Forever and Always (On Hold)

Chapter 4:

Ring ring.... Ring ring....

"Hmmph." I land on the floor with a thud.

Ring ring.... Ring ring...

Oh crap! The phone!

I storm through the hallways, and trip down the stairs, making it to the phone on its last ring.

" Hello?" i ask, breathless.

" Is this Skylar Anderson, daughter of William Anderson?"

" Umm. Yes, this is she." There's a pause.

" My name is Susan from the Indianapolis police station. I am dearly sorry to inform you that your father has passed away do to a Methamphetamine drug overdose. By the time someone called the police, he was already gone and there was no need to contact the hospital."

Oh. My. God.

"I am dearly sorry for your loss."

"I-I didn't e-even know he w-was on d-d-drugs..." How did this happen?

"Sweetie, I'm sure you didn't." She sighs. " He didn't come home very often, did he?"

"N-no... About once every two days or so... Ever since mom left.." I can't hold back the tears any longer. they spill over and flood my cheeks.

" Shhh. It's going to be okay." She says. "But we are going to need you to come in for a few questions."

So they probably think I know something. Great.

"Do you think you can come in now?"

"O-of coarse."

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"Oh, sweetie, whats wrong?" A concerned Mrs. Alberney asks, taking sleeping Tyler from my arms. I trip forward and embrace her.

"Dad's dead." I sob. "He had a drug overdose. I have to go in for questioning." Mrs. Alberney begins to cry, too.

"I'm so sorry." She says. "Honey if theres anything you ever need, you come to me. got it?"

She is such a nice lady.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Alberney." My tears start to dry up. " I better get going."

"Do you want me to take you?"

" No, that's alright. Thanks though." And with that, I stumbled back home and into the car.

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"How old are you?" A man asks once I  take a seat at the police station.

" I'm seventeen, sir. I will be eighteen soon, though."

" What grade are you in now?"

" eleventh. I'm a junior. But after this summer, I will officially be a senior. "

"Do you do well in school?

"Yes, very. I'm one of the best in my class."

"Do you have a lot of friends?"

"Umm, no not really. Unless you count Brian. I guess he's a friend."

"And this Brian, you are just friends?"

Hmm what are me and Brian. Friends or more?

"Well i'm not sure actually. We were going on a date tomorrow..."

"Okay. just one more question. How close were you with your father?"

I start crying again. "Pretty close, until he started drinking."

"That is all."

So they just wanted to make sure I was going to be okay and that i wasn't going to commit suicide. There probably deciding wether or no to put me and Tyler in an orphanidge right now. I don't really need to though because i'm almost eighteen. just two more months.

I stumble back through the blue painted police station, lined with pictures of officers, and fall into my car. Sobbing once again. I cant think of anywhere to go. Not home, too many memories.

Without thinking, I pull out my phone and dial Brian's number.

"Hello? Skylar?"

I sob into the phone.

"Skylar, whats wrong?" His voice is concerned.

"Can I come over?"

"Umm sure. but ;lease explain to me whats wrong. Why are you crying?"

I sob again. "I'll explain later."

Brian gives me his address, and i drive there as quickly as possible. His house is huge, red brick, with five windows in the front. The roof is a charcoal black, and the front door is tan.

Brian cones running out the second I pull into his drive way. Mine is the only car there. He immediately folds me into his huge arms and says, "It's okay. I'm here." He picks me up and carries me into his giant house. Setting me down on a chair, once i've stopped crying, he asks, "Skylar, whats wrong?"

"My dads dead. he had a drug overdose and died. My mom left a week ago and now I have no family and a three year old brother to take care of."

"Oh my gosh. Sky, i'm so sorry." He hugs me again and I once again cry.

                                                             *********************

"Come on." Brian says, taking my hand. "My parents are gone for the week anyways. Come here, I'm gonna show you something you'll love." He grabs a set of car keys out of a wooden bowl off the counter and drags me towards the basement. His basement is finished, tan tiles line the floor, white walls covered in cool paintings, and dark brown furniture completes the room. Brian pulls me through another door and into a garage. In the middle of the garage, there is a dark blue ford pick-up.

Brian leads me to the passenger seat and opens the door. "Hop in." He says, and I do.

"Nice car." I've always wanted a pick-up.

"Thanks."

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Brian drives down a dirt road that I have never noticed before. About a mile down the road, is a dead end. It is surrounded by forest.

Brian jumps out of the car and jogs around to the passenger side and opens the door for me.

"Hey" He says with a flash of his brilliant grin.

"Hey" I try to smile back.

He takes my hand and pulls me into what seems to be our thousandth hug today, but this one is brief. Then he pulls me down a trail into the woods.

"You don't mind a short hike, do you?"

"Oh, no. I love hiking." I give a weak smile. I'm still pretty sad.

We walk along the path for about ten minutes, before the trees fade away, replaced by a pond. Or i guess more of a small lake. It is the most beautiful place i've ever seen. weeping cherry trees are scattered about, in full bloom. Lush green grass grows wild, about two feet tall. The water glistens a beautiful blue green, and the Indiana sunset mirors off it's surface.

"Oh, Brian,"

He smiles. "I told you you'd like it."