I woke up early in the morning. It wasn't normal for me to do that. I mean I could have the usual attack of the munchies if I skip lunch or something and wake up in the middle of the night to make a sandwich. But I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and that was a different type of early. The one type of earlier that I can't do, unless someone would take some decency to wake me up for it.

I looked around and saw my dad, drooling in his sleep. Makes me feel like it was like old times when we were a family-mom would working, dad would be tired, me, Darwin, and Anais would be playing outside; a family. At least, back then it was a family. This was just a reminder of what I used to have.

Speaking of looking around, I saw Anais sleeping, using her ears as pillows, sleeping on the edge of the couch. Made me smile. That was pure innocence.

I went over to the closet and pulled out the nearest blanket and put it on Anais. It may be a bit more than an hour till we are suppose to wake up, but why not enjoy those last minutes of sleep. She deserved it.

My back was acing, even if sleeping on the floor wasn't bad enough.

I twisted it as far as I could and heard a loud crack. For a moment there, I thought I might have woken them up. I checked, and I didn't.

Soon, my head was starting to hurt, so I went to the kitchen to get some aspirin. I grabbed two small pills and got a glass of water and drank with them.

Sometimes it helps, but sometimes it lags time.

I decided that maybe some fresh air would do me some good.

I went out and saw the sunset. I've never actually done that before.

"Quite a beauty, ain't it?" I looked over and saw that it was Mr. Robinson, cutting his grass. I never knew what were the names of those big scissors they use.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Yep," he said, trying to get me to carry on the conversations. I couldn't do that since we didn't really talk as friendly neighbors should-and I didn't know what to say. Despite this being a first, I didn't what or why he would bother to talk to me.

"You know, that incident at night really shook some people."

"Shook me too."

"Yeah-but did you know that a couple years back there was a child molester scare? That caused many parents to watch their child very carefully and questioned people around them if they were one of them. Now this. I guess people are going to point fingers at your mother, you know. And they won't take kindly to that."

"What can I do about it?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." That really made me think. "You don't want to get in trouble or anything. And they might think she may have did things to you as well, and that you repress your memories from it."

That got me thinking. Then he threw something at me. It was right in front of me, so I picked it up and it was a book.

I looked back at him, but he wasn't there anymore.

The book was a bit light-paperback, maybe. The book was something else; it was rapped around paper, with a knot, making a plus sign. I went back in.

I got ready for school-well, it wasn't much, considering it to be the last day and all. I woke Anais up at the right time, I even made her some cereal-mainly because that was the only thing I was able to make without blowing up the oven or creating something from the microwave.

Looking back in life, it made me think about how I thought people were going to react.

Life is complicated, but it's the way you react to something that really determines the person you are.

I didn't react to them. I just stood silent, looking back at what was going on. Now? Now, there's no possible way out of this. I never thought of going any further than this.

I decided not to let this bother me and just get ready for school.

I woke up Anais and told her to get ready.

She looked over at the kitchen and saw I made some cereal for her. This was a shock to her-the cereal was not mutated or destroyed in any way.

"Did you make that?"

"...yeah. I know its just cereal, but you know how I can be around things."

"Are you sure you made that?"

"Yes, I opened the box of cereal, grabbed a nearby (clean) bowl, set it on the table, went to the fridge, got milk, turned and opened the cap, open the box of cereal, poured some in there, then poured the milk in the bowl, closed the box and return the milk carton's cap, put the milk back, and cereal box back. I did make it." She got me annoyed by this, and the rest of it was unnecessary-I mean, what do you what to prove that you made some cereal?

"Okay, just checking. I just haven't really seen you make food before."

I knew she was right. "Yeah," I said, "but maybe you try to believe me."

"Okay." She later went over and hugged me. I didn't want to ask why, but she said that she missed mom already. There's no point in bursting a young girl hope for mommy to come back. No point.

We waited at the bus stop after breakfast. I left a note for dad to let him know we were going to school, just in case he forgets. Anais got some tape and put the note to his head. Seemed a little funny, but it was very necessary.

This was actually the first time we would go to school without Darwin. He's never been sick or anything like that. He would always be by our side, no matter what. He was a true friend. Now, what do we call him?

The bus came and opened the door for us.

Anais and I sat close to the door. We didn't look who was behind. Nor did we want to start talking to them. It's a personal issue they shouldn't get involved in. They weren't our family. And it didn't concern them. Nor should it.

We drove off and waited silently for school. It was the last day, so this was just gonna going to be one day for us. One long day.

I saw some of the things that were written on the seat behind the driver: SCHOOL IS FOR CHUMPS! and NERDS 4-EVA!

I think I had a clue for who that was from.

We stopped by the last house before we went to school. The house was Penny Fitzgerald's. People knew I had a crush and all, but for today, I didn't even want to look at her.

Penny was waiting for the bus, but the minute I saw her I turned away and looked out the window. Anais did the same thing since she doesn't want to talk to anybody.

