.The Blizzard Effect.

The car ride back to my house was a silent one as I stared straight ahead.

My mind was in a whirling with different thoughts and I felt tightly sealed emotional wounds fighting to open up.

I hadn't thought about the night I lost my family in so long and now that I have, I regret ever doing so –plus, I just found out a whole new load of information about what happened to my mother...

I leaned back into the seat and thought about the mission that I had just gone on.

Who tipped that guy off that I was going to be on that mission?

Who knew I was here?

Did the person tell anyone else?

Was I in any possible danger?

And then, a totally different question struck my mind.

"Hey Mrs. Dattel?"

"Yes?"

"...When you...ahh...shot that guy...you didn't even flinch."

"I'm aware of that," She said with a light smile.

"How? I mean...are you a spy too?" She let out a laugh.

"Oh most certainly not...I didn't flinch because of my own family history."

"...Huh?"

She sighed.

"I'm Italian, sweetie."

"I know."

"Mhmmm, well...my father was a part of an Italian mafia. I was eight when I was kidnapped for the first time and when my dad got me back he made sure I learned how to defend myself...handling a gun happened to be one of the things I learned. I was in the sixth grade when my father got into serious trouble with a different mafia so that's when we moved to America and I met your mother. I basically grew up around violence and guns so shooting someone is nothing knew," She finished her explanation just as we pulled into my driveway.

"That's....so insane," I muttered and she laughed lightly.

"Don't I know it. Well, you should get in there – Kelly's probably worried sick. She cares for you, you know." I stopped for a second and Mrs. Dattel noticed. "Laretta..." I turned to face her. "When you're on a mission as big as this one where you'll be in a certain place for such a long time, people are bound to start caring for you. It's unavoidable, so my advice? Don't push them away. Let them care and in some cases it may even be okay to care back, but just make sure that when the time comes and the mission is over, your priorities are back on track and you move on. But until then just let everything be, okay? Relax for a while and enjoy everything & everyone while you're still young." With that she reached over closed the door before driving off.

I watched her car go in silence and then I walked to the front door; I didn't have time to knock before the door was thrown open by Kelly.

"Oh thank goodness!" She said and pulled me into a hug.

"Kelly, Kelly...relax, it was just a mission," I said quietly as I pulled away. She smiled and wiped some tears falling from her eyes.

"I know...it's just...you're only a kid, La-Isabella. You shouldn't have to deal with all of this...you shouldn't be risking your life for someone else's...it's just...never mind, go to bed Isabella. I'll talk to you in the morning," She said as she hugged me again.

"It is morning," I pointed out and Kelly pushed me towards the stairs as she laughed slightly.

"Smart aleck," she muttered and I couldn’t help but let a smile slip.

When I reached my room I shook my head at how clustered everyone was; I walked to the bathroom and switched back into my pajama pants and tank top before heading for my bed.

The clock read 6:00 I absently nodded off into sleep not realizing that at that very moment, Kelly & Mrs. Dattel were on the phone with each other having a very heated, crucial discussion.

"LICE!" I cringed into the phone and Sean sent me a confused look; I shook my head at him and turned my attention back to the phone.

"I mean...lice! How can, I have LICE?!" Hellen bawled into the phone.

Sean and I were currently walking back from town where we spent the Saturday morning doing our required community service hours at a homeless shelter.

It's been a whole week since that last side mission...a whole week since I found out a bit more about my mother from Mrs. Dattel.

Mrs. Dattel. Who would have thought that my supposed best friend's mother would have saved my life?

I shivered a bit as the cold air blew and pulled my jacket tighter around myself; Sean did the same and sipped on his hot chocolate as he continued to watch my talk into my phone.

"Hellen..." I started. At her name, Sean's eyes widened and he pretended to take off in a run; I grabbed him arm and swore lightly as my hot chocolate swished around a bit.

"No, Isabella. No! How could this have happened! I always wash my hair –ALWAYS! Like, two times a day!"

"That may be the problem...lice don't like dirty spaces, and because of that they usually only appear in the hair of those who have really clean hair."

I could hear Hellen sobbing a bit harder at this.

"Really? No! God hates me, Isabel! He hates me!"

I rolled my eyes.

"He doesn't hate you, Hellen. Look, do you want me to come over?" I asked as Sean and I stepped onto my front porch. Sean gave me an alarmed look before looking at his watch and saying:

"Oh look at the time, I really have to go. I'll call you tomorrow, Bella!" He hugged me and kissed my cheek before running off without even giving me a chance to argue.

