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Can't Buy Trust
Topic Started: Dec 16 2007, 01:18 AM (195 Views)
DayDreamer
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yeah i love jonas brothers..got a problem
A/N: okay, i'm posting it chapter by chapter again, hate me if you want.



Chapter One

     If you’re one of those spoiled little rich kids who goes out and does what ever you want and knows you won't get in trouble for it, well then this should show you the truth. If you’re not but you absolutely hate those kids, then you may take humor this story, so sit down and enjoy.

*****

     Travis, Annie and Charlotte Johnson had always gotten what they wanted, and done what ever they wanted with out their mother knowing.
     Travis who, as a seventeen-year-old and the oldest child in his mother's house hold, should have been watching his little sisters was instead out stealing from the local department stores all over California. Now while Travis did this, fifteen-year-old Annie was at her boyfriend's best friends house having sex with him and not watching Charlotte who was only two and who also happened to be sitting in the living room of that very house watching TV.
     Charlotte was the quietest of all these children; she was also the only adopted Johnson child. She had never meet her oldest brother, Mark who was twenty-four and lived in New Hampshire with the children's father, Eric. Now you may be wondering, where was the mother all this time, and the answer is quiet simple. Marilyn was at work, she owns a bed and breakfast inn, so she was totally oblivious to all of this happening and to the fact that Charlotte has been with both of her older siblings and now knows exactly what is going on.

*****

     "Charlotte, Annie, Travis I'm home," Marilyn called up the stairs as she entered the house.
     "Hey mum what up?" Travis asked heading into the kitchen.
     "Where are your sisters?" Marilyn asked "Didn't I ask you to watch Charlotte?"
     "Annie offered to watch Charlotte so that I could go hang out with my friends, where she is I have no clue," Travis said leaving the room.
     Marilyn was upset, she had hoped to come home and take her kids out to dinner tonight but now she would have to call Annie and ask what time she would be back with Charlotte.

*****

     Annie had told Charlotte that if anyone called her on her cell phone to answer. Charlotte was watching Vh1 when Annie's cell rang.
     "Hello," Charlotte said.
     "Charlotte hunny, it's mommy, can you put your sister on the phone for a minute I need to ask her a question."
     "She's in the bathroom mommy, hold on I'll go get her," Charlotte put down the phone and slid of the couch and headed to the bedroom her sister was in.
     Making a fist she banged on the door screaming, "Annie mommy is on the cell phone. She needs to talk to you, I told her you were in the bathroom so hurry up."
     With that Charlotte ran back to the phone "She's on her way mommy."
     "Thank you hunny." No sooner had she said that then Annie had walked out of the bedroom fully dressed and snatched up the phone.
     "Hey mom what's up?"
     "I was just wondering when you plan on having your little sister home,"
     "Oh we're on our way right now," lowering the phone slightly Annie talked to Charlotte "Go get your sweater we're leaving."
     "Ok well when you get home we're going out to eat," Marilyn said "Bye hunny love you."
     Annie hung up without answering her mother, and then left the house she was in without even saying any good-byes.

*****

     Travis went upstairs to his room, he had just heard that they were going out to eat tonight and that his sisters were coming home but he wanted to try and find out what Annie was out doing, and he knew the best way to do this was to chat with his best friend and top spy, Dan Anderson. Travis signed on as T-Man1988 and immediately saw the screen name he was looking for Dan-the-Man.
     T-Man1988 (6:14pm): hey did you see my sisters today
     Dan-the-Man (6:15pm): so glad you asked as a matter of fact I did see them and, brace yourself, they were headed toward Johnny Martinson’s house
     T-Man1988 (6:17pm): damn it I hate that jackass, why would she be going to his house?
     Dan-the-Man (6:19pm): more importantly though is the fact that she is dating Ryan and now she is running all over the place to see other guys, oh and man you might want to know what her and Ryan have been doing
     T-Man1988 (6:22): what man tell me I need to know so I have black mail on her incase she attempts to tell mom that I wasn't watching Charlotte because I was out stealing
     Dan-the-Man (6:24pm): well according to some people they have been fooling around together and he wasn't her first so my guess is that she was over Johnny's house today for the same reason
     T-Man1988 (6:25pm): what a slut I can't believe she would do that, hey man she just got home and she is probable going to kick me off
     Sure enough Annie sent Travis a message under NotanAngel, telling Travis to get off because their mother wanted to leave now. Travis signed off with the great feeling that even if Annie did open her mouth, what she was doing was three times worse.


Comment Thread: http://s15.zetaboards.com/xwritersdreamx/topic/6503116/
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DayDreamer
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yeah i love jonas brothers..got a problem
Chapter Two

     As soon as Annie got home from dinner she went straight to her computer and signed on. Her buddy list was empty except for two people, her oldest brother, Mark, Dogman81, and her boyfriend, MyRulesOnly91. Annie immediately sent and instant message to Mark.
     NotAnAngel 8:46pm): hey long time no talk big bro, so how's life in the icebox of a state you live in
     Dogman81 (8:48pm): not to bad how is it in that oven of a state you live in
     NotanAngel (8:49pm): its awesome not a snow flake on the ground and I can still wear shorts while you snow bunnies are stuck in pants and sweaters. How's dad?
     Dogman81 (8:52pm): he's fine, he is actually over in Australia on business, he'll be home some time tomorrow, I could have gone, but I'm kind of busy trying to open up my own veterinarian office, I hate working under other people, how's everyone there?
     NotanAngel (8:54pm): not to bad, Charlotte is getting her first computer tomorrow but she can't have any internet till mum thinks she's ready, and mum has been working later lately, as for Travis I have no clue he only talks to me when he wants me to take his turn at watching Charlotte, and I'm doing great.
     Dogman81 (8:56pm): well if he comes on and I'm still on I'll talk to him about that, he shouldn't be ignoring you like that, hey don't you guys have a bed time of 9:00 on school nights?
     NotanAngel (8:58pm):oh ya all of us except Travis cause he's seventeen but hey talk to ya later bye
     Annie signed off and got ready for bed. The whole time she was on Ryan had been trying to send her messages but she had ignored him. Annie was planning on dumping him tomorrow at school, because if she was honest to her self she really didn't love him at all. She crawled into bed and fell into a deep nights sleep.

*****

     Travis woke up at 6:30am, to late to check his e-mail and chat with his friends before school. He quickly got dressed and ran down stairs, Annie was already gone and Charlotte was sitting at the table eating a pop tart, his mother was at the fridge.
     "Travis drop your sister off at her day care today will you, Annie said it was your turn since she watched Charlotte last night," Marilyn said walking out of the kitchen, grabbing her brief case and heading out the door.
     "All right let's go kiddo" Travis said grabbing his bag and helping Charlotte get her bag on.
     Charlotte went to an advanced kids day care, she could already spell, count and she could almost read, Dr.Suess was no problem for her, and she was going to turn three in two days, so she was pretty advanced for a two year old.
     After dropping Charlotte off at school Travis only had five minutes to get himself safely in school so that he wouldn't be late for attendance. Once attendance was taken he didn't care anymore, he only stayed in school so that his mother wouldn't get any calls from his stupid teachers. All of his classes were a drag except for gym but that was only because he got to go outside into the fresh air. Travis was just thankful that he had made it to a grade that Mark didn't make it to when he lived in California.
     Their parents had gotten divorced eleven years ago when Mark was thirteen, Travis was six, Annie was four and Charlotte had not been adopted yet. So when Travis got to middle school all the teachers expected him to be just like Mark, Annie should be happy that Travis had changed the expectations that came with their last name. Although he was sure the teachers would get a surprise when Charlotte finally hit these grades.
     He meet up with Dan and the rest of his friends in their usual meeting spot, and the day began.

*****

     When one o'clock rolled around Charlotte left the day care pretending to belong to another family, as soon as she made it outside she made a break for home. She did this everyday, and then as soon as two o’clock rolled around she would run back just in time to meet up with who ever was in charge of watching her for the rest of the day. Today was different though, usually she just went home and watched T.V but now she had a computer, she had watched her mom set it up this morning, and she knew how to set up an online screen name and she knew the password her mother had made up to keep her offline until she thought Charlotte was 'ready' for the internet.
     Charlotte set up her own screen name DarkPrincess'03, and immediately signed on. Knowing that you could only instant message if you knew someone she joined a chat room. After about two minutes she got and instant message from another member of the chat room she was in.
     LOTRfan#1(1:20pm): hey a/s/l
     DarkPrincess’03 (1:21pm): what does that mean
     LOTRfan#1(1:22pm): age/sex/location duh
     DarkPrincess’03 (1:22pm): oh 3/f/cali
     LOTRfan#1(1:23pm): your only three are you kidding me
     DarkPrincess’03 (1:24pm):I am not kidding, how old are you
     LOTRfan#1(1:25pm): I'm ten about to be eleven I'm a girl and I live
in Vermont, in case you don't know that is next to New Hampshire
     DarkPrincess’03 (1:26pm):of course I know where that is my father lives in New Hampshire, my sister calls him and my oldest brother snow bunnies and they ask us how life is in the oven
     LOTRfan#1(1:29pm): oh your parents are divorced that must really stink, my parents are together but you have siblings and I don't so you're kind of lucky
     DarkPrincess’03 (2:01pm): well they aren't really my siblings or my parents I was adopted from Italy when my real parents were killed and I've never even met my 'dad' or my oldest 'brother' but I know my big 'sister' Annie and my big 'brother' Travis
     LOTRfan#1(2:03pm): wow your life is like a crazy soap opera or one of those crazy lifetime movies my mum watches, the ones were the kid goes all psycho cause they were never told that they were adopted so they had to snoop for answers to who they really are
     DarkPrincess’03 (2:06pm): this is all very interesting but I have to go, I'm supposed to be at daycare but I skipped out to come online for a little while, talk to you later
     With that Charlotte signed off went down stairs, grabbed something to eat, and headed back to daycare. She reached the daycare just as Travis walked around the corner with his pals, Dan, Cameron, and Jenna A.K.A the Queen of Five Finger Discounts.
     "Hey my princess of the Mafia," Jenna called running up to Charlotte and scooping her into a bear hug.
     Jenna was the only person, other then family members, who was allowed to huge Charlotte. The nickname was a sort of joke; Charlotte's real father and mother had been killed while working for the Italian Mafia on top-secret business.
     "Hey Charlotte, listen since you’re with me today you have to be really sneaky, because we're going down to the main mall to get some cool new stuff," Travis said.
     "Travis you know no one ever notices little kids especially innocent and sweet little girls like your sister, or so they think," Dan said.
     This was true; every time Charlotte went to the mall with Travis she managed to not be seen until they need her. The plan was always the same, when Travis and his friends were ready to leave Charlotte had to start to cry so that she could distract the guards while Dan toyed with the alarm systems and Jenna, or Cameron, depending on who had the goods, left. Then when everything was over Travis would come over and apologize to the guard for his sister distracting him from his job and then it would all be over and no one would be the wiser to what had just happened right under their very noses.

