(A/N this story is sort of setback when Ringo, Zeke Donna and the others were still in school because I think they were more interesting then :P)

I walked in through the door and dumped my bag near the sofa.

"Ringo! Susan! Karl!" I yelled my voice echoing through the house. There was no one to be seen. Suddenly a puffy eyed Susan appeared.

"Susan, what's wrong?" I asked concerned.

"You better have a seat." She mumbled as Karl and Ringo emerged from the other room.

"What's wrong? It's not your MS again is it Susan?" I asked fear beginning to climb its way through me, making me choke on the last words.

"No, it's nothing like that" Susan said slowly, her eyes rimmed with red as more tears began to work their way down her cheeks.

I felt a sudden rush of relief, but the relief was short lived and her next words made my whole world come crashing down on me. "Zeke… Rachel died in a car crash yesterday."

It was as if my veins turned to ice, I stopped breathing right then and there.

"Zeke it's okay, we understand" Said Ringo slowly approaching me. They were probably worried because I hadn't broken down crying like them.

Something just exploded in me right then, turning my shock into a sudden fit of rage "no! You don't understand! She was the only family I had, and now she's gone!" I shouted at them, my voice cracking on the last few words, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. "She's gone…"

I turned my back on them and walked away, I couldn't love anyone anymore, it would just hurt more when they got taken away. So that's what I decided, and I decided to start with myself.

If I don't trust or love anyone else, then I should I love myself? Life's not fair so why should I be?

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Ringo's POV

The news about Rachel was horrible, but no one seemed to take it as hard as Zeke, I know he tried not to show it but all he did these days was stay in his room with the door shut tight. I think he was trying to avoid us all, maybe we just reminded him of all those memories of her.

I opened the door slowly and peered in, Zeke was lying face down on this bed, his arms cradled around his face, "Hey man are you okay?" I asked sitting down on the edge of his bed and tugging gently at his arms, "Come on mate, at least let me talk to your face." He slowly removed his arms flopping them down beside him in defeat.

"What do you want?" He asked me irritated, his voice dry and scratchy. I decided instead of skipping along the sidelines just to get straight down to the point.

"You're shutting us all out… Maybe you should come to school today, help you get your mind of things eh?" I asked him feeling slightly hopeful I would at least get a human reaction out of him.

"Fine." He said shortly as he got up.

I walked out leaving him to get ready.

"So how did things go with Zeke?" Susan asked me gently, rubbing my shoulder soothingly.

"Much easier than I expected" I told her surprised. "Zeke didn't put up a fight at all" I told her.

"Well that's good, I think he really just needs a friend now." She told me glancing towards Zeke's room with a look of pity.

We walked to school in silence, only stopping to pick up the rest of the gang who talked quietly between themselves. I think they knew better than to try and include Zeke in there conversations at the moment.

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Zeke's POV

I opened my green faded locker that was between Ringo and Donna's, and put my red back-pack in it, then pulled out my sketch-book along with a number2 pencil. Sighing, I stood there...Staring into the blackness in my locker, wishing it would just swallow me up, anything to save me from this torture. Why couldn't it of been me who died in the car crash? People would be better off without me…

"Zeke…" Donna sighed gingerly touching my shoulder. I shoved away Donna's hand and slammed my locker shut.

"I don't need your pity right now." The words that left my mouth weren't even mine...At least they didn't sound like something I would say to Donna. I turned and walked away, heading into my 1st period math's class, taking a seat in the back like always.
The bell rang and I laid my head in my arms, avoiding the gaze of Ringo who just walked in. Luckily, he always sat in front of me.

"Good to see you in class today." Said Mr. Fitzgerald as he walked to the front of the class taking his position, ready to attempt to get us to understand algebra.

Good to see me… Yeah right, get real.

It's funny how the slightest things can make such a big impact, like having a little too much booze one night, or maybe forgetting to wear a life jacket or even not putting on your seatbelt.

"Zeke!" Mr. Fitzgerald yelled at me, snapping me out of my little trance. "Huh?" I asked, I really was not in the mood for this.

"I'm glad to finally have your attention, now would you please tell us what you got for number 6?" He demanded. Oh no, now I'm in for it.

The whole class turned around and stared at me as my cheeks started to burn red. "I don't know." I answered looking down.

"Aww Zeke the geek, doesn't know the answer, are you going to start crying?" Justin mocked me in a baby voice.

"How about you just shut up!" I yelled at him standing up suddenly, knocking my desk over.

"How about you make me?" He challenged as he leapt at me with full force.

Adrenaline was pumping through my body as I felt a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around me and tear me off Justin, another pair of arms was restraining Justin now. I wanted to check who it was but I couldn't take my eyes away from Justin's face. All I wanted to do right now was beat him to a bloody pulp. I thrashed around trying to get out of my restrainers arms as more and more people gathered around us.

"Come on Zeke he's not worth it" Ringo grunted, that's when I realized he was the one holding me back.

"No I've taken enough crap from him, now let me go and rip his head off!" I shouted at Ringo, thrashing around some more.

"You'll regret it Zeke, just let it go!" He shouted at me, trying to snap me out of my fit of anger. "This isn't like you!"

"You just know I could take Zeke anytime!" Justin snarled at Ringo.

"That's it let me go NOW!" I yelled.

"No, I just don't want him to waste his time on someone as pathetic as you" Ringo stated, ignoring my demand.

