Zora POV

I was sleeping in my bed when I felt a pillow hit my face

"Wake up today is my audition" I heard Neil yell as I groaned and put my pillow over my face

He began jumping on my bed then he jump on top of me crushing me

"Get off your heavy" I told him pushing him to the floor

"Neil it is 5:00 in the morning" I told him looking at my alarm clock as he sat on my bed

"I'm too excited. I had to wake you up" He told me

"I'm going back to sleep" I said covering my face with my blanket as he hit me with a pillow

"How did you get in my house" I asked sitting up

"You gave me a key" he told me showing me his key

"I shouldn't have did that" I mumbled but to be fair when I gave him a key I didn't expect him to pop up at 5:00 in the morning

"I heard a noise. What's wrong" my grandfather said running in holding a broom

"It's just me Mr. Allen" Neil told him as he sighed in relief and put the broom down

"Wait a minute" I said as the boys looked at me 

"You thought some broke into our house. Came into my room and you brought a broom for self defense" I asked my grandfather

"Yeah" he said as I sighed and out on my house slippers

"Well no point of going back to sleep now" I said stretching

"I'll get a pot of coffee going" my grandfather said walking out my room

"Can you guys make some breakfast" Neil asked as we walked downstairs

Neil eventually left for his audition so I walked to the Banks house because Carlton was driving to school today. My grandfather had enough strength so he walked with me

We all sat at the table when Geoffrey opened the door for Cedric, a Butler for the Randolph's, our neighbours

"Cedric" Geoffrey greeted him

"Good morning all" Cedric greeted us

"Good morning" we all replied

"Here they are hot of the presses. Move over Katie Kelly, Cedric has arrived" Cedric said showing us a book with his face on the cover

"Through The Keyhole: Memoirs of an Embitter Butler" my grandfather read the cover

"Check this out. Is it Cedric or Patrick Swayze?" Cedric asked dramatically

"You could never compete with Swayze" I told him

"Expose me but writing a steamy exposé about the Randolph family is darn offense and we won't have anything to do with that smut" Carlton told Cedric

"Speak for yourself" I said getting up grabbing a copy as my grandfather, Mrs. Banks, and Mr. Banks grabbed a copy

"May I recommend chapter seven Mr. and Mrs. Randolph found it particularly humiliating" Cedric told us as we began flipping through the book as Carlton grabbed a copy

"Geoffrey, this book is dedicated to you" Mr. Banks said

"Well of course it was Geoffrey who gave me the idea in the first place. By the way how are your memoirs coming along" Cedric asked as we all looked at him

I can't believe Geoffrey is writing a memoirs about us. What would it say about me. Hopefully good things I'm definitely am his favorite obviously.

"Allow me to see you out Aunt Blabby" Geoffrey said as he walked Cedric out as we all sat back down at the table

Will walked into the living room still in his pajamas groaning

"Will go to school" Mr. Banks told him

"Zee I need a nighttime sleeping I've fallen and I can't get up medicine" Will told me as he sat on my lap and wrapped his arms around me hugging me as I rubbed his back

"Will you're burning up" I told him feeling his forehead as Mrs. Banks did too

"He really is sick. Baby, Is it your throat again" I asked as he nodded

"Oh Zora, don't let that boy con you. There is nothing wrong with" he stopped as Will opened his mouth

"Yuck" he said in disgust

"You know what the doctor said. One more throat infection and those tonsils have to come out" Mrs. Banks told him as I got up and tried to lead him to his room

"Woah I'm feeling much better. It's a miracle" He said as he started to walk on his own

"I've got no more fever. I've got no more fever" Will sang dancing in the kitchen

"Zee" Will called

"Yeah" I responded

"Catch me" he said as he passed out as we all ran over to him as the adults helped him to his bed

"I'm sick too" Carlton said fake coughing as I rolled my eyes and smiled

"Oh my poor baby" I said as he sat on my lap hugging me as I rubbed his back like I did for Will

That night I was in Beverly Hills. I decided to hang out with the gang tonight. We had a poets meeting. I was wearing a jacket the boys gave me a because it was cold it in this cave

"I'll now read the traditional opening
message by society member, Henry David
Thoreau. "I went to the woods because I
wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to
live deep and suck out all the marrow of
life." Neil read as we all pointed our flash lights on his face

"I'll second that." Charlie said laughing lightning his cigarette

"To put to rout all that was not life,
and not, when I had come to die,
discover that I had not lived." Neil finished

