THE OLD HOME

Do you know

The story from the start?

Do you know me

Like you always told me?

Honest Questions

Daniel Bedingfield

Marissa sat with Ryan, neither saying anything, they just sat there. Together. It had been a long time since they had seen each other like this, where no words were spoken, no gestures exchanged. They would just sit before the ocean watching the sun rise as though there weren't a care in the world.

Yet Marissa knew all too well that Ryan's mind was not clear of thought, nor was it close to finding reason amongst the twister of emotions and revelations. She could see it in his face, in his eyes. He was scared.

He had told her of what Seth had informed him, that his sister was indeed losing control, that she was at breaking point. Marissa's heart grieved for him, for the worried brother that he was.

She recalled a time when she had said that she wished she and her own sister could have the close relationship which Ryan and Rachel had. Now she wasn't so sure. Because now she realised that with that closeness, that undeniable bond which was between them, came unspeakable pain. When one suffered the other did as well, if not more, from seeing their companion be put through so much.

Marissa could feel it now, when she wasn't even looking at her boyfriend, his eyes showed fear, hurt and a helplessness which came with knowing that he couldn't reach out to his sister the way he used to.

All he could do now was wait for her to come to him.

Rachel awoke early, watching as the morning sun began to creep through the curtains, slowly edging its way across the room. She could hear the soft sounds of Kurt breathing beside her, his arm still rapped firmly around her waist.

Rachel moved slightly, careful not to wake her sleeping companion. She slowly moved her hand to his wrist, removing it from around her and gently slid off the bed.

Kurt stirred and Rachel froze hoping beyond hope that he did not awaken.

She dared a look over her shoulder and couldn't help the warm feeling she received when she was him lying there bare-chested, so peaceful. Moving around the room quietly she found the singlet which he had been wearing the previous night sitting untouched on a clothes chest in the corner of the room.

Rachel looked down at her own attire, still wearing the same clothes she had arrived in and realising that they were not entirely suitable. Slipping out of her top she pulled Kurt's singlet on, before throwing her jacket over the top.

Rachel stepped out of the house, into the quiet street and began to walk.

"So, it's the weekend, what do you boys have planned?" Sandy asked interested.

He looked from Ryan to Seth and then back again as the two sat before him eating cereal. A realisation dawned on Sandy.

"On second thought, it's 9am on a Saturday, why are you two already up?"

Seth shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."

Ryan remained silent.

"You know that I have to go to work later on, only for a few hours, just to check up on some things."

They both nodded.

Ryan never lifted his eyes as he spoke. "When are you picking Rachel up?"

Sandy watched him for a moment before answering. "On the way home."

"She could walk you know, get home earlier."

"Ryan," Sandy said sitting before the boy. "If you want to see her, then go and see her."

Ryan looked up at Sandy before shaking his head, standing and leaving the table.

"Ryan would be worried sick knowing you came back."

Rachel almost laughed at Theresa's comment, thinking of all the reasons why Ryan wouldn't care that she was gone. She looked up at her old neighbour, her brother's ex girlfriend and said the simple words.

"He doesn't care."

Theresa smiled as she sat down, handing over the hot cup of coffee and looking directly at Rachel. She could see the young girl's pain, even though her face masked it. Theresa had known her since she was a baby, she had been there through every moment of her life. She knew Rachel as though she were her own child.

"You didn't give yourself the chance to find out," she commented.

Taking a quiet sip of her coffee Rachel ran the comment through her mind, but there was too much going on in there for it to process properly and the words were soon lost.

"Is there a reason why you came back?" Theresa asked honestly.

Rachel shrugged and was suddenly hit with the feeling that she had forgotten why she had returned. It almost didn't seem to matter any more, she was out of New Port, who cared about anything else?

"Maybe you should call your brother, just to let him know you're okay."

Theresa reached for the phone but Rachel was quick to catch her arm. "I call and he gets worried, freaks out and comes looking for me."

"You don't know that," Theresa insisted.

Rachel looked straight into the girl's eyes and held her gaze for a moment. "I know Ry'."

