A Living Nightmare: part 7

I was in absolute shock as we walked out of the building. And that feeling was only compounded when, once we'd cleared the library door, Maddie started laughing!

I stared at my step-mother in shock! My dad would have killed me by now if I'd humiliated him the way I'd just done to her. Well, maybe not killed me, but definitely I would be feeling the effects of his displeasure for weeks to come (aka "Kylee is grounded for a month" though he would never say that.)
Maddie laughed for a full minute then, when she realized I wasn't sharing in her enjoyment of the situation, bowed her head in emberassment and continued to giggle.
When I finally snapped out of my shocked stuppor I took a breath and

Writer's Note

Hey all! OK, I was having waaay too much fun the other day while working on part 5 and went a little crazy with the German. So, 1 someone asked me if I did that because I speak German. The answer is no. My family is part German, but I was just having fun with the Google translate tool, I don't speak German. 2 I went back and put translations in that section, so if it's still to confusing, or just really tacky, let me know I'll change it to English. Thanks for reading!

Lindsay

A Living Nightmare: part 6

"I wasn't! I really, really wasn't. I was just playing with her, my dad and I do it to each other all the time. It really was just a joke! I didn't mean to scare her so bad or to ruin your book. It was just to be funny. Please don't get mad at me! I'll pay for it! I have $35 with me and I'll do some volunteer work, but please don't lock me out of the library! I need to be able to get books for school and study." I gazed imploringly into Galinda Good's blue eyes and practically made "the puppy pout". For the love of mustard I might as well have said "pretty please with a cherry on top". But fear of what my father would do to me if I got suspended from the library for making trouble, far outweighed any fear of embarassment.

Galinda's soft smile got softer. "Do you realize how many people you frightened?"

I gulped and nodded slightly. Most of them had stuck around to watch my humiliation and punishment.

Then her smile changed into a proud, happy, believing smile and I started to breath again. "I don't think you meant to cause any trouble."

"VAT?!" Seragent Helga wailed.

"Do you promise you won't do it again?" I nodded an enthusiastic affirmative. "Then you pay for the book and we'll call it even, alright?" The last was more directed at Maddie then me but we both agreed; following Galinda to the front while Helga stood howling about the whole arrangement and cursing all youth.

A Living Nightmare: part 5

curled up in a chair reading Eragon.

A woman after my own heart! I smiled as I watched. Her face was so intent on the book you could hardly tell she was a grown woman, not a teenage girl fantacising about fighting alongside the hot, blonde hero.

After watching her a few minutes I decided I'd better tell her I was here. So I manuvered myself so I was approaching her from behind. And for some weird reason, decided I would jab my fingers into her rib cage and say "boo!" I don't know why I did it. I mean I just met the woman and didn't think I really liked her enough to scare her. But, I must say, her reaction was priceless!

The quick motion and short word elicited an earpiercing squeal, three second flight, and the best look of terror I've ever seen! Which of course, also brought five librarians and at least half a dozen patrons to see what the comotion was and shush my terrified companion. I deffinately hadn't expected that. And as I was trying to explain myself and apologize, one of the librarians, I think her name is Drill Sargent Helga. You know her, the one who loves to freak everyone out and make sure the library is 1 silent as the grave. 2 clean as a whistle. And 3 that all the books are not only arranged by isbn, dewy decimal and color, but that they are all in prestine condition. And heaven forbide you be the last person she sees holding a damaged book! She'll have you library card suspended, your driver's licences revoked and you house forclosed on. Know who I'm talking about now? Well that, of course, had to be the person who discovered that, because of my harmless little game, Eragon now lay in 5 different pieces on the floor.

Great, now I'm in HUGE trouble!

Luckily, Madeleine didn't appear to be too mad at me and came to my defense. "Oh dear! I'm so sorry. That was my fault, I should have been holding that better. Let me pay for that .How much do you suppose the damages are?"

