Disclaimer: I do not own the Avalon: Web of Magic/Quest for Magic series or the song "Hello", they belong to Rachel Roberts and Evanescence respectively.
As usual, you can find this song on YouTube or Project Playlist.
Playground school bell rings again
Rain clouds come to play again
Has no one told she's notbreathing?
Hello
I am your mind giving you someone to talk to
Hello
The doorbell rang.
Adriane looked up from the kitchen table, where she had been picking at sandwich. Who could that be, she wondered, and walked to the door. She peeked out of the window next to the door and barely contained her gasp.
"Alan!" She cried when the door swung open. The dark-haired man standing before her caught her in big bear hug. She returned it warmly.
Alan kneeled down and held her at arm's length. "Hey, favorite niece," He joked. "You're getting to be really pretty."
Adriane smile self-consciously. Alan was Willow's younger brother. He was a very tall, gentle twenty-six year old, with long dark hair tied back in a low ponytail.
"Wow," Alan said, standing. "This place hasn't changed a bit." Then he turned to her. "Where are Lily and Pierre?"
"Out. They're having lunch with some friends."
"Okay. I'll wait till they get back." Alan sat on the couch.
"Why are you here?" Adriane asked, slightly confused.
Alan looked confused as well. "They didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"I'm taking you into Connecticut today. We're going to visit your grandmother in the hospital."
Adriane's eyes widened. "They didn't tell me! How long is the drive?"
"Around four hours. We'd drive up there today and get there by six, then stay at a hotel and visit Mom in the morning, and head back around this time tomorrow."
Adriane suddenly couldn't wait for her aunt and uncle to get home. She had always liked Alan, she remembered when he used to sneak her treats when she was little. He also talked to her (usually over the phone) when she was lonely because her family had moved again.
If I smile and don't believe
Soon I know that I'll wake from this dream
Don't try to fix me I'm not broken
Adriane and Alan spent the next hour talking and sharing stories. Alan had seemed really interested in how her guitar playing had been coming along, and Adriane remembered that he had played bass guitar in a band in college. Alan was a social worker, and one of the stories he told her was about little twelve-year-old girl whose parents had beaten her. One day it got so bad that she had was put in a coma and had to go to the hospital. That how the authorities found out and she was currently staying in a foster home.
She has a reason to cut herself, Adriane thought, suddenly ashamed. I've got it easy compared to those kids. How can I possibly be so selfish?
Of course, thinking about how stupid she was for cutting only made her want to cut more. She listened half-heartedly to Alan's other stories until Lily and Pierre burst through the front door. They stopped dead when they saw Alan.
"What are you doing here?" Pierre asked snottily.
"I told you over the phone last week. I'm taking Adriane to see her grandmother today."
"No you're not," Lily snarled. "We were asked to take care of her. We decide where she goes, when and with whom. I'm not going to allow it."
Adriane's heart sank. She had been looking forward to the eight-hour road trip with her uncle and seeing Gran.
"Lily, it'll be good for her," Alan protested. "Besides, my mother wants to see her."
"No!"
"Call Willow." Alan stated simply.
Pierre gave him a hard, angry stare. "I think it's best if you leave now."
"I don't. Call Willow."
Lily sulkily mad her way over to the phone, pressed the "speaker" button and punched in the number. The house was silent while the phone rang once, twice, three times. Then a chil's voice answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Janelle, sweetie," Lily began in a sickening voice. "Are your mommy and daddy home?"
"Daddy's here. Mommy's working on a painting."
"Can I speak to him?"
"Daddy!" Adriane heard the little girl yell. She had to admit-- She sounded cute. Adriane wondered if Janelle knew who she was.
"What is it, Sweet Pea?" Luc's voice came over the phone. The warrior's heart nearly broke. She was mad at him-- But she missed her dad.
"Aunt Lily's on the phone. She wants to talk to you." There was some scratching noise and then Luc spoke again.
"Lily?"
"Yes, and Pierre and your daughter and Alan. A little problem seems to have come up."
"Alan? What's he doing there?"
"Exactly. Alan wants to take your daughter to the hospital in Greenfield to see her grandmother. I don't think it's a good idea, but we wanted to hear what you have to say."
"Well, what does Adriane want to do?"
"I want to go," Adriane raised her voice a little to be heard. She didn't want Lily answering for her.
"I think it's fine," Luc said.
"Alright. Thank you, Luc." Lily hung up the phone and sighed heavily. "Looks like you're going." Adriane smiled and started to run upstairs, but Lily followed her.
"Listen, brat," She hissed. "You're not going to let anyone know of this," Lily grabbed her arm harshly, and Adriane winced in pain. "Do I make myself clear?"
Instead of replying, the dark-haired girl glared at her aunt and started to pack a bag.
"Do I make myself clear?" Lily repeated impatiently.
"You know what? I don't care." Adriane stormed past her and down the hall into the bathroom.
Hello
I am the lie living for you so you can hide
Hello
Adriane has packed her toothbrush, hair comb, and other things she would need, and was now inwardly debating whether or not to bring her razor. In two and a half months, cutting had become something of a drug, and Adriane wasn't sure if could survive a day without the blade. Biting her lip, she took a breath and decided to leave it. Too much of a risk of getting caught. She truly didn't care that Lily didn't want anyone else to know, but Adriane would rather not broadcast what she was doing to herself to the whole world.
She let out the breath she had been holding and walked out of the bathroom. "Alan," She called. "I'm ready to go."
Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping
Hello, I'm still here
All that's left of yesterday