*****

     Meanwhile Annie had just finished dumping Ryan and now all the guys were after her again. Everyone wanted to date her because they knew she could give them the good time they were really after. All those boys were the same, they expected her to belong to them and she could not commit herself like that, she had to have a little fun in her life and boyfriends were only fun for so long. Now if she ever found a boy she really liked then she would stop what she was doing and commit herself totally and completely to him, but she didn't she that occurring any time soon.
     Annie had nothing to do for the rest of the day so she headed home and Johnny was right behind her. After awhile it became harder and harder for Annie to ignore the fact that he was following her like a sick puppy dog, apparently one night just wasn't good enough for him.
     "Hey Johnny, want to hang out at my house?" she asked him turning around.
     He nodded eagerly, Annie lead him to her house then to her room. She decided that doing it one more time might make him leave her alone.
     'Here it goes' she thought




Chapter Three

     All of the children were in the sitting room, Johnny had been sent home and Marilyn was in the kitchen on the phone. She still couldn't believe what her children had all been up to, and if someone had just told her she wouldn't believe it, but she had seen it with her own eyes. Charlotte was the only one who hadn't done anything to severe; she had just done what her big brother had told her to. Finally some one picked up on the other end
     "Hello this is Eric Johnson," Marilyn heard the familiar voice of her ex-husband say.
     "Oh Eric thank God your home, I have something to tell you and you better be sitting down your not going to believe what your hearing.'
     "Marilyn what's going on?" Eric asked he could hear the worry in her voice.
     "The kids, Travis and Annie anyway, are doing things that are making it so that they can't stay here anymore or I will lose my mind, or Travis will go to jail and Annie will end up pregnant and Charlotte will know this all and won't tell me," Marilyn ranted on.
     "What are you talking about?"
     "Eric, Travis is stealing, he got caught today, and he is taking Charlotte with him and she isn't telling me and on top of all that Annie is having sex and I caught her today. Eric what am I going to do, I can' t handle them any more."
     "Send them to live here with Mark and me, I'll keep them out of trouble, they really can't get into a lot of trouble up here in New Hampshire, well not like you can in California anyway."
     "Oh Eric would you take them, I know they'll hate it but it would keep them out of trouble and you would be able to bond with them."
     "Of course, listen I need to go I'll talk to you later, bye."
     Eric hung up before Marilyn could even say bye back. Now all she had to do was tell the kids and try to avoid them blowing up. She would tell them that it was just for a little while and that they could always call her if they need her or if they wanted to come home and she would come get them immediately.
     Marilyn headed back into the sitting room and sat down of a chair facing the couch that her three youngest children sat on. She could not believe she was going to send them all the way to New Hampshire, but she also knew that this was important for their own good.
     "Kids I just got off the phone with your father and he thinks that you should all go and live with him and your brother for a little while," Marilyn said.
     "Mom how could you do this to us, it is like freezing up their and what about all of our friends and besides that we don't even know dad or Mark and I won't know anyone," Annie complained.
     "Annie please, I don't want to hurt you but it's for your own good, you and Travis are getting into to much trouble here so your father and I think it would be good for you both if you got a change of scenery, and Charlotte don't you want to meet your daddy?" Marilyn asked her youngest.
     Charlotte nodded slightly, going to live with her father sounded like it could be fun, "Mom can I go pack," she asked.
     "Of course hunny go ahead," Marilyn said, she continued as soon as Charlotte was gone "Now you two should go and get packed to, but first I just want to say how disappointed in you I am I expected better of both of you and now I have to send you away just to keep you out of trouble, now go pack."
     Marilyn watched as Travis and Annie stood and headed out of the sitting room, her youngest son and her oldest daughter were the last of her children she had expect to screw up this bad. She had figured that when she told Charlotte she was adopted that she would become angry, but Charlotte had thanked Marilyn for telling her the truth before she was old enough to snoop for herself.

*****

     As soon as Charlotte got to her room she signed online to check to see if anyone she knew was on. A couple of minutes afterwards both of her siblings signed on showing that their mother had let them go to their rooms. Finally Charlotte found who she was looking for,
LOTRfan#1; before Charlotte could send her an instant message she received one from LOTRfan#1.
     LOTRfan#1(5:20pm): hey I just realized that I don't know your name and you don't know mine. I'm Lexi Varrell, not that my last names important
     DarkPrincess’03 (5:22pm):oh ya I'm Charlotte Johnson, hey you won't believe it I am moving in with my dad and he lives right on the border of Vermont and New Hampshire
     LOTRfan#1(5:25pm): wow that is so cool, we could be like next-door neighbors!!! Wouldn't that be the coolest???
     DarkPrincess’03 (5:28pm): ya it'd be pretty cool but anyway the crazy part is why we have to move in with him
     LOTRfan#1(5:31pm): really clue me in I love gossip, did you do something so bad that your mom can't handle you any more
     DarkPrincess’03 (5:34pm): not me, my older siblings, they aren't the best of kids and they where always breaking the rules and they finally got caught and so my mom is sending us all to live with our dad
     LOTRfan#1(5:36pm): man that must be some really bad rule breaking, oh I have to go but maybe I will be on later bye
     [/b](LOTRfan#1 has signed off)[/b]
     Charlotte decided that instead of getting off she would go and steal her sisters address book, which had a complete list of all her friends and their e-mail addresses. Then she could find some people to annoy. Sneaking quietly down the hall she slid into her sister’s room, the coast was clear, she ran to the computer desk grabbed her sisters address book and ran back.
     When she got to her room instead of keeping the address book she decided she would quickly write down all the e-mails and the names that went with them and then run the book back to Annie’s room.
     Only three of Annie’s friends had e-mail addresses next to their names and Charlotte quickly wrote them down:
     Emma Monroe-JustSmile91
     Carry Nagel- QueenofCool
     Jordan Samuels-JWalking
     She could also just faintly make out the words: Ryan Dukette-MyRulesOnly91, even though it was severely crossed out Charlotte still wrote it down, she also found Mark’s SN, adding these to her buddy list she quickly ran and put the book.
     When Charlotte got back to her computer she noticed that Ryan was online and she quickly sent him an instant message.
     DarkPrincess’03 (6:00pm): hey this is Charlotte you want to talk?
     MyRulesOnly91 (6:02pm): aren't you Annie's little sister?
     DarkPrincess’03 (6:05pm): yes and I would like to know why your name was scribbled so violently out of her address book, if I'm not mistaken aren't you here boyfriend
     MyRulesOnly91 (6:08pm): not anymore she dumped me after school today, she said that she didn't think that it was right to put me through all her crap. Then she went on about how she wasn't in love with me and how she couldn't pretend that she was any more, and now when I try to tell her that I really don't care because I never loved her either she has me on ignore
     DarkPrincess’03 (6:15pm): well I will tell her for you, we are all moving to New Hampshire soon except for our mom because Travis and Annie have been acting up and they finally got caught.
     MyRulesOnly91 (6:17pm): wow it took that long for your mother to figure out what those two were up to, everyone in town figured she would have found out way sooner then now, I mean they were practically screaming in her face 'hey mom look what I'm doing'
     DarkPrincess’03 (6:20pm): if your calling my mother dumb then you are about to make a much worse enemy than my sister trust me I know ways of inflicting so much pain you wouldn't believe it
     MyRulesOnly91 (6:25pm): um no I'm not saying that listen I have to talk to someone else now bye
     (MyRulesOnly91 has signed off)
     With that Charlotte was once again left to talk to no one, and since none of Annie's friends seemed all that interesting she signed off ad headed over to her bed to color in her jumbo coloring book.

