I'm sorry this chapter is late. I've was out of town for Christmas and I've been extremly busy with stuff.


Cracking

It was a beautiful day. Nothing had happened all week. Just normal talk and activities. Nothing major; no fights, no emergencies, nothing, just peace for a change.

Peter smiled, listening to the birds chirp in the distance. He had taken his work outside, under the gazebo, but had wandered away for a moment and strolled around. He watched as some of his students played around the schoolyard. He waved at Jeff, who was teaching some of his students about nature.

Heading toward the gazebo, he noticed someone sitting there, rocking back and forth on the swing bench.

"What are you up to?" Peter asked Annie. She glanced up, then down, shrugging. Peter sat next to her. She moved towards the end of the swing.

"Do you not like me? I promise I don't bite." Annie shrugged again.

"Want to talk about it?" Again he received a shrug.

"Hmm, nice day isn't it? You like to watch the sunset?"

Annie didn't look up, but nodded.

"When it gets warmer we'll go out on a hike," Peter explained. He was hoping to get Annie to talk. She had almost responded, but thought twice about it.

"Have you ever been on a hike?"

Annie nodded and quietly said, "With my mom and sister, along with our dog."

"You have a dog?" Peter asked.

"Used to. We had to get rid of it because no one paid attention to her."

"I never had pets when I was younger, but my aunt had a German Shapered that ripped my arm open once."

"Ow," Annie responded.

"Yeah, it hurt. I was five at the time as well." They looked up as someone entered under the gazebo.

"What are you two doing?" Sophie answered, sitting between them. Annie moved farther to the end.

"Talking," Peter answered, pretending he didn't notice that Annie had backed away.

"What about?"

"About when I was five my aunt's dog ripped my arm open. I received eight stitches, too." Sophie glanced at Annie while Peter said that. Annie had her head down, staring at the ground.

"Peaceful day, isn't it?" She asked her. Annie went back to shrugging. Sophie looked at Peter; somewhat concerned that Annie had not talked to them or anyone about anything. Peter mouthed something to her, barely whispering.

"Oh," She mouthed back.

"I better get to Scott and Shelby before they start up again," Sophie excused herself.

Peter tried to think of something to say to Annie. She yawned as she gazed at the grounds.

"Tired?" He asked, "And don't you shrug you shoulders." She nodded.

"Better," Peter congratulated, "Want to go rest?" Annie shrugged.

"I thought I told you not to do that?" Receiving another shrug, he laughed. She didn't smile.

"Do you ever smile?" Peter asked. Thinking he'd get the same answer. Annie didn't answer, but seemed to ponder on it and stare off into the distance.


"Scott and Shelby," Peter called, seeing them kissing in front of the whole group. They stopped.

"Do you two want to be on shuns again?"

"No," Scott answered.

"Then I suggest you stop." Peter sat down and Sophie stood beside him.

"I want to do something different today and for the next few weeks," He informed.

"Such as . . .?" Auggie asked.

"I want you all to pick a song, something that reflects on you; a memory or something like that. No curse words, nothing nasty or anything of that nature. No rap either. You will write word for word of the lyrics and memorize them. In a month you will each sing that song and explain why you chose it."

"So we have to sing in front of everyone?" Ezra asked.

"Yes; The group, Sophie, and me. If I decide, maybe infront of the rest of the school," Peter answered.

"Sounds cool!" Juliette perked up.

"Yippee," Shelby said while rolling her eyes.

"It's supposed to be fun," Peter said, "Now all of you I feel . . ."

"Excited!" Jules yelled.

"Confused," Auggie answered.

"Embarrassed," Scott said.

"Uncertain," Shelby.

"Overwhelmed," Ezra.

"Nothing, because I'm not exactly excited or overwhelmed by it." Daisy explained.

"Tired," Annie said last, rubbing her eye.

Peter nodded, "In a week I would like you to have you song picked out and chose wisely."


"So what are you going to pick?" Juliette asked Shelby.

"Probably some love song about Scott," Daisy teased.

"Shut up, you'd probably pick one about Ezra."

"So?" she smirked at Shelby. Jules gave up on them and sat on Annie's bed.

"What are you going to sing?" Annie shrugged not looking up.

"What I'm I going to pick!?" Juliette half yelled and frantically looked around as if it would jump out at her. The two ignored her, but Annie watched her with no emotion. Her eyes glazed over, deep in thought and then sighing, she got up and left.

