Review for this if you have a chance. I'm interested in hearing what you thought about this first chapter.

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My father is dead. Him? He died two months ago from a stroke. Well actually, he had two, but what does it matter? He's dead.

My mother is depressed. Her? She's pretty much forgotten that there's a world outside of her own. In reality, she hasn't exactly forgotten that the world's there, as much as she's simply chosen to ignore most of it, including myself. She isn't much of a help to me now.

And me? I don't want to understand it all. I'm fourteen years old, about to go into high school, and there's almost no one here to support me, to help me, to tell me that we all go through this nervous stage, or to just be there and help me carry out my stupidities. I have no idea what to do.

*+*+*+*+*

(Three days before my first day of high school)

The phone was ringing, but why the hell should I have to answer it? Casey (The way I decided to address my mom after I found out she was only human.) could easily get up and answer it herself. But no, she was too busy wallowing in self-pity to give a damn about something as stupid and unimportant as the phone ringing. I sighed, getting up from the couch I'd been sitting in and answering.

"Hello?"

"Hey Leisel's your mom there?" My cousin Sam asked from the other line.

"Yeah, but I doubt she wants to talk to you." I replied as I saw my mom lying down in her bed, eyes closed.

"Yeah, well are the both of you dressed?" He asked.

"Sam!!!" I said indignantly.

"I mean are you not naked?" He said exasperated.

"Yeah."

"Ok then answer the damned door before I break it down." He said as the doorbell started to ring non-stop.

I sighed, leaving Casey's room and heading towards the entrance to open the door. There, I saw my cousin, who is almost like a brother to me. despite the fact that he always manages to arrive at the worst times. He grinned at me and kept on ringing the doorbell as I opened the screen door.

"Will you hold up for a second? I'm trying to open the damn door here, I don't need you ruining my concentration, thank you." I said grumpily.

He just kept on grinning as he walked in and gave me big hug. I shrugged him off after a few moments, and told him where Casey was, saying that I had to get something from the kitchen. He just shrugged and went over to her room. I could tell that he was the slightest bit nervous.

In the kitchen I poured myself a glass of water and finished it slowly, taking the time to take one gulp at a time. When I was done, I rinsed the glass out and set it upside down to dry. I walked back to Casey's room where she and Sam were talking quietly. As soon as he noticed I was there, Sam gestured for me to come closer. I sighed and walked to stand in front of the both of them. I looked closely at the lady who was supposed to be my mother. She had bags under her eyes, and looked pale as anything. 'You'd think that with all the sleeping she's done lately, she'd look a bit better.' I thought to myself.

"Leisel, sweetie. I know these past two months have been hell for the two of you..." Sam began.

'What would you know about what's happened in the past two months?' I thought glumly, 'You're not the one who's had to deal with all of this now, are you?'

"And I figure that the both of you," He gestured towards me and Casey, "Really need some time off from each other."

'Get to the point.' I thought impatiently.

"So I was wondering if you wanted to come and crash at my house for awhile. At least until things cool down. Your mom's okay with it." He said, finally.

'My mom would be okay with me jumping off a bridge too.' I thought glaring at her briefly.

"What about high school?" I asked.

"Yeah, well, you see that's the thing. You can either go to Montwood on my side of town, go to a private school like your dad wanted you to, or still come here to Franklin on this side of town."

'My dad's dead.' I thought, 'Why should I care about what he wanted me to do when he didn't even stay long enough to tell me?'

"I could probably take you to school on this side of town since it's a little ways away from where I work." Sam went on, "But who knows? You might decide to go to Loretto or Montwood instead."

"I'm not going to Loretto." I said firmly, "I've had enough of private schools thank you. As for Franklin and Montwood, I'd rather just go to Montwood and save everyone the hassle of having to go to a school that's on the other side of town."

Sam shrugged, "That's cool, as long as you're sure that's where you want to go."

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm sure."

Sam smiled and stood up, "Then it's set. I think we'll have to get you into my house today since you've only got a few days till you have to go to school. We still have to get you registered and whatnot. You wanna start grabbing all the stuff you're gonna need?" He asked, standing up.

"Yeah." I replied, "How long am I gonna be staying with you anyway?"

"However long your mom needs I guess." He said, heading out of the room and in to the kitchen where he turned on the T.V. and put on a movie.

I turned to see Casey sitting the way Sam had left her.

"I hate you." I said, turning to go into my room to start gathering up my things.

It might have been my imagination, but I thought I saw a tear slide down her cheek as I rounded the corner.