Maria Slater took a deep breath when she heard the doorbell ring at 7:35. She knew it was Ken Matthews, her new boyfriend, and it was their first date as a couple.

Maria smoothed her curly hair nervously and checked if her black flares and white blouse were okay for a first date. It's OK, Maria decided. But why was she so irritatingly anxious?

Was it because she felt like she was second choice-to a dead girl that was her friend?

That she and Ken were from different races? Well, whatever it was, Maria didn't like it. Putting a smile on her face, she opened the door.

"Ken, hi!" Maria smiled.

"Hey, Maria." Ken grinned and eyed her. "Wow, you look great!"

Maria cleared her throat. "Really?"

"Yeah." Ken locked his hand in hers. "Ready to go?"

"Let's go. Where are we going anyway?" Maria asked. They began walking towards Ken's car.

"Nothing very special." Ken replied. "Here's where we're going." he took out two tickets and handed them top Maria.

Maria looked at them carefully. Then as she read, her brown eyes widened. "Oh my God!" she squealed. "Tickets to Nuclear Hearth's concert at Bridge Water Hall?"

"Yup." Ken nodded proudly. "3rd row seats, center, I might add."

"I love this band! They are so great!" Impulsively, Maria planted a quick kiss on Ken's lips.

Ken turned red. "Um..."

Maria was embarrassed, but she was too happy to even care. "Sorry." she giggled. "But I can't help it! These must be so hard to get..."

"No harm done." Ken smiled, recovering quickly from the kiss. "And they weren't so hard to get-my friend, Mark-his dad works for the company that sells the tickets. He originally was supposed to go, but her developed the flu and won't be able to go, so I bought it from him."

"For how much?" Maria questioned, curious.

Ken shrugged. "$25 each."

"Ouch." Maria shuddered. "Where did you scrape all that money?"

"No problem." He smiled again. "My mom still gave me my allowance even when I wasn't too…healthy, since, you know…Olivia's…" Ken winced.

"You don't have to say it, Ken." Maria soothed.

Ken nodded, then he smiled. "I promised myself that I would continue to live my life-with Olivia in my heart."

Maria squeezed Ken's hand. "That's so brave." She whispered.

Ken squeezed back. Wordlessly, he began to lean closer. So did Maria. Just before their lips touched, Maria pulled away. Then they slipped into Ken's car, a tense silence over what almost happened hanging over them as unwelcome as another earthquake.

"So, what time is the concert going to start?" Maria asked, attempting to make a conversation.

"8:30." Ken responded awkwardly. "I'm sorry, Maria." He said suddenly.

"For what?"

"For trying to kiss you."

"That's OK."

And then a big silence.

Elizabeth Wakefield knocked on the door of the Sandborn's.

No answer.

"That's weird." Elizabeth murmured. It was already 10:00 Sunday morning, and usually the house was bustling.

Elizabeth tried opening the door, but to her surprise, it swung open.

"Hello?" Elizabeth called. Then she heard something.

"Megan? Conner?" she asked a bit loudly. She walked slowly up the familiar creaky steps, until she found where it was coming from.

It was from Megan's room, and it was the sound of sobbing and a very familiar voice.

"Conner?" Elizabeth peered into the room. She gasped at what she saw.

There was Conner, rubbing his little sister's back, murmuring some comforting words to her as tears streaked down her face. And then, that's when Elizabeth saw it.

There was a big bruise on Megan's leg, and a wound under it.

Jessica Wakefield hummed happily to herself in her home, reminiscing the night before. And Jeremy looked so cute in a tux! She thought.

Then the doorbell rang.

Jessica opened the door and Melissa Fox's sad face greeted her.

"Melissa?" Jessica gasped.

"We need to talk." She said grimly. "It's about Will. He was in a motorcycle accident."

Jessica's eyes widened.