CHAPTER 4:

I woke up in the morning, stiff. My arm hurt, and my head was aching again. I'd have to get some Tylenol; I wouldn't go to school with a migraine. I glanced over at my alarm clock. It was five forty-five. I had to get up now if I wanted to get a shower in the morning. I had to hurry up. I quickly got up out of my bed, creeping to the bathroom; Mom and Dad were still asleep.

I turned on the shower, warm water. I stripped and walked into the water, letting the steam wash away- most of- my headache. I hurried and finished shampooing and conditioning my hair. I got out, wrapped a towel around me, and grabbed my brush. I examined my arm in the full length mirror. It was so dark, it was almost black. I winced at the sight. I ran back into my room, grabbing a pale blue blouse and grey skinny jeans. I picked out my black Converse, tying them quickly. I walked downstairs, grabbed an apple, my bag, and walked outside to get to school; if my car broke, I had to walk.

I wrapped my hoodie, extra tight around my body. It was cold. I started running until I heard the hum of an engine. I looked behind me; it was Edward's Volvo. Hmm, what was he doing near my house? It slowed when it neared me. I heard a window roll down. I kept walking forward.

"Hi," Alice called. She waved, and the car came to a complete stop. "Kitty, we'll give you a ride. C'mon and get in." She smiled at me, showing half of her teeth.

"I'd rather not," I mumbled. "I just want to get to school and then go home." I stopped for a minute, and I pulled my apple out of my bag. I bit into it, chewing quickly. "Would you all just leave me alone? Please." Jeesh, will they ever leave me alone? I mean, I wasn't at all interesting. At least, I didn't think so.

"Kitty. Just get in the damn car. Don't be so stubborn." Alice was stubborn, too.

"I don't want to. I want you all to just leave me alone. Go away," I screeched.

"We aren't going away! We want to help you. Just get in the damn car." I sighed and got in the car.

"Go ahead, take me to school. But I'm walking home," I compromised.

"Nope." Rose popped her mouth on the 'p.' "We'll take you to and from school until your hand's healed."

"There's no way for me to win, is there?" Everyone shook their heads. "Fine. I won't be happy about this." Just then Second Chance by Shinedown started playing. I blushed and grabbed my phone. I looked at the caller ID. It was my brother, Jeremy, who was in college in New York, far from our home in Maine. "Hi, Jer. How's college?"

"It's good, but I miss you. How have Mom and Dad been?"

I thought for a moment. "Um, they've been fine. Just kind of stressed with money. I broke my hand."

"Jesus, how did you do that?" he asked.

"I tripped outside of my - Friends,'" -I forced the word out- "But their Dad is a doctor so he fixed my hand up…But I refuse a cast!

"Wow. Well, sweetie, I have to go, but I'll call you like tomorrow, okay? I love you. Bye."

"I love you, too. Bye, Jeremy." I hung up. I missed him so much. Mom and Dad never hit me when he was around; they waited until he was asleep or out. I'd always have to make excuses for it. At least I didn't have to anymore.

I sighed longingly, staring out the window's passing scenery. It was all grey and white. I missed green. I missed having my brother around. I missed everything I had when Jeremy was here. We came to a halt right in the middle of the road.

"Why did you stop?" I asked. "I can't be late again." No one answered, so I got my stuff together, unlocked the door, and stepped out. "I'm sorry, but I have to get to school." I slammed the door and walked to the sidewalk.

I ran to school, making it just on time. I had gym first period. I walked into the locker room, went to my locker, and took off the Ace bandage. My hand was a little swollen, and it was so bruised it was almost black. Gross. I tossed the bandage into my locker and got dressed fast, hiding the bruise on my arm. After everyone was dressed, Coach called attendance. I was first. "Here," I called.

I was uncomfortable, afraid someone would see the bruise on my arm. I kept pulling the sleeve down uncertainly, gnawing on my lip. I walked out, carefully looking at the floor when I ran into something hard and cold, like a rock. It was Rose.

"What?" I sighed.

"Why don't you have the Ace bandage on your hand?"

"Because it's fine. There isn't anything wrong with it. Its fine. I promise, Rosalie. It fine," I reassured her. She had a disbelieving look in her eyes. She grabbed my hand, and it took all my control not to wince.

"Uh-huh. Sure it's okay. It looks worse than it did when you came to the house." She walked away, flipping her hair over her shoulder. I sighed and walked away. Of course, being me, I tripped, landing on my hand.

"Ow! OW!" I screamed, hopping up and down, clutching my hand to my chest. "Ouch, ouch, ouch," I cried.

Suddenly, Rose was next to me. "Told you it wasn't okay. I'll take you to Carlisle." She grabbed my arm and towed me outside to Edward's car, opening the door and pushing me in.

"Can't you just take me to the hospital?" She shook her head. "And why is that?" She shook her head again. "Fine. Take me home, please," I commanded. She nodded silently.

When we got to my house, there was a familiar car in the driveway. Jeremy's car. Oh, my gosh, that meant he was here, and I'd be able to see him! He must have been almost here when he called me a few hours ago. I ran out of the Volvo once Rosalie stopped.