"And, uh, Keating's marked a bunch of
other pages." Neil said flipping through the pages. Mr. Keating was their Literature teacher and by the way they describe him he sounds like the best teacher

"All right, intermission. Dig deep. Right
here, right here, lay it down." Charlie said

"On the mud? We're gonna put our food on
the mud?" I asked him

"Meeks, put your coat down. Picnic
blanket." Charlie told Meeks

"Yes, sir! Excuse me." Meeks said as he put his coat in between all of us

"Use Meeks' coat." Pitts said as we all began emptying our coats with all our food. I had brought Graham Crackers

"Don't keep anything back, either. You
guys are always bumming my smokes." Charlie said as I saw a box of raisins

"Raisins?" I asked

"Yeah. Wait a minute. Who gave us half a
roll?" Charlie asked

"I'm eating the other half." Cameron told him.

"Come on." Charlie said as I laughed

"What? You want me to put it back?" Richard asked.

"Who brought graham crackers" Pitts asked changing the subject 

"Zori did" Meeks told them. They all gave me a nickname it was Zori. I think it's sweet.

"It was a dark and rainy night. And this
old lady, who had a passion for jigsaw
puzzles, sat by herself in her house at
her table to complete the new jigsaw
puzzle. As she pieced the puzzle
together, she realized to her
astonishment that the image that was
formed was her very own room, and the
figure in the center of the puzzle as
she completed it was herself. And with
trembling hands, she placed the last
four pieces and stared in horror at the
face of a demented madman at the window.
The last thing that this old lady ever
heard was the sound of breaking glass." Neil said as we all looked at him

"Yes. This is true. This is true." Neil told us. Neil was telling us a scary story that is based on a true story

"I've got one that's even better than
that. I do. There's a young married
couple and they're driving through the
forest at night from a long trip. And
they run out of gas and there's a madman
on the loose." Cameron said

"Oh, that thing with the hands?" Charlie asked

"This is The Madman On The Roof?" I asked. I heard this story before. Everyone else chimed in agreeing with me. Charlie told us this before.

"I love that story." Cameron told us

"I told you that one." Charlie told him

"You did not. I got that in, uh, camp in
sixth grade." Cameron lied as I rolled my eyes.

I hate liers. Why is he lying? To be honest none of us were really Cameron's friends they just all have class with him and he's Charlie's roommate so I guess they tolerate him

"Yeah. Were you six last year?" Charlie asked sarcastically

"In a mean abode in the Shankill Road
lived a man named William Bloat. Now he
had a wife, the plague of his life, who
continually got his goat. And one day at
dawn with her night shift on, he slit
her bloody throat." Oh, and it gets
worse." Pitts read out his book as we all turned to him

"Do you wanna hear a real poem?" Charlie asked as Meeks tried to give him his book

"Want this?" Meeks asked as he denied

"All right? No, I don't need it. You take
it." Charlie told him

"What, did you bring one?" Meeks asked

"You memorized a poem?" Neil asked

"I didn't memorize a poem. Move up." Charlie told us

"An original piece by Charlie Dalton." I teased him

"An original piece." Knox added

"Take center stage." Pitts said as Charlie stood in front in front of us as we all shined our flashlights on him

You know this is history. Right? This is
history." Neil asked

Charlie unfolded a paper and showed us a photo of a naked woman as all the boys jumped in excitement as I rolled my eyes 

"Real mature Charlie" I told him hitting his arm as Todd laughed

"Where did you get that?" Cameron asked

"Teach me to love? Go teach thyself more
wit: I, chief professor, am of it.
The god of love, if such a thing there
be, May learn to love from me." Charlie read as we all looked impressed and clapped for him

"Wow! Did you write that?" I asked

"Abraham Cowley. Okay, who's next?" Charlie asked as I got up

"Okay Zori" Charlie yelled as the rest of the boys cheered as they all shined their flashlights on me

"This is a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson." I said as I looked at my book

"Come my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world
for my purpose holds to sail beyond the
sunset.
And though we are not now that strength
which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we
are, we are;--
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong
in will.
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to
yield." I read as everyone clapped as I bowed and Meeks was next

"Then I had religion, then I had a
vision.
I could not turn from their revel in
derision.
Then I saw the Congo creeping through
the black,
cutting through the forest with a golden
track.
Then I saw the Congo creeping through
the black" Meeks read but it had a flow like rap to it as we were all bobbing our heads to the rhythm

