It felt as if life stopped when we went home. The school day was ended early, whilst the police investigated what'd happened. We weren't allowed to see the body, not that I really wanted to. Seeing Zack asleep creped me out enough. As we solemnly walked into the busy lobby, everyone stared at us as Cody broke down crying again. He was more than just crying he was screaming. I shed a few tears as well, but was still in denial. Maddie came over as soon as she saw.

"Hey, what happened?" she asked, calmly putting her arm around me.

"Z-Z-Zack," I stuttered through gulps of sobs. "He's d-d-d-d-d-,"

"He's what?" Maddie asked confused.

"He's dead!" I got out before collapsing on the floor in tears. Mom just stood there and froze, as Maddie started to cry.

"What is the meaning off all this?" Mr. Mosby asked, coming over. "Our guests don't pay to hear crying!"

"But, Mr. Mosby," Maddie argued as tears started to fall. "Zack died this morning," she half whispered.

"Oh," Mr. Mosby sighed. "I understand," he started to cry but tried to remain professional. "I'm sorry for your loss," he walked away to cry in the corner. That's when I truly grasped it.

Zack was dead. He wasn't coming back. The last thing I'd said to him was, 'I hate you'. Guilt built up inside me as I crawled into a ball and cried. I wanted to die too. Slowly we all made our way to the elevator, and up to the 23rd floor.

You know when people are dead, usually it's best to wait a few days before going to their room. Do you know how hard it is when you literally have to go into their room, because it's yours as well? Very. Cody wouldn't stop crying, as he sat and rocked in the far corner. Mom just sat on the couch, still staring straight ahead. I didn't know what to do with myself, so I opened the window and slipped out onto the little ledge. I'd been going there since we'd first moved, I was a small ledge, which I probably could easily fall off if I wasn't careful. But I sat there anyway, it was my escape, no one else knew. And the vent opening was the perfect hiding place. I kept food, because once I was out there for 5 hours, along with a book and a stolen MP3 player.

I started to play the music, as I sadly ate a bag of crisps. They were Dorito's, Zack's favourite. I couldn't help thinking of him. Zack. My triplet brother. It truly felt like a part of me was missing. Zack had always joked around with me, and I'd never felt so lonely. We'd entered dancing competitions (although he wasn't very serious) and been in a band. But his was gone. I took my hat of my head in anger, throwing it down, before undoing my hair. I was a girl, just like Zack said.

I sighed, and reached into the vent, finding an egg I'd left there the other day. My eyes locked on Tapeworms house, and I flung it at his window. I was a pretty good aim, so it went straight on his window, even though I couldn't really see too well from a distance.

"Hey, little girl!" a woman yelled, making me turn to a window. "What gives you the right to throw eggs at innocent people's house?"

"He isn't innocent." I hissed. "He killed my brother,"

"Is your brother the blond one?" She asked, jumping to conclusions. "I saw him a minute ago, so he can't be dead,"

"They're twins," I muttered in annoyance. "Only one of them is dead,"

"You shouldn't even be out here, it's not safe."

I grunted loudly. "Good," I said, slipping off the ledge and starting to fall.

Time seemed to slow down as I fell towards the Tipton entrance steps. I didn't really want to die, I realized, I wanted to be with Zack. I'd seen how distraught mom and Cody had been, I would only make it worse. I was selfish. I shut my eyes tightly getting ready to hit the ground.

The force and impact of the fall never came. But I did feel a set of hands around me, turning me upright then keeping the hands on my waist. I wanted to pull away but I was in too much shock.

"Are you okay?" a familiar voice asked me. I looked up to see it belonged to Drew.

"Physically or mentally?" I asked.

He pushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Both," he whispered.

"Physically, I think. Mentally… not really."

"I'm sorry,"

"What for?"

"Being so mean to you and your brothers,"

I shrugged. "It's not your fault Zack died."