Helga wasn't having that. Now it weas my turn to be terrified. "Nine! You vill not pay! Ze book vill be vorked for and zis wenig Mühe Maker (little trouble maker) is no coming beck to zis Bibliothek (library) again. And if she dos I vill have her arrested! Ve do not vant any Mühe Entscheidungsträger (trouble makers) here!"

What in the World is this woman saying! I started to panic so much I couldn't breath anymore. Then all of a sudden the people started to part. Hark do I see a pink bubble? Yes! Here it comes, closer closer! Tis Galinda the good to the rescue!

"Anna what's wrong?" The new librarian asked with a concerned look on her face that made me think of a four year old that is seeing her mother cry for the first time.

"Zis wenig (little) vorm is scaring patrons and ruining books! I am srowing her out!"

"Oh dear." Galinda frowned and turned to face me. I got a sinking feeling the good witch wasn't going to be helping me today. I felt so condemned in fact I wasn't even surprised Galinda could understand the Sargent. "Sweetheart I think you'd better tell me what happened."

I made an attempt at swallowing back my fear and darted a glance at Maddie. "Well, you see, uh. I was here taking a class. And, well, my stepmom was waiting for me. And, when I got done in my class I went to find her and she was reading..."

"A good sing to do!" Helga (Anna) thundered.

"Well yeah I know," She's making me so nervous I can't remember if I'm innocent or guilty! "I know reading's a good thing. But she was so wrapped up in her book she didn't see me..."

"So you frighten her!"

"Please, I don't think Kylee was trying to be mean." Madeleine was trying to defend me, but her statement just made me feel worse. Nevertheless, I jumped on her it and went into pleading mode with the encouragement of Galinda's compassionate smile.

A Living Nightmare: part 4

Not really in the mood for small talk right now. "Yes." I wanted to keep this exchange as minimal as possible.





"I suppose you have your license then?"





"Yes."





After my last answer Madeleine pressed her lips together into a thin line. I decided I'd better say something nice before I really regretted this day by making her upset thereby making dad upset.





"I got my license last year. I'm not allowed to drive alone in town." Madeleine brightened after my voluntary comment.





"Do you know why?" An honestly curious question.





"I'm claustrophobic." I followed it with, "Especially when I'm driving in town."





Madeleine looked startled then it changed to concern. "You're not right now are you?"





I almost laughed, but I took care to keep a straight face. I wasn't ready to be friends with her yet.





"No. Cars aren't really a problem for me, but driving through town makes me feel trapped. Then I hyperventilate and have to pull over."





"What do you do on the bus?" Madeleine's eyebrows were furrowing.





"I walk to school. But you won't catch me in my dad's bathroom for more than 5 minutes at a time." Unconsciously my mental barriers were going down. This wasn't so bad. I started relaxing. My face had turned from looking out my window to looking out the windshield. I smiled a little then looked over at Madeleine. She was not smiling.





"What's wrong?" That look was making me nervous.





Her head snapped up like I'd pulled her out of the clouds. She stared at me a second then, "Nothing."





She shook her head and looked straight again.



After 30 minutes of being lost we finally made it to the library.



That wasn't so bad. I thought as Maddie (she asked me to call her that, but I didn't feel that clse to her yet) went to park the car. I watched her a second, then turned and went inside. She's actually pretty fun.



I smiled a little to myself as I thought about one of the stories she told me. Apperently when she was learning to drive whenever she got into her car she would forget where she was going. She said the first time her dad took her out (it was ussually her mom who did) he didn't know that happened and she ended up getting them lost for two hours while he took a nap in the front seat!



We'd both had a good laugh about that. My dad would have never done that. My grandpa was the one who taught me to drive, but my dad likes to be really sure about what's happening before he trusts he fate to circumstances.



The class was fairly engaging and Tina and I did pretty well; I wasn't really thrilled about the next class though.



Tina had to go home right after, so we couldn't hang out. I hugged her goodbye then went to wander the halls of the library in search of Madeleine.



