Okay guys, I've had really bad luck with this chapter. I've written it TWICE, and somehow disappeared. ( I think I forgot to save the first draft.) I really hate redoing stuff like that. Of course, this is a story that I like writing about, so I'm fine with it. Anyways, I've been falling behind lately, so I plan on posting a lot of stories within the next few days. I am going to have hours of free time, and I'm spending it here. So, enjoy! Also, please review! Even a :) or :( is good for me.

" Hey, Ellie!"

" Hey mom!" I said, not actually processing the fact that she was at the house for a moment. Oh no! The cup! I dashed into the kitchen, and she looked up from the dishes. She smiled. I didn't see any hint of tears or anything in her eyes. I sighed, perhaps a bit too loudly.

" What?" she asked, " You nervous about something?"

" Huh?" I asked. She must've seen the cup was missing, and is testing me.

" You sighed- you only sigh when you're relieved!" She replied, returning her eyes to the dishes.

" So, how was your day?" Mom was always so considerate. So considerate. I couldn't hide anything from her. I had to tell her.

" Mom, I have something important to tell you. Really important." She looked up at me again, a concerned look spreading across her face.

At that very moment, the front door swung open, and footsteps thundered through the living room and stopped behind me.

" Oh my god, Elicia! Are you okay?" It was Anna.

I covered her mouth with my hand, and gave my mother a sheepish smile.

" We'll be outside." I practically dragged her out of the room, and out onto the lawn.

" What are you doing?" I asked, slightly annoyed.

" You ran out of class crying! And, some weird kid told me that you passed out! Jeez- I was worried half to death!" Her hair was windswept and frizzy- she must've ran the whole way over here. We walked over to the small bench in the backyard.

" I left your books in your house," she said, looking back up at me. I mumbled a thank you. She looked at me in the eyes for a long time. Chills went up my spine- I knew she could read me easily. She gave a sly smile. I became desperate for a distraction- I couldn't have her say what I knew she was thinking. Then, I got an idea. It just kinda popped into my head.

" Elicia, did you meet a bo..."

"Lets go to the beach," I cut her off, standing up and smiling. I skipped over to the edge of my yard, the soft grass tickling my feet. My legs carried myself to the end of the street, skipping along. Anna was calling for me to slow down. I stopped, and she came up to me. My grin didn't even begin to fade.

" You're being all weird today..." she said teasingly.

" I'm always weird!" I laughed, making a funny face. I was hoping for a look that said, hey! I'm totally normal! Nothing weird is going on at all! But, I knew inside that my heart was pounding. It was then that I was willing to accept the reason I was going back to the beach- I wanted to see him. I wanted to see Aaron.

" Hey, Elicia, you're sure you're okay?" she said, worry surfacing across her face again.

" Yes! I'm fine!" I said, as the ocean came into view. It was deserted, which was a little weird for this time of day. Anna gave me a smile, and she dashed off across the sand, her shoes flying off behind her. I took off after her, the sand kicking up ahead of me. The sting in my legs only made me stronger, and I soon caught up with her. We plopped down onto the dry sand, and looked across the infinite ocean.

I saw three people walking along the shore together, two adults and the third probably my age-ish. They looked like the ideal family- the happy kid, happy parents, happy life. I sometimes wish I was born as another person. I hate being me- " sensitive," "caring", " quiet", "happy", "always smiling", me. The people who say those things to me make me feel more alone than I could ever feel. That just means that they don't know the real me. I feel like Anna doesn't even know the real me. No one does.

Who made this happen to me? Someone killed my dad. Someone has permanently changed my life. I have never done anything to deserve this! I've always been the best kid I could be to everyone. Need something? I got it. Want something? I got it. I try and try so hard, and no one ever appreciates how hard life is for the people around them. I... I just wish that someone would stick their neck out for me, ya know?

Whatever. I gave Anna a fake smile, and took off running. I heard her laugh and try to run after me.

Okay, I'm really sorry, but this was kind of a filler chapter. Well, it'll feel like one for right now, but it's not in here "just because." I have a plan ( which is a shock,) so stay tuned! Please review!