Thursday morning I sat quietly in my living room. Moreen and my dad left at 9:30 this morning so they could drive down to pick up Kristi and be back before dinner time. I've spent the last two days at Taylor's house, trying my hardest to avoid contact with my parents. Yesterday Taylor and I went for a long walk and we talked everything out. Our feelings and everything, not a word was left out. No one could know how good I feel just sitting in my living room, waiting for Kristi to come. As I reached for the TV changer the doorbell rang. "Who is it?" I yelled. Silence hovered in the air for a split second. "It's Tay!" Taylor called into the door. I laughed at the sound of his voice. "Come in, it's open!" I called to him. I heard him open the door. I turned my head and saw Zac, Taylor and a brown haired boy. "If I knew was here I would have changed out of my Pj's!" I joked, standing up next to them. Taylor smiled and turned toward the tall brunette. "Amanda, Zac wants you to meet Andrew Johnson!" Tay introduced us. I smiled and shook Andrew's hand softly. Zac looked at me. "When is Kristi coming?" he asked. Taylor shot him a look and turned to me. "Um, she should be here before dinner!" I said. Suddenly, I remembered Kristi wanted me to invite them to dinner. Andrew blushed alittle bit and turned to Zac. "We better go, or we'll miss the best spot at the dock!" Andrew whispered. Zac smiled and they ran out the door. I looked at Taylor. "Best spot at the dock? Usually a dock only has one spot..could you kindly fill me in?" I asked him. I took his hand and led him to the couch. "It's suppose to rain, and they want to see the frogs surface..so they can capture one for Andrew's science project!" he smiled at me. "Oh! Kristi wants you guys to have suppose with us..you, Zac, and Ike! My parents won't be here, they'll be visiting the Burns tonight!" I whispered in reply. Taylor took my other hand and just looked into my eyes. "Are you cooking?" he asked. I laughed. "Yeah right., if I can't cook lunch for us, you think I can handle dinner?" I smiled. "Yeah, sure, whatever! I have $40.00 that is kindly being given to the man who stands on my door step holding several boxes of Chinese food!" Taylor looked at me and laughed. "OKay, we'll be here at about 7:00." he said and pulled me close to him. "We showed up unexpectedly and now I don't want to leave," he whispered, "Can I stay here for a while?" I smiled and looked out my large barn type windows. "Sure! It's getting really dark, are you sure they'll be OKay out there?" I asked him. Taylor followed my gaze and thought for a moment. "Yeah. Ike said he's gonna be there, so nothing to worry about!" Tay lied. He knew perfectly well Andrew, Zac, and Isaac weren't at the pond. They were at the mall trying to set everything up for my surprise party. "Guess what?" Taylor asked me a second later. "What?" I asked. "We're going to start touring this summer, after school starts!" he said. I wanted to smile, but couldn't. It would be the usual tour: Long nights, and long weeks away from home. Away from me. I could always manage to live without them for a few weeks, but that was when we talked everyday! How am I going to react now? I asked myself, softly shrugging it off. "Don't worry though! We'll only be gone 2 weeks each month!" Taylor added softly. Now I smiled, and I smiled brightly. "Cool!" I said. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Kristi finally work up two hours later. Her junk on both sides of her, forcing her to sit in the middle of the back seat. She had been sleeping since she got into the car. "So Kristi, how's life?" Moreen asked. Kristi smiled as they turned onto the highway. "Fine. Why didn't Amanda come?" she asked. I never really liked how she was so out-going and modest about things! My father smiled at her in his mirror. "Wow, it sure is getting dark. They'll have to turn the lights on so we can see!" he joked. Minutes later, Kristi heard a long crash, as rain pealted the car, and the sky lit up brightly. "Oh my god! How much longer until we get home?" she asked, her body shaking. Moreen cast her a smile. "About half hour!" she said, turned her head toward my father. "Scott!" she screamed. My father, Scott, looked out his window. A large black jeep was driving toward them at an extrememly high speed. Kristi screamed and closed her eyes, hugging herself tightly! My dad tried to swerve, but lightening flashed in his path. The jeep flew into the driver side of the car, pushing my father into the steering wheel. Their car crashed sideways into the telephone pole. Kristi heard a large cracking noise, and the windshield shattered. A little while later, Kristi opened her eyes. She was laying on the road. Kristi wanted to move but couldn't, her eyes scanned past all the people, frantically looking for my father and Moreen. * * * * * * * * * * I looked at Taylor and smiled as he placed the last fork on the table. "They should have been here already!" I whispered softly. As Taylor opened his mouth to speak, the phone rang. Quickly I picked up the phone, "Hello?" I asked. "Is this Amanda Maxwell?" A deep husky voice asked. I never heard this man's voice before and it scared me. That, and the fact that I heard soft talking and loud sirens in the background. "Yes it is, is something wrong?" I questioned. Taylor looked at me. "What happened?" he mouthed. I shrugged. The man on the line cleared his throat. "My name is Captain Stanley. I called to inform you that your parents- Moreen and Scott Maxwell have been in a serious car accident. Your friend Kristi Roderick was also in the car when it was hit and thrown into a telephone pole." he