(Claire's POV)

I woke up like any other morning. The winter sun streaming into my window, lighting up my happy realm. Hopping into the shower, I notice that I dad's car is gone. Sometimes this happens, so I don't worry about getting to school, yet I couldn't ignore the worry gnawing inside of me.

After I got dressed, I checked the window again. He still wasn't home. I grabbed a pair of jeans, a white shirt, and my favorite royal blue hoodie.

As I came down the stairs, the smell of honey waffles filled my nose, almost making me forget my worry and the upcoming tests that school would bring today.

"Morning Honey. How did you sleep?"

"Fine mom. Where's dad?"

Stirring the waffle mix, my mom answered. "Well, he had a early job to do, before you woke up. I told him that I would take you to school... seeing now that you would miss the bus" she said glancing at the clock.

I looked at the clock too. Shoot, it was 7 am. The bus came at 6:30.

Then, I remembered how odd mom had been acting for the past 2 months. She wouldn't go outside, even if it was taking the garbage out, just outside. She acted as if an assassin was waiting, always just outside the door, for her. My dad told you that it was probably just a stage that mom was going through.

"You sure mom? You haven't been so... into it lately".

I was worried about her, as a mother would. She was my only real best friend and all I could ask for.

"Yes, I'm sure honey".

She put some batter in the waffle maker and dug out the powdered sugar from the cabinet above.

"Mom I can walk to school if you can't drive me. I know you, um," I lowered my voice "going through a stage now".

"Honey, it's fine. And I sure that my 'stage' was a silly thing... have to do with a death threat" she answered casually.

What scared me on the news was that she seemed so casual about it, as if this happened every single day.

"Ah, Mom, did you say death threat. Maybe I should stay home today... We can call the police, and get you under protection..."

"Darling, that won't be needed. I am positive that the death threats were just a silly game".

Her voice told me she wasn't so sure.

"OK mom, but if you change your mind..."

"I won't." she said in a stern voice.

"I need to show this person that I'm not scared of her".

Mental note to self: always check mom's texts and phone and mail for any note of a death threat.

My mom put the waffles and dug the whipped cream out of the fridge.

"What do you want on your waffles, honey?"

"Um... well whipped cream, syrup... oh and strawberries please".

"Of course! You can't forget the forbidden fruit!"

I laughed. Mom and I had this joke ever since I ate an entire container of strawberries when I was 2. After that, my mom than took to calling strawberries the 'forbidden fruit'. I grabbed the plate and ran over to the couch, plopping down.

Taking a large bite of my waffle, I grabbed a book off the coffee table.

As my fingers fingered the pages and the words formed a movie in my mind, I shoveled the waffle in my mouth.

My mom walked up the stairs calling over her shoulder,"I'll be right back!"

"OK, I'm almost done, SO HURRY UP!" I yelled as she disappeared behind a random door.

I take the last bite of waffle and gulped down my orange juice, then put my dishes in the sink. Licking my lips, I grabbed my backpack and walked to the door.

"MOM YOU READY?"

"Yes, I coming" a minute later my mom walked down the stairs posed like a supermodel.

"Mom! Really!" I burst out laughing at my mother's appearance and the way I sounded like a little two year old begging for a cookie.

Hugging my sides, I felt your mom's arms wrap around me, adding to my shaking laughter.

"OK, OK! Mom we got to go. Or else I'll be late", I said while glancing at the clock above the door.

"Fine. But I'll get you before the end of the day."

"Get me for what?!", I yelled as my mom pushed me out of the door, my feet dragging on the carpet floor.

Hopping into the front passenger seat, I noticed that my mom stood there at the door looking at the ground ahead, as if it was cursed. Before I could call out, my mom looked up and caught my eye. I saw a brief look of fear on her face that I almost ran back inside, dragging my mom behind, and skipping school that day.

She smiled at me cheerfully and walked (or jogged) to the car.

"Mom, are you alright. Just a minute ago-"

"Honey, I'm fine... Just haven't been outside in a while. Kind of different from last winter". I could hear slight fear in her voice.

"Ah, mom I can walk-"

"No need. I can do it" Barely heard, she uttered "I must do it, for me and my family..." Her hand went on the wheel and another turned the car on. Pulling the car into drive mode, we headed for the freeway.

My mom loved the way everyone went fast, and there was no reason to go slow unless you were turning or getting off.

The ice cold wind blew my loose hair into my face. The wind, no matter how cold, always managed to clear my thoughts. Today there was a district test before we all went off to celebrate Christmas for at least two weeks. I was quite confident that I would ace the last test, science, for this semester.

I closed your eyes for two seconds, but they burst open to the sounds of screams.

"What the Had-"

My mom swerved to avoid the on-coming wrong way driver, but just made things worse. The guy crashed into 5 other cars, probably killing many in the process. I screamed my head off but was just as soon silenced when he hit my mom's car, ramming into the front at 80 miles an hour.

Just before I blacked out, I saw the guys face. His black hair twisting in his face as he gunned the engine and the look of pure hatred.

I realized who the man was. He was my uncle and making out, slightly, in the back seat, an unconscious body was my dad; hopefully unconscious.

Then the world turned into a blissful black.

(A/N): OK... That wasn't a complete disaster... Only if people would read it tho... Oh well. I guess this is all I can do. If any people want to yell at me, fine, yell away... It hasn't affected me for a while... Ya'll know where to comment, vote, express your feelings about this story. I'm all in for ideas for anyone of my fanfics. Anywho, enjoy thy life!