"Break it up now guy's!" Mr. Fitzgerald roared from the front of the class room. Everyone suddenly turned silent and went back to their seats, they all knew not to fight back with Mr. Fitzgerald when he used the kind of tone.

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Ringo's POV

I'd never seen Zeke so angry before, this really wasn't like him and I knew if I hadn't restrained him he would've regretted it in the long run.

I looked up to Declan who was restraining Justin and met his eyes, I could tell he was worried about Zeke to, so we made a silent agreement to have a word with Zeke later.

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Zeke's POV

Fitzy had sent me and Justin up to the office. We sat in silence not bothering to talk to each other.

"We'd like to see you now Zeke." Said Michael's assistant. Michael was our new principal. (A/N okay so I know Michael doesn't come when Zeke and Ringo and stuff are in school but let's pretend he is principal then okay?)

I made my way slowly into his office dreading every step I took.

"Have a seat" Michael gestured to a small wooden chair near his desk. I walked over slowly and took a seat.

"Look I know you've been having a hard time with your sister's death and-"I cut him off then furious that he would even mention her. "No, how could you possibly know how I'm feeling! You don't even know her!" I screamed at the top of my lungs not caring if I got expelled for it or not.

"Zeke calm down." Michael said soothingly as he reached over to touch my arm.

I cringed back giving him a disgusted look before walking out of his office down along the hallway and out the school gate.

I didn't know where I was going, all I knew was I had to get out of there. There were too many memories…

I walked about 5 miles before I collapsed by an old abandoned warehouse. I finally let the tears I had been fighting for about a week to roll down my face. I sat there hunched over just thinking through things and letting my salty tears drip their way from my eyes down my cheeks.

I'm not sure how long I could've been sitting here for, minutes? Hour's maybe? I wasn't sure but it had started to get dark and the wind was beginning to pick up again as dark clouds rolled their way in.

My throat burned from crying and I wiped my nose slowly with a tissue I found buried in my pocket before getting up and walking back the way I came.

I checked my phone for the time and noticed I had 7 missed calls, 2 from Ringo, 1 from Susan, 1 from Declan, 1 from Donna, 1 from Karl and one from Kate. I ignored the calls and just checked the time, it was 6:30PM already, I had been gone for awhile.

Deep down I felt bad about making the others worry but I guess it's not my problem anymore.

I looked up at the sky again to see the dark threatening clouds hovering over me, it started to rain, a light sprinkling at first but now turning heavy. The drips pelted down on me, stinging my bare skin.

I had just started running when a deafening roar of thunder erupted, and lightning shot through the sky.

My phoned beeped suddenly startling me, I reached down into my now soaked pants pockets and retrieved my phone. '1 new message' it read. I wiped my hands on my top although it didn't do much seeing as that was soaked as well and clicked the open button and peered at the wet screen.

R u ok? Where r u? At least txt me bak and let us no ur okay? – Ringo.

I'm fine. I replied and slipped my phone back into my pocket.

A couple of seconds later I heard my phone beeping again as I reached into my pocket again. Incoming call from Ringo, the screen read. I waited a few seconds contemplating on answering it or not before deciding to ignore it. I slipped my phone back into my pocket and continued walking. I didn't need anyone else hassling me at the moment.

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Ringo's POV

We waited inside as watched the rain pelt against the smooth glass windows.

"You know he might not even come back tonight" Said Declan sadly peering down at his watch, it was 9:30 now three hours since he sent that text message.

"Okay this is getting ridiculous now! I'm calling the police." Karl cried out.

"No just give him a little more time I'm sure he'll turn up sweetie." Said Susan trying to calm Karl down.

The whole gang was waiting here for Zeke except Kate because she had to look after Sophie.

It had gotten late now and slowly but surely everyone had eventually fallen asleep. There was the sound of a bang as everyone startled awake to see Zeke dripping wet walking through the door.

"Zeke!" The gang called out at the same time, running up to him.

Zeke didn't bother talking and just made his way through the tangle of people to his room, slamming the door behind him.

"Wow… cranky much!" Donna exclaimed as he stared after Zeke.

"Oh well, I'll go talk to him" I sighed as I got up form my resting place and followed Zeke.

I opened the door slowly and peered in Zeke was sitting on the floor with a knife next to him, his head in his hands.

"Zeke! What are you doing?" I whisper shouted as I closed the door behind me.

"N… nothing…" Zeke shivered as he pulled down his sleeves.

"Hmm… Okay then. Let's go get you dry" I said an edge of suspicion in my tone.

Zeke just nodded numbly his teeth chattering as he lips started turning a pale blue.

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Zeke's POV

I clambered into the shower and turned the knobs willing for the water to heat up quicker, I sighed as the hot water felts its way to my body and soothed my ice cold skin.

I closed my eyes and counted the seconds as they passed, wondering how many more we'll have until I finally crack and go insane. Who knows maybe I'm already crazy…

The hot water finally ran out and I sighed deeply before turning off the taps and getting changed into some warm dry clothes.

"Are you alright?" Asked Ringo as I walked into our room. The rest of the teens had finally gone home.

I finally gave in and let out a small whimper "I miss her…"

"Aww, Zeke it's alright" said Ringo as he came over and comforted me. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked me uncertainly. I didn't answer just shook my head sadly as I turned off the lights and crawled under the covers.

I stared unblinkingly into the darkness that now engulfed me and pulled up my sleeves. I could feel the lines of my cuts on my wrist, they stung when I touched them. I sighed as I dragged down my sleeve again to hide my scars.