• Felicity was sitting in the den, listening to her stereo as she steamed over her boyfriend forgetting her birthday. She had only said what she needed to say, but still felt a slight tremor of guilt. Maybe it was in what she said that made him walk out, but she didn’t think it was all that wrong of a statement at the time...

    She mulled over the possibilities of his location as she lost herself in the music, stretching out on the sofa. She thought of Matt, of his glare when she had said that obviously provoking statement. "Inconsiderate son of a b***h!" She didn’t realize she fell asleep until she awoke about forty-five minutes later. She glanced at the clock on the end table, and blinked a few times to clearly see the little golden hands.

    “Oh, it’s Midnight,” Felicity said, voice slurred with sleep. She closed her eyes and processed the information. She mumbled something that sounded like a complaint.

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    A shot rang out.

    Felicity woke up in a cold sweat and tears streaming down her face, but she shrugged it off. She was often having nightmares of being shot at, but someone jumped in front of her taking a bullet that was meant for her in every one. She knew it was a male; the silhouette’s shoulders were too broad to be female.

    She had some sort of nagging feeling at the back of her brain, however, that she knew that “he” was no stranger. In her dreams, the moment “he” got shot always made her cry her eyes out in reality, so she definitely knew she knew “him”.

    Felicity shook her head and peeked at the clock; it was 1:00 in the morning now, and she was now seriously worried. She searched her handbag for her mobile, and called her friend Vincent at his family’s diner.

    He picked up on the second ring.

    “Happy birthday, City!” he cried happily. Huh. When did he get caller I.D.?

    “Thanks, Vincent,” she mumbled, surprised by his enthusiasm.

    “What’s wrong?” she knew he’d sense the anxiousness in her voice. “It’s your birthday! The happiest day of the year!”
    “Well,” she told him about how Matt forgot her birthday, and ranted about how she hated him anymore, how he was turning into such a little b***h since he started drinking. She half expected him to stop her, but he just listened like the great guy he was.

    When she was finished, she asked Vincent if she knew where Matt was.

    “I know as much as you do, Felicity. If I know Matt, though, he’s definitely out partying with Paul and Tyson.” She thanked him for listening, and said goodbye. “Anytime, City. You know I’ll always be here for you, day or night.”

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    She dialed Matt’s number next like a madwoman. She misdialed twice, but on the third try she got it right.

    One ring.
    Two rings.
    Three rings.
    Four.
    “Hello…?”

    “Matt?” Felicity asked, “Matt, where are you?” Felicity asked in a barely audible voice.
    “Why should I tell you? I thought I was an inconsiderate son of a b***h!” He snapped, the drunkenness practically dripping from his voice. She heard loud, obnoxious heavy metal in the background. She held the phone a good three inches from her ear.

    “I’m worried, okay? Now, where are you?!” Felicity nearly screamed into the phone, hoping she was loud enough for him to hear.

    “I’m at the bar,” he slurred. Ugh, not the bar!! Felicity groaned in frustration at his whereabouts. “What else do you need? ‘S last call and I wanna get a few more shots in—oh, s**t!!!” Matt screamed.

    “Matt?!” she screamed, “Matt, what’s wrong?!” Sheer terror paralyzed her to the core; she gripped the mobile so tight her knuckles turned white.

    “Spilled my beer,” he mumbled.

    “You inconsiderate son of a b***h!!!” Felicity roared into the phone. Rage and heavy sobs made her whole body shake and tremble as he roared back—

    “Whatever," And the line went dead. Felicity glared at the mobile with pure hatred and chucked it at the wall. She cussed herself as she got up to retrieve and examine it. Thankfully, the thing was built like a tank, and the only sign of impact was a scuff on the corner and an indention in the wall.

    “Damn it to Hell,” she growled. She stomped her way into the kitchen. She made herself some green tea, and held stared into the mug as the steam rose. She wondered why she picked such an jerk like Matt when she could have had such a perfect guy like Vincent. She laughed shakily, she knew it wouldn’t ever happen; they didn’t like each other “like that”. They were only friends, after all.

    After more than half of her lukewarm tea was poured into the sink, she decided to go for a walk and get some fresh air. After all, it is “famous” for being the best remedy for anything.

    She pulled on a grey sweater and grabbed her MP3 player. She set it to play “Goodbye to Romance” on repeat, and walked out the front door.

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    So then Felicity walked and walked, never stopping or changing her pace. She walked without looking, just blaring Ozzy on repeat. She walked with her head down, her eyes glazed over. She never noticed the group behind her, following her. She made a wrong turn, into a dark, dank alleyway. She only noticed when she heard a low rumble of laughter shake the walls.

    “Hey there, City!” the man in front’s voice boomed throughout the alley. He sounded drunk, familiar in some way…

    “Matt?” Felicity asked warily. Her fear skyrocketed when she saw the pistol in his hand. Her choked gasp and horrified expression made the trio explode with laughter.

    “You’ve been on my nerves lately, City. We’re here to… fix that.” Paul said, and as he held up an iron pipe, Tyson brandished a meat cleaver. Felicity screamed a bloodcurdling scream as they enclosed her, but before anyone could get to her…

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    A door burst open, and Vincent flew out with an aluminum baseball bat.

    “Felicity!!” Vincent screamed as he attacked Paul with a baseball bat. Paul was down and out. Tyson roared in anger as he rushed Vincent. All you could hear was Tyson screaming as Vincent took him to the ground and smashed his nose in. Tyson threw up and passed out.

    Paul got back up and stumbled over to Vincent. He smashed, crashed and bashed on Paul until he was just a obstacle in the alley.

    “This ends now.” Matt aimed the pistol clear for Felicity’s heart. He flashed a maniacal smile and pulled the trigger...

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    A shot rang out.

    Felicity froze in terror, and squeezed her eyes shut, and saw her life flash before her eyes. Instead of impact, she felt blood splatter over her face.

    “What's going on out-- Vincent!!” Vincent’s parents ran out of the door, and Matt ran off. Felicity dropped to her knees at Vincent’s side.

    “Why…?” was all she said. She held his trembling body in her arms, and he opened his eyes slowly, grimacing in pain.

    “’Cause I love you, City… Always have… Always will…” He smiled a brief, weak smile.
    "Oh, Vincent.." Felicity held his hand to her face, and they shared a moment so precious, so short...

    But then Vincent died. He died before the paramedics even got close. Tears spilled out of Felicity’s eyes as she went into hysterics, begging the EMT's to do something.

    "Save him!" she cried hysterically, "Save him!! SAVE HIM!!!!"

    She realized only moments later that she loved him all along.

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    A week went by; Felicity went to Vincent’s funeral and completely lost it. She probably cried more then his mother did. They played the song "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling. At that point, she had to run to the bathroom and wail.

    The police caught and arrested Matt, Paul and Tyson. They had been charged, Tyson and Paul were accesories to murder, and Matt was charged with First Degree murder. He had gotten a life sentence.

    Felicity didn’t talk to anyone. She barely ate, and lost about thirty pounds. She turned pale, gaunt, and ghostly, hiding and blending into the crowds.

    About three months after Vincent's death, Felicity finally did the most dramatic thing since Romeo and Juliet’s time:

    Felicity Suzanne Gray
    Age 20, was found dead on Sunday, April 7th, 2006. Cause of death was a bullet to the head. Suicide was ruled by the coroner, and a note next to her body read : “Don't be like me. Go find your love, never second guess. I realized one minute too late...”

    ~~~The End