Hey? Is Abby on here too? Hi Abby! Abby and. Go to the same boarding school anyway tiptop top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top top

oh hey Jane! TOP TOP TOP OTP OTP TOP TOP TOP TOP

okay, it's a little long, but please take the time to read it, it took me two days to write.

I lay awake on the tree's rough bark, the stars were shining brighter than ever, and I knew tonight was the night I would do it, tonight I would escape. the orphanage was a place for kids who have a chance, I don't. Mama and dad both gone, because of train the lights so bright the screams, NO SKYLER, I have to remind myself. and besides, I wasn't alone, I had my younger brother Jack. I promised Mama I would take care of him, I couldn't leave without him, even if he did have a chance. every night I tell myself that I would do it then I go in and see Jack at piece and I tell myself to wait another day, that's what I did tonight, again, well it official, I've done that for a month. I bring my blanket up to my chin worried for Jack's sake, he was teased and bullied everyday, at least when I'm not around, I'm the oldest here, 17, Jack’s the normal age 13. the were 14 and 15 year olds but people my age normally don't end up here. the only 17 year old here, is me. the younger kids think of me as a leader, it's not like the people in charge care about us. no, before you get any ideas my life is nothing like the play Annie, we are provided good food and bed, now your thinking, then why are you sleeping in a tree? well my friend I suggest you don't have a sleepover with thirty or so other girls, they snore. ANYWAY, as I said the people in charge don't care what happens therefore no one tries to help Jack, except me. to every kid here, I'm an outsider I have my own group, everyone's in one there are six year olds with twelve year old. age doesn't matter, unless you're me. no, i'm not the one thinking that six and twelve year olds shouldn't "play" together. everyone  thinks that I'm the bossy older girl who should be feared, most of the girls think that too (all of the boys do) but the ten and under girls like to think of me as an older sister. and it sure doesn't bother Jack People fear me. I don’t belong here, I only came because the doctors dropped us off, like “Okay sorry about your parents, her go to this random place, have a nice Life!” okay so maybe they didn’t say that but it’s what it was like. I was around Jack’s age when we were given to this place, so he was only nine. He never had a chance, I never fit in, it just doesn’t run in the family we were all outsiders, but no one has had it as bad as Jack. I drift into a restless slumber on my tree. I wake up at six, 30 minutes before everyone else does, and make sure that no one could tell that I was ever there. Here, you're not really allowed to sleep in trees, it’s like an unspoken rule. I run inside, leap in my bed while one the the PCs (people in charge) look in making sure everyone is here, I rub my eyes and yawn, a simple way to sneak a look at who it is. Kiley, she was my favorite she was the only one who cared. Closer to my age she could relate, Kiley was twenty. “No need to pretend with me Skyler, you're still in the clothes from yesterday,” she laughed. I sit up now fully awake, I smile, not saying a word to keep the girls asleep. Kiley waves me over, and takes me to get an early breakfast. Pancakes and strawberries, my favorite. I inhale them while Kiley watches laughing. We talk for a little while everyone else sleeps, nothing important, just random stuff like harry potter or waffles. The giant room was quiet, our voices echoing off the walls. All day it’s filled with kids yelling, young and old I prefer outside, fresh air wind blowing my gold blonde hair in my face. Unless it’s raining, then It’s not that fun. Kiley loves outdoors too, but she’s stuck inside cooking, she thinks it horrible but secretly I’m happy, Kiley is the best cook ever. Soon everyone starts pouring through the doors, and I make my way over to Jack, who was sitting alone.