"Thanks, Rose, bye," I rushed out. I ran up to my door, grabbing my key, putting it in the lock, and scrambling to open the door. "Jeremy! Jeremy, come here, please!"

He appeared by the kitchen, and I ran to him, screaming, "Jeremy," and hugging his tall frame. "Oh, Jer, I missed you so much it wasn't even funny. And it's so cold and lousy and white here without you. Mom and Dad are all, like, 'Kitty, do the dishes.' I mean, I barely have time to do homework, and graduating is my first priority. I mean, I don't want to be stupid or anything, but I have to be able to-" I took a breath- "be able to graduate and go to college. Oh, but I need a fund and-"

"Stop," Jeremy interrupted, chuckling. "Lemme see the hand you broke." I lifted up my left hand, which was black around the knuckle and even more swollen. He winced. "Ugh, no offense, but that looks really ugly. Ew." He made a vague 'ick' gesture with his hand not around my waist. "Let's-"

"Hello?" Mom called. "Kitty, are you-" She stopped mid-sentence. "Hello, Jeremy. How have you been?"

"I've been okay. How have you been, Michelle?"

"I've been… good. How has college been? Good, I bet. Well, me and you are going to pick up your guys' father, and then we'll go to a dinner. Okay?" Jeremy nodded. "Okay. Put on a nice suit; we're going to the new Japanese restaurant in the city. I'm going to go get ready, and I'll grab your dad's suit, so he can get ready. Bye, Kitty."

"Bye, Mom." I glared at her. Jeremy noticed my hostility, but he went up to his room to get ready, mouthing, 'We'll talk later. When I get back.' I nodded.

That'd be a good idea. We needed to catch up, and we needed to talk. I had to tell him about Mom and Dad. I couldn't keep this a secret from him any longer.

"We're leaving, Kitty," Mom stated. "Do the dished while we're out, and I want you to finish your homework. See you, sweetie." She gave me a sweet-fake- smile. I gave her one, too.

"Bye." I walked up to my room, bag in tow, as I heard the door open and then clicked closed. I sat on my bed, getting out my homework and a pen. Calculus, English, Social Studies, and Science homework. Great. I sighed, starting so I'd be finished sooner. About two hours later, I heard the phone ring and sprinted to get it.

"Hello?" I asked breathlessly.

"Is this Kitty Anderson?" the voice asked.

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"Well, Ms. Anderson, I'm sorry to inform you of this, but your parents and half brother were in a car accident. They didn't survive."

"Eh… huh… what?" Jeremy's dead? Where did that come from? He couldn't be dead. He was my best friend. I loved him. He couldn't. I wouldn't let him be.

"Honey, they're dead. I'm so sorry."

I dropped the phone. "No, no, no! He's not dead! NO!" I screamed, falling to the floor, sobbing. "No, no, no, no, no," I repeated over and over again. I went over by the window and hit it, breaking the glass. I felt a sting on my forearm and the warmth of blood spilling down. I didn't care. He wasn't dead. Nothing had happened to them. Soon Jeremy would walk in the door, and he'd say that this was a joke.

"If this is a joke, it's not funny," I said to the air. "This is a sick, cruel joke."

I heard a knock at the door. I didn't bother to answer it. I'm not coming, I thought, so go away. I won't get the door. Go away. I wasn't coming. I wouldn't. I needed my grief.

"Kitty?" It was Carter. I didn't want him to see me like this. I was on the floor, knees pulled up to my chest, eyes red and puffy, blood on my left arm and hand.

"Go away," I whispered. "I want you to leave."

"Kitty, are you alright? I smell blood. Sweetie, come open the door," he commanded.

"No, it's unlocked, and my best friend is dead. Come in yourself," I said bitterly.

I heard Carter push the door open. He walked over to me, and right away he grabbed my bleeding arm. "It looks like it needs stitches. I'll take you to the hospital."

"No, let me go. I don't want to go to the hospital. I want to stay here."

"Fine, if you're going to be difficult, I'll call Carlisle over here and to bring his medical bag to stitch you up."

"I don't want to be fixed up. I want my brother back," I sobbed. "Will you get my brother back? He didn't deserve that."

"I… Kitty…" He trailed off, leaving me to my imaginings. I distinctly heard him on the phone talking to whom I was guess was Carlisle.

I was in my own little world when Carter came over and said that Carlisle would be here soon. I didn't want him to come and see me like this. I didn't want him to sew me up. I wanted to bleed out. I wanted to be wherever Jeremy was. It was so hard to be here when he wasn't. He was my best friend.

I heard the door open, and Carlisle called, "Kitty? Where are you, dear?"

"Over here," Carter called back. "Do you have the meds, needle, and thread? I'm pretty sure it needs stitches, and it hasn't stopped bleeding yet." His voice had a note of concern to it.

Carlisle came over, setting his bag down and grabbing my arm in his iron grasp. "Here. I have to stitch it up. Carter, grab the anesthetic. I don't need her in more pain than she already is."

But my pain didn't matter.