I found her

Chapter 2: Living Nightmare part 3

I rushed to get ready, then sulkily followed Madeleine out to her car. We climbed into her 2007 Mustang.

"So, where are we going?" Madeleine asked as we pulled out of the parking garage.

Such perk suggests something evil. I thought.

"The library." And with that tart reply I went back to glaring out my window. I can't believe I'm allowing myself to do this. I don't even know this woman! It might not have been so bad if they'd actually told me. But they actually think that I'm gonna be ok with having my almost boyfriend as a brother? Think again daddy-o.

"I'm afraid I've never been to any libraries in Chicago, do you think you could direct me there?" Her request was so sincere yet tentative I had no choice but to soften a little. I'm not very good at making people suffer.

"Yeah, I think I can." I responded, not quite sweetly, but definitely kindly. "I've only been to this library a couple other times, so I'm not quite sure I know exactly how to get there."

"Well, you have a better idea than I do."

She smiled and moved her shoulders as if in a silent chuckle. I pretended not to notice, even though I knew this would be a perfect opportunity for a million different reactions. The truth was I couldn't decide whether to get angry or ask what she was thinking about. Opting out of this invitation was the best move I had at the moment.

We drove along in silence for awhile, and finally it was Madeleine who broke the quiet.

"Do you know how to drive Kylee?"

Chapter 2: A Living Nightmare part 2

"DAD!" I screamed as I tore through the family room into the kitchen.
"Kylee, don't yell and stop running."
I stopped dead in my tracks right in the middle of the kitchen doorway. There stood my dad at the island, cool as a cucumber pouring orange juice. He didn't even look up! Not a twitch!
When I got hold of myself I continued walking in. "It's 9 o'clock! I need to be at the library in 20 minutes! Why didn't anyone wake me up?"
"Kyle you didn't even tell me you were going to the library, how the heck was I supposed to know when to wake you up?! When were you even going to tell me you were going? When you get there?" Dad was really agitated with me. But I was so disoriented! My almost-boyfriend was walking into my kitchen like he belonged there. And he was being followed by a strange woman getting ready to break up our soon-to-be arguement. I didn't really care about how mad Dad was.
"What's going on?" Madeleine drawled with a thick British accent that I didn't remember.
"Nothing!" I snapped.
"Watch it kiddo." Dad muttered the warning with the same venom I'd seen him give a crazy emo guy who'd tried talking to me once. No one crossed my dad in this mood and ever got away with it. I stood silently seething, the library forgotten.
Just get these people out of my house!
"Apparently Kylee had somewhere she'd planned to be today and forgot to set an alarm to get out on time."
What! I told him about this library thing last week! I have to get there to study or I'm not gonna be ready for my SAT! I only have a week! Now it's my fault! He's the one who brought in this woman and her son and didn't tell me till 10 o'clock at night! Did he think this was just gonna be so great? Like it's the only thing I've ever wanted and everything would just be totally normal?
By now I was bitting my tongue so hard it was almost bleeding.
"Oh Kylee I'm so sorry! I had no idea! Here run and get dressed and I'll take you there right now."
Try to buy my loyalty will ya! Well bite me!
I knew this would absolutely make me really late for the prep class I was going to, but in my most diplomatic manner, and with all the ice I could muster I replied "Thanks but I'll just take a later train." I started walking back to my room.
"Kylee you can either let Madeleine take you to the library or you can go shopping with her. A later train is not an option." said Dad.
"Darren!" Madeleine reproached him quietly. I knew this must have been her plan and I clenched my teeth and stomped to my room.

Dear Readers

I have not, in fact, fallen off the face of the planet. I have the next chapter almost completely finished. I just need to type it up. Sorry it's taking so long!
I'll try and post soon.