“Hey,” I say. His brown hair falls down to his neck, he’s wearing a tee-shirt, shorts, and a light rubber blue wristband that used to belong to Dad. I was in my ocean blue, short sleeve shirt, a hot pink skirt, and the necklace with the diamond encrusted locket of Jack and dad on one side and Mom and me on the other. I never took it off.

~~~

(3:25 PM) I sit at my desk in study hall for eleventh grade. I bite the eraser of my pencil, worrying about Jack, he had study hall too, no one ever payed attention to that in middle school. I have to remind myself to breathe. Mrs. Kenneth looks at me with a puzzled expression. I hold up my paper, to show her that I was all done. Everyone finished, we had ten minutes before school ended so Mrs. Kenneth let us do what we wanted I went over to my best and only friend, Amaya Johnson. She had short black hair, and scarce icy blue eyes. “What’s up Storm Cloud?” she teased, I rolled my eyes, Storm Cloud was her nickname for me because of my super gray eyes.

“The regular,” I responded, with a playful smile. “You know, just hanging out in my mansion, with my robot butler and cat made of diamonds,” I add laughing. Amaya knew I was a foster kid she had ask me to sleepover a her house a few times but I wouldn’t, for family reasons.

“Of course your highness,” she said bowing, “How’s Jack?” she said truly concerned only Amaya knows (besides me) what happens to Jack.

My face, grows stone cold and I know it, “He’s alive, it’s been awhile since, since…” what was I supposed to say? Yeah Jack’s fine it’s been awhile since he’s woken up in the middle of the night because a nightmare, because the crash. Amaya nods she knows. I bell rings and she walks me to the bus, she actually has a car and licence, but she still makes time for me, how nice, right? We walk up and see Thomas a boy in our grade interrogating a scrawny younger boy. “Thomas needs to grow up,” I say. I glance over and see that the scrawny younger boy, was Jack. he needed help, Jack didn’t like to admit it but he was scared of Thomas, he was able to defend himself against the boys at the orphanage, but Thomas was a whole new level. I walked over leaving Amaya too stunned to move.

“Ha! What’s the little orphan gonna do? Call Mommy and Daddy back from the dead?” Thomas mocks plucking something away from Jack. he had been backed up against a fence Thomas and all his jock friends surround him.

“Hey Thomas!” I yell, sixteen eyes including Amaya’s stared at me in shock, no one ever stood up to Thomas. I took a deep breathe conjuring up all the courage I could manage, “Leave him alone,” I push through the wall of Jocks to stand by Jack’s side, “Or you’ll be messing with me,” I say fire burning in my eyes. Thomas stared at me I was unable to read his expression.

“Oh, uh, hi Skyler.” he said. I glare at him, and hold out my hand. “What?”

“I saw what you did, give it back,” I said giving him my best evil glare. He glances at Jack then finally surrenders, he places the rubber wrist band in my hand. I put it in my pocket, planing to give it back to Jack when we get ‘home’. “Come on Jack,” I say, I walk back to Amaya.

“Someday you big sis WON’T, be around to save you, little Jacky,” I heard Thomas say. I went back over and kicked him. Jack and I left him jumping up and down holding his ankle. I caught Amaya’s eye, she was doubled over laughing. It was all because no one ever stood up to Thomas, it wasn’t just Jack he bullied, but hey! I’m just a girl saving the world one kid at a time, my priority is Jack.

While we wait for the bus that is almost always late Jack pulls me aside. “You have to stop,” he said. I look at him confused, I did nothing wrong, right? “Thomas keeps doing it, because he likes you, he knows you’ll stand up for me, you  have to stop,” he said again.

“Jack, that’s crazy is that what he told you?” I asked. He shook his head. “Then how do you know it?” I said, Jack had tried to convince me before that I needed to lay off, and he ended up having a fear of heights.

“I heard Jessica gossip about it to her friends,” Jack said. Of course Jessica, Thomas’s little sister. Before I can respond, he finds his friend Adam and they walk away. I would do it today, I won’t back down, not if I’m the cause for some of what’s happening to Jack. I silently say a goodbye to Amaya, she would understand.

(1:24 AM) I stand at the gates, breathing freedom. At one thirty Jack would meet me here. I had left a note on my bed telling Kiley that Jack and i would be fine, and one in the mail, telling Amaya that I was sorry. Someone tapped my shoulder and I jumped around ready to defend myself, I see Jack with a backpack filled with his stuff. We had to pack light, and travel at dusk-dawn. Hiding in the forest, we would make it to our old house buried deep in the woods. “Are you ready?” I asked. Jack was good at hiding his emotions from everyone, but me. I could tell he was terrified. He didn’t remember much of the old cottage, we left it when he was five. I might have been wrong my stomach churned, doing cartwheels, could this have been a bad Idea? Yes, and it probably was. The stars above us seemed to dim in disapproval as if Mama and Dad didn’t think this was a good idea, they were right, but I didn’t listen. The moon brightens the path, giving it an eerie presence. I start, my legs jelly like, my mind screaming at me to turn back to stop. But I can’t. My heart feels like there’s something pulling me toward the old house, like something could give me a clue on what happened. There was never a funeral I never saw Mama or Dad, the doctors just said that her dying wish was that I take care of her Jack. since then I try to be with Jack as much as I can, not in a, what would it be?  Wait, okay got it, not in a Mama bird way just kinda like a friend way-ish. We make it out of the territory of the orphanage, running, trying to stay unseen. We make it to the woods right before the sun come up. Exhausted, I announce a rest. I tell Jack to take a break get some sleep, that I would take first watch. Long story short I fell asleep. I see my family, all with the dark brown hair, but I’m outside, like i’m looking in a window, like i’m not part of the family. I see my reflection, my blonde hair filled with pine needles and leaves, my face splattered with mud, and my jeans holes on the knees I giant scrape ran from my shoulder down to my hand not bleeding, but still stinging. I scream, I bang on the windows, but no one notices. The wind swirls around me and i’m fine my hair face and jeans perfect the scrape no more than a thin scar. I look around Mama and Jack are there. But Jack lying on a bed, not awake, and Mama is weeping. She turns to me, “You’ve failed, look what you’ve done my one and only child is gone,” she cried. I scream, but there is no sound I run but stay where I am, one and only child? What about me? I want to cry, but mouth is like it’s bolted shut. I wake with a scream and Jack comes running while birds scatter.

“What happened?” He said. I laugh, this was supposed to be the other way around me worrying about Jack.

