"What?!? You've got to be kidding! You're bringing be back?! Why??"
she screamed at her mother.
"Look, if you would just listen to me young lady. I don't think you should be here. Not after what happened," said her mother.
Her eyes flashed angrily, "The more the reason why I SHOULD be here. The only thing that you should be doing is try to understand what I'm going through! You can't yank me out of Ohio and put me back in again!"
"I thought that's what you wanted," Mrs. Colby threw her hands up, exasperated. This was one of the many fights she and her daughter had had since she came to Minnesota.
"But then, if you must know, the truth is, you NEVER ever know what I want. I can't believe you didn't even attend the funeral! I hate you!" she screamed into her mother's face and ran out.
"Helen! Wait -" Mrs. Colby cried out desperately as she watched her daughter run down the steps of the porch. She sighed and sank into the couch behind her. Someone let out a breath behind her and she turned around to see Guy standing there. She wanted to scold him for eavesdropping but decided to just let it go.
"You heard what she said?" she asked her nephew.
He nodded sympathetically, "She doesn't hate you. She's just upset. Even though she doesn't really show it, inside, she's screaming. It'll take her some time to come around."
"All this drama is bad for her. I thought she'd be happy to move back. That way, she can be with her friends," she said.
"Well.. I think she's found friends here," he reminded her.
"Yes. I know that. I just thought - Nevermind.. I'm moving her back next week. No point discussing it," she said in a finalizing tone and got up.
"If you think it's good for her. But I think she'd be better off here. Not that I'm one to make decisions for her," he said cautiously. He didn't want to get mixed up in their problems. He'd rather face a dragon.
She glanced at him thoughtfully, "Maybe so. But I've made up my mind. She's going back. Next week." With that, she disappeared into the kitchen before Guy could say anything else. ************************************************************************
"Hey.. hey hey.. hold up! Where's the fire?" Julie called out as a blurry figure whipped past her. She felt herself waver and felt backwards onto the ground. The accident-prone girl stopped to see who she'd knocked down in her rage to get away from the house. She looked at the other girl, not knowing what to say. They hadn't really spoken since the night of the big blow up. Not that it was her fault or anything, but somehow she felt guilty all the same. She held out her hand to help her up.
"Hey.. sorry 'bout that.." she said awkwardly and grinned sheepishly. Julie reached for her hand and pulled herself up.
"No problem. What's the rush?" she asked the younger girl.
"Nothing.. just.. trying to get away from there," said Helen and she gestured towards the house.
"Oh.. well.. I suppose we do all try to get away from some things at times," Julie said, smiling at her.
"Yeah? What do you want to get away from? Sometimes it seems like I'm the only one running," said Helen. Her anger started boiling again when she thought about the problem. Stupid school. Stupid preppies. What do they know about pain and suffering? She looked at Julie who seemed to be thinking. She wondered. Did she dare ask the one question she'd been longing to ask?
"Do you miss Adam?" she blurted out before she could stop herself. Curiosity got the better of her all the time. Julie looked at her in surprise, gaping. For a second, she thought she was going to hurl insults at her for being such an insensitive jerk. She would have done that herself.
"Well.. to tell you the truth, yes and no," was the reply. Slow, but still, an answer. A confusing one at that.
As if to cross the doubts that were written all over Helen's face, she said, "I do miss him. But.. I'm try not to," she shrugged, "maybe that's what I'm running away from. It hurts. But I try not to let it."
She looked so brave when she said all that. Helen felt herself grow an immense admiration for Julie. Not that she didn't have any problems because it looked so, but because she had the guts to deal with it in her own way. She refused to let these things get in her way. Maybe that's why she was always so tough, so focused and driven in everything. Hockey, studies.. this girl was perfect, Helen thought. Perfect. Just like Adam. It's true alright. They were a match made in heaven. And she had to ruin everything. No, wait. It was Adam who ruined everything. She didn't fall in love. He did.
