A/N: I’m starting out with James, because he’s the oldest. And I love him. Please review to tell me what you think. Oh yes, I don’t own Disneyland, and I also have to change the title of this to Yearbook of ’04, like it is supposed to be. Enjoy!

Chapter 2: So Cold

“We’re going to Disneyland! We’re going to Disneyland!” A small, dark-haired child of about five bounced up and down gleefully.

“Yes James, we ARE going to Disneyland!” Ally Dean, the boy’s mother, said as she lifted her son into her arms. Ally had long, thick, dark red hair that was drawn into a messy bun, and kind green eyes that crinkled up when she smiled. At that moment she was in her ninth month of pregnancy, even though she was starting to get a little old to give birth.

“Everything’s ready!” Arthur Dean, Ally’s husband, strode into the room. Arthur was a balding man of nearly forty, with dark, thinning hair and brown eyes that glittered when he was amused. He was also starting to get a bit overweight. “The car’s packed! All we have to do is get in!” The entire family, even the two German Shepards, Jess Anne and Milli Vanilli, were very excited about the trip. But none more than James. It was his first ever time going to somewhere as exciting as Disneyland.

“Go to the bathroom before we go sweetie.” Ally set James on the ground and nudged him in the direction of the washroom.

James stopped bouncing. His eyes went narrow with anger. “Don’t have to!”

Ally sighed and prayed he wasn’t about to have one of his infamous Apocalyptic Temper Tantrums. That would not be a good beginning for their vacation.

At that moment, Vincent Dean, James’ fourteen-year-old brother, entered the room. Vincent looked a lot like an older version of James, except slimmer and less solidly built. He had his mother’s eyes. He also looked a lot kinder than James often did. “What’s the problem?” He asked resignedly, when he saw his little brother with his arms crossed over his chest.

“He says he doesn’t have to go to the bathroom, but I know that as soon as we get in the car he will. I don’t want him to have an accident like last time.”

“Don’t have to go!!” James shrieked, illustrating the problem.

“That wasn’t his fault last time. I’ll take him though. I think he’ll listen to me.” Vincent lifted James from the floor and left the room.

“I’ll go put the dogs in the car. The can sit on the boy’s laps, they always do and it’s never a problem. We’re only taking them to the kennel anyways.” When Ally grabbed both dog’s collars and dragged them out to the driveway, she looked up at the sky worriedly. The clouds were looking awfully dark and ominous. As she shut the door of the car that now contained both excited pooches, it began to rain.

That was when Vincent appeared, leading his now-excited-again brother by the hand. James was sucking on a juice box happily. Arthur came out the door right behind them, and soon they were all in the car, although by now it was raining quite hard.

The kennel was only about twenty minutes away, but by the time they were halfway there, the light spring rain had turned into a thunderstorm. It was like someone was continually dumping buckets of water onto the car. A huge thunderclap sounded, and James jumped and gave a frightened squeal. Vincent reached over the dogs, who were now hunched up and whimpering, heads down, ears flat, and gave his little brother a comforting hug. The boy was positively terrified of thunderstorms.

Arthur, who was driving, practically had his nose up against the windshield for trying to see. “There’s the turn-off!” Ally exclaimed, pointing at the sign for the street that would take them to the kennel.

Then several things happened in very quick succession. The car directly in front of the stopped abruptly, there was a loud shriek of steel on steel. Ally screamed as one of the dogs flew past her head and through the windshield. Vincent threw his arms protectively around his brother. There was glass everywhere. James screamed. “MOMMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

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Here are the facts: On April 1st, 1992, the Dean’s Honda Civic collided at 94 mph with the back of a Minivan which had stopped on what the driver had thought to be the shoulder of the road because of the rain. Both dogs were catapulted through the windshield with the force of the impact. The glass killed Milli, who went through first. Jess was thrown out on the road, where she was hit by a car and killed also. Ally Dean died almost instantly from the flying glass. Arthur Dean was killed shortly afterward when his head was cracked open on the steering wheel. All the while, other cars had been unable to see the danger in time to stop, and soon it turned into a six-car pileup.

Police and ambulance reached the scene in minutes, and cut Vincent and James from the car using the Jaws of Life. They were rushed to the hospital along with many others. Vincent never made it. He died on the way to emergency. James had serious injuries, and was immediately operated on. A large piece of glass from the windshield had imbedded itself in his stomach, causing severe intestinal damage, he had a concussion, and his shoulder had been dislocated. Only his brother’s protection had prevented his death.

Seven other people had died that day, including the driver of the minivan.

It was also the day that James went cold.

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