Sorry for not updating... I won't be able to update as fast as usual, a lot of stuff happening and I'm busy right now, but as soon as everything settles down, I'll try and make a schedule. So here's the next chapter! I hope you like it! :)

I suppressed a grin all through my small dinner, just waiting to get done with my chores so that I could escape to my room to draw and read. My father finished

before I did, and as I cleared away our plates, he said, "Get me a beer from the fridge please." I nodded and put the dishes in the sink before going to the

nearly empty fridge and pulling out one of the bottles of the gross drink. I placed it in front of him. He was in a good mood, I didn't want to change that. I

walked back to the sink and began washing the dishes. The suds formed around my hands as I scrubbed at the cheap plates until they were clean, placing

them to dry on the drying mat. "Dishes are done. Anything else?" I murmured. I was surprised when he shook his head. "No, nothing else. Just go to bed." I

blinked, but I didn't argue. I plodded over to my room and locked the door behind me. I jumped onto my bed, which I had cleaned after we'd gotten back from

the Bennett's, and sighed. I stared out at the darkening sky. I liked winter a lot. It was peaceful, and dark, and calm. Everything was sleeping, resting. I didn't

understand why other people disliked it and even hated it. I huffed and muttered to myself, "Well, that's just because they don't truly appreciate anything." I

shook my head, scolding myself. "No, stop it, they just don't like it because they prefer warmer weather... a lot of people do." I let my face fall down into the

pillow. I lay there for a while, just lazing about, until I motivated myself. I leaned over the side of the bed and unzipped my duffel bag, pulling out my drawing

things. I placed my sketchbook in front of me and flipped to the first empty page I had. There were only a few left. 'I have to save up my money to get a new

one.' I noted. I picked up a pencil and sharpened it before staring at the blank paper. I placed my pencil down and created a few small dots and circles. I

started to draw the shape of a face. I was meaning it to be a female, but it turned out looking more male. The jaw was squared off and stronger than an

average females. I drew from there. Large, round eyes, a well curved nose, perfectly shaped eyebrows. Thin, yet somehow full, lips. I got stuck on his hair. I

drew a messy, spiky hairline and gave him a head of tousled, short hair. I began shading. I made his eyes sparkle, just for a little touch of fun. My smile faded.

'Fun... How long has it been since I had a great time? How long has it been since I last laughed for real?' I sighed and stared at my finished drawing. He stared

back at me, smiling at me. I closed the sketchbook and placed it and my pencil under the bed. I tossed the sharpener down after them. I pulled my bag up onto

my bed and rummaged through it, pulling out my baggie of toiletries. I pulled out my razor and looked at it. I almost never used it, and I cleaned it every time.

The metal gleamed as I pulled the razor itself out of the plastic handle. I rolled back my sleeves, revealing my wrists. Only a few scars were there. I didn't

normally cut my wrists. I took a deep breath and slowly dragged the blade across my flesh. I felt it dig into my skin. I watched as blood beaded on the cut

before beginning to drip. I dropped the razor blade and pressed my free hand to the fresh injury. I stayed in that position until I knew that the bleeding had

stopped. I lay back on my matters after dropping my sleeves and I looked out the window. It was now dark, but I could see snow falling silently to the ground.

My mother loved snow. I vaguely remember my mom telling me about how she herself loved to play in the snow. Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let

them fall. I rolled onto my side, turned out the lights, and drifted off into a restless sleep.

"GET UP! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT!?" I was jolted awake by my father pounding on my locked door and screaming at me. "And unlock this

damned door!" I jumped up, scared. 'He's going to hit me... he's going to hit me again...' I undid the lock and he pushed open the door forcefully. I cowered

back from him. His eyes were glowing with rage. "Why did you lock the door? How many times have I told you not to do that!" His hand raised and I squeezed

my eyes shut, preparing myself. I felt the sting of his hand on my face and heard the familiar 'crack' as his palm connected with my cheek. I stumbled back. He

stalked towards me. He grabbed my hair and I squeaked a little. My eyes teared up. "You listen to me. I'm going for a few days to look for a job. You are not to

tell anyone about anything, you understand? I nodded as best I could. He shook my head, and my neck cracked painfully. "I didn't hear an answer!" "I... I

understand." I gasped. He let go, making my head jerk back yet again as he did so. "I'll be out of town. If you need anything, call me. I left you iPhone in your

