THE SEVER

I'm filling up inside like I need to open wide

And pour my heart out to you.

But I'll just be denied and all I wanted was someone

To hear what I'm going through.

Never There

Hoobastank

Seth watched her from the doorway as she threw books into her bag at a rapid and angry pace.

He stepped into the room, careful not to get in the way.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Rachel didn't acknowledge him, she didn't even flinch, just kept doing what she was doing.

"Rach, you wanna talk?"

"About what Seth?" Rachel finally said looking up. "About how your grandfather is making my life hell? Or do you wanna talk about how Summer gave us her blessing?"

Rachel threw the last of her books into her bag before stopping short when she realised what she had done. Seth was only trying to help, but if that was true, then why did she think he was only making things worse. Seth wasn't like Ryan, he couldn't read what was going on inside her head by simply looking into her eyes. He wasn't someone who thought of the bad things when there were good as well.

"Seth I..." Rachel said looking up again, but he was gone.

Rachel let out a long sigh, before hearing noises downstairs. Marissa had arrived to take them to school and she could hear the faint chatter of her and Ryan. The front door slammed and another voice joined the conversation but Rachel couldn't make out whom it belonged to.

Suddenly there were loud footsteps running up the stairs and Seth appeared again.

"Anna's here to take us to school," he said.

Rachel heard the joy he had in his voice when he said Anna's name and her heart sank from the feeling.

"What happened to Marissa?" Rachel asked lifting her bag over her shoulder.

"Her and Ryan are leaving a bit earlier because they have to pick some books up or something."

Rachel looked at Seth, really looked at him. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, his movements, his face; everything changed when he spoke of Anna. His entire body loosened something that had only happened when Rachel was around.

"Seth..." She began.

"Are you guys coming?" Anna yelled from the bottom floor.

"Seth..." Rachel tried again.

"Come on, we're gonna be late," Seth said turning and disappearing down the hall.

Rachel stood alone in his room completely empty of thought. Nothing was registering. Seth had chosen Anna over her, and Rachel could feel every part of her aching because of it. Her chest hurt, like someone had taken a knife and sliced her heart open.

She looked down at the floor forcing back the tear, which threatened to escape her eye. Instead she took in a deep breath and moved to the door, knowing that this was only the beginning.

Moving out of the room, down the stairs and into the lobby Rachel saw her brother and Marissa whispering in the corner, Anna and Seth in a heated conversation about comics.

"You know, you guys go ahead, I'll catch up," she said, only then getting their attention.

"What are you talking about?" Marissa asked.

Rachel looked at her, then at Ryan's who was clearly aware that something wasn't right.

"Why don't you ride with us?" He asked.

Rachel took a moment to think about the suggestion and then agreed, knowing full well that this would mean that Seth and Anna would be left alone in the car together.

Part of her honestly didn't care.

Marissa looked at Ryan and then Seth and Anna. "Uh...I might go with these two, let you guys have some time alone to talk."

She moved over near Seth causing Anna to roll her eyes in frustration.

"Are you okay?" Ryan asked taking his eyes off the road for a moment to look at his silent sister.

Rachel shrugged. "I dunno."

"Wow, that tells me a lot."

Rachel cast a glance over to him. "Seth likes Anna."

"Seth likes a lot of people."

Rachel shook her head. "This is different, he...he chose her over me before. I went to talk and all that he could worry about was that we would keep Anna waiting."

"He probably didn't mean it that way," Ryan reassured.

"Everyone wants me gone," she whispered.

"No one wants you gone."

"That's not what it feels like. Even you, you haven't stood up for me with Caleb and Julie once. What happened to the 'no one messes with my family' speech?"

"Going up against the evil un-dead wasn't on my to-do list."

Rachel looked over to him, his eyes focused on the road as he drove, hands clasped tightly around the wheel.

"You honestly don't care, do you?"

"I do care..."

"Then it would be nice if you showed it."

Rachel voice was now strong, almost accusing as she practically told Ryan that it felt as though he had given up on her.

"What do you want me to do? Throw a ticket tape parade in your name?"

"Wanna be careful there, you're gonna blow up the sarcasm meter."

"Rach, I care about you, I don't have to prove that." Ryan was yelling now, the frustration setting in hard.

Rachel fell silent. She was fighting with Ryan now. What was going to be next? Nothing was working out for her lately. First Caleb and Julie and now everything surrounding her relationship with Seth. She felt so lost. More than anything she just wanted to open up and tell her brother how she was feeling, but for some reason she couldn't. She couldn't tell him anything. It felt as though he wasn't there, even now, when they sat side by side, he was gone.

As Ryan pulled the car to a stop outside the school he climbed out leaving Rachel sitting there.

"Hey I think you left your 'I'm an ass-wipe' sign in the car," she called out to him.

Ryan turned around and looked at her, seeing that she truly didn't mean what she had said.

"Get out," were the only words that escaped his lips.

Rachel glared at him before stubbornly collecting her bag and stepping out of the car. She began to walk away only to hear Ryan call out to her.