"Meeks, Meeks." Charlie cheered as we all began making a beat

Honestly none of these white boys had any type of rhythm or flow but they're trying so that's all that matters

...cutting through the forest with a
golden track.
Then I saw the Congo creeping through
the black,
cutting through the forest with a golden
track.
Then I saw the Congo creeping through
the black,
cutting through the forest with a golden
track.
Then I saw the Congo creeping through
the black,
cutting through the forest with a golden
track. Meeks kept going as we all got up and began beating on random things

"Then I saw the Congo creeping through
the black, cutting through the forest with a golden track" we all joined in as we walked out the cave and kept chanting

"I'm about to bring Zori home" Neil said as we made it to their schools parking lot

"Bye guys see you tomorrow" I told them waving

"Bye Zori" they said as Neil and I got in his car and left

------------------------------------------------------------

The next day I was with The Banks family. We had to drag Will to the emergency room so he could get his tonsils removed

"Now you know what Dr. Bennett said those tonsils will just have to come out. Now theirs no reason to be afraid" Mrs. Banks told Will

"Oh who are you kidding. Why you think they wear masks? So they can't be identified" Will told us

"And why you think they knock you out? So you can't see them drinking margaritas over you open stomach" Will told the nurse

"Sorry I'm late I had to stop by the gift shop" Hilary said walking in with a basket on flowers

"Thanks a lot Hil, that's really nice" Will told her smiling

"Well you know sometimes a girl just has to treat herself" Hilary said smiling eating a chocolate out the box

"Your overnight bag Master William. I packed everything except your pajamas. Where do you keep them anyway?" Geoffrey said as him walked in

"Well I usually keep them" Will started as Ashley cut him off

"Don't answer that. Geoffrey will use it in his memoir and Urkel will play you in the TV movie" Ashley told him

"I'll just wait in the car" Geoffrey said and left

"Will now might be a good time to put your John Hancock on this" Carlton said giving him a folder

"What the hell is this" Will asked after reading over it

"It's your piece of mind my dear friend. Let's say you die. Would you just want anybody to get thier hands on that sweet 323.15 you have hidden under your LL Cool J hat"Carlton asked

"I didn't think about it like that. Can I see that Carlton" Will asked as Carlton gave him the paper and Will smacked his head with it

"If I die all my belongs are going to Zee" Will said

"You're not gonna die Will. You're just getting your tonsils removed" I told him

"Oh I have to go" I said looking at the clock as Will hugged my waist

"No Zee please don't leave me" Will cried pulling me closer

"Where are you going" Carlton asked as I began trying to walk but Will's grip was to tight

"I'm again hang out with Neil and the guys" I told him. I can't tell him exactly where I'm going because our club is a secret 

"Again" Carlton asked

"Yes Carlton again. Is there a problem" I asked

"You just been spending a lot of time with them. Why can't I come?" Carlton asked 

"Carlton, I spend almost every moment of everyday with you and Will and I love you . These are my own friends. I need my own space away from you guys ever once in a while" I told him

"Who's gonna take care of the kid" Carlton asked pointing to Will

"Well co-parent but right now I'm leaving" I said as I unwrapped Will from around me

"Be good for the doctors I'll come check on you when you get out of surgery" I told Will kissing his cheek and leaving

I was at my house waiting on Neil today we were going ride our bikes there. Also he should get the call on whether or not he got the part.

"I got the part" Neil yelled running into the living room as I ran and hugged him

"I'm so happy for you" I said as he ran around the living room smiling

"Mr. Allen I got the part" Neil told my grandfather smiling

"Good for you son" Mr. grandfather said smiling hugging him as he kept running around the living room as I chased him

"Hey hey don't be running around my living room" my grandfather said as we both stopped

"If your gonna run around the living room. Take your shoes off" he told us as we took our shoes off and kept chasing each other

After a while we decided to leave before it got dark. Neil and I were riding our bikes by the pond when I saw a swarm of black crows

"Hmm" I said stopping the look at them as Neil stopped beside me

"What's wrong Zori" he asked

"Black Crows" I said. I don't like black cross. They usually black crows symbolize death and I don't like thinking about death.

"Their probably just migrating" Neil told me as I nodded and we kept riding our bikes

Neil and I walked into the cave holding a lamp as everyone was smoking a pipe

"What is that" they asked as Neil took off the lamp shade

"It's a lamp" Neil told them

"Charlie, what are you doing?" Pitts asked

"What do you say we start this meeting?" Charlie asked

"Gentlemen, and lady, "Poetrusic" by Charles
Dalton." Charlie told us

"Oh, boy. He's gonna play."

