p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"strongAN: I know I promised that there would be a part two, but I have decided that what I have posted so far will be all that will be posted. I'm sorry. /strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"strongDisclaimer: I own nothing but Georgie. Enjoy./strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"strongThe Angel of Death/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"strongEleven: To Burn a Bridge/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"It was the first time I had gone home in a long time. In the past, I only stopped by to shower and get new clothes. They never said anything about it. They were always too busy. But that was okay. Because, in the end, that was what helped me decide to leave./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What do you have to do to burn bridges?" I asked Reaper one day./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""It depends on the person," He told me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What did you have to do?" I asked. "You know, if you don't mind me asking."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I destroyed what mattered most," He said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What would I have to do?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""It depends on what you feel like doing," He shrugged./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""My mom's favorite thing is her drugs," I told him. Closing my eyes. "My dad's is his beer. Is it horrible that the thing that matters most to them isn't each other?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Maybe. If you wanted the ideal family, I guess it would be. But not everyone gets the ideal family," He told me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I could feel the tears coming. "They haven't even realized that I haven't been home the last couple weeks."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"He put his hand on my shoulder. "Not everyone gets a happy ending. It's up to you to make your own."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I think you're right," I said, trying to wipe the unshed tears from my eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What about Georgie?" I asked him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What about her?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""How would I burn a bridge with her? I don't exactly want her to hate me," I said, biting my lip./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""You may not have to. You never know what will happen in the future. Maybe she will be useful," He told me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Honestly, I always thought that," I said, laughing softly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Good," He smiled./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I smiled too. I wasn't ashamed of what I would have to do to leave. I wasn't ashamed of what I might end up doing. I was kind of excited for it, actually. It sounded like an adventure, and I was always up for an adventure. It sounded like what I would be going towards, would be much better than what I would be leaving behind./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""When would I have to do this?" I asked him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Whenever you wanted to," He told me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I nodded, and was quiet. I had known him for almost four months. School had just started, and, like I had figured, we met after school at the library now. I had just started my freshmen year. Almost two months into it, and I was still eating lunch on my own./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Should I start calling you Master now, or when I finally make my actual decision?" I asked him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""You can start whenever you want to," He said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""That's what you said last time," I told him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""This is my first time with an apprentice. I'm not aware if there is etiquette or not. emMy /emmaster kidnapped me from my friends several years ago. After a while, though, I didn't care. I got over it. He wasn't always the kind of guy that you would get etiquette from," He said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I nodded. "What if I decided to not be your apprentice?" I asked him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"He was quiet. "You know about me and my line of work. I may have to kill you," He said. "And I really don't want to have to do that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I nodded again. I didn't plan on refusing him, but I wanted to know what he would be planning if I had. I was reading a new book this time. For once, it was a regular book. You know, a fictional one. One of those classics that your english teachers insist on you reading./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I'll work on it," I told him. It was my turn to leave. I had homework. "See you later," I told him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"~666~/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I honestly wasn't sure how we decided on it, but whenever I felt the need to leave and agree to be his apprentice, we could meet at the bus station. It was going to be useful. Especially tonight. After knowing Reaper for five months, I was going to run off with him and become his apprentice./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I was worried about what I was going to have to do, but I was willing to do it. I started with Georgie./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Hey, girl," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Hey chica. What up?" She asked me, grinning./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I'm just telling you, I'm leaving tonight," I told her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What do you mean?" There was that question again./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I'm leaving. Denver. I'm not coming back," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Where are you going?" She demanded./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I don't know yet," I answered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I'm coming with you," She said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""You can't," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Why not?