Chapter 2: A Living Nightmare

I spent the night behind a locked door. Hungry, bewildered, frustrated and completely miserable.
I hadn't had dinner before the show last night so when I got home I was already hungry. By the time I fell asleep I was starving! And when I finally woke up my first Saturday with this strange woman in my house, it was to the growl of my stomach.
I was laying on the floor and pulled my blanket (the one I my mom had given me that I always hold when I'm upset)all the way over my head and groaned. After a few minutes my hungry tummy could not be ignored any longer. So I poked my head out and looked around for my clock. 9:00! I was supposed to be at the transit sation in ten minutes to go to the library with Tina! Why didn't anyone wake me up?!
I jumpped up

The Day the World Fell In: Part 4

Once again, ,we did as good friends sometimes do and, by unspoken agreement, no one asked for any details of Carter's breakup.

"You know Cart, you're pretty cute when you're mad." Leah teased with a flirty look.

"Ya know you were pretty hot yourself Lee-lee." winked Carter.

"All right you two. Better break it up before you make me sick." joked Todd as he held his stomach to emphasize the point.

"I'd love to see what happens when you get...married." Tina had hesitated only a second, but we all knew she had just saved herself and narrowly escaped creating more trouble by skirting around the taboo word of the week. It was that barely detectable hesitation that caused Carter a spur-of-the-moment loathing of the floor. I decided it was time to change the subject.

"Does anyone know where exactly we're getting into the building?" At that Carter looked up with a half excited-half relieved smile.

"They have this nifty little door in the next building over that goes into dressing rooms. It's really coolio! Mr.Harper showed it to me yesterday."
I knew that would bring the distress of the poor flooring to an end I thought as I listened to Cart ramble on and on about the design of the old theater. He will definitely be some sort of architect or interior designer.

At long last we arrived at the building next to the theater and snuck in through the secret door.

"This is cool Carty." commented Todd as he looked down the tunnel we'd just passed through and around the dressing area in which we were now standing.

I say area because it was most certainly not a room. It was just a little part of the backstage that was blocked off with some sort of divider. None of us girls were impressed in the least.

"Alright," frowned our disappointed drummer, "first thing we are going to do now that we're here, is bid farewell to our dear male compadres." All three boys snapped their heads up at the same time.

"You can't kick us out!" shouted Todd, "Well, I guess you can. But couldn't we just find some way to put up a curtain or something? We only have a few minutes and Carter and I will never get to change if you go first."

"Put a curtain on what? These wires on the floor?" I knew they were right, they would never get dressed if we went first, but a curtain? There was absolutely nothing to hang one on!

"How bout you let us go first." suggested Carter "We'll be done before the instruments are set up."

"You guys need make up too." Tina pointed out.

"Why don't you boys get dressed in the tunnel and the girls can dress in here. Then, when you're all done dressing, you can all come in here and do make up." We all looked at Andrew for a second. That was a simple solution. The tunnel was lit, and we didn't need to be separated to do make up. We all agreed and split up. Boys in the tunnel, girls in the dressing area, Andrew in the main backstage.

Soon we were all dressed, painted, combed and ready to go on stage.

That night was a dream come true! The one we'd all been dreaming about since we started Angel's Music (our band). It was truly amazing!

I was moved as I watched the audience. I watched them dance, sing, laugh, and even cry at the end. I loved that. I wanted more of this. This is the way I want to spend the rest of my life. I want to touch people. I know we're not the greatest band in the world, but people liked us. And I want to get better and do this for the rest of my life.

You can imagine how excited we were when Mr.Harper asked us to perform again next week! I was so excited I almost started squealing right there in front of him! But we all kept straight faces until we got outside. Then...

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"I can't believe it!"

"YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!"

"Wow wow wow wow!"

"Holy smokin' cow!"

We were jumping, screaming, shouting, talking, hugging. We were sooooo excited! Tina and I were hugging and jumping and going in circles. And then I was facing the street and almost passed out right there!

Adonis was walking out of the theater! He was walking towards me! He was smiling his perfect smile! And I was making myself look like an idiot!

I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die.

He walked right up to me and put out his hand, "You guys were really great! I loved your performance."