"Laughing, crying, tumbling, mumbling.
Gotta do more. Gotta be more." He said as he played it as we looked shocked

"Chaos screaming, chaos dreaming. Gotta
do more! Gotta be more!" He finished as he played a whole solo

"That was great. Where did you learn to play like that?" I asked as we clapped

"My parents made me take the clarinet for
years." Charlie said sitting back down

"I love the clarinet." Cameron said

"I hated it. The saxophone. The saxophone
is more sonorous." Charlie told us

"Okay Vocabulary." I teased as Knox through his stuff down in frustration as we all looked at him

"I can't take it anymore. If I don't have
Chris, I'm gonna kill myself." Knox said

"Who's Chris" I asked

"A girl he likes" Neil explained as I nodded 

"Knoxious, you've gotta calm down." Charlie told him

"No, Charlie. That's just my problem.
I've been calm all my life. I'll do
something about that." Knox told him

"Zori if you were a pretty girl" Knox asked me as I looked offended

"Gee Knox I love you too" I said sarcastically

"You know what I mean. How would you want someone to ask you out" he asked me

"I would want you to be direct" I said as he got up

"Where are you going?" Neil asked

"What are you gonna do?" Charlie asked

"I'm gonna call her. Yes!" Knox said as we all got up and followed him

The boys gave me a jacket, a scarf, and a hat so no one will know a girl is in there school.

"She's gonna hate me. The Danburrys will
hate me. My parents will kill me." Knox panicked looking at all us

"She won't hate you and your parents won't kill you. You are a great guy. Carpe Diem Knox" I told him grabbing his shoulder

"All right, goddamn it. You're right.
"Carpe diem." Even if it kills me." He said as he picked up the phone

"Hello, Chris? Hi. This is Knox Overstreet." Knox said over the phone

"She's glad I called." He told us as we smiled

"Would I like to come to a party?" Knox asked outloud looking at us

"Yes. Say, yes." Charlie told him

"Well, sure."Okay, great. I-I'll be there, Chris.
Friday night at the Danburrys'. O-Okay.
Thank you. Thank you. I'll see you. Bye." He said as he hung up the phone as he yelled out in excitement as we laughed at him

"Can you believe it? She was gonna
call me. She invited me to a party with
her." Knox told us

"At Chet Danburrys' house." Charlie told him

"Who's Chet Danburry" I asked

"Chris' boyfriend" Neil told me as I looked confused

"Wait a minute. You asked out a girl with a boyfriend" I asked

"Yeah."

"Well?"

"So?"

"So, you don't really think she means
you're going with her?" Charlie told him

"Well, of course not, Charlie. But that's
not the point. That's not the point at
all." Knox told us

"What is the point?" I asked

"The point, Zori, is, uh--" he said as he struggled to find words

"-- that she was thinking about me. I've
only met her once, and already she's
thinking about me. Damn it. It's gonna
happen, guys. I feel it. She is going to
be mine." He said walking away flipping his scarf over his shoulder

"Carpe. Carpe!" We all yelled at him laughing as he walked away

I was getting ready for bed when Neil walked in my room. I saw his eyes were red and puffy he must of been crying

"I can't do it anymore. I just can't do it." He said running up to hug me

"What happened" I asked hugging him back

"My dad. He found out about the auditions. He's trying to send me to military school. He wants me to be a doctor so bad. That's not what I want. I hate him. I hate him so much Zori" he cried as I hugged him tighter

"Its okay. We just have one more year before we graduate then you can do what you want you can leave" I told him as I grabbed his face making him look me in the eye

"Look me in the eye. I love you. You know that right" I asked looking him in the eyes as he nodded

"You can sleep here tonight if you want" I offered

"Thank you. You are a good friend. Never forget that' he said as I gave him a pillow and a blanket out my closet

"Good night Neil" I told him

"Good Night Zori" he told me

We had a meeting tonight but Neil wasn't very talkative today. It was very weird since he is such a lively person.

