The long walk was filled with nothing but silence between us. The birds started chirping and our footsteps crunched but between us there was an unsettling silence.

Silence. Hadn't I wanted silence before? From everything and know I don't? I can't turn the world on and off when I can tolerate it and I can't choose. But know I don't want it?

The silence continued past sun up. I recognized some of the forest so we had to be close. We made it to the clearing where the house sat quietly. I would have ran if I had, had any energy left but I was to dead on my feet.

He walked briskly ahead of me but I didn't try to keep up there was barley enough energy for me to walk slowly. I walked through the backdoor and shut it quietly behind me. Making my way to the couch I collapsed onto it and closed my eyes savoring the comfort.

I fell into unconsciousness easily but was woken by arms lifting me gently and putting me in my bed. I slipped back into my unconscious state. "Chloe?" Someone's voice called pulling me away from my dreamless state I was so comfortable in. I stirred but fought to stay there, in my sleep.

The sing-song voice came again but more demanding that time. I recognized that voice but I just couldn't find a place… Jamie?

I bolted up, eyes wide when I saw her dancing around my room. "You're up!" She exclaimed happily. I nodded rubbing my forehead with the palm of my small hand.

There was a light rap at my door. "Come in." I called weekly falling back to my pillow's comfort.

"Good you're up." Simon said coming through the door smiling.

I nodded again glancing inconspicuously around the room for Jamie, she disappeared again.

"Well Andrew wants you downstairs to start self-defense training. He said he gave you the morning off but it's time to get up."

"Wait? What time is it?" I asked looking around for the alarm clock.

"Half past one."

"Oh I'll be down in ten." I said hopping out of bed but tripping and landing on my face.

Simon hurried over and helped me up shaking his head. "What are we going to do with you?" He asked teasingly and smiling at me. He held my hand longer than necessary and quickly kissed me on the cheek before heading out of the room.

I stood there for a moment wondering what just happened. After a moment I shook it off and picked a pair of soffe shorts and a t-shirt with a pair of tennis shoes.

I headed down the steps into the kitchen where everyone waited talking in low voices. They heard me come in and looked up. "Look our sleeping beauty's awake." Tori sneered glaring at me probably wishing she got to sleep as long as I did.

Ignoring the jab I hurriedly grabbed a muffin before Derek or anyone else grabbed the last muffin on the table. Mmmm blueberry.

Andrew smiled at me. "Good to see you Chloe."

I gave him a closed lip smile because I still had food in my mouth. "HI Chloe!" Jennifer and Jenna said in usion mimicking each other's perky tone. Dan nodded at me while Derek and Taylor where no where in sight.

Gina and Jade didn't acknowledge me because they were in an intense conversation. Jenna got up from her chair and hopped gracefully out of the dining room.

Outside there was a grunt and a shatter of glass. We all looked up. "Listen I don't want to hurt you!" Came Derek's voice. There was another grunt.

I bounded outside the backdoor to see Derek pinning Taylor down while trying not to hurt him. "Chloe it's not" He stopped. I stood there my mouth agape and dropping my muffin to the ground. It rolled away slowly before stopping abruptly.

"Chloe! Get him off of me." Taylor pleaded looking at me I almost caved.

"Get him off of you yourself." I said after a minute of silence. "I have self-defense to learn." I walked away not looking back at Derek or Taylor.

"What's going on out there?" Andrew asked getting up.

"Just guys being guys." I assured him. He sat down slowly looking at me suspiciously. I shrugged and walked out of the kitchen looking for Jenna and Jennifer my self-defense teachers.

I found them outside hitting each other doing backhand springs, etc. "Chloe!" Jenna yelled after seeing me.

"Hi." I said nodding towards her.

"Well I guess we should start off with the basics." Jennifer said coming up next to me. We streched for what seemed like a very long half hour. "Now," She said looking at me." We teach you, the element of surprise."

"Do you have any gymnastics or dance training in you're past?"

"Yeah." I said rubbing my already soar calf muscles.

"Then you'll be good at this." Jenna assured me. I tried to smile.

"The art of walking silently is putting one foot in front of the other." Jenna said demonstrating how to walk. It was completely unbelievable she made no noise. "Pretend you're walking on a balance beam with quick careful steps one in front of the other in a low crouch if you want tot be completely silent. That's perfect!" Jenna exclaimed clapping her hands together in delight.

"Now that you've got that down," Jennifer said after a couple tries. "lets get to avoiding hits. You can side-step, do a split, duck, dodge, do a back hand spring, or a backwards cartwheel, etc."

"The goal is to not get hit." Jenna said trying to punch Jennifer but she sidestepped the punch, grabbed her arm, and hit her in the stomach. "When you get someone in this position go for the stomach, not the face."

When we finished I was tired. Very tired. I'd been hit multiple times but had done well for my first time.

We walked through the door all of us to tired to speak. "How'd it go?" Andrew asked after we had all plopped down on the couch.

"Good." I mumbled stifling a yawn.

"Great Chloe's a natural at this stuff! She'll have it down pat in less than a week." Jenna exclaimed happily. Even if she was tired she was perky as Hell.

I still tried not to blush but failed miserably. It was nice to be good at something and recognized for it.

"Chloe does you're arm hurt?" Andrew asked.

I looked down at my arm and shook my head. "I forgot I even hurt it to be honest." I said stifling yet another yawn but I was determined to stay awake and get to the shower.

"Well that's good that it feels better." He said slowly looking at me strangely.

Someone ran past his chair, but no one else noticed. "Did you guys see that?" I asked looking around.

Jamie popped up in front of me a smile plastered to her innocent looking face.

"Hey Chloe!" She said smiling at me happily. I nodded at her trying not to be noticed.

"Why won't you say hi back?" She pouted but I tried to pretend I couldn't hear her.

"Chloe!!!" She demanded looking at me stomping her foot in anger.

I still pretended until she vanished infuriated. I sighed peace and quiet. "Simon!" Tori screamed from the back of the house, so much for that.

"Simon get back here!" There was a muffled voice. "NO give it back now!" Tori yelled I heard feet hit the floor loudly.

"Simon!"

"Tori shut up!" Derek yelled making the house go quiet. Ah that's better. I closed my eyes.