"Julie.. I want to apologize. For what happened," she said with uncertainty. How would she react to that? It was not as if that could change anything.
"It's not your fault. And I can hardly blame Adam for loving someone else," she smiled sadly saying this.
"No. He doesn't like me. He's in love with you, like before. He's just confused that's all. All we are, are good friends. He's got it all wrong. Just because he tells me stuff, doesn't mean he likes me," she protested. She had to set things straight or she wouldn't be able to end the sleepless nights.
"But that's just it. He trusts you. I know him Helen. The person he trusts, is the one he loves. He used to tell me everything. And then.. you came along.." she stopped. She didn't mean to say those last words, but the pain was still there, no matter how hard she tried to fight it. She looked at Helen quickly to see a crestfallen face. Julie reached out and pulled the other girl in a hug.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way," she said. Julie didn't want to make her feel bad. But then.. there are something which you can't forget, she thought. And these things haunt you forever, your thoughts, your dreams, your speech, your life.
************************************************************************
"Adam, I'm leaving. No, that sounds cold," she said to the mirror.
"I'm sorry Adam. I wish there was some other way, but I have to leave. Ugh, he's going to think I like him," Helen flopped onto her bed, tired. She had been practicing for the past hour. How was she going to tell him? Maybe she should just pack her bags and leave. He'd find out, eventually.
"Adam, I have something to tell you. My mom's making me leave," she smiled to herself. "There. I said it."
"You sure did," said a voice. She rolled around in surprise to see Adam standing in the doorway.
She looked at him and frowned, "I thought you knew how to knock. How long have you been standing there?"
He sat on her bed, "Long enough to know what's going on."
Helen hung her head low, "Oh.. I was going to tell you."
"Why?" he asked.
"Huh? What do you mean?" she asked him back. This was getting for confusing by the minute. Couldn't she just get over with it and leave. Why did things have to get so complicated.
"Why are you leaving? Is everything alright?" he asked and reached for her hands. She withdrew them and hid them behind the pillows.
"Stop it Adam. You're beginning to sound like my mom," she said hotly.
A look of understanding flash across his face, "I see. It was your mom's idea."
She rolled her eyes, "No duh. I wanted to move because I hate being here. It's just so.. unfair! I can't believe I have to take this everyday. You'd think she'd leave me alone after coming here. But no, she had to move over to Guy's place to "keep an eye on me". If it was going to be like this, she never should have made me come here in the first place. Damn!" She flung her pillow against the wall. It bounced back and slammed against her table, making its contents spill over the floor.
She cursed under her breath and knelt down to pick her things up. This was the worst day ever. Adam bent down to help her.
"It's ok. You don't have to help. I need some time alone," she grabbed her papers from his hands. In the attempt, he held on to her hand and said, "I'm always here if you need me. You know where to find me." He got up and shut the door quietly behind him.
Helen watched him leave. It had been a long time since they had been together under the tree. Ever since the night of the kiss. Her and Adam. Kissing. She didn't want to make any more mistakes. Not after Charlie. She realized she was clutching the papers in her hand as she thought about that. She threw them on the floor and rolled into her bed.
She thought about the night of the big blowup. The way Julie's face just fell when she found out. How Portman had nearly punched out Adam. The looks on the Ducks' faces as they stared at the drama. And the night when she had decided to escape everything. The way Adam had come after her. Guy's near- death encounter in the attempt to save Connie. And most of all, the night Charlie left them all to bear with this pain. No. She stopped herself. She had to erase these thoughts from her mind. Maybe sleeping would help. She covered her head with her pillow, trying to drown out the thoughts. And by the time she woke up the next morning, she might as well be in another place where she didn't have to think about anything at all. Stupid, old Ohio.
A/N : Hey all! I wanna thank those of you who read my first story. Hopefully this one gets better. Sorry this chapter's so short. I'm celebrating Chinese New Year now. Busy busy busy! Yes, I'm Asian. =) Malaysian to be exact. So you can see.. I'm planning to take Helen away for a little while. There are more surprises to come. We'll see what happens.. =)
"Look, if you would just listen to me young lady. I don't think you should be here. Not after what happened," said her mother.