"No! You have a date tonight! I'll call...no, Kelsey has a date tonight too."

Oh yeah, Kelsey was dating that guy from Bernie's Joint. You know, the waiter guy?

"I think his name is like....Coby? Arnold? Peter?"

"Anthony...?"

"Hmmm...yeah, that's probably it. So yeah, I can't call her up. Pam's out of town...I guess I'll just have to call Jamie."

"But...isn't today her little sister's birthday?"

"Yeah, and...?" I shook my head; Hellen really was ridiculous sometimes.

"Never mind...well, I'm going to call and see if Derek's home yet."

"Wait, so he still hasn't called you?"

"Nope."

And it was the truth; the last time I had seen Derek was after our date last week.

"Ugh, you need to whip that boy into shape." I had to laugh at that.

"Hellen, it's not like we're dating or anything."

"Yet."

"Why are you so set on me and Derek dating any ways?" I asked, there must be a motive for her pushing me to get with Derek...

"Because if you two are dating, Sean –being Derek's best friend and all– will be forced to spent more time with you and I'll be around you too, so Sean will finally realize just how great together we'd actually be."

Motive found.

"Yeah...okay, well I should probably go. Bye Hellen." I hung up and slipped the phone into my pocket before I unlocked the door and stepped into the house.

I was surprised when I saw Kelly sitting on the couch handing over a small piece of paper to another girl who looked around my age; they both looked over at me and smiled.

"Hey Isabella, this is Paris. Paris, this is my niece, Isabella."

"Nice to meet you," Paris spoke with a slight smile as she stuck out her hand for me to shake, I attentively shook it while I discreetly looked her up at down.

Her light, brown hair was pulled back into a messy bun and not so flattering glasses slightly covered her green eyes. Beside her, I saw the seventh Harry Potter book open with a bookmark somewhere in the middle of the book. She wore jeans and a emerald green polo with white tennis sneakers.

She didn't look like a geek but I had a feeling that if she let her hair down, got some contact lenses, and wore more laid-back clothing, she'd look a lot better.

I've obviously been spending a bit to much time with Kelsey.

"I know you have a date tonight with Derek," Kelly's voice held a bit of malice yet worry at his name, "So I hired a babysitter for the night," She explained.

"Well actually..." I started but Kelly was already halfway out the door. "I'll be back late, I'll see you tomorrow morning, Bella. Be good!" And with that she was gone. I sighed and shook my head with a slight smile before turning back to Paris who was shuffling her feet and looking at the ground.

Awkward silence.

"Well...ummm....hi," I finally said; her head snapped up and she smiled a bit.

"Hi..."

"Well...uhhh....isn't this awkward?"

"Story of my life." Her cheeks tinted pink at her own comment and I let out a laugh.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your whole name...?"

"Oh, Paris Simone." She said with a now comfortable smile floating into place. "And you are?"

"Isabella Couture. Where do you go to school, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Not at all...I umm, I actually go to Zork Academy."

"...Zork Academy?"

"Yeah, it's a private school a few blocks away from Cally High."

"...Oh! That all girls school?" She laughed.

"Yeah, but trust me –next year for college I'm attending a co-ed university." I smiled at her and nodded but before I could say anything else, my cell phone started to ring.

I looked at the caller ID and was slightly surprised when it read Derek's name.

"Sorry...I really have to take this." She tilted her head in question before asking:

"Your date for the night?" I nodded before I walked away into the kitchen and flipped open the phone.

"Derek?"

"Hey," He breathed.

"Where have you been this week?" I asked tiredly as I grabbed a special K bar from the counter.

"At my cousin's house."

"Still?"

"Yeah, there was a snow storm when I was supposed to leave and I was kind of stuck...I'm actually just about to leave now. I would have called you earlier but because of the storm, I didn't have any phone service."

"Wait, without any service, how did you notify the school about your absence?"

"My uncle has an emergency line for situations like these, so he notified my dad who called the school. It's not like it really matters though..."

"What do you mean it’s not like it really matters? You missed a whole week of school! I don't even know if I'd be able to catch up on that." Okay, that was a lie. I could most definitely catch up in a heartbeat.

"I already know all the stuff, babe. I'm a PG."

"....A what?"

"A post graduate. I skipped the ninth grade and so I graduated from highschool last year, but I didn't want to head off to college a year early. Instead I decided that I'd stay in high school for another year and play sports and stuff; I already know everyone in our class so it doesn't bother me that much."

