-2006-

"Babe.." I sighed, sitting up in bed and grabbing Shannon by the waist as she was getting out of bed. "Please, love, not yet. Dont leave." I breathed, pulling he back towards me. I kissed her shoulder and she sighed and pushed me away.

"I cant, Tom. I have to leave. The suns coming up. My brother will be looking for me soon." She said, pushing the sheet off of her as she wandered around the room in her underware, collecting clothes. "Fuck it, Tom! Where are my shorts?" She asked, pulling her shirt over her head. I looked around the room, then leaned off the bed and held them up.

"Here ya go, love." I smiled. She rolled her eyes and snatched her shorts from my hands. "Oh come on, Shan. Dont be that way." I sighed. I hate it when she leaves in a pissed mood. Then she doesnt come back for a few nights.

"This is the last time, Tom." Shes said that before. "Harrys catching on, and I cant affoird to loose you. I'd rather be just your friend then not being able to see you."

"Sure, Shan. I'll see you later, then. I love you." I said, honestly. She smiled, softly.

"Im being serious. Later. I love you too, Tom." She said, then pushed the door open quietly and checked the hallway before she snuck across to her room. I shook my head after her, then fell backwards onto my bed. I took a deep breath, then heard someone go into the bathroom next door. Knowing it was one of the boys, I jumped up and looked for my boxers, while collecting clothes. Once i had on boxers and my clothes in my hand, i dumped them next to my bed, as though i was too lazy to get changed last night, and got back into bed.

I woke up two hours later to Dougie jumping onto my bed, complaining he wanted breakfast. So I got up and made him eggs, then Carrie called and asked me to take her to the mall. I ran upstairs and got changed, then headed out to pick her up.

By the time I got home, it was dark out. Carrie and I had wandered around all day, and we never even made it to a mall. We just drove around and ended up at a park, then we just sat in the grass and talked since we havent seen eachother in a while. I walked inside and it was oddly quieter than usual. The guys were all sitting in the living room, playing a video game, watching the screen without blinking. It looked as though they'd been like that for a while.

Harry wasnt playing, but he was coaching Dougie in how to beat Danny. I walked up behind him and leaned over the sofa.

"Danny, blue button." I said. Danny listened and ended up blowing Dougies characted up with a hand granade. I smiled, while Harry and Dougie portested and Danny did a little victory dance. "Harry mate, wheres Shan?" I asked, realizing she wasnt hitting me with a pillow for helping Danny win.

"Dude, she left for school today." He said as though it were obvious. I scrunched my face up.

"Since when does she go to boarding school?" I asked. Shes lived here since we moved in together and I know she didnt go to one before then.

"She signed up two months ago and got accepted last month. I thought she told you." Harry shrugged. "No biggie though. Im glad to have her gone, now I can have my girlfriend over and not be embarrassed by my little sister."

"Mate, shes only 4 minutes younger than you." I pointed out, attempting to be playful while inside, my heart was shattering.

"Keep it shut, Fletcher." Harry laughed and pushed me off the sofa. I laughed back, lifelessly, then went upstiars to my room. There was a piece of paper on my pillow.

'Tom,
I'm sorry. I didnt know how to tell you. I tried to this morning, but I knew you took it the wrong way. I cant be with you anymore, and this was the easiest way to end it. Harry'll find a note when he goes to his room that will tell him that Im not really going to a school. I'll see you when I see you, Fletcher.
~Shannon Elizabeth Judd
PS: Just for the record, I do love you. I'm leaving so that you dont get hurt. And trust me, you would.'

I wipped a few stray tears from my eyes, then thought on my feet. I ran to the top of the stairs and heard the other three still arguing in the living room.

"Juddy! I'm gonna play on your kit, is that alright?" I asked after clearing my voice.

"Go ahead, mate! Just dont break anything! The sticks are on my nightstand." He said, dismissivly. I walked into his room and picked the note up, as well as the drumsticks to make my act look convincing, then turned and looked in the mirror. I didnt look like I was crying, which was a good thing. I kept the note folded up, and ran downstairs.

"This was on your pillow. It's Shans writing, so I figured you'd want it." I said. The front of the note said 'Harry' on it, in Shannons weird cursive writing, so I got away with it. Harry took the note and read it, and his eyes widened the farther he got into the note, then when he finished it, he dropped it, holding his arms out like he was still holding it, and stared into space.

"Whats wrong, Hazzah?" Dougie asked, wrapping his arm around Harrys shoulder. Harry looked at him, then down at the paper, and let his arms fall.

"Shannon ran away. Shes in America." He said quietly, sounding confused.

"Why?" I asked, trying to play along with it. He glanced up at me, almost in a dead on glare.

"I dunno, Fletcher, the note told me to make you explain." He growled.

Fuck