Hi!

So, here is the next chapter of "Remember: The Story Of Ember McLain"! As you can see, I bumped the rating up to T, because of occasional mentions of making love(mostly from Kitty and Johnny)and very, very mild cursing. That's all.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! And I don't own Danny Phantom, that belongs to Butch Hartman. I only own this story.

Please read and review!

GhostWriterGirl out!

Chapter 2

Winds Blow, The Dead Leaves Fall…

"What do you think of this one?"

It was later. Kitty, after hearing about my emergency, had come rushing to my house. I even called Laurie, as I felt I needed both of my female friends' opinions… for what I was going to wear to my date.

I was currently wearing a robin's egg blue knee-high dress that was styled a bit like Marilyn Monroe's dress, robin's egg blue heels, and a lapis lazuli necklace, with two chunky turquoise-coloured bangles on my left wrist and a pair of dangly lapis lazuli earrings in my ears. Nothing fancy… okay, maybe a little fancy. But, not too much, I hoped.

Kitty, who was flipping through my latest rock magazine, looked at my outfit once before returning to the magazine.

"Looks nice, but aren't you going to the movies? That dress seems a bit too much like you're going to a fancy restaurant."

I sighed and quickly went behind my closet door and changed out of it, picking out the next outfit slung over the door and changed into that. When I walked out, I was wearing ripped, dark blue denim jeans and a black KISS shirt, with a dark grey denim jacket and dark grey ankle boots and a slim grey belt slung around my waist.

"What about this one?" I asked, turning around and looking at myself in the mirror, while taking off the accessories I had worn for the last one.

Kitty looked at what I was wearing and grinned

"Ding, ding, we have a winner!"

I smiled, since I was leaning more to this outfit since it was pretty chilly and asked Laurie, who had been silent during all this, "What do you think, Laure?"

I was the only one who was allowed to call her that; even Kitty wasn't allowed to, but according to Laurie, she was pretty close to calling her that.

The punk girl of our group looked up, said, "It's okay," and returned to writing in her battered songbook that she had brought with her.

I sighed. "Laurie, what's up?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've hardly spoken anything, and when you do, it's never more than one or two syllables. Tell me, Laure; what are you really thinking?"

Laurie sighed and put down her pen, sitting up.

"What am I really thinking? Honestly, am I the only one who knows what's going to happen?"

Me and Kitty blinked at her, and Laurie saw that as a sign for her to continue.

"He's going to stand you up, Amber. He's not going to show up tonight."

I was silent for one second before I burst into laughter.

"He's not going to stand me up! Dean, out of all the A-listers, is the most genuine. Though, I do appreciate your concern for me. But you have nothing to worry about."

"Amber, I have reason to worry about this. Back home, before I moved here, my best friend, Tracy, she was unpopular too. The most popular guy in school promised he would show up for their movie date, but it was all a prank. Tracy was humiliated. It took months for her to recover. As your friend, and as someone who's past friend had been stood up by the most popular guy in school, I don't think you should go."

"Laurie, even though it's tragic that your friend was stood up, Dean isn't like that jerk. He's really genuine, and he wouldn't do that to me. You're just being paranoid."

Laurie gaped at me, before returning to her songbook with a glare, grumbling, "Fine! Go to your movie date and have fun with Dean. Don't say I didn't warn you when he stands you up."

I rolled my eyes again and turned to Kitty, holding up a black choker and a silver chain necklace. "Which one do you like better, Kitty? The choker, or the chain necklace?"

"Choker," Kitty answered immediately. I smiled. I was preferring choker myself.

I tied the simple black choker around my neck, but in my mirror, I saw Laurie, who looked… disappointed? Sad? I don't know.

Maybe she's right. Maybe Dean will stand me up…

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. No. Dean is genuine; he wouldn't do that to me.

And anyway, as I leaned in to apply some light purple gloss to my lips, I still had to prepare for the date that I had been looking forward to ever since I first crushed on Dean Rogers.

Later

I was finally ready.

My dark red hair was pulled up in a messy high ponytail, my makeup was done, and I was happy with my outfit for this date. But, there was one thing left…

"Kitty, Laurie, could you leave me alone for a couple of minutes please?" I asked them.

