Gina smiled to herself as she perfected her painting. She held the paintbrush in her hand. She was proud of her artwork because it looked beautiful. It was one of her best paintings yet, and she would give it to Justin through mail. It was a painting of a beach in California, with the beautiful, radiant sunset. The colors stood out. She stared at the easel with pride. Gina hoped Justin would like her painting. She had never told Justin that she was an artist. She planned to surprise Justin and give him her painting of the California sunset. She knew how much he would miss California.

Gina had been feeling miserable lately. She was too appalled by the news of her having leukemia. She was frightened of the thought of being treated with chemotherapy. She wouldn't be able to go out of the hospital unless she was under rehabilitation. She would lose all of her hair, and be stuck in the hospital bed. Worst of all, she was going to die. There was no cure for her. Her eyes watered just thinking about it. I'm only sixteen, and I'm dying, she thought sorrowfully. What had she done for her to have leukemia?

She put her brush down and sunk into her chair. She had shook when she had first heard the news. Her parents and her had cried hysterically. It had been the worst day of her life. She was going to die, and she had to face it. She had to be strong.

She heard the doorbell ring. She groaned. Her mother had told her that she would be expecting some visitors that afternoon. That meant no more peace and quiet around the house. Why did it have to be today? Gina thought disappointedly. She sighed and got up from her chair to get the door.

As she opened the door, she gasped. "Justin? What are you doing here?" she said in a loud voice, scaring Justin slightly. She hadn't expected him to be at her front door.

Justin smiled at her. "Gina," he said warmly. She just gaped at him, not knowing what to say. He knew she was shocked. "I'll explain everything later."

"Y-you're here," Gina said, her face turning from shocked to happy. She reached out and embraced him. "Oh my gosh, you're actually here!" She hugged him tightly. Then she pulled Justin into the house excitedly. "Justin, how did you know where I lived?"

"My parents talked to your parents," Justin explained quickly. Then he added, "Hey, Gina? Does JC know about your…leukemia?"

"No," she replied softly. Then she brushed her thoughts away. She didn't want to think about it. She led Justin into the living room, where her painting was placed on the easel. "Justin," she said, "Look. That's for you. I painted that for you."

Justin approached the painting in pure awe. "Oh my gosh, you painted this?" he asked, shocked. He hadn't know that his girlfriend was an artist. It was so beautiful. He touched the painting. "Thank you. I love it so much. It's beyond magnificent." He turned around and kissed her on the cheek.

"I hope you like it," Gina said with a small smile. "It's a painting of the California sunset to remind you of what it looks like. When you move here, you'll always have it with you. Promise you really like it? Truthfully."

"I honestly love it, Gina," Justin responded, hugging her. "You're so talented, you know that?"

Gina beamed with pride. "Thank you."

"Well, we have to leave now," Justin told her. "Don't worry, your parents know everything. My parents talked to them over the phone, we've got everything planned out."

"Ah, so then my Mom lied about visitors?" Gina asked with a grin. "And where are we going?"

"Not exactly. I'm your visitor, if that counts," Justin answered, stroking her cheek. He kissed her quickly on the lips. "Go get packed. We're catching the next flight back to Sacramento. You and I have a prom to attend.

Jana sat in her bedroom, home alone. That night was prom night. Jana was beyond depressed. She had wanted to go so badly, but she didn't want to go stag. She hadn't planned on going with anyone. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she brushed it away sourly. She was home alone-on prom night. I'm supposed to be out having fun! she thought as she stared blankly at the wall.

She had been so psyched thinking about prom with all of her friends. At the beginning of the year, she and her friends had planned to go together and have a blast. She and JC had even promised each other that they would both attend their senior prom together, but that promise had been broken. Everything had been ruined. She wasn't even with JC anymore. JC had just kissed her in front of Britney to make her jealous. Jana gulped down her sorrow. She felt like curling up in a hole and going to sleep forever.

