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The Afters

Chapter 15

Holly sat alone in her darkened room. She did not fear the dark, she actually liked it now. She ate the last piece of apple pie her grandmother Possible brought up for her. She nibbled slowly and looked at a small framed picture by her tiny feet. There she was as a baby, on her first Halloween dressed as a pumpkin. There, beside her, sat Rufus as a piece of candy corn. He was curled up under her chin to make her smile. Her tiny fist were handing him a piece of candy, one of her only pieces of the night.

She did not cry. Holly, like her mother, hid her tears. But she was confused, what was this feeling she felt. She was too sad to be angry, but too angry to be sad. She couldn't think straight and stood away from the rest of the world. Did everyone feel like this once and a while? Would the pain ever go away?

It was getting late, but her mom was coming back tonight. Tomorrow, they would have a tiny ceremony for the naked mole rat. Why they didn't do it sooner, she wasn't quite sure of. Rufus body laid in a shoe box downstairs, only yesterday he was alive and well. Holly had him in her hands when he passed. Was it her own fault he had died? She loved him so much, possibly more than her father ever did. She could not help but love him. It was just so natural. But now, no one, not even Jacob could take his place.

All of a suddenly, the door opened downstairs. Quiet laughter filled Holly's ears. It was not only her grandmother and parents, but several people. Did they all come just for Holly? To help her ease the pain and share the pain at the same time? Holly grabbed her dishes and looked in the mirror. Her hair, which had turn into thick curly pigtails at the moment, were all nice and neat. She was in her green winter pajamas with little pink bunny slippers. She felt for Rufus in her pocket, only to remember the shoe box.

Holly peeked down the stairs. She remembered those voices: her mothers, fathers, grandma, grandpa, nana (Mrs. Stoppable), Pap (Mr. Stoppable), Uncle Tim and Jim, Wade, his fiancé (Sara) Monique, and Brick. They were all excited, but she could only see shadows. Focusing her ears on the conversation, she listened.

Nana: Oh look at those precious little eyes.

Pap: Grow up to be famous one day son.

Monique: That is just the cutest face.

Brick: Makes me want one even more..

Monique: Hah, wait until we're married Brick.

Sara: Aw Wade, look at it.

Wade: I know, its hard to believe after all these years...

Holly knew it, they were looking at her baby pictures! She grinned and waited for her name.

Kim: Mom, where is Holly?

Grandma: She went to bed

"Liar." Holly snickered.

Pap: I bet she's all excited.

Kim: Uh...well Ron completely forgot to tell her what was going on.

Ron: Well, I told you we should have signed her up...

Signed her up for what?

Kim: Well its too late now, she'll have to wait until morning.

Ron: I can't wait to see the look on her face!

That's it! They must have gotten her a big present! She's been so good lately. Maybe an early birthday present? Or a late Chrismakkuh gift! She elegently began to descend down the stairs, only to find, no present, no baby pictures, nothing in relation to her.

Instead...Kim was holding a bundle of red hair...

"Holly!" Sara declared.

Blushing, she waved back.

"Hi mommy." her voice sounded so innocent. But neither Kim nor Ron answered. "Mommy?" she tapped her mothers leg. Still no response. She decided to try a different approach...talking very loudly. "Mommy!"

The bundle burst out crying.

"Holly!" Kim hissed through her teeth. Holly began to cry. "Oh don't cry baby, don't cry, Holly move." Kim began to nearly walk on top of her in order to get into the kitchen. Everyone, right in front of Holly talked about the baby. No one even noticed she was in the room, crying quietly in the corner.

Minutes later.

Still no one had seen her. No one even mentioned her. Every time Holly found a break in the conversation, someone else had made a comment about the baby. Everyone was taking pictures of the baby, giving gifts to the baby, and every time the baby yawned, sneezed, burped or cooed, another 10 minutes of baby conversation.

Holly got thirsty by just sitting there, but she was not allowed to pour juice by herself. She was going to ask her father but he blurted out first saying,

"Holly shouldn't you be in bed?"

That was it, Holly completely lost it. Without even thinking she burst out yelling

"I HATE YOU! YOU DON'T EVEN LOVE ME ANYMORE! ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS THAT STUPID BABY! I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!" She ran up the stairs and threw down a piece of paper that floated to the ground. Andrew was now screaming as loud as his little lungs would allow. Ron chased after her but landed on the piece of paper. He picked it up, smoothing its crinkled edges, to find a very neat and non-childish drawing of the Stoppable family...and Rufus. In very sloppy, some-what legiable hand writing read 'the greatest family ever.' Ron then realized what was going on. Holly didnt know they were having another baby, and since Holly was heartbroken by Rufus's death, the fact they brought the baby home made it feel like they were replacing Rufus with Andy, and her as well.

"Kim?" he nervously called.

"Hm?" Kim was preoccupied with her "wittle baby boy" at the moment.

"I'm going to check on Holly."

"Holly?" Ron opened his daughters bedroom door only to feel a cool breeze run through his body. Holly did not answer back. Cautiously he flicked on the light only to find an open window, a chair and a long blanket hung over the edge.

Authors notes.

I made Kim kind of a jerk in this one I know. Its kind of showing more so Holly and Kim and Ron's stories now, but I have plans for Kim and Ron later on so just wait.