Chapter 5

For awhile things were normal, bulling for Phoebe and fighting for Alex. The only good thing was Cori she had helped Phoebe out on a number of occasions and she and Alex were growing closer.

"Alex, you ok" Cori asked trying to get a look at the suspected bruise on Alex's face. The reply was minimal as usual but Cori pushed on moving Alex's hair to get a better look. The bruise was already purple right across Alex's cheek.

Cori was about to give Alex apiece of her mind but Maria Guerin got there first. "What did they do to Phoebe?" Maria demanded, "pushed her down the stairs" growled. Maria was horrified.

Phoebe was covered in bruises and her arm was broken. The pain was excruciating Phoebe didn't know if she could stand it any longer then she remembered the pills that she had shoved down her bra, so that no one could find them. Phoebe laughed when she remembered the argument she used to have with herself. Deciding whether or not to take the pills, they were really strong.

Phoebe quickly sallowed the pills dry then relished in the fuzzy feeling they gave her. Phoebe slowly forgot the loud buzz of the fluro light and the itchy hospital gown she was wearing.

At home things were tense, all of the next week. Michael and Maria would fight constantly, Alex got into more fights at school, spending time with Cori and riding his bike were his only releases. They day that they brought Phoebe home was a mirthless occasion.

The rest of the Guerin's family tired to be more cheerful, Maria had even made her daughters favourite dessert strawberry cheesecake, The reason that Phoebe's arm was in the cast was pulling all the joy out of the night.

The Guerin's family spent the night together savouring the time together. The next morning Alex took his little sister for a bike ride which lifted her sprits. Until something hit her in the back of the head, she crashed into her brothers back.

Alex swung the bike around and pulled it into a stop, the bunch of boys offered him a beer when he strode over. Then Alex opened is mouth and it was like a bomb had gone off, insults fly then punches did Phoebe desperately screamed for her brother to stop.

"Take me home!" Phoebe screeched "Pheb, I'm fine" Alex tired to smile but his jaw hurt too much. On the way home and for the rest of the day Phoebe reviewed her life, nothing was going right she wasn't smart or pretty or good at anything. Alex was always getting into fights for her Phoebe couldn't understand why he always defended her. She disappointed her parents she knew she did; when they fought she knew it was because of her so after sitting through on of her parents rows at dinner Phoebe decided to her family a favour.

Phoebe snuck down the stairs and saw that her father was watching TV she snuck down into the bathroom and grabbed the new bottle of sleeping pills and shoved them into her pyjama top pocket. Racing back up the stairs Phoebe shoved the pills underneath mattress.

Phoebe lied on her mattress mulling things over it was a debate she'd had many times and it was becomingly more clear to her that it was the way, the fact that the pills were right underneath her was making it extremely harder to say no.

After Phoebe heard everyone else go to bed, Phoebe reached her ultimate decision grabbing the pills form under the mattress and dumped a handful into her palm. Phoebe stared at the little white circles for what seemed like hours then she heard a creak and fearing that someone might stop he she shoved them all into her mouth and swallowed them with a glass of water she always had near her bed. Phoebe curled up into the foetal position and let her eyes slowly close.

Alex bolted out of bed and ran into his parents room, shaking both of his parents awake Alex tired and failed to tell them about the bad feeling he had it was like he had been punched in the gut and stabbed in the heart. All Alex could mange to say was "Phoebe's room now!"

The family run into the youngest member's room, Maria screamed at the sight of her daughters pale body. Alex fell at his sisters' side and shook her until Michael pulled him off. Maria grabbed Alex and pulled him close because he was the closet thing to grab onto. Giving his wife a remorseful glance Michael knelt by his daughter and placed one arm under her shoulders cradling her. Michael leaned forward and placed his fingers gently at her neck to check for a pulse. Michael looked up at his family with a tear falling down his cheek. Placing his beloved Daughter down on her bed Michael felt something hit his knee, Michael grabbed the pills bottle stood to face his family and chokingly announced "she's gone"