Kitty nodded in understanding, knowing what I was going to do. She stood up and gently pulled Laurie out of my room, closing the door behind her.

As soon as my door was shut, I immediately headed to the window seat, where I pulled out a notepad and a pen from underneath the cushion.

I uncapped the pen and propped the notepad across my legs and flipped to the twenty-sixth last page, and began to write.

Hey Dad.

I know it's been a long time, but I just wanted to write to you.

A week ago, a new girl called Laurie Rivers came to Casper High. She's into rock, like me, but she's also a sort-of punk girl. Anyway, I stood up for her after Terri Perkins bullied her. She… she brought up some touchy subjects, including you and Tommy and my music, and I got angry. I punched her, she punched me back, and we both got into trouble. She got suspended from the squad, and I got a week-long detention. Model student of the year here, right?

Anyway, I also got a date. His name is Dean Rogers, he's the basketball team's captain, an A-lister, and the most kindest, most genuine boy I have ever met. Even you would like him, Mr. Overprotective. However, Laurie has filled your role in quite nicely, though. But she's just paranoid because of a past experience that happened to her old friend, right?

Me and Mom really miss you. I wish I could turn back the clock and stop that accident from ever happening, but, like you would've said, you can't change the past-no matter how much I really want to. But, at least you're with Tommy; how's the little slugger doin' anyway?

From the daughter who misses you every single day and loves you very much,

Amber.

Tears were threatening to run down my face, but I hurriedly wiped them away and wrote my next letter; this one, for Tommy.

Hey, Slugger. How've ya been goin'? Bet there's lot of time to dress up and play pirates and cowboys n' Indians in Heaven, right?

Anyway, I just wanted to write to you and tell you how my life's been going this week.

Well, for starters, a new girl moved to my school. Her name's Laurie Rivers, and she's my friend now, even though we got off on the wrong foot at first. We both like rock, even though she's more of a punk-rock girl, and she's pretty tough and snarky, and she may seem anti-social, but deep down, she really cares for her family, me and my friends, since we're her only friends here since she moved to Amity Park a week ago. We became really close, even though we haven't known each other for long and I haven't told her about what really happened with you.

I also stood up for her against Terri, before I punched her when she brought up you and Dad. We both got in trouble; she was suspended from the cheer squad and I got week-long detention. Such a good big sister who sets out the perfect example for you to follow, right?

I also got a date. His name's Dean Rogers, he's the basketball captain, and he's really nice. I think he could even put up with you wanting to have him play pirates with you or cowboys n' Indians. But, Laurie is worried that he'll stand me up, but I don't think so. What do you think, Tom?

Me and Mom miss you. If I could time travel, I would go to the future to get the technology to cure you. But, whenever you are, you're with Dad, and you're no longer in any pain. I just… wish I could hug you, kiss you, irritate you in my own big sister way and then hug you again. Just for one last time. But, what's done is done. As long as you're happy and at peace, then I'm happy.

From the big sister you misses you really much and loves you really much,

Amber.

The pen shook before slipping out of my hand as I silently cried, quiet tears racing down my cheeks, as I remembered two of the saddest things to happen to me.

My dad's car crash was completely a wrong place at the wrong time thing; it had been dark and pouring rain and before he knew it, a truck had crashed into his car and he was immediately killed. I remembered my mother's shaking body, before she collapsed into uncontrollable sobs, and when me and Tommy had heard what happened to Dad as well, we also broke down into crying fits, especially me; I had been really close to my dad, through our shared love of music. He was the one who inspired me to become a rockstar. I had only been twelve at the time, Tommy only seven. Only four years later, a month before my sixteenth birthday, did the next tragedy to our family came… Tommy got diagnosed with cancer.

