Chapter 24: The Battle Ends*

“What's wrong?” Lulu asked Shelby, walking over to the couch.

“Nothing. I'm fine.”

“No you're not. I can see it in your eyes.”

“This party was supposed to be fun. I was supposed to show you off to my friends. I was supposed to dance the night away and forget all the drama. Just for one fucking night. But I can't even get that.” Shelby said looking up at Lulu, her eyes pleading to go to bed.

“I'm sorry babe. Is there anything I can do to fix it?”

“Fix what? It's only 11 o'clock, and the party's over. How fucking lame is that?”

“We can go and have a party upstairs.” Lulu said in his sexual voice.

“I love you.” Shelby said kissing him.

“Lets go upstairs.” Lulu said taking Shelby's hand. And walking to the steps.

“Lu! Can you come here for a sec? I need you!” David yelled from the kitchen.

“You go up stairs, get undressed, and I'll be there in 5.” Lulu said kissing her cheek and rushing over to David.

Shelby smiled and continued to walk up stairs.

Briana was sitting in her room, when she heard a loud crack. It was the sound of glass breaking. It was a few moments before she could smell it. It was the smell of a fire. Something was on fire.

She rushed out of bed and opened her door. She turned toward the end of the hallway and seen smoke seeping from under a door. “FIRE!” She yelled rushing down the steps. She looking in the living room and seen Daniel, Drew and Ace rushing from the basement out the front door. Sasha, Nellz, and Liz grabbed the liquor and rushed out the front door, where they met Norland, Michael, Mike, David, Lulu, Izzy and Ruga on the front lawn. Keith and Jill were the last to come out of the house.

“We have to remain calm. We have to chill out and not panic.” Sasha said looking around and taking a head count. “How many people lived here again?”

“18...wait, Lexi and Kassy left. 16. And then David joined, so 17.” Bre replied as the fire grew bigger.

Sasha counted again. And again she only counted 16. “I only see 16.”

“Did you count yourself?” Liz asked looking around.

“Duh!” Sasha said as everyone looked at each other, trying to figure out who was missing.

“Shel.” Daniel said quietly.

“Huh?” Mike asked looking at Daniel.

“Shelby. Where's Shelby?” Daniel asked, loudly.

“She was....She's in our room!” Lulu yelled looking at the house.

“That's at the end of the hallway, isn't it?” Bre asked as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Yeah, the last room, right in the corner.” Lulu said looking at her.

“That's the room where I seen the smoke coming from.”

“Shelby!” Lulu yelled running toward the house. David and Keith quickly followed and stopped him at the door.

“It's too dangerous!” David said as the sound of firetrucks grew near.

“SHELBY!!!!” Lulu yelled trying to break away from Keith and David.

“You can't! It's too fucking dangerous!” Keith said looking at the black smoke that clouded around the house.

“SHELBY!!!!” Lulu yelled again, as Liz walked over to him, tears welling up in her eyes.

“She'll make it.” Liz mumbled, choking on her words.

“BUDDIIII!!!!!!! BUDDIIII!!!!!!” Daniel yelled walking around to the side of the house and looking up at the window from Shelby and Lulu's room. Black smoke poured out, as did the sound of a faint scream.

Shelby walked into the bathroom, and pulled on a pair of Lulu's basketball shorts. She pulled off her sweater, and only left on a tank top. She was satisfied. She turned on the hot water, and heard a loud breaking sound. She ignored it and took out her hair. She threw water in it, and messed it up to a perfect mess. She smiled at herself in the mirror, and walked toward the door.

Shelby stopped and smelled the air. Smoke. From what? She opened the door and seen the bedroom door engulfed in flames. The window was broken, and the fire was spreading toward her. She looked from her right, to her left. Trying to decide what she could do. How she could get out. The bathroom window was too small, and the fire was by the bedroom windows.

Her only means of an escape were unavailable. She shut the door, and backed into the bathroom. Shelby looked up at the shower head, and it didn't move. She couldn't even attempt to use it to stop the fire.

She backed into the tub, and rapped herself in her arms. She sat there and started singing. “I don't want another pretty face. I don't want just anyone to hold.” She paused, and started to cry.

The flames crept up to the door. They quickly engulfed the door, and moved toward Shelby.

“SHELBY!!!!” Lulu yelled. She could hear him. She could hear his cries. He was the last one she heard...

“You have to hurry! My fiance is in there!” Lulu yelled once the fire men got out of their trucks.

“Theres someone in there?” He asked putting on his mask.

“Yes! She's the only on in there.” Lulu said.

“She's five, two and a half. With redish brown hair. Green eyes.” Daniel said trying to keep his composure.

“You need to get her! You have to!” Lulu said as Liz cried into Sasha's arms.

3 men entered and 5 minutes later, they came out. They had long looks on their faces, and Keith could tell they didn't have good news. He took a deep breath and walked over to Lulu, ready for whatever the firefighters had to tell them.

“We found a body.” The one in front said.

“Was she alive?” Daniel asked.

“Was she okay?” Lulu asked, hoping for the best.

“She was....”

“At peace.” The short one in the back finished.

“You mean...she's...?” Nellz asked as Norland rapped his arms around her.

“I'm sorry.” They said in unison. The two big guys walked away and the short firefighter was there standing.

David walked over to him and pulled him aside. “Do you know what started the fire?”

“We don't know for sure, but it's most likely the beer bottle that was lite up and thrown threw the window.”

“So you mean, someone intentionally started this fire.”

“Most likely. How old was she?” He asked, trying not to over step his boundary.

“21.” David said looking back at Lulu. “She was planning a wedding. Poor kid didn't deserve the shit she had to go threw.” David said walking over to Lulu. He didn't say another word, he just rapped his arms about his best friend, as Mike consoled Daniel, and the girls cried together. Nothing would ever be the same.