Chapter 4

"LIZZIE!" I yelled as Nate, Frankie, Jason, and I ran to the pool side. Two minutes had passed and she had yet to resurface.

Out of panic I dived into the pool, ignoring the sting of the water as I opened my eyes. Thankfully it didn't take long for me to spot Lizzie, floating about halfway from the surface. I swam to her and slipped my arm around her waist. Then I kicked from the pool floor and pulled us out of the pool. I lay her down on the cold, wet cement as I called out to her.

"Lizzie, Lizzie, please wake up!" I begged. Nate tilted her head up and put his ear to her mouth.

"She's not breathing, Jason (who's going to hear him), call 911," Nate commanded as he gave her two rescue breaths. I looked up at Jason who seemed to be yelling at whoever he was on the phone with. Finally he shut the phone and came back to our side.

"Why isn't she waking?" Frankie asked in alarm.

"LIZZIE!"

I looked up to see a teenage girl and boy running down the small hill in a panic. As if hearing their screams, Lizzie's body came to life. She cried out as she choked on the water. Nate rolled her onto her side, whispering soothing words to her trembling body.

Lizzie's POV

"Lizzie, are you alright?" Mathew (William Moseley) asked as he cheeked me over.

"I-I'm c-cold." I shivered. Nate took off his jacket and put it around me. "Th-thank you," I whimpered. He smiled sadly down at me. Mathew pulled me into his chest and cradled me so close I could hear his rapid heartbeat. I pulled myself closer to him, desperate for warmth. My lips were blue, like I was choking on the air. I could hear the ambulance in the distance. Mathew whispered inaudible words to me as he picked me up, and started towards the ambulance.

~*~

Hours passed before I was released from my prison. Sarah had gotten me a set of cloths and a hair drier from home, so I walked out wearing a light blue spaghetti strap tank top, a jeans jacket, and jeans shorts. I smiled as I saw John, Nate, Shane, and Frankie sitting in chairs.

They all jumped from their chairs when they saw me. I walked over to Nate and threw my arms around him. "Thank you so much Nate, you saved my life," I said as he returned my hug. If I'd been paying attention I would have seen the hurt look that haunted Shane's dark face. I kissed Nate's cheek as I stepped back. Then I walked over to Shane and hugged him. "I hear you jumped in to save me?"

He blushed, "Yeah." I stepped back as a smile graced my lips. "What no kiss for me?" he asked in mock hurt.

"I'm a student, you're a teacher, if anyone found out it wouldn't look good," I said with a laugh, but I could have sworn I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes when I said it.

"Lizzie, we should drive you to mom and dad's," Sarah said walking in. I sighed; my parents were the last thing I needed. Sarah gave me a reassuring smile as she stroked my hair. She reminded me so much of a mother talking to her child's teacher while holding her daughter close, something I've only seen in movies or in other people's parents, never my own. I felt a tear threaten to fall. I quickly brushed it away.

"Aright Sarah, bye guys," I waved as I followed Mathew and Sarah to the car.

"LIZZIE WAIT!"

I turned to see Frankie running over to me. "Can we switch numbers?" he asked holding up his black rumor. I smiled as I handed him my cell.

"Thanks," I said with a wave as I got into the car. As we started to drive away I spotted Frankie, walking over to a blue convertible.

~*~

Sarah pulled up in front of our mansion, we where the richest family in the state. I swung my bag over my shoulder and turned to look back at Sarah and Mathew's sad eyes. Mathew grabbed onto my arm as I turned toward the door. "Be careful Lizzie," he murmured. I mutely nodded and turned back to the large doors. I heard Sarah start the car, and drive off. I felt a tear slip down my porcelain cheek.

I walked up the stairs and pushed open the door to the hotel like house. I looked around the familiar foyer to see that nothing had changed. There was still the same vase and flowers on the dark table, the same coats that lay limp on the stupid looking racks, and the same books on the many shelves that lined the wide walls. Everything in the front room was for show, nothing was actually used. I hung my coat up in the closet. Then I headed up the stair to my pink and white ballerina bedroom.

I didn't notice the screams at first, but I did when they got closer. A look of panic and fear crossed my face as I pictured myself in the hospital again. I started throwing stuff around to make it look like I'd already been here already and ducked under the bright colored bed. I curled up into a ball. I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my ears, trying desperately to block the horrible noises.

"Well you're a dick!" my mother yelled as she opened my door.

"Oh go suck one Marena!" my father yelled back.

~*~

I screamed as one of Mathew's old baseballs hit the side of my face. Don't ask me how I ended up in this position. I told you, I always, somehow, find myself in the middle of these fights. I knew running wouldn't help, I find myself in these fights anywhere I go. I kneeled onto the floor, covered my head with my hands, and squeezed my eyes shut. Tears slipped down my pale face.

I screamed as something glass shattered against my hands. I screamed again as something hit my side, sending me flying a few feet. It hurt, it hurt so bad that I wanted to cry and scream, but I knew better. Sometimes I forget that normal children don't have lives like mine. I'm only a child, one that still needs a mother and father to look after her.

My second scream must have woken my parents from their hate spell, it always happened eventually, the question was just when.

"Lizzie, oh Lizzie, I'm so sorry," my mom sobbed as she rolled me over onto my back and started stroking my hair. I felt my father pick me up and start to carry me, to an unknown destination.

That destination was semi solved as I felt the cool, crisp early spring air hit my face.

I closed my eyes, I felt so tired.

"HELP I NEED HELP!" I heard my father yell a few minutes later. He was carrying me again. I sniffed the air, where was I? Then it came to me, I knew this place like the back of my hand. I was in the hospital for the second time today.

Dad's POV

A nurse told me to lay Lizzie on a stretcher. I watched as her limp body fell against the hard surface, her hair falling into her eyes. I felt the tears falling down my face, I was the one that had thrown the glass frame at my wife, and it hit Lizzie. But my wife threw the clay head.

"Oh god," the doctor said as he examined her. "I'm sorry but you have to stay here." Fury ran through my veins. How dare they try to deny me the right of being with my daughter when she was hurt! She needed me!

"Oh god, LIZZIE!" a girl's voice yelled. My wife and I turned to see a girl with multi-colored hair running toward us. She ran to Lizzie's side and begged her to wake. I felt the hot tears prickle down my face as I watched my daughter lay there. She looked so tired, and so hurt that I felt the pain in my heart. The same heart that my little girl once said was as cold as ice.

She was wrong!

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

"LIZZIE NO!" the girl screamed as she ran to her friend's side. She squeezed Lizzie's cold hands, begging and crying through her crystal tears.

"Lizzie," I whispered; my pain and sorrow evident in my voice, "I'm so sorry baby."

A/n Sorry for the chapter delay people. I hope you like it.