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Because you just can't," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""You can't, or you don't want me to come with you?" She narrowed her eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Georgie..." I tried to tell her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I thought we were friends! How could you leave me?" She yelled at me. I didn't know she was going to get so mad at me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Georgie, I don't want to go away with you mad at me," I pleaded with her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""How about you just not go away?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I have to!" I yelled back. "Look. I'm just leaving. Maybe I'll see you again, maybe not. I'll miss you," I told her. I turned and ran./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"That was my first bridge to burn. Now I had two more. The first one, my parents. The second, my grandparents. But seeing as they lived several states away, they would have to come another time./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"My parents house was next. This was a bridge I was happy to burn. Literally. The only thing they cared about was their money and their recreational aides. That was what I was going to burn. But, to do that, I would have to wait for later tonight./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I got home and went to the guest room. I had kept my word about not staying in that room after that night. I set my backpack on my desk and pulled out the chair This was going to be a long evening./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I took out a duffle out and went to my closet. I figured that, while I was waiting, I could pack. I started with the book by Pavel. Then my dictionary that was helping me translate it and the notebook I was writing it in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"The next thing I packed was my own copy of Phantom of the Opera that Georgie had given me for my birthday, as well as the soundtrack. Then I turned to the closet. I opened it and looked through the clothes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I put in my black shorts and a couple of jeans. I threw in a few shirts with both long and short sleeves. I threw in underwear and bras as well. I put in plenty of socks too. The last thing I pit in were my combat boos that I had purchased recently. I put on my tennis shoes, the Vans. As a last thought, I threw in my Puma's./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I zipped it up. I went to my bathroom and grabbed a brush and some ponytail holder and bobby pins. Next, I grabbed my tooth brush and tooth paste. My face wash, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash was next. I opened a side pocket of the duffe back and placed the items inside./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"After I had packed, I started to form my plan. I would set up a fire so it wouldn't kill my parents. If they got out in time, that is. But, if they did die, it wouldn't be completely my fault. Maybe I would even call the fire department after I set it. Now I just had to wait./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"~666~/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I stood at the bottom of my parents' marble staircase. I had a bottle of alcohol in one hand, and a lighter in my other. I had made a trail of alcohol from the bottom of the stairs, up to the safe in my parents room. I had also made trails to all the rooms upstairs too. Each room was filled with as much alcohol as I could find. Since there were only a few rooms upstairs, it could be considered quite a lot./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"My mom kept her drugs in the safe with their money and their more expensive liquor. I just had to light the trail, and it would soon all go up in smoke. And I would be free./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I tipped the bottle in my hand and alcohol started pouring out. I stepped back and made my way to the door with the bottle still upside down. The bottle ran out at the door and I set it on the ground./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I had read somewhere that alcohol was major flammable. Let's hope it was true. I turned the lighter on with a flick of my thumb, and the flame jumped to life. I looked at it for a moment, feeling the slight warmth it was giving off./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I would have to get out quick, since I didn't know how long it would take for the flames to reach my parents's room. I opened the door wide, ready for my escape. I also pulled my phone. I had decided that I would call before I set the fire. They would get there faster that way. And I could also toss my phone into the fire./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""911, what's your emergency?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""There's a fire at 422 East Water Street," I told the person on the other end./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I hung up, dropped the lighter in the puddle of alcohol, and tossed my phone onto the bottom of the stairs. I turned, and ran. I was halfway down the road when I heard the six explosions I had been waiting for. One for my parents' room, four for the guest rooms, and one for my room./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I hiked my duffle bag higher up on my shoulder, and I left. Not ever looking back once./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"~666~/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I could see the fire of my house from the bus depot. I found Reaper off to the side, watching it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Your work?" He asked me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I turned my bridge with them, literally," I told him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""And your friend?" He continued./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I told her I was leaving and not coming back. She got mad. I guess that's okay, though," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Everything will get easier. So, you have decided?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Yes," I answered grimly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"A bus pulled up. "Shall we?" I nodded./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"He offered his hand. I turned back once more. I looked over the city. I would miss the library and the coffee house. I would kinda miss Georgie. But I would have to get over that. It's not like I could go back. Not after setting fire to my house. I accepted his hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""This is the point of no return. You know that, right?" He asked me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I do. And I wouldn't return even if I had to do so to save my life," I told him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Good. Let's go. And, from now until I retire, you are my apprentice, and I am your master."