Theresa looked back, her eyes almost sad at the thought that the relationship between Rachel and Ryan had broken. She couldn't recall a time when they had not been together, and if not, never far apart.

"So do I," Theresa whispered. "I think you forget that sometimes Rach."

Rachel looked at the pretty girl sitting before her, she knew exactly why Ryan and her had been an item. Who wouldn't like someone like Theresa? She was smart, witty and incredibly beautiful.

"I'll see you later," Rachel said standing from her spot and moving toward the door.

"Rach, don't go," Theresa insisted going after her.

Rachel didn't stop, didn't turn to face her friend, she simply walked out the door speaking.

"Got people to see."

Dawn's eyes went wide as she looked up to see the reason why her front door had slammed so hard. An image of her daughter filled her vision and she had to hold onto the edge of the kitchen counter to stop herself from collapsing. Rachel looked so different, her hair was now extremely short, styled in jagged cuts around her face, and scattered with pale blonde streaks. Dawn thought it made her look beautiful, so mature.

"Rachel, oh my God, my baby."

Dawn gasped, running up to her daughter and throwing her arms around her and only pulling away when Rachel didn't return the gesture.

"How have you been? Hows Ryan?"

Rachel cocked her head to the side. "Oh, so now you're pretending to care?"

Dawn's face turned to one of shock. "Baby, I always cared."

"Cut the crap mum, you never gave a damn about us!"

Rachel pushed passed her mother aware that there was an open liqueur bottle resting half-empty on the kitchen counter.

She'll never change, Rachel thought.

"Where's your brother?" Dawn asked calmly, turning around to face Rachel, watching her as she ran her fingers along the top of the far cabinets.

"Right where you left him," Rachel replied.

Dawn moved further into the house and picked up her bottle of Vodka, taking a swig before screwing up her face at the taste.

"Don't make the mistake of thinking this is a friendly catch up on old times. I need info and I need it now."

Dawn looked at her daughter seeing the complete hate for her mother evident in those golden eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"AJ and his boy Theoty are taking a group of their pals to visit Ry's old gang. What do they have planned?" Rachel said walking casually up to her mother.

"I don't know what you're saying," Dawn replied less than convincingly.

"What does AJ have planned for tonight?" Rachel asked again, this time her voice a little stronger. She was now standing directly in front of Dawn.

"Rachel..."

"I'm going to ask you one more time...!"

Rachel pulled the bottle of Vodka from Dawn's hands with an aggressive strength and threw it across the room. It connected with the far wall, smashing into a thousand pieces and causing Dawn to flinch.

"And then I'm gonna get testy!" She finished looking straight into her mother's eyes.

"Okay, fine," Dawn finally said. "Maybe I do know something."

"Where?" Rachel asked calmly.

"What?"

"Where the hell is this gonna happen?" She pressed.

"They're meeting outside the milk-bar just around the corner from here. They said something about Mitch being there at midnight."

Rachel looked at her mother for a moment before the information truly sunk in. It made sense, Mitch lived above the shop, his father, the owner.

She nodded her head slightly before moving away from Dawn.

"You'll wanna take it easy on the drink, something big is going down."

Dawn ran after her daughter stopping her with a hand on her arm. "Rachel please don't get involved in this."

Rachel spun on her mother ready to attack. "If you'd have been half the mother you should have been you would know that I have always been involved! Where do you think me and Ry' were all those nights? We sure as hell weren't tucked up in bed like we should have been. I wasn't the good little girl you thought I was but you were always too off your God damn face to realise it."

Dawn stood frozen as she realised what her daughter was telling her. She as horrified. Sure she knew that something was going on with Trey and Ryan, she always had, but for them to get their sister involved as well...

"Why did you do it?" Dawn asked.

"Because what else could I do?" Rachel asked. "They were the only family I had. There were people in that group who loved me more than you and still do. They taught me everything that I know. Gave me everything."

Dawn studied her daughter's face, instantly knowing, but having to ask to be sure. "You went out with one of them?"

Rachel smirked at the question. Was her mother that thick? "Remember Kurt?"

"Ryan's best friend?"

Rachel raised her eyebrow mischievously and Dawn instantly caught on. "But he's eighteen!" She cried.

