Hello everyone! I have finally had a chance to update. I haven't been able to think of how to continue lately.

But I would really like to thank two people. First of all, Moon1210, thank you so much for leaving me that super sweet and helpful review. I was so happy when I read it. It was one of the nicest reviews I've ever gotten. I want to dedicate this chapter to you because you helped me continue to update. Your suggestion was much appreciated.

Secondly, I want to give credit to celestialstarynight for one of the parts of this chapter. One of your reviews had a great paragraph in it that I used in this chapter, as I have told you. Thanks.

I didn't know how to continue speaking. I felt like my heart was lodged in my throat and I couldn't breathe.

My mom was standing in the doorway, arms folded, waiting for me to say something.

I ran through it in my mind, "Oh nothing mom. The boys and I just went out on the search for a dead body through the woods. And after almost getting hit by two trains, running from a fluffy puppy in a junkyard, and watching the guys get attacked by leeches, we found it. But then we were in deep crap because the Cobras showed up and pulled on a knife on me. It was all okay though because Chris, who is now my boyfriend, shot a gun and saved me. So you know, it wasn't a very interesting trip."

I thought all this in my mind but knew I wouldn't be able to say it, so I just croaked out, "Well, I just was out camping with the guys."

It sounded so stupid, I almost smacked myself.

My mom seemed to find it weird as well, "OK. Cassandra, I just don't want you walking out like that."

I nodded. She seemed to be taking everything a lot better than I had imagined she would, so that was a plus. But one thing was still bothering me, "Mom?"

"Yes?" she had just turned and was about to walk into the house.

"What about Chris? Can I still see him?"

I felt choked up, afraid that it had been a mistake to ask this question.

My mom sighed, "Yes. You said he's a nice kid and I trust you."

I could barely contain the excitement at those words. I knew I still would have seen him even if my mom hadn't given permission, but this way I didn't need to carry the guilt around.

I smiled, "Thanks mom."

We both walked into the house. I was sweaty and disgusting after two days of taking no shower and wandering through the woods. I had barely made it into the house, when I launched myself into the bathroom and leapt into the cold water. I could feel the grime slipping off of my skin.

I thought back to the crazy trip I had had. I almost wanted to tell my mom the details but I knew that if I were to do that, I would be guaranteeing a life of being grounded and either sitting in my room all day or going to school. The best choice was to keep quiet.

I stayed like this for the last day of my summer vacation. It was Labor Day, and what I did was stay home. I didn't go to the tree house or wander around town. I didn't go on any other crazy adventures with friends or run from German Shepherds. I was in my room the whole time, drawing again. I drew more of Chris. It seemed that I had developed some sort of need to draw him. So I just continued sitting on my bedroom floor, surrounded by sketch pads and pencils.

Before I knew it, it was 9 P.M and I only had about ten hours until school started. Summer had sped by and I had barely had any time to realize. I had been so busy and so many thoughts had crammed my mind that I didn't even have time to be nervous.

But now I was. I dropped my pencil in the middle of a sketch and clutched my stomach. I felt the churning on the inside, like cookie dough being mixed. I began to feel the lightness of butterflies fluttering in my stomach as well.

And then came the warm tingling rushing up my throat.

The next thing I knew was that the whole wood floor was sprayed with vomit. It had happened so quickly. Even some of the wall was covered. I slumped and examined the science experiment I had just created.

It was a complete mess. I gathered my sketch pads and put them all in a pile. It was too late for me to go downstairs and get a mop and a bucket and clean everything up, so I just lay on my bed and fell asleep, failing to realize that I would have to wake up early the next day, and the mess would still be there.