A/N: I'm finally updating again. Sorry that took so long. I'll try to get the next chapter up faster. A HUGE thanks to the wonderful people who have reviewed my story! I really appreciate it!

Disclaimer: Anything from the books is (obviously) not mine.

Rays of sunlight streamed through the small window onto the girl that lay on the bed along one side of the small room, turning the insides of her lids red. She groaned and rolled over, dragging her pillow over her head. But the damage was done. She was awake, and for some reason, she could not fall back asleep. She glanced at her sister's digital clock. Might have something to do with the sleeping problem, she thought. It was past noon. She groaned again, and reluctantly got up. She had fallen asleep on Lou's bed. Good. That meant Charles wouldn't have stayed over as she highly doubted they would have done anything on the couch.

She looked out of the window onto the heavily trafficked street below. It was a gorgeous summer day. The sun was shinning, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. She threw open the window. It wasn't too hot out either. She inhaled deeply. And it absolutely stank. She quickly shut the window again, her good mood ruined.

Amy walked down the hall towards the kitchen. Sometime during the night she had decided she wanted to move to Virginia, though she wasn't sure what had caused her to make this decision. She was fairly sure it wasn't the guy from the magazine.

Upon entering the kitchen, Amy found a note that read:

Good morning Amy!

Hope you had a great sleep. I left to book a day for the funeral at the church. Should be back by around 3 pm. There in toast, cereal, and butter on the counter. Help your self to anything in the fridge.

xoxo Lou

The girl sighed, getting herself a bowl, and filling it with milk and frosted flakes. Looked like it would be another day in the company of the TV.

She finished her breakfast, washing it down with a mug of black coffee, then trudged back to the washroom to preform her daily necessities.

Coming out of her shower, Amy decided it was time to stop sulking and call Laura. She was still sad, and knew she had every right to be. But that didn't mean she had to act like an ass towards the people who cared about her, namely Laura and Lou.

She marched down the hall towards the living room where she had left her cell phone. It took her a moment before she could bring herself to touch touch it. Somehow, it still seemed to represented her mother's death. She forced herself to pick it up. Then, to draw out time, she punched the number in by hand instead of simply using the digital phone book. The main reason she was dreading talking to the other girl was because she knew she had treated her like trash. And Laura knew it too.

She held her breath as the phone rang once... twice... three times...

"Hey Amy," said a familiar voice in her ear.

"Laura–," Amy began, but her voice faltered.

"God, Amy. I don't know what to say. It's just so... sad." At the sound of her friend's melodic voice, so sweet and forgiving, Amy couldn't help herself. She burst into tears.

Sobs tore through her chest, and she could get no other sound past her lips. Laura made a comforting noise, but didn't try to hush her. She cried long and hard, knowing her friend was there for her. She cried harder than she had when she had first herd the news of her mother.

Finally, her river of tears slowed until it ceased to exist all together. She drew a few shaky, but deep breaths, calming herself, getting her emotions under control.

"I'm sorry," she whispered into the phone.

"Oh, no Amy!" the other girl protested. "I'm sorry. I wish I could be there with you."

"Yeah. Me too." They sat in silence for a few moments.

"I'm coming over," Laura announced suddenly, startling Amy. "I'll get my brother to give me a ride. I know were Lou lives." Amy started to protest, but realized she really did want to see her friend again.

"Okay," she said softly. "Thanks Laura." She could hear the other girl's smile.

"My pleasure," she said. "Goodbye."

Not 15 minutes later, Laura showed up at Lou's front door. Amy smiled and let her in. As soon as the door was closed, Laura wrapped her arms around her friend, squashing the air from her lungs. Amy hugged her back. She stepped away to admire the other girl. She was tall and slim with a nicely curved figurer that Amy herself was slightly envious of. Her face was delicate with a slender nose, full mouth and warm gray eyes. Her golden blond hair was braided tightly at the nape of her neck. She smiled sweetly, her dimples deepening, and Amy smiled back. They went into the living room and sat down together on the burgundy couch.

"Listen Laura," Amy began, not really sure how to apologies for her behavior. "I'm really sorry for... uh.. not..."

"For being an ass?" Laura suggested, half serious. Amy smiled. That was Laura for you.

"Yes, actually," she said grinning. The blond laughed.

"That's alright," she said lightly.

"No, really. I am so sorry for not answering all those calls," Amy said, all serious. Her friend smiled softly and nodded.

"I understand, I think. Just promise you won't do it again."

"I promise," Amy said honestly. She too was smiling.

"You know, my mom had the baby the same day your mom died." She had completely forgotten.

"Oh my god! Congratulations! Is it a boy or girl?" Laura grinned.

"Boy," she said proudly. "His name is Adrian."

"Adrian?" Amy repeated, eyebrow raised. The blond blushed slightly. In grade six Laura had had a major crush on a guy called Adrian.

"Well, mum liked it too," she mumbled. They sat in comfortable silence for a while as Amy tried to gather up her courage and tell her friend of her decision.

