The End.

16

Mark stood up. "Did you hear that?"

"Relax. That was just the other generators turning on." Wes replied, calming everyone down in our state of panic after Alison, then after losing power.

I took a deep breath. This couldn't be happening.

We went back to the occasional murmur as Calum sat beside me, Alyssa (who had been very quiet the last few days) sat across from me, and Kyle sat beside her.

"These things aren't that and actually."  Alyssa spoke up, although still quietly.

Kyle sat up and Calum raised his eyebrows, surprised at her sudden spoken words after being silent for so long.

"Yeah, they aren't too bad." I replied, playing in my vegetable soup.

I felt Calum scoot closer to me; evidently he had noticed my uncomfortable manor.

"She wouldn't want us to be this worried, Carter." Kyle said.

"Stop talking about her like she's dead. And you know Ali, she would love the attention." I replied.

-

"Oh, Carter. Don't you just love those flowy wedding dresses with the sparkles and long tail?"

We had been shopping with my aunt, who was getting married in a few months, -my mom being one of the bridesmaids, and Ali and I being the flower girls, we were dress shopping and planning the wedding. Jen and Alex had dated for almost six years, through their middle school and high school years, and we were happy that they were finally tying the knot.

I looked back at Ali, admiring the mermaid style on display.

"Oh Ali. You have much to learn."

"Like about boys?" She said, emphasizing on the word 'boys'

"Yes. For your information, they're all uncultured swine." I replied, shaking off the fact that I almost enjoyed it when boys chased me around like I was the last piece of meat and they were starving. I never gave into their stupidity. I'd much rather focus on school and soccer. Being a stopper on the U.S. Women's team was my ultimate goal. I wouldn't let morons slow down my dreams.

"What's an uncalled-for-what?"

I nodded my innocent sister away and continued dreaming about the new cleats I had my eyes on.

-

I always read in books that when a loved one went missing or passed away, there was constant depression, constant hurt. That's not true.

It came in spurts. Uncontrollable spurts caused by nearly anything. The mention of their name, a smell, a sense of nostalgia, denial.

Unfortunately for me, I remembered that day at the formal/wedding dress store.

Then I could have sworn I smelt Ali's perfume. 'Paris Amore.' I inhaled the scent. Hoping that maybe I would turn around and see her standing behind me with a smile on her face saying "Gotcha!"

But when I turned around, I was still sitting in the cafeteria beside Calum, the lights were still limited due to the loss of power, and she still wasn't here.

"Carter. I was just trying to make you feel better. I'm sorry." Kyle apologized. It took me a minute to understand what he meant. Then I remembered the hurtful words.

When you lose a loved one, sometimes you don't even know what you're saying.

I sucked in a breath, hearing everyone's steady breathing as they waited for me to speak.

"It's okay Kyle. I'm sorry too. I'm just-"

Yet another tear fell down my cheek. I was worse than usual with all of my emotions. I really needed a day to let them all out so that I don't keep outbursting in public. 'Crying shows weakness. Get up and keep running' my coach used to say. I inhaled a large breath through my nose and composed myself.

"-It's just that I've been really upset and I guess the smallest things have set me off."

Alyssa gave me a gentle, supportive smile, and outstretched her hand for another supportive squeeze.

"Thank you."

"I know how it feels, about what happened to Ali. I know it's not the same situation, but my mom died when I was younger. You think you'll forget about them, but you never do. There's still hope for your sister. Don't forget that."

"That means a lot Alyssa."

"Not to ruin your little emotion party but I think there's a meeting happening that we should be involved in."

Well, there he was again. My cocky, annoying, egotastical brother.

At Least he's not walking on eggshells around me anymore. He's accepting the fact that being careful with my emotions won't help Ali.

I sighed, realizing that while I was glad to have the real Kyle back, I was a little sad that he no longer would be there for me to talk to and cry on his shoulder.

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{an}

this chapter is really sappy I'm sorry  ok

Teaser; The group prepares a plan to go outside and find what they need safely.