He doesn't even care about my own feelings anymore, Jana thought angrily. She couldn't believe JC's actions at the party. He had been so wrong to do that. She hadn't expected him to make any moves on her. She felt confused and couldn't think straight. All her thoughts were blurred.

She decided to get out of her room to take a breather. As she walked down the stairs, she heard the doorbell ring. She didn't feel like opening the door, but she walked towards the door anyway. Her eyes widened as she door opened. JC was standing there with a bouquet of red roses. He was wearing a black tuxedo, and he looked fresh and radiant. They stood there for a moment, gazing into each other's eyes intently.

"JC…" Jana said in a whisper, gazing at him, then the flowers, then back at him again. She was puzzled by his presence. "What…what are you doing here at my house?" she asked softly, stepping towards him.

JC smiled and started serenading her with "Open Arms". "So now I come to you, with open arms," JC sang while staring into Jana's eyes, "hoping you'll see, what your love means to me…" He sang to her like there was no one else in the world but the two of them.

Jana started shaking weakly. "Oh my God," she managed to get out, tears flowing down her cheeks. JC bent down on his knees and presented her with the bouquet of roses, all while singing to her. He ended his song and mouthed, "I love you" to Jana.

"Oh my God," Jana said again, smiling through her blurry eyesight. JC's eyes were crinkled at the corners and he smiled at her. She felt his hand grasp hers and stroke it gently. Jana's heart beat quickly as he touched her.

"I love you, Jana," JC told her sincerely and truthfully. "I want to be with you. I'm sorry about what I've done to you in the past, but I realized that I couldn't live without your love. Knowing that you can't stand me…it just breaks my heart. My heart belongs to you, so if you have the love in your heart to take me back…" He kissed her hand lovingly. "Please take me back."

Jana stood there, crying but smiling at the same time. "JC," she said, trying not the cry, "I don't know what to say…"

"Just say you'll go to the prom with me tonight," JC said as he stood up. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. "I love you, and I mean it. I never stopped loving you. I'll never break you heart again, Jana. Please trust me and believe me. I need you."

Jana impulsively wrapped her arms around JC. "I need you too, JC," she confessed as he kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry for the way I've treated you. I…I've just been so confused with everything. I didn't know what I wanted."

"Shall we go to the prom now?"

"I can't," Jana said miserably. "I didn't even buy a prom dress. I wasn't planning to go to the prom," she replied.

"It's okay," JC responded warmly. "that shouldn't matter. You're still beautiful to me," he told her. "I just want to celebrate our last dance together. I want to dance with you, and kiss you while we're dancing."

Jana nodded her head, agreeing. Her heart beat quickly when she saw JC's smile.

"When I kissed you at Britney's party, it was more than showing her I was over her," JC answered, professing his undying love her Jana. "I also wanted her to know that I was still in love with you. I've been trying to hide my feelings. I've been trying to fight them. I still love you Jana, and if I can't have you I don't know what I'll do."

"You would go crazy, wouldn't you?" Jana joshed through tears. JC brushed them away with a smile.

"Actually, I probably would," he responded truthfully. "I want us to be together. I don't want anyone else but you. I don't think I'll ever love anyone like I love you." He brought her in for a tender, sweet kiss. JC and Jana both felt the electricity rush through their bodies. They both realized that they were made for each other.

Justin and Gina arrived at the prom on time. It was held at the fancy Ritz Carlton Hotel in the ballroom. Justin squeezed Gina's hand with anticipation. This was the night he had been waiting for. He sadly knew that this would be Gina's first and last prom. He wanted to make it as special and memorable as possible.

"Oh, Justin," Gina gushed as she looked at the beautiful atmosphere, "it's so perfect." The lighting was dim, and slow music was playing. Couples swayed on the dance floor, and people were at tables.

"I'm glad you like it," Justin responded with a smile of his own. He led Gina onto the dance floor. "Shall we dance, my queen?" he asked jokingly.