“I’m fine Jackrabbit,” I say, he scowls at me and I smile.

“Do you see that,” he points to smoke drifting off from a few miles away. “Is it a forest fire?” he asked.

“I don’t think so,” I answer, I think it’s our destination but I don’t want to get his hopes up. “Why don’t we go look?” I suggested. Jack shrugged and we picked up our stuff and started walking.

(2:03 PM) I was right this is exactly where we wanted to be. Smoke swirls from the chimney, someone else is here. I knock on the door, Jack behind me no one knows who the crazy person who is living here is, don’t mention that we’re about to be part of that group. A lady with long flowing dark brown hair opens the door a crack. “Hello,” she says she doesn’t sound crazy, so that’s a good sign. “Come in, come-” she stopped and stared at me “Skyler? Jack? Is it really you?” she said. I nodded, wondering how this lady in the woods knew our names. The lady opened the door all they way, came out and gave us a hug.

“Mom?” Jack said he had figured it out before me. How had I not recognize my own Mother? She took a step back from us, tears in her eyes happy one (hopefully) and she nodded.

“Look at you, Skyler you're so tall, Jack you look just like your dad, wait how are you here? They said you were gone,”  her voice becomes soft.  The doctors lied?

“They said you were gone,” I reply, my mind racing with thoughts.

“Is Dad here?” Jack asks hopefully. Mama’s face grows pale, she shakes her head.

“Not that I know of Honey,” she said giving Jack a hug. She leads us into the house it was awesome, a wonderful smell coming from the oven. “You two look hungry,” she said smiling, “do you want some of my famous chocolate cupcakes?” I nod, but Jack looks confused.

I softly elbow him “Say yes,” I whisper.  He shrugs oh well he’ll be begging Mama to make them more.

“You can go up to your old rooms, there a bit dusty but they should do,” she said. I thank her then check to see if everything I left is still there. It is. The dresser, bed, blue berry the unicorn, don’t judge at the time I was nine! And even the paper on the ground, wait I ment that was the new thing, Mama had put some filing things here, did she find a job out here? I picked it up and turned it over it was an adoption paper with Skyler Casslynn written in big bold letters at the top. But that can’t be right, my last name is Amsden, and I’m not adopted, right? At the bottom there was a signature, Harper Amsden, Mama’s name. I clutch the paper in my hand I walk downstairs, passing Jack going through all his five year old stuff.

“Uh,”I try to get Mama’s attention, it works, “Um, what is, uh, this?” I hold out my hand. She comes over and takes it. She walks over to the couch and pats the spot next to her. I come over eager to hear what she has to say.

“Oh Sky, I didn’t want to have to ever tell you this,” she looks me in the eye, “Sweety, we adopted you when you where three. We knew we would have to tell you sooner of later, but then it happened, and oh, honey I’m so sorry, you understand right?” she said; looking at me, like she would cry if i were mad at her.

I put on a fake smile, “Of course I understand, this is- I just really need some fresh air.” I make up an excuse, and lean against the uneven rail on the porch. I take off the locket and look at the picture. I was smiling, I was happy I was part of the family. I throw the necklace to the ground the locket breaking in two. Tears stinging my eyes, I run. My eyes blurry, tripping over twigs, I run. I run intel I run into someone I didn’t see. “I’m s-sorry,” I say. I look in front of me to see a boy about my age, maybe a few years older, with sandy blonde hair and super gray eyes. I wipe my cheeks way to make a first impression Skyler! I chide myself

“Nah, it’s fine. I don’t see many people out here, who are you?” he asked. He looked trustworthy, I mean as far as it goes when you're in the woods talking to strangers.

“My name is-” I think what is my name? Casslynn? Amsden? “Skyler, my name is Skyler,” I finally say. He looks at me, like I’m some super villain who has possessed a random girl, yeah right!

“I’m Max, you live around these woods?” he asked. Something about him felt familiar, and safe. I look back to see how far i had run, at least two miles the smoke that was curling into oblivion was almost out of sight. “You're an Amsden?” he said following my gaze. I don’t answer there’s a crack of a stick about thirty yards away.

“Jack,” I say. I know it’s him.

“Who?” Max says clearly confused. There was no time to explain I knew Jack needed help, this place is completely different than the school courtyard.

“JACK!” I scream. I run to where I heard the crack, Max following me. I find Jack leaning against a gigantic tree, holding his wrist. “Jack, what happened?” I said running toward him.

“I saw you run out and I followed you. I lost track of where I was I could see you or the house, so I tried to climb the tree, and, I, um, fell out,” he explained.

“Do you want to come to my house? My mother used to be a doctor,” Max said. I shook my head. Max was still a stranger, I was smart enough to not go to a stranger's house. “Let me at least walk you home?” he asked. I gave in and said yes mostly because I had no idea where the house was. We get there in about forty minutes. “You okay Mrs. Amsden?” Max said. She had tears threatening to invade her eyes. She looked over at me and ran, she wrapped her arms around me in a suffocating hug.

“Oh, sweetie I didn’t know if you’d come back,” she whispered in my ear. It took me a few seconds but I finally hugged her back.

“I’m just gonna go…” Max trailed off, and I laughed. I almost forgot about Jack, almost. I look behind me and he is perfectly fine.

“Jack!?” I say. He smiled.

“Mom said to do whatever it took to get you to come back,” he said innocently. I rolled my eyes secretly glad that Jack tricked me into coming back

“You will never be able to get rid of me Jackrabbit,” i laugh. He looks down for a second.

“I never thought about that,” he says softly. And that's when I burst in a fit of laughter.

“Max Casslynn was nice to help you back here,” she looks straight at me. “If you ever what-” I shake my head.  

“At least not now...Mom” I say. She gives me another tight squeeze.

“Now who wants cupcakes?” she says still smiling. Jack and I race to the table.

(2:00 PM. two weeks in the future). I take a deep breathe and knock on the large wooden door. A tall guy opens it with sandy blonde hair falling into his eyes. He gestures to the house and I walk in. inside there is a small blue couch, a tall woman with golden hair and gray eyes stares at me, eyes tearing up. A man with graying chestnut hair sits next to her, a smile as big as the ocean on his face. My palms are sweaty, my stomach churning. Max realizes how nervous i am, he puts, an arm on my shoulder, I smile. The woman stand up opening her arms, I run, bury my crying eyes in her shoulder, she rests her chin on my head. In between sobs I make out a simple word, “Mom.”  

Joining!