"Where do you think you're going?" Shelby shot at her, but Annie was gone. She was instantly cold, but shoved it out of her mind. Annie wanted to think without having people stare at her or hear any yelling.

What song will I pick? She thought. Annie hated singing; she knew she had a terrible voice, so why did other people have to know that? Why did she have to embarrass herself? She also hated doing things infront of others, if she couldn't talk, then how can she sing?

She walked over toward the docks, feeling a bit restless. She sat and thought about some songs. The reflection of the moon in the water erupted her thoughts. She stared at the water, watching it slowly drift by. Trying to keep still, she heard the sound of crickets and a frog.

Finally, Annie couldn't take it anymore, she couldn't sit still, she just felt too restless. Getting up, she paced back and forth on the dock.

Peter stepped out of his office to go check on the boys. Something caught his eye. As he drew closer, he noticed it was one of the students pacing. He walked on the dock, seeing it was Annie and that she didn't know he was there or at least didn't care.

"Are you alright?" Peter asked deeply concerned. This snapped her out of it and she stared at him.

"Something wrong?" He approached her. She shook her head, gesturing everything was fine.

"You were pacing . . ."

"I can't seem to stay still," She answered truthfully. Peter searched her eyes, which were staring at his chest. She turned away to the water.

"Do you know why?" He received another shake, "Want to talk about anything?"

"Why do you people always want to talk, can't you just sit and enjoy the peace?" Annie threw, getting angry now.

"We could do that," Peter said.

"Actions speak louder than words, you know."

"Yes, you have a point Annie." Peter sat down, dangling his feet over the dock. Annie didn't join him, but continued to pace. She seemed to get really annoyed by it, and threw her arms up in frustration.

"Sit," Peter commanded her.

"I can't."

"Try." She sat beside him, not too close though. Instantly, she started fidgeting.

"Still," Peter explained.

"I can't." Peter heard the frustration in her voice and the pleading of wanting it to go away.

"Tr-"

"I can't!" Annie jumped up and started away. Peter followed her.

"Go away."

"I want to help you," He reasoned.

"You can help me by leaving me alone."

"Okay, if you want me to." Annie stopped in unison as he strolled away. Whatever, she said to herself and went off on a walk.


Annie quietly walked into the dorm, not wanting to wake any of the others. She crawled under the covers and tried to get some sleep. Thoughts and dreams floated though her mind. Causing joy and sadness. Without really realizing it, she began to softly weep.


"Annie, I'd like to see you in my office after class. Along with your laptop," Peter informed her. Confused, Annie nodded.

"You have a laptop?" Auggie asked.

"Yeah."

"Does it have the Internet?" Questioned Scott. She nodded once more, "It's kind of slow though."

"Who cares as long as you can search sites and chat to normal people!" Ezra exclaimed.

"Can we borrow it?" Scott asked. Annie quickly shook her head.

"Why?"

"Because its mine. I have stuff on it I don't want other people to see."

"What? Porn?" Auggie asked.

"No, just stuff. Any ways, I'm not aloud to chat with other people besides my friends by email and Peter probably installed something in it to watch what I do on it."

"We won't do anything bad. We promise." Ezra practically bagged her.

"Maybe later."

"Cool."


"Who's this Hayden Christensen?" Peter asked Annie while he went through the web sites she's visited during the month.

"An actor."

"What movies?"

"Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Life As a House. He played in a TV serious 'Real Life', that's kind of like Horizon with challenged kids."

"Is that so?' Annie nodded.

'You seem to research pneumonia and bronchitis a lot." He glanced at her, his gaze questioning, but Annie wasn't paying attention to him.

"Annie?" She looked at him.

"Is there a reason you research it?"

"I have trouble breathing sometimes and I was curious," She explained.

"Have you ever been tested for asthma?"

Shaking her head, she said, "No."

"I'll try to schedule something for you." He gave back the laptop, "Everything checks out fine. I'll want to see it again in a month." Annie nodded and departed.


The Cliffhanger boys were crowded around Annie's laptop in the lounge.

"Click on that," Auggie commanded Ezra, "No, not there!"

"I'm on it at the moment, so I get to chose where to go."

"Any normal human being would play games, but you've got to research Shakespeare," He murmured while walking a short distance away.

"Hey, if that's how he wants to spend his time, let him. You do what you want with your time," Scott said.

"Quiet Meat."

"I'll take it away, if you three don't stop," Threatened Annie's quiet voice, which caused them to hush.