I pulled up to the jail, and walked in to see Frank, the Deputy.

"Hey, Alice your sister in vault 13." He pointed me to the last one.

"Thanks, Frank!" I said walking to it. Seeing Cynthia, she looked worst than last month when she had to be bailed out, again.

"What was it this time?" I asked her.

"Vandalism." She answered.

"How much?" I pressed.

"$500" she said like it was a everyday conversation.

"This is the LAST time that I'm coming to get you, got it?" I warned her.

Then I heard Frank with the keys, coming to open the vault when I had a vision.

We were sitting in my spot in the woods, me in my cubby hole, him walking across the tree to get there.

"Nice to see you again." He said with that heart racing smile.

"Same here" I said amazed.

"ALICE!?" Frank said waving a hand in front of my face.

"I'm sorry, I zoned out. Here's the money Frank, I'll guess I'll see you around." I apologized taking $500 from my purse. I always have to bring cash to the jail. He unlocked the cell and I grabbed her by the hand and towed her out of the jail and into the car. When we got in the car I let out a sigh.

"Where to next?" I asked her.

"Home, I need some new clothes." She said oddly robot like.

"Ok." I said pulling out into the road.

Cynthia was 18, when our Mom started using she went wild, only coming home at like 1 or 2 in the morning, if at all, and when she did, she reeked of alcohol and smoke. She was only 14, and I was 12, even though I'm a year younger than her, she always treated me like a baby.

We rode the rest of the way home in uncomfortable silence. When we did get home she asked me this,

"How is she?" She asked clearly meaning our mother.

"Bad." I told her the truth.

Then it hit me,

"Where did this money come from?" I asked my self. I looked up our almost non-existent bank account, it has 5,000 dollars in it.

I called the bank.

"Hey are you coming in?" Cynthia asked.

"Yeah, in a minute." I answered.

I walked in and picked up dinner again.

"Hey, um, do you want to stay for dinner?" I asked my sister.

"Sure, what are you having?"

"Cynthia, is that you?" our mother called walking into the room.

"Yes Mom, it's me." she said hugging our mother.

"Mom, Cynthia is staying for dinner." I informed her.

"Ok." She said.

DING! Dinner was ready. It was a very bittersweet moment. We never have dinner together anymore, ever since Dad left. It's either Cynthia isn't here or Mom's passed out or both, But it's still nice to be together.

"Mary Alice this is wonderful what is it?" Mom asked.

"It's baked chicken mom, you know like you used to make." I told her, she must be high again. Then I started thinking about all of the things that happened from when Dad left, till now. Then I knew that I had to leave fast before the waterworks started. I never cry in front of people, that's one of the reasons I started cutting.

"Um, Mom, I'm going out for a while, just put the dishes in the sink. I'll guess that someone is coming to pick you up Cynthia? I'll be back by sunset." I said as I put on my jacket and walked out the door. When I got to the edge of the woods boarding my house I started to cry, even though it blended In with the rain I could fell the hot tears running down my face.

Then I ran to my cubbyhole in the woods, which was a big hollowed out tree next to a creek that has a fallen tree that you can walk across to get to the other side. I've only been across the creek once and that was 3 years ago. I walked for about a mile and then I came up on a big abandoned Victorian home. I decide not to go in, because it really freaked me out.

I ducked in into it, it was fairly dry, and cried. I cried for my mother, my sister, my father, my friend, and Jasper. I don't even know him, and I already know that I'm just going to pull him into my pathetic drama. Even if I don't know him, I still care for him.

"Hello, Miss are you hurt?" Someone asked me, I don't even know why I haven't heard him walk up.

I looked up to see the man I've never known but already cared for, I looked up to see Jasper.

Here it is! I hope that i get done with ch 3 by this weekend, but i also have home work and other stories. I'm still working on SB's ( Southern Bells) Shopping trip, but it takes longer because i have to look up the links for the stuff. R&R! Thanks!