disclaimer: I dont own the rights to any of the characters featured in any of Stephenie Meyer's books.

Ode to my Family, Chapter 2

I awoke that morning to a eerie silence.

I was curled up on the sofa, beams of yellow sunlight were streaming through the off-white blinds. I got to my feet and wandered into the kitchen, glancing at the clock as I reached out to open the refrigerator door.

I stopped.

It was 10:30.

With lightening speed I ran into Antony's room and began shaking him awake.

"Anty, babes, wake up. You're late for school!"

He pulled himself slowly out of bed, his eyes slowly fluttered open. "What is it mommy?" he mumbled.

"We've slept in late sweetie, you gotta go get dressed. Now."

He pulled himself out of bed and ran to his drawers. I rushed into my room, pulling my work uniform straight onto my unwashed body. There was no time to shower.

Before I had time to blink I was in the bathroom, scrubbing furiously at my teeth as I tried to drag a brush through my bed-head. I looked nowhere near perfect, but I would have to do.

"Sweetie, you done?" I called to Antony as I grabbed my purse and shoes.

"Yes mum." He replied from the kitchen where he was putting his sneakers on. I shoved mine on as well.

"You good to go?" I asked him, taking 2 apples from the fruit bowl as I did. He nodded, picked up his school bag and walked towards the apartment door.

Once we were on the street, I gave him his apple and walked him to the block where the elementary school was. "Do you need mommy to walk you into school sweetie?" I questioned him.

"No momma, I'm okay to walk from here, its only 3 buildings away!" He insisted.

"Okay baby," I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. "Be safe."

"Will do mommy."

I watched him as he ran the short distance down the street to his school, my mind forcing me to watch him until I was sure he was safe. As he began climbing the steps, I looked down at my watch. Crap, it was 10:55.

I turned on my heels and began to run the kilometer from Antony's school to the local Wal-Mart where I worked. There was really no point in me going really, I was nearly 3 hours late, I would be fired on the spot. No! I have to stay positive I told myself sternly. I forced myself to think if nothing but the pounding on my feet on the sidewalk as I 'sped' towards my destination.

2 minutes later I hit something. I fell, falling almost in slow motion onto the dirty concrete. I stood up, looking at what I had hit as I did.

The face I saw was one I really did not want to see.

I did the only thing I was accustomed to doing in such a situation.

I ran.

* * *

By the time I reached Wal-Mart it was nearing 11:30, I wasn't the fastest runner, not to mention the fall had left my terribly shaken. I silently thanked the heavens that he either hadn't followed me. Heck, he probably didn't even recognize me, thank god.

I paused for breath outside the staff entrance, I was sweaty and disheveled. But there was nothing I could do about that.

I swiped my card and opened the door as quietly as I could, and tried to sneak through it. The door shut silently behind me, and I bumped into something for the second time today.

"Morning Bella." My boss, Terry, sneered. "Not trying to sneak in here late again are you?" His eyebrows raised slightly.

"No sir...I was, Well..." I stuttered, unable to reply. Utterly useless.

"My office, now. You pathetic excuse for an employee."

His words hit me like knives, stabbing, hacking, but telling the absolute truth, I was pathetic, Terry was right. I shuffled along after him, silent.

"Sit." He spat at me as we entered his office. I like a dog, I obeyed.

A moment passed in silence.

"Isabella, you have worked here for how long?"

"11 months." I said, counting back the months in my head.

"And in 11 months, are you aware of the number of times you have been late?" He interrogated, grabbing a file from the drawer of his grubby desk.

"No, sir." I swallowed, this wasn't going to be good.

"In 11 months you have been late a total of 138 times, including today." 138, had it really been that many?! "This is completely unacceptable, I have no other excuse but to fire you. You will receive half of this months pay. Please leave your staff card on my desk as you leave, you have 20 minutes to clean our your locker and exit the building before you are escorted off the premises. Now please get out of my sight."

Oh my god, fired. Again.

I dropped my staff card lightly onto the desk and walked away.

Wanker. Was all that crossed my mind.

Cleaning out my locker took little time at all, as it involved was removing a photo of Antony and myself from the door. I was out of the building before 2 minutes was up.

Great, now what am I going to do? I pondered my possibilities as I stood solitary on the pavement for a few minutes. Before turning on my heels and heading of in the direction of home.

Phew, Chapter 2.

So, for those of you who dont know, the title is a song by the Cranberries. Good song, i recommend a listen.

Anyways, thanks to all the people who have favourited me & this story.

Extra Kudos to my reviewers: A is for Angel, Marian Hood, Jaspermakesmehappy AND catherine-moonlessnight

So, heres the deal, you guys who are reading this, drop a review, and i'l write faster. :)