I woke up and remembered what happened last night. I wondered whether my family would talk to me. My dad had probably told him some twisted story of what had happened.

My little sister Makayla and my mom were in the kitchen. They weren't arguing anymore. My guess is they joined in an alliance against me. When I walked in they both looked up in unison, it was kind of scary to tell you the truth, they looked like robots programmed to do something, and nothing else. They glared at me, the only emotions I could see were anger and disgrace the same look, hung on both of their faces. In an abrupt simotanous movement they looked back down. TWISTED STORY?? I thought THAT STORY MUST HAVE VIOLATED MAKAYLA'S EARS SOMETHING FIERCE FOR ME TO BE GETTING THIS TREATMENT!!!. They ignored me for a while. For example; when I asked for the milk they continued doing what ever the were doing not paying attention to me at all.

I went up stairs to get dressed. I pulled on my jeans, a black top, a black sweater, (though it wasn't my blue one it would have to do), and grabbed my black tuke. I pranced down the stairs. And swung around on the banister to turn myself around towards our vestibule, something my mom had told me never to do, but now that they weren't talking to me I guess she couldn't get pissed off at me. Being ignored by you're family does have some benefits.

I ran into the vestibule in a flurry of movement. Grabbed my coat ran out the door and left it open behind me. If they were cold, screw them! I don't have to be courteous, they weren't and once again it's not like they could get pissed at me!!!

I didn't even tell them where I was going. The wouldn't "listen" anyway. But I knew where I as going. Gwenn's. We had been best friends ever since we were babies. We met when I was in the hospital she was about 7 months older than me. And she always made me feel better even though I had never told her any problems at home, we always knew what to say around each other. We could talk for hours, about nothing at all. Our bond wasn't as strong as mine and Tyler's but still, that's because Tyler and I were meant for each other. I hadn't even spoken to him of my problems at home but I was sure that some day, I would. Hope fully some day soon.

I walked down the street. The cold winter air was nipping at my face, turning my cheeks a rosy pink. I was looking down at the side walk. Not a very confidant walk for someone like myself. But the ground was beautiful, it had snowed lightly the night before. So a thin layer of snow covered the side walk no foot prints except mine were found on it's smooth surface. (in my neighbour hood people tended no to go out of the house until at least 12:00 unless they were going to work. Because nothing opened in this little town, until 12:00, on the weekend.) The snow was reflecting into my eyes like tiny diamonds. I must say, winter isn't my favorite season, but boy, is it ever beautiful!!!

Gwenn lived down the street and around the corner, so I was therein no time. I let myself in, I was there so often I was considered part of the family. I got my own food, called her parents "mom" and "dad" and made myself at home. It was great much better than my house often was. I guess that's one of the reasons I went there so often.. her parents were so cool. My parents did swear more often now, but when we did it we were yelled at. But Holly and Tom(Gwenn's mom and dad) were much more lax. One time I remember their youngest (Ryan) was about 10. He was walking up the stairs and he fell, and John had said "listen, here comes Ryan's favorite word." And not even 2 seconds Later we heard "Fuck!!" we all burst out laughing. Yup, I always had fun at the Johnstons's.

I arrived at Gwenn's, unlatched the gate, and walked carefully down the ice covered path way. I was a previous victim of falling on this pathway, and let me tell you when you fell you landed hard and slid all the way down to the brick stairs that lead to their small porch. If you were lucky you didn't land head first on it. But if you weren't, a trip to the hospital would fix you up.

"Hey!" I called casually, as I strode through the door.

"Hi Noelle!" Called Dave, climbing swiftly up the stairs as he normally did when I came by. "How's life?" He asked like he always did.

"How IS life" I countered asking the question right back, but not really for him to answer, I put emphasis on IS as if I didn't know the answer.

"got any new books you're working on?" I asked curiously.

Dave is an aspiring writer, and I often ask about his books, pretend to read them, (they often get lost in my desk) and tell him I liked them. He doesn't know, so I pretend to be interested, truthfully I find his writing bland, but then again, I don't really like Science-Fiction.

I pranced up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I rotated myself on the banister, and just barely avoided the mirror, that was hung on the first landing, jumped up the next three stairs and turned again onto the second floor. (a/n: If that was confusing, I'm sorry, I really don't know how to describe it.) As I walked past Ryan's room I heard his game-cube turned on.

"Hey Ry!" I greeted cheerfully. I was amazed that I could sound so cheerful.

I then swung into Gwenn's bedroom not even bothering to knock, I knew she was awake. And she was, she was lying on her stomach on her bed, doing her homework.

"sup?" I asked, "what kinda homework you doin?"

"Math." She answered blandly, math was her worst subject. And so I often had to help her. "Mr. Bolton is such an ass! He piled it on this weekend."