~~~

"Stupid girl!" the strict old woman shrieked, beating the frail little girl. She wimpered and looked down. She was breaking, bit by bit, as the woman struck her. Suddenly, she turned and ran, leaving the old woman shouting after her, "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" 

Tears clouded her vision, as she fled toward the beach beside the gloomy, ivy covered house. She collapsed in the sand, staring toward the horizon, a defeated look in her eyes. The once cheerful girl had broke. Now, there was nothing to life anymore. Nothing at all. Even the fear of the old woman's lashings couldn't stop her from fleeing to the ocean, the one and only place where she actually felt safe. 

She sighed. Safe had been a long time ago. Happiness was an almost forgotten memory. Family had dissapeared altogether. Now she had nothing. Why not give in? She looked at the ocean longingly. Her father had once told her something, before he had died, along with her mother. Along with love. He had said that when people died, they were always with you, like guardian angels, protecting you from all around you. And he had said that they went to the ocean to live as free spirits when they died, flying above the salty waves, the wind blowing through their hair. That was when her grandmother had died.

She stared into the ocean, and whispered, "Father? Mother? Are you there?" Only the sound of waves responded, but she imagined that they were her parents voices, "Come here, child, come join us! We are free, come join us!"

She smiled, the only smile she had smiled in a long time. Many years. She had almost forgotten how to smile, but it all returned to her now. She stood up and walked into the ocean, the smile still on her face, "I'm coming to join you! To be free like you!" She walked into the ocean. When the waves crashed over her head, she still went, until her legs gave way under her, and she began to drift along, extending her arms, "I'm coming!" Water filled her mouth and nose, but she kept going.

As her eyes began to close, she saw her father again. And her mother. Long forgotten memories of love and warmth. Her grandmother was there, too. Everyone she had ever loved, who had ever loved her, was there. She smiled, then laughed, then pushed herself into their waiting arms. Then they engulfed her, and her eyes closed for the last time.

The next morning, she drifted to shore, her arms still extended, still smiling. Her body may have been dead, but her soul was very much alive, soaring up above the ocean with her family.