"Listen, Laura, I've – um – decided to move to Virginia," she said quickly, stumbling over her words. The other girl gaped at her.

"What?! Why?" she asked, completely shocked.

"'Cause... because then I can live with my Grandfather. Lou can't take care of me." Laura just stared wide eyed at her.

"When?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper. Amy shrugged.

"I haven't told Lou yet," she admitted, voice equally quiet. Her friend leaned forward and gently wrapped Amy in a hug.

"I'll miss you," she whispered. Amy nodded hugging her back.

"I'll miss you too." She hadn't really given much thought to what she still had here, what she would be leaving behind. Only what she had lost. She hugged her friend harder, blinking back tears as they threatened to over flow. She would miss this place and its people, she realized, but she was still certain in her decision. Laura was the first to pull back.

"Well, I'd better get going," she said briskly. Amy nodded, noting the closed look on her face. Laura rose quickly, rathered her stuff and slamming the door as she left.

Not knowing what else to do, Amy turned on the TV. A re-run of Friends was playing that she had already seen four times. She glanced quickly at the clock: 2:36. Lou would be home soon. Her nerves were on edge as she went over what she would say to Lou about her decision in her head. She really hoped her reaction would not be like Laura's. The girl had not said much, but Amy knew her friend well enough to see that she was more upset than she let on.

Time passed slowly, half an hour seemed to take several sunlit days. Finally the door opened and Lou's tall figure entered.

"Hey Amy." She looked tired, dark smudges forming beneath her blue eyes.

"Lou, can we talk?" Amy asked, getting straight to the point. The older woman looked mildly surprised, but pleasantly so, and Amy felt another stab of guilt.

"Sure." She sat down on the couch, as Amy switched off the TV to face her sister.

"I'm really sorry for the way I've behaved toward you." She had rehearsed this so many times. Why was it so hard? "And Lou I−," her voice cracked, and the tears stared flowing. Again.

"Oh Amy," Lou whispered. She wrapped her arms around around her sister. They cried on each other for a long time, tears soaking through the other's clothes.

"Lou it's all my fault," Amy sobbed. Lou drew back and shook her head.

"If it's anyones fault, it's mine. You were coming to pick me up, remember?" her voice shook slightly as she spoke.

"But I was in the car with her, and I −, she−," her voice cracked again, but she forced herself to keep talking. "She turned away from the road to look at me! If I had just been talking to her she never would have turned away in the first place. I was just so angry..." She knew she had started to ramble slightly. Lou hugged her again.

"It was no one's fault, Amy. I guess it was just her time to go." Her chin quivered lightly.

They sat wrapped in each other's arms for along time. The sun set, and the room was plunged into darkness.

"Lou?" the girl asked tentatively.

"Hmm?"

"I want to go live with Grandpa in Virginia," she said quickly. Lou drew back sharply and looked at her closely. Amy felt herself shrinking under her sister's accusing glare. Then she sighed softly, resignation settling over her gentle features.

"Well, if that's really what you want, then I guess we'll have to let him know." Amy was slightly surprised that her sister had not argued more. But then, why should she? After all, Amy was hardly more that a burden.

"Won't you come?" she asked. Lou shook her head. Well, she had expected that much. "So... the funeral?" she asked, feeling a weight settle on her chest. The other girl looked slightly awkward.

"Well, I got it all figured out. It's on Saturday. It's kind of early." Amy gave small gasp. That was in three days. It was way too early.

"Oh." She struggled with the news. "Maybe I'll call Grandpa and let him know." Lou nodded sympathetically, and Amy felt yet another stab of guilt. She was being so wimpy while Lou was taking care of everything without complaint, and Marion had been her mother too, after all.

The girl flipped quickly through the phone book, looking under 'B' for 'Bartlett', then dialed the number listed in her sister's neat hand writing.

"Hello," a warm voice said in her ear. That voice... it stirred memories... of a little girl weeding side by side with her grandfather in the hot summer sun...

"Hello?" the same voice repeated, a little louder this time, pulling her back into reality.

"Hi Grandpa," she said, shaking herself. "This is Amy."

"Hi Hun! How are ya doing?" They talked for a while, discussing when he should come. Then finally Amy mustered up the courage to ask him.

"Hey, Grandpa? I was just wondering, would still be okey if I came to live with you?" Her voice was hesitant, and when he did not answer right away Amy suddenly felt foolish for asking. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean−, I mean I understand if you don't want me to. It was silly of me to ask."

"Amy−," he started, but she cut him off, not wanting to hear an explanation.

"No, it's fine. Really. I'd better go now. Guess I'll see you at the funeral." She quickly hung up before he could reply. A sigh escaped her gentle lips, and she bent over, resting her head in her hands. This morning things had seemed so clear. Now she had no clue what to do with herself.

A/N: I not planning on writing a chapter about the funeral, unless anyone wants me to? The chapters so far have not been very interesting, I know. Once Amy gets to Virginia it should get better. I hope. Please review!