*****

     Mean while Annie was in her room talking to her best friend Emma. She had gone into Travis's room to talk to him for a little while before coming in and signing online and when she had come back Emma had just signed on line.
     NotanAngel91 (6:00pm): hey Emma, you will not believe what my mother is doing to us, I am so upset, she is sending us up to the ice box to live with my father, can you believe it
     JustSmile91 (6:05pm):oh my gosh Annie you can't move, I need you your my bff, I mean ya Carry is cool but she has Jordan to hang out with and I don't have a boyfriend and besides Carry doesn't understand me like you do, your the only one I can talk to and trust, oh why is your mom such a bitch, why can't she just let you be I mean come on
     NotanAngel91 (6:15pm):I know I hate her to and Travis said that if I hadn't got caught and he hadn't got caught that we would still be able to live here, but even if just one of us was caught then we would all still have to move. I mean it is ok for Charlotte because she will get to meet Mark and Dad but Travis and I are teens we have lives and they do not include New Hampshire
     JustSmile91 (6:20pm): ya I know, hey if my mom ever even attempted something like that I would so freak out, and then when I got there I would run away and try and find a ride back to my home town and then I would live with a friend and change my look and stuff so that my mother doesn't recognize me, what do you think about that idea cause I could totally get you a ride back here
     NotanAngel91 (6:25pm): ya it's great except one problem, any mother is going to notice their child no matter how much they change their appearance it's some kind of creepy mother thing they can just tell that it's you, kind of like when you are upset or something they can just tell you know what I mean
     JustSmile91 (6:29pm): ya I know what you mean but what ever, hey my mom is now being a pain so I have to get off so I can go to the store with her see ya.... Love Is My Gift To You bye bye
     NotanAngel91 (6:31pm): bye bye
     (JustSmile91 has signed off)
     As soon as Emma signed off Jordan signed on, Jordan was Carry's boyfriend and the two of them were usually inseparable. It was very rare for either of them to be online when the other wasn't and Annie decided to seize the moment.
     NotanAngel91 (6:33pm): hey long time no talk, what have you and Carry been up to that consists of neither of you being able to hang out with us our talk to us, even on line
     Jwalking (6:36pm):I suppose when you say us you are refuting to yourself and Emma, and if that's the case then I'm sorry but Carry and I are going through some rough times, I'm not sure we're going to be together much longer
     NotanAngel91 (6:38pm): your kidding right, oh man that is way too much bad news in one day, you two are like the perfect couple what went wrong
     JWalking (6:41pm):ok get this she thinks that I'm cheating on her with Emma just because Em and I had a relationship in the past, I mean she could have just as easily blamed me for cheating on her with you just because we dated before but no she has to attack Emma about it because she knows you won't take any of her crap
     NotanAngel91 (6:45pm): so I guess that means if she signs on your signing off so I will get stuck explaining to her that you and Emma are JUST friends, any way I hate to be the bearer of more bad news but you will no longer be able to hang out with me, I have to move to my dads so the group will be losing one member
     Jwalking (6:50pm): man that is total crap now we'll all be fighting with each other every other day, because no offense to your choose in best friends but Em sucks hard at peer mediation so she is defiantly not going be able to stop us from fighting, if anything she will start more arguments
     NotanAngel91 (6:54pm): lol. Don't worry, Emma knows when it comes to fights she won't be in charge, and even if I did put her in charge she would totally give the voice of reason part to you or Carry, seeing as you two are the only ones who are even remotely good at that.
     Jwalking (6:57pm): ya well listen my brother is pestering me so I better get off before he goes bonkers. See Ya
     NotanAngel91 (6:59pm): ya I gotta go too see ya, maybe
     As soon as she said good bye Annie signed off, she wanted to call Carry and talk to her on the phone, that way she could tell if Carry was lying through her teeth or not. Annie went over and sat on her bed, reaching for her phone she dialed Carry's number it only rang twice before Carry's mother picked up.
     "Is Carry there, its Annie," Annie said
     "Yes hold on I'll go get her," Carry's mother said, she put down the phone and went to get her daughter.
     About two minutes later Carry picked up the phone "Listen if your calling about Jordan and me then your wasting your breath because I don't want to hear what anyone has to say.'
     "Hello to you too, and yes I am calling about that and you will listen that way I don't waste my breath, because I would hate to do that, especially on something as stupid as this," Annie said.
     "It is not stupid, Dan saw them together, Jordan is cheating on me and I know it."
     "Dan, well see there’s your trouble, if Dan told you then it is obviously a lie, everyone knows he just likes to cause trouble when people are in happy loving relationships."
     "So you really don't think he's cheating on me?"
     "No Carry, I dated him and I can honestly tell you that he is the most trust worth boy in our whole school, and this is California!"
     "Ok thanks I feel so much better, listen I got to go talk to you some time later ok bye."
     Before Annie could say bye back Carry hung up the phone. By the sound of her voice Annie could tell that Carry was going to call Jordan in order to apologize for accusing him of cheating. Figuring her work was done for the night Annie got ready for bed and went to sleep.
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Esaul
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You know already that I love this story like all your others, but each time I read it I forget how old Charlotte is. I always think of this as realistic fiction, but really with a two...three year old speaking full sentences, breaking COPPA laws, and all that stuff that you might have some sort of secret agenda with her. I dunno just got me thinking after what Naruto91 said. xD
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CalmB4TheStorm
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OMG i love it
i cant wait for the next chapters
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DayDreamer
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yeah i love jonas brothers..got a problem
Chapter Four

     The next morning as soon as he woke up Travis headed towards his computer; he had to see if Jenna had gotten his message. Last night Travis had sent chain mail to all his friends and he knew that Jenna was always on before school. Checking his clock he realized it was four o'clock, good that gave him plenty of time to talk to Jenna, and luckily she was on.
     [T-Man1988 (4:10am): hey Jenna
     YourQueen88 (4:11am): hey I got your mail, I can't believe your mom is sending you away, I mean my mom is only grounding me for like a month and making me do community service, so when is your last day of school??
     T-Man1988 (4:12am):I don't know yet, all I know is that either my dad or Mark is coming to pick us all up and they are coming soon, they just have to contact mom with the times
     YourQueen88 (4:14am): wow I never thought that Marilyn would ever send you guys away, the way she talks it's like you guys are her life and that without you she'd be nothing and now all of a sudden she can just get rid of all three of you with a snap of a finger and one phone call to your dad
     T-Man1988 (4:17am): ya I know but can you blame her; we got caught at what we're supposed to be the best at so my theory is we deserve what ever we get. If we're the best and we got caught, then what are the losers who suck at stealing supposed to think?
     YourQueen88 (4:20am): ya your totally right, hey since your going away anyway what do you say to one more good round before you have to go. I heard that the Target down the street just got in some of the best CD players anywhere, and let's face it if your moving away your going to need a few new CDs too
     T-Man1988 (4:25am): all right you work it out with Dan and Cam, I have to go Charlotte just got up, I can hear her coming down the hall, and someone needs to get her some breakfast so see ya
     Travis signed off and followed Charlotte down the stairs and into the kitchen. Charlotte sat at the little island they had set up, Travis went over to the cabinet and grabbed a glass, filling it up with orange juice, and he handed it to Charlotte.
     "What do you want for breakfast?" he asked her.
     "I want pop tarts like I have every morning" she answered.
     "Ok I just thought that you might like some diversity that's all," he said grabbing a bag of pop tarts and sticking them in the toaster.
     Once they popped out of the toaster he grabbed them, put them on a plate and slide them in front of Charlotte. She broke them both in half so that the insides would cool off. Then she sat and while she was waiting for them to cool she watched her brother with a quizzical look.
     "What?" Travis asked her.
     "I was just wondering how you felt about this whole moving in with dad thing, we all heard how Annie felt but you never said a word about it,"
     "That's because I don't care, I got what I deserved, I should have tried harder not to get caught, but I got caught and now I must pay the consciences that mom thinks are necessary."
     "Oh," Charlotte said as she picked up one half of a pop tart and took a big bite.
     Soon after Annie woke up, she came in and grabbed an apple to eat for breakfast; other then the occasional crunching of her apple the kitchen was completely silent. At around five thirty their mother woke up and entered the kitchen, as soon as Annie saw her mother she stormed out of the kitchen and headed to the sitting room.
     "Morning kids," Marilyn said.
     She was dressed in her usual suit attire, ready for another days work.
     "Morning mommy," Charlotte said as she put her cup and plate into the dishwasher.
     "Morning mom," Travis said. He then headed into the sitting room and leaning on the door way said "It's your turn to take Charlotte to day care," and without waiting for a reply he left the sitting room to continue getting ready for school.
     As soon as six o'clock rolled around all of the kids were out of the house, Annie with Charlotte as her young shadow. Annie hated when it was her turn with Charlotte, only because Charlotte wasn't very good company, she never talked, she just walked and stared off into space as if she had tons to think about, which was logical for today seeing as all of them were about to be sent away to live in an ice box.
     When they got to the day care Annie turned to Charlotte and asked her " Who is picking you up after school today?"
     "Mom said that she was going to pick us all up here when she came to tuck me in last night." she answered.
     "Oh ok well then I guess I'll see you after school, see ya." with out waiting for a reply Annie headed off to school, she hated her mom more then ever now.

*****

     Charlotte hated her day care teacher, Ms. Lawrence, she was a fraud and not very intelligent, even for a daycare teacher. Charlotte couldn't wait until they moved to New Hampshire with their dad, then she could go to pre-school, or even Kindergarten, she was sure she was smart enough. Being the youngest kid in a kindergarten class would be the coolest thing in the world, at least to Charlotte it would be.
     Today was Art day, which meant that every child had to make a drawing, or finish the one they started last week on Art day. This was Charlotte’s least favorite day, because this was her worst 'Day' ever. When they had days of just spelling or just writing or just anything else, she was fine but Art was one of her weak points, to be honest, she stunk at art. The only aspect of art she was good at was coloring, and in order to get to that you had to draw something, and sometimes you didn't even get to color.
     "Okay class, if you finished your last Art Day project then you can start with the new one, today we will be making clay figures, this project will last for two Art Days in a row, so hop to it." Ms. Lawrence said in her, just be happy, voice that everyone hated.
     Charlotte now dreaded that she had finished her other project, because she stunk at working with a theme, of any sort, and Ms. Lawrence always gave a theme for everything. Knowing that nothing good would possibly come of this project, Charlotte headed over to the art table where the clay project was taking place.
     "I've decided that since everyone must like animals, our clay project will be for all of you, to create your favorite animal. You all know how to work with the clay since you did a project like this before, so have fun" with that Ms. Lawrence went of to help out another group of children.
     Charlotte grabbed a lump of clay and thought about her favorite animal. She really liked monkeys but that would be difficult to make, so in order to do something easy, she decided that her favorite animal would be a hippo. Four legs, a head and a body, that was easy enough.
     "What are you going to make?" the girl to Charlottes right asked her.
     "A hippo," Charlotte answered.
     "Oh I'm making an owl they are my favorite animals in the whole wide world." with that the girl turned back to her work, and Charlotte started to work on her hippo.
      She didn't quiet understand how an owl could be a favorite animal, it sounded more like a hero to her, seeing as they were all super smart in this class and the owl was supposed to be like the symbol for big brains. Then again a hippo wasn't exactly her favorite, she had just picked something that would be easy to make, she didn't understand what art had to do with being smart for your age. It was very unlikely that she would ever become an artist, in fact she hoped to be a doctor of some kind, that way she could help people with problems, or maybe a therapist, since she had seen first hand the problems people constantly face.

