Why do you have to be 16 to legally drive?

Why do you have to be 18 to vote?

Why do you have to be 21 to legally drink?

Why can't everyone have money to spend?

Why don't animals always have rights?

Why do the days have to go by so slowly?

Why can't movies and cds come out faster?

Why can't every girl look like a celebrity?

Why can't we all look the way we want to?

Why can't teens do anything they want to?

Why can't everyone in the world get along?

Why can't everyone have the life they dream of?

Why can't everyone be equal?

Why does race have to matter?

Why can't girls have a successful job, without demeaning themselves?

Why does life have to be so hard?

Why do friends come & go?

Why do people have to leave life all together?

Why can't there always be someone there when you need them?

Why do bad things have to happen to good people?

Why do tragic things have to happen?

Why do you have to go through so much pain, to get to happiness?

  Kelle Ronals was a healthy 16 year old girl. She was president of the school's student council and National Honor Society. She was popular and loved. Every guy wanted to date her and all the girls wanted to be her friend. There was one guy,Ray, who didn't fall for her. But Kelle was practically in love with him.

  One night a kid from the school was throwing a party, so of course Kelle went. There was beer and drugs at the party, and by midnight everyone there was drunk or high, including Kelle and Ray. They met up by the keg and he brought her upstairs, and into a bedroom, where they slept together.

  The next day at school, Ray ignored her and said that they were nothing more than friends now. She wasn't crushed, she started seeing a guy from her class named Chris. In the fall Ray went off to college, his sister, Lana, was now a junior with Kelle. They became good friends and entrusted secrets in each other.

  It was about 5 months since the night Kelle and Ray hooked up. After school, about 4'o clock, Lana called Kelle, she was so upset and worried and wanted to meet up with her. They met at a park across from the school. Lana told Kelle that her parents found out that Ray is HIV positive, and has been for about a year. Kelle was shocked and speechless. Lana was worried that Kelle was positive too, somehow Kelle didn't even think of that.

  The next day was a saturday, so Lana took Kelle to a clinic outside of town and got tested. Lana was negative, but Kelle turned up positive. The doctor told her that it wasn't definate and to come back for another test, and that she had to get her boyfirend or anyone else she was sextually active with to come in and get tested too. Lana dropped her off at Chris's and left. Kelle told Chris and he was pissed, understandably. He made her leave and told his parents. His mom told other moms and they told their kids.

   Monday morning was going as usual, until Kelle walked into the halls. Everyone was staring at her and whispering. She didn't know what was wrong until her science partner asked her if it was true. "Is what true?" The girl hesitated for a moment and then said, "That you're HIV positive?" Kelle didn't know what to say, then the bell ringed and she hurried out of the room to a silent hallway. No one would talk to her, or sit next to her, Chris wouldn't even look at her. Her only ally was Lana, who was passing out flyers and telling people to get tested.

   At lunch Lana wanted Kelle to make an announcement about Ray, but she refused. Then Lana stepped on top of the table and got everyones attention. Kelle got up ther too and said, "I'm sure you all have heard about me by now. But the truth is that all of you could be positive too. Anyone who has slept with Ray Mrass may be infected. Cause the big man on campus forgot to mention that he was HIV positive before getting involved with us girls. You all have to be tested, it could of been spread to almost everyone by now. Believe me you want to know." She got down and walked out of the room and got in her car and drove home.

  When she got home, she told her mom everything. Her mom took her back to the clinic to get re-tested. When they got there, the whole room was filled with kids from the school. When she got in the room she got tested and so did her mom. Chris came in and told her that he was negative, which was good, for him at least. The doctor came in and told her that she was HIV positive. Her heart sank. The good thing that came out of all this was that all the students got themselves tested.