Penny walked past me, but Anais turned at me a bit surprised. I didn't really pay much attention to that. I was looking over at the neighbors' house; the man was hitting something with an ax. I thought he was chopping wood, maybe. It was strange to me since it was June, but then I remembered that people will use anything to batch up the barbecue grill for some good ol' American cheeseburgers and hot dogs with ketchup and/or mustard with mayo or relish (for some people).

I turned to Anais and she whispered to my ear if I felt it.

"Felt what?"

"Penny touched your shoulder for a good amount of time and you didn't even notice it."

"So?"

So? Buddy, this is the girl you have had a crush on since the first day you met her in preschool, probably when you were still in a diaper. How can your response be "So?", Anais's eyes were telling me. I could tell what she was thinking since it was Penny; Penny Fitzgerald, the girl I'd say we were made for each other.

"When people love each other they would know who it is, whether or not they see or hear them. One touch is all it takes."

I thought about it. She was right.

If Cinderella and the Prince never touched hands or see into each others eyes, how would they know they really connect. I shy away from Penny, barely looking into her eyes. If Anais is right about Penny touching my shoulder is right, maybe we're not mean for each.

Maybe.

We were dropped off as planned. Anais and I went out first, but she seemed to rush through. She was more concerned about getting publicized by her peers. For me, I just wanted this day to end.

I went straight to the doors and went through the hallways, heading over to Miss Simian for about 1 hour to get my report card, know whether or not I have to go to summer school, and then leave.

On the way, William was flying over me. He didn't say anything, so I let him slide (but, for a flying eyeball, he can really give me the creeps).

Then Tina walked past me. I didn't bother looking at her, but she already gave me this negative energy (which is what Mr. Small says).

Tobias later went by me.

"Hey dude."

"Hey," I said, trying not to start conversation.

"How's it going?"

"Okay."

"You nervous for grades?"

"Nope."

"Man, I am. I don't know whether or not my athletic skills will get me far on my grades," (What athletic skills? I thought) he said.

"You never know, man."

"You're right." Soon he jogged right in front of me and got to Miss. Simian's classroom before me.

I got to the door, and I was about to open it until I was stopped by Jamie. This I didn't need.

"How's things?"

"Fine, what's it to you?"

"Not much. Just asking."

"Thanks for asking," I said, sarcastically.

"You know, I don't have parents. I'm raised by two guardians, one dog and one fox. Man, was that a doozie. I mean look at me, what am I suppose to be?"

"I don't know," I said, not looking at her, "but you can be whatever you want; it's a free country."

"Yeah, but you're lucky though. You have a pink rabbit and a blue cat for parents, while instead of being mixed, you were settled as being a normal blue cat."

"What's your point?" I said, already breaking my no-talking-to-anyone-since-you-are-having-a-family -disaster-and-they-won't-understand rule.

"Be thankful for what you got. Most people don't have a lot. I used to be bullied for being different. Then I took charge and made sure no one messed with me." She then punched me in the shoulder. It wasn't hard or hurtful. It was more like a best friend thing you do with a person you know you have great respect for and are like family. "I gotta go."

I turned, "Are you going to stay?"

She turned to me and said, "Why? I already know I'm going to summer school. But we should talk sometime. Later." She left, running through the hallway.

I went to the side of the door and saw that we had about 5 minutes until we had to go inside. No use going out when I'm already here.

I went by the wall and waited.

Time passed, but seemed like seconds were slowing down even more.

I looked to my right and saw no one entering the school. I was soon sitting, rest my back against the wall. I looked to my left and saw Teri. I'll tell, she scared me so much that I froze for a while.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi," I said.

"Do you mind if I sit down with you?"

"Not at all." She sat next to me and we just sat there doing nothing.

"How are you?" she asked.

"Fine. You?"

"Fine." She said the same respond to me and that already made think about her.

"You nervous about grades?"

"No. I get well enough grades to pass." I know for a fact that she gets straight A's and she's always modest about everything. "You?"

"So far it could be pass or fail for me now."

"That's good. With just some luck you could pass."

"'Some luck' is all we need sometimes, right?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

"Penny wanted to ask you something."

I thought she was leading to something else. "Did she?"

"Yeah, she wanted me to ask you what you thought of her."

I looked down and started to think. For a moment I just wanted to stall and not answer that question. But it seemed 'luck' wouldn't let me.

"I guess she's...okay."

"Okay?"

"I don't really know how to answer that."

"How about 'Penny is the sweetest and nicest girl of all and anyone around her is the luckiest person, ever?'"

"If it works for her then okay."

"Okay, but can I ask you something?"

Oh god, I thought.

"If it's not too much trouble."

"Not at all."

"Do you like Penny?"

"I guess."

"I mean like Penny." At that moment I just thought about being completely brain dead.

"What's the difference?"

"Do you love her?"

"I don't know. I barely know her, let alone have any sign of contact with her. I mean, I know Carrie better than her and I don't even think of her that way."

"Then why did you have a crush on her?"

