"Hales?" Keely said into the phone as she sat cross legged on her bed listening to a Beatles record.

"You did call me," she pointed out.

Rolling her eyes, Keely continued, "Well, I was thinking. And don't you dare say that's never a good thing, because that's my line," there was a pause when Haley snorted good-naturedly. "That you should pick me up, because I don't have a ride there, and I plan on drinking a bit tonight."

"Ever hear of a cab?" prompted Haley.

"No money," she challenged.

There was another pause when Haley seemed to be considering something. "I can come pick you up later, I'm just setting up for the party with a few people, and I will not have you setting up for your own going away party."

"C'mon," Keely laughed. "You're having it in Jordan's backyard, all you have to do is set up a few tables and get some strong guy to lift kegs onto it."

"A lot you know," said Haley mutinously.

Suddenly interested, Keely stood up wandering around her room. "What are you doing then?"

"Not telling you any details," she warned. But continued with a smile in her voice after Keely's laughing reply. "But we're having it in the far back, in the forest almost. There's a road close to it, but far enough in that the cops aren't going to bust us. You know the place, it has that huge wooden thing that looks like a party tent."

"Course I know it," Keely laughed. So the only reason it was taking so long was because those strong guys were carrying everything down into the forest. "So when are you going to pick me up?"

"About ten thirty," she decided.

"And Hales," Keely added. "I have no idea what to wear."

In the end, Keely ended up on decided what to wear. She had to wean herself off the tendencies of wearing whatever Haley handed her, but she was never going to be as stylish ever again.

She chose skinny navy blue jeans because she was wearing her favourite high heeled ankle boots, plus a long black Van Halen top, but it still stayed tight to the body, making it perfect for wearing her mother's old black leather jacket. She left the collar open so she could wear the heart shaped locket that had been her grandmother's. Pulling her dark curling hair back into pony tail, Keely kept a few tendrils of hair out in front of her off-white hairband.

Her father was asleep in the armchair when Keely walked into the kitchen and the replays were on the TV. Sighing, Keely grabbed a blanket and spread it over top of him lovingly before turning back into the kitchen. The first thing she did was grab the sugar from the island and put it beside the coffee maker.

It had been like an ongoing silent war between Keely and her father.

Every single time Frank had coffee - which was copious amounts during the day - he would leave the sugar on the island. And every night, Keely would put the canister back.

Who was going to do that when she was gone?

Trying to avoid a panic attack, Keely grabbed a notebook and pen, flipping to a blank page, she wrote:

Hey daddy;

I might even be home before you read this, because you're always dead to the world until four in the morning if you've already slipped into that sports coma, which you have done tonight.

Going out with Haley.

There are three sandwiches in the fridge, if you wake up and decide you are hungry.

Don't worry, I didn't cook them, Evelyn did.

Anyways, I'm going out with Hales, sandwiches in the fridge, put the sugar back and I love you.

Keely

"You look hot," Haley observed,making Keely giggle as she climbed into her parent's enormous SUV. "But why did you even ask me what to wear? I mean, you look amazing, and it's not as if you listened to me."

Smiling slightly, Keely patted her best friend's shoulder.

"Answer," Haley prompted at the silence.

"I decided if I'm going to be some famous rock star," Keely faked confidence, "I need to learn how to pick out my own clothes."

"First of all, of course you're going to be a famous rock star, you rock Keels," Haley laughed. "And secondly, there's no reason to pick out your own clothes. Just email me a picture of all that fancy amazing clothing you're going to get from that designer you're going to see in New York, and I'll send you an email telling you what to wear every morning."

"I like it," she giggled.

After about twenty minutes, Haley pulled onto the side of the road, finally finding a place to park between everyone else.

"This many people came?" Keely said in amazement, looking through the window.

"Of course," Haley was nonchalant. "Um... I threw the party, so everybody in our school, and others, are going to want to go. Plus, despite the jealousy, most of the people at are school like you, and wish you the best."

