DISCLAIMER : I dont own anything affiliated with cheaper by the dozen.

Jake Baker was always a happy child. Sure when they moved away from Midland he had a bit of an attitude, all of the kids developed a bit of a grudge, but that was just a phase. Two years later, everything had changed. He was still happy on the outside, but on the inside it was the complete opposite. His family doesnt tend to give him much attention, what with him having 11 siblings and being the middle child. He barely had any friends, none that he could actually count on, and he's in a very dark place in his life.

Jake sat on the bathroom floor, listening to the racket that is inevitably there everyday. Razor in one hand, towel in the other he takes a deep breathe. A tear streams down his face as he presses the sharp object to his skin gliding it across his inside arm. Slowly but surely a river of crimson liquid floats to the surface and drops down his arm forming a micro sized pool of blood on the cold tile. Jake couldn't believe it actually came to this. 5 months ago his life seemed perfect, how can everything change so fast? He had countless scars on both his right and left arms. He wasnt sure how much longer he could get away with it, summer was approaching and wearing longsleeves was soon going to be unbearable. Nobody knew what he did to himself, nor did he want anyone to. It wasnt that he cared what people thought, he just felt as if it was just his. If somebody found out, it would no longer solely belong to him. He liked having atleast this one thing to himself completely. He had to share everything else, he didnt even have his own room.

"Jake are you still in there?",he heard Mike ask. "Just a second!" he replied back , raising his voice a little more than he would have liked to. "Did you fall in again, you've been in there forever." ,trip on your rollerblades and land in the toilet one time during a hockey match and your branded for life, thought Jake. He thought back to that day, a few weeks after they left Midland. He remembered smiling and being happy, truely happy. That day was also the day Mike discovered his undeniable skill for repelling off the roof. Jake still smiled just at the thought of Mike hanging yelling at the top of his lungs as he hung upside down. They were always the closest out of the siblings. A loud bang yanked him out of the memory, by the screams it sounded like Sarah knocked over Lorraine's makeup kit with her lacross stick. Never a peaceful moment in this hell house, he quickly rinsed off his new wound and shoved the razor back into his pocket where it belonged. As he swiftly turned the corner towards his room he bumped into Henry "HEY! WATCH OUT!" shouted Henry, "Sorry dude", Jake replied. Henry's attitude really wasnt a surprise he had been moody that whole day, ever since Jessica threw his clarinet out the window after apparently hearing enough of him practicing; truth was, he sucked. Jake grabbed his walkman and shuffled over to his bed. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the music.

Cemetary break the stone

Mom was right shoulda stayed at home

Seems like all the good old days are gone

Back and forth and side to side

A lonely boy, a man's disquise

Another silhouette against the sky

Over come the obstacle of animosity

Take me to my old back yard, security and family

He started to think of old memories again and a montague of family picnics, apple schmeare, summer vacations flashed in his head. He thought of the christmas he got his skateboard, he had refused to come inside even after he had skinned both his knees,an elbow, and bloodied his lip. He thought of just 7 months earlier when he plugged in his first guitar, and when he and Mike put frogs in their principals desk. They had gotten in a lot of trouble for that prank but the look on Mr. Krisby's face was more than worth it. He chucked out loud, and it sort of startled him. He couldn't really remember the last time he even half laughed.

When all is said and all is done

Im not the only one

When all is said and all is done

Take it all for granted

I don't mind its all been handed down to me

But i'll give it back someday

Once upon a tale

Began on a television

Now i watch it slowly spin away

Jake slowly fell asleep with his headphones still blasting the sounds of Catch 22. He had successfully made it through another day, and that was enough to satisfy him for the moment.

Reviews and suggestions are always appreciated. The lyrics used in this chapter are Alone In a Crowd by Catch 22. Hope you enjoy it.