"Yes," Gina replied with a smirk. She wrapped her arms around Justin's neck as he put his hands around her waist. Soon they were dancing to the soft music, under the chandelier. Justin couldn't have been happier. He was with his true love. Knowing that his girlfriend would soon leave him forever made Justin wince in pain.

"What's wrong?" Gina asked. She had noticed Justin's glum expression.

"Oh, nothing," Justin answered reassuring. "I'm just in deep thought."

"I love you," Gina mouthed to him sincerely.

Justin kissed her with deep passion on the lips. He wanted to keep her forever. "Can I keep you?" he whispered in her ear. He savored the sweet moment. "I want you to be mine forever."

Gina laughed a little. "If that were possible, I'd be yours," she replied in a loving tone. She pulled Justin closer to her and closed her eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek as she thought of how she couldn't be his. She wouldn't be able to spend her whole life with him. She looked into his eyes and saw that he loved her.

Justin saw as JC and Jana entered the ballroom. He had his arm around her, and they were smiling tenderly at each other. I guess they got back, Justin thought. Good for them. He was happy for the both of them. He would have a place for Jana in his heart, but he knew that JC and Jana truly belonged together.

Just then, the principal of the school, Mr. Lesley, approached the podium on the stage. The music died down, and he tapped the microphone to test it. "May I have your undivided attention, please?" he said clearly into the microphone.

All the students focused on the elder man, who had a serious expression set on his face. "As all of you know," Mr. Lesley began, "this year has been tragic year. We sadly lost two fine students, Michelle Samson, and Lance Bass." He paused to clear his throat, emotion clogging his throat. "Those of you who knew them will remember their smiles, tears, and their friendship. I knew that they loved everyone, every single one of you. They cared about people, and they were always there when someone needed help. I just want to say that this prom should be dedicated in memory of those two. I am indeed shocked by their tragic, unexpected deaths. I would have never guessed that these two students would choose to take their own lives. I know we will all miss them very much. May this tragedy touch your lives. May all of you choose the right roads to travel in life. Thank you." He solemnly stepped down from the podium.

There was a hush over the crowd. Justin gulped, feeling anguished. He had tried to cope with his friends' death. Mr. Lesley's speech had affected him deeply. He exhaled shakily.

"Justin, did you know them?" Gina asked in a quiet tone, looking up at him with sadness in her eyes.

"Yeah, they were my friends," Justin responded gravely. He frowned. "I'm going to miss them."

"I'm so sorry," Gina lamented, feeling sympathy and pity for Justin. "I wish I could have known them. They sound like wonderful people."

"They were." Justin looked down. Michelle and Lance had been his first friends, along with Jana. He had grown closer to Jana, but they still were officially his first friends.

Justin spotted Jana and JC who were standing quietly in the back. He knew now was the time to talk to them. He wanted to get everything out, wanted to explain everything. Justin wanted to reconcile with JC and Jana. It's the right thing to do, he thought. He would be leaving for New York soon, and he wanted to leave on good terms with the couple.

"Your cousin is here," Justin replied to Gina.

"Where?" Gina's eyes were frightened. "Don't let him see me here again, please!" she pleaded, clinging onto Justin. "He doesn't know I'm here. He'll be so angry with me again."

"It's going to be okay," Justin assured her gently. "I just need to talk to them. Please come with me. We need to clear things up with them. I don't want all of us having grudges against each other. It's not worth it."

Gina still looked fearful, but she relented. "All right," she agreed softly. "We'll talk to them. I don't want them to hate you or me."

"Thank you," Justin responded gratefully. "And I think you should tell JC about…well, you know." He winced as he thought about it. But he knew Gina would agree with him. She just had to summon up all her courage to tell her closest cousin.

That made Gina's eyes water. "I should," she replied, nodding. "He deserves to know. Okay, let's talk to them."

She and Justin made their way to where JC and Jana were. Justin watched as JC gave Jana puzzled look. What are they doing here? he wondered. Gina was with Justin, and they were coming towards Jana and him. He was soon about to find out.