Smiling, Keely took a step towards where she could see a bonfire through the trees. "Well, I never expected that."

"And I have a feeling you never expected this either."

The voice was easy to identify as Sadie, but Keely couldn't see the soft brown eyes, brown hair.

"Seriously guys?" Keely complained flailing her arms as Sadie, or maybe Haley, slipped a blindfold over her eyes. "I've been here a million times, I know what I'm going to see. Plus, you know me, the clumsiest person in the Western Hemisphere. How do you expect me to walk through a forest littered with tree roots and things without falling on my face."

"We're going to lead you," Sadie said trying to sound comforting as she rubbed Keely's arm. But Keely could only roll her eyes even though the motion would have no effect on the people around her seeing she was blindfolded.

Snorting, Keely answered, "Yeah. Like that's going to help when I fall on my face."

"I recruited Tony to help," Haley put in. "He's going to carry you piggyback there." Maybe it was foolish and a bit sneaky, but Haley wanted to see a happy ending for all her friends tonight. Because, despite everything, Tony was her friend too, and she wanted him to either move on or show Keely that he really did love her.

"What are you up to Hales?" Keely asked suspiciously turning to the sound of Haley's voice.

"Nothing," said Haley sweetly from the other side.

"Sadie," Keely whined.

There was a sound in front of Keely, and she spun on her heel towards it. "C'mon Keels, you got to get to your party."

Feeling outrageously stubborn, Keely folded her arms tight in front of her as she heard Tony's voice. She knew nothing else was going to happen between the two of them, but she also didn't want to give him any ideas. "Not doing it."

"Oh, c'mon on Keels, we've done this before," he complained.

Wishing she had her eyesight back, Keely answered, "That was under completely different circumstances."

"You said we were friends the other day."

Now Keely felt like a hypocrite. "Yeah, I want us to be friends," she said cautiously.

"And friends can give each other piggy backs," he sounded satisfied with himself. "Or I can carry you, either way we're going Keels. And this will be a lot safer than that time in grade eight when we tried going down the stairs like that."

Despite herself, Keely felt a smile. "I had bruises for weeks after that."

"I remember, now c'mon."

"I can't really do that myself," Keely pointed out with an eyebrow raised.

"Here you go," Haley said from her side. Surprised, Keely jolted into Sadie, she had completely forgotten that they were even here.

They placed her hands on either side of Tony's broad shoulders, and it was just up to Keely to jump on him. Giggling despite her earlier refusal, Keely had to scramble up his back again because she hadn't jumped high enough.

It was a good thing Tony was a graceful person, because they didn't fall once on their trip across the forest.

"Okay," Haley called while the chatter was getting louder. Suddenly it stopped for a moment and then became cheering again. "Jump off Tony know Keels," she ordered. And the moment Keely obeyed, Haley quickly untied the blindfold they had put over her eyes.

"Oh, wow," Keely murmured looking around.

It was still recognizable as they place they always seem to have parties with the giant wooden tent like apparatus. But instead of just tables with alcohol on them, they actually had food along with the drinks, which was shocking in itself. There was a giant bonfire near them - thankfully they were in a clearing and it's wet in Bellingham - and the flames must had been going fifty feet high. But the thing that caught Keely's eye was in front of the bonfire.

"So this is how you got people who I don't even know to come," Keely said staring at the simple black stage that had a band on top with their instruments held to the ready.

Haley shrugged, not looking particularly bashful. "Well, none of us have ever heard you sing. And since we know Miss Keely Staub is going to be a huge Hollywood rock star, we'd like to tell our children about how we saw her preform her first concert ever."

Already there was a chill of fear running up her back, she hid it by laughing and hugging Haley. "You're the best friend in the world."

"I know that," Hales joked, "I just wanted to know if you knew that. Anyways, you're not going to go on until later tonight, so you can enjoy your party first."

"I can't believe you hired a band," Keely murmured, hooking her arm in Haley's.

She shrugged again, "When you're parents have more money then they'll be able to spend in twenty life times you get to do these kind of things for your best friend, it's just one of the perks."