"I don't know. Lust, maybe," I said, holding my hands together. She put her hand on mine. She used her other hand and grabbed me by the cheek. She looked at me, square in the eye.

"Penny doesn't love you." Before I could have a chance to speak, she said, "I do.' I was shocked. "From the first moment I saw you, I felt something. You were looking at Penny and she and I were becoming friends. I asked her a favor. I told her if she can try to talk to you so you could say good things about me, She kept that promise for nearly a decade.

"I then learned she started to feel bad for lying to you. She told me that she didn't know how she was able to last this long. Penny then said that maybe she actually had feelings for you.

"I knew for a fact that I was gonna lose you and-"

"Wait! What?" I didn't know what was going on. "Teri, I even said I thought she was okay and you were going to give her a complement from me that wasn't even going to be true."

"Well you didn't pass by me on the bus so I was gonna ask you-"

"And the compliment! What was that all about?"

"It was a bit of test to see if you still loved-"

"But why? Why do you give yourself up like that?"

"Gumball...because I love you."

"How? You even slapped me when I offended you for thinking you might have been a boy! How can you love someone for that?"

"Because-" I was soon saved by the bell and we had to go inside. She said, "Because I felt something you didn't felt."

I just went in, feeling that I was someone that I was walking on and she was okay with that.

I saw Miss Simian there and she quickly said, "Report to the Principal's Office, Watterson."

"What? Why?"

"It's for your own good. Now shut up and don't be a loser like...never mind, just go."

"But-"

"GO!"

I was a bit scared by her, but I did what I had to do. I soon walked past Penny. She stood frozen. I walked by her, not even taking a second glance.

Principal Brown was waiting for me in his office. I knocked and I saw him there, with two police officers. One of them was the same guy who helped me from my house last night.

I ask, "What's going on?"

He told me to take a seat, so I did.

"Mr. Watterson, I have to level with you. The police officers have informed me that there has been an incident."

"Of what?"

One of them brought over an envelope, the same size from the CPS guy. Principal Brown only took one photo out and placed the others beside his desk. He then showed me the photo. "Your brother, Darwin, has been murdered. He was found dead in his cell block in the morning. His fins were stabbed off by a ballpoint pen. He was soon intoxicated when he was stabbed in the stomach and all the ink flowed through his open wounds, soon through his eyes and mouth. His neck was twisted and soon cracked by getting his head stuck through the metal bars. They have indicated that it was also the reason, when he was being bashed across the walls, that his skin had ripped open, leaving no traces of any bones left in his body. From previous medical records they have found out that he did have bones, but were very little, but strong. Any bones he had were soon taken. Along with that, he was soon beaten to death a lead pipe, and worse, they found him without his face. They even found 15 different traces of blood, all from different people. One of them was yours. Now, you're innocent since they have informed me, from an eye witness, Mr, Robinson, that you were him when it had happened between 5:20 to 5:25. We have calculated that if you were able to get to the station walking and/or using a car, you still wouldn't have been able to be at the time with Mr. Robinson. He also claims that you barely woke up. But that's not why we called you here. We also found out that your mother, Nicole, had escaped."

I was shocked. Before I could even ask them anything, let along breathe, a gunshot was heard.

The two officers prepared themselves with their weapons and aimed at the door. Before any action could be taken, 5 more bullets were shot. One of them left to check outside. I fell and leaned myself to the door when it closed.

After a moment, we heard the officer screaming and yelling, wallowing in pain. I even heard a hard machine noise, kind of like a chainsaw.

Principal Brown went over to the corner and pulled the alarm. It was the Lockdown one. The siren sounded like the ones for small towns to alert people for major natural disasters (we were a small town, but it was unlikely we would have a natural disaster).

I waited for something, but I was lost. Soon I saw the officer pointing his gun towards the door, visible from the glass, he could see the shooter. He prepared to shoot and shot fired. I was a bit relief when I heard the gunshot, but I saw his expression. He was shocked. I didn't know why until he was shot in the chest. It was like he was shot by a double barrel shotgun. Then I turned to Principal Brown and he quickly grabbed the gun, but he was shot as well. I closed my mouth and eyes, but I knew that his blood went on me. After a moment of silence, I looked over and nothing.

Then I looked up and there it was, the shooter.

It looked at me, with a mask, resembling a skull, but in the middle of the mask showed a symbol. I didn't know what.

The shooter just looked at me. I looked back, scared and frighten.

The shooter pulled out a bottle, in it was a piece of cloth. I was sure it was gonna burn me. It didn't.

I closed my eyes when I thought the shooter was gonna burn me into a crisp, but when I opened them, the shooter had thrown it to the desk, burning the envelope and photos.

I got up and opened the door. I was able to do it, but I walked away, scared-traumatized, maybe-and slow. It seemed like the longest walk of my life and I went out by the front entrance.

It turned out that I came out, just in time for the authorities to go in and do their jobs. They tried to help me, but I soon fainted to the floor. They caught me, but I knew that this was far from over.