Hey guys I made a typo last chapter about Ikenzie's age. She's 12 years old not 15. Sorry about that.

Chapter 2

Out of Reach

[Ikenzie's POV]

DING, DING, DING

Awwh! I hopped up and grabbed all my belongings before walking off to my locker.

School never seems long enough. I love school! I wish it never ended! But all things come to an end someday right?

I walked slowly to the car pull and was about to sit down but was shocked when I saw my mom there on time. She was usually late everyday so I would sit by my tree. It's a big tree. It has a bunch of leaves that are now turning colors for fall. It's so peaceful there. The wind blows softly and the birds sing sweetly. I would always sit and ease my mind there.

I skip down the few extra steps to my mom's car and hop into the passenger's seat giving a smile which means hi without me having to struggle to say it.

"Hey 'Kenzie. You have a good day?" My mom Jade said as she put the car in drive and started to head out of the car pull.

I reach into my backpack and pulled out my pad and started to type.

"It was great! I wish it never ended." I picked up the pad and flashed it to Jade in which she gave a quick glance and sighed.

"Ikenzie it's not going to get better if you keep using that thing. Now say it."

I frowned and turned away from her.

"Ikenzie I'm not playing with you." Jade's voice was sharp.

I sighed and took a deep breath. "..I..it, w,w,was gr, great." I stopped there.

"And? That's not all the pad said." Jade said.

"I., I, w, w, wish, i, I, it,t, ne, n,n,ne, ne, ne,n." I sighed and gave up as I looked out of my window.

"You didn't finish Ikenzie."

I grabbed my pad and typed. "I can't". I flashed it to Jade.

"Yeah and as long as you believe that you never will!" She yelled irately.

I sighed again as I watched Jade stair at the road angrily.

Almost 5 months ago I had a stroke and the doctors have no idea why. They said it was most likely linked to dehydration based on the fact that I'm a cross country tract runner, but they weren't for sure. Ever since then I lost my ability to talk normal. The doctors said that the stuttering should subside soon and I go to speech therapy twice a week, but it just seems to be getting worse. The really bad thing about it is that I can't do what I love anymore. Singing was my life. I loved to sing. I've been singing since I could even talk. I believe my first words were in a song! Everyone would always tell me how beautiful my voice is and how I must of got it from my mom. The principle of Hollywood Arts heard me sing one day and told me I definitely had a spot in the school in a couple of years when I become a freshman. All hope went down the drain when the accident happened. If I don't get my voice back soon, I won't be able to go to Hollywood Arts like my sisters. Italy is a dancer and Isis is an actress and I was supposed to be the singer. I was devastated when I found that maybe I won't be able to go anymore. But right now I attend a magnet school not far from HA and I do love my school.

All the doctors say not to worry, I will get my voice back eventually and Jade is a freaking pusher. She hates when I use my pad to talk. I mean, it's just so hard to speak sometimes, and it's very tiring, but she just doesn't seem to understand that. She thinks I'm always giving up too easily, but I try. I promise I do. I can tell she just really wants me to be able to sing again and I don't blame her! I do too! She always tries to get me to say little things, and to practice saying it over and over until I say it without a stutter but I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon. Not with the healing process this slow.

We finally pulled up at the house and I hopped out of the car and skipped to the door as I waited for Jade to unlock it.

"We're back!" Jade yelled once we were inside.

I watched as my mom Cat ran down the stairs and literally threw herself on Jade as she wrapped her legs around her body and her arms around her neck.

"Yay! I missed you!"

Jade gave a smirk as she held onto Cat. "I've only been gone for about 30 minutes."

"I know! But 30 minutes is a long time when you count!" Cat said as she gave Jade a peck on the lips. I watched as Jade carelessly let Cat go so she could fall to her feet before she turned to me.

"How was school Ikenzie!?" She asked with a huge bright smile that made me smile also.

"F,f, fine." I said as I took my jacket off and hung it up.

"Are you hungry!? I baked cookies today! They have blueberries in them! C'mon!" Cat grabbed my hand and started to skip to the kitchen with me running along.

"Here!" She said as she picked one up from the pan and handed it to me. I took a bite and instantly feel in love with the sugary treat.

"Good right!?"

I nodded.

"Here Jadey try one." Cat said as Jade walked into the kitchen.

"No babe, I'm good." Jade said she sat down at the table. "Did you do what I told you too?"

Cat nodded. "They should be on their way home with the eggs and milk now."

"Good." Jade stated as I watched her reach into the small index card box that sat in the middle of the small table and I knew exactly what she was about to make me do.

"Come here Ikenzie; let's go over some of these words." She stated nonchalantly.

I frowned as I flopped down in the chair. I took my backpack off and pulled out my pad and started to type. "Can we please do this later? I'm kind of tired?" I flashed the pad at Jade.

"Alright, tell me clearly that you want to do this later." She crossed her arms.

I sat silently.

"Huh? I don't hear anything?"

I turned away.

"Exactly." She uncrossed her arms and pulled out a card. "Say it."

I sighed as I stared at the card. Doing this made me feel like a retard. "..P, pencil."

She held up another card.

"D, draw."

"See your getting better." She said as she held up another card.

