A/N: I had some writer's block on this chapter. I don't know whether it's all that good or not. Review and tell me what you think. Give me ideas that I can build on and enhance the story. Thanks! -Joe

Chapter 3: Someone's Missing

Later that day, Lois went in the kitchen to fix dinner. Everyone else remained downstairs, except for Meg, who was suspiciously quiet. Brian and Stewie were having an argument about who should run for president in 2008. Chris and Peter were making fart noises in the background.

"Hey, could you two shut up? We're carrying on an intelligent conversation over here!" Brian demanded.

Chris made a loud fart noise with his mouth. "I just farted!" he yelled.

"I'll take care of this," Stewie said to Brian. He then took out his ray gun and charged it up. "Say good night, Christopher!" Once the ray gun was charged, Stewie fired it at Chris.

"Hey, look, a black widow spider!" Chris said, bending down to pick it up. He just missed Stewie's gun by a split second. Stewie growled in frustration. Suddenly, the spider bit Chris on the finger. "OW!" Chris yelled. "Dad, that spider just bit me on the finger," Chris complained.

"Let me see," Peter said, looking on the floor. "Oh, that thing? That's just a black widow spider. Those things won't harm a fly, don't worry about it."

"I don't know, Dad. I feel kinda sick," Chris said. His face was looking pale.

"Chris, snap out of it. Those spiders are harmless," Peter said.

"Yeah, about as harmless as that T-rex you bought that time," Brian put his two cents in.

(Flashback: 1 year ago, the family room. Peter is standing next to a large T-rex. The family is standing about 20 feet away. "Family, I just bought us a new pet. Meet Rexie. He's gonna be our new friend. Yes he is!" The T-rex roars loudly. "Ah, he's hungry. Meg, come here a moment," Peter said. Meg steps forward. Peter lifts up Meg, and she screams. "Dad, put me down!" The T-rex starts to chase the rest of the family, and they run upstairs for protection. Flashback ends.)

Lois then entered the room. "Dinner's ready! Oh my, Chris, you don't look so well!"

"That spider bit me," he said.

Lois looked on the ground. "Oh my, that's a black widow! We need to get an exterminator here soon!"

"Don't worry, Mom. Dad said those things are harmless," Chris said.

Lois slapped Peter. "You, Peter, are a total idiot! Those things are poisonous!"

"Well, don't blame me, Lois, I didn't know!" Peter said.

"Anyway, dinner's ready," Lois said. "And after dinner, we're going to take Chris to the hospital."

The family gathered at the dinner table. The dinner was hamburgers. Everyone said the blessing, and then, they started eating.

"Lois, these are the best burgers you've ever made," Brian complemented.

"Thanks, Brian," Lois said, feeling flattered.

"You know, is it just me, or is there someone missing?" Peter asked.

"Oh, Peter, you're right! I forgot about Meg. Let me go upstairs and see how she's doing," Lois said, leaving the table.

Lois then went up the stairs to Meg's bedroom. "Meg, honey, dinner's ready."

Meg was lying stomach down on her bed with her head in the pillows. "I'm not hungry," her voice muffled.

"How are you feeling?" Lois asked.

"Awful," Meg said.

"I'm sorry," Lois said. "I'll check on you later, then," she said, going back downstairs.

Meg was very depressed. She had no friends, and everyone treated her like crap. It seemed that every day at school was a living hell for her. Even at home, Peter occasionally could care less about her and often thought she was a boy. She was tired of the same every day. It seemed that nothing good ever happened to her. She was tired of it.

She was still quietly crying about the incident at school. The only person at school that was truly nice to Meg was Neil Goldman, but she did not really care for him much. Her life was horrible, and she wanted to get away from it all.

Meg rubbed her tear-filled eyes and looked around her room. She started to gather some suitcases. She packed them with her stuffed animals, clothes, and other things. Then, Meg set them by her window. "Now…when should I leave? Probably at night, as they'll be asleep by then. It won't matter, though. They don't care anything about me!" Meg then started crying again.

Downstairs, the family was finishing their dinner. "Okay, let's get Chris to the hospital soon," Lois said. "He doesn't look well at all." Chris's face was pale, and Chris was almost about to faint. Everyone quickly rushed out the door and went into the car. Chris stumbled into the backseat. Peter got in the driver's seat and whooshed out the driveway. He then accelerated down Spooner Street and headed for the nearest hospital in Quahog.

Meg looked out her window, realizing that the family had left. "What's going on?" she wondered. "Oh well. I'll take advantage of this opportunity to leave." Meg then grabbed her suitcases and ran downstairs. Then, she headed out the door, shutting it behind her quietly.

The sun still hadn't set yet, so it was still fairly bright. Meg started walking along, pretending that she was simply going for a walk…with three suitcases.

As she walked down the sidewalk, she gasped when she saw Quagmire, Cleveland, and Joe walking in her direction laughing and talking about something. She was worried the most about Joe. He was a cop, and he could bust her for running away. She started to turn back, but it was too late.

"Hey, kiddo!" Joe yelled. "Where are you going?"

"Uh…um…I'm going to my friend's house," Meg grinned.

Quagmire scoffed quietly to Cleveland. "Yeah, right. Meg doesn't have any friends."

"What's with the suitcases?" Joe asked.

"Uh…well, we're having a sleepover…maybe," Meg said, frantically searching for an excuse.

Joe's face held an expression of disbelief at first. Suddenly, he looked more easy-going and cheerful. "Oh, okay, have a good time, kid," he said, not suspecting a thing. Then, he turned to Quagmire and Cleveland. "Now where were we?" he asked.

"I'm telling you, I did not sleep with your wife last night!" Quagmire said.

"Yeah, sure," Joe snorted.

As the three of them went back to arguing, Meg sauntered off past them in search for somewhere else to stay. She did not know where she would go or what would happen to her. But she would live a happier life anywhere else other than the place where she was with the Griffins.