Part Twenty-Six:

I could hear people whispering around me. Most like Daviel and Jestin...possibly Tyra. Stupid Tyra. Maybe she'll end up killing herself. Well, more like attempting it. I remember once I looked up statistics for suicidal people. It said that women attempted more suicides than men. What cracked me up--yes, it made me LAUGH--was the fact that men committed more suicides than women.

I guess we DO change our minds too much.

I opened my eyes and was automatically blinded by bright light. This is unusual, seeing as Daviel and Jestin aren't the bright kind of people. "OH MY GOD, SHE'S AWAKE,"screamed...it can't be! I blinked the light from my eyes and instead I was being suffocated. "GET OFF,"I muffled out a yell. After much struggling, mainly in my part, I could breathe again and the sight of my mom greeted me. "Wha-,"I started, but my words failed me when dad's head appeared in view.

Then there were some strangers whom I've never met before. "Where am I,"I asked in a startled yell. One of the strangers started pressing his fingers down on my wrist and said,"Iveria, you'll be just fine. Right now you are in the Kinston Hospital, room 1008. You've experienced a major allergic reaction. It would have killed you if you were not brought here." I glared at this...doctor or something. Then I glanced at my parents, who were already snapping at each other in hushed whispers.

Great.

"We're going to ask you some questions, now,"some other man said. I noticed he had on a police uniform and I scoffed. "Ivy, be nice,"mom said, suddenly sounding like her usual self. "Aren't you suppose to be in the lunatic ward, mother,"I snapped in reply. She glared at me and said,"I got out, thank you very much. And I don't want you to talk to me that way. Now, you answer all the questions about what happened. You know you've been gone for a while."

"Since December 15th,"my dad finished. Oh, what help that is. "What's today,"I asked slowly. "16th of February, friday,"the doctor stated quickly. That makes it nine weeks. I've only been gone nine weeks? Pfft, that doesn't seem long at all. But it also means that my birthday would be in...February 25...one week, two days. "Can you tell me the names of whoever kidnapped you,"the police asked suddenly. I shook my head quickly. There was an awkward silence. Well, it's my time to lie once and for all, right? I sighed.

"I don't remember anything,"I stated,"Except reading the newpaper once and sending an email to my dad." Everyone was staring at me with disbelief. "You said something about a Daviel and Jestin,"the police said slowly. I nodded,"That's not their names. I was a messed up. I mean, what kind of names are those? It'd be more like Daniel and Destiny or something like that." It seemed a major tension was occuring within this room and I didn't even blink.

What are they going to do? Kill me? Pfft.

"How about what they looked like,"dad insisted,"Do you remember?" I nodded slowly, as if I was just realizing something,"Blonde. The both of them. Blue eyes, both were very short." The policeman looked confused as I said this. "Short,"he asked,"How'd they get ahold of you, then?" I shrugged and then widened my eyes. They took this as me remembering something. I took it as an oppurtunity to try and destroy someone's life. "They had help, I remember,"I said quickly.

"Who,"My mother asked in a shrill voice. "Ruth...Berg,"I said purposely,"She knocked me out herself. Then there was another woman who I know her name was Tyra Greene. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, skinny and wealthy. Completely lethal." The cops were writing all this down with feverish speed. "And how do you spell Greene? Color or what,"one asked. "G-R-E-E-N-E,"I spelled slowly. Hey, I am NOT jealous. I'm just paying back that prep for...for...for looking at me wrong.

Besides, I doubt they'll get ahold on that one. "So, your debate teacher...Mr. Poe,"the policeman started. I interupted,"He wasn't involved in any of it." The doctor then said,"Do you know how your allergic reaction was started?" I shrugged,"I think it may have been dust." My mother scoffed in disbelief. "What,"I snapped impatiently. She shrugged,"Dust doesn't bother you. Don't think I don't know about you and that attic in the house. You're always up there--reading or something."

Eh, it's the truth. My attic is the most silent, empty place ever. It's big and--yes--dusty. I made my little quiet room up there where I did my homework and sometimes just stared off into the distance. This did put the question into my mind, though. How did I have an allergic reaction to that dust in the book if the dust in the attic never bothers me? I shrugged,"Then I don't know. How'd I get here?" Everyone glanced at each other timidly. I waited for a reply.

"We're not sure,"my dad finally said,"You were just suddenly in the waiting room. Just about dead. So they brought you to the ER to stable your condition." After a while of answering questions--in which my answers usually consisted of 'I don't remember'--I was finally left alone. My parents were the only ones left in the room with me. "So I guess they finally let you go,"dad said in relief. I shrugged and my mom said in a quiet hiss,"They've probaly brain-washed her."

"Don't be so negative,"my dad hissed in reply,"You'll stress her out." My mom snorted,"I'll stress her out? None of this would have happened if you would have agreed to teaching her to drive." My dad replied,"I did. You're the one who said we didn't have to until she was ready." Mom then snapped,"She has BEEN ready. You just won't let her grow up! You're irresponsible." "Well,"my dad snarled,"You're a pitiful excuss for a mother. At least I was trying to find her instead of wasting away in a mental institution!"

While they started yelling at each other, I rolled my eyes and pushed the blanket off of me. Then I flung my legs over the side of the hospital bed and started ripping the I.V. and other machinery out. Including my feeding tube. I mean, I can eat, here. It was a nasty experience, though. I grimaced at the sight of my hospital patient clothing. I'm practically naked, here. I traveled my way, still unnoticed by my stupid parents, to the room closet and found that they had stored my clothing in here.

