Disclaimer: If I seriously owned anything in this story, do you think I'd be writing it? Exactly. I own Charity Burns, her family members, and all the other OCs. Nothing else. Zip. Zero. Nothing. Nada. Notadamnthing. :) Kapeesh? :)

A/N: Heyyo everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful day. I am. So, this is up a little early, but I don't want to wait to put it up. I've worked pretty hard on this chapter so I hope you like it... I think it's pretty good. Thank you to those who reviewed, alerted, added, and read. It means everything. Also, the poll in my profile closes tomorrow, so if you haven't voted yet and want to, (which you should) for my future stories, go ahead. It'll close at around 4 p.m. tomorrow. I put up summeraries for the stories at the bottom of my profile, so it'll be easier to pick. Whoever is in the lead when I close it will get started first. So that's about it... enjoy!

I'm not on the plane for five minutes before I burst into awkward, silent tears, my face glued to the runway for the plane outside. That's all I would need is for someone else to see me crying and ask what is the matter. How do you explain something like that to someone?

'Oh hi, I just met you but uh, I just left two famous wrestlers and one of their girlfriends who've become friends of mine… and uh… it hurts.' Um, yeah, not going to come up in any of my conversations.

Then there is the thing with Shannon. Where is he? He didn't even come to say goodbye. Part of me isn't taken aback, I almost expect that he wouldn't have the stuff down under to come and say it, yet another part of me, the part that has grown considerably to Shannon is more saddened and hurt. You'd at least think he'd apologize for what he's done. I mean… one day I'll probably forgive him and not want to smack him for taking my phone – my only lifeline at the time with my real family – and him deciding to not come and say goodbye makes it seem like he's too afraid of me.

Ha, afraid of me. If you're afraid of me, I'd say you have some pretty big issues. I don't normally scream out 'don't meet me in a dark alley alone,' you know?

Still, I wish there could have been more closure between us. I guess there still could be a slim chance of us ever becoming into a conversation, but somehow I'd imagine that would involve the help of Beth, whose number was the only one I received from the group, though I do know I am welcome with Matt and Jeff anytime. I guess that's a pretty cool thing to say, huh?

I sigh just as the flight attendant tells us to buckle up because the plane is about to head off to the skies. Is there still time to run off the plane and beg to live with Matt, Jeff, and Beth forever? Probably not.

Before my eyes, I can feel the plane moving towards take off as we pass the glass area where you can see the people seeing you off. Jeff is unmistakable from behind the glass, his hair color bright from even a wide and far distance, while his eyes are dark and intense. Matt stands confidently, a small, poised smile on his face, proudly watching the plane as if he was a father watching his son take the football team to state. Beth is next to Jeff, their hands incased between each other. She smiles lovingly at the plane. It almost seems as if she's staring directly at me… how odd. They all just stand there, bodies touching, the proud little family they are, so very close and proud of one another. I won't be going home to that.

Seconds later, the three are no longer in my view and I feel the plane slowly edging it's way into the air, the ride a little bumpy.

"Goodbye, Cameron, North Carolina," I murmur, closing my eyes for a moment, unsure of how to measure this moment. I feel as I should start crying again, maybe throw a childish temper tantrum while screaming about how life is so unfair. But when is it ever anyway? Life is just a roller coaster ride. What's that quote Matt loves? Oh, right: "Life is a journey, not a destination." I guess it has truth to it. Right now though, I wish I was heading to another destination other than New York. Like back to Cameron, maybe. Anywhere but home. I can already feel the brokenness of what is left of my family creeping up.

I guess you could say Penn was the glue that kept us all together. My father is the business man, the one that doesn't show he loves you, though you can assume deep down, he does. (Or so, we hope.) My mother is the overprotective type, terrified of letting Penn and I go out on our own – so I know this is killing her inside. She's lost one of her babies. My father is just probably talking on the phone about how sad he is… if he actually is, I'll never be sure, he'll never show it. We'll all go to the funeral, talk with relatives who only show up for things like this and then supposedly move on. That's how it goes, right? What if I don't want to? What if I want my brother back? What if I think it's extremely unfair that he is gone? Penn wanted everything in life yet got very little of it. He would have loved to be with me, which I've said millions of times. He wouldn't have let Shannon act like an asshole to me… Penn, how I'll miss him. Without him, there is nothing to keep my parents together. His illness meant we had to pull together for him to get well. Now, I'll be going off to college soon and there isn't any reason for them to stay together. They don't love each other, I know it. The children held them together. Now one is gone and one is going to be going off to college. Goodbye happy family. Maybe I should listen to Pink's 'Family Portrait.' Could help.

I pull out my journal, running my hands over the spiral notebook pages with a sigh. Is it really over? Maybe if I open the book it will say Surprise! This is a joke! The plane will land again in five minutes and Charity, you're welcome to stay forever if you like.

I open the book to my own chicken scratch. Nope. There is no 'get out of jail free' card waiting for me. Just my thoughts, which could be dangerous. I skim though them, reading the overjoyed thoughts from the plane ride here, how I was so excited about sharing my experience with Penn and having the memories to last a lifetime. I guess you could say I still have the latter.

Digging around in my bag, I pull out a black capped pen and uncap it, hoping to get some of my thoughts down on paper.

9:45 a.m.

I'm on the flight home now. It's pretty odd how quickly the time has gone and how little time I got to write it all down. It sucks knowing it's all over. I want roll up into a ball and cry my eyes out, but I seem to have grown over this past week. I think I am stronger, like Beth said to me last night. I guess that's pretty interesting.