It was a brain cancer, one that the doctor had said was one Tommy wasn't likely to survive from. Mom had been a crying fit the entire time, and I was barely able to hold my own tears back. Tommy… he'd been a trooper to the end, regaling me of stories about pirates, cowboys, astronauts, knights, ghosts… he had a very active imagination. He was very brave about the whole ordeal, and when I asked how he could be so brave and calm, he had said, and I would never forget what he said, "I'm terrified, Amber, I'll admit it. But what keeps me brave… is that, even though I may lose this fight, I'll head to a better life, where I'll be with God and Dad again. Knowing that… it helps keep me brave." What Tommy had said, was strangely calming and he was so certain when he said that, and when I asked why, he said, "Because an angel of the Lord told me." That bowled me over, as our family weren't Christian, but he was so sure, and he looked so peaceful, that I couldn't help but believe that, and even though I knew it was likely he would die, a tiny part of me hoped he would live.

But, a week until my birthday, did Tommy lose his battle with cancer, dying peacefully in his sleep. I cried for months, Kitty comforting me as best she could, but only did Kitty's suggestions to write letters to both Tommy and Dad(the same thing she did when she had lost her big sister, Katherine, and was inconsolable for nearly a year)and what Tommy had said to me, about him heading to a better life where he'll be with God and Dad because an angel of the Lord told him helped me cope with my grief. I was even thinking of becoming Christian, and read the Bible from time to time, because of what Tommy had said. I never told anyone what happened to Tommy, mostly because I didn't want to be known as the girl who had two deaths in her family, and also because I didn't want their pity. Only Kitty and Johnny knew what really happened to Tommy. I also hoped that, if I died, I'll head to Heaven, and be reunited with Dad and Tommy and be with God.

But, until then…

I sniffled and wiped my eyes, looking out at the huge maple tree outside and watching the wind blow through it and sending the dead leaves on it cascading to the ground, a funnel of red, orange and gold.

It was, it was September. Winds blow, the dead leaves fall, I thought, frowning. Where was I getting all of these song lyrics from?

I shook my head and placed my notepad and pen underneath the window seat cushion, before grabbing my bag and standing up, heading to the door.

I had a date to get to.

So… what do you think of this chapter?

Laurie suspects Dean to stand up Amber, and we learn about what happened to Amber's dad and her brother Tommy! So, her dad died in a car crash, and her brother, Tommy, died of cancer, and she writes letters to them, to cope with her grief.

Next chapter is her date, where we'll see whether Dean stands her up or not!

REPLIES TO MY AWESOME REVIEWERS:

EleahBlue: 1. I LOVE THAT SONG TOO! "Remember" is one of my favourite cartoon songs, and it is tied with the Danny Phantom theme song with being my favourite. Too bad it isn't on iTunes… I would have downloaded it straight away.

2. Yep, Johnny and Kitty are in this story, alive and well, but will their deaths happen before or after Ember's fateful demise? You'll have to find out…

3. Uh… I wasn't trying to make Terri like Paulina's clone; I was trying to make her like the Dash Baxter of when Ember was attending Casper High.

4. He's cute by Ember's standards, but you'll find out whether he is suspicious or not in later chapters…

5. Yay! Friendship! I wanted Ember to have a friend in school while she was still alive besides Kitty and Johnny, because we know what will happen to them…

I have an idea of where this might go, but this story has a way of writing itself sometimes. And, thanks for suggesting I should bump this up to T, just to be safe. I thought I could have gotten away with it being K+ with occasional mentions, but yeah. T just to be safe. Thanks!

God bless you too!

LooneyAces: Thank you, and I'm glad that you find this story interesting. Ember is a very interesting character, and there are so many ways to interpret how her final months of life were before her fateful death and her becoming the ghost we all know, love and certainly remember. Well, I believe that Amber wouldn't have stood by to let Terri bully Laurie, even if it got her into trouble, but at least Terri got into trouble as well. I never liked on the show how Mr. Lancer and the other teachers and Principal Ishiyama just let the populars go scot-free while the nerds and geeks got into trouble. I'm glad that you are looking forward to this story :)

AstroGravityPhan: I hope you enjoy this chapter, 'cause I couldn't wait to write it!

Aurora Marie Williams: I know. I want to write this story to have a happy ending, but unless you count Amber returning as the ghostly rockstar that we all know as Ember, it won't have one. However, despite that, I hope you'll enjoy this story nonetheless. I'm glad that you're excited to read more of this story; it makes my day. :)

Anyway, I don't own Danny Phantom, that belongs to Butch Hartman; I only own this story. Please read and review!

GhostWriterGirl out!