The card read camp. C words are the words that got me the most and half of the time I couldn't even say them at all.

"C,c,c,c,ca,….ca, ca." I took deep breath and tried again. "Ca, c….ca….."

"C'mon Ikenzie, it's camp! Camp! You can say it!" Jade yelled irately.

"Jade." Cat said as she walked over and put a soft hand on her shoulder. "Stop being so hard on her."

Jade wiggled so Cat's hand would fall off of her shoulder before Cat took the card from her and handed it to me.

She put a soft hand on mine. "Camp" She said softly. "Break it down."

I took another breath. "C, ca, ca.-"

"Ca, amp" Cat spoke softly with me looking me in my eyes.

"C, ca, ca,"

"Here, say amp." Cat suggested.

"A, amp."

"Now saw ca."

"Ca."

"Amp." Cat said.

"Am, amp."

"Camp." She said softy again.

"C, c, ca, ca, ca….ca.." I dropped the card and forcefully got up from the table and sped upstairs to my room.

I'll never be able to sing again.

[Trina's POV]

"Here do you want this?" I asked my daughter as I held up her Ipod. She nodded before I walked over and handed it to her.

"How are you feeling?" I asked as I sat on the edge of her bed and put my hand to her head.

She shook her head. "Horrible."

"Do you want some of my perfect Trina's delight tea?" I asked.

She made a face before she cleared it and nodded. "….sure."

I tapped her nose. "My tea is the best right? They should just let me have my own tea shop." I said before I stood up and walked out of her room.

My daughter, November age 11, is always freaking sick! It's starting to annoy me. I always have to stay here and take care of her. I've taken her to the doctor many times and they just said it's really bad allergies. Her father, my husband, passed away about 7 years ago due to a very bad unknown sickness. I mean what the hell kind of doctors don't know what their patients had? They should just make me the doctor. I'd be the best.

Anyways, It was a very devastating moment for the both of us. November, Novie for short, really misses her dad, and I can't lie, I miss my husband. But life goes on right?

I walk into the kitchen and start her tea making sure to put my special ingredients into it that I know she loves before walking it back up to her.

"Here." I said handing it to her. "Drink all of it before it gets cold. I have some errands to run. Do you think you'll be okay until I get back?"

She nodded.

"Do you need anything?"

She shook her head. "No, thank you."

I leaned down and gave her a small kiss on her forehead before I walked out of her room to go and do me some shopping.

[Kaylee's POV]

"Daddy please!" I begged my dad, Beck for $50 so I could buy stuff you know. I'm a girl I need things.

"Kaylee, explain to me what you are trying to buy? I'll just buy it for you."

"I just want the money daddy…pleaseeee."

"Hey!" My dad stopped unpacking as he pointed a finger to me. "I said no. When I say no it means no. No begging Kaylee I mean it."

I sighed.

"Go unpack your room Love. I know you aren't finished."

"Daddy yes I am."

"Really? Let's go see." He said as he turned to walk to my room.

"No!" I stood in front of him. "I just…have some…cleaning to do." I smiled.

He nodded. "Yeah, I didn't think you were finish. Go finish up, we'll talk later."

I rolled my eyes before I started to walk out of my parents room but stopped when I saw my mother's purse. It was open and I took a peek inside before turning my glance back at my dad who walked into their walk-in closet with a box.

In one quick motion I reached my hand into her purse and pulled out a perfect $50 bill that sat in an open zipper.

"Hey, I was just looking for you." My mother, Tori said as she ran into me as I was walking out of her room.

My eyes got wide as I put my hands behind my back. "Hi, yes?"

"What's wrong?" She laughed.

"I…think I saw a bug."

"A bug?" She lifted a brow. "Where?"

"Over there!" I pointed in which she turned to look. That's when I took the opportunity to shove the money in my pocket.

She turned back to me. "I don't see anythi-"

"-Hey I have to finish unpacking okay." I told her as I pushed passed her.

"Well dinner is ready!" She called out but I closed my room door once I made it in.

That was close, but I never gotten caught stealing from her. I steal from my parents all the time. Is it wrong? I don't think so.

They should just keep their stuff out of reach….

[Cat's POV]

The next morning

"Just calm down babe it's okay!" I tried to calm Jade as she ran around our room trying to get herself together.

She shot me a look. "It's not okay! I'm going to be fucking late and it's your fault!"

I sighed. "It's not my fault the alarm clock didn't go off babe. I set it I swear!"

"To 6:00pm! Not A.M!" She screamed. "Today is the only day I can try to get this job! It's my first interview with these people and now I'm going to be late! If I don't get the job because I'm late you're in for it baby girl."

I put my hand to my face. "I'm sorry!"

"You definitely will be." She said as she slipped on her shoes. "Make sure Ikenzie gets to school."

I nodded.

"How do I look?" She opened her arms and turned in a circle as she modeled her outfit for me.

"You look really nice." I smiled in which she did as well.

She walked over to me and crashed her lips into mine before backing away. "I'll see you later."

"Okay. Good luck, be careful I love you!" I shouted as she walked out of our room.

"I love you too Cat." With that she was gone.

Thanks so much for reading! :)

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