AUTHORS NOTE: If you like so far...read on...

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The car drove silently down the dirty road. We were miles from home and I didn't know where my brother was. Tears of worry and pain welled up in my eyes. What would my parents think? I didn't have long to consider this, because I soon fell asleep again. The police station was bustling and noisy. It was scary. A policeman handed me the phone. "Your one phone call." he said I pressed my lips together and didn't say anything. Clutching the freezing phone in my own icy fingers I bit my tounge and dialed my phone number. It rang for several minutes, but no one answered. I could believe it! Where the heck were my parents?? I swallowed, trying not to cry...but it was no use. Sitting down on the bench I cried so hard my ears rang...burring my face in my hands. A policeman approached me. "Hey," he said gently. "I called your parents. They're on their way over here. Don't be scared. Mr. Jackson was arrested. I know this is hard for you...but you've got to be strong." I couldn't believe it! A guy I didn't even know was consoling me. I nodded, just nodded. I didn't know why. My heart throbbed with sorrow. Where was Shawn?? Then I remembered...this was my fault.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ My mom entered the room. "Are you okay?" she cried. I nodded (something I'd gotten used to doing when I was speechless) and threw myself into her arms, still crying. "What happened?" she persisted. "It...it's all my fault." I wailed. "I met t-this guy at school. He asked if I wanted to c-come over and-" I stopped suddenly. This was the guy my mother had forbidden me to see. Taking a shaky breath, I continued, "...and h-he took me too some broken house in a strange neighborhood. He took Shawn with him, I mean, I figured,

what could happen?" I paused for a breath. "T-then he....well...." I couldn't go on. This was too much. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- Two weeks passed and my brother was found. He was okay, but he had the flu and couldn't go back to school. My parents forced me too. I could hardly bare the stares and giggling popular girls passing by me with a distant glance as it was. They were always teasing me because my clothes didn't fit in and I was just too flat and thin and unathletic. But when I stepped into John Adams, a hush fell over the collection of mingling students. They stopped and stared at me. I wiped the worried look off my face and searched for my friend Sellene. She, besides Courtney, who I wouldn't consider a friend, was the only true person that liked me. I bumped into her, and immediatly she threw her arms around me and cried into my shoulder. "Oh Stacey," she sobbed bitterly. "I'm sooooo sorry." I nodded again and gently pushed her away. "I'm fine Selle," I said, taking a breath. "Really." Sellene wiped her eyes and smiled at me. Never in my life had I felt so special and grateful I had a friend. The day passed on rather quickly, and I was glad I didn't have to face another emotionel outburst. Gym came, my worst enemy, and I was put on a soccer team with two of Robert Jackson's friends. My heart sank. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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