4.

I turned around so my back would be facing the pool, I did a backflip into the pool and stayed underwater for a moment, I swam to the edge of the pool and surfaced, I leaned against the edge resting my arms and head on it, I gently kicked my legs in the water, sighing in utter bliss and closed my eyes, I smiled as the sun shined upon my face. I sang Sweet Melody by Little Mix as it played.

"In a whole other life the was this boy that I knew, he made me feel like a woman, we were young and silly fools, anyway he was in a band, wrote love songs about me, I wasn't crazy 'bout the words but the melodies we're sweet went something like this-" I stopped singing when I heard a car honk.

Mom left a long time ago and dad will be coming home late tonight. I got out of the pool and grabbed my two guns under the table, my heart thumped rapidly against my ribcage. My vision became a little hazy, I took in deep breaths to calm my nerves and layed my back against the wall by the front door. I pointed my guns at the intruder.

"Is that how you welcome your brother?" Joey exclaimed.

"Jeez Joey I almost shot you" I wiped my eyes laughing lightly.

"I missed you" I sobbed in his chest as he stroked my head.

"Are you still having nightmares?" Joey pushed me back a little to look at me.

"Yeah" I sniffled, "I'm fine now don't worry about me, come with me I want you to meet my friends" I pulled him outside by the backyard.

"Everyone this is Joey my brother" I put the guns underneath the table and stood by Joey, "Joey this are my friends Chloe Selene and Cole... the other two are just pains in my neck and acquaintance's, no offence boys it's just personal or so you could say"

"Uh yeah... so I have to go do something. I will be back a bit later tonight" I kept walking backwards, "yeah so... bye" I turned to leave but someone grabbed my wrist.

"Sis" Joey said worriedly,I turned towards him and smiled at him.

"Joey I am perfectly fine stop worrying about me and just for you I will try to stay out of trouble" I hugged him and kissed his cheek before pulling away.

I ran upstairs and placed on an oversized shirt, short shorts and my Tommy's, I grabbed my keys and placed on a hat. I left in a hurry before anyone could stop me, I ran around the block three times breaking my track record, right now it's dark and I'm thirsty, my muscles are aching.

I am such a mess right now and I honestly have no idea why I am crying, I walked home passing by a dark alley... I haven't noticed that before, I had a weird feeling I was being followed but shrugged choosing to ignore it.

I'm just paranoid. I plugged in my earphones and started running back home. I kept one earphone out so I could hear my surroundings. I took out my key and ran faster.

I rushed to open the door, closed it, I locked the door as my heart kept racing, I slid down the door and silently cried covering my face, I felt arms wrap around me making me jumpy.

"It's just us, no need to be jumpy" Chloe and Selene whispered as they laid their heads on my shoulders.

"I'm fine guys... And you both talking at the same time saying the same words makes you sound robotic and a bit creepy. I'm gonna go take a shower now" I sighed as I slowly got up, I slowly walked upstairs feeling exhausted and sore, I found Joey sitting on my bed angrily tapping his foot... Who upset him so much?

"Lara what's wrong?" oh so it's me is it.

"Nothing," I shrugged.

"Don't tell me 'nothing' woman," He growled.

"Don't growl at me like a hopeless animal" I smoothed out the wrinkles on my shirt.

"I am not" he cleared his throat.

"That's what they all say" I snorted.

"What do you want me to say because frankly, I do not want to say anything?" I said calmly as I stared at him.

"Tell me how you feel right now" it came out as a near whisper.

"What are you, my counsellor" I snorted.

"I feel perfectly fine," I smiled at him.

"That's a lie" he glared at me.

"Yes of course it is" I smiled.

"Just tell me" he kept pushing until I finally snapped.

"It's started since we moved here, it's the memories of that night, seeing them replay every time to display as a nightmare just to put me back into the reality of that night to lead me into depression" I jabbed my finger in his chest countless times, getting the point out that I was beyond livid.

"Everytime I see her lifeless body in a pool of her own blood, I could have saved her but I didn't instead I let her die" I growled trying to hold back a sob, I took a step back, I closed my eyes and sighed to gain some control.

"So now it's back to the appointments like who wants that, to talk... Not me " I laughed bitterly. He tried to speak but I held my hand up to silence him. I am far from being done. He had his fill now it's my turn although that will be done another day I am exhausted.

"Don't say anything, just get out, I need to take a shower and drink some pain killers, I have a massive headache and I am exhausted" I held the door open for him patiently.

He clenched his hands into fists and walked out slamming my door in the process. I sighed in relief and had a quick shower. I took some painkillers layed down crying till my eyelids became droopy.

Friday Morning:

After a long day of learning the school bell rings, I meet up with Chloe in the school parking lot along with Selene, we exchange numbers and part ways, I find both my parents waiting for me by mom's car.