"I know," he sighed, reaching in his pocket. "When Tapeworm told Zack he was gonna die, and the more he told people the more painful it'd be, Zack wrote this note. He gave it to me because he only wanted you to see it, and didn't want Cody to know,"

"Oh…kay," I said confused, looking at the paper. 'Max' was scribbled out on the folded edge. I unfolded it to reveal a note.

Tapeworm says I'm going to die. I'm sorry, Max. But don't let this effect you too much. You're not the one dead, so get on with your life. I'm not coming back. I forgive you for what happened this morning, I'm sorry for choosing Tapeworm. You've been such an amazing lil' sister, and I hope you never forget me. As for now, I'll be in a better place. Cody is still your big brother, let him take my job. But please, never say you're a twin. You'll always be a triplet even after I'm long gone. I love you, Maxine Martin.

Lots of love,

Zackary Martin.

I stared in shock, constantly re-reading the note. I knew it was from him because of the handwriting, but it made me sob more. The fact that I'd never see Zack again. But he was right in a way, I just wanted to wait till the next day to get on with my life. And I was still shaken up from the fall. I started to try and walk back inside, but Drew stopped me.

"Max, wait," he called, making me turn around. "Don't kill yourself, you've seen what happened to your family when Zack died,"
I nodded, starting to cry as I ran inside. I ran up to the suite, feeling very self-conscious of my hair as I ran through the lobby.

.

Dad came home late evening. Cody was asleep on the floor and mom just stared straight ahead. I tried to sleep, but I couldn't.

"Hey," dad half-whispered, sitting down next to me. "It's a shame about Zack, eh?"

I nodded, beginning to hug dad some more. "I miss him," I cried.

"You will," Dad nodded. "The pain will never go away. We just have to learn to live with it," he started properly crying now.

"Yeah," I said, lying down on my back. Eventually I must've fallen asleep.

.

I woke up tiredly on the floor early evening. The first thing I noticed was how hungry I was. It felt like something was missing, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I saw dad asleep next to me, then Cody close by. Mom was still just staring ahead. I looked at the clock, about dinner time. I made dinner quite a lot, because mom just couldn't cook. I made some pasta and heated up a sauce. A simple dinner. One of Zack's favourites.

Zack's dead. I remembered, as I poured the pasta into four bowls. I made a fifth, with the word 'Zack' written on it and left it on the window ceil. Just encase.

"Cody, wake up," I whispered, shaking him.

"Huh?" he sat up confused.

"I made dinner," I announced, handing him a bowl.

"I'm not hungry," he mumbled.

"Me neither," I lied. "But we need to eat, it's what Zack would've wanted." I left him with the bowl and fork as he picked at his dinner. "Dad, wake up," I whispered as he sat up. "I made dinner,"
"Thanks honey," he muttered, starting to eat with his hands.

I knew mom would be the hardest. "Mom, I made dinner," I told her calmly.

"Zack," was the only response I got.

"Would want us to eat and survive," I finished. "Come on, he's in a better place." I said through tears. I missed Zack so much, but knew there was no point crying over it. In fact, I was probably the closest to Zack. I ate some of my pasta, before throwing the rest away and heading into my room. I could only last a second.

Zack's basketball hoop stood tall, and the dirty underwear and un-made bed that I used to hate, I now loved. My eyes caught on a photo of us all with London and Maddie. My hair in one plait, and us all smiling. That would never happen again. School photos, where the three of us used to hate having to share were now the most precious things. The same every year. Zack, me, and then Cody. And my 'creative' ways of getting away from the stupid 'no caps in photos' rule. Zack got me that cap when I was little, and now I'd never see it again.

Forget the cap, I'd never see Zack again.

A/N So sorry for the long wait, the Wi-Fi at my hotel is crap! I probably won't be able to update till Tuesday the 9th because of this. Also, do you want flashbacks because I've written some that could fit between chapters? Thanks. xx

Question: What music do you like?

My Answer: Mostly All Time Low and other Alternate rock.

Please tell me what you think! Thanks for reviews xx