I shook it as my soul left my body and went off in, who-knows what direction.
"Thanks I'm really glad you liked it."
Oh my word he is so cute! I wish he'd talk to me instead of whoever he's talking to.

"Will you guys be performing here again?"

Oh my gosh! He is talking to me! I'm talking to him! He's shaking my hand!

"Yeah, next week. We just got invited back." I almost couldn't control my voice. Between choking back squeals and keeping my face from splitting in half with a smile I'm sure my voice cracked at least three times during the exchange.

"Great! I can't wait to listen to you again!"

"Hey Ioan come on we gotta go catch the bus before it leaves." I looked past Adonis and saw Gordi, our schools computer wizard, calling to him. Adonis, or Ioan, as Gordi had called him, looked at Gordi as well.

"Ok one sec." He looked back at us, "I have to go. I'll see you again next week." With that he turned and caught up to his companion. And together they walked to the bus stop.

The next few weeks were an amazing blend of talking to Ioan and playing at Mr.Harper's theater.

It turns out, Ioan liked me too (much to the disappointment of Tina and Leah.) And soon he was taking the bus home with me instead of Gordi.

This arrangement had been going on for about 3 weeks when, what I thought would be the best night of my life happened. We'd just gotten off the bus,

"Do you mind if I walk you all the way home tonight?"

"I'd love that! Then you can finally meet my dad. I can't believe he's been so busy recently."

"Yeah, my mom's been pretty busy too. I mean there can't be that much happening with the weather to keep her at the studio so much. Oh no! there's a flood coming! Now it's raining! Now it's snowing! Hold on Kyles! It's an earthquake!" He hugged me like he was about to fall. I laughed at him and stumbled a little at the unexpected weight thrown at my waist.

"You're such a dork Ioan!" He grinned as he straightened.

"But you like dorks don't you?" He asked as he reached out and twisted some of my hair between his fingers. His face changing completely from fun to soft and sweet.

"Sometimes." I quipped as I turned and resumed walking.

"Do you like this dork?" He probed with a sly look stealing across his face.

"Sometimes."

"You goose!"

"Sometimes." I giggled at his pretended frustration.

"You gilly sirl! Here I am trying to ask you something and all you can do is be silly." We both smiled as we crossed the street and proceeded down the sidewalk.

When we were on the other side I got curious, "So what were you going to ask me billy soy?"

"Oh nothing." He tossed indifferently.

"What were you going to ask me?"

"Nothing."

He thinks he's so clever trying to play my game. He's so cute.

"Well I guess it was a lie then huh?" He shot a worried look at me, afraid I might have lost interest. He relaxed a little when he saw I was kidding him.

"Maybe." His mischievous look back on his face.

"So what were you gonna lie to me about?"

"I was gonna ask you to be my girlfriend. Was that a lie?" He stepped in front of me and looked into my face with a shy uncertain look.

I was stunned! I had thought I would wait till I was in college to get a boyfriend, I didn't like teenage boys enough for that. But now, I realized this was what I had wanted ever since I met Ioan.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" The longer I hesitated, the more worried he looked.

"Uh," I was speechless, "yes." I looked up at him, a little worried myself. I'm not sure why. But when I looked up we both smiled.

Ioan was so relieved he looked like he would fall apart. In one quick movement he did a jump spin and punched his hand into the air. "YESS!" he landed facing me and we hugged each other.

After a few minutes we started walking again.

"I can't believe I have a boyfriend!" I said a little incredulous.

"I can't believe I have a girlfriend!" He said as incredulously as I had.

"You know what I really can't believe is that you've never had a girlfriend before." I puzzled.
Ioan looked a little uncomfortable when I said that and I was sure I was about to hear something

I didn't want to hear.

"Well, I wanted a different kind of girl to be my girlfriend. I didn't want just any old airhead. I wanted someone who was smart and stable." he looked at me through the corner of his eye for approval. Boy did he get it! I had never enjoyed a compliment more and gave him a big beaming smile.

"Well, here we are!" I announced, "This is my apartment building."