"Hi" they said cheerfully.

"Hi" I say unsure about what's going on. I hope the school did not call them, why are they here? What's going on? I did my best to mask my curiosity.

"We have a surprise for you" mother spoke as if reading my thoughts.

"What kind of surprise?"

"Nothing much or big just that we bought you a car" dad smiled.

"Took you long enough," I laughed.

"Why so soon? My birthday is only in two days" curiosity got the better of me.

"It's just an early birthday gift," mother shrugged.

"Thank you" I hugged them.

"Where is it?" I say brightly.

"It's the red and black jeep with the red rose decor on the hood" mom says proudly.

"Thank you once again" I took the keys from her.

"Take it for a spin but be home early" dad hugged me.

"Yes sir" I got in the car and drove off as adrenaline pumped within my body.

Morning:

I opened the freezer, sticking my head in it swaying to the rhythm of the music humming along as I searched for my ice cream, after a minute or two I found it.

"Gotcha" I whispered, shutting the fridge with my foot.I sat on the kitchen counter with my legs crossed, as I placed spoonful after spoonful of ice cream in my mouth.

"This is so good" I inwardly groaned in delight and put my music off just as Max walked in with no shirt on may I add.

"Morning"

"Yeah morning" he grumbled and got a spoon walking over to me.I smacked his hand away from my ice cream, freaking gorgeous looking man, I will kill 'you wanna be an ice cream thief'.

"No touchy touchy" I sassed him like a little kid, shaking my finger. He kept trying which led to us fighting over my ice cream, eventually I gave up and shifted so he could sit and place the ice cream between us.

"Life asked death, why do people love me but hate you?"I said.

"Death responded, because you are a beautiful lie and I am a painful truth" he exclaimed.

"Unknown" he scoffed, I think I will start calling him scoffer... I mean it's the thought that counts am I right or am I right.

"I'd rather have a broken arm than a broken heart"

"Christine Brinkley" I smirked.

"Emotionally I'm done, mentally I'm drained, spiritually I'm dead and physically I smile"

"Unknown" he shrugged, he came closer to me gazing into my eyes, we are inches apart from our lips connecting, I could feel cool hot air as he got closer every passing moment.

"A kiss seals two souls for a moment in time" he whispered as he cupped my face, electrifying jolts moving through my body heating me up. He captured my lips in a soft passionate kiss causing me to crave more than just his lips against mine, wanting this to last forever but sadly he pulled away soon and left, leaving me disappointed, shocked, confused, hurt and angry.

Dinner:

It is silent at the dinner table, occasionally I would take a quick peak at Max from time to time and at times I would catch him looking at me and so would he, after our little moment in the morning I did my very best to ignore him and not see him up until now this is the only place I can't run from him, I finished my dinner sooner than I usually do.

"May I be excused?" I spoke as I stood up.

"Of course Pumpkin" Dad said smiling as I groaned at his given nickname for me.

"Please don't call me Pumpkin" everyone laughed at my little tantrum except Max of course.

"Bye" I ran up the stairs to my room as Max got up.

"Lara" mom, dad and Joey shouted, I groaned in despair for not putting my dirty dishes in the sync.

I went back and placed my dirty dishes where they belong and walked back up the stairs grumbling a brief 'yeah whatever' I responded to their 'goodnight', sighing happy that I managed to avoid Max, I jumped on my bed, now I have to do my best to ignore this feelings he gives me and keep my walls up. I closed my eyes trying to fall asleep which only resulted in me tossing and turning a few times before I sat up due to the sound of my door creaking open. Max walked in looking a bit anxious.

"Uh... How can I be of any assistance to you?" I questioned myself mentally groaning at my choice of words.

"Are you busy?" he said.

"Yes by sitting, oh yeah no I am totally busy" I said sarcastically. He ignored my statement and sat down close to me, making me a little self aware, I shifted a little uncomfortable with the awkward tension.

"I wanted to talk to you about earlier this morning," he said a little sternly.

"What about it?"

"It was a mistake and it should never happen again" he said with no display of emotion as I tried to swallow the now formed lump in my throat.

"Ok great glad we understand each other here" I smiled not showing any emotion.

"Friends" I held my hand out... 'say no' I internally screamed.

"Friends" he shaked my hand. He left and I decided to go back to sleep or I at least attempted to fall asleep.

As tears silently flowed down my face. Great, I'm crying because of two people, one is dead and the other is confusing my feelings for them. I sniffled at the irony of the situation I'm in. This should be a good thing. I mean this is what I wanted, I wanted it to be ended before anything serious could develop between us, so why do I feel like this is the biggest mistake of my life.I placed my handover my mouth as a sob broke through.

'It is because you are sad' a faint voice spoke as my eyes feel droopy, I tried to stay awake yet that did not work out as I hoped it would.