"You mean a perk for me," Keely laughed again. But then she sobered, looking closely at her best friend.

"I want you know that I really am going to miss you," tears threatened, and Keely quickly rubbed a finger quickly underneath her eyes to make sure her mascara didn't smug. "And I really won't forget you, because I'm going to call you almost everyday. And I know people say that all the time, and then in the movies they go back on that promise. But I'm not going to do that."

"I know you won't," Haley copied her movement. "And if you don't I'll call you, I'll buy all of the albums you put out. Even if you turn out ti be the worst singer in the world."

"I love you Hales," laughed Keely, tears pricking her eyes, hugging Haley around the neck.

"Back at you K. Staub," her giggle was a bit watery as well as she hugged Keely tightly. "Now go have your last day as the most popular girl in school."

Haley went to talk to someone, and instead of going to tell people thanks for coming, and that she'd miss them, even though she didn't know everyone, Keely made a beeline to a table. Her knees were trembling with fear of going up on that stage, because Keely wasn't naive, she knew that half the people here just wanted her to fail.

And for a bit of liquid confidence, Keely quickly gulped back a straight up shot of both Jack Daniels and Pure Vodka.

After waiting for about ten minutes, Keely was feeling pleasantly light in her own body. Taking this as a queue, she walked around with a coke and spiked with a tiny bit of rum in her left hand and used her right to hug people.

The whole school must be here, Keely mused as she strolled around.

"Hi," said Keely brightly with a giant smile. She wasn't drunk, Keely was just the nicest to people who hated her. And in front of her was a girl from the choir that Keely had heard whispering loudly about her behind her back the day before.

"I bet you anything she can't even sing," said the girl in a hushed voice that still carried loudly down the hallway.

The girl that obviously thought she was the best thing ever happening to music continued not knowing Keely was standing behind her. "I bet her dad is paying off the record label to keep the stuck up cheerleader happy. And she'll go into Hollywood and everyone will hate her music."

"Keels," Tony came up grabbing her arms carefully behind her. "You're better than this," he whispered in her ear. "You're better than her, and we all know it, she's just jealous, now walk away."

"Fine," Keely muttered, picking up her dignity while glaring at the girl's back.

"I mean, even if she does sell a record," that girl was totally oblivious. "We all know it's just because she looks like a cheerleader, I bet she doesn't know what two plus two is. And then she'll probably fall on her face on stage."

That was the straw for Keely, insulting her intelligence and then pointing out she was clumsy.

Ripping her arm from Tony's grasp, she only heard a groan through the white noise thundering in her ears.

"Hey, darling," Keely said in a sweet voice.

The girl's back stiffened and she turned on her heel, her face went from scared to pleasantly clear.

"I think I need to get some things straight for you." They were already drawing a crowd, the guys hoping for a 'Chick fight'. "Two plus two is four, I have a 4.0 G.P.A, so get your facts straight before you start rumours about that."

The girl's face was disbelieving.

"What's your name?" Keely's voice was pleasant, but it was trembling a bit from the strain of keeping it that way.

"Tracey," she muttered.

"Tracey," Keely smiled. "Since I'm leaving this school forever, I don't care if anyone knows. Only Haley knows this, my family is poor. My father is a framer, and I have to pay for the groceries with my money from my teaching job. So it's very unlikely that my father is paying Maureen off."

Now not only was Tracey's face shocked, but everyone around them as well, including Tony.

Now Keely's voice was getting nasty. "Plus, I can sing. And you can bet your ass on that, so next time you want to spread rumours, you should wait until you hear me. I could sing you off the stage."

But as Keely turned around, Tracey snorted loudly. But this time she really did whisper, "I bet she screeches instead of sings."

"You whore!" Keely shouted, losing any and all patience as she swung around. She usually called Haley a whore, but it was oddly a word of affection between them, the opposite of the way she was using it now. But it wasn't only Tracey getting to her this way, it was all of the rumours flying around about her.

