AN: Another Chapter, RR

Simon crouched down next to Alex.

"Alex we sent her home, when we heard that your parents died, she didn't need to be here." Simon said softly as Alex glared at him.

"Are they really..." Juanita asked unable to say the word.

Simon just nodded, and Juanita started to sob. Abigail and Sonny had always been good to her, they weren't angry at her for lying to Alex in her letters, and they always cared about how she was going.

"Alex, we're going to go home ok?" Simon said delicately. He was internally kicking himself for not considering that after all Alex had been through he would go into such a aggressive state of denial.

"Might as well seeing as YOU SENT MY TUTOR HOME!" Alex screamed at Simon and pushed all books on to floor and stormed out.

He stormed passed Nat in the hallway who the police officer was comforting.

"Stop your crying THEIR NOT DEAD!" Alex yelled at him.

Juanita watched Alex storm out, before she turned to Simon.

"Can I..." Juanita sobbed.

Again Simon just nodded. Sometimes Juanita could get through to Alex when no one else could.

Eventually they made their way to the car, Juanita sat with Nat and Alex in the back seat. She hugged Nat to try and comfort him, and tried to include Alex who just threw him off.

When they got home, Alex was first out of the car and into the apartment. They could here him calling out for his Mom and Dad as they climbed the stairs, trying not to sound bothered when he got no response or couldn't be found.

"Alex," Juanita pleaded as she walked in their door.

"It's ok, Uncle Miles plane just got delayed... they'll be home soon." Alex said brushing of her concern.

"Alex, their dead, they won't be coming home." Juanita said softly.

"You know Juanita, If you were really my friend you wouldn't be trying to make me fall for this stupid joke," Alex said icily before he disappeared up to his room.

Juanita just bit her lip, as Alex's remark stung, she looked around lost and confused, before turning to Simon and Nat.

"I'm going to call my mom," Juanita sobbed through the tears.

Laura arrived half an hour later, tears stained her checks as she walked through the door.

"How are they taking it," She stammered out, looking around seeing Juanita and Nat crying into each others shoulders as they sat on the couch.

"Nat's devestated, he hasn't stopped crying, hasn't really spoken and Alex... well Alex refuses to accept it, and I think that's hurting Nat too." Simon said softly, "I think Nat want's to comfort and be comforted by the only family he has left.

Laura and Simon both went over and comforted Nat, while Juanita went upstairs to talk to Alex.

"Tell me it isn't true, please tell me it's not true," Rosalina burst through the front door crying, Cooper, Qassim, Thomas and David following her in looking just as upset.

They didn't need an answers and Rosalina just started crying harder as started to walk over to Nat.

Alex started coming down the stairs with his helmet and pads on while carrying his skateboard.

"I'm sorry Alex," Rosalina cried seeing him.

"You can all go home! THEIR NOT DEAD! THIS IS JUST SOME STUPID JOKE!" Alex yelled angrily before brushing roughly past everyone who tried to hug and left the apartment to go skating.

Juanita came down the stairs looking frustrated and upset.

Laura looked at Juanita sadly.

"Give him a little space," was all she could say, she didn't know if it was a particularly good idea to leave Alex alone in case he did acknowledge it, but they all new how stubborn he was.

It was 3 hours later, Jesse had arrived, as had John... Alex burst into the apartment, looking somewhat happy, he had enjoyed his skate.

"GO HOME!" He shouted angrily upon seeing them.

Jesse walked quickly over crying trying to give Alex a hug, but Alex just forcefully pushed her away before he stormed up to his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Why won't he believe us," Nat sobbed, he wasn't sure what hurt worse, the fact that his parents were gone, or that how badly Alex was taking it.

"I don't think anyone in Alex's shoes would want to admit it. He's been through so much, he's trying so hard to get better, he's not going to let his world crumble around his ears." Simon said softly.

"What do we do?" Rosalina asked sniffing heavily.

"I don't know, he needs to admit it, it's going to eat away him big time, and he needs to say goodbye." Simon said softly.

John disappeared upstairs an hour later, Alex was laying on his bed quietly reading, well pretending to. John could see he was putting all his energy into pretending nothing had happened, simply because the book Alexs was "Reading" was upside down.

"Hey Alex, how are you doing?" John asked softly trying to hide how upset he was.

"I'm sick of this stupid joke. It's not funny." Alex growled.

"How do you know it's a Joke," John asked softly, but trying to sound patronizing.

"I just do," Alex glared at him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" John asked softly.

"No," Alex growled.

"Ok, if you need me I'll be downstairs ok?" John asked.

John slowly walked out and Alex didn't so much as bat an eyelid.

Alex eventually just went to sleep, Laura coaxed Nat into bed so he could sleep as well, but in the end he just cried himself to sleep.

Alex woke up and was out the door on his way to school before anyone even realized it, the next morning.

Nat got even more upset about this, just wishing that his brother would accept this.

Mr Johnston was stunned beyond belief when he walked into class and saw Alex at his desk.

"Alex...?" He asked concerned.

"Where's my tutor," Alex growled

"She didn't come into today, we didn't expect you would either." Mr Johnston said worried.

"WELL GET HER IN HERE!" Alex demanded angrily.

Mr Johnston, wasn't sure what to do, he knew Alex really struggled even with the help of tutor, but he shouldn't be here.

"Alex what about your parents," Mr Johnston said delicately.

"THEIR NOT DEAD! IT'S JUST A STUPID DUMB JOKE!" Alex yelled at him.

His classmates just looked at him concerned they had all seen and heard about it on the news.