Author's note: I know I suck big time, and I'm really sorry for not updating it or "Real life". But I promise I'll do my best to update it faster next time. I hope that waiting was worth it and you would like the chapter.

Hold your head high, stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes but morning comes. ... Keep hope alive.

Jesse Jackson

Chapter 5

Troy never thought his heart could be beating so fast. But what the hell, there were many things he thought were impossible to happen, and they did. He never thought he would have to run from his home. Never did he think he would fear his own father or that he would be standing at some stranger's house hoping for… He didn't even know what he was hoping for. And was there any sense in hoping at all? What did this "hope" ever do to them? It never helped them before. Not when their mom died and he and Cameron cried every night hoping for some miracle, not when their father started drinking and they dreamed he would understand it wasn't a solution, not when their dad started hitting them and they just prayed to God he would stop. But no… it never helped before, why should it now?

Cameron's heart was ready to just jump out of her chest. It was beating so fast, she was really freaking out. She couldn't help but fear it wouldn't work out. If it didn't, where would they go then? What should they do? Was there any hope for them? And was she CRAZY to still believe in hope? After everything they went through… But she wanted SO badly to believe in it. She just thought everything can't always go wrong, some day this black stripe is bound to end. Maybe it would end now? No matter how stupid it sounded she still had faith, she still hoped. But, after all, that was the only thing left for them.

When they heard someone approaching the door, without even realizing it Cameron tightened her grip on Troy's hand, her heart making another jump in her chest. She wanted so much to believe luck would be on their side... at least for once… They deserved it, didn't they?

Troy cast one last look at his sister bracing himself for whatever was going to happen when the door would open. This moment would decide a lot, practically everything, for them. Troy drew a deep breath: here it was, the moment, they were afraid of during their entire ride. He raised his head to see a pleasant looking woman standing in the doorway, first she looked a bit confused but then an understanding smile appeared on her face.

"You must be Troy and Cameron. Michael called us. Oh, please, come in, you must be really tired and hungry. Dinner is almost ready."

Troy let out a breath which he didn't know he was holding. This woman really looked friendly and nice; maybe everything wasn't really lost for them. But he didn't want to let his hopes up: if you don't expect anything, you don't get disappointed. No, he wouldn't believe it until everything was sure, and at the moment it was far from it.

"Thank you, Mrs. Danforth." Cameron said politely also not fully believing it was happening for real. Mike told them she was nice, but sometimes it is so difficult to trust someone, even if he's your friend. It's like some defense reaction- to never trust anyone completely.

"Oh, please, call me just Julia. Come on in."

When they entered the house they found themselves in a bright hall. It was so unlike the house they were living in. And the difference wasn't just in furniture or wallpaper, nothing like that, it was the atmosphere itself. Just like on the outside, the inside of the house was very hospitable.

"So, umm, can I help you with setting the table."

"Oh, Cameron, it's very nice of you. I'd like to use some help. And, Troy, will you be so kind, and somehow drag my son out of the yard to have dinner. I obviously can't make him leave his basketball."

"Sure."

So while Cam followed Julia to the kitchen, Troy went to the backyard. A backyard, a basketball rim… They used to have one when everything was still ok, when their mom was still alive. He and his dad would play forever, and Cameron had to literally pull them out of it. They were so happy at that time, they were a family… Why did it have to stop? Why? That was the question Troy never could find an answer to.

"Hey!" A guy with funny hair brought him back to reality.

"Hey, your mom asked me to bring you to dinner." Troy said felling awkward.

"You're Troy?" Seeing affirmative nod, the guy continued. "Wanna play? Mike told me you aren't bad. I'm Chad, by the way."

"Don't think it's such a good idea. I mean I'm supposed to get you out of here."

"Oh, come on, just couple of throws."

Troy caught the ball Chad threw to him and turning to the basket he made a throw which came right in.

"Nice." Chad said excitingly.

"So, Cameron, do you think we will see our men today?" Mrs. Danforth asked jokingly after they set the table and spent more than fifteen minutes just talking. "Probably, it wasn't such a good idea to send Troy after Chad if he loves basketball?"

"I always had to practically drag him from the court." Cameron answered laughing really enjoying her conversation with the woman.

"How did you manage to do it?" Mrs. Danforth exclaimed making the girl laugh. "Ok, so I'll go get my husband, you deal with boys."

