At dinner that night, as Shawn, Alyssa and Zac were eating the dinner Hope had prepared for them, Bo and Hope were upstairs getting ready to go out for dinner at their favorite restaurant, Tuscany's. Alyssa poked at her food. She couldn't stop thinking about what Joline said. You're failing every subject, you have no friends and to top it all off, nobody likes you. Face it, the world wouldn't miss you if you were gone. Alyssa sighed loudly.
"Alyssa sad?" Zac asked in his little baby voice. He offered her his favorite rattle. Alyssa smiled and tousled his hair.
"Thanks pal." She said and she took the rattle. Shawn took this opportunity to apologize. He had felt guilty all day about yelling at her. He resented himself for causing his sister to run out nearly in tears. He loved Alyssa so much and hated that she'd been so depressed lately. He wished she would just let her family in to help her.
"Hey Alyssa. I wanted to apologize for the way I was this morning. It was rude and I never should have treated you the way that I did. So I'm sorry." Shawn said.
"Sowwy." Zac repeated. Alyssa smiled at Shawn.
"Thanks Shawn. I appreciate that." She said.
"So I'm going to the movies with Belle tonight and I talked to her today and we wondered if you wanted to come with us." Shawn suggested.
"Oh that would be a great idea Alyssa." Hope said as she entered the room putting on her earrings. Bo heard too as he was right behind her.
"You should go sailor girl. Zac's going to your gramma and grampa's tonight so you don't have to worry about him." He said as he helped Hope put her coat on. Alyssa forced a smile.
"Thanks Shawn but I have a lot of homework to do and the alone time will get it done quicker." She made up an excuse to get out of it.
"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" Hope asked worriedly. She felt that somehow, Alyssa was acting differently today. More sad, more distracted than usual.
"Of course I'll be alright. I'm 15, mom. I'm old enough to take care of myself." Alyssa replied. Hope nodded in disbelief.
"Okay, well we'll be home by eight or nine." Bo said as he gave Alyssa a kiss..
"Okay, bye mom and dad." Shawn called after them as they left, taking Zac with them. Alyssa sighed and put her fork down.
"Not hungry?" Shawn asked as he wolfed down his food. Alyssa shook her head and pushed her plate away. Shawn grabbed his last chicken finger and stood up.
"I should get going. Belle's waiting for me." He announced as he started to clear the table.
"Don't worry about that Shawn, I'll take care of it. Say hi to Belle to me." Alyssa said. Shawn nodded, hating to leave Alyssa alone.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" He asked again. Alyssa smiled.
"Yeah I'm sure. But thanks Shawn. Thanks for caring." She said. Shawn bent over and hugged his sister.
"I'll be home around the same time as mom and dad. I'll be bringing Belle over so we can hang out a bit more. I'll see you later." With that, Shawn left, and Alyssa was left alone with the nagging words of Joline Thomas. The world wouldn't miss you if you were gone.