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"strongDisclaimer: I own nothing but Georgie. Enjoy./strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"strongThe Angel of Death/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"strongEleven: To Burn a Bridge/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"It was the first time I had gone home in a long time. In the past, I only stopped by to shower and get new clothes. They never said anything about it. They were always too busy. But that was okay. Because, in the end, that was what helped me decide to leave./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What do you have to do to burn bridges?" I asked Reaper one day./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""It depends on the person," He told me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What did you have to do?" I asked. "You know, if you don't mind me asking."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I destroyed what mattered most," He said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What would I have to do?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""It depends on what you feel like doing," He shrugged./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""My mom's favorite thing is her drugs," I told him. Closing my eyes. "My dad's is his beer. Is it horrible that the thing that matters most to them isn't each other?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Maybe. If you wanted the ideal family, I guess it would be. But not everyone gets the ideal family," He told me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I could feel the tears coming. "They haven't even realized that I haven't been home the last couple weeks."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"He put his hand on my shoulder. "Not everyone gets a happy ending. It's up to you to make your own."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I think you're right," I said, trying to wipe the unshed tears from my eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What about Georgie?" I asked him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What about her?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""How would I burn a bridge with her? I don't exactly want her to hate me," I said, biting my lip./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""You may not have to. You never know what will happen in the future. Maybe she will be useful," He told me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Honestly, I always thought that," I said, laughing softly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Good," He smiled./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I smiled too. I wasn't ashamed of what I would have to do to leave. I wasn't ashamed of what I might end up doing. I was kind of excited for it, actually. It sounded like an adventure, and I was always up for an adventure. It sounded like what I would be going towards, would be much better than what I would be leaving behind./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""When would I have to do this?" I asked him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Whenever you wanted to," He told me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I nodded, and was quiet. I had known him for almost four months. School had just started, and, like I had figured, we met after school at the library now. I had just started my freshmen year. Almost two months into it, and I was still eating lunch on my own./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Should I start calling you Master now, or when I finally make my actual decision?" I asked him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""You can start whenever you want to," He said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""That's what you said last time," I told him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""This is my first time with an apprentice. I'm not aware if there is etiquette or not. emMy /emmaster kidnapped me from my friends several years ago. After a while, though, I didn't care. I got over it. He wasn't always the kind of guy that you would get etiquette from," He said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I nodded. "What if I decided to not be your apprentice?" I asked him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"He was quiet. "You know about me and my line of work. I may have to kill you," He said. "And I really don't want to have to do that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I nodded again. I didn't plan on refusing him, but I wanted to know what he would be planning if I had. I was reading a new book this time. For once, it was a regular book. You know, a fictional one. One of those classics that your english teachers insist on you reading./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I'll work on it," I told him. It was my turn to leave. I had homework. "See you later," I told him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"~666~/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I honestly wasn't sure how we decided on it, but whenever I felt the need to leave and agree to be his apprentice, we could meet at the bus station. It was going to be useful. Especially tonight. After knowing Reaper for five months, I was going to run off with him and become his apprentice./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I was worried about what I was going to have to do, but I was willing to do it. I started with Georgie./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Hey, girl," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Hey chica. What up?" She asked me, grinning./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I'm just telling you, I'm leaving tonight," I told her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""What do you mean?" There was that question again./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I'm leaving. Denver. I'm not coming back," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Where are you going?" She demanded./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I don't know yet," I answered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I'm coming with you," She said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""You can't," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Why not?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Because you just can't," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""You can't, or you don't want me to come with you?" She narrowed her eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Georgie..." I tried to tell her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I thought we were friends! How could you leave me?" She yelled at me. I didn't know she was going to get so mad at me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Georgie, I don't want to go away with you mad at me," I pleaded with her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""How about you just not go away?