*****

     "Hey Annie, wait up!" Travis called running up to his sister.
     The school day had just ended and all the kids were supposed to wait at the day care for their mother, they would be moving in with their father as soon as they were ready, and as soon as there father could come to get them.
     Annie turned around and waited tapping her foot impatiently. "Come on Travis, Charlotte is going to be waiting, besides I'm kind of in a hurry."
     "All right," Travis said as he walked up beside his sister "Who are you avoiding today?"
     "None of your business." Annie snapped.
     "Let me guess, is it Ryan, or maybe one of the other million guys you've been leading on for your own enjoyment?"
     "Oh and your so much better then me right? Is that it, you think almost being arrested is less humiliating and bad as what I do? You are such a jerk," with that Annie ran the rest of the way to the day care, with Travis following right after her.
     "Where have you been?" Charlotte asked when they reached the steps to the day care.
     "Hey if moms not here then we're not late," Travis said trying to catch his breath.
     "Mom's not here, dad is," Annie said pointing at the parking lot across the street and seeing their father coming across the street.
     "Damn, now I wish we were late," Travis said as his father finally reached them.
     "Hey kids, your mom sent me to get you, she had a problem at that bed and breakfast place she owns and she had to stay and sort it all out, ready to go." Eric asked.
     "You’re our dad?" Charlotte asked skeptically.
     Eric laughed. It was true; he didn't look the part of a dad. His dark brown hair was short and spiked up in a way, and he looked to young to have three children between the ages of twenty-four and fifteen, not to mention a three-year-old adopted child.
     "Yes, and you have to be Charlotte. Your mom told me you were a very curious little girl, and that I would like getting to know you. Any way, let's go, your mom said that you still have a lot of stuff to pack," Eric said.
     He took Charlotte's hand in his and they crossed the street and went to his Hummer. Travis glanced at Annie, she shrugged, and they really had no choices now. Their father was here, and he wasn't planning on leaving without them, or on staying very long. Travis sighed and crossed the busy street and Annie followed right behind him. This was probably be the last time any of them ever meet up with Charlotte in front of this day care, or even in this same city.
Edited by Saratn, Jun 19 2008, 02:30 PM.
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CalmB4TheStorm
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Amazing chapter
im loving this story
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DayDreamer
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yeah i love jonas brothers..got a problem
LOL thanks, i'll put more up soon, i just don't want to post to much at once...
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DayDreamer
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yeah i love jonas brothers..got a problem
Chapter Five

     As soon as she got in the front door Annie ran upstairs and signed online hopping that her friends would be on. She saw that only Carry was on but she knew that Carry would pass on the news that Annie was going away within the day.
     NotAnAngel (2: 30pm):OMG!!! Carry you will not believe it, my father is here, and we have to pack and we are leaving as soon as we are done
     QueenofCool (2:32pm): You’re kidding right! No way you can't leave that soon, we all need you
     NotAnAngel (2:34pm):I hate my mom, I mean why would she send us away so soon, and with out any warning? I mean I know she told us, but she never said how soon it would be
     QueenofCool (2:37pm): This sucks ass man, I was planning a huge going away party for you and now you’re going away to soon to even come to it, your mom is so grrrr
     NotAnAngel (2:40pm): Ya I know. Oh I have to go, my dad is coming to unhook my computer, tell everyone that I said bye
     Annie signed off before her father could see that she had been trash talking her mother and went over to pack up her bed covers and blankets, while her father unhooked her computer. Grabbing a big box Annie shoved all her bed things inside then headed to her closet.
     "You aren't going to be using this as much when you’re at my house," Eric said as he packed up his oldest daughters computer.
     "Why not, it's not like you bought it, and you can't really tell me what to do, you haven't been in my life since I was little, except for a few phone calls."
     "I'm paying the bills, and your living under my roof, therefore you will be following my rules, and it was your chose not to come visit me, you had the opportunity, you just didn't take it. Now finish packing, I want to leave soon, it's a long ride back."
     "We're driving back?"
     "Yes, and stopping at hotels on the way, so let's go," and with that he left her room carrying her computer with him.
     Annie threw her self down on her bed. As far as she was concerned her life was over, she had nothing to live for anymore. She rolled over on her bed and stuffing her face into the mattress she began to cry, for the first time in nearly six years.

*****

     Charlotte had already packed nearly everything in her room; all she had left was her clothes and her posters. Her father had promised to come in and unhook her computer for her so that she would have it in the new house. Just as she was taking down her favorite poster, the one with KISS on it, her father came in to unhook her computer.
     "Hey, you almost packed up?" Eric asked as he started on the computer.
     "Yup, I only have a few more posters and I also have some stuffed animals and clothes left but that's it." Charlotte answered, removing the poster from the wall.
     "You’re way ahead of your sister, she really hasn't packed that much,"
     "She didn't want to believe that we were actually leaving, she thought mum was joking when she told us to go pack, but I knew she wasn't so I started last night," Charlotte commented as she went to start packing her clothes.
     "Your mother told me about that, she said you seemed kind of excited."
     "It snows in New Hampshire right?" Charlotte asked.
     "Yes, all winter long," Eric, answered with a laugh.
     Charlotte smiled. She had never actually felt snow before, or at least she didn't remember ever touching snow. It would be nice to finally live somewhere that cooled off some times. Along with that, she wouldn't have to explain to people why she didn't have a California tan anymore, because she was going to live in New Hampshire now, Charlotte liked that.
     "When you’re all done come down to the sitting room, and I'll start loading up your boxes," Eric said as he left the room with Charlotte’s computer all packed up in a box.
     Charlotte turned her attention back to packing her bags. She wanted to get away from California, and away from her past, as quick as she could. She couldn't wait to start her new life, as a snow bunny.

*****

     Travis was online as soon as he got home from school and got to his room, he had packed most of his stuff last night, like Charlotte, so he had plenty of time. When he got on he immediately got an Instant Message from his brother.
     DogMan81 (2:32pm): hey aren't you and Annie supposed to be packing your bags? Why are you online?
     T-Man1988 (2:36pm): I came on so that I could e-mail my friends; Annie probably came on for the same reason
     DogMan81 (2:40pm): I'm sure when you're not in school tomorrow they'll realize you’re not here anymore
     T-Man1988 (2:42pm): that's not the point; I can't just leave without saying good-bye that would be rude
     DogMan81 (2:45pm): of course, but stealing from stores, and lying to mum isn't rude
     T-Man1988 (2:48pm): shut up Mark, it's not like you never lied to her, that's why you moved out with dad, I remember that, you couldn't stand to be around her anymore because of how many lies you told her
     DogMan81 (2:52pm): that isn't why I left, I left so that I wouldn't get into any more trouble then I already had, you and Annie just got lucky, you could have been caught earlier, or you could have gotten into way more trouble then just getting sent to live with dad
     T-Man1988 (2:48pm): ya what ever, I have to go dad's here to unhook my computer, see you soon, sadly.
     Travis signed off before his brother could say anything else. His father had just come into his bedroom to take his computer, and he was looking around Travis's room.
     "So is all of this stuff stolen goods, or did you actually pay for some of this?" Eric asked his youngest son.
     "The first one," Travis answered going to take the blankets off his bed.
     "That's what I thought. Listen Travis, I know that you don't get along with Mark to well, but your going to be living with him, so you better try a little harder."
     Travis laughed; not getting along to well was an understatement. Travis hated his brother, and come to think of it, he hated his father as well. Travis felt that they had abandoned the rest of the family by moving that far away. He threw his blankets into a box, and then he went to get his clothes that were still in his closet and dresser.
     "Why would you take us after all these year?" Travis asked.
     "Your mother needed help, she couldn't handle you anymore, and what do you mean 'after all these years'? I came to see you guys when I could, and I invited you to come up every summer, which you did until you were fourteen. Why'd you stop?"
     "Because, Annie didn't want to be alone that year, and that very summer mom came home with Charlotte, so after that I stopped coming and stayed home with Annie and Charlotte."
     "Travis, I know that you feel like I abandoned you, but you also seem to forget that your mother kicked me out, she divorced me, not the other way around," Eric said as he finished packing up Travis's computer.
     "Why did she divorce you?"
     "I don't know," Eric answered heading to the door "We married at a young age, she probable realized that she still had her whole life ahead of her, and she didn't want to be married anymore, but she still had you kids to take care of, seeing as she refused to let you go with me."
     With that Eric left the room and Travis finished packing up his stuff. Travis had never dared to ask his mother why she had divorced the kids father, Marilyn had been extremely spacey for along time after the divorce, and after awhile Travis forgot who had divorced who, and he had convinced himself that it was all his father's fault. Now he saw the truth, Annie and Travis would have turned out to be good kids if it wasn't for their mother.

*****

     When Marilyn got home she saw that her ex was already loading up his hummer with the kids belongings. She said a quick hello to him and then hurried inside. Charlotte was just pushing boxes marked 'Charlotte's Clothes' down the stairs when Marilyn got into the house.
     "Charlotte what are you doing?" she asked as the boxes came flying down the stairs.
     "I'm helping daddy get the boxes down the stairs, he said that this was the quickest way to get them down stairs, as long as nothing breakable was in the boxes," Charlotte answered chasing the boxes down the stairs.
     Marilyn noticed that Charlotte looked happier, and more like a three-year-old, then she had for a long time. Just as she was headed into the sitting room Eric came back into the house to grab another box.
     "Where's Travis, shouldn't he be helping you?" Marilyn asked.
     "He's helping Annie, she hasn't finished packing yet, he said he would help me out when he was done, but for now Charlotte is helping," Eric said grabbing more boxes and following Charlotte out to the Hummer again.
     Marilyn headed up the stairs and went to her oldest daughters room, she got to the door just as Travis was carrying some stuff out.
     "Hey mom, glad you could show up in time to say good-bye," Travis said heading downstairs.
     "Ya mom great to see you, and oh while I'm at it bye," Annie said as she followed her brother, her arms were also full of boxes.
     Marilyn decided that one way to make herself feel better was to grab some boxes and help her kids out. So she grabbed the last two boxes out of Annie's room and carried them down the stairs. Immediately
     Eric took them and went back out to his hummer, Marilyn was following right behind him.
     "Okay, that's everything, we're ready to go," Eric said, getting on the drivers side.
     Annie got into the back seat and slid over so that Charlotte could get in on the same side, Travis was in the front. Marilyn hugged Charlotte before helping her up. Then, stepping away from the Hummer, Marilyn waved good-bye to her children; the only child who waved back was Charlotte, whose face was alight with a huge smile.
Marilyn went into the house, closing the door behind her and clasped on the floor in the main hall. There she started to cry, she felt like a failure, why else wouldn't Travis and Annie wave good-bye to her, she had failed and now her kids hated her.

