Chapter 2

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Daniel Daywood

I woke up, drowsy with pain. My head pounded. I realized where I was.

I was on the bathroom floor with blood all over me. A horrible sensation struck me.

Rain.

I cried out, softly, "Rain, sweetheart? I'm here, come out. Please?"

There was a whimper of "Daddy? I saw...it was scary." Rain came out of our closet and looked at me with sad eyes.

I breathed a breath of relief. Rain was okay. I whispered, "Rain, I-I'm so sorry you had to see t-that." my voice broke.

"Are you okay, Daniel?"

"Yes, Rainy, I'm fine. Are you hurt?"

"No"

I was all bloody. I had no time to fix this mess and get to school after missing about three periods. That means...

"Hey, Rainy, how 'bout no school today?"

"Yay!" Rain squealed and clapped her hands. I put one finger to my lips, in the signal of shhh. She smiled and nodded.

I needed to get this mess fixed. I sighed, I should have never signed up for that talent show. If I didn't, I wouldn't have been hit, Rain wouldn't have seen how weak her 16 year old brother is, and I wouldn't have lost so much blood that I fainted and got us late for school. I sighed again. I was such a horrible brother.

I told Rain to take a shower, while she did, I tried my best to clean my wound. I, with a cotton ball, dabbed rubbing alcohol in my wound, I hissed in pain. But I remember when I had gotten my cheekbone scar, I started crying. The salt in my tears went in my cut...It hurt. That was much worse than a bit of rubbing alcohol. But, that didn't stop me from flinching. I had to stitch it up. I learned long time ago, get a medical kit. I was done in half an hour, the wound was neatly stitched and was hardly bleeding. Good. I asked Rain "Rainy, what clothes do you want to wear?"

"Um, anything pink" came her response. Of course, the seven year old loved anything to do with that color. I laughed, "Okay" I went to our closet.

Our closet was big. I had Rain's clothes on the left and mine on the right. I looked at Rain's side. I picked out a pink shirt that said, the princess of pink. Light green tights and a pink spotted skirt that went a little over her knees. I got a red thin sweater. I also got out one of her underwear. I layed it on our bed. We shared everything. After Rain got out and started putting her clothes on, I took a shower.

_____________________________

We decided on the park.

In the town of Yorkton, there was only three parks. In Greenton Ridge, there was none. But we lived in the woods. I basically went through that faze where, whatever I saw, I wanted to climb.

After the long piggy back ride I gave Rain, we reached the first park.

I chased after Rain, yelling, "You better ruuuuunnnnn!" Rain was giggling and squealing to her heart's content. I laughed at how much she was having fun. She was so fun. I loved her. My dear sister.

I got winded, after a while. I asked Rain permission to get water. Rain said yes. I took hold of her hand and tried to guide us both to the water fountain.

Key word: Tried.

I was hopelessly lost in the park. I asked the first person I saw. Which happened to be a girl. I tapped her on the shoulder, she turned around, I asked, "Sorry to bother you, but, um, do you know where the water fountain is?"

She nodded looked at Rain, and smiled "Yeah, but first, who's this cutie?"

I smiled as Rain giggled and blushed, I said, "That's Rain, my sister"

The girl smiled, "Hi there Rain. The water fountain is right over there. Wait, I think I saw you before. My name is Scarlet. Scarlet Brans"

I looked at her, I mean, really looked at her. She was attractive. Scarlet had icy blue eyes, fair skin, and light blond hair. I nodded, "Nice to meet you, Scarlet. My name is Daniel"

"No last name?" Scarlet teased

"Daywood"

"Nice"

"Thanks" I waved goodbye and picked up Rain and headed to the water fountain.

I nearly drooled when I tasted the cool and delicious water. Ah, I seriously had a problem.

I was in love with water.

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I took Rain home. She fell asleep on my shoulder when I carried her. I walked. I didn't run, in fear of waking her. It started to drizzle. Great. I took off my jacket and carefully draped it over Rain. I didn't want her to get wet.

After about seven blocks, I started to get wet. Soon my dark hair was plastered against my forehead and the back of my neck. My shirt clung to my stomach. I'm not bragging, but I did have a toned body. Now, your all probably screaming preposterous! But, I had tried out for football, in order to do that, I spent two years of my life getting in shape. So I had rock hard abs, and pretty muscular arms. I was muscle and brain. You didn't see that a lot. So I was a mystical creature in York High. I was...

Magical.

I saw Greenton Ridge's woods. I was close to the cottage.

I admired the woods. They were beautiful. Dark and rough bark stood out against the light green of the leaves. Shrubs surrounded tree trunks. Dirt was now muddy and an even darker brown. With it raining, the sky was a strangely gorgeous white-gray color. I breathed in. I loved that smell. It was the smell of damp earth. Ah. Leaves glistened with rain drops. My face was now drenched and dripping.

I stood at my house. I got a lump in my throat as I slowly grabbed my keys and slowly opened the door. I hesitantly walked in. I slowly went to the living room. I saw my father in his usual position: passed out on the floor with a beer bottle cradled to his side.

My breath hitched. I carefully walked to our room.

When I got there, I made a break for the bed. I gently laid Rain down. She shifted, woken up slightly, she whispered "Daddy? Can you sing me a song?" I smiled. Ling ago, I thought she deserved a sober dad. So I told her to call me Dad. In truth, I literally was her dad. Not by blood. By love.

I nodded "Sure, darlin'"

I took a deep breath and started to sing her favorite song.

Baby balooga in the deep blue sea,
swims so wild, and swims so free.
Heaven above, and the sea below,
oh baby balooga.

How does it feel to swim free?
In the deep, vast sea?
Baby balooga in the deep blue sea.
Oh baby balooga.

I cut the song off with a light breath. Rain was now curled up. I smiled.

I had to take a shower, since I had one in the rain. So I did.

Afterwards, I brushed my teeth and went to bed.

I hugged Rain close and drifted off to sleep.

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