Home Is Where The Heart Dies

Chapter 4

   "Do you have any ideas on how we can find out more about what happened to my parents?" I asked Gabrielle at lunch. We slept in so long that we missed breakfast so we are eating breakfast for lunch.
   "Well since you are so paranoid about the Ms. McPhee and her being out late thing why don't we go ask her what she was doing?" Gabrielle suggested.
   "Ok," I said getting up and getting my shoes on to go ask her.
   "Are you going like that?" Gabrielle asked me pointing at my pajamas.
   "Oh yea," I said retreating up to the room so I could change. I quickly changed and ran back downstairs.
"Is this good?" I asked Gabrielle.
"Perfect." As she said that I as walking out the door to Ms. McPhee's house.
"Oh you came back," she said after she answered the door.
"No not really I just wanted to ask you a question."
"Ok ask away."
"Last night I saw you outside your house looking around for something."
"And?"
"And I was wondering what you were doing?"
"Well I heard a noise so I went out to investigate," she said slowly but quickly.
"Umm ok bye then I guess," I said going back to Gabrielle's house.
"Bye bye dear."
"So what did you find out?" Gabrielle asked me as soon as I walked in the door.
"She said that she heard something and went out to investigate but I don't think she was telling the truth."
"Why don't you think she was telling the truth?"
"I don't know I just feel like she was wrong," I said trying to make sense of the feelings.
"Well I think your feelings are wrong cause what else could she be doing?"
"I don't know."
*****
"Hey Cassie! Come down here!" I heard Gabrielle yell into me just as I was in the middle of my new book.
"What do you want?" I ask her once I get downstairs.
"Your on the news," she said pointing at the tv.
"What?" I said going over and looking. Sure enough there I was on the tv yelling at the police. The caption was: girl comes in and starts yelling at police.
"That was not the type of thing I was imagining when I said I wanted to be on the news," I said.
"Well I think it is hilarious."
"I don't, I think it could ruin my career as a journalist."
   "Maybe but it would not ruin your chance at being on America's Funniest Home Videos," Gabrielle said laughing.
   "I don't think you can make a career off of that," I said going back upstairs.
   "Wait," Gabrielle said to me as I got to the top of the stairs.
   "What is it?" I said rolling my eyes.
   "I just got a text from Alex saying that he is in the hospital and might not make it," Gabrielle said getting up and throwing her shoes on.
   "We better go then," I said grabbing my keys and shoes and running outside.
                 *****
   "How can I help you?" a man at the desk asked us.
   "We were wanting to visit Alex Doug," Gabrielle said because I had no idea what his last name was.
   "It is the first room on the left," he said pointing to a hallway.
   "Ok thank you," I said as we walked off towards his room.
"Alex?" I asked quietly while walking into his room.
"Cassie?" Alex asked trying to sit up but coming back down.
"What happened?" I asked walking over and sitting on the chair next to his bed.
"It has happened before, but this time it was the worst it has ever been," he said concentrating on his words.
"What is it?"
"Cancer."
"They can do something to fix it right?" I said worried for his safety.
"Yea last time I had it when I was 7 and they gave me chemotherapy."
"Are they going to do it this time too?"
"Yes but it might not work."
"Gabrielle are you hearing this?" I said looking over to where she was but now she was gone.
"Where did she go?" I asked no one in particular.
"Probably to the cafeteria it is lunch time," Alex answered.
"Right."
"Sorry guys there was cake in the cafeteria," Gabrielle said running back in making us all laugh.
"So why are you in here?" Gabrielle said motioning with her hands to the room.
"I have cancer."
"Oh," she said quietly. Right then I got a phone call.
"I'll be right back," I said answering the phone and walking out of the room.
"Cassie?" I heard Makayla,my dorm room buddy, say.
"Hey Makayla I am kind of busy right now."
"I know I know just give me one minute," I could hear the urgency in her voice.
"Ok what is it?" I asked tapping my foot impatiently.
"Guess what I saw?"
"What did you see?"
"I saw Ben, your boyfriend, making out with Stacy," she said slowly.
"What?! He was making out with her? I have only been gone a week!" I yelled.
"I know!"
"Is there anything else?" I asked before I started crying.
"No bye," she said then hung up.
"What's wrong Cassie?" Alex asked as I walked into the room with a long face.
"Nothing I am fine see," I said trying to put on a fake smile but it not working.
"You are not fine who was that phone call from?" Gabrielle asked.
"It was from my friend in Missouri, Makayla."
"What did she want to tell you?"
"She told me that she saw my boyfriend making out with a girl," I said trying my best not to break down and cry right there but it didn't work.
"Well you better clean up those tears and call your ex-boyfriend and break up with him, so if anyone asks you broke up with him," Gabrielle said trying to make it better.
"Ok," I said whiping my tears and getting my phone out of my pocket. I went to his contact and called him. It buzzed for about 5 seconds before he answered. I put it on speaker.
"Hello baby how are you?" He asked.
"Do you call Stacy that too?" I ask as sour as I can.
"Why would I call her that?"
"Don't try to lie to me, I know you have been having little sessions with Stacy."
"Find I did so what you were gone?"
"Yes I am gone but that doesn't mean you go and kiss other people!"
"I'm sorry," he said. I am not taking that.
"I'm sorry won't fix it we are over," I said hanging up.
   "Good job Cassie," Alex and Gabrielle said.
   "Thanks," I am not going to cry over that jerk again. I am not going to cry over that jerk again. I kept telling myself. But it felt like I was going to scream.
"Excuse me guys your time is up sorry," a nurse came in and told us.
"Ok," I said and went over to say goodbye to Alex.
"Your gonna visit again right?" he asked me.
"Yes," I said.
"Good well until next time."
"Until next time," I said leaving. Gabrielle came out a minute later.
"Let's go," she said.
*****
For the rest of the day Gabrielle and I just bummed out on the couch and watched movies. We have had the worst day ever! My boyfriend broke up with me, our friend is in the hospital, and I still don't know what happened to my parents.
   "I think I might just let the police solve this one," I said saying my thoughts aloud.
   "What? Then by the time they find them they will be dead," Gabrielle said.
   "But bad things have been happening ever since I got here."
   "Yea sure your boyfriend broke up with you and our friend is in the hospital but that doesn't mean you give up," Gabrielle said giving me a motivating speech.
   "I know but I don't know where to look anymore," I said as we heard a scream outside. Right after we heard it we were both up and out of the house to see where it came from. I looked around and here was no one in sight.
   "That was weird," I said.
   "Yea well I am going into the house before it gets even more creepier," Gabrielle said.
   "Ok," I decided to stay out a little longer. After a couple minutes and nothing happening I went back inside.
"Did you find out where it came from?" Gabby asked from the couch.
"No there wasn't even the slightest movement outside," I said walking over to sit by her.
   "I wonder where that scream came from then," she said saying my thoughts aloud.
"Me too," I said thinking back to when this neighborhood was all great and safe and now all the crimes were happening at it. I used to be able to go outside and run around the whole neighborhood without thinking anyone would kidnap me but now I am not so sure. If this is home I have not been home in ages.
  
   Hey guys so it is kind of a short chapter but I think it was packed full. I hope you liked it!
   -Maddie