There Goes Another One...

Chapter 1

Alyssa and Shannon were seniors and they both couldn't wait to graduate.  Alyssa always dreamed of attending some of the best colleges in the world and she was just accepted into Yale.  And Shannon, well Shannon was headed off to the army when their senior year ended.

Alyssa was short, about five foot three inches tall, and very quiet.  She was exceptionally smart.  She had long brown hair with a soft curl at the end.  She tried to keep to herself and had a limited amount of friends, that's why Shannon was one of Alyssa's best friends.  

Shannon was opposite to Alyssa.  Shannon was about five foot eight inches.  She had blond hair and big blue eyes.  Shannon was also quiet and that's how people knew they would be great friends.

It was Friday and Shannon was going over Alyssa's house to study for their midterms which started on Monday.

"Are your parents going to be home?"  Shannon asked.

Alyssa responded, "Nope! My folks are at work 'till late tonight."

"How about your sister Pam?" Shannon sighed, "I'm sorry, but I hate it when she is home.  She blasts her stupid country music so loud when she knows that we need it quiet to study!"

Alyssa just laughed, "Ha ha, no she has basketball then I believe she is staying over a friend's house.  So we should be good."

***

They got to Alyssa's house and walked in.  It was a small home in a cookie-cutter neighborhood.  The house was pretty clean except some paper scattered over the dinning room table.  

"We cleaned last night because we know you hate a dirty house."  Alyssa looked at Shannon from the corner of her eye when she said this.  

Shannon just rolled her eyes, "I would have cleaned it up when I got here if it was that much of a hassle!"

The girls looked at each other and laughed.

Alyssa headed toward the kitchen, "Just go up to my room and I will get us something to eat.  Anything in particular?" 

"Nah, just something small.  I'm going out tonight."  Shannon walked up the stairs.

When Shannon opened the door to Alyssa's room she threw her book bag on the ground and sat on the bed.  

Alyssa shared her room with her sister Pam.  The two beds were up against the wall separated by a small side table.  Alyssa's bed was nicely made while Pam's was a mess with clothes and blankets thrown all over it.  You could tell the girls were polar opposites.  Alyssa's things were neatly place on her dresser, and Pam's was a mess with clothes stacked as high as the ceiling and perfume bottles on their sides. 

Shannon had been in the girls' room more than a hundred times.  She walked over to the pin board on the wall and observed the pictures.  There was one picture with all three of the girls in it.  It was one of those photo booth pictures from the mall.  Shannon just smiled, then the door swung open and she jumped.

"So where are you going out tonight?"  Alyssa said with a carton of cookies under her arm, and two large glasses of milk for the both of them in her hands.

"Umm, not sure.  Andy is taking me out."  Shannon didn't look at Alyssa when she said this.

Andy was Shannon's boyfriend for about a year now.  Alyssa didn't really like Andy and thought he was very childish.  But Shannon had fell, and fell hard, for him since the ninth grade.  

Andy was tall with short brown hair, had glasses, and a collection of freckles on his checks.  He was one of those guys who believed himself to be a know-it-all.  He was pretty smart, but he had no common sense or consideration for others' feelings.  

Andy used to have the biggest crush on Alyssa ever since the first day of high school.  Everyone could tell that he was head over heels, but Alyssa never shared the same feelings.  She was also just friends with him because Shannon liked him.  

When Andy started dating Shannon in junior year, the whole grade was taken aback, but accepted the new couple.  Everyone could tell that Andy still loved Alyssa, and Shannon wasn't too keen about that.  Alyssa thought that Andy was just using Shannon to make her see what she was "missing out on".  Now, bringing up Andy's name, is a bit of a touchy subject to both the girls.

Alyssa gave Shannon a dirty look, "Oh...that's nice.  Hope it's more fun than hanging out with me."

"Nothing is more fun than hanging out with you!"  Shannon said with sarcasm.  Alyssa didn't get it, but she still laughed.

***

Pam, Ayssa's sister, walked in the door, "Lyss I'm home!"  

Pam was the opposite of her sister Alyssa in many ways.  Pam was a junior in high school, five foot five inches, and was very athletic.  She never really focused on school as much as her sister did and Pam admired her sister for being so dedicated to school.  Pam would watch her sister's every move and hoped to one day be as smart as her.

Pam threw her bags on the table.  "Holly drove me home."  Pam looked around the living room and walked into the kitchen.  She noticed that the cookies were missing and she blurted out, "I can't believe all the cookies are gone already!  I mean, we just got them!"

Ashlyn, Pam and Alyssa's childhood friend, came running down the stairs.

Ashlyn was a freshman in college and five foot nine inches.  She was just like the two sisters combined with short black hair, she was extremely smart and loved making new friends.

Ashlyn looked like she was out of breath like she had just seen a ghost.  

"What is it Ash?"  It wasn't weird for Ashlyn to be in the house because she would walk in and out like she lived there.  She was always over, and always welcomed.

"It's Alyssa.  She is bleeding everywhere and she isn't breathing!"

Shannon came running down the stairs with Alyssa in her arms wrapped up in a blanket.  Pam's face turned white as she observed her sister's body wrapped up.  

Alyssa had cuts on her wrists and she was bleeding out fast.  She was as white as snow. 

"Holy shit! What the hell happened?!" said Pam in disbelief.

Shannon said spitting her words out, "She said she wasn't feeling good and she has been pretty overwhelmed the past few days about college and stuff at school.  She went into the bathroom and never came out.  When I went to check on her she didn't open the door so I barged in then I called Ashlyn!"

Ashlyn looked at Shannon, "Just bring her to my car.  It's right outside and unlocked.  This is no time for story telling.  Pam call your mom!"  

Pam just stood in the kitchen too shocked to believe what was happening.  

"Pam! Snap out of it and call your parents!  We need to get Alyssa to the hospital now!" Ashleyn said screaming at Pam.