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"Mom, Dad, I'm home!" When I didn't hear their familiar voices, I stopped calling their names. "I guess they're still working."

I ran to the living room, only to see my aunt and uncle talking. When I heard them whispering to one another, the smile faded from my face. The last time I saw my parents whispering in secret, my dog was ran over. This time, it was no different. I could tell, something happened. Something bad.

"—we have to tell him," I heard my uncle's voice say.

I crouched down behind the wall that separated us and pressed my face against the surface. This time, their voices was a bit louder.

"Jake. We can't tell him. The boy is only ten."

Can't tell me what?

"—we can't hide this from him, forever. He's going to notice."

"Let him find out on his own then," my aunt said. "I don't have the heart to break it to him."

"Break what to me?"

Their voices stopped the moment they heard me. My eyes widened when I saw my uncle's tall figure hovering over mine. My aunt came next. She was holding onto my uncle's hand like her life depended on it.

"Thomas," my uncle was the first to speak. "Do you remember when Grandma passed away?"

I nodded. "Mom said she went to a better place." That was when I was five. Later, I found out that the 'better place' was heaven.

He lowered himself to my level. "Yes, your mom did said that." I blinked, when I saw the rim of his eyes red. Did he cried? "Your mom, Thomas . . . your mom left."

"Left? Where did she go?"

"She um, she went to visit Grandma."

I stared at my uncle like he grew a second head. "But Grandma isn't here anymore."

"I know."

That was all it took for his words to hit me. I shook my head. "You're joking, right? Mom would never leave Dad's side, she would never leave—"

"—she didn't, buddy. Your mom followed your dad. They both left to visit, Grandma." His voice came out low.

My face crumpled. "H-How?"

"What?"

"How?" I stared into their eyes. I refused to look away. Not even when I felt my lips trembling and my shoulders heaving with emotions. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. Not until I hear the rest of the story.

"Thomas, I don't think—"

"—tell me!"

They didn't say anything for a while. All they did was stare at me, and then at each other. Finally, they sighed as they looked back at me.

"Your parents," he began, "were heading back home this morning when a little girl ran past them. These guys were chasing after her, and your parents ended up hurt because they saw them. When the police and firefighters arrived, your parents already left to visit Grandma."

"The girl . . . who is she?"

"You already know who she is, buddy. She's that classmate of yours. The one who went missing a week ago."

My fists curled at my side. Isabella Ace.

It was her. She did this.

Because of Isabella, my parents ended up hurt. Because of Isabella, my parents are gone. Because of Isabella, my parents are dead. Because of Isabella, my little sister has to grow up without her parents. Because of Isabella, I won't be able to hear their voices again. Because of Isabella, my whole world was gone.

I let out a cry, so loud my uncle fell backwards. The walls that kept me up, that made me stronger, was gone. They disappeared just as fast as the tears began. I buried my face in my knees, drenching my jeans with my tears as I did so.

I started crying louder. Trembling. And begging.

I begged, calling for my parents to come back. But it never happened. Even when my voice was raw from yelling and screaming all night, they still didn't come back. In the end, they really did leave . . .

"Thomas," a soft voice called out, causing me to stir. Mom? "Thomas, wake up!"

I awoke with my memories weighing heavily on my chest, still as vivid as ever. I half wondered if I was still dreaming as I sat up, feeling the shafts of light slipping through the window. I hung my head low, seeing the outstretched hand on my bed through my hazy eyes. I looked up and saw the outline of a body. It was Izzy.

Her eyes were darting back and forth, repeatedly as if she was checking for something that wasn't there. I could see how terrified she really was when she held my hand. The small action was suppose to bring reassurance. Instead, it uncovered the mask behind the smile she wore. But, I didn't get it. Why was she scared? Did she see something she wasn't suppose to see? Or better yet, did she hear something?

"Did Megan let you in?"

She only nodded.

My eyes wandered away from hers. I didn't know if I should scold Megan for opening the front door when I told her specifically not to, or thank her since it was Izzy. Being next to her was enough to calm my beating heart. I just wish I knew why she was staring blankly at my hand with wide eyes.

"You were talking in your sleep," she said suddenly.

Our eyes met. "I was?" She nodded again. "What did I say?"

"You said, she ruined your life," she whispered.

My heart hammered inside my chest. Did I say it? Did I say her name? Did Izzy thought I meant her instead? Was that the reason why she was so scared of me? "Did I—" I swallowed the lump in my throat. "—Did I mention a name?"

"No." Her voice came out strained and distant. She blinked, as her lips bit down. "You were also screaming . . . what was that about?"

"Nothing. It was—" I recalled how my body reacted the moment I found out my parents were dead. How the pain seared through my skin like bitter bursts, intensifying as it grew stronger. How it took away every feeling of love and safety I ever felt, leaving me with nothing but grief and hatred. "—just a nightmare."