"Mr. Bolton?" I asked, we hadn't been in the same school since kindergarten, I went to French immersion and she continued in English. Then she took the gifted test and they found out she was gifted, (I had taken the gifted test and passed the first part, the IQ test, but I didn't think differently from most students so I was not considered gifted.)so she went to a school down the street from mine. Her school was so cheap they couldn't buy paper for their teachers! We both agreed it sucked, and often made fun of the schools more recent stupid decisions, (like to buy a new 200 thousand dollar extension on the staff room instead of buying paper, or putting new insulation in the freezing portables)

"my stupid bastard of a math teacher." she mumbled. "I seriously doubt this is grade 8 math."

"let's see." I didn't even wait for her to answer. I pulled it away from her, and gazed eagerly down on it, math was my favorite subject, and I took every chance I could to show off.

"Making 90º angles without a protractor? That's grade ten math! Here let me show you how to do it." I offered.

"don't bother showing me, he'll probably how us on Monday, just do it." she droned, knowing I would.

"k." I answered, already half done.

"so sup?" Gwenn asked lounging back on her bed.

"mom and kay had another fight." I stated through my partially parted lips (I was chewing on the end of her pencil.)

"Bad?"

"yup." I answered, avoiding her eye contact. "then my da came home, Ty was over, and da was drunk. Lets just say he made a few accusations."

"did he call you a slut again?" Gwenn asked already knowing the answer,

"And he threw Tyler out the door, literally." I chuckled.

"Noe, Thats not funny! He could be put to jail for that!" She warned.

"you would know, YOUR dads the SWAT sergeant." I smiled.

"AMBER!!!" I squealed.

Gwenn's new cat had jumped onto the bed, and barely made it. I scooped her up from the side of the bedcover. Or tried. I must say my movement was not that smooth. Her tiny claws dug into it grudgingly, but after a few shakes she let go.

Gwenn has had 4 other cats, the first one I an remember was named Richmond, he ran away. Then there was Arnold, he ran away too, then more recently there was Elizabeth, (who had been there for longer than Richmond) and Tiger, who they had gotten after Arlond, but they both ran away a couple of months ago, while spending a couple days at Gwenn's grandmother's farm.

I held onto the tiny cat fiercely, she was squirming around. I tried to keep her in my hands, but she was to tricky. She slipped through my fingers like she always did, and dropped gracefully onto the bed.

"Hey, do you wanna go to Quiznos for a salad or something?" I asked.

"Sure! Since you finished my math I'm done!" She answered quickly.

Gwenn got dressed, and yelled at her mom where we were going while heading out the door. Her mom is so cool. She gives Gwenn all the free range she wants. But Gwenn, even thgouh she could do anything she wanted, she didn't she stayed in the boundries of what even MY parents would consider acceptable.

We walked to the quiznos on the corner, discussing school, and other small talk. Gwenn wasn't into the whole dating game, so we couldn't talk about guys, but we kept the conversation strong. We had salads, then Gwenn had to go home for a gymnastics class. She was highly ranked in the provincials, and trained 23 hours a day. She hoped to make it into the nationals this year, and I had total faith in her.

For lack of somthing else to do, I went to the park. It was cold but I didn't mind. I had my own little place by the edge of the pond. In the summer, it was great, just to put my feet in the water, and think, fantasize about the cute lifeguard at the beach, or the new guy in my science class. During the winter, it wasn't so cozy. But it was still my special spot. There, I could think freely, as no one could see or hear me. It was quite far into the woods near the pond, and on the other side of the tiny island. I was virtually invisible.

I stayed there for a while, not wanting to go home. Fearing the reaction if my father was home. I was afraid. But I decided to go to another friends house, someone who lived int he neighbour hood. Simon, He and I had went to kindergarten together, and had cntinued in french together too.

My fingers had started to go numb, but I didnt want to go home, so I walked to Simon's. I knocked on the door. "Sime. You there?" I raised my voice so as to be heard through the door. The only sound I heard was his yellow lab, Patsy barking.

"Hey Pats!" I squealed through the door.

Then the dor wrenched open. I huge figure towered in front of me. Red hair topped his head, and a scratchy beard dotted his chin, acne covered his face.

"hey cory. Is Simon there?" I asked of Simons older brother

"I dunno. I'll check, you look cold you wanna come in?" He offered

"Ya." I answered, stepping in the door, to be greeted by Patsy, her warm tongue licked my face, almost pushing me over. Cory came back not much later.

"he's not here, he left early for Hockey practice" He said in his low voice. "do you want me to tell him you were here?"

"Oh. No it's OK. I'll see him at school next week." I didn't want my dad to have another reason to yell at me. Simon wouldn't get home until late that night, he took his training seriously, and I didn't want my dad to wrongly accuse me of having guys calling me at all hours of the night, for little, shall we say, favors.

Crushed, I went back home. I knew that I couldn't have stayed out ll night, abut I sure wish I could have. I was afraid to go back home. Afraid of what would happen to me, what people wo8uld say. Because I didn't seem to have a family anymore. A family would listen, a family would care. These were just people that I lived with. Like a college roomie who hated your guts, these people were the enemy, their mission was to make my life (if you could call it that) miserable. And now I was willingly going back into their firing range.