After I had put on my clothing, I ran my fingers through my hair and glanced at my snapping parent. Naggy, nag, nag. I walked to the room door and opened it. "See you guys later,"I muttered shortly before disappearing down the hallway. It was just an allergic reaction. Nothing to get upset about. No one even noticed me walking out of the hospital. I'm a natural at acting natural. What are they going to do? Put me in prison for excusing myself from the hospital. It's my body, I'll do what I want.

The time is 5:24pm. It's friday. At least I have the weekend...no school. Mwahahaha. Plus, Monday is President day...isn't that a holiday? That would mean no school, either. Yet, I have about 6 weeks worth of homework to make-up. Won't they give me a discount? Well, I hope so.

It was Wednesday. Five days ago someone...I doubt Daviel..had brought me to the hospital. Now, I'm home. Back to my normal life. Except for the moments when people asked over and over about what happened to me. Also about Ruth. Rich Ruth was now denying knocking me out, but I'm not pressing charges...so all it's doing is ruining her rich ass name. Everyone who didn't know me suddenly stated they knew me my whole life. As if being kidnapped was the coolest thing in the world.

Yet, lunch came around. I had plenty of time to make up my billion homework--which consisted of nine tests, three projects, two essays, and other minor homework that you can thank my Algebra 2 teacher for. Well, it's not as bad as I expected. What's bad is the fact that NOTHING changed. I walked out of my school and no one greeted me anymore. The joy of knowing someone nearby had been kidnapped had disappeared. Rich Ruth was absent today, but usually she ditches anyways.

I paused to look at everybody laughing with friends and racing to get out of the parking lot first. Then I sat down outside the doors and stared around me. Usually I'd start reading, but not today. Soon, the school was abandoned. I was the only person sitting idian-style, leaning on the wall of the school, and staring at the sky. When darkness fell, I kept staring at the stars, mentally counting for the time I usually got up to go home. Before I had reached the time limit, a car horn shocked me.

"IVERIA ELAINE KINREY,"My father yelled out the drivers window. I jumped up to my feet and said,"What?" "You get your ass in this car right now,"he bellowed in rage. I grabbed my backpack and walked around the car and into the passenger side. My mother hadn't come along. When we had drove out of the school lot, my dad started yelling at me. Yelling about how he was worried I'd been kidnapped again. How I was irresponsible. So on, so forth.

For crying out loud, he never cared before. I'll bet you it's because he got in a fight with mom. God, why do my parents have to be so useless and stupid? "You're grounded,"my dad suddenly stated furiously. My jaw dropped in unfairness as I turned to say,"But dad, I was only-" He interupted,"No, Iveria. You are GROUNDED. You go straight to school in the morning. You come straight home afterwards. No visits from friends. No phones. No television. No computer."

I snorted,"The only difference is the straight to home, Dad." Dad glared out the window,"Fine. I'm calling Mr. Poe. You're no longer on the debate team." Oh my fucking God. "Dad, all I did was what I always did. This is completely STUPID,"I screeched furiously. "Don't talk to me like that,"dad snapped. I roared in rage and yelled,"I'll talk to you however I want to. You're stupid, Tom Kinrey. You're a stupid dad. You're useless. It's YOUR fault Oaklan DIED."

BAM! I was slapped in the side of my face. It wasn't nearly as painfully as being bitten, so I barely even responded. I just glared at him furiously. Maybe that was harsh what I said, but he disearved it. Someone needs to wake these people up. "I hope I die, Tom,"I snarled,"And when I do, you'd better know that it's both your's and May's fault. I hope you both die with the guilt of your dead children. You're pathetic." He started to slap me again, but I grabbed his wrist and striked his shoulder.

The car nearly swerved off of the road, but my so-called dad slammed on the breaks before we hit the ditch. After a moment, my dad finally said,"You're grounded." It's as if I didn't say anything to him! GOD. Once we got home, I stormed up to my bedroom and threw my backpack on the floor. My dad followed me upstairs, but I slammed my door shut and locked it. Then, for extra messure, I kicked the door. I waited for him to start slamming on the door, but instead I heard silence.

That is...until he found mom and they started yelling at each other AGAIN. Geez, get a stupid divorce already. It isn't as if I'd care. I looked around at my room. I think it would be confusing if someone came in here. The walls were white. There wasn't one decoration covering it. Then the ceiling and the carpet was black. Nothing seemed to have changed. I still had my neat bed, my closet, my desk with my computer that I'm banned from--yet my dad is the one locked out--, and all my other stuff.

Nothing was different, of course.

I plopped on top of my bed and kicked off my shoes and socks. I laid on my stomach and pulled something out of my back pocket. It was a lighter. I think now would be a time for confession. I happen to be a no good small object theif. NOT that stupid book, though. Like the wallet in fifth grade and the sucker in seventh. Nothing bad. Besides, I found this stupid lighter...on the ground...next to a girl who was putting her stuff in her locker next to mine.

Anyways, I lit the lighter and started messing with the flame. Have you ever looked straight into a flame? Whenever I do, it's like the heat from it is traveling down this imaginary bridge and into my eye. Then it warms my body. It's weird, but it happens. Do you know what I need? A dog. A nice little fluff ball so I can be like...some evil villian with a dog named Scruffy. Chip. That's what I'd call him. Chip. Heeerrre Chippy Chip. Yeah, right. Like my parents would get ME a dog. Pfft.

After a second of staring the flame, occasionally brushing my fingers through it, I sighed. What is wrong with me? I've been sent home at last. I got my life back. I'm going to become a heart surgeon. What is wrong with me? Then suddenly it hit me...along with my finger being burned by the lighter. I can't believe I'm going to admit this. I fucking miss Jestin. All right...AND Daviel. Same thing. Whatever.