Chapter Eight

Step Six- There will be a point in the game when you will question you're motives. This is when you need to come to the final conclusion of whether or not it is all worth it. There have been plenty of bad teen movies that show bets that turn out all wrong. Just don't do anything you will end up regretting. If this means quitting, then stop now while you are still ahead.

Looking back on it now, it all seemed so obvious. I hadn't talked to my parents in three weeks. Even though I knew how busy they were in Florence, they were not the type of parents to just not call home for their whole vacation. Something was up.

Being the type of person that I was, I pretended the fact that my parents hadn't called in almost a month didn't bother me. I would tell my teachers and family friends that were just busy and always used the line, "Well, you know my parents". They would usually just laugh and said something along the lines of, "Oh yes, you're parents are such social people". Yes they were, just not when it came to me.

Dark clouds covered the green sky. It was the perfect morning for a tragedy to erupt. The rain began falling sometime around one thirty am. I distinctly remember because I finally left the bar about one fifteen. By the time I pulled into the driveway the storm had begun. Hail the size of golf balls were falling from the sky. I pulled the Beemer into the garage. I entered the house.

Rosa stood in the kitchen awaiting my arrival. She pointed to the telephone. The answering machine said 1 new message. I pressed the play button and waited. A man with a distinct Italian accent spoke the few sentences that changed, ruined my life.

"Davis resident. I regret to inform you that yesterday, March 5th 2004, Mr. Thomas Davis and Mrs. Lydia Davis, died. We will call you back with further details."

The message was so abrupt. Millions of emotions raced through my body. Anger, sadness, fear. Once the tears started flowing, there was no ending in sight. My body collapsed to the floor. The cold tile on my warm body sent chills up and down my spine.

What was I going to do? My parents were dead. Even though they were never at home, it didn't matter. The fact that they were one call away was comforting enough. There was no comfort in knowing that I would never get to see or talk to them again.

That night I cried myself to sleep as if I was an infant longing for its mother. I was nearly an adult, but I was still yearning for my parents. They were gone, I ruined everything with my friendship with Peyton, and I was lying to Lucas. Something had to change.

Thursday morning came too soon as it tended to do after my usual Wednesday night of partying, but that Wednesday night was totally different. I woke up on the kitchen floor soaked in tears and dressed in my bay clothes from the night before.

School wasn't even an option for me. I couldn't face Peyton and I wasn't ready to talk to Lucas. My mind was made up, the bet was over. I had to tell Lucas everything. He deserved to know.

Making me get up off the floor was hard. I raised my hand to my face which was somewhat dry and completely tear streaked. My back was pushed up against the refrigerator and I pulled my knees to my chest. I slowly lowered my head into my knees.

Rosa came through the kitchen with the mop and cleaned around me. For the first time I can remember, Rosa spoke to me. "Senorita Brooke?" She placed her hand on my hand and ran her fingers through my dark hair. I slowly raised my head. I found comfort in her familiar face. A sense that I was not totally alone. "How are you doing?" She asked with a thick Spanish accent.

I shook my head and replied with my best Spanish attempt, "Muy mal." She handed me a glass of milk which I politely took from her.

She sat down next to me. "Your mama and papa tell me to take care of you. Anything you need, you ask Rosa," She said, pointing to herself, "I will help you mija."

I embraced her and thanked her. "Rosa." I said as she walked out of the kitchen. "I didn't know you spoke English."

"Yes, well, I am the maid, the housekeeper. Not the friend. I never speak to you because you always seem mad." She put the mop into the sink and rinsed it out. She then left the kitchen.

I stood up and walked after her. "Rosa, please talk to me anytime." The smile on her face made me feel a little more at ease knowing that someone was there for me. She nodded and carried on with her work.

Forcing myself to go upstairs and shower, I grabbed my purse from the kitchen floor. As I walked up the stairs to my room, I sorted through my purse. The light on my cell phone blinked quickly. I pulled it out. Four missed calls, two voice mails.

I called my voicemail to check it. The first message was from Daniel. "Brooke, its Daniel calling about the wedding. Hope you're still up for it. I'm really looking forward to it. Call me and I'll give you all the details. Later."

I deleted his message and moved on to the second. Lucas' voice came over the phone. "B. Didn't talk to you after school today. Hope everything with you and Peyton is okay. Call me back or I'll see you at school tomorrow. C ya."

Epiphany. That is what I had right at that moment. I had to change. Everything had to change. Life was too precious for me to continue living like everyone owed me something. It was time to turn over a new leaf. It wasn't going to be easy. I didn't know if I could change. I had tried so many time before but tomorrow was going to be the first day of the rest of my life.