*****

     The ride was silent for a long time, but finally Charlotte couldn't stand it anymore, she had to talk. "That was mean of you two, mommy waved and you didn't wave back, now she's going to think you don't love her anymore."
     "Good," Annie said defiantly.
     "Annie, don't say that, you don't really mean it," Charlotte said.
     "Yes she does, why should we care anyway, it's not like she needs us," Travis said.
     " SHUT UP TRAVIS! Mommy loves us, you two are just bad kids!" Charlotte yelled.
     "Charlotte, please don't yell in the car, Travis apologize to your sister, and Annie, just don't start stuff," Eric said intervening before the fighting got worse.
     "Sorry Charlotte," Travis said turning around to face his baby sister.
     "Apology not accepted!" Charlotte said defiantly.
     "Now she sounds like Annie," Eric commented.
     Travis turned back around in his seat and they drove on in silence for a little longer. The sky slowly started to darken, and Charlotte couldn't stand the silence and the dark at the same time.
     "Annie I'm bored, talk to me," Charlotte said poking her sister.
     "Charlotte leave me alone I'm tired," Annie complained.
     "No I need someone to talk to, besides you can't fall asleep yet, we're still driving," Charlotte whined.
     "Fine, what do you want to talk about?" Annie said sitting up straight in her seat and looking over at Charlotte.
     "Let's talk about snow."
     "Charlotte I've lived in California my whole life, I don't know anything about snow."
     "It's cold," Travis said from the front seat.
     "I know that," Charlotte said "But is it pretty or is it just cold?"
     "It's pretty at times, it looks like a different place at some points," Eric answered "Like when the mountains get covered, and when the trees start to freeze and get covered in snow."
     "Wow it sounds like fun," Charlotte mused, "Do you ever have snow ball fights daddy?"
     Eric laughed "No not anymore, but you might be able to get Mark out there to play with you, he loves the snow, he's like a big kid."
     "I can't wait, I want to play in snow as soon as we get there," Charlotte said.
     "Well it's going to take awhile, we have to stop along the way so that we can rest," Eric said.
     "But that will take forever, I want to play in the snow really soon," Charlotte complained. "Can't you and Travis just switch when you get tired, and then you can sleep and when he gets tired he can wake you up and you can switch again. They do it all the time on T.V."
     "Charlotte just shut up," Travis snapped.
     "Hey, don't snap at her, she was asking a question!" Eric snapped at Travis.
     "She's getting on my nerves," Travis mumbled.
     "Charlotte that's a good idea, but you don't really want to sleep in the back seat of a Hummer do you?" Eric asked looking at Charlotte in his rear-view mirror.
     "If it will get us to the snow faster then I don't care,"
     "Travis, what do you think?" Eric asked turning his head just a little to look at his youngest son.
     "I really don't care," He answered.
     "That means yes." Charlotte decided bouncing around in her seat.
     "All right, Travis you should sleep, when you wake up we'll switch," Eric said.
     Travis grunted and turned his face towards the window and was soon asleep. Charlotte curled up in a ball next to Annie, who was already fast asleep, and drifted to sleep, dreaming about what she would do when she got to her dad's house.

*****

     For the next three weeks Eric and Travis switched between who was driving. They stopped along the way in order to eat, and even stayed a few nights in hotels, while Charlotte screamed and protested, but
     Annie had complained that she needed to sleep in a real bed and not just in the back seat of her fathers Hummer. When they pulled up to their fathers house, Eric was driving at this point, Charlotte quickly got out of the Hummer and jumped into the snow, Annie laughed at her little sisters enthusiasm.
     "Mark get out here and help me unload this stuff!" Eric called into the house as he brought a box inside.
     Mark came out of the house pulling on his jacket as he went. He smiled at Charlotte who was now rolling around in the snow and making snow angels. "Let me guess, that's Charlotte right?" he asked as he reached the back of his father’s hummer.
     "Lucky guess," Travis mumbled as he grabbed a box to bring inside.
Mark looked at his little brother "You haven't changed at all," he said as Annie came to the back of the Hummer "Hey Annie, what's up?"
     "Nothing much, just freezing my ass off," Annie answered as she hugged her oldest brother.
     Travis rolled his eyes and shoved by Mark who looked at their father with a questioning look. Eric answered with "I talked to him, but I mind as well talk to him again, I mean it couldn't hurt."
     "You don't know Travis very well then, any conversation with him can hurt," Annie said grabbing a box and following her brothers into the house.
     Eric sighed and headed for the house wondering how in the world he was supposed to take care of two teenagers who hated him and one three-year-old that was wise beyond her years. As he walked by Charlotte a snowball went flying past his head. He looked over and saw that Charlotte was making her own little fort and her own little; well actually it was quiet large, pile of snowballs. Eric smiled to himself and went inside, bringing the box of Annie's objects into her room.
     "Annie, I know I haven't been around a lot but I am asking you to please try to help out a little," Eric said to his oldest daughter.
     "I'm not the one you should be pleading to, dad. Travis is going to give you a harder time then me and you know it. Besides I get along with Mark just fine, so we won't be arguing, and I'm sure when I get the chance to know you, we'll get along too," Annie stated as she went to get more boxes for her room.

*****

     Travis hated this new life that he was going to have to get used to and it hadn't even officially started yet. He all ready hated his brother even more, and his helping with the boxes was not doing anything to change Travis' anger. Of course it figured that Mark would grab a box that belonged in Travis' room.
     "Don't start with your attitude Travis, you know you're here and that it's your own fault, so knock off the act and stop pretending that it's dad's fault that you screwed up," Mark said dropping a box onto the floor.
     "I never said that it was dad's fault that I got caught!" Travis argued back.
     "Then what's with this whole 'dad sucks' attitude?" Mark asked.
     "I didn't say anything about dad, and I don't have a 'dad sucks' attitude. The attitude I have is a 'wow my older brother is a real asshole who doesn't know anything about me'!" Travis said dropping the boxes he was holding onto the floor.
     "How do I not know anything about you? What did I do that made you hate me so much?" Mark asked stepping up to Travis.
     "You left me behind," Travis answered stepping around his brother and heading back to the hummer.
     Annie was also out there getting more boxes for her room. She looked up when she heard Travis footsteps and stopped what she was doing. "What's wrong with you?" she asked.
     "Nothing," Travis muttered, he knew that Annie could tell that he was upset.
     She just shrugged, picked up her boxes, and headed back inside.
Travis had never admitted that the only reason he hated his older brother was because Mark left him behind. Travis had felt abandoned by both his father and his brother, he also felt that he had no one left to understand him. That was one of the main reason that he had turned to the friends he had, and look where that got him.
     Mark was standing beside Travis leaning on the Hummer "What did you mean back there?"
     "I meant that I hate you because you left me behind, just like I said,"
Travis answered grabbing a box and walking away.
     Mark grabbed Travis by the arm to stop him "I didn't leave you behind and you know that. You could have come anytime you wanted to, dad told you that. My question is, why didn't you ever say this before?"
     "Because, you would have told me the same damn crap you are now," Travis answered.
     "You know it's the truth though, and that's why you don't want to hear it, because it makes it your fault," Mark said.
     "Everything's my fault," Travis said pulling away from his brother's grip and hurrying into the house.
     "Travis wait!" Mark called, he didn't understand what Travis meant by saying everything was his fault.
     Mark grabbed a box marked for Travis' room again and followed his brother up the stairs. When Travis noticed Mark had followed him, he made his way to the door, but before he could get out of his room
     Mark blocked the doorway. "Why do you think everything is your fault?" Mark asked.
     "Get out of my way!" Travis demanded.
     "Not until you answer my question, why do you think everything is your fault?"
     "Because, I could see it in mom's eyes the night she called dad. She was blaming me, and asking why I hadn't protected my sister's and myself. That's why I know everything is all my fault." Travis said "Now MOVE!"
     "T-man, what Annie did was not your fault, it wasn't your job to watch her, it was mom's. Mom was just looking for someone to blame, anyone but herself, it isn't your fault."
     Travis could feel tears in his eyes as he spoke "You try living with the fact that you’re a failure to everyone. My grades sucked compared to yours, I couldn't keep Annie safe, and I told Charlotte that stealing was okay. I'm a total screw up" Travis was breaking down and he hated that feeling.
     Mark walked up and rested his hand on Travis's shoulder, but Travis just shrugged him away. "Travis, you made a couple mistakes, everyone does. It doesn't mean you’re a screw up."
     "You don't know anything because dad sheltered you from the world," Travis said shoving by Mark and leaving the room.
     When he got back outside his father was across the street talking to another adult. This man had black hair and was slightly taller then Eric. Behind this guy, in the yard, a little girl with blonde hair played, closely watched by an older girl with long black hair. This girl was talking to a younger boy, with blonde hair. A woman was standing next to the man with black hair, her hair was blonde. Eric turned and saw Travis he waved him over.
     When Travis got across the street, going as slow as possible, his father introduced him. "This is my youngest son Travis, he's seventeen. Travis, this is Jack Manders and his wife Cindy," Eric said indicating the two adults.
     Just then Annie crossed the street with Charlotte.
     "And these are my girls, Annie, she's fifteen, and Charlotte, she's three," Charlotte smiled and waved Annie pretended to smile.
     "Hi kids," Cindy said, "We've heard so much about you." She turned "Kids come meet Eric's youngest kids."
     The kids all got up and came over to where everyone else was. She pointed to the oldest girl first "This is Kate, she's seventeen," a smile and hand shakes from her "This is Corey, he's sixteen," a fake smile this time "And this little one is Catalina, we call her Cat, she's three."
     "Hi," Cat said directly to Charlotte, Charlotte just smiled.
     "Well they need to finish unpacking, but they'll see you guys later I'm sure," Eric said as he brought the kids back across the street.
     "I am not going to be friends with them," Travis said, he grabbed his last two boxes and went back to his room.
     Mark was sitting on Travis's bed looking at some of his stuff.
     "Who gave you permission to go through my stuff?" Travis demanded.
     "No one, I just thought I'd see what you have that's all," Mark said "So how much of it did you steal?"
     Travis thought about making a snide remark, just to get his brother mad but settled on the truth "All of it."
     "Wow you really were getting into a lot of trouble, I thought mom was just exaggerating."
     "No she wasn't. I told her those things were from friends, once I even said that the only reason my friends got me things was because they
actually cared about me."
     "You implied that mom didn't care?"
     "Pretty much," Travis answered unpacking his clothes and putting them in the dresser that was in the room "But really mom doesn't know the half of what I do."
     "Really, Like what"
     "I'm not stupid Mark, you'll go to dad and warn him that I'm dangerous or something."
     "Are you dangerous?"
     "No," Travis said, he wouldn't look at Mark.
     "On second thought, I don't want to know what you could possible do that mom hasn't found out about yet," Mark said getting up "Do you need some help?"
     "No, and she will find out, and then she'll call dad."
     Mark left Travis alone to finish unpacking and went to see if Annie needed any help. As he walked he had a feeling that there was a ton of stuff that he didn't know about his younger siblings, but he intended to figure out what those things were, no matter what
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AMAZING!


a few type o's
one i can remember:
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DayDreamer
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yeah i love jonas brothers..got a problem
Chapter Six

