Chapter 10: Bad News

Breathe in. Breathe out.

One. Two. Three.

The walls were caving in on me. I kept my eyes on the icy ground floor, praying for a guardian angel. No such luck. The walls were still closing in on me. I had no control. I watched as the ceiling started to move downward and the floors were getting higher. This was the end. I was going to die. Squeezed into a tight box until there was no ME left.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. I counted slowly and cautiously in my head. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three.....

A piercing scream startled me. It was so full of pain and sorrow. It was crying for help. It was the scream of a dying girl. A familiar dying girl.

I opened my eyes in surprise and found a body slumped against the wall on the other side of the closing-in room. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief, trying to adjust to the light. And then I realized…there was no light. I squinted and suddenly recognized the body. Claire. I crawled quickly over to her, calling out her name urgently. When she didn't respond, I felt my heart stop beating.

I shook her unusually hard. Nothing. Not even a flutter of an eye. I cried her name repeatedly, asking for luck to be on my side. Not even a four leaf clover could help me now.

I heard another scream. I looked down, expecting it to be Claire, but it wasn't Claire's body. It was mine. The walls finally closed in on me…allowing the darkness to take over…and the screams to stop.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I gasped as I woke up to the sound of the alarm coming from my clock. I hoped out of bed, glad to be rid of my sticky sheets. I put a hand on my face and wiped away the sweat that was caused by my nightmare. I glanced over at the clock. 7 o'clock.

It wasn't even a school day. And I sure didn't set up this clock. This could only leave one culprit. Harris.

I shuffled out of bed, and threw on a new t shirt and sweats. I walked down the steps, somewhat relived from waking up. But then again, Harris better have a good reason as to why he set up my alarm clock on a Saturday morning.

I heard loud whispers coming from the kitchen. One voice coming from my father. And the other coming from Harris.

"You can't do this to us, Dad. Especially not now. Cam's having a rough time at school and so am I. We need you."

"I'm sorry son, but I have to do this. It's best for the family."

"Dad, don't give me that bull shit. Please don't lie to me." Harris pleaded.

I crept behind the kitchen wall and listened to their conversation. What were they talking about?

"I'm sorry son, but I'm going on a business trip and I'll be gone for a bit." Mr. Fisher said impatiently.

"Business trip my ass. Just admit it Dad." Harris raised his voice.

"Admit what son?" Mr. Fisher asked, also raising his voice.

"You are pathetic. I'm ashamed to call you my Dad. You're gonna hurt us Dad…you and your piece of shit."

"Don't talk about her that way!" Mr. Fisher said angrily.

"I'll talk about her anyway I want to. You're cheating on Mom with her." Harris shouted angrily.

"This discussion has ended Harris. Go to your room."

I felt a large lump in my throat…similar to when I hurt Claire yesterday. My Dad was cheating on my Mom?

"Is it true?" I croaked as I walked into the kitchen.

Harris' face was red and his eyes were bloodshot. It looked like he had been crying. He was sitting at the table, right across from my Dad. Mom was at work. Luckily. I walked up to my Dad and used all the confidence I had left.

"Is it true?"

My Dad looked ashamed and didn't look me in the eye. I glared angrily down at him, not even bothering to wipe away the tear I had shed. I slammed my fist against the table and demanded angrily "Tell me!"

"Cam, you have to let me explain." I heard him plead.

"No. I don't ever want to hear your excuses ever again. In fact, I'd rather you didn't talk ever again. You need to stop seeing this whore and go back to loving Mom." I yelled at him. Tears were now flying down my cheeks. I felt Harris place a hand on my shoulder. I yanked it off, harder than I intended.

"And you. Why the hell didn't you tell me? Why is this family so fucking messed up?" I shouted before walking out the side door and slamming it.

I didn't know where I was going. But I had to get out of there. I jumped on my bike and ignored my brother's calling after me. I needed to bike somewhere far away. Somewhere my family wouldn't find me. Places ran through my mind. Derrick's…no. Josh's…hell no. Park…too obvious. Beach…too crowded. I grinned bitterly when I realized my destination.

Peterson's pier.

When I arrived, I threw my bike lazily against the tree. As I walked toward the end of the pier, I gazed at the sight before me. The birds were flying and calling out to each other in rhythm. The clouds were dancing in the crystal blue sky. There were no boats on the lake, but it was still gorgeous with its features and colors.

I sighed as I plopped my butt on the pier. I looked down, into my lap, and began to think about my family. Thinking about it brought misery abrupt. My family was always perfect. We were so close a year back. Nothing could separate us…not even Harris's wild girlfriends that my parents disapproved of. Y parents were close. They were always flirting and holding hands…I had to tell them to stop because it was sickening me.

Then one day, the fighting started. I wasn't sure what it was about. I thought it was just another ordinary couple problem. It shouldn't have been serious and I still think it wasn't. But then the fighting continued and worsened throughout this year. Between my mom and dad, my dad and Harris, and mom and Harris. It just became too much. And I couldn't handle it.