"Okay."

We stared back at each other for what seemed like hours until she finally dropped her gaze. When I knew she wasn't going to say anything more, I got up, and made my way across the room.

"So," I began, my back towards her. "Why exactly are you doing here?"

When she didn't answer, I glanced back at her. To my surprise, her cheeks were dusted pink. The blooming color made her even cuter against her pale skin. "Izzy?"

"Your—" Her eyes flickered between my eyes and the comfort of the rug below us. "—um, pants. Please." She gulped, her cheeks burning a deeper shade of red.

My eyes flew open as I looked down. I covered myself quickly, shielding my lower half from her view. "Fuck, I am so sorry!"

"It's f-fine," she stuttered. "I'll be outside—bye!" With hands clasped tightly at her side, she darted her body into the living room, slamming the door behind her. I blinked, closed my eyes, and blinked them again. Did that really just happen? Glancing down at my boxers, I looked at the door again. I don't know why I found myself laughing, but all of a sudden, I was hunched over, laughing. My breath came out in shorts gasps as I clutched my stomach. Oh God. She really is adorable.

"Sorry, about that," I apologized, seeing Izzy on the couch. She jumped when she heard my voice. Her body was still fidgeting in her seat, but her face wasn't as red anymore.

"It's okay."

Lies. She still wouldn't look me in the eyes.

"Okay." I scratched the back of my neck, sensing the awkward silence in the air. "So, um, about before, ah . . . why exactly are you here again?"

"I'm here for our project."

My eyebrows knitted together. "I thought I was supposed to meet you at your place today?"

"Change of plans. My mom is doing some re-modeling around the house, so I can't exactly have company over." The moment the sentence left her mouth, her eyes moved to her lap.

"Oh." Her eyes squinted shut, as I watched her lower lip quivering in response. Even though I knew there was more to the story than she's willing to let on, I decided I wasn't going to dwell on the subject. "How much do we still have left to do anyways?"

"We're pretty much almost done with the questions." She finally faced me, her face back to normal. "But we need to come up with a creative way to present our findings."

I groaned as I sat down next to her. "Why can't we just write a normal essay and be done with it already?"

She chuckled, and then a faint smile appeared on her lips as she looked at me. "Because that's no fun."

"Well, what do you suggest we do then?" I asked her. "You're the artist here."

"Mmh . . . Why don't we make a collage for our oral presentation?" she suggested. "And for our written response we can just make it into a short story."

"There's just one problem."

She raised a brow. "What?"

"I can't write for shit."

She threw her head back in laughter. I laughed along with her, her laugh infectious. "Don't worry, I'll write the story, and you put the presentation together. You can cut and glue things correctly, right?"

"You know, I'm not that incapable."

She only laughed in reply. Her eyes then surveyed the room, glancing back and forth from object to object. She blinked rapidly, before she forced her gaze back on me. "Do you have a laptop?"

I lowered my head in a nod. "It's in my room. Do you need it?"

"Yeah," she admitted with a blush. "I was in a rush this morning so I forgot to bring mine."

"Don't worry about it, you can use mine," I said as I got up. "I'll just grab it for you—"

"—it's fine." She stood up as well. "I can get it myself. I have to grab the supplies I left in your room for the presentation anyways."

I grabbed her wrist, halting her steps. "But you don't even know where my laptop is. Just let me—"

"—I'm sure I can find your laptop, Thomas. It's probably on your desk." She pushed my hand away as I started to protest.

"Izzy—"

I went to grab her hand again, but my sentence was cut short when I felt the ground underneath my feet give-way. A small gasp left my lips when gravity took me forward. Knocking into Izzy, our collision sent us both flying towards the ground. Feeling something soft on my lips, my eyes opened to see a wide-eyed, Izzy staring back at me. My expression soon matched hers when I realized what was happening. Her lips were on mine.

Shit. I scrambled to get up when a slight noise caused her lips to graze against mine, sending a jolt of electricity throughout my body.

We both froze.

I knew she didn't like me back, but I couldn't resist. In a daze, I began moving my lips against hers, feeling that electric spark again. The kiss started out slow and soft, soothing in ways I never thought would be possible. My arm reached up, and settled on her back. I pulled her body closer to mine, causing her very smell to invade my senses. She inhaled sharply at the contact, biting my lip. Her lips stopped moving suddenly. Her body went rigid as violent trembles shook her entire form.

In a flash, my body was drawn back from hers with a powerful shove. I only caught a glimpse of her face before she was running out the door. But, it was enough to stop me from chasing after her.

I shouldn't have kissed her. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Now that you know Thomas' past, do you think Izzy should stop her revenge? 

Thank you AngelAlmuete for making the cover banner. 

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