Before she could make a move, most likely to rearrange the bitch's nose, Tony gripped her around the waist and dragged her – kicking – away from the situation.

"Hi," Tracey said stiffly.

"I'm so happy you could be here to say goodbye," Keely said sweetly while she was screaming in her head, 'Go to hell you bitch.'

"I just came to watch you try to sing," Tracey said smugly.

"Well, thanks anyway," Keely smiled turning around. When she turned around she noticed that Tony was standing about ten yards away watching them very closely. Smiling Keely walked over to him, "I was nice," she assured him touching his arm in assurance.

Raising an eyebrow disbelievingly, he answered, "I saw that. And how much have you had to drink Keely? You reek."

"Try it," Keely said handing him her cup.

Taking a sip with his eyes still on hers, "There's like no alcohol in there."

"Nope," she said, feeling satisfied, Keely took back her drink taking another sip. "But I had two tiny shots before," she admitted. "It was just a confidence boost kind of thing for me."

"You need more confidence? Keel, you're the head cheerleader, you make up routines and show the whole state them, you're the most confident people I know."

"That's different," Keely challenged. "I know who I am when I'm being a cheerleader, even if I don't like who I am and I know what I'm supposed to do. But with singing, I have no idea what to do, or what I'm supposed to act like, but I like the person I am when I have music. Does that make any sense?"

Tony ignored the last comment. "You're the best person I know," he assured her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry Keel, you're going to make whatever you do great, if you decide to be Dallas Cowboys cheerleader or a musician."

"I like the second choice," Keely laughed.

"I think I like them both," he chuckled. "But I want you to be happy Keels, and I'm sorry for what I said when we were together. I never meant a word."

Looking up at closely, "You really did kinda change didn't you?"

"You gave me a reality check," he said and smiled that charming smile.

"You're going on stage now for like five songs at the least," Haley came bounding out of nowhere. She grabbed Keely's hand.

"You're going to do great," Tony said kissing her hair lightly before letting go.

Keely couldn't even find the energy to be nervous anymore, she was just feeling confused. She thought she'd become stronger, actually she was sure that she was since their breakup. And she was sure that he had changed as well. But now she was confused, what did she want with him?

He had really changed, because he hadn't tried once to get back together since their talk on the football field.

Haley was already on stage at the microphone while Keely was musing on the side. "And here's what you've been waiting for all night, our very own - soon to be rock star - Keely Staub."

She wasn't even feeling the nerves anymore.

Walking up to the guys on stage, Keely said, "Do you guys have an extra guitar?"

The one closest to Keely - who was rather cute with his blond hair and guitar - smiled easily at her. "Here," he murmured with a very nice voice before he leaned over and grabbed his extra guitar.

"Thanks," Keely smiled at him. She slipped the guitar strap over her head, and looked back at them. "What song are we playing by the way?"

The one who had given her the guitar said, "You get to choose the first song."

After a moment of consideration, Keely asked, "Do you guys know Fireworks by The Tragically Hip? I'll play rhythm."

They all nodded.

"Love that song," said the guitar player. He seemed to be the only one talking to her.

Gathering what was left of her courage, Keely nodded to him before stepping forward to the single microphone at the edge of the stage. People's faces were blurring together now, she could no longer distinguish face from face.

Simply hauling in a massive breath, she let it out slowly taking her spot at the front. She placed her hands familiarly on the unfamiliar guitar, and then they started. It all started.

There was a long pause when the song was done.

But Keely just smiled, because she knew her voice had sounded great, she played that song a lot when she'd been having those private lessons with Mr. Summers. She knew the silence was for amazement. And not the amazement that she was terrible, or something around those lines. It was amazement, because they had all doubted that she was talented.

And now came the eruption of cheering.

Feeling for the first time like she was in the spot she was always meant to be in, Keely leaned towards the microphone. And smiled cheekily while saying, "That one was for Tracey. Eat your heart out." She couldn't help herself from that last dig.