I usually stayed over at Derrick's when the fighting became ugly. It tore my heart to see my family fighting like this. But not as bad as today.

I actually can feel my heart ripping.

I'm not a dramatic kind of guy, but one guy can take so much. Let's review the details.

My best friend likes my supposed friend

My girlfriend is an ego maniac groupie

I told my best friend I hated her

I realized I was in love with my best friend and I tore her heart, tearing mine

My Dad is cheating on my Mom

Life is beautiful no?

And then things became worse. Way worse. I wondered why this place was so familiar…other than when Derrick and I used to come throw peddles into the water when we were kids. This is the place where-where…

Serena died.

Serena was my baby sister. Emphasize on the was. I've been trying to cover up her death for years, until one day I actually convinced myself it didn't happen.

But it did.

And I was the cause of her death. Tears leaked out of my eyes as I recalled the last moment of her life.

"Cam, whats the wawter like?"

"Serena, why don't you try it yourself?" The 7 year old Cam grinned lazily at her.

Serena's face brightened when she heard this. The three year old jumped up and down, excitedly, causing her jet black curls to bounce. Her blue eyes sparkled as she giggled. The younger Cam took enjoyment into watching his sister. His younger sister. She was his prized possession. He loved looking after her and caring for her. She was his best friend. The only one that understood him, other than Derrick.

"Want me to teach you how to swim?"

"Suwwrre."

Cam held Serena's hand as they walked down the pier. At the very tip of it, Cam and Serena sat down. Cam lowered himself from the stairs and helped Serena into the water. She smiled widely as he held her carefully in the water. She splashed him, causing him to laugh.

"Cam, where are you?" He heard his mother call.

"Right here mommy. What do you need?"

"Will you help load this into the car? We're gonna leave soon."

"Sure mommy." Cam yelled before turning back to a frowning Serena.

"What's wrong sis?"

"Me wanna stay here."

Cam looked uneasy about this, but finally shook his head yes. "I guess. But promise me you'll hold onto the rail."

She nodded quickly.

"Okay. Now stay here. I'll be right back."

Cam hoisted himself out of the water and hurried to help his mom. As soon as he was done, his mother asked him where his sister was. "I'll go find her mommy." Cam ran down the pier, excited to see his sister swimming. He poked his down toward the water.

"Serena, time to-

And time stopped.

She was gone. Cam called out her name over and over again, his voice straining even more each time. He finally yelled for his parents and explained that his sister was gone. His mother started to bawl while his father dialed 911. The 10 year old Harris looked frightened.

The next few hours were a blur. The police showed up and so did the fire department. After a long search, a body was brung up from the bottom of the ocean.

Lying with her face down in the water, the pale colored child was not moving. As she was brought up, Cam choked on his tears. His parents were shaking his sister. The fire department was draining all the water out of her body.

But her body was still pale. Her eyes and mouth were shut. And her body was lifeless. There wasn't a single operating part of her body. She was dead.

She had drowned. And it was my entire fault. I shouldn't have left her there by herself.

I blamed myself for her death. Until eventually I couldn't feel a thing in my body. I felt like my parents and brother eventually forgot she ever existed…and I tried to do the same. And it worked for a while until now.

The one place I could never be happy.

The lake's waves were now crashing angrily against the pier, matching the stormy gray sky. The clouds were now dark and heavy along with the mournful cries of the birds.

Did I mention it was raining? No…well it is.

The clouds were crying tears for Serena. For me. For my sorrow.

And then I couldn't help it.

I started to sob…loudly. And I didn't care who heard me. My life was pointless. Was there a point in living? I questioned myself this over and over again as I continued to cry.

--

"Do you know where he might be?"

"I'm sorry Harris, but no."

"Well he ran away crying. And I just thought-well…if you see him, can you call me?" He asked urgently.

"Sure."

Click.

I knew exactly where he was.

--

I walked down the pier, watching the moves of the shaking boy at the end of the pier. He was shaking uncontrollably, crying his eyes out. His sobs could be heard from a mile. It could break any heart.

I sat down next to him and tilted his face up. His gazed at me in disbelief and continued to cry. I opened my arms and braced myself as he cried into my shoulder. I squeezed him tight, making sure I wouldn't let him go.

"I'm so sorry Claire."

"I know." I said tearfully, starting to cry with the crying boy.

Happy Birthday Serena.

K well updating times are gonna be weird since I have a ton of stuff coming up. Especially finally exams…which if I ace I get a laptop…so I can update whenever I want.

Updates won't be just on Sat.'s anymore. It could be any time a weekend. So there's your warning.

So if I don't update Sat, don't freak out. There's always Sunday.

So tell me what you think. Sorry it was short but I had to reveal more of Cam's past.

-With Love, AnimeAddict2323232-