Her eyes flashed angrily, "The more the reason why I SHOULD be here. The only thing that you should be doing is try to understand what I'm going through! You can't yank me out of Ohio and put me back in again!"
"I thought that's what you wanted," Mrs. Colby threw her hands up, exasperated. This was one of the many fights she and her daughter had had since she came to Minnesota.
"But then, if you must know, the truth is, you NEVER ever know what I want. I can't believe you didn't even attend the funeral! I hate you!" she screamed into her mother's face and ran out.
"Helen! Wait -" Mrs. Colby cried out desperately as she watched her daughter run down the steps of the porch. She sighed and sank into the couch behind her. Someone let out a breath behind her and she turned around to see Guy standing there. She wanted to scold him for eavesdropping but decided to just let it go.
"You heard what she said?" she asked her nephew.
He nodded sympathetically, "She doesn't hate you. She's just upset. Even though she doesn't really show it, inside, she's screaming. It'll take her some time to come around."
"All this drama is bad for her. I thought she'd be happy to move back. That way, she can be with her friends," she said.
"Well.. I think she's found friends here," he reminded her.
"Yes. I know that. I just thought - Nevermind.. I'm moving her back next week. No point discussing it," she said in a finalizing tone and got up.
"If you think it's good for her. But I think she'd be better off here. Not that I'm one to make decisions for her," he said cautiously. He didn't want to get mixed up in their problems. He'd rather face a dragon.
She glanced at him thoughtfully, "Maybe so. But I've made up my mind. She's going back. Next week." With that, she disappeared into the kitchen before Guy could say anything else. ************************************************************************
"Hey.. hey hey.. hold up! Where's the fire?" Julie called out as a blurry figure whipped past her. She felt herself waver and felt backwards onto the ground. The accident-prone girl stopped to see who she'd knocked down in her rage to get away from the house. She looked at the other girl, not knowing what to say. They hadn't really spoken since the night of the big blow up. Not that it was her fault or anything, but somehow she felt guilty all the same. She held out her hand to help her up.
"Hey.. sorry 'bout that.." she said awkwardly and grinned sheepishly. Julie reached for her hand and pulled herself up.
"No problem. What's the rush?" she asked the younger girl.
"Nothing.. just.. trying to get away from there," said Helen and she gestured towards the house.
"Oh.. well.. I suppose we do all try to get away from some things at times," Julie said, smiling at her.
"Yeah? What do you want to get away from? Sometimes it seems like I'm the only one running," said Helen. Her anger started boiling again when she thought about the problem. Stupid school. Stupid preppies. What do they know about pain and suffering? She looked at Julie who seemed to be thinking. She wondered. Did she dare ask the one question she'd been longing to ask?
"Do you miss Adam?" she blurted out before she could stop herself. Curiosity got the better of her all the time. Julie looked at her in surprise, gaping. For a second, she thought she was going to hurl insults at her for being such an insensitive jerk. She would have done that herself.
"Well.. to tell you the truth, yes and no," was the reply. Slow, but still, an answer. A confusing one at that.
As if to cross the doubts that were written all over Helen's face, she said, "I do miss him. But.. I'm try not to," she shrugged, "maybe that's what I'm running away from. It hurts. But I try not to let it."
She looked so brave when she said all that. Helen felt herself grow an immense admiration for Julie. Not that she didn't have any problems because it looked so, but because she had the guts to deal with it in her own way. She refused to let these things get in her way. Maybe that's why she was always so tough, so focused and driven in everything. Hockey, studies.. this girl was perfect, Helen thought. Perfect. Just like Adam. It's true alright. They were a match made in heaven. And she had to ruin everything. No, wait. It was Adam who ruined everything. She didn't fall in love. He did.
"Julie.. I want to apologize. For what happened," she said with uncertainty. How would she react to that? It was not as if that could change anything.
