T.E.E.N (TYLER, EVANS, ERIC & NATHAN)

Chapter 8:

Walking into her room felt foreign at the same time it felt so comforting, it still was as how they'd left it that night, two years ago... The scent of perfume and heavens knows what they used had long gone, it had disappeared along with their annoying but missed laughter and countless sleepovers and boy-talks. I smiled at the bedside picture of all of us the day we went to the beach with dad, Lori's smile is so big it looks like its unnatural, but that was Lori when you got her to smile she really outdid herself, as my arm is draped around her and Helen with a smug look on my face while Amanda sits in the lap of Jenny kissing her cheek as she laughs in the white sand and Candice is laying in front as though she was Cleopatra herself.

Rubbing my fingers along the glass a tears escaped my eyes falling hard against it's surface and before long I sat against the bed crying out all my emotions I'd had locked away for so long as my grip tighten on the frame.

Why did it have to be Lori? Or any of them? What made them stand out from every other teenage girl?

A soft knock sounded as Helen stood pretty in her diamond studded pink gown, her corsage on her small wrist. I looked up at her unashamed of my state.

Sloppily the words flows out of my mouth.

"Why her ?"

Her face contorted in a sea of emotions as there were so many ways to answer my question, slowly she walked in and sat down beside me not worrying about creasing her gown as she pulled me into her mother like embrace and I completely gave in laying in her lap as more hot stinging tears barraged my eyes.

" I don't know babe...but you being the strong brother and persistent man that your dad grew up and would have been proud of... will find Lori. Your connection to each other from birth until now have been ...remarkable. Keep that. Use it. You'll find her babe...she is out there somewhere.Waiting to be found." Was all she said while stroking my hair

My chest tighten as my nostrils burned from the crying, but I knew what she said was true. Over the years my visions of Lori have been getting stronger, each dream becoming longer each time...and when I say our little motto 'I ...' Somehow I hear her voice as though she whispers it in my ear back '...love you' .

That's what gave me hope all this time that she's alive. I just wished Dad could have been here to see when Lori finally comes home.

"We don't have to go to if you don't want to " Whispered Helena

I rose slow and steady, sitting up with every ounce of strength I had left.

" I don't.'' I began hoarsely '' ..but Lori would have wanted to go'' I finished staring into her soft green eyes

Smiling her shy smile she took my face into her small hands, kissed my lips ever so softly and said

"Then let's do this. For Lori and her friends'' smiling