     That night after everyone had settled in, and they were all sitting down to dinner when Eric dropped the bomb. "You kids are starting school on Monday, so we have to go get some school appropriate clothes."
     "Dad our clothes are fine," Annie complained.
     "Not for New Hampshire winters they’re not, you need pants and long sleeve shirts, and some sweaters."
     "I'm not going to school," Travis muttered.
     "Yes you are, what makes you think that you can decide whether you're going to school or not?" Eric demanded.
     "You can't tell me what I can and can't do, you were never in my life until now," Travis' anger was building.
     "Travis I am not going to argue with you, you're going to school and that's final!"
     "Whatever," Travis said more to his plate then to their father.
     Just then the phone rang and Eric got up from the table. "Hello.Oh hi Marylyn," at the mention of their mothers name Eric swore he saw Travis flinch "Could you hold on, I need to move into the kitchen."
     He relocated himself into the kitchen where the kids wouldn't be able to here what the parents were talking about, Eric had a feeling that whatever it was Marylyn didn't want the kids to hear. "Okay what is it now?"
     "I found something today when I was going through the kids room to find things that the kids left behind so that I could mail it to them," Marylyn said in a rush.
     "Are you going to tell me what you found or not?"
     "Travis had...Well a lot of things that he shouldn't have."
     "Such as?"
     "Cigarettes for one, and a fake id, and empty beer bottles. Eric promise you'll watch him closer then I did."
     "How could you not tell that he was drinking in his room? No wait better question, why didn't you smell the smoke when he was smoking, in his room, in your house?" Eric demanded, he was angry.
     "Eric, I have to go, I don't want to fight, just talk to him for me," Marylyn said quickly before hanging up.
     Eric went back into the dinning room, with only the thought of speaking to Travis in mind, but when he got there only Annie and Charlotte were stilling sitting there.
     "Where are your brothers?"
     "Travis took off as soon as you left the room, and Mark went after him," Annie answered "I can't finish this, can I go to bed now?"
     "Ya go ahead, Charlotte you can go to," Eric answered.
     As the girls left the dinning room and headed up the stairs Eric went into the hall and heard Mark scolding Travis. Not a minute later Mark brought Travis into the house, dragging him by his arm.
     "I need to talk to you Travis, now!" Eric said.
     Mark let go of Travis and left to the apartment above the garage while
Eric brought Travis into the living room and sat him down. "Your mother just called and she found some things that frightened her. Do you know why they frightened her?"
     "No," Travis answered, "It's not like I was hiding guns or anything."
     "Because she is scared of what you’re doing to yourself."
     "She thinks I'm hurting my self?" Travis asked.
     "That's what your doing, isn't it?"
     "No, it's a way to escape the problems, not hurt myself. I'm not retarded, if I had my way she never would have found out."
     "No, not until the police found you passed out drunk on the side of the road," Eric said "How long have you been drinking?"
     "I don't know, two years."
     "How long have you been smoking?"
     "She found those too?" Travis asked, his father just gave him that 'I'm waiting' look and he answered "Five years."
     "You've been smoking since you were twelve, and your mom never found out?" Eric asked he was shocked.
     "Mom was never around, it was easy to hide it from her."
     "Who supplied you with the fake ID?"
     "The same person who bought the cigarettes and the beer, or whatever. Dan's older brother, he had major connections. Mom should be glad I didn't get into any of the other stuff."
     "What other stuff? You mean drugs?"
     "I mean heroine, Dan's brother could get tons of it, Dan did it, he even offered me once, but I had to watch Charlotte later so I didn't."
     Eric could not believe the people that his son had hung out with, the fact that Travis could have gotten his hands on practically anything he wanted was a scary thought. Eric didn't know what else to say, should he tell Travis all the things that could have happen to him, or should he just leave it, knowing that Travis couldn't get his hands on more, hopefully. It would probably help if Travis would keep eye contact instead of talking to his hands, but at least he knew what he was doing was wrong.
     "I told you everything that I'm ever going to tell you, can I go now?" Travis asked.
     "One more question," Eric said, Travis sighed "When did you smoke last, and when did you drink last?'
     "Smoked that last day at school," Travis answered "Had three beers last weekend at a party." he finished getting up.
     "Why?" Eric asked, "Why did you do this?"
     "You said one more question," Travis answered, leaving the room.
     Eric was left once again asking how in the world he was going to raise a three-year-old, a dramatic fifteen-year-old, and a seventeen-year-old that hated his guts. Eric was sure that there was more to Travis and his bad behavior then what any of them really knew, but for now he would let it go, and he headed for bed.

*****

     Charlotte sat in her bed and waited until she heard both her father and Travis go to bed, then she snuck into Travis's room. She crept over to her brother’s bed and sat on the edge. "What did daddy want?" she asked swinging her legs.
     "None of your business," Travis answered.
     "I'll guess. Mommy found some things and called daddy, so daddy wanted to know why you were so dumb and why you did things. Am I right?" Charlotte asked.
     "How did you get so smart?" Travis asked sitting up next to his baby sister.
     "It's genetics."
     "Smart-ass," Travis said "Yes your right, but I'm not telling you anymore."
     "Okay, night," Charlotte said hugging her brother.
     "Night," Travis said.
     Charlotte left the room and went back to hers, but half way there she changed her mind and went instead out to the garage. When she got to the apartment she knocked. Mark came to answer it.
     "What are you doing here?" he asked.
     "Did you talk to Travis today? Why did he try to run away? Is something wrong with him? Is daddy mad at him?" Charlotte asked.
     "One question at a time kiddo," Mark said letting Charlotte in "Of course dad isn't mad at Travis, he's just confused about why his youngest son is so...bad, I guess. I think he tried to run away, or whatever, because mom called, and he knew something was up. He tried to escape from...himself in a way."
     "Travis isn't a bad person, is he?"
     "No, he's just confused, he doesn't know what to do to stop the things he started."
     "Why does he drink?"
     "I don't know. Wait, you know about that?"
     "Yes, I saw him drinking once. I can't understand why mommy never found out, she was always snooping in T's room."
     "He's good at hiding things I guess. Now come on let's get you back into bed." Mark said taking Charlotte's hand and leading her into the house, he could tell life was going to be very different now.
     Charlotte got into her bed as Mark closed the door. She snuggled up under her blankets and thought quietly about California, and the things she had left behind. Honestly the only thing she missed was her mother, and maybe Jenna, but only a little, after all she was the one who got Travis into trouble for the first time, her and Dan.
     Charlotte remembered that time clearly; Travis had skipped out on baby-sitting Charlotte and stuck Annie with the responsibility for the first time. Charlotte had followed Travis even though she was supposed to be with Annie, but it wasn't like Annie was paying any attention to her. So Charlotte followed Travis, Jenna and Dan to a local mall, hiding behind a statue she watched as her big brother grabbed a bunch of CDs. Then Jenna and Dan showed Travis how to make it so that it wouldn't set off the alarm, and they explained that with bigger stuff they tripped the alarm system, so that it wouldn't go off.
     Stealing wasn't the only thing Jenna got Travis into; she also got him into smoking, and drinking. Charlotte missed how Travis used to be, when he was a nice kid and didn't get into trouble, at one time he had been someone others could look up to, but that was over now. With these thoughts in mind Charlotte curled up in a ball and fell into a deep sleep.

*****

     Annie woke up and headed straight for Travis' room, she knew why her mother had called, it was a total no brainer. When she got to his room the door was open and he was gone, she looked in the living room, and kitchen and he wasn't there either, silently she wondered if Mark was talking to him. That thought was soon shattered when Mark came into the living room where Annie sat on the couch.
     "Have you seen Travis?" she asked Mark.
     "Not since last night. Why?"
     "I wanted to talk to him, but I can't find him anywhere."
     Just then Charlotte came downstairs, fully dressed and ready for the day. "Morning everyone." she said cheerfully.
     "Morning kiddo," Mark said.
     "Hey, have you seen Travis this morning?" Annie asked.
     "Yeah, he woke up early and left," Charlotte said "I asked where he was going and he said for a walk, then I asked if I could come and he said no because he needed to think."
     Annie got up from the couch headed for the door, but Mark stopped her before she opened it. She turned angrily to face him. "Let go of my arm. I'm going out there to find him, he could be getting into trouble."
     "What kind of trouble could he possible get into?" Mark asked.
     "Mom only found his empty packs of cigarettes," was all Annie said.
     Just as she said that their father walked down the stairs. When he heard that Travis was out and might have been smoking he grabbed his car keys and his coat. Then he turned to Mark and said "Watch your sisters, I'm going to get your brother."
     "Dad you have no idea where he is," Annie said.
     "Neither do you," Eric answered.
     Annie sat back down on the couch and crossed her arms; Charlotte watched all this with mild interest. Eric left the house and headed for his Hummer. Mark watched as his father drove off, hoping that Travis wasn't smoking, that would get him into huge trouble, because Eric would actually do something, unlike Marilyn.
     "He isn't going to find him, Travis is good at hiding when he does something that he shouldn't be doing," Annie said.
     "You really don't know dad then. He'll keep looking until he finds Travis, even if it takes all day," Mark answered.
     "What about all night?" Annie asked. "I have a feeling Travis isn't planning on coming back, he's probably on a bus back to California as we speak."
     "No, Travis wouldn't leave us," Charlotte said "Would he?
     "Don't listen to her Charlotte, she's just trying to upset you," Mark said, then he turned to Annie "Shut up every now and then, maybe you'd realize that you don't know everything."
     "Oh and you’re God," Annie shot back.
     "SHUT UP ANNIE!" Charlotte yelled, "I'm sick of hearing you complain and make everything into a fight. Why does everything have to be negative with you?"
     "Because, that's who I am," Annie said, with that she left the room and stomped up the stairs.
     Charlotte watched her go and then settled her self on the floor with one of her coloring books and some crayons. Mark sat on the couch and turned on the TV to see what was on. Mark could tell all ready that this was going to be way more intense then he could have ever imagined.

