Okay, this chapter might be revised later if I think of anything I want to add, but I really don't want to spend too much time on any given chapter right now because I'm trying to keep the story moving while I have the ideas in my head. So, I hope you like this chapter!

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Chapter 9

I awoke to the sound of running water. My head was pounding so hard and every part of my body ached. I was still in the woods. I felt my head. There was a little bump and some dry blood where the rock had hit me. I didn't immediately remember how I got here or what had happened last night. But it slowly started to come back. Great going. By the crisp smell of the air I figured it was still early morning. The cold only intensified my pain. I started to get up. I was so stiff. I stretched out a little trying to loosen up but it only hurt more. I winced in pain. I didn't even have to look to know my face was bruised and cut up from the fall. I looked up the hill I had tumbled down. The events of last night still weren't clear. I remembered Jay and I remembered drinking. I also remembered something about Paige. My mind went back to our phone conversation. It seemed like such a long time ago now. I decided I didn't want to be here anymore so I started the five mile walk home.

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I had tried not to think of anything during my walk, which wasn't hard. The only thing my mind was on was the pain in every inch of my limb. Everything inside of me either stung or ached. This is the last time I do that. Honestly, I felt it wasn't even worth it. Why had I been so stupid? I finally reached the Michalchuk's. Luckily I hadn't lost my key in the mess of all this. I wouldn't have to ring the doorbell. I didn't even know what to expect. I slowly opened the door and closed it behind me. I hadn't even reached the first step of the stair when I heard Mrs. Michalchuk's voice coming from the kitchen.

"Where have you been?" She said as she emerged into view. She sounded angry.

I closed my eyes for a second before turning to face her. Apparently I must have looked like I had collided with a truck. She let out a gasp.

"My dear God." Her voiced was full of concern and anger. She came toward me. I could feel her hand as she touched the top of my forehead where the rock had hit me. I winced back in pain. Mr. Michalchuk was now standing by the stairs too. I felt so ashamed.

"I just needed to get away." I began. I don't know why I was feeling so honest.

"Get away?" She repeated.

"I don't know." I began, "From everything."

I could feel Mrs. Michalchuk's eyes burning into me. I felt like I needed to explain.

"It was just a party...I shouldn't have..." I was interrupted.

"A party? The one by the Ravine?"

I nodded.

"Oh god." She said again. She was sounded more worried and angry. It scared me. "It was in the newspaper. They had a huge drug bust there last night." She looked away from me shaking her head. It took me a moment before I realized what she was thinking.

"No, Mrs. Michalchuk. I didn't...I wasn't...I was just..." I began.

"I told you no more! When I took you in!" I could see she was livid. She wasn't even forming complete sentences. I tried again to explain

"I didn't! I was drunk..." I was starting to cry now, I regretted what I had done. "I'm sorry, I just needed..."

"What? To get wasted? To have fun? Get arrested?" Mrs. Michalchuk was going off now.

"No." I said back. "I dunno."

"Alex, you could have thrown your whole future away!" She yelled. I had never seen her like this before. There were tears forming in her eyes.

"What future?" I said back. Mostly to myself than to her I knew she had heard it.

Mrs. Michalchuk threw her arms up in the air. I didn't know what to do. I was practically sobbing now. Did I just throw everything away? I could see Mrs. Michalchuk was just as upset as I was. How could I hurt her like that? After everything she had done for me? I betrayed her. I disappointed her. I didn't know what she was going to do. Had she had enough of me? Was she going to kick me out? Would I be back at the woman's shelter tonight? Maybe I would be at my mom's. I didn't want that. I waited for her to speak. She said nothing. The silence between us was deafening.

"Common." I finally heard. It's wasn't Mrs. Michalchuk. It was Mr. Michalchuk who spoke. "Let's get you cleaned up. Then we will discuss this." He held out his hand.

When Mrs. Michalchuk didn't object to his idea, I took his hand and let him lead me into the bathroom. Mrs. Michalchuk didn't follow.

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'Well, you beat yourself up there real good." He smiled. I could tell things were tense. I had stopped crying now, but I felt I could start again at any moment.

"I fell." I said as he finished cleaning one of my scratches.

He looked at me and laughed. "You took a pretty hard fall." He placed band aids on a few open wounds. When he had finished he said, "There. All fixed."

My eyes teared up again. This time not out of angry, but...I wasn't sure. He just made me feel so good and I messed things up so bad.

"You're probably going to want to shower and change your clothes. Maybe take a nap. We can talk about things when you wake up."

I just looked up at him. How could he be so calm? I had never seen anything like that before. I nodded and got up. I didn't see Mrs. Michalchuk as I made my way upstairs. I was a little relieved. I wasn't ready to face her again. I took a quick shower and got into some clean cloths. I went into Dylan's room and crashed on the bed. I was out in less than five minutes.

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I could hear voices as I edged my way downstairs. I didn't know if they were talking about me or not. It was early evening and I could smell dinner. It smelt good. I wasn't hungry though. I made my way to the bottom of the stairs and slowly crept toward the kitchen. I felt like I did when I had first arrived here. Shy and timid. Like a child. I hated feeling this way, but I knew I had done this to myself. I finally edged into the kitchen far enough for them to notice me without me having to say anything. Both their expressions where stern. Though Mrs. Michalchuk no longer looked like she was about to blow her top, she was obviously still upset.

"Have a seat." She said pointing to the chair at the end of the table. I quickly obeyed. There was silence. I decided that before they kicked me out, I should at least apologize.

"I'm..." I hadn't even finished the word before I was cut off by Mrs. Michalchuk.

"What you did was unacceptable. I told you before behavior like that would not be tolerated in this house. I have no choice."

My heart sank as she continued speaking.

"Alex, you are a like a daughter to me and I will treat you no differently. From now on, you are not allowed to stay out past 8:00 o'clock. No exceptions but on the account of work."

At that sentence I looked up at her. She wasn't finished.

"You are from now on also to let either me or Bill know where you are going a head of time. At least on us should know where you are at all times."

I couldn't speak. I didn't know what to say.

"Have I made myself clear?" She finished.

I nodded.

"Good." She said. "Now I'm going to get you some dinner. Then you are to go straight to bed. I want you all better because you will be spending the weekend cleaning out the garage." She got up and got a plate of roast beef and some vegetables. The rest of dinner went without a word. When I finished I stood up to take my plate over to the sink. I saw that Mrs. Michalchuk was finished with hers too. I started to reach for hers.

"No dear. Leave yours here. I'll get it." Her voice was soft again. I obeyed.

"Come here." She opened up her arms and hugged me. I still felt ashamed of myself and what I had done. Her arms squeezed around my body. She must of pushed on every bruise I had. I didn't mind the pain though. It felt good to be in her arms again. She let go of me. "Goodnight dear."

"Night." I said. The first thing I had actually said since I had woken up from my nap. I looked over to Mr. Michalchuk who also had his arms reached out. I went over and gave him a hug. My eyes were watering again.

Mr. Michalchuk was a bit more sensitive to the fact I was in a lot of pain. His embrace wasn't so tight. He pulled away a little and kissed my forehead. "Night, sweetpee. Sweet dreams." He said.

"Night." I replied trying not cry.

That night I went to bed in disbelief that I wasn't at the woman's shelter. How could the Michalchuk's put up with me? Even when I was causing problems. Could they really care about me like a daughter? I had known they hadn't minding me living with them, but I had never actually expected them to become a real family to me. I had never really known what it was like to have parents who truly cared about me. Tonight I did.

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Okay, so I told you Alex has to go through some growing. There are still few more things I have planned for Alex that are going to be explained in the next few chapters. So stay tuned!