room." He began to walk out of my room. His shoes were already on. He stopped. "Oh, and if Mrs. Bennett needs anything, you are going to do it, okay?" I

shrunk back. "Yes." He nodded. "Good." He left, slamming my bedroom door behind me. I waited until the door to the house closed before I broke out into

sobs. Tear rolled down my cheeks, wetting my neck and stinging my eyes. I lay down on my side on the cold floor and curled into a ball. My hands gripped my

hair and my arms hid my face as I closed my eyes. The dark swirled around me, comforting and sad. I quieted down to the point where I could hear each tear

drop as it dripped to the floor. Every now and then, a sob would escape my lips. "Mom... why'd you leave me?" I murmured. "Why?" My voice dropped to a

whisper. I stayed like that for a while until I noticed that I was hungry. I stood and swayed on my feet before I left my room. I walked to the kitchen. Empty

bottles were scattered across the dining room table. I sighed and picked them up, dumping them in the trash, as we had no recycling bin. I went to the fridge

and opened it up. Nothing. I huffed and wiped my face. I went back to my room to get dressed and ready. I was going to have to go out and get something to

eat. I pulled off my turtleneck and jeans and pulled out the remainder of my clothing. I had a choice between brown jean short shorts, skinny jeans that surely

didn't fit, and an ankle length skirt. It had belonged to my mother. It was a tannish pink color, with gold dots like fireflies around the hem. With a sad smile, I

pulled the skirt over my legs. I yanked a too small tank top over my head and ran to the door. I grinned to myself, getting over this mornings incident. My dad

was gone. For a few days! Maybe I'd visit Jamie after I ate... I pulled on my shoes and flung the door open. The cold air blasted into my face and I inhaled the

sharp air. I closed the door behind me and darted off down the street. I went to the same store I went to yesterday and waved to the cashier, a young man

around my age with russet colored hair and striking blue eyes. He waved back, smiling a bit bashfully. I wonder why. I went to the food section and picked out

a sandwich. I went to the counter and pulled out the remainder of my pocket money. It was just enough to buy the item. I paid for it and he said goodbye.

"Have a nice day!" He added. I hesitated before saying, "You too!" I left. I didn't really know how to react to people. I hadn't interacted much with anyone, and

if I had, it wasn't a very good time. I heard small children playing in the park across the street, and this time, I looked over. I saw Jamie and his friends hurling

snowballs at each other. I flinched when I saw a mousy haired girl get plastered in the face. "That's brutal..." I muttered jokingly to myself. I started to walk

again when I heard a shout from behind me. "Nicole! How are you?" I turned around. Mrs. Bennett was running towards me, smiling. 'Terrible.' I thought. But I

smiled back at her. "I'm great! How are you Mrs. Bennett?" She stopped in front of me, waving her hand dismissively. "Oh, honestly, you're my family. Please,

call me Ellie." I nodded. She laughed quietly. "I'm fine." She suddenly frowned and stepped forward, her hand reaching gently for my face. I winced. I didn't like

peoples hands near my face. It scared me, but I let her touch my cheek tenderly. "Oh my, what happened? Your cheek is bruised." I struggled to find an

answer. "Ah, I um... I ran into my door frame." Yeah, totally Nic. She'll believe that. To my surprise, she did. I guess I was good at lying after all. "You need to

put some ice on that." I nodded. "Okay, I will when I get home." Mrs. Bennett smiled at me before saying, "Say, Nicole, are you doing anything today and

tomorrow?" I shook my head, my strawberry blonde locks swishing gently. Did dad know that she was going to ask me a favor? "No, why? Anything I can do for

you?" She hesitantly nodded. "Yes, actually, I'm going to have to go to a meeting out of town for about two days, and I need someone to watch Jamie and my

daughter Sophie... do you think you could watch them for me?" I brightened slightly. "S-sure! What time should I be there?" I asked. She thought for a

moment. "Around six o' clock would be great. I have to leave then so I can be at my hotel when I'm supposed to. So, I'll see you then?" I began to step

backwards away from her, needing to head home. "Yeah! I'll see you around six! Bye Mrs- Ellie!" She waved goodbye and I left, dashing home. I could feel

something inside me welling up, something like excitement and happiness, the feeling I got when I knew something amazing was about to happen. I'd only felt

it once before, when I was three and I got a flying, mechanical turtle for Christmas. 'Well, I'll just have to wait and see, won't I?' I thought.