*****

     Travis had woken up early that morning and left the house, stopping only momentarily to tell Charlotte that he was going for a walk and that she couldn't come. Really he was going to find a nice hidden spot, and he was going to smoke a cigarette, his father didn't know that he had some with him, and with any luck Annie would have kept her mouth shut when she realized he was gone. Now he was in a little park, and he was on his second cigarette. He was just finishing it off when his father's Hummer drove by, quickly dropping his cigarette he got up and walked in the opposite direction.
     Eric must have anticipated him going out the other side because he was parked there waiting for Travis. He rolled down the window "Get in."
Travis just kept walking, he had no desire to talk to his father right now, or anyone else for that matter, but Eric clearly had plans of a long talk, because he got out of his Hummer and jogged up to Travis, then walked beside him.
     "Give me your pack," he ordered.
     "Not going to happen," Travis answered.
     "I'll try this one more time before I take it from you. Give me your pack."
     "I'll say it again, in case you didn't here me. Not gonna happen, besides for all you know it's empty."
     "I doubt that, now give it to me," Eric said, when Travis made no move to hand it over Eric blocked his sons path. "Either give me the pack our you’re going to have to talk to me, and we both know you hate that."
     Travis thought about it, he sure as hell didn't want to talk to his dad, but he wasn't about to give up a practically full pack of cigarettes. "What do you want to know now?"
     "Why are you doing this?" Eric asked.
     "Doing what? Smoking? Come on now, your smarter then that," Travis mocked.
     "Not just smoking. Drinking, stealing, is this some kind of cry for attention?"
     "Hardly," Travis said, "If I wanted attention from this, I would have gotten caught during the beginning, and it wouldn't have been an accident."
     "Then why?" Eric asked.
     "What do you want me to say to that? Because it's cool, because I want to fit in? Well that's to bad, I do what I do because it's me, and because I like it okay, are you satisfied now?" Travis asked pushing by Eric.
     Eric wasn't letting his youngest son get away that easily, he grabbed
Travis' arm and turned him around "Your lying through your teeth Travis, is that a new talent you picked up over the years? If it is then let me tell you, your not very good at it."
     "Bravo, you finally know something about me," Travis said.
     "Tell me the truth, why do you steal?"
     "Because, I like the thrill, it's fun."
     "Why do you smoke?"
     "Because it was there, it was something to do to pass the time, and I could get my hands on them easily, like I said Dan's older brother supplied us."
     "Why do you drink?" Eric asked this question and realized he didn't want to hear the answer.
     "Because of you."
     Eric felt like he had been slapped, but he didn't know why "What do you mean because of me?"
     "When I drink I forget that you left me behind and took my perfect older brother, I don't remember any of it, it stops the pain," Travis answered, "There, are you happy now?"
     "I'm sorry...I didn't know I hurt you that much."
     "Forget it," Travis said pulling free of his father's grip.
     Eric could tell that Travis was upset, and angry, but he couldn't let this go "Travis, you need to stop what your doing. Your going to end up hurting yourself, give me your cigarettes."
     Travis turned "Don't tell me what to do," he was angry "And if you do, don't expect me to listen." with that he turned and walked away again, lighting up another cigarette as he went.
     "Travis!" Eric called "Think about this."
     Travis just kept walking, so Eric followed at a jog "Get in the Hummer, we're going home."
     "No, I think I'll keep walking," Travis answered.
     "Get in the Hummer!" Eric said, when Travis continued to ignore him, Eric grabbed him by the back of his shirt and dragged him to the Hummer.
     Travis struggled to get free of his father's grip, dropping his cigarette, but it was no use, eventually he just gave up and got into the passenger seat of the Hummer. He slouched down in the seat and stared out the window, he continued to stare at, well nothing, as his father got into the driver's seat and started the Hummer.
     “Buckle up,” Eric said.
     Travis buckled up, and continued to stare out the window.
     “I’m going to tell you now that you’re grounded until further notice,” Eric said.
     Now Travis looked at his father “Are you kidding?”
     “No I’m serious. I know Marilyn never grounded you, but I will, and am.”
     “This is bull,” Travis mumbled turning back to face his window.
     “Actually it’s called life, deal with it,” Eric said.
     “What ever,” Travis said, then noticed that they weren’t heading towards his father’s house “Where are we going?” he asked turning towards his father.
     “Your grandfather’s house,” Eric answered.
     “Your father?”
     “Yes my father. You never got to meet him before and I think it’s about time you did, he gives pretty good lectures.”
     ‘Great, now I have to listen to some old guy telling what not to do with MY life’ Travis thought, however what he said out loud was “I don’t need any old men giving me lectures. Besides, he’s probably senile.”
     “He isn’t senile,” Eric said.
     “Whatever,” Travis said, once again turning to face the window and not his father.

*****

     Mark was beginning to get worried. Four hours had passed and his father still hadn’t returned. Charlotte was now sitting on the couch next to him, and she kept looking from the clock, out to the driveway through the window. Mark knew she was thinking the same thing he was, did dad find Travis, or is he still looking? Lunch had passed by, and there was still no sign of Eric, or Travis.
     “Mark, where’s daddy, I thought he would have found Travis by now,” Charlotte said hopping up and going to look out the window.
     “I don’t know…” but the phone ringing interrupted him.
     “Hello Johnson residence,” Mark answered.
     “Mark…it’s your father. I’m at grandpa Joseph’s house, if Travis turns up there will you call my cell phone?”
     “Wait, you didn’t find him?” Mark asked, Charlotte was soon right behind him.
     “I found him, and I brought him here, then he ran off again.”
     “Dad, it’s below zero out, and a blizzard is rolling in. Travis isn’t dressed for this weather. I’m going out to look for him.”
     “Mark if you go out who’s going to wait at the house incase he comes home?”
     “Annie will, I’m leaving now dad, bye,” he hung up and then called up the stairs for Annie, then filled her in when she got downstairs “So call me on my cell if he shows up here, then call dad. Got it?” Annie nodded.
     As Mark was leaving he felt a tug on his pant leg, he looked down to see Charlotte “Mark, let me come too.”
     “No, you stay here with Annie,” Mark said.
     “PLEASE!” Charlotte screamed, nearly on the verge of tears.
     “No, stay here,” with that Mark left the house and ran to his car.
     The wind was getting bad, and the snow was starting to fall. Mark drove along as many back roads as he could before they started getting too slippery, then he went to the main roads, which had been plowed recently. He searched for an hour before his cell phone rang, he pulled over and then answered it “Hello?”
     “It’s Annie. You have to come home,” Annie sounded worried.
     “What’s wrong?” Mark said pulling back on to the road.
     “Just get here, and quick,” Annie said before hanging up.
     Mark drove home as fast as he could. When he finally got home he raced into the house, at first it seemed empty but then he saw Charlotte running towards him. She jumped up and hugged him as tight as she could and refused to let go, so he carried her to the living room where Annie sat.
     “What’s going on?” Mark asked sitting on the couch.
     “Dad found Travis,” Annie said.
     “And, is he on his was home?”
     “No,” Annie said, “I don’t know what happened, dad wouldn’t say anything.”
     “Wait, why isn’t he coming home?” Mark asked.
     “Mark, I think something bad happened,” Annie said looking up at her oldest brother.
     Mark saw that worry was spread across her face, but he still didn’t understand what could have happened. He tried to get Charlotte off his lap so that he could call their father, but she wouldn’t budge, so he carried her with him to the phone.
     Eric’s cell phone rang four times before he answered “Hello?”
     “Dad, where are you? What’s going on?” Mark demanded.
     “I can’t talk right now,” Eric said.
     “Where are you? Annie said you found Travis, is everything all right?”
     “I can’t talk right now. I’m hoping to be home soon, bye,” Eric said and quickly hung up.
     “Well?” Annie asked.
     “He wouldn’t say anything,” Mark answered.
     “Is Travis dead?” Charlotte asked.
     “No, of course not. Dad probably just got stuck in the storm, that’s all,” Mark answered.
     The three waited in silence until well past nine before Mark decided to put Charlotte to bed. She put up a fight but in the end she went, Mark tucked her in and then went back downstairs to join Annie. When he got there she had the TV on and was looking for something to watch, without actually looking.
     “Why aren’t they home yet?” Annie said.
     “I don’t know,” Mark answered, “What exactly did dad say?”
     “Just that he knew where Travis was,” Annie said “And that he was going to get him.”
     “He didn’t actually say that he had Travis with him?” Mark asked Annie shook her head.
     “Mark, maybe something bad did happen, why else wouldn’t dad be home now? Plus he avoided your questions,” Annie said, concern covering her face.
     “I don’t know what to think right now. I mean it is extremely cold outside, and icy, but we have to stay positive, I’m sure nothings wrong,” Mark replied.
     They sat on the couch in silence until eleven P.M, when Mark sent Annie to bed, she went, but first she made him promise to tell her everything their father said the next morning, he agreed. So Mark was waiting alone, the hours went by, and soon he was asleep on the couch. He awoke with a start, and sat up to see his father sitting in an armchair, Eric’s hair was a mess, the kind of mess you get from running your fingers through it too much. His eyes were tired, and they had worry in them, something was wrong, Mark could tell.
     “Dad, what’s going on?” Mark asked.
     Eric looked up “Nothing,” he lied.
     “Something’s wrong. Did you find Travis? Is he all right? Where were you?” Mark asked.
     “I didn’t exactly find him myself, but I know where he is,” Eric answered.
     “Why isn’t he home?” Mark asked.
     “I never said that,” Eric said.
     “No but you didn’t say he was home, and you would have if he was here,” Mark said, “I know you dad.”
     Eric sighed, he knew he couldn’t lie to Mark, but he also didn’t want to talk about what had happened right now so he said, “It’s none of your concern.”
     “He’s my little brother, my ONLY brother, and I’m an adult I have the right to know what’s going on.”
     “Okay…” but right before he said anything they heard an intake of breath, and on further inspection saw that Charlotte was listening at the stairs.
     “I’ll put her back in bed,” Mark said.
     After tucking Charlotte into bed, and making her be quiet, Mark went back downstairs, where he found his father fast asleep in the chair. Mark decided that he could wait to find out where Travis was, and went to his apartment, and went to sleep.
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CalmB4TheStorm
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AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHERE IS TRAVIS!?!?!?!?!
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM!?!?!?!??!?!?!
=O
post again SOOOON please?
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DayDreamer
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yeah i love jonas brothers..got a problem
Chapter Seven