Cameron remembered perfectly well how she and their mother spent hours talking while Troy and his dad were playing. They all were very close when they were still a family… When they had a family… Their mom was Cameron's best friend, and their father was Troy's. And that's why it hurt so much to lose them. Her heart was bleeding at the bare thought of their mother, but their dad… it was so much worse…

When Cameron came to the yard, she saw Troy and some other guy playing. It always made her happy to watch her brother practice basketball. He was so carefree, so… happy, so not worrying. He even taught her to play, and with all her hate to all kinds of sport she did like basketball, well not real basketball, just throwing the ball. But watching it… that was great.

"Boys, dinner is getting cold." She said catching the ball.

"Oh, come on, sis, just one more time." Troy asked with his most charming smile.

"Yeah, sure." Cameron replied and when both boys smiled she turned her back on them and headed back into the house. "I'll give you the ball, but after the dinner."

"Wow, man, your sister is harsh."

"You tell me?"

"So, Mike told us you had some problems with the apartment you were renting." Mr Danforth asked at the dinner.

"Yeah, well, our host's brother got ill, and they needed a room, so they asked us to leave. That's in short." Cameron smiled apologetically.

"And what are you going to do?"

"We don't know yet, we are trying to find some place, and Mike told us we could crash for several days here, if it's ok with you." Cam said quietly trying not to show how scared and panic-stricken she was at the moment. Sensing her fear Troy squeezed her hand under the table.

"Actually, I think, you can stay here, and not just for couple days. We have a spare room, if it's alright for you to live in one room."

"Yeah, Mr. Danforth, that's totally alright. Thank you, thanks a lot, but… I just wanted to know, um, you know, how much do you want for the room?"

"Troy, we don't need your money." But seeing the boy frown, Mr. Danforth immediately said. "Ok, you can just help us around the house, it will do."

"I can use some help at the kitchen." Julia added.

"That's really nice of you, but I really don't know…" Troy didn't feel quiet ok with owing something to someone.

"Listen, Troy. I really respect your desire to pay us, but you are Mike's friend and we just can't take your money. It's not some charity, and you don't owe us anything, ok?" Mr. Danforth said firmly.

Cameron looked at Troy who was thinking over the offer. It was up to him to decide, she let him take this decision. He was always so proud, never asked for anyone's help. Probably she was the only one Troy could ever come up to when he had a problem. Well, he used to have dad… long time ago. So, now it was his decision to make, it was up to him to accept the offer or not, he must be really ok with it. But, God, she wanted him SO MUCH to be all right with it.

"Thank you." Troy finally said much to his sister's happiness.

"That's so cool. Finally, I have someone to play with!" Chad exclaimed with excitement making everyone smile.

"Cam, what's the matter? You seem kinda quiet." Troy asked with concern when they were lying in their room.

"I'm just… thinking about…" Her voice trailed off.

"About mom?" Troy said mostly stating not asking.

"Yeah." Cam's answer could be barely heard.

It was always so difficult to talk about her, even to think about her. When she died, it was like something was ripped out of their hearts leaving an empty hole instead. A hole with nothing to fill it with. People say that with time this pain slowly fades away, that it disappears, but it's always there, it never really leaves. At times it seems to get better, but then something snaps, and there it is again, dull, throbbing pain eating you from inside, with no escape.

After several minutes of silence Cameron continued. "Remember our last dinner together?"

"Is it possible to forget?" Troy smiled. "After that date when you were wearing that so super miniskirt that mom decided to have the "big conversation" about flowers and bees with us."

"It wasn't that mini. Alright, it was mini. But it was a date with Nate Brown, school's hottie number one, who was two years older than me. And you are not the one to lecture me. If I'm not mistaken you were caught while making out with Sandra Henderson that evening."

"That was some evening!" Troy agreed with a laugh.

"Yeah, it was." Cameron smiled. It was hard to talk about their mother or things connected with her, but it was impossible not to do so. No matter how painful it was to remember her, it was thousands times worse trying not to. "I just miss mom so much." She whispered letting tears fall freely.

"I know, sis. I know." Troy said feeling tears forming in his eyes as well. "But we gonna be ok, everything will be ok. You believe me?"

"Yes, Troy, I do. Night, bro."

"Night, sis."

And so they lay in the dark seeing light for the first time in long two years. Knowing there was something good for them, knowing hope wasn't lost for them. That was the beginning. They were safe, there was only one question darkening the mood: for how long?

That's it for now, hope you liked it. And by the way, the rest of the gang will appear in the next chapter. If you have some suggestions or preferences, don't forget to tell me. Please, review