-tries to grab you again, I-I will k-kill him."

"I'll appreciate it then. Are you ready?" Sofia asked.

"I-I don't know. P-people w-will laugh, w-won't they?"

"No. When you get up there, your words will be so powerful that no one would dare make fun of you." Jeremy looked down at his feet. Sofia wrapped him in a hug and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "You'll be fine."

"I love you," he said clearly.

"I love you too," she replied before he kissed her. "The homecoming dance is in three hours," she stated, pulling away from him.

"Yes. Th-this m-meeting is only t-two hours long. Meet y-you at the school?"

"Eight o'clock sharp. Don't be late," Sofia replied.

A woman walked up to the two teens. "Excuse me, but Jeremy's speech is in five minutes. You'll have to leave, miss," she said, walking out once again.

"I'm sorry I can't stay."

"N-no problem. F-front doors a-at eight?"

"I'll be there."

Jeremy never imagined that this would be the last time he ever saw her.

Sadly, for once in her life, Sofia couldn't keep to her word. Jeremy sat at the front doors, waiting for her to show up. He knew there had to be something wrong when she didn't answer her cell phone after calling numerous times. After over an hour of waiting, Jeremy left the dance alone, wondering where she could be. Never did he imagine that her body would be found the next morning. She was in her homecoming dress, lying under bushes fifty yards from her school.

The trauma somehow made Jeremy's stutter disappear. Of course, he hardly ever smiled or laughed afterwards, especially when he found out the police had given up on her case, filing it away, labeling it "COLD."