     Eric woke up the next morning, and it took him awhile to remember why he was sleeping in an armchair, but then it all came rushing back.
He stood quickly and hurried to the kitchen where he heard noises. When he got there he saw Charlotte, Annie and Mark all making breakfast. Eric watched as Mark walked over to him, and together they left the kitchen and headed back to the living room.
     “Okay dad, spill, where’s Travis?” Mark asked.
     Eric thought for a moment, and still didn’t know how to answer that question, or the one that would surely follow. He put his head in his hands and mumbled “Travis is in the hospital.”
     “Wh-what?” Mark stammered, “Why, what happened?”
     “He got hit by a car,” Eric answered, and then continued, “The roads were getting icy, and he was walking on the shoulder. Some guy lost control of his car, swerved and hit Travis.”
     Mark was shocked, he couldn’t find anything to say, but he didn’t have to because just then something crashed to the floor. When Eric looked up he saw the girls standing in the doorway, Charlotte had dropped her box of crayons on to the floor.
     “Daddy, I wanna see Travis,” Charlotte said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
     Eric went over and picked up his youngest daughter “We will hunny, don’t worry,” he assured her.
     “Dad, is it bad?” Annie asked, her voice barely a whisper.
     Eric looked at Annie, and she understood perfectly what he was trying to tell her, Eric didn’t want to discuss it in front of Charlotte. Annie decided that this could mean two things: one that Eric thoughtCharlotte was upset enough and that she didn’t need to hear about Travis’ condition, even if it wasn’t bad or two, that Travis was in really bad shape.
     “Come on Charlotte, lets go get dressed so that we can go see Travis,” Annie said, taking Charlotte from her father, and carrying her upstairs.
     “So is it bad?” Mark asked.
     “He was unconscious when they brought him in. The doctors said they would call when he woke up, since I didn’t hear the phone ring, I’m assuming he’s still unconscious. They’re keeping him in the ICU.”
     “That means it’s bad,” Mark said.
     “I know, I can’t believe this happened,” Eric said sitting back down “He’s not even here a whole week, and he’s already in the ICU.”
     “He’ll be okay,” Mark said, “He’ll pull through this, he’s strong.”
     “Are you saying that to convince me, or yourself?” Eric asked.
     “Both.”
     Eric smiled a little, he knew that Mark was trying to make him feel better, and less worried, but it wasn’t going to work like that. Eric felt horrible, and couldn’t imagine if Travis were to die, and that the last thing his father had said to him was that he was a disgraceful little punk, who needed to learn a lesson for once. Eric remembered the look on Travis’ face when he had said that. Then when Joseph, Eric’s father, started talking to Travis about how he should listen to his elder’s and respect what they had to say, Travis had left, and not come back.
     “Dad, can we go see Travis now?” Annie asked.
     She had returned from getting dressed, and Charlotte was following close behind her. Both the girls were fully dressed, with their hair brushed, and shoes on. Eric looked at them standing there, staring at him, and wondered how he could have ever let this happen. Even if they didn’t admit it, his kids depended on him, and he felt in his heart that he had let them down; he had let Travis get seriously injured.
     “Of course we can,” Eric answered. “Just go get in the car, I’ll be right out.”
     Eric watched as the girls hurried out the front door, and then turned to Mark. “You’re coming as well, right?” he asked.
     “Yes I’m coming, why wouldn’t I?” Mark asked.
     “Good,” Eric muttered, and headed out the door.
     “Umm…dad, have you told mom yet?” Mark asked following his dad out of the house.
     “No…not yet, I wanted some good news to tell her,” Eric said, climbing into his hummer.
     Once Mark was in, Eric pulled out of the driveway, and drove the twenty minutes to the nearby hospital. When they got there Eric went up to the front desk, and asked: “Is Travis Johnson still in room 360?”
     “Yes,” the desk clerk answered.
     “Come on kids,” Eric said, he turned and walked to the ICU.

*****

     Annie held her breath as they walked into room 360, she didn’t know what she would see. She entered the room after her father, and Mark, who was carrying Charlotte, and gasped. Travis lay in a hospital bed, he had tubes going into his arm, most likely an I.V. also he had some sort of breathing machine hooked up to him, it was like a tube going into his mouth. None of this however was what made Annie gasp; instead it was the cuts on her brother’s face. He had stitches in his forehead, and on his chin.
     Charlotte was now in the bed next to Travis, and she was whispering in his ear. Annie looked over at her father, and Mark, both of them were looking straight at Travis, as if willing him to wake up.
     “Dad?” Annie said Eric looked over “Is it worse then this?”
     Annie knew that her father understood her question. She meant is it worse then what they could see. She also knew that her father wasn’t going to answer her question, especially not with Charlotte in hearing range. Instead Eric came over and put his arm around Annie, which caused her to start crying, this was all just too much.
     “Don’t worry, he’ll be okay,” Eric tried to reassure her.
     Annie just nodded her head; she didn’t trust her voice enough to say anything in return. Everything just seemed to be getting worse and worse for them, first they had to move, then Travis runs away, and ends up in the hospital. Annie couldn’t help but think ‘What’s next? Do we become orphans? Does one of us die?’ She hated to think like that, and she knew she shouldn’t but it seemed like nothing was going right in their lives anymore.
     She looked at Travis again. He looked peaceful enough, minus the stitches, and huge bruising. She couldn’t believe that this had really happened, even now, when it was right in front of her, she refused to admit that it was all real.
     “Daddy?” Charlotte asked sitting up in the bed “When will Travis wake up?”
     “I don’t know hunny,” Eric answered.
     “When he wakes up, can he come home?” Charlotte asked again.
     “Of course.”
     “Promise?” Charlotte asked.
     “I promise,” Eric answered.
     Just then a doctor came walking into the room. “Mr. Johnson, may I speak to you?” the doctor asked.
     “Of course,” Eric answered, stepping out into the hall.
     Annie could see that Mark wanted to know what the doctor was saying to their father, and she wondered why he didn’t just go out into the hall. Then she heard Charlotte’s quiet sniffling, and understood that Mark was staying to try and comfort Charlotte. Annie went and sat lightly on the edge of her brother’s hospital bed, Charlotte looked up at her, and then got on her lap. Annie held Charlotte close to her. She didn’t want anything to happen to Charlotte, she was just a baby after all.
     “Mark, if you want to hear what the doctor is saying you can go out there, I’ll watch Charlotte. Besides, I don’t think she’s going anywhere,” Annie said.
     “No, I want to be here, in case Travis wakes up. I want to say that I’m sorry for being such a jerk,” Mark said.
     “He was a bigger jerk to you,” Charlotte said quietly.
     Mark didn’t respond, he felt bad for the things that he had said to Travis, and couldn’t even bring himself to think of Travis as a jerk. Mark hoped that he would get a chance to apologize to his brother, he couldn’t imagine if he had to live with the fact that the last time he had seen Travis, that he, Mark, had been an asshole.
     Annie sighed suddenly, and looked over at Mark “This never would have happened if he had just behaved. We shouldn’t even be here.”
     “I know,” Mark said.
     “This is mom’s fault, she sent us to live up here,” Annie suddenly said “She should have acted more like a mom and less like a business women trying to save her career from going down the drain. Kids are supposed to come first, not her career.”
     Charlotte argued, but only half heartedly “It isn’t mommy’s fault that she wanted us to have the best house and food. We were coming first, but her career had to be a close second so that we could have everything that we wanted. It’s not fair to blame her for this.”
     “I know,” Annie mumbled “But I feel like I have to blame someone.”
     “Blame the person who did this then,” Mark said “It seems more logical than blaming someone miles and miles away.”
     Just as Annie was about to responded that he was right Eric entered the room again, the doctor stood in the doorway. “We’ve got to go home now kids,” Eric said “I’m sorry.”
     “Why visiting hours can’t be over already,” Annie argued.
     “They aren’t, but you kids need to eat, and Mark has school,” Eric responded.
     “Daddy we can’t leave Travis,” Charlotte cried.
     “Its okay, we can come visit later I promise,” Eric answered picking Charlotte up.
     They all slowly followed their father out of the hospital room, and down the hall. When they got out side, Anne and Charlotte shivered from the cold. Eric held Charlotte tighter to him, he was afraid of losing her, although he knew that was absurd, especially since he had her safely in his arms. Mark was walking closely behind Annie; he walked with his hands in his pockets, staring straight ahead. Annie had her head down, against the wind, and she was trying to tighten her thin sweater closer to her body for warmth. When they reached the Hummer, everyone got in, as Eric placed Charlotte into the back seat and buckled her in.
     They drove in silence for a few moments until Mark asked “Dad what did the doctor say? Was it good or bad news?”
     “It was okay news,” Eric responded “Not the best, but far from the worst.”
     “Is he gonna be okay?” Charlotte asked in a quiet voice.
     “Of course he is Charlotte, other wise dad would have said it was horrible news,” Annie said.
     “Okay,” Charlotte mumbled.
     “Exactly,” Eric said quietly.
     “Dad, what was the news?” Mark asked.
     “Not now,” was all Eric said.
     Once again they drove in silence and as the scenery flashed by Annie wondered why exactly her father wouldn’t say what the news was. If it was okay news then surely Charlotte, and Annie as well, could hear it.This lead her to believe that maybe the news wasn’t ‘okay’ and that maybe it was in fact, bad news, or even worse, horrible news. Annie shook herself, if the news was that bad, Eric would look more concerned, and they wouldn’t have left the hospital, even if Mark had to go to school, and even if they all had to eat.
     Leaning back in her seat even more Annie closed her eyes, but images of Travis just lying in the hospital bed, not moving, kept returning to her. He should have just stayed with her father, and listened to everyone else just a little more instead of believing he knew everything. Annie couldn’t believe that now she was getting mad at her brother, she opened her eyes, and sighed. The need to blame someone was overwhelming, but she knew blaming people wouldn’t undo this.
     When Eric stopped his Hummer the kids all got out, and hurried into the house, and out of the cold. Once inside Charlotte sat in the living room, and began to color. Annie sat on the couch, while Eric and Mark went into the kitchen.
     Once the door was closed Mark asked, “What’d the doctor say dad?”
     Eric looked at his oldest son “The doctor said that Travis is in a very bad state. The impact from the car crash broke most of his ribs, and his right leg is also broken in multiple places. There’s also more internal damage, not severe, but bad enough.”
     “What does bad enough mean?” Mark asked.
     “They didn’t say,” Eric said, “All I know is Travis is in pain, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
     Mark didn’t know how to respond to this, of course there was nothing his father could do, he wasn’t a doctor. “Dad, the doctors can handle this, relax.”
     Eric nodded “I just can’t stand this feeling of helplessness, I’m not used to not being able to do anything.”
     “It’ll all be fine, you’ll see,” Mark said “I have to get to class, are you gonna be okay?”
     “I’m fine,” Eric responded.
     As Mark hurried to his car, and drove to school, he couldn’t help but think that maybe everything wasn’t going to be alright, and that maybe his father wasn’t worrying over something that the doctors could fix. Mark decided that after classes he would stop into the hospital and see how Travis was doing.
     ‘I hope dad calls mom soon, she needs to know about this.’ Mark thought to himself knowing that their father would put off telling their mother until he felt it was necessary
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