Ioan got a confused look on his face.

"What's wrong?" I pressed concerned.

"Nothing, it's just I'm supposed to meet my mum here." he gazed up the tower like structure, "How ironic." The last part he said to himself.

"Oh, which room is she in, maybe I know the people." At least he doesn't have some terrible hatred for everyone who lives here.

" I don't know. She gave me a piece of paper with the number on it." Absentmindedly he handed me a crumpled piece of paper with a number written neatly on it.

I looked at it for a long time confused.

Finally he looked at me, "What's wrong?"

"Um," I looked up at him then back down at the paper, "that's my number."

He took back the paper and looked at it. Then at me for a confirmation. After he got it he went and held the door open. I hung back for a minute, then went through to the other side.
We walked up the stairs in silence. Possibilities of what was going on in my apartment shooting through my mind.

After an eternity of walking up, up, up I said

"Here." And walked through the stairwell door, down the hall and stopped in front of my door.
We walked inside and I felt like I was in a nightmare. There was my dad sitting on the couch making out with a woman I was trying to convince myself did not look like my Ioan.

Ioan was not so petrified. "Mum!?"

The startled couple looked up to see the bewildered teens.

"Ioan! I was getting worried." The woman got up and walked over to him.

"I can see that. What's going on?" Ioan's voice and eyes gave out the most ice I'd ever seen or heard. And before she could answer him my dad stood up.

"Kye how was the performance?"

"Best one I've ever seen, who's your co-star?" I would not be diverted from what I'd just seen.

"Kylee how rude! Apologize." he demanded.

"No Darren it's alright. They're both surprised it's ok. My name is Madeleine, I'm Ioan's mum." she was trying to soothe me but I wouldn't have that either.

"And what do you think you are doing with my dad?" I pursued.

"Kylee, there's something we all need to talk about."

"I'd say so!" Ioan growled.

Dad looked a little intimidated at Ioan's venomous stare but continued,

"While I was in England, I met a very nice, very beautiful weather reporter. And I asked her to go out with me.."

"Just tell me what's happening, I don't care how it did." ordered Ioan.

Dad looked at him a second then acquiesced.

"Before I left we got married."

I was stunned. I looked at Dad, then Madeleine, then Ioan. Finally he looked at me.

I decided to try out some news reporting on my boyfriend, "Couple of 10 minutes end relationship after discovering they are related."

