Chapter One- The Fuse Box

6-30 10:15 pm

The lights flickered briefly before blacking out completely.

I sighed and blew my bangs from my forehead, groping for a flashlight in the darkness. It's the second time this week our street has experienced a blackout due to thunderstorms.

When they came up with "April showers bring May flowers" they should have added a line about the immense amount of thunder and lightening that apparently comes with June.

I hate thunderstorms. And I hate being alone. But most of all, I hate being alone in a thunderstorm. So as fate would have it, I am, for the second time this week, alone during a thunderstorm.

You would think a girl living in a house with six other people would rarely be alone. You might also think she would welcome the peace and quiet she can have once the others leave. Not me. Oddly enough, I'm very often alone.

My parents both travel a good two-thirds of the year, and even when they are home, they aren't really home. They leave my grandfather to watch over the brood. He, in return, spends most of his nights over at his girlfriend's house. I personally think they should move in together but what do I know. Currently, my elder sister has been left in charge. Seeing as we are on summer vacation, she is home from college. I still can't believe Mom and Dad actually think Sara would come home and stay home. She left for Vermont with her boyfriend a few nights ago. Dana and Anna are of course sleeping over the homes of their respective best friends. Ah, that leaves the twin. Yes that's right, I have a twin. Todd's his name. I think he's probably my only ally. I'd say we are close, but he's always with his sports posse and that's really not my scene. Not that I have a scene or anything. I try to remain away from labels and cliques and such.

Now you may be thinking, 'Doesn't this girl have any friends of her own?' Well naturally I do. I have plenty of friends. Just none that I am particularly close to. I had a best friend…I had a great best friend. Together we had formed our own little group of people and we all did everything with each other, but it seems we've hit a rough patch. I've lost her and she took the rest of my friends with her. Let's not get into that though.

Moving on.

Well, now that I am equipped with a small amount of light, checking the fuse box seems like the next logical step. Only problem is I have absolutely no idea where that might be located. Probably the basement, but there is no way in hell I'm going down there alone after the sun sets. No sir.

One of the occasionally brilliant things about living in a community like this one is all the houses are set up exactly the same. So if I were to find someone on my street who knew where their fuse box happened to be, they would also know where mine might be found. So who to ask? Well the neighbors to our right, the Rolloys', are on vacation so they're out. To the left is an elderly old woman that doesn't know where the kitchen is never mind the fuse box. That leaves the family across the street. They just moved in less than a month ago, so chances of them knowing are pretty slim. I had yet to meet these people. I rarely leave the sanctuary of my own home these days.

That's funny. The lights are only off in my house. Aren't we lucky. Insert rolling of eyes here.

Being the genius I am I didn't bother bringing an umbrella, so by the time I had made it across the street I was soaking wet from head to toe. What a lovely sight I must be. I silently prayed someone was home. Although there were lights on in the house, the driveway looked rather deserted. I rang the doorbell. Nothing. I rang again. This time I heard the sound of someone coming down stairs.

I tapped my foot impatiently as I heard them unlock all three locks on the door.

"Oh, hello…" I looked down to see that it was a boy of about six who had opened the door.

"Hi." He smiled sleepily. It's kind of late for a kid his age to be awake.

I doubt he can help me very much. He probably can't even reach the fuse box. "Are your parents home?" I'm warning you now; I'm terrible with little kids. I was always making my sisters cry when they were younger. It was awful.

"Nope. My brother is though." He didn't even wait for me to say anything before shouting, "Derrick! There's a girl at the door!"

I'm not sure why, but I blushed. "Uhm, that's alright…I can come back in the morning." I slowly backed down the steps.

I was two steps from freedom when 'Derrick' showed up.

"Can I help you?" He appeared confused.

After a good three minutes of very awkward silence I realized I was staring at him and quickly looked down at my feet.

Mustering up all the courage I possessed, which isn't much, I spoke, "I street across the live."

Did that sentence even make sense? I think I have sufficiently embarrassed myself for today, time to head back home to the dreaded darkness.

"Do you mean, 'I live across the street'?" He grinned. And what a lovely grin it was.

"I-uh-yes…I think I should go now. Bye." This time I literally hurled myself across the street and didn't stop running until I was safely locked inside my own house.

Breathing heavily, I recounted the events from the past five minutes. I am such an idiot sometimes.

Someone is knocking on the door.

I let out a little squeak and called out shakily, "Who's there?"

"It's Derrick. The boy that streets across the live, remember?" Heis making fun of me, but for some reason I don't mind. It's kind of cute.

"Can I help you?" I moved closer to the door.

"I just wanted to make sure everything is alright."

"Oh, everything's fine here." We're still yelling through the door.

"Then why did you come over?"

"Uh…" Why did I go there again? Oh right.

"Hey can you let me in please, I'm getting soaked out here."

"Oh of course." I flushed crimson and unlatched the door.

Derrick came in, looking as drenched as I was. "Why is it so dark?"

I shined the flashlight in his face. "That's why I came over. Can you help me find the fuse box?"

He smiled and started down the hall as if he owned the place. I followed him down to my basement.

"Sorry about the mess," I mumbled. I had never realized what slobs we Smiths' are.

I looked around at all the clutter. Boxes that had never even been opened when we moved here seven years ago piled up against the walls. Dust and dirt was everywhere. I noticed an old bicycle that had belonged to my brother. There were boxes filled with everything each child had acquired during their schooling. My grandmother had started these boxes and when she died I tried to continue them. I thought it was something nice to look back at.

"I can't really see the mess…" Derrick shrugged.

"Oh right." I forgot I was holding the flashlight and shining it around the room. "You need this?" I handed it to him.

"Yeah thanks." He walked over to the wall furthest from the stairs. I watched the circle of light move slowly down the length of the wall as he inspected it.

"Found it." He pointed to a black box.

I tilted my head to the side and frowned. "So that's what one of those looks like…"

I stepped up and pulled on the handle. It didn't budge. I tried again to no avail.

I growled. "Open up you stupid little twit."

Derrick laughed. "Need some help?"

He put his hand over mine and pulled on the latch. After one more tug it finally gave. I grinned and together we pulled open the small door.

I closed my eyes as I was instantly met with a blinding light. I suddenly felt as though I was floating and wind was rushing by me. When I felt ground underneath me again, I opened my eyes.

I gasped. "I don't think it was supposed to do that…"

Derrick looked just asbaffled as I was. "Me neither."