.To Save A Life.

To Save A Life -- Chapter Four

I awoke with my shoulder being shaken back and forth. I groaned, snuggling closer.

Wait. Snuggling?

My eyes opened. Right. I fell asleep. In Project's bed. I turned my head to see a very angry Kort. He was fuming.

"Hey..." I yawned, sitting up.

"Hey?! That's all you have to say? Dad was right. You are going to be just like Mom."

My heart felt as if he hammered a nail into the center. I lowered my head. " I'm never going to be like her."

"Oh really? What's this then? Sleeping with guys you run down with your car. It's pretty much what Mom does." Kort hissed.

I heard a soft noise from beside me. "You are Kort." Project stated.

"No! My name is Avery! I run down guys with my car so I can sleep with them!" Kort snapped.

My eyes shut. Calm, Avery...Stay calm. Deep breaths.

"No. She did not run me down. I simply didn't realize she would hit me." Project spoke slowly and as-a-matter-of-factly.

"Avery.We're leaving. Now." Kort spoke. My eyes opened.

Project still sat next to me. His expression was calm. Both of his hands were tense, one arm behind me, gripping the side of the bed. Kort's hands were curled into fists.I nodded, getting up.

"Goodbye, Project." Kort spat, before heading out the door, gripping my wrist.

~.~.~

I sat in the passenger seat, Kort driving. I stayed silent.

He sighed. "You do realize how much it's going to cost to fix the car...right?"

He didn't yell. Always a good sign.

"It's only a dent..." I mutttered.

He sighed, shaking his head. "Oh and by the way, you're grounded."

I nodded, knowing not to argue.

Once home, I ran upstairs before either of us had an outburst. I loved our house. It was old and run down, sure. But it held memories. It was a farmhouse on the outskirts of town. We had roads to the right, woods on the left, and farmland behind the house. My room was upstairs. Kort lived in the basement.

I shut my bedroom door. My room was very bare. A bed with a black and white comforter, a dresser, and a nightstand. I had a box under my bed. It contained some pictures of my Dad, and diairies I've had since I was ten. When Dad left last year, I stopped writing.

I always left the window next to my bed unlocked. I just did. It relaxed me. I lay down on my soft, warm bed and shut my eyes. I took a deep, slow breath. I imagined when Dad came back. He promised he would. He would just walk in like he'd never been gone. Kort would scream at him a little. Dad would give me a hug. Kort and I would actually act like brother and sister again.

"Avery?"

My eyes flicked open at my name. I glanced at the window. And almost screamed. Project was crouched on my windowsill. He'd opened the window without me hearing.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Sitting." He stated softly.

I sighed and sat up a little more. "Kort is going to kill me if he finds out you were here."

"He doesn't have to find out." His cocked his head to left slightly, his hair falling onto his face just a bit.

"Project.....fine. What is it?" I ran a hand through my hair.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright. Kort seemed very mad."

"He was... You should really get home, Project. Your parents must be worried sick."

"Parents?" He looked confused.

"Parents. Usually male and female. They gave birth to you."

"I don't have parents."

"Do you have a home?" I asked.

He shook his head.

I groaned softly. "Why don't you stay here tonight?"

"Thank you." He smiled.

I nodded. "I have a cot in the closet. You can sleep on that." I opened the doors to my large closet and pushed aside the clothes."Here."

He got settled and I turned off the light. "Good night, Project."