We made it back to my house as I was about to get out the car but Neil grabbed my hand

"Zora" Neil said as I looked at him

"Hmm" I responded

"Look me in the eye. I love you. You know that right" He asked me making me look him in the eye as I nodded

"I know" I told him as he nodded

"Good. I'm just making sure you know" he told me 

"Why are you saying it like You're going away or something" I asked

"I just want you to know I love you and I want you to remember me when I go" he told me as I looked confused

"Go where" I asked

"Don't worry about." He told me

"Bye I'll see you tomorrow" I told him getting out the car

"Goodbye Zora" he told me as I walked into the house

After my conversation with Neil I couldn't sleep. I was so confused about Neil said. Where is he going. Is he moving. Is that why he wasn't very talkative today.

I grabbed the keys to the car and left to go to Neil's house. I had to figure out what that conversation meant.

I finally made it to his house as I went by his bedroom and threw a rock as I called his name but he didn't answer

"Neil I know you're not sleeping" I yelled but He still didn't answer. I decided to go to the front door and knock on the door

His father opened the door as I took a deep breath last time we met it was awful I don't want that to happen again

"What do you want nigger" his father asked as I spoke as calmly as possible

"Is Neil here I really need to talk to him" I asked

"He's not here" he told me as I looked at him. I can tell he's lying.

"Neil" I called out but no one answered

"Neil" I called again but it was just silence

"Neil where are you" I asked as I decided against my better judgement as rushed past his dad and ran into the house

"Hey come back here" he yelled as I checked every room but I didn't see him

I went downstairs to the basement as I saw a gun as my breathing slowed down

I walked closer and saw Neil laying on the ground with a bullet wound in his head as my whole body just froze in shock

I screamed as his father ran behind me and saw his son laying on the ground

"Oh my son." His dad cried as I ran up to Neil's body and looked for a pulse

"Neil don't do this to me. Not today. Not today. Please. Please. Please." I cried as I screamed as loud as I could. I hugged his body close to me and began crying

This is why he was acting weird all day. This is why he was saying all those weird things and not talking.

I called everyone and told them the news as they all rushed our to me

"It looks like a suicide" the detective said as I began crying harder

"No" I cried

"This is all her fault" Mr. Perry yelled pointing at me

"If he never would have met you. He wouldn't have had this actor fantasy. He would have lived a long happy life" he yelled at me as my grandfather got in his face

"Don't you dare talk to her like that" My grandfather told him

"Come on Zee" Will said as he wrapped his arm around me and dragged me away from the scene

"I'm so sorry Zora" Carlton told me hugging me as I cried

"He was my friend" I told him

"I know he was a good guy" He told me as Geoffrey wrapped me in a blanket and a kiss on the forehead

"Is Mr. Perry right. Is this really my fault" I asked

"Mo baby it's not your fault. Don't you ever think that. It's not your fault" Mrs. Banks told me as Ashley and Hilary hugged me

I was sitting in the police car watching them place a body bag in the ambulance truck.

I was also watching Mr. Perry do an intrview with the news as he was talking about how much he loved his son

"I loved my son very much" he cried

"Liar" I yelled. I was so mad right now. I got out the car and stormed over to him

"Neil lived a miserable life because of you. You always told him what to do, what to eat, what to wear. You wanted him to be exactly like you. The only time he was genuinely happy was when he was on stage and you took that away from him too." I yelled

"Ms. Allen" a police officer said as I turned around towards him

"He um wanted you to have this" he told me giving me a box

It was full of stuff like his poetry books?, his script he had for his audition, his jacket, and a note. I took the note out and began reading 

Dear Zora,

I know this is a lot for you to deal with right now but thank you for being my friend. Thank you for believing in me. I am eternally grateful for your friendship. You have such a nice caring spirit. Shine your light Zora. I will always be right here.

Love Neil (Your Poetry Buddy)

I began crying harder as tears were streaming down my face as the Banks' family, Geoffrey, and my grandfather came hug me as I cried harder

------------------------------------------------------------

The next day I went to Neil's school to check on the others and see how they were processing the news

"Zora" the guys ran up to me

"Hey guys" I waved softly as I saw they all had tears in their eyes 

I saw pictures of Neil all around the place and they set up a memorial as I felt sick to my stomach

I walked outside as the guys followed me. I kept walking when I felt my knees buckle as I dropped to the ground and began crying as Knox hugged me as everyone else joined in

Neil was our friend. No he was our brother. He didn't deserve this. He deserved to be happy and live a long life.

I'll miss him dearly. I love you poetry brother. Forever and always.

A/N this didn't really have to do with the episode. I wanted Zora to have her own side plot and I wanted to kill Neil off since it happened in DPS and I thought the death would layer her character even more since she and Neil were close