The Day the World Fell In: part 3

main room to rejoin the group.
Tina and Leah were just finishing setting up the drums while Carter was working on the amps.
Out of all of us I probably had the best setup. Mostly because I am an only child and my dad has a really good news reporting job. So since he went places a lot, he would buy me pretty much whatever I want. And when we said we wanted to start a band he made a deal with us to match every dollar we saved for equipment. Thus we now had two electric guitars, a set of 5 microphones, an amazing set of drums, one of the best keyboards ever made, and a really cool amp set.
When everything was setup we got into position. Leah on the drums, Tina on a guitar (which she'd named Griffin), Carter on the keyboard, Todd on the other guitar and me in front as lead singer. We started with one of our songs and then worked onto some classics like "Walkin on Sunshine" and "Do You Believe in Magic". Then my dad walked in and sat down on the couch to listen.
Our greatest supporter never failed to miss a practice when he was in town. And sometimes when he wasn't he would have us play with the phone on to hear. We never would've gotten this far without him. Even though he'd always wanted a son on the football team, he always looked like he was proud of me when I succeeded in something I liked. I didn't think it would ever change. Why would it?
Right before we left for our performance Dad got a call to report on a big accident. Someone had flipped their speedboat in Lake Michigan and got stuck under it.
"Sorry guys, I'll try to make it before you're done. Make sure you go home as soon as you're done. I don't want you getting into any trouble cause you were out too late." He was so preoccupied he had forgotten to button half of his buttons. I walked over and did them while he tied his tie.
"Don't worry Dad. We'll take the bus straight home after the performance."
"Thanks sweetie." He kissed my head and rushed out the door.
"Well I guess he forgot we needed him to drive the instruments to the theater." Tina said with a discouraged look.
"Don't worry we'll make it." Todd chirped, "We'll just spit up the load and go to my brother's apartment. He'll drive us."
I wasn't so sure we could even make it the three blocks to Andrew's place with all our huge drums. Not to mention the bulky guitar cases. But I didn't say anything, we had to get to the theater and preform or Mr.Harper would spread the word that we AWOL performers.
(Note to reader: For those of you who are not familiar with the acronym AWOL it stands for Absent Without Leave. Meaning no call no shows.)
"OK," growled Cart indignantly, "so who's carrying the base?"
"If you don't want to carry it I will." reproached Todd. After three hours of Carter's whining it was no wonder Todd was getting a little grouchy. The rest of us had slowly given up trying to be nice to him over the first two hours. And now that Todd was starting to snap the next time we heard Carter speak would probably be the last.
"I'll carry Griffin." Tina volunteered.
"Kylee, how about you and I carry the keyboard? And maybe one or two of the little drums or symbols." Leah looked at Carter with a look that dared him to complain about this purposal. He stared back at her witha hard cold look.
For someone who doesn't like to coplain he sure is doing a lot of it tonight. Ugh! He better quite this soon. I don't think I can take this constant bickering.
Finally we got everything distributed and we were off.
"Why didn't we just call him and have him pick us up?" curiously questioned Leah, who had only met Andrew once before.
"Because," sighed Todd, straining to keep his voice calm, "He doesn't have a phone. He wouldn't go there anyway because his ex-girlfriend lives right next to Kylee."
Carter bristled at the mention of Andrew's ex-girlfriend but kept silent to keep tentions from running to high.
"Why can't he just relax? I know he's having a tuff time but if he would just stop thinking about it for a minute he might not be so grumpy." Tina and I were walking behind the other three with Leah ahead of me at the other end of the keyboard.
"I think he must be nervous or something, but I really don't want to talk to him and find out right now. I might yell and say something I don't mean."
"Yeah me neither."
By now we were at Andrew's apartment and we set down our stuff while Todd went to get his brother.
No one said anything so as to keep from fighting. And by unsaid agreement we all sat a yard apart with our backs to the building. Todd was back soon with Andrew in tow fumbleing with his car keys.
Without stopping, slowing or looking at any of us Todd said "Let's go." and walked straight up to the car and opened the trunk.
Andrew helped us load all the instruments into the back without even saying a word. He was probably afraid we would jump at him though we all tried to be polite and "cheerful" (aka we made some sick attempts at smiling). When we got in the car Andrew turned on the radio. It was set to some comedy station and we all started laughing hysterically!
"Nothin like a good laugh to make you forget petty differences, eh?" chuckled Andrew.
Carter turned down the radio, "And now ladies and gentlemen," he drawled in a radio announcer's voice, "we will send up a cheer for the man who undoubtedly and heroically saved the lives of 5 young teenagers this evening on the way to a concert. Let us give three cheers for, Mister Andrew Colson!!!!!!!!"
"HIP HIP, HORRAY! HIP HIP, HORRAY! HIP HIP HORRAY!!!"
"Why I'd just like to thank ya'll for that splendid cheer," joked Andrew in a southern accent "and I'd just like to tell ya'll one thing in gratitude. My fee is $100 an hour." We'd been giggling since he started, but at the last part we burst into fresh laughter.

The Day the World Fell In part 2

"Omg, did you see his eyes! Blue eyes! Blue eyes with black hair!" None of us were actually listening to each other. But Leah went off on a tangent about his eyes, while Tina went on about his body, while I sped off about his accent (which, btw, I nearly fainted when I heard!) On and on we went till finally:

"Hello! What is wrong with you guys!" Carter practically screamed at us. We sat perfectly still and listened to him petrified. "Have you lost sight of our goal?! We have a performance tonight and all you three can talk about is some guy who's name you don't even know! Kyle, this is not like you!" At this I hung my head, it wasn't like me to fantisize about boys. I was usually the one who pulled the other girls out of the clouds. "If you guys don't get your heads into this rehersal Todd and I are leaving!"