"Oh...wow." He laughed.

"Yeah, okay I just started up the car engine and I am pulling out of the driveway right now so I'll have to get off the phone soon."

"How far away do they live?"

"..."

"Derek?"

"They live a minimum 4 ½ hours away but now I have to drive extra slowly because of the ice AND there's Saturday traffic..."

"So in other words, you won't be back in time for our date, huh?"

"I'm really sorry, Bella. Really, I am." I was surprised at the sincerity in his voice but even more surprised at the true disappointment that was building up in the pit of my stomach.

I sighed.

"Don't worry about it, it's not your fault."

"It kind of is; there had been blizzard warnings all last week but I didn't take them seriously...I really am sorry and I promise to make it up to you somehow."

"Will you, really?"

"Of course, I'll call you tomorrow, okay Bella?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye..." I snapped the phone shut and looked around the kitchen before heading into the living room where Paris looked up from her Harry Potter book.

"Everything alright?" She asked.

"Yeah...but lucky for you, it looks like tonight you'll have some company other then the Harry Potter crew and little Devin."

---

"So you're honestly telling me that you've never picked up a Harry Potter book in your life?" Paris asked me in complete disbelief. I shook my head and tossed a grape into my mouth before answering.

"Well of course I've picked one up! I've just never read one! My god, you make it sound like a crime or something..."

"Well it should be!" I laughed and Paris rolled her eyes at me, but I saw her fight to keep her lips from twitching upwards.

In the past 3 ½ hours, I've learned that Paris was actually enjoyable company. She was very sweet and funny but something in my gut kept me from allowing myself to trust her.

Then again, when do I ever feel like I can trust someone? I'm not allowed to trust -it's like...the number one rule of being a spy.

If you trust someone, you'll eventually get screwed over. It's as simple as that.

"You poor, deprived child," Paris muttered with a shake of her head and I continued to laugh until I heard a gust of wind blow violently through the trees and hit the window.

I quickly glanced over at it and shrugged; strong winds, big whoop.

However, what did catch my attention was a sound that my ears caught mixed in with the winds.

A rumble...a squeal of tires...a slamming door.

Kelly wasn't due back for a while.

I looked over at Paris and was surprised to see her staring curiously out the window as if she had heard something herself...but that's not possible seeing as how most people can't hear sounds like that.

"What?" I finally asked. "What are you looking out the window for?"

"Oh, I was just wondering...if it's going to snow."

"...Oh." I guess that's a normal answer and she sounded sincere about it...

I shrugged. I'm just being paranoid...she couldn't have heard the same thing tha- Ding dong.

Paris jumped at the sudden sound while I didn't bat an eye. I held in a sigh of relief – that was enough proof that she wasn't a spy or anything else like that –she wouldn't have jumped at a sound as common as a ringing doorbell.

At the same time the bell rang, however, Devin started crying. Paris and I looked at each other.

"Okay, you're still the babysitter so why don't you go take care of Devin and I'll go see whose at the door?"

"That sounds good to me," she said as she got up and left for Devin's room. I watched her leave my room before sighing and standing up; of course there was a hidden motive behind me sending her to go check on Devin.

I didn't give a damn that she was the babysitter, I've just been a bit paranoid ever since that side mission when I learned that that person knows who I am.

Well, yeah he's dead now and he said that no one else knows, but still...

As I neared the door I didn't have to fight to keep calm –being calm was just my natural demeanor, but I'll admit that I was a little irked when the stranger started to pound on the door...or maybe that was just the wind.

Whatever the reason, I opened the door a crack only to throw it open when I recognized Derek.

"Derek?" I asked as he pushed past me and shut the door; his black hair was disheveled, his cheeks were pink, and he had stuffed his hands deep into his pockets to keep them warm.

He was quite a sight.

"Derek, what are you doing here? I thought you were going to be gone 4 ½ hours at least..." He shrugged and pulled me in for a tight hug...I don’t know if it was to keep warm or to express his affection; either way I felt a bit uncomfortable.

"No one else was on the roads...everyone was to damn afraid of the blizzard so I was able to speed-"

"You sped through the snow? Do you realize you could have been hurt?" I asked in surprise as I pulled away from him.

He shrugged.

"Yeah, well I'm here in one piece, aren't I?"

"That's besides the po-"

"Look. It doesn't matter, okay Isabella? Jesus, I drive a ridiculous amount of miles over the speed limit just to be with you, only for you to start bitching at me as soon as I arrive! Good grief!" He muttered before retreating over to the couch, throwing his jacket on the ground, and grabbing the remote off the glass coffee table in front of him.