"And I'm fifteen, big whoop."

Dawn looked away, she couldn't meet her daughters eyes. What she really needed was a drink, something to suppress the anger she was feeling at the moment, even if it were only temporary relief.

It was only then that she realised Rachel was no longer standing in the room with her.

The front door slammed again and Dawn was left alone in her house.

"Mum, how can you stand by and let him do this?"

Marissa voice was one of pleading as she and Jimmy faced off with Julie in their house. She had come by to drop off the remainder of Marissa's clothes and had not expected the two to take such a stand against her.

"Marissa, I am only doing what is right for this town," Julie replied.

"No, what you're doing is what is right for you and Caleb," Jimmy stated.

"Leave Cal out of this Jimmy."

"He's every bit a part of it though. He's the reason why you're acting like this," Marissa argued.

Julie let out a long sigh. "Look, as far as you two are concerned there is nothing you can do."

Marissa glared at her mother, hating every part of her at the moment. "If something happens to Rachel I will never forgive you." And with that she stormed off to her room.

"I am not going to let something happen to this kid, she's done too much for me," Jimmy growled.

Julie only smirked. "What? Given you advice on how to live a life of crime and violence?"

"You know what Julie? I honestly think that you should get your facts straight before you start accusing people of things. Ask around, look it up. Rachel is a good person and I will not stand by and let you ruin her life. Now get out of my house!"

Julie smiled sweetly. "It would be a pleasure." She turned back to him once she was at the door. "Good afternoon Jimmy."

The answer she received was the door slamming in her face.

"Hey big brother," Rachel said walking into the yard.

Trey looked up surprised and ran up to his little sister pulling her into a warm hug which she was happy to return.

"Oh my God, Rach!"

"Why is that everyone's greeting?"

Trey pulled away and looked at her. "How have you been?"

Rachel raised a single eyebrow and took the chair, which her brother offered. "Don't get me started."

Trey was curious as to why she was visiting him; not that he needed a reason. "Where's Ryan?" He asked.

Rachel looked up. "Trey, can we not...?"

This reaction instantly answered Trey's next question. Why are you here?

"I just...I wanted to talk to you."

Trey narrowed his eyes and leaned forward on his elbows casting a quick glance to the prison guard who was standing just out of listening range.

"Is everything okay?" He asked concerned.

Rachel let out a small breath. "I dunno."

She bit her bottom lip trying her hardest not to break down right there and then. In the presence of her older brother she felt as though she could do anything and she wouldn't be judged.

"I think I did something that I shouldn't have done...and..."

"Yeah..." Trey pressed.

Rachel tried to find the words. "I dunno if I should take it back."

Trey narrowed his eyes. "Is it something you regret?"

Rachel looked away from him, not wanting him to see past her fake strength and into the real reason why she was here.

"I don't..."

Trey watched as Rachel ran a hand up and down her left arm as though she were cold. His eyes instantly fell on the scars, which lay along her wrist.

"Hey," he said moving closer and looking at her. "Did someone hurt you?"

Rachel met his eyes; her own shaky and Trey instantly knew what had happened.

"Oh, Sweet Baby," he said using his childhood nickname for her as he pulled her into a close hug. "I'll do anything for you, I just don't want you to cry."

Rachel melted into her brother's embrace and for the first time in months she felt as though she could trust someone with her life, with anything.

"That's the thing," she said. "I can't even cry any more. I try so hard but my body won't let me."

She pulled away and looked toward the ground.

"Where are you staying?" Trey asked.

"Kurt's," Rachel replied.

"Now listen here. You tell that boy that if he tries anything and I mean anything, he'll have to deal with me."

Rachel nodded reluctantly. "Okay."

"So why'd you do it?" He asked honestly.

"I...I don't know."

Trey could see the obvious pain in Rachel's eyes, she had clearly not spoken to anyone about this. The way she seemed to cower away from the subject only because it meant letting out what she was truly feeling inside.

"So...I'd better..." Rachel said indicating that it was time for her to leave.

"Yeah," Trey nodded.

As they stood he smiled warmly at her and it made Rachel feel happy that she had come to see him.