I can't believe Penn is gone either. I was supposed to share this with him. To laugh over the guys stupidity, to show him the 260 pictures I took (yes, 260) and more brotherly-sisterly type stuff. That's all down the drain.

I return to tears and sobs about how great my brother was and how sad people are to hear he's gone. I don't need to hear it about Penn. I've known it all along. I've known how wonderful he was since we were little how the ways he'd be so protective of me. Most siblings fought – never us. We were CareBear and Gelpen. Inseparable. I wish he could have just lasted a little longer, just so we could share this last thing together. I know he would have loved it. Also, why didn't he tell me he was sicker than I imagined? He had to of known when I left last week… those are questions I'll never have answered.

"Miss, can I get you a drink?" the flight attendant asks.

"No thank you," I murmur.

She gives me a weird look and continues on her rounds. Why am I not surprised?

I feel oddly connected to Beth after all of this. The woman puts up with a lot in her life and I give a whole lot of kudos to her and Jeff for staying together so long despite his career and other obstacles in his life. They're going to grow old together and happily, hopefully with Jeff doing back-lips off his bed in a retirement home at the age of ninety-five.

A girl can wish.

Matt's amazing and that's the only way I can describe him. I don't know how he does it but he still gives me the chills every time I am around him. It's like… he's so sure of himself and proud of what he's become that it radiates off him and onto you. Of course, him liking me is pretty odd, but what in my life isn't? I liked the way Beth described it. Its that crush that makes you feel good, you know it can't happen but you still can't help getting excited while you're together. Still, imagine Matt Hardy liking you… it's certainly a boost of confidence.

And then there is Shannon. What can I say about him? I think Miley Cyrus's new song '7 things' is pretty fitting. He's vain, he plays games, and hell, he can be insecure. And I definitely did not just use a Disney Star's song to fit a 28-year-old man. Heh. But at the same time with all of that, he's pretty cool. He doesn't seem to care about what people think of him and he's comfortable being him. I wish I had that. I just wish I could understand his mind better… then again, what woman understands the opposite sex?

'Crazy for this Girl' by Evan and Jaron. Okay, now that's pretty odd. Talk about sending mixed messages. How do you pretty much tell me to not talk to you and then give me that? Of course, I'm not completely sure he was the one to tell the stagehands to play that song, but who else could it be? It certainly wasn't Adam Copeland.

We won't even get into him right now. I'd rather not go total Airhead candy on the plane and let my hot air explode, thanks.

I just wish I knew that he meant by the song… is that is apology? I might not ever know. Thanks Shannon.

So… I guess that's how…

I continue to write the entire plane ride, which is about two hours. That's pretty impressive writing wise. I filled up about fifteen pages and my hand is still cramping, but I'll deal. The flight attendant tells us we're about to land. I guess I should put all my junk away.

I watch as the clouds become lower and lower, the plane gets shakier, and the ground becomes more apparent until we touch it and land. I can feel the air around me whoosh out of my fellow plane riders, most happy that the most nerve-racking part of the ride is over. Slowly, everyone files out and meets loved ones, wide smiles on their faces.

I scan the airport for my family, or better yet, what's left of it. They stand there, faces solemn, though they do briefly light up when they spot me, wrapping me into a tight and painful on so many levels hug.

I offer them a small smile though tears well inside of my eyes, threatening to spill. "Hi mom, hi dad." Suddenly, I'm surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. When is the next flight to Cameron? Book me on it.

My mom begins to sob in my shoulder, her body shaking while she continues to grip me tightly, whispering about how much she loves me and how much she missed me. We don't mention Penn yet. My father stands off to the right, very uncomfortable about his foreign thing to him… what's a hug? What does it mean? Do I have to crack a smile or a frown to do it?

Pitiful.

"How was your trip?" "Did you have fun?" "Did you take lots of pictures?" "Did you meet any cool people? "What is that thing on your shoulder, young lady?" (Shit, I'm screwed.) Let it be known I've been gone for a week and my brother is dead, yet the first words my father speaks to me about is my new tattoo.

"A tattoo," I answer meekly, ignoring my mother's many questions. "One of Matt and Jeff's friends did it for me."

"You let a random man tattoo you, Charity? What has this week done to you? See, Janet, I told you we shouldn't have let her come. She goes off for a week and now she's tattooed. Next thing you know, she'll be hanging out with biker dudes and staying out a strip clubs at night!" My father rages.

I make an attempt to help for Shannon's case. "It was not a random guy. He's Matt and Jeff's best friend. He owns a tattoo shop and he's a professional. I haven't changed, dad," I explain.

He grumbles something in response. "Hunny, don't worry about your father, hunny, he's just stressed between his business and the funer—"

"Mom, you can say the word," I murmur, though more tears threaten my eyes. She nods softly, wiping her melting make-up with a sigh. "When is it?" I continue.

"Tomorrow," she answers.

"You had the wake without me?" I ask, a little hurt. I know I was away, but still? That's my brother for God's sake!

"I'm sorry hunny, that's what the funeral home offered. We had to take it." She sighs and pulls me into another motherly hug. At least I have one good parent. "I'm sorry we couldn't wait for you." I don't answer. "OH! And hunny, we found a letter addressed to you in Penn's hospital room. I didn't open it, we figured it was for your eyes only. I have it at home, you can read it when you get there. How does it feel to be back?"

I don't know how to answer that, so I sigh and think about ways to lie to my mother without being completely obvious. "Good," I lie, while more tears threaten my eyes. I push a smile out towards her. "Good."

I'm aiming for the next update on Sunday! Read and review, and update I shall. :)