What the hell was his problem? I quietly walked over to the front of the couch and snatched the jacket off the floor before hanging it up in the coat closet and heading upstairs.

So he cut a 4 ½ hour drive into 3 ½ hours just to see me? Why would he do that? I mean, I can see someone doing that for a boyfriend/girlfriend or even just a really good friend but making that drive for me?

The man is obviously crazy.

I shook my head and collapsed on my bed just as Paris came in, Devin at her hip.

"Who was at the door?" She asked as Devin started to reach for me; she handed him over and I shrugged.

"Just Derek."

"Derek?"

"Derek Heart, the guy who I was supposed to go out with tonight..."

"Oh! Well...why aren't you down there with him?" I shrugged.

"He's in a sour mood at the moment." I muttered and I rubbed Devin's back as he held onto my shirt and started to fall back asleep. I stood up and turned my head slightly to give his head a kiss and I breathed in the familiar smell of baby powder radiating off of him.

And that's when I realized that Mrs. Dattel was right –I was already starting to care for these people.

I felt my heart rate quicken and started to wonder why this was happening; it's only been a little less then a month! Is it possible to develop compassionate feelings for people in such a short amount of time?

But even as I asked myself that question, I knew the answer was yes.

When a mother holds her child for the first time, don't they find that they already care for the child?

My thoughts were broken when once again, the doorbell was heard from downstairs.

"Another person?" Paris asked in surprise and I shrugged while throwing her a confused look.

"It may be Kelly..."

"But didn't she say that she wasn’t going to back for a while?"

"Yeah...let's go see who it is." So with Devin in my arms, the three of us came down the stairs while I continued to wonder why everyone was showing up during a snow storm.

Must be The Blizzard Effect.

"Someone's at the door," Derek said in a monotone voice when I entered the room; however, he didn't look up.

I rolled my eyes and shot Paris an annoyed look causing her to smile before I went to the door and yelled:

"Who is it?"

"KELSEY!" I heard and I opened the door slightly to make sure that it was really her. It was so I let her in.

"Kelsey? What on Earth are you doing here?" I asked as she shrugged off her coat and walked over to the coat closet to place it down.

"Snow storm. Date ended early. Your house was closer then mine was," She explained before she turned and eyed everyone in the living room. "Why wasn't I aware of the party?"

I rolled my eyes.

"There isn't a party. Paris was supposed to be babysitting Devin while I was off on my date with Derek over here-" I pointed my thumb at Derek. "But Derek had to cancel on me so I stayed with Paris only to be thoroughly surprised when he randomly shows up at my door."

"He cancelled on you?" Kelsey asked the second I stopped speaking; she looked horrified.

That's right Kelsey, forget that there's a girl standing behind me whom you've never met before.

"Yes..."

"Scandalous." I laughed.

"Not really; I was stuck in a blizzard!" Derek finally spoke up.

"Well you should have toughed it out!"

"I did but NO ONE seems to be appreciating that fact!" He argued; his eyes still glued to the TV.

I made an annoyed sound at Derek's words and Kelsey saw it, causing her to smirk.

"You're such a little princess, Derek," Kelsey muttered as she plopped down on the couch next to Derek.

I tuned them out as they started to bicker back and fourth and handed Devin to Paris as she came for him, prepared to place him in his bed.

"Hey, ummm...while you were talking to Derek and Kelsey, your Aunt called. The snow storm is raging and it's to dangerous for her to attempt getting home, so she has to spend the night at the office." I smiled slightly and nodded.

"Okay, thanks."

"No prob." As she left with Devin, I walked over to were Derek and Kelsey were arguing (Derek's eyes still planted firmly on the TV, mind you).

"Give it a rest, guys," I muttered before plopping onto a lounge chair next to the couch.

"I don't want to give it a rest," Derek snapped quietly and I couldn't stop the eye roll from reacquainting itself with wandering eyes.

"Derek, honestly – are you PMSing or something today? Man, you're acting like such an asshole!"

But the only response was a loud scream...

...Along with the flickering of the lights, the TV, and other electricity objects before we lost all power.

And the sudden enveloping darkness, ladies and gentlemen, is what caused Kelsey to scream piercingly and caused Derek to let out a loud, deep, yell as he jumped further back into the couch out of fear.

I heard the wind whistles outside and shook my head as Derek grunted; something told me that tonight was going to be an excruciating one.

Review? ;)