A/N

WOW! That's a lot of reviews. This was more of a hit than I thought it would be. So thanks for the reviews! I was trying to figure out how to do the first chapter justice but I don't know if this chapter will.

Chapter 2

Every Ray of Sun

I woke up slowly. A bright sun fell through my window making me really hot. I wished I could stay in my bead all day. It had been three day's since I had given my report. Ever since then, even though he did not approve, my dad let me stay home from school. I had spent that time by the creek in the woods behind my house.

The trees there were old, their leaves reaching up to the sun, gathering every ray of sun they could. The dirt had been cool between my bare toes and a warm fall breeze blew softly. I had gone there all the time when mom was in the hospital. It had been where Zach had found me multiple times.

Stupid Bastard. I thought turning over. Zach had tried to call me several time but I didn't want to hear him complain about how boring I was or tell me what was wrong with me. I felt like punching his face in.

I rubbed my crusty eyes and felt my little Dachshund Ray jumped up on me, yipping and licking my face. "Ray." I groaned, laughing. I pulled my orange and white bedspread over my head. Ray somehow wiggled under the covers and kept on licking me.

"Ugg, ok, ok, I'll get up.' I said and threw the covers off myself. I ran down the stairs. "DAD?" I called.

Usually he was in the kitchen reading the paper and drinking his coffee. Than Mom would come down and we'd make breakfast together. Until mom got sick. She'd be so tired and weak. Spending lots of time at the hospital.

But today the kitchen was empty. No dancing Mom at the stove singing to the radio. No Dad laughing at the bar. But like I said, the kitchen was empty. Dad had been there though. The kitchen smell faintly of coffee and Dad's usual coffee cup was in the sink along with a half-eaten banana turning brown. Nasty.

I let Ray out and then turned to the kitchen. I cooked some quick bacon and poured myself a cup of juice. As I put the carton back in the fridge I noticed the note on it. From Dad.

Morning Sweetie,

Sorry but I had to leave early for work this morning.

Business you know. You know the drill. I will be home around Wednesday. Maybe later.

Love, Dad

It was that he went on these abrupt business trips that bothered me. He'd come and go every two weeks. He had been working even more since Mom died. I wondered if it was because I looked a lot like her and I reminded him to much of her.

I got up and let Ray in before going upstairs and pulling on my workout clothes. 10 minutes later I was kickboxing in the basement. I used to do ballet but that was boring to me and Bex had introduced me to kickboxing. Sometimes I still did practice my ballet. Good for balance and all that.

I had my music full blast in the stereo system and I was already sweating and breathing hard. I imagined the bag as Zach's and Winter's faces. It felt good. Ray curled up on the rug in front of the plasma oblivious to the blaring music.

After about an hour of kickboxing I ran up the stairs hearing a knock on the door. I wasn't exactly presentable so I threw a sweatshirt over it as I went to open the door, Ray at my heels. I hoped it was not Zach. That was the last thing I needed.

I unlocked the door. A man in about his50's was at the door and did not look to happy with my current appearance. "Sorry to bother you miss, but can you tell us where house 440 is?" he asked in a heavy German accent, gesturing behind him to the car.

I stepped out onto the porch and grabbed Ray before he got away. "Um, 440? That's just a couple houses down." I said pointing.

"Thank you Miss." The man said. I nodded and turned away, but not before I saw the boy in the backseat of the car staring at me with a strange look on his face. I ignored that and walked inside.

I gave myself a couple hours rest before I went running. In that time I finished my homework and started several loads of laundry. This kept my mind busy so I wasn't thinking about mom, dad or Zach. Now I was splayed across my bedroom floor, Ray on my bed. My iPod played in my ears causing me to mouth the words.

I wondered how I did on my paper. Mr. Whitt better give me a good grade or all those tears and words were worthless. Everything in that paper was true to me. Now I hated going to the store or that park and seeing couples everywhere. I couldn't even go to the park to run without seeing some people in love. I thought about how easily love could be torn. Like my mom and dad. Dad hasn.t been the same since mom died. I missed the old dad. I missed the old days. Where everything had a plan and a place. Not chaotic or lonely. Where I was able to trust Zach and not feel hurt. I sighed.

I got up and put on my running shoes. Running would clear my mind too.

It was a beautiful fall day in October. The breeze blew and carried the scent of already decaying leaves from the woods. There was freshly mown grass in there too. Mrs. Wilson's house had the smell of apple pie coming out of the open windows. Just like moms.

I started running. As I passed 440 I noticed a moving truck. 440 had been for sale forever. I wondered who would want to move here to my small town outside of Lincoln. Guess they did. As I passed I felt like someone or something was watching me. I shook it off and continued running.

My running path included the entire town of Pleasant Dale mostly when I felt up to it. Like today for example. I ran and ran and ran. It felt so good. My running music urged me on. Yes, I listen to a lot of music. Keeps my mind busy and no focusing on one thing.

I finally circled back to my street. I looked down at my iPod not watching where I was going. The next thing I knew I was on the ground my head throbbing. "Entschhuligung. Bist du in Ordung? Lass mich dir helfen." (Sorry. Are you alright? Let me help you.) Came a voice from above me.

"What?" I said shaking my head and sitting up.

"Sorry, are you alright?" the voice asked again. I shook my head again and looked to my side where I felt a hand on my back supporting me. The voice was defiantly German I knew that. Since I took German and Latin at school.

I look up. Next to me is that boy from the car. He had blond hair that kept getting in his eyes and dark chocolate brown eyes. 'Are you alright?" he asked again.

I nodded. The boy pulled me up. "Sorry for running into you." I said feeling the back of my head.

"That ok, are you sure you're alright?" He asked stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Very, thank you." I looked up at him a little before bending down to retrieve my iPod.

"I'm Flynn." He said.

"Cammie." I lightly shook his hand.

"So did you move here from Germany?" I asked suddenly feeling self-conscious about being sweaty and disgusting.

"Yea lived there for my entire life." Flynn said. I nodded. "That was my father you talked to by the way. I recognize you from the house down there." He said pointing. He laughed at the look on my face. "Not like that, I'm no stalker." He said.

I smiled.

"I have to go, I'll see you later.' He said when a call came from inside the house. In German of course. Something about a box and a book.

"Just so you know my dad might invite you all over for dinner some night. He has this thing for inviting new people on the street for dinner." I called after him.

Flynn laughed. "wunderbar! See you!" I turned and ran back down the street. As I open the door to the house I noticed Zach's car sitting up on the hill. He had defiantly seen me and Flynn. This could get interesting.

A/N

Yea, I don't think this did the last chapter justice. Oh Well. What do you think of Flynn? All the German exchange students just left to go back home yesterday and so I decided to have Flynn come into the story!

wunderbar means wonderful in German (I think).