"I'll meet you..."

He stopped when he realised she wasn't listening. She was doing exactly what he had been only minutes before.

Later that afternoon once school was out Jimmy sat alone in the Cohen's house waiting for Sandy to return from his business call. He looked around the lounge thinking of how he used to have these things, the big house, loving family, everything a man could want. Now he had nothing, only the hope of leaving this life behind and starting over.

"Uh...hi."

Jimmy looked up to see a young girl standing there a pair of jeans draped over her arm.

"Hi," he replied. "Jimmy," he introduced.

"Name to the face. I've heard a lot about you. I'm Rachel."

"I second that 'name to the face' thing."

Rachel smiled and Jimmy felt as though he was in the presence of an angel. She was truly beautiful, a natural strength in her golden eyes as they came to rest on his. He could see the small similarities between her and Ryan. The way their eyes bore into your soul, the slight smile that was always just waiting to awaken.

"So...you're here, why?" Rachel asked politely.

"Oh, having a talk with Sandy. I'm desperate for advice I need on some stuff."

Rachel looked at him and shrugged. "What kinda stuff?"

"Business. Personal..."

"Well I just walked past him and they're talking about football on the phone. He might be a while."

Jimmy looked down slightly. "That's okay, I'll just come back later."

He stood from the couch and made his way to the door when he heard Rachel behind him.

"You know I have nothing to do right now, maybe I could help."

Jimmy turned and looked at her before smiling. "Are you sure."

"Hey," she said sitting on the couch he had just vacated. "Beats homework."

Jimmy laughed. "You don't know anything about me."

"Means I haven't made my judgement, I have an open mind."

Jimmy looked at the young girl sitting there expectantly on the couch and instantly thought of his own daughters. Maybe he did need advice – or even just to talk to someone who didn't know him. Who didn't have a biased opinion.

He started pacing slightly.

"Where do I start?" He asked.

"Wherever you like."

Jimmy took in a deep breath. "I've made some bad choices..."

"Join the club buddy."

"No, I mean really bad mistakes."

"So do I."

Jimmy stopped then and cast a glance Rachel's way. Her face was filled with curiosity and an honest nature.

"I've lost everything. My family, my job, my friends. I'm having to start from scratch without anything to get me going."

Rachel looked up then, hearing the words passing through another's mouth made her think of herself. She has been thrust into a new world with nothing to hold onto, no friends, no protective circle. The only person she had was her brother.

The thought of Ryan made Rachel take in a deep breath and she forced him from her mind.

"You're scared?" Rachel asked honestly.

Jimmy stared into her face, one of such innocence but she also carried a wisdom of life experience.

"Yeah," he murmured.

"You don't think that you'll be able to work things out?"

He shook his head in agreement.

"Seems like every face you see is a stranger, and you don't know who to trust, or what's around the next corner. You don't know how long this life will last or if you'll ever escape it."

Jimmy was frowning now. "Are we still talking about me?"

Rachel let on a weak smile. "Kinda."

He moved over to the couch with her. "So what about you? Tell me your problems."

Rachel instantly rose from the couch and walked into the middle of the room trying to avoid all conversation surrounding her feelings. She didn't want to open up; part of her felt as though she couldn't. Not to Ryan, not to Seth, not even Sandy or Kirsten. Especially not a complete stranger who knew nothing about her previous life, only what he heard through people.

"We're not talking about me."

Jimmy instantly noticed that she had bypassed the question. "Okay..."

Rachel cracked her knuckles loudly trying to shake the sudden tension, which now racked her body.

"What's your diagnosis?" Jimmy asked.

"You're in denial. You think that you can't start your new life where your old one left off and that's bull."

"This town isn't exactly forgiving."

"This town offers second chances, but only to those you seek them out. You're sitting there feeling sorry for yourself like someone will show up in your life and give you all the answers. Take it from me. They won't. No sign will appear and point to where you have to go. You have to get off your ass and become whatever the hell it is you want to be."

"That's what I don't know."

"It doesn't matter Jimmy. The point is to have faith in the people, which are around you and know that no matter what happens they'll support you. But not if you don't make an effort."

Jimmy almost laughed. "I can't believe I'm taking advice from a fifteen year old."

"Sometimes it takes the person you'd least expect to tell you if you don't do something you're screwed – and I say that in the nicest way."

"I'll bet. Maybe you should be taking some of your own advice though. Trusting people to help you along, that kind of thing."

Rachel only stared at him. He had seen it. Seen the way, which she had spoken as though she wanted to believe it herself but for some reason couldn't.

For some reason, she just couldn't.

TO BE CONTINUED.........

(Hey. Okay maybe I lied, you don't find out what Caleb and Julie have planned till next chapter. I didn't think that this one was going to go for so long so I will have to slot in an extra one. But it's kind of a positive cos then you're in more suspense. Question...am I making it obvious enough that Rachel is slipping away from people? Cos if I'm not I just told you that that is kinda the aim. Anyways enough from me, it's now over to you. Please review and also give suggestions. I want em! I use em!)