"Carter, chill out alright. If he's cool enough to grab Kylee's attention I think we can spare a couple minutes." I was so embarassed I hardly heard Todd defending me. Carter seethed for another minute or so then started breathing normally again. He sat down on the couch opposite me and put his head n his hands.

"I'm sorry Cart." I whispered. I looked at the floor for a minute then got up to go get some water for rehersal. Todd followed me.

"Don't let him get to you Kyle. He's just mad cause no one talks about him like that."

"Why would he want anyone to? He's already got a girlfriend." I said sulkily.

"Not anymore." I snapped my head up to look at him, "They got into a fight last weekend and broke up."

"Why didn't he tell us?! Why would he only tell you?"

"You know Cart, he doesn't like to complain. I only know cause I tried to talk to Rainy today and she blew up at me. Told me everything." he sat on the counter next to the sink as I filled a pitcher with water.

"I feel so bad now! I had no idea!" I moaned, "If only I'd known I wouldn't have talk so much."

"Kylee, don't worry about it. Carter is just a little sore right now. In a few days he'll be just fine." Todd was trying to make me feel better, but it wasn't working. "Kylee, I'm really glad you found someone you like. Carter is too. He's nervous about the show tonight and doesn't like it that you girls aren't. Just ignore him for a little while, he'll feel better once we get started. Ok?"

Reluctantly I gave in "Ok."

"Ok, let's get started." Todd smiled. I always loved his smile. So sweet and reassuring. There were days when that smile was the only thing that made my world go round. I don't know where I would be without that guy. Especially after my mom died 6 years ago when I was 10. If I hadn't had Todd and Tina, I don't know if I could've gone on.

Todd and I walked back into

Chapter 1: The day the world fell in

It was a completely normal day. Just like all the ones before.

It started at 5 a.m., just like every other morning of my highschool life. I get up, shower, do my hair and make up, eat breakfast, brush my teeth and head off to school. I arrive at 7:15 and greet my best friend I've known forever, Tina. Arm-in-arm we walk down to our lockers and drop off our bags, then stroll down to biology. Where, of course, we meet up with our best friend from gradeschool, Leah. Who, though she is always cheery, is a little extra happy today.

It was the moment I saw her extra big excited smile that I knew, today was going to be different.

"Did you see him yet?!" With these words Leah fairly exploded with enthusiasum.

"Who?" questioned Tina, the ever curious one.

"The Brit!" cried Leah "There is a new British student here in our school! He is soooo cute! He has black hair and a face that looks like he must be related to Adonis himself!"

"You know Lee, it's not good for anyone to go for more then 6 minutes without breathing." I teased as I purused the reading assignment I read last night. Tina giggled.

"Oh my gosh he's in our biology class! And he's coming to sit in front of me!" All this was said in a sort of squeaky whisper as Adonis entered the classroom and came toward Leah. Tina and I looked up to see if we could get a look at this mythological enchantment. We were immeadiately taken in by this rare specimen of a hotty. He walked in surrounded by about 5 guys and came and sat down much to my smitten pleasure, right where Leah had said. In the middle front row seat. Right in front of her, right next to me! It was so hard not to squeal with delight and keep a relaxed face. Luckily, he was to busy talking to his knew friends to notice me.

The rest of school was spent trying to spot him. And many times we did. We were in almost every class together, and now so was mr. hotstuff! I was thrilled beyond belief. I just wish I could've talked to him after school or even gotten his name. But duty calls, I had to get to band practice.

I fairly flew back to my apartment building. I was in a complete daze. And Cart and Todd were not thrilled that as soon as I arrived at the apartment where my dad and I lived, that all us girls had to talk about was Adonis. Not like we actually saw this because all three of us girls had our mouths going a mile a minute.