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I have to!" I yelled back. "Look. I'm just leaving. Maybe I'll see you again, maybe not. I'll miss you," I told her. I turned and ran./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"That was my first bridge to burn. Now I had two more. The first one, my parents. The second, my grandparents. But seeing as they lived several states away, they would have to come another time./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"My parents house was next. This was a bridge I was happy to burn. Literally. The only thing they cared about was their money and their recreational aides. That was what I was going to burn. But, to do that, I would have to wait for later tonight./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I got home and went to the guest room. I had kept my word about not staying in that room after that night. I set my backpack on my desk and pulled out the chair This was going to be a long evening./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I took out a duffle out and went to my closet. I figured that, while I was waiting, I could pack. I started with the book by Pavel. Then my dictionary that was helping me translate it and the notebook I was writing it in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"The next thing I packed was my own copy of Phantom of the Opera that Georgie had given me for my birthday, as well as the soundtrack. Then I turned to the closet. I opened it and looked through the clothes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I put in my black shorts and a couple of jeans. I threw in a few shirts with both long and short sleeves. I threw in underwear and bras as well. I put in plenty of socks too. The last thing I pit in were my combat boos that I had purchased recently. I put on my tennis shoes, the Vans. As a last thought, I threw in my Puma's./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I zipped it up. I went to my bathroom and grabbed a brush and some ponytail holder and bobby pins. Next, I grabbed my tooth brush and tooth paste. My face wash, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash was next. I opened a side pocket of the duffe back and placed the items inside./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"After I had packed, I started to form my plan. I would set up a fire so it wouldn't kill my parents. If they got out in time, that is. But, if they did die, it wouldn't be completely my fault. Maybe I would even call the fire department after I set it. Now I just had to wait./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"~666~/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I stood at the bottom of my parents' marble staircase. I had a bottle of alcohol in one hand, and a lighter in my other. I had made a trail of alcohol from the bottom of the stairs, up to the safe in my parents room. I had also made trails to all the rooms upstairs too. Each room was filled with as much alcohol as I could find. Since there were only a few rooms upstairs, it could be considered quite a lot./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"My mom kept her drugs in the safe with their money and their more expensive liquor. I just had to light the trail, and it would soon all go up in smoke. And I would be free./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I tipped the bottle in my hand and alcohol started pouring out. I stepped back and made my way to the door with the bottle still upside down. The bottle ran out at the door and I set it on the ground./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I had read somewhere that alcohol was major flammable. Let's hope it was true. I turned the lighter on with a flick of my thumb, and the flame jumped to life. I looked at it for a moment, feeling the slight warmth it was giving off./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I would have to get out quick, since I didn't know how long it would take for the flames to reach my parents's room. I opened the door wide, ready for my escape. I also pulled my phone. I had decided that I would call before I set the fire. They would get there faster that way. And I could also toss my phone into the fire./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""911, what's your emergency?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""There's a fire at 422 East Water Street," I told the person on the other end./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I hung up, dropped the lighter in the puddle of alcohol, and tossed my phone onto the bottom of the stairs. I turned, and ran. I was halfway down the road when I heard the six explosions I had been waiting for. One for my parents' room, four for the guest rooms, and one for my room./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I hiked my duffle bag higher up on my shoulder, and I left. Not ever looking back once./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"~666~/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"I could see the fire of my house from the bus depot. I found Reaper off to the side, watching it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Your work?" He asked me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I turned my bridge with them, literally," I told him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""And your friend?" He continued./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I told her I was leaving and not coming back. She got mad. I guess that's okay, though," I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Everything will get easier. So, you have decided?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Yes," I answered grimly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"A bus pulled up. "Shall we?" I nodded./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"He offered his hand. I turned back once more. I looked over the city. I would miss the library and the coffee house. I would kinda miss Georgie. But I would have to get over that. It's not like I could go back. Not after setting fire to my house. I accepted his hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""This is the point of no return. You know that, right?" He asked me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""I do. And I wouldn't return even if I had to do so to save my life," I told him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;""Good. Let's go. And, from now until I retire, you are my apprentice, and I am your master."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" /p