CHAPTER 4
And down the waterfall wherever it may take me.
I know that life won't break me when I come to call she won't forsake me.
~Robbie Williams 'Angels'
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Annie sat on her desk chair, bringing her knees up to her chest as she heard the door slam. Jack was home. Annie could hear him pounding up the stairs, and Molly calling out to him. Annie stood, looking around her room.
" Since when do I have to announce to the world where I'm going? In case you've forgotten, I'm eighteen mom." Annie heard Jack shout.
" In case you've forgotten, you still live under my god damn roof!" Molly shouted. " Did I say we were finished talking?"
Annie closed her eyes, knowing the fight was going to continue. She glanced at her desk, where a teen magazine was lying. 'Annie Thielen -Pop Princess- on top of the world!!' Read the cover, and Annie laughed. " If only you knew how this Pop Princess really lived." She muttered.
" Bitch." Annie heard Jack mutter, and heard the door slam.
Annie sighed, tears coming to her eyes. " He's changed too much…" She mumbled, opening her door. She spotted Molly sobbing on the first stair, and quickly made her way to the woman. " Molly." Annie said gently, tapping the woman on the shoulder. " Hey, it's only me." She said smiling a little. Annie sat down next to the woman, putting an arm around her. " He's just mourning Molly… some of us take death worse then others." She said softly.
" I know… but… it's still too hard." Molly whispered, standing up. She walked down the steps, wiping her eyes of the tears. " I'll be at Irene's… I can't be here right now." She said quietly, quickly leaving the home. Annie looked helplessly at the door, sighing. Annie then walked quickly towards Jack's room, pounding on the door. " Open up Jack." She shouted. " You friggen prick, open the damn door!" She shouted, pounding once again on the oak door. When Jack didn't answer, Annie opened the door, gasping as she walked into the rooms. Her friend's once bright room, was now so dark. The bright curtains had been replaced with black, as had the bed spread, sheets, posters, and clothing. " Someone's taken mourning to the extremes." She muttered, walking deeper into the room. She turned on the bedside lamp, seeing Jack curled in a ball on his bed, asleep. " How did he sleep through my yelling?" She muttered, sitting on the edge of the bed. The anger she had just a moment felt, slowly disappeared, and she stroked the teen's face. He jerked in his sleep, and began to mumble.
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" Jack! Jack please… help me… please… I don't want to die!!" Gabe screamed. " HELP ME!!"
" GABE!!" Jack shouted, running towards his girlfriend's voice. He ran into her room, only to see the love of his life sprawled on the floor, her eyes shut and the hem of her skirt on fired. " Gabe…" He cried, dropping to the floor next to her. He felt someone touch his shoulder and he turned around. There was Gabe, in a white dress, holding a candle.
" You killed me Jack."
" Gabe- no… I couldn't-"
" You let me die!! I called out to you but you never came! You wanted me to die!!"
" You killed her! You killed one of my best friends Jack!" Jack turned to see his sister, standing behind Gabe, her eyes narrowed.
" How could you do that Jack? How can you kill the one you love?" Molly asked, and Jack spun around, seeing his mother, Irene and Ned standing behind him, their arms crossed.
" I-I didn't mean it! I couldn't- I couldn't get to her!! I tried, I did!!" Jack cried, placing his head in his hands. " Please, I tried to help her!!"
" Jack?" Annie's voice broke through the shouts of his family and friends, soothing his fears. " Jack are you ok?"
" Jack! Jack come on, wake up." Annie said, shaking the boy.
" I tried! Don't! Please! I tried to save her!! Gabe, don't leave me!!" Jack cried out, tears streaming down his cheeks.
" Jack, it's only a dream… come on, wake up." Annie said quietly, shaking him a little harder.
" NO!!!" Jack shouted, bolting up in the bed. Annie jumped, not expecting this.
" Jack? Are you ok?" Annie asked, looking at her friend. Jack's eyes were filled with tears, and she pulled her friend into a hug. " It's ok… it was just a nightmare."
" I killed her Annie. I killed my girlfriend."
" Jack… if you hadn't called me and told me, she would have died faster, and so would her father. You did the best you could, you saved her."
" I miss her." Jack cried.
" Sh… it'll be ok." Annie said soothingly, rubbing the older teen's back. " It'll be alright. We're all here for you Jack… you're not alone."
" I wish it was me instead of her."
" Don't say that." Annie said, looking at him. " Jack… don't say that."
" She had so much… and I have nothing. Nothing is good anymore. I need her."
" Jack… she wouldn't want you to be like this."
" I can't even remember her anymore Annie. She was my soul mate… and I don't even remember half the things she and I did. I can't remember her favorite flowers, color, anything!"
" Jack… its ok to forget some things. She'll always be in your heart Jack, and that's the important thing."
" But…"
" Jack, I'm going to make some tea… do you want some?"
" Yeah… tea sounds good." Jack said weakly, looking at the girl.
" Ok, I'll call you when it's ready." Annie said, standing up.
" Hey Annie?"
" Yeah?" Annie asked, turning around.
" Thanks." Jack said quietly, looking down. Annie smiled, walking out of the room. Once she got to the kitchen, she let out a shaky sigh, and began to cry. She placed the kettle onto the stove, wiping her tears away with her sleeve.