paused, sniffling softly. I looked at Taylor, my eyes wide with tears of confusion fell from them. "Yes, go ahead. I'm listening." I choked. Taylor reached over to me, and took my hand. Mr. Stanley cleared throat again. "I was driving my truck a few cars behind them, and I saw the entire accident. A drunk driver hit the side of the car and forced them into the pole. A few minutes later I ran to see if everyone was OKay. The driver, Alexander Wallmen was killed instantly. Your father was killed minutes after the hit, but Moreen died instantly...," he trailed off. "Go ahead!" I screamed at him. My heart was beating in my chest and tears were falling down my cheeks. I looked at Taylor, his eyes were moist and he held my free hand tightly. He knew something was wrong. The Captain continued. "Kristi Roderick was fine. She was just taken to the hospital to see if she is as OKay as we think she is. Kristi had a swollen wrist, and several scratches on her face, neck, chest and legs. We would like you to come to The Tulsa Medical Hospital as soon as possible. I am on my way there now, I'll be waiting at the waiting room on the third floor. Please hurry." he said, hanging up before I could say a word. I dropped the phone nervously and my body fell numb. Taylor looked at me and waited. "THEY DIED!" I screamed. I wanted to run, but I couldn't. Taylor wrapped his arms around me as I tried to pull away. He kissed my head and pressed me up against his body. "What happened?" he whispered softly into my hair. I cried into his shoulder. "THEY GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND WERE KILLED INSTANTLY!" I yelled, trying to pull away from him. He tightened his grasp around me and I fell into him softly. "Why?" I whispered bitterly. He shook his head and quieted me. "All of them?" he asked softly. I, then, remember about Kristi. "No!" I told him, my voice cracking. "Kristi is at the hospital! We have to get her..NOW!" I screamed. I finally managed to pull from Taylor and I ran out of the house. He shut the lights off in the house, locked the front door. I was running down the sidewalk, when I turned and saw him still at my house. "TAYLOR!! NOW!!" I called to him, walking forward quickly. He turned, jumped off the porch and ran to me. Grabbing at my hand, he ran forward along with me. I pulled myself away from him and looked him in the eyes. "No, not yet." I whispered. He nodded, understanding how I felt. We ran quietly to the hospital.****** I had to run up sic flights of stairs, I couldn't wait for the elevator. It just seemed to be taking so long. Taylor finally took me into his arms as we approached the waiting room on the third floor. I looked up and saw a blonde man. He was wearing a burned fire suit, and his hair and face were wet and discolored from smoke. I guessed right there, that the car had exploded after they pulled Kristi out, so, seconds later, I cleared my throat in confusin. The man looked up. "Amanda Maxwell?" he questioned. Taylor nodded and he pulled me onto his lap. My body felt numb,again, as Captain Stanley started to talk. "....The car exploded right after we got Ms. Roderick out of the car..." I heard him say. I felt dizzy and I couldn't ee the expression on his face, to many tears blocked my view. Taylor kissed the side of my head, and pushed my body against his. ".....we weren't able to free your parents..they were still in the car when it exploded!..." I drifted back into reality long enough to hear The Captain say. I shook my head roughly. "No! Your lying!" I shrieked., sobbing after each word. Mr. Stanley shook his head softly. "I'm sorry Amanda, we weren't able to sace them from the car..but Kristi is OKay. She's waiting for you in her room." he whispered. Taylor thanked the man and balanced me as we walked slowly toward Kristi's hospital room. I stopped, right before Taylor touched th door knob. "I can't." I whispered. I don't know why, but I couldn't see her face. Just then, I realized something. My parents didn't care about me, so why am I so upset? My mind froze and I couldn't speak. My mouth went dry and my stomach flip-flopped several viciouse times. Taylor held me close and pushed me toward the door. I faked a thankful smile, and we walked into Kristi's room. She looked up at us. "Amanda..Taylor." she whispered. I couldn't tell, but I think she looked black. As we sat together next to her bed, I realized her face was discolored from the smoke and her arms, neck and face were covered with cuts. "I'm sorry." Kristi whispered. Taylor smiled at us softly. "Me too." he whispered, resting his head on mine. Before I could think of what to say, Lacey-Kristi' mom, walked in the room and ran straight to Kristi. "Oh baby, are you OKay?" she whispered frantically. Her hands searched Kristi's face. "I'm fine mom, really!" Kristi assured her mom. Atleast she has a caring mother!~I thought to myself. I looked at Taylor and stood up. I looked at everyone and shook my head. "No! It's not fair. Why did they have to die?" I screamed, running out of the room. I dodged several chairs and people as I ran into the parking lot. I paused for a second and I heard Taylor calling me. I looked over at him and frowned. I told myself to run, hide and get away from everyone, but I couldn't move. I feel to my knees and cried, right there in the middle of the parking lot. Taylor ran to me, and feel against my body. "Amanda. Please..." he trailed off. I looked at him and hugged him. I wasn't sure if I was laughing or crying, but I knew something was wrong. Taylor grasped me tightly in his arms and we sat together in the parking lot.
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