"It's not your fault. And I can hardly blame Adam for loving someone else," she smiled sadly saying this.
"No. He doesn't like me. He's in love with you, like before. He's just confused that's all. All we are, are good friends. He's got it all wrong. Just because he tells me stuff, doesn't mean he likes me," she protested. She had to set things straight or she wouldn't be able to end the sleepless nights.
"But that's just it. He trusts you. I know him Helen. The person he trusts, is the one he loves. He used to tell me everything. And then.. you came along.." she stopped. She didn't mean to say those last words, but the pain was still there, no matter how hard she tried to fight it. She looked at Helen quickly to see a crestfallen face. Julie reached out and pulled the other girl in a hug.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way," she said. Julie didn't want to make her feel bad. But then.. there are something which you can't forget, she thought. And these things haunt you forever, your thoughts, your dreams, your speech, your life.
************************************************************************
"Adam, I'm leaving. No, that sounds cold," she said to the mirror.
"I'm sorry Adam. I wish there was some other way, but I have to leave. Ugh, he's going to think I like him," Helen flopped onto her bed, tired. She had been practicing for the past hour. How was she going to tell him? Maybe she should just pack her bags and leave. He'd find out, eventually.
"Adam, I have something to tell you. My mom's making me leave," she smiled to herself. "There. I said it."
"You sure did," said a voice. She rolled around in surprise to see Adam standing in the doorway.
She looked at him and frowned, "I thought you knew how to knock. How long have you been standing there?"
He sat on her bed, "Long enough to know what's going on."
Helen hung her head low, "Oh.. I was going to tell you."
"Why?" he asked.
"Huh? What do you mean?" she asked him back. This was getting for confusing by the minute. Couldn't she just get over with it and leave. Why did things have to get so complicated.
"Why are you leaving? Is everything alright?" he asked and reached for her hands. She withdrew them and hid them behind the pillows.
"Stop it Adam. You're beginning to sound like my mom," she said hotly.
A look of understanding flash across his face, "I see. It was your mom's idea."
She rolled her eyes, "No duh. I wanted to move because I hate being here. It's just so.. unfair! I can't believe I have to take this everyday. You'd think she'd leave me alone after coming here. But no, she had to move over to Guy's place to "keep an eye on me". If it was going to be like this, she never should have made me come here in the first place. Damn!" She flung her pillow against the wall. It bounced back and slammed against her table, making its contents spill over the floor.
She cursed under her breath and knelt down to pick her things up. This was the worst day ever. Adam bent down to help her.
"It's ok. You don't have to help. I need some time alone," she grabbed her papers from his hands. In the attempt, he held on to her hand and said, "I'm always here if you need me. You know where to find me." He got up and shut the door quietly behind him.
Helen watched him leave. It had been a long time since they had been together under the tree. Ever since the night of the kiss. Her and Adam. Kissing. She didn't want to make any more mistakes. Not after Charlie. She realized she was clutching the papers in her hand as she thought about that. She threw them on the floor and rolled into her bed.
She thought about the night of the big blowup. The way Julie's face just fell when she found out. How Portman had nearly punched out Adam. The looks on the Ducks' faces as they stared at the drama. And the night when she had decided to escape everything. The way Adam had come after her. Guy's near- death encounter in the attempt to save Connie. And most of all, the night Charlie left them all to bear with this pain. No. She stopped herself. She had to erase these thoughts from her mind. Maybe sleeping would help. She covered her head with her pillow, trying to drown out the thoughts. And by the time she woke up the next morning, she might as well be in another place where she didn't have to think about anything at all. Stupid, old Ohio.
A/N : Hey all! I wanna thank those of you who read my first story. Hopefully this one gets better. Sorry this chapter's so short. I'm celebrating Chinese New Year now. Busy busy busy! Yes, I'm Asian. =) Malaysian to be exact. So you can see.. I'm planning to take Helen away for a little while. There are more surprises to come. We'll see what happens.. =)