"It was good to see a familiar face," he said.

"Ditto."

"So, I'll see you 'round little sis."

Rachel nodded before turning to leave. "Thanks Trey."

Later that night as Kirsten filled the dinner plates before her with the contents for the take-away containers Sandy walked in with a worried look on his face.

"What's wrong?" She asked, flicking Seth's hand away as he went to take an olive from the mixed salad.

"I'm a growing boy, I need my nutrients," he protested.

"You can wait five minutes," Kirsten stated.

"But by that time I'll be a withered piece of nothing. You won't be able to see me from side on."

"Seth..."

"Okay, okay."

Ryan moved over to Sandy with a frown on his face. "What is it?"

"I just went over to Monica's – the girl Rachel was staying with – and she said that Rachel never went there. They didn't even have plans."

Seth's attention instantly snapped to his father, his hunger pains forgotten. "So you're saying she made it all up, and for the past day and half we don't know where she's been?"

Sandy looked over at his son with worried eyes and Seth knew that he was right on the money with his question.

"That's not like her," Kirsten said.

Sandy shook his head and leaned on the bench-top in defeat. "Lately I don't know what gotten into her."

"Anything could have happened to her," Seth stated.

Ryan watched as the three processed the information, not really feeling anything except for the undeniable need to hit something. How could Rachel have done this? Didn't she have enough sense to think that they would worry? Then other thoughts came into his mind. His baby sister was out there, alone, with no one to look out for her...

"She's run away before," Kirsten said calmly.

Ryan spoke up for the first time in the conversation. "That was different," he said. "Last time she wanted to be found."

The conversation continued for a moment before it was interrupted by a booming voice.

"Good evening all!" Caleb cheered.

"Dad, this is not a good time," Kirsten insisted.

Caleb only smiled at her mockingly. "I think this is a wonderful time Kikki."

"Caleb, we're having a serious conversation," Sandy stated.

Caleb looked at his son in-law with a strong curiosity. "Really? What about?"

"Rachel's run away again," Seth spoke.

"We don't know that," Kirsten interrupted.

Ryan looked at her sadly. "Yes we do," he murmured.

Caleb titled his head and shook it with a fake concern. "Such a shame."

Ryan was instantly drawn to the action, the look of glee in the mans eyes. Something wasn't right.

"You know something," Ryan said. It was a statement rather than a question.

Caleb pointed to himself innocently. "Who, me?"

"What the hell did you do?" Ryan growled walking up to him and meeting the man head on.

Caleb smiled. "Only what she asked. The dear child wanted to go back."

The rest of the family was now realising what Caleb was saying, what Ryan had picked up in the old mans voice. Kirsten stepped forward a look of horror on her face.

"Dad, you didn't," she said wanting to believe that it wasn't true.

"Oh, I did."

"How the hell could you just let her leave like that?" Ryan screamed forcing himself not to hit the man in front of him. "Do you have any idea how much danger she is in going back there?"

Caleb only shrugged absently. "What's for dinner?"

Ryan growled low in his throat, he couldn't let this continue. His sister had gone back to the place they had grown up and he knew all too well what that could mean for her. Moving away from them Ryan grabbed the car keys, which sat on the wooden, nail board.

"Where are you going?" Sandy asked.

Ryan didn't stop his movement. "To get her back."

Seth instantly sprang to his friend's side. "I'm going too."

Kirsten looked at the two young men standing so proud, leaving to rescue the one they loved. "Be careful," was all that she said.

"Oh yes," Caleb said. "We wouldn't want anything to happen to the girl."

Ryan stormed up to him, looked him in the eyes and punched him directly in the face. Caleb staggered back holding onto his now bleeding nose.

"Let me tell you something you sick bastard," Ryan breathed. "No one messes with my family. No one!"

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

(Hey, hey. How are you all? Hope you're liking it. I know this chapter was a bit long but I couldn't fit everything that I wanted to into it without it being this way. So, what's in store for the next chapter? It's based fully in Chino, though I might add in a little New Port if I feel like it. Basically it's the race against time to get to Rachel before she goes along with Kurt and his peeps to the huge fight. Please R R)